I’ve talked often on the show about my revelations received while I was in prison. Going away for a while had a major impact on my life and ministry. God corrected me through His Word and turned me around in ways that I never thought possible and shook up my theology. Things that I had been teaching, right along with the majority of the other full gospel preachers, became glaring errors and I recognized, for the first time, my own responsibility in correcting these things. I knew that if I ever had a platform for preaching the Gospel again, I would have to address the errors of what I had taught… without excuse.
That’s why I wrote the book, “I Was Wrong” and that’s why I continue to expose the love of money errors that were perpetuated by twisting certain scriptures to extract a certain meaning. I will never back away from my stand on those errors, or I wouldn’t be able to stand before God with a good conscience if I did.
That’s one thing we better get ready for – and that is to stand before God with a good conscience. The Bible says that if you have heard a sure word from God and you don’t warn people, you will be held accountable!
Read this with me from Ezekiel 3: 17-19:
“Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me. “When I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. “Yet if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered yourself.…”
I loved Corrie ten Boom. She was one of the sweetest people I ever met and I loved her! I interviewed Corrie many times on my show at PTL. During the holocaust she was a great friend of the Jewish people. She spoke one time about how all over the world, when evil came in, the missionaries told the people that if they’ll just accept Christ, they’ll never have to go through anything bad!
And so, when millions of them were slaughtered, they went to Corrie (the people who were left) and they said, “Corrie ten Boom, please tell the missionaries not to ever tell the people they will never go through anything.” Millions, they say, turned their back on God because they said “God didn’t save us. They lied.” They had been told by ‘church people’ that “you’re going to be raptured out before anything bad happens.” Well, they weren’t raptured out! They went through things and many perished!
My ministry of preparation today is because I want so badly to be true to what the Lord taught me in prison, and to be a wise watchman and not lie to people about being “raptured out” before they go through anything. If you’ll read my book, “Time Has Come,” you’ll see that I believe we are definitely going to go through some things because the scriptures bear it out!
So, today I am charged with warning people and doing all I can to help them get ready so that when tribulation comes, their faith won’t fail! I don’t want to be responsible for people turning their back on Jesus because they thought they wouldn’t go through anything in the End Times!
In prison, my whole religion or theology and understanding changed. Today, I preach about those things because I’m a changed man. When my time here is done, I want to be able to say that I did all I could do to prepare God’s people for His return, and then to hear “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter in.”
Love,
Jim
Wow, I get what you are saying but really couldn’t it been said in fewer words? How about this. Pastor Jim is right, there is only a post-trib rapture at the second coming. Therefore people get ready to go through the tribulation. Get yourself physically, spiritually and emotionally prepared for it. You have been duped by your pastors for many years because they would not preach the truth to you about sin and it’s ramifications, therefore, the christian church as become soft. Repent and read the bible for yourselves and get ready. You and I are going to need Jesus to get you through whatever happens.
Thank you for sharing your story. I grew up being told there will be a pre-trib rapture even by some very Godly preachers. But then I started reading the bible for myself regarding end time events and i just could not shake a few verses that clearly showed that the rapture doesn’t happen until the second coming of Christ. I can understand why the pre-trib believers feel the way they do because they have been taught from their pastors and other well meaning people that we’ll be rescued before the tribulation but it’s just not true. If you read all the scriptures (don’t cherry pick) you will see that the rapture happens in the Day of the Lord. And the Day of the Lord is the second coming. Please read Matthew 24 and Mark 13 carefully folks. Everything hinges on the Day of the Lord.
Pastor Jim,
God’s people, from the Old Testament unto to the New Testament, have ALWAYS – in one “way” or another – had to “suffer’ some MEASURE of “pain” – or even MARTYRDOM – along with the “wicked” during the Lord’s periods of “divine judgments” that He placed upon unrepentant Israel and other rebellious nations of the world that rejected Moses, the Prophets, and Jesus Christ.
Pastor Jim, as you are already aware; that if you just simply READ your own Bible – or just see for yourself, in actual “life”, as to how the Lord “deals with” faithful Christians; THAT whenever the Lord does indeed EXECUTE some form of “chastisement” upon a “people” or “nation”; that unfortunately, at times, the “righteous” do indeed SUFFER along with the “wicked”. Even the Lord’s faithful and righteous prophets of the Old Testament had suffered material and financial “loss” – and sometimes even suffering MARTYRDOM – whenever God had brought about another – and more powerful – “nation” to militarily “take over” the Holy Land; whenever God had decided that it was the “appropriate” time to raise up ANOTHER nation or empire, that He would eventually “use” for the purpose of rendering death and destruction upon the forever-disobedient “Children of Israel”. And the same is gonna be with us “SAINTS” during the upcoming Great Tribulation of Revelation!!
[Incidentally, Pastor Jim, there are two “kinds” of righteous SAINTS who will exist during the Great Tribulation: Those “saints who will be “caught”, detained, and possibly TORTURED by the henchmen of the Anti-Christ, awaiting to undergo a glorious MARTYRDOM for the Lord. And then, there will be those “OTHER” saints who God will “hide” in secret places of REFUGE around the world.
By the way, secular historians, such as the Jewish writer, Josephus, records a “TYPE” of fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy , coming out of Matthew 24; whereby Jesus WARNS his disciples of the DANGERS of being “around” Jerusalem when the Anti-Christ “desecrates” the Third Temple in Jerusalem, bringing in the “Abomination of Desolation”; and thus with the Jewish believers in Jesus (or “Messianic Jews” or “Nazarenes”) being warned by Christ to “FLEE” into the mountains of Judea when they see the Anti-Christ “abominate” the Third Temple in Jerusalem; BUT with a “TYPE” of this same Matthew-24 prophecy having ALREADY taken place in 70 AD; consisting of a type of “fleeing” of the Messianic Jews which was ALREADY occurring; since secular historical writings record that the Nazarenes claimed to have “heard” the “Holy Spirit” WARNING them to “FLEE” out of Jerusalem, since God was about to “use” the Roman Army to DESTROY the city of Jerusalem, because God’s people, by THIS time – after almost 40 years of the Crucifixion of Jesus; had still REFUSED to accept “Yeshua” as “Messiah”; and thus, about to experience Jesus’ dreadful deadly Matthew-24 prophecy of the Temple and the city being destroyed; and thus, with the Messianic believers having to “take heed” of a “type” of fulfilling of Jesus’ Matthew-24 predictions; and thereby FLEEING for the small town of PELLA in the Roman province of JORDAN; since Palestine – or the Roman province of Judea, plus the city of Jerusalem itself – was THEN undergoing a “divine judgment” consisting of a vicious seven-year “WAR” with the Roman military general, Titus (from 66 AD to 73 AD); and thus with the army of Jewish rebels and the city of Jerusalem finally being SACKED – and the Temple completely demolished, leaving not a single STONE overturned, even as Jesus prophesied that it would indeed happen, in Matthew 24 – by the Romans in 70 AD.
But, Pastor Jim, when the Anti-Christ finally comes, not ALL of the saints – THIS time – will be able to ESCAPE into the Judean mountains or caves, or escape to some other place of “refuge” around the world; since the Lord Himself has already RESERVED, in store, a particular NUMBER of saints who were already DESTINED, from Eternity Past, to serve as glorious MARTYRS for the Lord’s Great Name’s sake during the upcoming “Great Tribulation”
Jesus, being a rabbi, understood the Talmudic approach to prophecy; whereby in the ancient Jewish understanding of prophecy, prognosticated events – as recorded in the Torah – may occur in “TYPES” or cycles of events; that being, prophecy itself may have MULTIPLE fulfillments – or be “REPEATED” in various ways several times OVER throughout history; UNTIL that ultimate and FINAL fulfillment of the particular prophecy takes place by God’s own desired timing. (Incidentally, this is contradistinct from the Western/European understanding of Biblical prophecy; whereby Western theologians view prophecy occurring in a LINEAR fashion throughout history, rather than a CYCLICAL fashion. In other words, non-Jewish Bible scholars do not have a “typological” view of prophecy; but rather, they see Bible prophecy fulfilling itself only ONCE throughout World History].
So, therefore, there are indeed certain human beings, who DO live “righteously” in God’s sight – BUT yet, still end up being put to DEATH; and NOT necessarily because of any “mortal sin” on the part of the victim himself; BUT with God’s “righteous” saints sometimes ending up being killed primarily because of God’s own willingness to make a particular “child” of His to be a glorious “MARTYR” for His great Name’s sake [such as the numerous unmentioned Jewish prophets killed by Jezebel]. But, as for many of those ungodly Israelites that the Lord had “killed off” for their rampant disobedience; it was THOSE particular Jews who DID NOT, of course, die an honorable martyr’s death; BUT instead, had died an ignominious type of death, under the severe deadly wrath of the angry vengeful “Jehovah God”.
However, if the Lord DID indeed decide to “spare” His faithful “few” from martyrdom, in the hands of Israel’s enemies; that NEVERTHELESS God would still ALLOW for these same “righteous” Israelites to suffer LOSING almost every material and financial asset that they had acquired throughout their lifetime. And they suffered material loss, just like every other “wicked” Jew that was under “condemnation” from God, for the disobedience of most of Israel, as a corporate national body. In other words, Pastor Jim, even the so-called “righteous” of Israel had to suffer “COLLATERAL DAMAGE” of God’s judgments; in spite of the fact that JUDGMENT itself is primarily targeted towards “THE WICKED” – not the righteous themselves. That is, when you read the Old Testament, you’d see how that; even though the righteous remnant of Israel was not INDIVIDUALLY “responsible” for INCURRING the “judgments” of God; that NEVERTHELESS, the righteous were still, at least, CORPORATELY “responsible” anyway – for the Lord deciding to punish Israel with destruction by “foreign invasion”; because, unfortunately, from God’s own point of view, that the righteous Jews themselves were “citizens” of ancient Israel – just like the disobedient Jews; and in being residents and citizens of Israel; that CONSEQUENTLY, the righteous Jews were unavoidably and inextricably LINKED to the ungodly Babylonian “system” of greed, usury, and abomination; and thereby unavoidably “ASSISTED” in the “propping-up” of Israel’s counter-culture against God. In other words, Pastor Jim, in ancient Israel – and in any other ancient or modern society; THAT the very livelihood of “THE RIGHTEOUS” – in one “way” or another – is unavoidably directly or indirectly CONNECTED to – or tied to, or DEPENDENT on – the very SATANIC “system” of corruption and apostasy. That is, in any society or nation wherever “The Righteous” reside; that accordingly, their very LIVES are unavoidably dependent on what we cynically call: “THE SYSTEM”.
[For example, Pastor Jim, look how we “saints” TODAY are actually unaware of being “GUILTY”, before God; for constantly “propping-up” the West’s copy of the ancient Babylonian “banking system”, which VIOLATES the Biblical sin of “usury”, something of which is expressly FORBIDDEN in the Law of Moses; since it brings MEN and NATIONS into DEBT, and thus brings us all into perpetual FINANCIAL BONDAGE. So when God finally DESTROYS the modern-day satanic global Babylonian banking system, then all of our MONEY “tied” into this same immoral financial “system” will likewise “fall” – along with the wicked’s money; since the saints – like the wicked – put their hard-earned money into a “SYSTEM” that was already “anti-Christ” IN THE FIRST PLACE. God will NOT spare even “The Saints” from “economic collapse” of their money, since we are actually just as “guilty” as “The Wicked” for propping-up this same satanic money-enslaving system of usury and greed].
Therefore, as far as God Himself is concerned; that, during His judgments upon the earth, that EVEN the so-called “righteous Israelites” had to likewise SUFFER material and financial loss – BUT with the “silver lining” being that the righteous Jews were usually SPARED from being killed off by famine, or from being massacred by the hands of their invading enemies; WHILE, on the contrary, much of the so-called “wicked” were “killed off” by the Lord Himself, via His “use” of invading foreigners. And if the Lord would indeed protect His so-called “faithful” ones from death in the hands of an invading foreign “enemy”; that NEVERTHELESS, righteous Israelites could still expect to lose, at least, nearly ALL of their earthly possessions; and just PRAY God to bestow mercy and grace within the midst of such deadly and humiliating military defeat by a conquering nation.
Therefore, Pastor Jim, what really still concerns me about the Christian Church of Western Civilization – particularly the American Church; and even more particularly, the charismatic churches today – is that nearly all of these churches of the Western World are so filled up with the sin of covetousness – because of the hedonistic attitude towards the Western World’s high standard of living; that, the citizens in the “free”, “democratic”, “Christian” nations have so taken their God-given “blessings” for granted, to the point whereby the people living in these “free” nations have become most UNGRATEFUL to the Lord for all the good “gifts” that He has bestowed upon these same nations; and thus, the people here pay “little” or “no” ATTENTION to God Himself; or if they DO indeed pay “any” attention at all to God; that NEVERTHELESS, they do so – BUT only to those qualities of God that have to do with His so-called “LOVING KINDNESS” – as currently epitomized by the “prosperity gospel”, as today’s money-minded ministers focus on petitioning the Lord for nothin’ but “health and wealth”; and yet, these same materialistic “believers” conveniently IGNORE the character of God that has to do with the SEVERITY of His “judgments”. Or in other words, these ungrateful materialistic so-called “Christians” – both clergy and laypersons – purposely ignore the frightening judicial character of the very “wrath” of God, which is reserved for the persistently disobedient believer – along with the unrepentant “heathen” themselves.
How quickly and easily American Christians FORGET that God, throughout the New Testament, made to His children “promises” – or WARNINGS – of chastisement for our potential disobedience; just as He made “promises” of material and financial “blessings”, contingent upon our obedience towards Him. The whole Book of Hebrews, chapter 12, speaks on nothing but the “chastisement” of God upon New Covenant believers, due to any potential “disobedience” on their part. How convenient for today’s Church to IGNORE such glaring truths on the “judgments” of God that are warranted upon disobedient “disciples” of Christ!! Rhetorically asking, Pastor Jim, how come the “prosperity preachers” – and every other “type” of denominational minister loves to “PREACH” on the so-called “promises” of God’s “blessings”; yet these same ministers rarely – if EVER – preach on the “promises” of God’s “judgments” that are described in Hebrews 12 ?? Obviously, Pastor Jim, the REASON is because most “born-again” Christians in the “Free World” have “life” so easy – and love so much their “high standard” of living, to the point whereby many of them have FORGOTTEN about the very MERCY of God that had brought them out of the “bondages” of Hell in the first place [and in whatever form those particular bondages took, e.g., “physical”, “emotional”, “psychological”, “financial”, etc.]; and through the “lusts” of their own flesh, these same ungrateful Christians would rather CHOOSE to pay little or “NO” attention to the Bible’s explicit warnings of “judgment” ; and rather, conveniently and opportunistically focus MORE of their attention on God’s “promises” toward His children that deal with – physical, material, and financial “blessings”.
The most EXPLICIT New Testament verse that I could give you on Christians being “judged” by God, is Hebrews 10: 26-31, whereby the writer says that:
“If we [the Church] sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth [i.e., the words of Jesus Christ], there remaineth no more sacrifice [of the shed blood of Christ] for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment [by God] and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries [i.e., the “backslidden” Church].
He that despised Moses’ law DIED WITHOUT MERCY under two or three witnesses:
Of how much SORER PUNISHMENT, suppose ye [Christians], shall he [a disciple] be thought worthy [by God], who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
For we know Him that hath said, ‘Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord’. And again, ‘The Lord shall judge his people’ [i.e., His “backslidden” Church].
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” [KJV].
But alas, Pastor Jim!!! Who wants to hear any “rebuking” prophecies or “negative” prophecies, especially those which signify “doom and gloom” for the good ol’ USA??? The American Church is really setting itself up for great deception and destruction. Because American Christians are so steeped in their sins and hold LUST for material things, like the rest of the world – and REFUSE to REPENT; that accordingly, they therefore DO NOT want to hear authentic prophetic messages warning them of inevitable sufferings of “divine chastisement” due to their ongoing REBELLION against the Most High.
Right now, prophetically speaking, God is “PURGING” the entire nation – including the hedonistic/materialistic American Church – of her LOVE for MONEY, and love for status and material things. And so, our current “Economic Crisis” will not only JUDGE non-believers themselves; BUT also, it will judge us so-called “Christians” – for our own “love” for money and prosperity. The Lord, right now, is teaching the Church AND the entire country to NOT depend on our “jobs” or “careers” for our provisions; BUT to depend on Him – and HE alone!!
The Christian “pulpit” in America has been most DERELICT in its duty to preach prophetic warning to America, for this nation’s ongoing unrepented rebellion against God. Tragically, today, the Church herself IS NOT serving as God’s “watchman” for the world. Sadly, today’s contemporary American Church is TOO BUSY trying to be “accepted” and “loved” by the world itself. And therefore, the Lord is now JUDGING both the wicked backslidden American Church and the rest of her rebellious nation.
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? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
When you go to the Lord Jesus Christ you give Him everything you possess, physically, mentally, & spiritually you give Him the depth of your soul. Then you are His. He enters your heart & you enter His. You are in the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit & the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit is in you. You were given all the power & glory in God because you & God are ONE! May the Lord Jesus Christ be Magnified!!
Jim, it’s sad that bible collages taught the Bible to what verses to build *giving* sermons ignored most of the rest of the Bible. I admire you teaching the young the entire Bible before going out in the world whether it be broadcasting and/or preaching. Most of all making sure they teach others to be prepared, the true need for emergency foods and Survival equipment in their homes.
It’s true that false teachings people had misinformed God’s teachings, twisted the words of the Bible around to fit ether their religion etc. That they won’t go through revaluations and the tribulations time, many what should be called feel good religions, that’s full of preachers giving feel good longhorn sermons, a point here and a point there to fit the passing of the plate!
Then people go home feeling good about the future, they have no worries, then being in revelations there’s an earthquake, f 4, 5 tornado (More now in history!) or a Meteor or asteroid with the damage is so wide, food and help can’t get to them, services of water and electricity being out for months, learning hospitals and government are helpless and can’t do anything! Even worst Congress wants to deeply cut, even get rid of FEMA and all disaster relief then to give it to the states, where they won’t have the resources so good luck!
Jim, your teaching the reality of today and tomorrow, what we as God’s children must do to be prepared, teaching what God wishes what people needs to do and live!
God bless you and yours!
Dear Jim, being 87 years old have seen about all of it. No matter what people say, you are not preaching money . You offer something for the donation. I agree with you about the rapture, that we believers will have to endure some of it. I have read a lot of Watchman Nee’s writings. We can only die once so why not shout the Good News from the roof top. I also believe we are so near to the tribulation period. We will have been tried and tested well.
I guess it was all worth it then, wasn’t it Jim and look you have a wonderful ministry now again. That’s really all God wants is for us to see the real truth and so many aren’t seeing it today. His promise is that He can work all things to the good of the called. Actually, it’s really a very special thing that God will deal with a person to get them to see the truth, you actually had something very special happen to you Jim. Many go on their way, especially pastors and leaders, never seeing the real truth.
Kim