Will the Church Go Through the Tribulation?

[jesus Villalobos]

Definitely Yes!

If you hold a pretribulation view or a mid tribulation view you need to read this article. Why? Because this article will explain why the Scriptures teach that the Church needs to go through the tribulation period to be cleansed or purified.

There are many prophecies which are being denied the Church by its leaders today. The prophecies dealing with Ephraim have nothing to do with the tribe of Ephraim mentioned in the Old Testament Scriptures. I am inserting a chapter of my book: "Three Days of Darkness and the Coming Flood" here to explain how the Church became Ephraim.

No, I do not subscribe to the British Israel theory so common today. That theory is in no wise Scriptural. However, the spiritual name of the Church did become Ephraim as did Jesus' Spiritual name after He resurrected. Here is the excerpt.

 

EPHRAIM AND MANASSEH—

A PICTURE OF JESUS’

TWO-FOLD MINISTRY




 

One of the mysteries I always wanted to understand was why God needed to include two children born in Egypt to Joseph, in the blessings Jacob gave to His children. Why not rather, have a Jewish woman marry Joseph. NO, this is not a prejudice statement. It is an honest question I asked God. I had to wait 40 years for God to answer me, but it was well worth the waiting.

Jacob, who was blessing his grandchildren, placed his right hand on the younger, and his left hand on the elder. This displeased Joseph, because he understood the significance of this action. It meant that the younger, would get the greater blessing. Joseph tried to remove his father’s hand from Ephraim, but Jacob protested that he knew exactly what he was doing, so Joseph let him continue. Genesis 48:14-19.

Ephraim was meant to be a picture of the Church.

Now before you get concerned that I subscribe to the theory that the Church replaced Israel permanently, let me set your heart at ease that I believe Israel still has God watching out for her and God intends to fulfill His promises to her. Israel is still God’s chosen nation. But back to our mystery.

The key to solving this mystery is to understand that Ephraim and Manasseh were

TWINS! What? Yes, twins. Now you may not understand this, but God spoke this into

my spirit as I was pondering this puzzle. Without understanding this point, you cannot

understand the significance of the blessing given by Jacob to his grandchildren.

The crossing of Jacobs hands (the right hand under the left as the younger twin stood on Jacobs left side), symbolized the cross of Jesus.

The cross is a spiritual blessing. What we have here, is a play on words so to speak. God does this throughout the Scriptures. The twins had to be born in Egypt, to symbolize the fact that Jesus would be born in Israel, a country which spiritually is called EGYPT. Revelation 11:7-8.

Jesus was given two lives in Egypt (Israel). One was carnal and one was spiritual. He

was, in a sense, born twice out of the same shell (body), which is symbolized by the twins being born out of one egg. The older child, Manasseh, symbolizes Jesus’ fleshly ministry which was born first, in a manger. The younger child, Ephraim, represents Jesus’ spiritual ministry which was born after His resurrection, and was greater because it will never end! Thus Ephraim, or Jesus’ second twin ministry (which makes it the younger since this ministry was born secondary to His fleshly birth), was more blessed.

Since this is true, we can say that Jesus’ spiritual name could be considered Ephraim.

If this is the case, then it stands to reason that since the Church married Jesus on the cross, her name also by marriage becomes Ephraim spiritually as well. This would explain the Scripture in which God states that Ephraim is His firstborn (A reference to Christ being the first born from the dead and the only begotten Son of God). Jeremiah 31:9.

Ephraim was the younger twin and thus could not be called the firstborn unless we

acknowledge this Spiritual truth.

So because of this fact, we are forced to come to the conclusion that Jeremiah was referring to Jesus. This being the case, we can see that many of the end time prophecies concerning Ephraim are speaking of the Church.

The one I would like to bring to your attention is Hosea 7:1. “Ephraim also is like a SILLY DOVE without heart; they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.” This is saying that the Church will become silly or lack sense, and will go to Israel (Egypt) and to Assyria (now known as Turkey).

Hosea 12:1 says, Ephraim (the church), feeds on wind, he daily increases lies and

desolation (This word desolation implies the abomination of desolation); and they do

make a covenant, with the Assyrians (Turkey), and oil is carried to Egypt (Israel).” Did

you catch it? The Church, will become without understanding and will make a contract

between Turkey and Israel, to bring oil to the land of Israel (which spiritually is called

Egypt).

A bit of history may be in order here. Assyria was conquered by the Roman legions and

the king fled to present day Turkey. The king brought ten of his generals with him in his

escape. It is interesting to note that the anti-Christ gives ten kings power for one hour

with him to destroy Mystery Babylon the harlot.

This contract between the Pope and Turkey, is talking about the seven year contract made with the anti-Christ. It will be made to bring oil into Israel. In light of today’s oil crisis, this makes perfect sense. This prophecy has to do with the head of today’s Christian Church, making a contract with Turkey to bring oil to Israel. This would be the POPE. The Pope Then becomes the false prophet, and the leader of Turkey becomes the anti-Christ! The word of God declares the anti-Christ to be Assyrian. Isaiah 10:5-21.



The above section of my book should clarify that it is indeed the Church or Ephraim which causes the anti-Christ to come to power. This shows the debauched state of the Church in these last days. While some may contend that this only shows that the Pope is involved with the anti-Christ, it is only one of the many prophecies showing Ephraim's state of sin which God will deal with in the end times.

These prophecies are being withheld from the Church in general and therefore are not used to show that the Church will be purified through her sufferings during the tribulation period. You can get more information by visiting my website.

http://www.timefortruth.webs.com

[Gene Cartwright]

This has always been a n area of fascinating study for me. I will check out your site. Thanks for the post.