The Lord is speaking to the Jews (tribes of Judah, Benjamin and Levi) of Judea and to their modern day Israelite brethren (specifically the U.S. and Britain) through the Prophet Jeremiah. In chapter seven we find him addressing the soon-to-be-defeated and enslaved Jews and their last days brethren–the New Testament church at the end of the age. In verses five and six He uses the words “if you” three times. In each case He is telling them that if they would stop sinning, turn from their evil ways and obey Him He would allow them to remain in the land He had promised their ancestor Abraham because of his obedience. In verses four and eight He labels as “lying words” their claims to divine protection while continuing to sin. Their leaders were lying to them by telling them that, because they were the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel), and because they religiously attended Temple services, they had nothing to fear. The priests were telling them that the Almighty was perfectly satisfied with their religiosity. Sound familiar? Today their priests ministerial descendants tell people to come as they are and they will be allowed to stay as they are. They need to “only believe” in order to inherit eternal life.

In verse ten God chastises them for living in sin, then coming to the Temple claiming to have permission from Him to do so. Sound familiar? Does “I am just a sinner saved by grace. I can’t help but sin because I carry Adam’s sin gene. I was born a sinner and will remain a sinner as long as I live. All I need to do is believe and all will be well.” Where do religious people hear such “doctrines of devils?” In “the church, the church, the church.” See the Introduction to this website.

In verse 12 the Lord reminds the Jews of what He did to the other tribes of Israel for doing what they were doing. In verse 13 He remind them that, though He had repeatedly warned their Israelite brethren, they had refused to listen to Him. In verse 18 He specifically mentions their worship of the “queen of heaven.” Anciently she was called Ishtar–the goddess of fertility. In today’s world she is known as Easter and is celebrated with eggs, rabbits and chicks–symbolic of reproduction. In verses 19 and 20 God warns the Jews that He will do to them as He did to their brethren–He sent the Assyrians to slaughter and enslave them.

Several years after Jeremiah delivered God’s warning to the sinning Jews the Almighty sent the Babylonians to kill and enslave them. As had the other tribes, they had rebelled against Him. Now they would suffer the same consequences and for the same reason. By rejecting the Words of His prophets, the children of Israel proved that they despised Him. Jesus warned their New Testament counterparts about following in their footsteps (Lk. 10:16). As had their ancestors, the modern day church refuses to believe and obey the Words of God.

Because modern American and British churches reject God’s Word, and therefore Him and His Son, the Lord is about to do to them what He did to their ancient ancestors. Those who do not believe that “God would never destroy a Christian nation: are about to learn a hard lesson. The “times of Jacob’s troubles” are rapidly approaching. Being part of “the church, the church, the church” will not save the billions of living parishioners from the Lord’s wrath. He has prophesied that two-thirds of the world’s population will die during the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord. Among them will be those who believe that because they belong to “the church” they will be snatched up to heaven before the terror begins. The Lord said in Revelation 12:9 that “Satan has deceived the whole world.” There will be “wailing and gnashing of teeth” when these truths becomes evident.  L.J.