James 5:1-12. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.

"James 5:1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you." It is the curse of God upon the rich unrighteous people. Unless they repent with sorrow and grief, miseries will come upon them. Eternal damnation will be on them for sure, probably even worldly miseries may come upon them. "2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten." They have earned wealth through unrighteous ways, and they will be destroyed unless they change their ways. "3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days." This is a figure of speech for the curse of God. Gold and silver in the real world will not get rust, and flesh will not get to heaven. But what God says is that their wealth, which they have earned even in the end of their life will witness against them for their atrocities, and they will be punished with pain as fire is set on their flesh.

"4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth." Evil people were unrighteous and became rich. Righteous people became poor and served for wages. The unrighteous employers exploited their situation, cutting their wages, plundered them, and became richer. Poor people cried to the Lord, God heard their cry, and the rich will pay for it throughout eternity. "5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter." Jesus Christ told a story of a rich man and a poor man in Luke 16:19-25. ["Luke 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented."] In the story, the rich man did not exploit the poor man by fraud. Yet, look at the story, "25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented." The rich men, who kept the money of poor men by fraud and became rich, will have a horrible time in hell, a lot more severe than the rich man in the story. In general, the evil men condemn and kill the innocent. But in this context, it refers to the degree of fraud. The poor men did not even resist when they plunder. Jesus says in "Matthew 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain." The righteous men followed the teachings of Jesus Christ. Not only Jesus Christ taught this, he also has done this. Acts 8:32 says this. It says, "He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:" That is, Jesus did not resist them, so also, his followers did not resist them.

Apostle James rebuked and attempted to correct the unrighteous rich men and called owe unto them if they are not converted. He turned around, comforted, and encouraged the poor righteous people. "7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain." He asked them to be patient, trusting God, saying that he is coming. Scripture says that Jesus Christ comes four times, even though churches call every one of them as second coming, as if it is one time. This verse also says that early rain and latter rain, so, it is for a span of time, from the beginning to the end, rather than one single incident. If God reveals it to us, we will understand the mysteries of God, and we will know the truth. "8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." Again, he says that the coming of the Lord is nigh. Which one of the four comings that is nigh? He told this 2000 years ago, and so, this coming could have happened already, and the church had not known about it; and so, it still keeps on preaching that his coming is nigh, instead of preaching that he has already come. It is a big study, so, let me give the link to the study for you. Link is: "Second Coming." Jesus Christ comes for four times. They are: 1. Jesus Christ has already come as in Acts 3:26. 2. Jesus Christ will come to rapture his people as in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17. 3. Jesus Christ will establish his Millennium reign as in Revelation 20:4-6. And 4. He will destroy this world and create all new as in 2 Peter 3:7-14. If we receive the Lord Jesus Christ in the first "second coming", we will be with him until the end, if we will not fall away from him. Many verses say that God will establish us in him, as in "1 Thessalonians 3:13, To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints." So, if we receive our Lord Jesus Christ in his first coming, we will be made to abide with him, and we will be with him in all his comings. And we will inherit his kingdom in heaven, as joint heirs with him.

"9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door." We usually say that the judgment is at the end, referring to the white throne judgment. It is in Revelation 20:10-15. ["10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."] But this is not the white throne judgment, and now he stands before our door. In the first major event, which we call as second coming, Jesus Christ has already come to the world as in "Acts 3:26. It says, God having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities." So, Jesus Christ is in the world for more than 2000 years, turning us away from our sins. We might have yielded to him, guided by his Spirit, and are turned away from our sins and iniquities. In this case, either Jesus Christ has already visited us, or he will visit us, for us to abide in him. This is the second step of the first second coming, and this is personnel. Jesus Christ will also personally visit those, who do not follow the Spirit of God if he had not already visit them. It is to give them the final warning, as in Hebrews 3:13-15. It says, "13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation." The verses in this context are 7-19. ["7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. 11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) 12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. 16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief."]  God will close the door to salvation to those who will not adhere to the last warning. But they will continue to live in their flesh body as Adam and many others lived even after they lost their eternal life, as spiritually dead. So, phrases like, in such an hour they think not, and as a thief in the night, refers to how Jesus Christ comes suddenly and judges them to eternal death as they are living and committing sin, especially in this context. So, Jesus Christ may visit you at any time, if he had not visit you already; so, be careful not to harden your heart. There are three eternal judgments. This is the first eternal judgment now at any time. Either God accepts us and we may abide in him; Or, if we harden our hearts, the door to salvation will be shut permanently. This will be recorded in the books, and the final judgment will be according to what is written in the books. "Revelation 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." There will be no death bed salvation; it is fake and hoax, yet most Christians believe in such things.

Apostle James writes to the converted Jews, who suffered by the persecutions of the other Jews, as well as being mistreated by the so-called church believers, to comfort them. "10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." Even in the first chapter verse 12 he says, "12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." Jesus Christ says, "Matthew 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Luke 6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets." There are so many comforting and encouraging verses in the bible to those who undergo tribulation and persecution for the sake of Jesus Christ and God. Here apostle James gives the example of Job from the old testament. God allowed it and Satan destroyed Job. It is in the first chapter of the book of Job. His servants were killed, his thousands of asses and oxen were taken by Sabeans; his sheep and the servants who kept them were destroyed by fire; his camels were taken by Chaldeans; and his sons and daughters were killed by the collapse of the house they were in; Job lost everything in one day; and it was total devastation. What was the response of Job? "Job 1:20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. 22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." And let us see how God ended the story of Job. Job 42:12&13 say, "12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. 13 He had also seven sons and three daughters." Verse 10 says, "the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before." In the old testament, Job was blessed with twice as much he had before. In the new testament, the blessings will be hundred times, but it is in eternity. There were saints willingly went through such sufferings for that great reward. We see it in Hebrews 11:35-38. ["35 ... and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth."] They got the better resurrection to be with the Lord Jesus Christ, may be even as bride. "James 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation." This appears to be not of much importance. But it says not to use the name of God in vain. And it is the second of the ten commandments. "Deuteronomy 5:11 & Exodus 20:7, Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." Then Jesus Christ says, "Matthew 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black." Please do not ignore them; remember that they are given by the Lord Jesus Christ for us to follow. Those who follow the false grace will ignore them, but we should not reject them; and we must obey them. God will reward our obedience greatly.