THE JUDGMENT OF THE CHURCH
By Bill Burns
Faith Tabernacle
http://ft111.com
1 Peter 4:17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
This is a passage of scripture that we are all familiar with, for it has been used in conjunction with many of the prophetic words that have been given in the past few years. To be sure God has been judging His church for some two thousand years now. There will, however, come a final judgment (upon the church) at the end of the age, which will result in the cleansing of the Bride of Christ. The Bride of Christ will be a "glorious church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5:27)
Many of those who have prophesied judgment upon the nations and felt that it was imminent have overlooked this important biblical fact -- judgment will first come upon the church before it comes to the world. I believe that we are about to see the final judgment of the church take place when the "Son of man will send out His angels (messengers), and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness." (Matthew 13:41) The judgment that comes to the House of the Lord will bring a collapse of organized religion and will bring about a separation of "wheat and tares." The wheat (true Christians) will be gathered into the Master's house, and the tares (false brethren) will be gathered and reserved for the fire of destruction that comes at the end of the age. (Matthew 13:38-42 and Revelation 17:16)
A few days ago I awakened at the first light of dawn, and the Lord began to speak to me about the judgments, which are to come. He said that this present time of testing has to do with judgment of the church. The testing is for the purpose of preparation that will cleanse His bride and make her ready to abide in the glory of His presence.
I was still pondering what He had said when I sat at my computer and read the morning news. The headlines captivated me: "Jewish Wedding Hall Collapses!" The Spirit of the Lord began to stir within me that this was a sign of the judgment that is to come to the House of God. I later received an e-mail from a precious saint of God (Marsha Allred), which confirmed what I believed to be a sign in the earth (Acts 2:19) of the judgment which is to come to the church. Marsha wrote, "Have you any insight into this tragedy? I feel the Lord is allowing His body the benefit of a serious wake-up call for those who have ears to hear -- He calls again. Each one must be sure his foundation is solid and built according to His plan or the wedding feast will be lost to them and instead of joy and celebration there will be sorrow and death."
I do believe that I have some insight into this tragedy because the building that collapsed was built the same year in which I was born again (1986). We are talking about a Jewish wedding feast, which is symbolic of the marriage supper of the Lamb, which is to come (Revelation 19:9). But, before the true wedding feast can take place, the House of God must be rebuilt according to the Master Builder's plan.
The wedding hall was renovated three months ago, and it was reported that construction techniques, which were banned in 1996, were used. It was also reported that some support columns were removed and not replaced. I believe that the three months represents the Third Day of Christ in which the judgment to the House of God will take place. Another confirmation is that the people on the dance floor plunged three stories.
In 1996 the spirit of prophecy was released in greater measure by the Lord. The words of the Lord came and warned the church that God was no longer going to tolerate the sinful nature of His people. He warned those who were building His church to no longer use the construction methods of the past. Those methods, which condone sin and the works of the flesh that defile His sanctuary, are still in use today. The warnings have been largely ignored, but the Holy Spirit's Third Day demolition will tear down everything that has not been built upon the word of God.
The columns that have been removed are the pillars of truth. The word of truth and the Spirit of truth have been removed (by many) from the House of God, and it cannot stand without these pillars. False doctrine has replaced the word of truth and the Spirit of truth is given no place to support and strengthen the house that many have built in the name of the Lord.
The bride's name is "Keren," and one of the meanings of her name in Hebrew is "ram's horn." The trumpet must be sounded even as Joel prophesied:
Joel 2:15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly;
Joel 2:16 Gather the people, Sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and nursing babes; Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, And the bride from her dressing room.
Joel 2:17 Let the priests, who minister to the LORD, Weep between the porch and the altar; Let them say, "Spare Your people, O LORD, And do not give Your heritage to reproach, That the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'"
Joel 2:18 Then the LORD will be zealous for His land, And pity His people.
The bride did not die in this tragedy, and we thank God that she did not. However, she sustained injury to her hip and chest and may require surgery. May God Himself come and put our hips out of joint like He did Jacob's. Jacob's walk was changed, as he no longer could walk by the power of his flesh, but began to walk in the power of the Spirit.
Let us allow the Spirit of the Living God to perform surgery upon our hearts (chest) so that the hardness of our hearts may be removed. Create in us a clean heart, oh Lord, and cause us to return to our First Love, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Marsha Allred also extensively studied the Hebrew names of the bride and groom (who represent the people that the Lord is speaking to). She examined the Hebrew alphabet for each letter of the names, and this is what she writes:
"It is not difficult to see, however, that in the entire context of the names, the sum total seems to be a new beginning of the Law of God, the restoration of His Government, and its emanation from God through the mouth of man calling creation to rely and trust on the atonement of the cross. In the Bride's name there is an exciting line of thought concerning the "trumpeting of the Glory, Power, and Dignity and Strength of God"; and that being added to. In the name Assi there seems to be a line of thought regarding God beginning and being the source - the words thousand, master, teaching, and oxen seems to connect with apostolic (teaching) and works whose source is God (oxen). We can trust (S) that this will emanate (Y) from God at this time. Of course in the center of all that God is doing, we find the possibility of satan entering wherever he can. It is also not ill timed to remember that there will be "eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage" and then the end will come suddenly. When the end comes - truth will become crystal clear to all and there will finally be a "coming together" of those who will, all other carnal differences pale in comparison to this importance, we've missed it."
Marsha can be reached at mpsalm27@ev1.net.
Please allow me to leave you with an encouraging word as reported by CNN, and I quote, "A specially decorated chair where the bride had sat to welcome her guests perched precariously on the lip of the crater. Candles still blazed on a table that had not fallen." The Lord has prepared a table for His beloved bride, and the table is still in place, and "the Spirit and the bride say come." The light of the church will not be extinguished, for the Master has called her "the light of the world." (Matthew 5:14) The chair (place at His table) is still in place, and you have an invitation:
Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
His house will be rebuilt, but it will be built according to His design and according to His plans. The sure foundation of Christ, the Solid Rock, is in place, and the Spirit of the Lord is now calling the wise master builders -- yes, those who will build His house according to His plans.
Ephesians 2:16 and that He might reconcile them both [Jews and Gentiles] to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.
Ephesians 2:17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.
Ephesians 2:18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
Ephesians 2:19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
Ephesians 2:20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone,
Ephesians 2:21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
Ephesians 2:22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.