By Paul Proctor
I garnered a lot of email from my last article about the coming Rapture of the Church. Some received my commentary with joy, excitement and expectation, others with shock, anger and contempt. Amid the many diverse messages that found their way to my inbox, some generous and some not, I gained a bit of clarity as to the state of the perceived church that I think is important to pass along.
I discovered that many of those who call themselves Christians apparently don’t want to be delivered from this fallen world. Their goal instead is to make it a better place in which to live by forming alliances, organizations, ministries and networks to help them build a sort of Heaven on Earth.
If our little speck on the globe, by the grace of God, becomes a little more tolerable for a time through the courageous and benevolent efforts of the brethren, then praise the Lord; but should that be our primary objective? If we become fixated on this world and how we might change it for the better, do we not do so at the expense of the world to come and those who, as yet, have no hope or desire beyond the flesh?
Shall we Christianize the old to make it homier for our family, friends and countrymen or point to the new? Where is our focus – on the horizontal here and now or the vertical to come?
Is there any scriptural directive calling us to renovate the Land of the Lost into a facade of faith so that it will appear to be Christian owned and operated when our Lord returns, even though it is clearly stated four times in scripture that Satan is the “prince of this world?”
Considering that Christians become better disciples and experience their greatest spiritual growth under hardship and persecution, wouldn’t the seemingly honorable goal of making this a “better world,” in reality, be as counterproductive as trying to make soldiers out of recruits by turning their boot camp into a day spa? What is the eternal value in this?
“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” – 2nd Corinthians 2:10
We criticized Jim & Tammy Bakker 20 years ago for sweet-talking their followers out of millions of dollars to build the infamous Heritage U.S.A.; but aren’t local churches around the country today doing much the same thing to finance pleasure palaces and amusement parks full of worldly music, theater, dance, recreation and refreshments, catering to almost every appetite imaginable; and even worse, marketing it to the rest of the world as “evangelism?” It is no wonder that so many from the postmodern church have a hard time believing in the Rapture. With a kingdom like this in the works, who needs Heaven?
As if that wasn’t enough, several notable evangelicals, including Rick Warren, have now signed on to the pagan left’s environmental agenda by joining the Global Warming Initiative. Even though many conservatives found it somewhat strange and out-of-character, Warren’s liberal tendencies didn’t come as all that much of a surprise to those of us who, for years, have rebuked him and warned others of his Purpose Driven pretense; theories, techniques, philosophies and practices that have been liberal all along.
But because Warren’s sensory-saturated customer base has lost sight of what it means to be a conservative and a Christian, they didn’t see it coming. Their wisdom, discernment and Biblical convictions were “pyromarketed” away with The Purpose Driven Life; so now, rather than question, object or protest the consensus on a new-found environmental “stewardship” program that he and his cronies are peddling, many, I suspect, will simply fall in line behind his leftward march toward U.N. compliance, thinking they do the Will of God because they do the will of Warren.
The obvious question Christians ought to be asking is: What does environmentalism have to do with eternal life? Nothing, unless you believe that Heaven is the third planet from the Sun and that it can only be saved with human hands and worldly wisdom.
“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” – 1st John 2:16-17
Other Christians take a more aggressive approach toward a “better world” by affirming the Commander in Chief’s call to send soldiers into combat overseas to change it militarily, one country at a time, into whatever he and his supporters think it ought to be. Consequently, only a Remnant of believers remain to “occupy” this world as “strangers” and “pilgrims;” following a risen Christ, Who saves souls, to a Promised Land their eyes have never seen, while everyone else unites to save the planet.
“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul…” – 1st Peter 2:11
Compare today’s earth-centered values with those of the Apostle John who wrote:
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” – 1st John 2:15
And the Apostle Paul who said:
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” – Philippians 1:21
I find it particularly disturbing that Christians who have been called out of this evil world by the Lord they claim as their own, have so dismissed the Word of God and His command to “Come out from among them and be ye separate” that they’ve fallen madly in love with it; becoming seduced and entangled in its affairs, calling it a “ministry,” a “career” a “pastime” or their “patriotic duty” as if that somehow justifies their love of this life.
“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” – 2nd Timothy 2:4
“He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” – John 12:25
After a rather long and heated volley of email messages with one enraged conservative over the misguided priorities of contemporary Christians and the sheer vanity of it all, I finally brought our correspondence to a close with this.
I wrote: “Jesus said ‘my kingdom is not of this world.’ Where is YOUR kingdom?” I asked; “Is it here on Earth or is it in Heaven?”
He refused to answer.
“Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever amen.” – Galatians 1:3-5
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Articles
Psalm 141 [podcast]

A Psalm of David. LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.
2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
5 Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.
6 When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.
7 Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.
8 But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.
9 Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.
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Abiding
The Danger of Joining a Modern Church [podcast]

Fruit. Fruit. Fruit.
“Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.” Matthew 12:33
Speaking of the pattern of one’s life, Jesus taught that a good tree cannot bear bad fruit. A bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know (discern) them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:15-20
Jesus commanded His people to “know” which is to discern all “by their fruits”—to be fruit inspectors—first in their own lives and then in all others (1 Corinthians 11:31-32; 2 Corinthians 13:5).
Personally, I fail to find anywhere that Jesus or His apostles instructed any saints to “go find a local church and plug in.” Hebrews 10:25 is peddled by pastors today who seek a loyal following instead of seeking to fulfill their God-given duties to establish their hearers in the faith, to ground them in God’s Word, to equip them for the work of the ministry, etc.
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25
Read that again please. Does it say to find a church? No. Those who are born again ARE already God’s “church” which simply means His called out people. More biblically, should we not simply be His church—His people, daily? This seems to be the pattern we see among the earliest followers of Jesus (Acts 2:42-47; 5:42; Colossians 3:16, etc.).
The authentic remnant elect of Christ do not patronize or bid Godspeed to false leaders (2 John 9-11; Revelation 2:2).
Refusing to sit under, condone, bid Godspeed to the false gospel, false doctrines, false teachers and wolves of the modern church … is not forsaking the assembly! Instead, it’s obedience to God who mandates that we “mark them,” that we “earnestly contend” against them, and warns us that anyone who bids Godspeed to them will be punished with them (Romans 16:17-18; Jude 3; 2 John 10-11).
If you are prone to cite Hebrews 10:25 to advocate for going to church weekly, consider where you learned that. In churches, right? Funny you probably don’t even have 10 Bible verses memorized and yet, to the benefit of the pastor, you know that one. What does this tell us? What does this reveal? What’s wrong with this picture?
What happens when people get loyal to a local church especially in this late hour where great apostasy was foretold? Here are a few obvious things that happen when someone “joins a church.”
- Most people who join churches today are not even born again, are not told they must repent and believe on Jesus to be born again. They become proud of their pastor and friends at that gathering (Zechariah 11:17).
- Church members are not learning the Word of God itself because they are simply being led by a wolf who is fostering their allegiance toward himself, not Christ (Colossians 2:8-10, 18-19; 3:1-4).
- They are not becoming soul winners (Proverbs 11:30; Luke 19:10).
- Attenders of modern churches are seldom if ever taught, established with personal knowledge of the Scriptures, the paramount truth that God’s Word itself is the final divine authority on all matters of the Christian faith and the practice of it (Deuteronomy 4:10; Psalms 119; 138:2; Isaiah 40:8; Mark 13:31; John 10:35; Romans 3:4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21).
- The Bible message, warning to “love not the world” is seldom or never heard. Those who live worldly are separated from God (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17).
- Fake pastor do not teach people to get into God’s Word for themselves and so church attenders today are not in the Word daily for themselves which is by satanic design and therefore have no biblical foundation (Psalms 11:3; Matthew 7:19-29; 2 Timothy 2:15).
- When do we hear in modern churches that Jesus Christ is the Grand Subject of all of Holy Scripture? We don’t (Psalms 40:7-8; Luke 24:25-27, 44-46; John 5:39-40; 2 Peter 1:19-21).
- They are never taught the value God places upon good works in those He saves by His grace (Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 1:16; 3:8; 1 John 2:4).
- The Great Commission Jesus gave to His people is never mentioned and when it is, they’ve turned it into just another way of promoting themselves, their own brand, ministry (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 24:47; Book of Acts).
- They are not being equipped “for the work of the ministry” which is the duty being carried out by every authentic overseer of Christ’s church (Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Peter 5:1-6).
- Never taught in the modern churches is the fact that God holds each person He saves personally responsible, personally accountable for following Jesus daily (Deuteronomy 24:16; Joshua 24:14-15; Luke 21:34-36; 2 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39; 12:14; Revelation 2-3, etc.).
- Modern day church members are not in the Word for themselves and the pastors have led them to this biblical illiteracy because they are building a church busine$$ and dumb people are easy prey/targets to rob (Isaiah 9:16; 56:8-12; Jeremiah 23; Ezekiel 34; Matthew 23; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; 2 Timothy 4:2-4, etc.).
- Church goers are barely or never heard the essential cross message which Jesus requires to follow Him (Matthew 16:24-25; Luke 9:23-24; Romans 6; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20; 5:24; Colossians 3:3, etc.).
- They are never warned of going to hell if they die in sin (Ezekiel 33:12-13; Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Hebrews 3:6; 10:26-39; Revelation 21:8, 27).
- They are never taught that God is “Holy, holy, holy” and that He requires that those who are His be holy as He is holy (Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:8).
- Those who attend a church are never informed that only those who overcome sin and Satan will be with Jesus eternally which is exactly what Christ told each and every one of the seven churches of Asia minor (Revelation 2-3).
- They are never taught that saving grace without exception results in the saved living according to the Scripture: “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (Titus 2:11-12).
- Members are taught the demonic lie of eternal security/once saved always saved , which is Satan’s first teaching and irrefutably led to the fall of mankind in the Garden (Genesis 2:17; 3:4).
- The mountains of warnings in Scripture are intentionally hidden from the congregational dupes who are willingly biblically ignorant, having rejected the knowledge/Word of God (Ezekiel 3:7; Hosea 4:6; 2 Corinthians 5:11; Colossians 1:28; Jude 3-4, etc.).
- Most church members are not taught that only those who remain in Christ after being saved will be with Him eternally (Matthew 25:1-13; John 15:6; Romans 11:20-22, etc.).
- Modern church attenders are seldom if ever warned to come out from this sinful world in the way they live (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1).
- They are lukewarm which means hell bound if they don’t repent (Luke 3:15-16).
- The original Gospel essential, the command to “repent” is never heard, even though it was the very first word spoken by John the Baptist, Jesus, and the apostle Peter in their ministries (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30).
- Modern church members are merely a participant of a “Christian” social club seen nowhere in Scripture (Cp. Acts 2:42-47).
- Their loyalty and allegiance is toward the pastor, singing group, and fellow congregants (Proverbs 21:16).
- They are never taken through the volumes of Holy Scripture where God judged His very own people who backslid (Numbers 16; 25; Romans 11:20-22; 1 Corinthians 10:1-12; Hebrews 3-4; Jude 1).
- Church members are taught to become dependent on their church affiliation, connection, and attendance and not the LORD (Matthew 15:8).
- They are not daily seeking the face of the LORD (1 Chronicles 16:11; Psalms 27:4, 8; 57:7; 63:8; Matthew 6:33; Luke 9:23-24).
- Seminarian led church members are seldom if ever taught that for eternal glory with Him Jesus requires the decisive cutting off of the hand and plucking out of the eye of any sin that defiles them in the eyes of a holy God (Mark 9:43-49).
- When the Bible is literally read, 99% of the time it’s from a vatican corrupted fake “bible.”
- Most are barely if at all different from any lost soul around them in their daily life (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
- Due to their own refusal to truly repent and walk with Jesus daily, they were sent strong delusion, are in darkness and deception, and therefore “remain in the congregation of the dead” (Proverbs 21:16).
“God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.” Psalms 89:7

The words “leader” and “leaders” appear 6 times (total) in God’s Word. It is always to be in context of servant leading (Matthew 20:20-28; 23:8-12; 1 Peter 5:1-6). In the following and most popular times “leaders” is used, it’s in the negative, as in false “leaders.”
“For the LEADERS of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.” Isaiah 9:16
“Let them alone: they be blind LEADERS of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” Matthew 15:14
They love their darkness rather than the light of His truth and therefore craft, they erect the image of a false god in their wicked unrepentant hearts.
“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
“Jeremiah 7. The people were wicked and evil, placing their trust in the temple, instead of God, and believing their religious activities would be pleasing to the Lord. But they were committing all kinds of sins, deluding themselves into thinking that they were secure. God said, I will cast you out of my sight! And instructed Jeremiah not to pray for them. They refused to obey the Lord God nor receive correction, and the truth had perished, so God said, I will cut them off from my mouth! Wow! Isn’t this exactly what we are seeing in this late hour? There comes a time when the Lord has had enough and cuts them off! And judgment falls upon those who don’t want the truth.” Karen Cochran
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Abiding
Jesus Conquered Sin, Satan, and Death by Dying [podcast]

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Hebrews 2:14-15
Through death Jesus conquered sin, death, and Satan and made His people free, washing away their sins in His precious blood and putting His Holy Spirit in them, empowering them to live fruit-filled victorious lives to His eternal glory!
Christ’s resurrection guarantees our resurrection – both now and for eternnity. Those raised up with Christ now are those who are crucified with Him. This is His holy “remnant.” (Isaiah 37:31; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 15, etc.).
Jesus conquered sin and death (separation) by dying on His cross. Because of this, we need never live outside of an abiding relationship with Christ. His grace is sufficient to provide everything He died to purchase for us – and all these blessings are appropriated via our faith, our abiding in Him (John 15; Romans 6:14; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:24-26, etc.).
In order to be raised up, to walk in His resurrection power and grace, we must first be dead and buried with Christ.
“For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:7
***ALL Heaven’s going to break out when this hits you in the heart, when your heart perceives this cross economy divine revelation.
Finishing Strong mean Finishing Crucified and Resurrected
HOW will you finish? It’s really how you finish that matters most! (2 Timothy 4:7-8) Finish strong beloved – lay down your life, death and burial, so that the strength of your life is Christ’s resurrection grace! (See 2 Corinthians 12:9-10) Go down deep.
“And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward:” Isaiah 37:31
Read the verse above again, looking for the death, the burial, and raising up!
The context Isaiah 37:31 concerns Assyria seeking to seize Judah and yet out of that evil attempt to conquer God’s people came a “remnant.” Yet it’s those who submitted to the LORD in death, those who took root downward (death and burial) who were reciprocally raised up out of that snare and destruction. Resurrection grace wins every time, with no exception! The cross is the divine prescription for absolute victory in every situation.
God counteracts death by the promise of resurrection – now and in eternity! (1 Corinthians 15; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12).
“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:10-12
The depth you allow God to bury you determines the height of His resurrection, His raising up in your life! (See 2 Corinthians 4:10-12)
“Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. 19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. 20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?” Proverbs 22:17-21
“Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.” 1 Peter 4:1-2
“And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” 1 John 3:5-6
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Learning the Cross, the Crucified Life Where Jesus Reigns
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