Concepts in Christianity & End-Time Revelation - - By True Believer

Regarding the Woman Caught in the Very Act of Adultery - Was Jesus' Writing in the Earth a Prophecy Fulfilled?

2018-04-13T17:33:00.004-04:00

In John 8 we read how on one occasion Jesus was confronted by the scribes and Pharisees while he was teaching the people in the temple. They brought to him a woman who they claimed had been caught "in the very act" of adultery and asked him (in an attempt to test him so they might bring a charge against him) whether such a woman should be stoned to death in accordance with the law given by Moses. John tells us that " Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him about her, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her." (vv. 6-7)

I and many others have wondered why Jesus wrote on the ground in this situation and what he was writing. I cannot say with absolute certainty, but perhaps this situation is explained as a prophecy given in Jeremiah 17, where it states that the LORD (God) is the hope of all of Israel, and that all who turn away from Him shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the Lord. (v. 13)

This single verse in Jeremiah appears to support a notion that Jesus, as some say, was writing with his finger in the dirt the names of those accusers who were present, most likely the Pharisees, who were accusing the woman of the crime and essentially insisting that Jesus sentence her to death by stoning or they would bring charges against Jesus if he did not enforce the law of Moses.

However, as Jesus did often, he turned the tables on the accusers and brought their "wisdom" to nothing by giving them the perfect interpretation of Moses' commandment to stone such a woman by insisting that only those who had no sin could carry out the sentence. His interpretation of Moses was perfect in that it considered God's heart which is to give grace to the sinner who repents, as did the woman, and to resist the hypocrisy of sinful accusers who lack love for others and forgiveness. I believe that after being shamed by Jesus by having their names written in the earth by Jesus for all to see, they dropped their stones and left the scene.

How awesome is Jesus?

Stay humble, ask for forgiveness and freely forgive others.

Time is short. Repent, and prepare your heart for God.

2018 - True Believer

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The Lord Jesus Will Be Our Entire Government

2017-09-23T17:21:00.000-04:00

God has been placing Is 33 upon my heart for the past 6 months or so. I have read it, and read it, and read it, but was not sure why.

As we know, revelation of God’s word for scriptures He wants us to read comes sometimes immediately, and otherwise only after repeated reading and meditating and praying, or otherwise we may still not be sure of what he’s trying to tell us.

Today however, while reading Is 33 once again, verse 22 “jumped out” at me immediately. I can’t explain how it hasn’t happened during the past 25 or so times I’ve read it over the past 6 months, but it happened today. What I saw was, to me as someone having legal training, quite profound and something that I had never considered in its entirety.

In that one verse (Is 33:22), God gives greater detail regarding what is described in less detail in Is 9:6 which says, in pertinent part, that “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder.” We’re all familiar with that verse in Is 9, since it is often read on Christmas morning during Christian church service. But, I had never given more though as to what that “government” would be. So, in essence, Is 33:22 more fully describes that which is somewhat cryptically stated in Is 9:6.

Simply put, when Jesus returns to earth on the Mount of Olives on some future day (Zech 14:4) and begins His millennium reign from Jerusalem, He will be the world government. We, His saints, will help Jesus implement and carry out His government, since we will rule and reign with him during his 1,000 year reign (Rev 20:4). But, Jesus will be the de factor head of all government on earth. Also, after Jesus returns there will only be one government on earth (Rev 11:15), which will be run by Jesus from Jerusalem.

Jesus will be the head of all three branches of government – judicial, legislative and executive according to Is 33:22, which tells us that He will be our Judge (judicial branch), our Law Giver (legislative branch) and our King (executive branch – head of state). He will also be our Savior according to Is 33:22, which is something that no earthly monarch, president, legislative body or judiciary could ever be.

How wonderful is God to give us simple lessons from His word which give us another small picture of His infinite glory and majesty. Jesus will be, forever, our righteous king who reigns justly. As Ps 89:14 tells us, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of God’s throne.” Amen. Come Lord Jesus.

Time is short. Repent, and prepare your heart for God.

2017 - True Believer

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Abide in Christ & Bear Fruit -- A One-step Process that (by God's Grace) Produces (at least) Three Results

2016-03-04T12:04:00.000-05:00

Many of us have read the words of Jesus in John 15:4-7,

⁴Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers, and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷But, if you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (ESV)

I have often wondered what all this means. How does one "abide in Jesus", and how do His words "abide in us?"

Today, the Holy Spirit gave me a simple, yet profound, understanding. The key to my understanding was found in a passage of the Book of Matthew (Chapt 21).

In Mat 21, Jesus is entering Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. He rides into Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives on a donkey. We all know this story. He overturns the money changers tables, chases out the sellers of doves, etc.

The next day while teaching in the temple, after being asked by the pharisees by what authority He has been doing the things, Jesus speaks the "parable of the tenants" to the pharisees (Mat 21:33-44). We also should all be familiar with this parable.

At the end of the parable, Jesus tells the pharisees that because of their (and the Jewish nation's) refusal to believe in Him (i.e., their refusal to believe His word and not allowing it to abide in them), "the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits." (Mat 21:43)

So, by combining these teachings recorded in Mat 21: 43 and John 15:4-7, Jesus has taught us that when His words "abide" in us (i.e., when we believe His word and it dwells within us): (1) we automatically abide in Him, (2) we will receive whatever we ask (according to His will), and (3) we will bear fruit.

So, in summary, a short but powerful lesson is revealed:

- Let the Word of God (remember, Jesus is the Word of God) abide in you by letting it control what you say, how you react to events, and what you do in any situation

- Do this, and you will automatically be abiding in Jesus and He in you, and you will bear much fruit

We must do this to "retrain" our carnal minds and emotions. It takes work -- every day. We must read the Word and allow it to abide in us. This is how we fulfill Rom 12:2, so that we "transform our mind" and not be "conformed to this world." We need to learn God's way of doing things.

Bottom line: As Paul said, "let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly (fully, in all occasions)." (Col 3:16) Do so, and you will indeed bear much fruit.

Time is short. Repent, and prepare your heart for God.

2016 - True Believer

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ISIS, Iran and Turkey -- Gog, Magog & The Primary Invaders of Israel in Ez 38 & 39?

2015-12-05T20:50:00.002-05:00

[I originally published this blog on February 1, 2015. It was deleted. I am republishing it today with minor revisions, as its content is ever more so relevant as we appear to be approaching World War III.]

Much has been written about a future invasion and battle in the land of Israel described in Ez 38/39. I have studied this Biblical account for several years and have prayed for understanding and insight regarding the truth about the peoples and nations involved. In this blog, I express what I believe God has shown me. Although that which I write herein rubs against what is commonly taught on the subject, I give it to you so you may study it out for yourself and take it to God to confirm it.

The main actors in Ez 38/39 are commonly taught as being Russia, Iran, Turkey, Libya and Sudan (a large Islamic nation which is part of ancient Ethiopia. Ethiopia once included what is now Ethiopia, Somalia and much of Sudan). Most who teach this have set their minds to believe that the word translated as "Rosh" in Ez 38:2 is Russia. Without getting into great detail, I will say simply that I have read scholarly articles and books in regard to the translation of the word Rosh which appears in English translations of Ez38:2 adjacent to the Hebrew word "נְשִׂ֕יא" (pronounced "nshia") which is typically translated as "prince". I have come to the conclusion, based on the scholarly works which are quite well researched, that "prince of Rosh" is an incorrect interpretation in Ez 38:2. Rather, the word Rosh is grammatically structured in the Hebrew in Ez 38:2 to be a modifier to the word translated as "prince", such that these words should be translated together to indicate that Gog is the "chief prince" of Meshech and Tubal, not that Gog is the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. Gog is not the leader of Russia. Magog is not Russia.

So, let us continue by accepting this conclusion based on the assumption that Gog is the chief prince, the main influencer, of Meshech and Tubal. I believe that although Ez 38/39 does not describe Russia as Magog, I believe that Russia is described in the Bible elsewhere as a force which will come into play in this event, but not under the influence of "Gog". But more on that later regarding Russia's role and the scriptures which describe Russia.

So, who are Meshech and Tubal, who is Gog, and where is the land of Magog?

As seen in the map above, Meshech and Tubal are ancient people groups which were located in what is now modern Turkey. The same teachers (typically on TV and those writing books) that teach that Rosh is Russia also teach that Meshech is Moscow and that Tubal is Tbilisi. Both of those cities are in Russia. Most likely, they teach this because those names in English sound like Moscow and Tubal. Such teachers may also try to make the case that Meshech was in the area of Russia near Moscow. This people group, however, migrated to that region long after they were originally located in what is now Turkey, as shown on the map above. I will spare you additionally detail, but my research leads to a conclusion that the map above is correct regarding these people groups, and that Meshech and Tubal refer to the people groups who once lived in the area of modern Turkey. Therefore, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal in today's world appears to be Obama. It is he who gives the orders to the West, and to NATO to which Turkey belongs. Turkey is the home and financial supply ground of ISIS.

Regarding Gog of the land of Magog (Ez 38:2), my conclusion is that Gog is the wicked spiritual force behind the coming anti-Christ, who will be an actual or spiritual "Assyrian" (i.e., likely, to be a follower of Islam). To illustrate the location of Meshech, Tubal and Magog, please refer to the map above which shows these ancient designations being being located in modern Turkey. These conclusions are detailed in my 3-part blog on the coming Assyrian anti-Christ. Please refer to these three blogs to gain full insight and analysis, based strictly on scripture, regarding why the coming anti-Christ will be "Assyrian", and what his attributes, intentions and activities will be. This blog also describes how the book of Amos discloses that Gog shall lead an army of invaders from the east against Israel, which are described as locusts (Muslims, for reasons given in the blog) which have as their leader King Gog. Is not the leader of the West the "chief prince", or leader, of ISIS? (To understand the intent of ISIS, which is to bring about WW III, please visit a Dec. 3, 2015 article which explains this thought.)

Most everyone agrees that the Persia, Cush (Sudan) and Put (Libya) described in Ez 38:5 refer to modern Iran, Sudan and Libya, which are all Muslim countries. Turkey also is a Muslim country. Russia is not a Muslim country, except for the southern Muslim provinces of Russia which include Chechnya. Thus, an Islamic leader would not hold much sway over Russia, but would indeed hold sway over Muslim countries such as Persia, Turkey, Sudan and Libya.

Let us visit Dan 11 to get more information on the Ez 38/39 invasion of the land of Israel.

In Daniel 11 God shows us through the writing of the prophet Daniel various individuals who will, in their own time in history, be a respective "King of the North" and "King of the South." Beginning in Dan 11:25-28, God shows us an end time "King of the North" (who I say is the coming Assyrian anti-Christ, as discussed in my 3-part blog referenced above) who will carry out various nefarious activities, including: (1) attacking the land of Israel and the "King of the South" (modern Egypt); (2) deceiving, defeating and then looting Egypt; and (3) returning later a second time to come against Egypt (Dan 11:29-30). He is stopped from invading Egypt a second time by ships from the west (Kittim - e.g., NATO, or its successor). Most likely, the first invasion of Egypt by the coming anti-Christ stuns and catches the west off guard, but the second attempted invasion of Egypt is thwarted by the west.

At the time of the end, the King of the North (the coming Assyrian anti-Christ) will be attacked by the King of the South (perhaps Egypt), but the King of the North will counter-attack and defeat the King of the South with the use of many ships, tanks and and soldiers (Dan 11:40-43) and carry away and firmly control various treasures of Egypt.

However, at that time, the King of the North will hear news of forces advancing to his rear from the north and to his flank from the east. This news will trouble him (Dan 11:44) He will go out to confront these forces, but will not prevail and will ultimately be destroyed at the time Jesus returns to defeat the armies surrounding Jerusalem who are about to destroy it. This will be the battle of Armageddon described in Rev 16:16 and Rev 19.

Those advancing forces from the north and east are coming to the land of Israel to stop the King of the North anti-Christ, since at that time, the headquarter of the King of the North anti-Christ will be located near Jerusalem. (Dan 11:45 ) China is obviously the force advancing from the east with its 200 million man army (Rev 9:16), and Russia is the force advancing from the north.

The motivation behind Russia and China coming to the region of Jerusalem is uncertain at this time, but the motivation may at least include a desire to stop and "put a lid" on the King of the North anti-Christ. The motivation will certainly be revealed to us in time. Do Russia and China also have a "bone to pick" with Israel? Perhaps they simply want to control the large natural gas fields off the coast of Gaza which may be coveted and then-controlled by the coming Assyrian anti-Christ, and to keep him from controlling the oil fields of the middle east? Time will tell.

So, where is the United States in all this?

I believe that at least by the time of the third confrontation between the King of the North Assyrian anti-Christ and the King of the South (although perhaps earlier), the United States has been relegated to being a non-world power through: (1) internal civil war; (2) a nuclear attack and/or invasion by Russia and China; (3) a catastrophic event (e.g., eruption of the large volcanic cauldron in Yellowstone Park in Wyoming, large earthquakes destroying California and/or the mid-west in the region of the New Madrid fault); or (4) a combination thereof. It seems clear that the United States, at the time of the Ez 38/39 battle, is not mentioned and must no longer be a world power. Thus, the anti-Christ will have little fear of invading Egypt, and Russia and China will have little fear of invading the land of Israel to confront the King of the North anti-Christ. (Read for yourself the prophecies of the destruction of an end times Babylon in Jer 50, Jer 51, Is 47, Rev 17/18, etc. These passages of scripture refer to a nation which is the spiritually daughter of the ancient Babylon of the Bible. A wicked nation which has turned from God and is destroyed. I believe the United States is this end times Babylon. It is not hard to see that, at present, the United States is being transformed into the end times Babylon which is doomed to destruction. See my blog on this subject, based on scripture.)

Turkey and Iran, at the time of the Ez 38/39 battle, are controlled and influenced by the Islamic Assyrian anti-Christ (Gog) from N. Iraq with his ISIS army (or whatever ISIS evolves into) to come against the land of Israel to destroy it. Incidentally, most of the atrocities being committed today by ISIS (e.g., beheadings and the horrific slaughter of civilians) started to occur in the region of N. Iraq, but are spreading throughout the middle east; the geographical location of wicked ancient Assyria (Magog) and its capital Nineveh. The motivation of these Muslim nations and people groups to invade and destroy Israel is simple -- hatred. They hate Israel and the God of Israel. They will be influenced and controlled by the satanically possessed (Rev 12) King of the North anti-Christ (i.e., Gog), who will skillfully use the religion of Islam to be his controlling mechanism to unite Turkey, Iran and the nations of Sudan and Libya to join in a Islamic coalition to invade and destroy Israel. This is the Ez 38/39 coalition. Egypt is not named as part of this coalition since by that time it will have been attacked and pillaged by the King of the North, as described in Dan 11.

Thus, in summary, we see that at the time of the battle of Ez 38/39 in the future: (1) Russia will be a player in the final battle of this age, the battle of Armageddon, although not described in Ez 38/39 as being lead by Gog, who is the coming Assyrian anti-Christ; (2) the battle of Armageddon of Rev 16:16 and Rev 19 is the same battle as the battle described in Ez 38/39, which coincides with the last actions of the King of the North anti-Christ described in Dan 11; and (3) at least by the time of the advance of the armies of Russia and China toward the land of Israel to confront the King of the North Islamic anti-Christ, the United States is out of the way and is no longer a world power capable of stopping the anti-Christ, Russia or China. (Incidentally, in late 2014 China overtook the United States as the world's largest economic power. Thus, America's downfall has begun.) After the United States becomes completely impotent as a world power, Russia will become the new military power of the world.

Time is short. Repent, and prepare your heart for God.

2015 - True Believer

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WW III To Begin Soon in Syria? -- What Does the Bible Tells Us?

2015-10-09T12:27:00.004-04:00

The Bible, in Rev 9:13-15 tells us:
"Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, 'Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.' So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind."

In Syria today, we have ISIS fighters, Syrian soldiers, Russian planes and troops, Iranian troops, and soon...Chinese planes and troops. Additionally, the US and NATO said today that they are considering entering the fray by placing themselves between Russia and ISIS to "protect the moderate rebels." Exactly what is a moderate rebel? This is simply crazy. Can so many hostile enemies be in such a small geographic area without a major event unfolding?

Unless cooler heads prevail or God intervenes, I believe that we are witnessing the beginning of WW III, as predicted almost 2,000 years ago by John the Apostle as told to him by an angel sent by God to reveal the future of mankind.

If you study the image above of the location of the flow of the River Euphrates, you can easily see that this river, which is the Bible-predicted geographical "ground zero" for WW III, flows southward from Turkey through Syria. With the confluence of political and military powers assembling now in Syria for a showdown, can a hot war be far away? Only God knows when WW III will begin, but in the natural, the prelude to WW III appears to be forming before our eyes.

According to the Bible, during WW III one-third of mankind will be killed. Only a war which includes the use of nuclear weapons and/or bio-engineered disease weapons could accomplish this.

With a world population today of about 7.3 billion people, we are looking at the destruction of almost 2.4 billion people. No doubt, this destruction to mankind will be brought about in a matter of months, and not years (as in previous world wars).

We need to intervene through prayer to postpone this disaster and to ask for God's grace and mercy to do so.

Time is short. Repent, and prepare your heart for God.

2015 - True Believer

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The Two Interwoven Prophecies of Ez 38 & 39 -- The Gog/Magog Battles: Pre-Millenium and Post-Millenium

2015-08-15T12:53:00.002-04:00

I have been prodded by God over the past several weeks to read (again and again) Ez 38. Now, I was quite familiar with this chapter, as well as Ez 39. We know these chapters as the "Battle of Gog and Magog". However, God was trying to show me or teach me something specific to Ez 38. That's how He deals with me sometimes regarding reading the Bible. He prods me to read a certain chapter of the bible to show me something I had not really understood fully.

So, I read and re-read Ez 38 over the past few weeks five or six times. I was beginning to think that perhaps I was simply hearing my own thoughts and was becoming fixated on this chapter. I consciously did not want to keep re-reading the same (I thought) familiar passages in Ez 38. So, I began to believe that it was my own thoughts that were having me go over this same ground again and again. I even asked God if I was really hearing Him, or whether it was simply me. I felt gently, yet firmly, prodded to read it once again -- which I did yesterday, reluctantly, out on my back porch during the afternoon of a beautiful summer day. What I finally saw in Ez 38 took me by complete surprise. Verses that I had read many, many times before somehow "jumped" up into my mind as something I should stop and ponder. This is how God deals with me when He wants to teach me something in His word. He may deal differently with you.

I previously believed that the battle described in Ez 38/39 was the "Battle of Armageddon", which will occur just before Jesus' return. I strongly believed that, based on my reading and studying Ez 38/39 -- until yesterday.

Yesterday, as I read through Ez 38 (and Ez 39, for good measure), the same familiar verses I had read previously numerous times took on a new meaning, and I was presented with a dilemma. These chapters speak of an invasion force coming against a land and people who live in safety. But, if this battle does occur, as I previously believed, not at the beginning of Daniel's 70th week (commonly referred to incorrectly as "the tribulation") as many believe and teach, but as part of the Battle of Armageddon just prior to Jesus' return, how could those in the land of Israel be living safely at that time? After all, the anti-Christ will at that time be persecuting severely Jews (and Christians too) beginning at the mid-point of Daniel's 70th week when he declares himself to be "god" and the abomination of desolation is set up, likely by him. (See, Dan 9: 27; Mat 24: 15-22) They (Jews and Christians) will be persecuted right up to the time of Jesus' return for 3 1/2 years.

I had never seen this rather sharp contradiction previously in Ez 38.

God then, as He does sometimes with me, asked me how to resolve this incongruity. Sometimes He makes me think about it to figure something out. Instantly, I remembered the description of a future battle of Gog and Magog which occurs at the end of Jesus' millennial reign, as described in Rev 20: 7-9. That battle is described as being quite short-lived, as God simply wipes out and destroys the invaders coming against Jerusalem by sending fire down on them from heaven. Not much of a battle, really.

Also, in Ez 39: 7 it describes that after this future battle God will not allow His name to ever be profaned again.

So, this presented another contradiction, since the final battle of Gog and Magog at the end of the millennial reign of Christ will most certainly involve the final rebellion against God. No doubt, during that final rebellion leading up to that final battle God's name will be profaned once again ... but for the last time forever.

Therefore, the scenario of Ez 38/39 describing a single "battle" as a single event which occurs just prior to Jesus' return at Armageddon fails for at least these two factors, which I had never before noticed. In summary, the two factors are: 1) that the people live in safety and not in persecution, and 2) that God's name will never again be profaned.

These two factors cannot be satisfied anytime prior to the end of the Christ's millennial reign, and yet, many other events described in Ez 38/39 appear to fit well as a description of the Battle of Armageddon just prior to Jesus' return.

So, this sparked the idea in me that perhaps the "battle" described in Ez 38/39 was actually two separate events -- two battles being described and interwoven through these passages. One battle occurring just prior to Christ's pre-millennial reign and the other at the end of the millennium reign. Could this be? I felt compelled to investigate further.

I felt inspired to go online and find the Septuagint version of Ez 38/39. After all, it was the version of the Old Testament in common usage when Jesus walked the earth (it is a Greek translation of the original Hebrew and Aramaic version of what we call the "Old Testament"). Perhaps there was something (hopefully) in the English version of the Septuagint online that would help me to resolve the riddle.

God reminded me, at almost the same time, how the millennium-end battle will end with fire coming down from heaven to defeat Gog and the armies with them, very quickly. Very decisive. No fighting required by those on the earth. Also, Ez 34:28 describes that when Jesus returns and gathers His people Israel to Himself, "they shall all dwell securely and none shall make them afraid." This confirms that the time of "security and safety" occurs during the millennium, which gives further evidence that Ez 38/39 also describes a millennial-end battle.

Well, low and behold. Every English version of Ez 39: 6 in various versions of the Bible that I have read to date says that God will send fire on Magog -- meaning the land of Magog, and not Gog. Indeed, many teach that the description of fire coming on Magog signals the destruction of Russia -- who those who teach this idea say Russia is the land being referred to as the land of Magog.

However, the Septuagint version of the Old Testament (which Jesus knew and read, since it was the prevalent version of the Old Testament when He walked the earth) translates Ez 39: 6 to say that God will send fire on Gog. This lines up perfectly with Rev 20: 7-9, discussed above, where God will destroy Gog and his armies the end of the Millennium with fire -- not the land of Magog. Wow! This understanding also frees up the timing of the first battle of Ez 38/39 so that it can take place ANYTIME prior to Jesus' return. Perhaps prior to Daniel's 70th week, perhaps during the 70th week, or perhaps at the time of the Battle of Armageddon immediately prior to Jesus' return.

So, I then felt further inspired to be sure and to again "analyze" Ez 38/39 verse by verse. I read carefully each single verse of Ez 38/39 of the Septuagint version, verse by verse, and coded each verse individually as referring to the "pre-millennium" time period or to the "millennium end" time period, or to "both".

I created two Word documents and simply copied and pasted every verse I coded into one, or both, of these two documents -- one document for "pre-millennium" verses and the other for "millennium-end" verses. I put each verse coded as "both" into both documents. I did not read either document until I had analyzed and moved each and every verse of Ez 38 and 39 into one or both of the two documents. What I read in each document after I finished this work was, quite frankly, God-given and amazing.

I have provided the text of each of the two documents below for your review. I had simply analyzed and sorted verse by verse, as I felt led by God.

When you read the two documents, you can see that the verses applicable to one time frame or the other, or both, which were indeed describing two separate events that were interwoven in Ez 38/39 read as separate and distinguishable events even though the verses are not all consecutive!

So, I believe God was fine-tuning my prior understanding of Ez 38/39 to show me that I had missed a few major points which were hiding in plain sight.

My conclusion: Ez 38/39 describes two battles involving Gog of the land of Magog. The first battle occurs any time prior to Jesus' return. The second battle occurs at the millennium-end just prior to the Great White Throne Judgement found in the Book of Revelation.

See for yourself, below. Let it bless you. God rewards those who seek Him. Praise be to God.

Ez 38/39 Pre-Millennium Prophecy

38:1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying

38:2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, and the land of Magog, Rhos, prince of Mesoch and Thobel, and prophesy against him

38:3 and say to him, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, Rhos prince of Mesoch and Thobel

38:4 and I will gather thee, and all thine host, horses and horsemen, all wearing breast-plates, with a great multitude, shields and helmets and swords

38:5 Persians, and Ethiopians, and Libyans; all with helmets and shields

38:6 Gomer, and all belonging to him; the house of Thorgama, from the end of the north, and all belonging to him; and many nations with thee

38:7 Be thou prepared, prepare thyself, thou, and all thy multitude that is assembled with thee, and thou shalt be to me for a guard

38:13 Sabba, and Daedan, and Carthaginian merchants, and all their villages shall say to thee, Thou art come for plunder to take a prey, and to get spoils: thou hast gathered thy multitude to take silver and gold, to carry off property, to take spoils

38:15 and come out of thy place from the farthest north, and many nations with thee? all of them mounted on horses, a great gathering, and a large force?

38:16 And thou shalt come up upon my people Israel as a cloud to cover the land; it shall come to pass in the last days, that I will bring thee up upon my land, that all the nations may know me, when I am sanctified in thee before them

38:17 Thus saith the Lord God, to Gog; Thou art [he] concerning whom I spoke in former times, by the hand of my servants the prophets of Israel, in those days and years, that I would bring thee up against them

38:18 And it shall come to pass in that day, in the day when Gog shall come against the Land of Israel, saith the Lord God

38:19 [that] my wrath and my jealousy shall arise, I have spoken in the fire of mine anger, verily in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel

38:20 and the fish of the sea shall quake at the presence of the Lord, and the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the field, and all the reptiles that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are on the face of the earth; and the mountains shall be rent, and the valleys shall fall, and every wall on the land shall fall

38:21 And I will summon against it even every fear, saith the Lord: the sword of [every] man shall be against his brother

38:22 And I will judge him with pestilence, and blood, and sweeping rain, and hailstones; and I will rain upon him fire and brimstone, and upon all that are with him, and upon many nations with him

38:23 And I will be magnified, and sanctified, and glorified; and I will be known in the presence of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord

39:1 And thou, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, Rhos prince of Mesoch and Thobel

39:2 and I will assemble thee, and guide thee, and raise thee up on the extremity of the north, and I will bring thee up upon the mountains of Israel

39:3 And I will destroy the bow out of thy left hand, and thine arrows out of thy right hand, and I will cast thee down on the mountains of Israel

39:4 and thou and all that belong to thee shall fall, and the nations that are with thee shall be given to multitudes of birds, [even] to every fowl, and I have given thee to all the wild beasts of the field to be devoured

39:5 Thou shalt fall on the face of the field: for I have spoken [it], saith the Lord

39:8 Behold it is come, and thou shalt know that it shall be, saith the Lord God; this is the day concerning which I have spoken

39:9 And they that inhabit the cities of Israel shall come forth, and make a fire with the arms, the shields and the spears, and bows and arrows, and hand-staves, and lances, and they shall keep fire burning with them for seven years

39:10 and they shall not take any wood out of the field, neither shall they cut any out of the forests, but they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall plunder those that plundered them, and spoil those that spoiled them, saith the Lord

39:11 And it shall come to pass [that] in that day I will give to Gog a place of renown, a tomb in Israel, the burial-place of them that approach the sea: and they shall build round about the outlet of the valley, and there they shall bury Gog and all his multitude: and [the place] shall then be called the burial-place of Gog

39:12 And the house of Israel shall bury them, that the land may be cleansed in the space of seven months

39:13 Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a [place] of renown in the day wherein it was glorified, saith the Lord

39:14 And they shall appoint men continually to go over the land, to bury them that have been left on the face of the earth, to cleanse it after the space of seven months, and they shall seek [them] out

39:15 And every one that goes through the land, and sees a man's bone, shall set up a mark by it, until the buriers shall have buried it in the valley, the burial place of Gog

39:16 For the name of the city [shall be] Burial-place: so shall the land be cleansed

39:17 And thou, son of man, say, Thus saith the Lord; Say to every winged bird, and to all the wild beasts of the field, Gather yourselves, and come; gather yourselves from all [places] round about to my sacrifice, which I have made for you, [even] a great sacrifice on the mountains of Israel, and ye shall eat flesh, and drink blood

39:18 Ye shall eat the flesh of mighty men, and ye shall drink the blood of princes of the earth, rams, and calves and goats, and they are all fatted calves

39:19 And ye shall eat fat till ye are full, and shall drink wine till ye are drunken, of my sacrifice which I have prepared for you

39:20 And ye shall be filled at my table, [eating] horse, and rider, and mighty man, and every warrior, saith the Lord

39:21 And I will set my glory among you, and all the nations shall see my judgment which I have wrought, and my hand which I have brought upon them

39:22 And the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God, from this day and onwards

39:23 And all the nations shall know that the house of Israel were led captive because of their sins, because they rebelled against me, and I turned away my face from them, and delivered them into the hands of their enemies, and they all fell by the sword

39:24 According to their uncleannesses and according to their transgressions did I deal with them, and I turned away my face from them

39:25 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Now will I turn back captivity in Jacob, and will have mercy on the house of Israel, and will be jealous for the sake of my holy name

39:26 And they shall bear their reproach, and the iniquity which they committed when they dwelt upon their land in peace. Yet there shall be none to terrify [them]

39:27 when I have brought them back from the nations, and gathered them out of the countries of the nations: and I will be sanctified among them in the presence of the nations

39:28 And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, hen I have been manifested to them among the nations

39:29 And I will no more turn away my face from them, because I have poured out my wrath upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God

Ez 38/39 Millennium-End Prophecy

38:1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying

38:2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, and the land of Magog, Rhos, prince of Mesoch and Thobel, and prophesy against him

38:3 and say to him, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, Rhos prince of Mesoch and Thobel

38:4 and I will gather thee, and all thine host, horses and horsemen, all wearing breast-plates, with a great multitude, shields and helmets and swords

38:7 Be thou prepared, prepare thyself, thou, and all thy multitude that is assembled with thee, and thou shalt be to me for a guard

38:8 He shall be prepared after many days, and he shall come at the end of years, and shall come to a land that is brought back from the sword, when [the people] are gathered from many nations against the land of Israel, which was entirely desolate: and he is come forth out of the nations, and they shall all dwell securely

38:9 And thou shalt go up as rain, and shalt arrive as a cloud to cover the land, and there shall be thou, and all that are about thee, and many nations with thee

38:10 Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass in that day, that thoughts shall come up into thine heart, and thou shalt devise evil devices

38:11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the rejected land; I will come upon them that are at ease in tranquility, and dwelling in peace, all inhabiting a land in which there is no wall, nor bars, nor have they doors

38:12 to seize plunder, and to take their spoil; to turn my hands against the desolate land that is [now] inhabited, and against a nation that is gathered from many nations, that have acquired property, dwelling in the midst of the land

38:14 Therefore prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog, Thus saith the Lord; Wilt thou not arise in that day, when my people Israel are dwelling securely

38:18 And it shall come to pass in that day, in the day when Gog shall come against the Land of Israel, saith the Lord God

38:19 [that] my wrath and my jealousy shall arise, I have spoken in the fire of mine anger, verily in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel

39:1 And thou, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, Rhos prince of Mesoch and Thobel

39:6 And I will send a fire upon Gog, and the islands shall be securely inhabited: and they shall know that I am the Lord

39:7 And my holy name shall be known in the midst of my people Israel; and my holy name shall no more be profaned: and the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy [One] in Israel

** Please share this message with others to bless them and let them know that God has everything under control. How amazing is He? Just trust in Him and watch what He will do for you.

Time is short. Repent, and prepare your heart for God.

2015 - True Believer

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The Time of Trouble is at Hand -- Open Your Eyes and Prepare Your Heart

2015-05-09T12:20:00.000-04:00

This message to you is in my spirit. It must be proclaimed NOW. Time is short. The "time of trouble" spoken of throughout the Bible is near. Economic and societal collapse (at least the beginning stages of each) is MONTHS away and will begin in earnest THIS YEAR -- 2015. I am not a fear monger. I am a watchman and am giving you warning. Take heed for your own sake, for your family's sake, for the sake of those you care about. He who has an ear to hear, listen to what the Spirit says.

Hear some of the many words God has spoken regarding what is coming, what you must do, and what you are promised by God if you believe He is God and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Ps 9:9 - The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Ps 37:39 - The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.

Ps 10:1 - Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

Ps 49:5-6 - Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me, those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?

Is 33:2 - O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble.

Ps 27: 4-6 - One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to pray/meditate in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His shelter. In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me. He shall set me high upon a rock. Now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle and I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

Jer 11:12-14 - Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry to the gods to whom they make offerings, but they cannot save them in the time of their trouble. For your gods have become as many as your cities, O Judah, and as many as the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to shame, altars to make offerings to Baal.  “Therefore do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer on their behalf, for I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their trouble. (My comment: since God never changes, He has this in store for America, as well, for the same reasons Judah and Jerusalem turned from Him, and He will only protect those whom are His.)

Jer 14:7-9 - “Though our iniquities testify against us, act, O Lord, for your name's sake; for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you. O you hope of Israel, its savior in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who turns aside to tarry for a night?  Why should you be like a man confused, like a mighty warrior who cannot save? Yet you, O Lord, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; do not leave us.”

Jer 15:11-12 - The Lord said, “Have I not set you free for their good? Have I not pleaded for you before the enemy in the time of trouble and in the time of distress?  Can one break iron, iron from the north, and bronze?

Dan 12:1 - “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. There shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.

Job 38:22-23 - “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?

Mat 24:36 - Concerning that day and hour, on one knows -- But you will know, and you must know the season in order to prepare your heart to get ready, in order to not be deceived and to be able to instruct others what time it is so they may know what to do.

Prepare your spirit. Prepare your family. Prepare your pantry. Prepare your wallet.

Fill yourself with the Word of God, so you may draw from it in the coming time of trouble.

Time is short. Repent, and prepare your heart for God.

2015 - True Believer

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Ez 23 -- A "Sister" Prophecy of Ez 38 & 39 Concerning Jerusalem

2015-01-17T10:14:00.003-05:00

Many of you have no doubt never read about nor heard of a prophecy about a coming attack against Jerusalem given to us by God in plain sight, found in Ez 23. I have read Ez 23 previously, but never saw the connection to Ez 38, 39 -- until today when the Holy Spirit showed me that it is a prelude to what is written in Ez 38, 39 regarding the coming invasion and attack of the land of Israel, and specifically Jerusalem.

Ez 23 unlocks more of the feelings, thoughts and rationale behind why God has chosen to have Jerusalem surrounded and attacked in the "last days". This coming battle is described at length and in great detail in Ez 38, 39. I am sure that many of you are indeed familiar with those two famous chapters describing God's coming wrath against the hordes which will invade the land of Israel to destroy Jerusalem and to put an end to it.

A question, at least for me, has been WHY? I mean, why is God going to allow Jerusalem to be surrounded, attacked and nearly destroyed? Why will God allow 2/3 of the people in the land of Israel to be killed? (See, Zech 13) Why? Why? Why? A glimpse of God's reasons for the invasion is given in Ez 38, 39. However, God tells us more in Ez 23.

In Ez 23 God lays out in parable form (God loves parables, does He not?) how two daughters (i.e., the two houses of Israel) were born of the same mother (Jacob/Israel). These two daughters are called by God in Hebrew "Oholah" (the elder sister) and "Oholibah" (the younger sister), which loosely translated mean "her own house" and "my house is in her", respectively. These names are consistent with the names God gives to the two houses of Israel throughout the Old Testament. God tells us in Ez 23 that the elder daughter is Samaria (one of God's nicknames for the house of Israel -- the 10 northern tribes who "did their own thing") and the younger daughter is Jerusalem (God's temple, His house, was in Jerusalem).

Both of these daughters became harlots, where the many harlotries of the elder sister Oholah (Samaria) are described first. She lusted for the Assyrians and their idols, so God eventually gave her (10 norther tribes of Israel) over to her Assyrian lovers because of her disdain for God. She turned her back on God, so God in His anger, reluctantly, turned His back on her by giving her over to the Assyrians.

This event occurred historically in approximately 720 or so B.C.E. when the Assyrian army invaded the land of Samaria and took away captive to Assyria the 10 northern tribes of Israel. Thereafter, those 10 tribes (Oholah) were scattered throughout the Assyrian empire and among the gentile nations where they remain scattered today.

So, what about the younger harlot sister Oholibah (Jerusalem - representing the 2 southern tribes, including Judah)?? What has been, or will be, her fate?

When you read Ez 23: 22-27, you see a description of: (1) who is going to come against Jerusalem and invade her to attack her; (2) why she is being attacked; and lastly, (3) what will become of her.

In essence, those coming against her (Jerusalem - the younger harlot daughter) are described as an invading horde which includes Assyrians (i.e., the modern people groups which equate with the ancient Assyrian empire), which resembles those coming against her in Ez 38, 39. This is not the same group of invaders/attackers which will come someday soon against the land of Israel which is described as the Ps 83 war. Regarding Ez 38, 39, I have analyzed the scriptures carefully and have concluded (as have others) that these chapters describe a "last days" battle against the land of Israel and will feature the coming anti-Christ who will be from the peoples of ancient Assyria. I have written a 3-part blog in 2014 about the coming Assyrian anti-Christ and my reasoning, based on scripture. But I digress.

It appears from the context of Ez 23: 24-27 that those coming against the younger harlot sister Oholibah (Jerusalem) will punish her severely, burn her, strip her naked and plunder her. God tells us why -- because of His jealousy and wrath due to her many harlotries which she first learned in Egypt with her elder sister and never gave up. In fact, God says in Ez 23 that the harlotries of Jerusalem (Judah) were WORSE than those of her elder harlot sister Oholah (Samaria - 10 northern tribes). (Ez 23: 11)

I believe from the context of the entire chapter 23 of Ezekiel that Judah's captivity in Babylon (which occurred from about 586-516 B.C.E.) is spoken of, but IN ADDITION, it describes a coming attack on Jerusalem by hordes similar to those described in Ez 38, 39.

The key to this conclusion and analysis is God's description of the invaders and how they will come against her from all sides (Ez 23: 23-24), but also what God says will be the end result of His wrath, judgment and punishment of Jerusalem (Oholibah - the younger harlot sister). God says that He will "will make you [Judah - Jerusalem - Oholibah] cease your lewdness and your harlotry from the land of Egypt, so that you will not lift your eyes to them nor remember Egypt anymore." (Emphasis added). (Ez 23: 27)

In other words, God is punishing the younger sister Oholibah by giving her into the hand of her idol worshiping lovers (the invading and attacking Assyrians and those accompanying the Assyrians), but God will bring her back to Himself by redeeming her, pouring out His Spirit on her, and causing her to never turn from Him again.

The cleansing, forgiveness and purifying of Jerusalem will not occur until the Ez 38, 39 invasion. God tells us in Ez 39: 7, 21-29 that after the invading armies are destroyed He will set His glory in Jerusalem and that His name shall never be profaned again. Clearly, this will not occur until just before Jesus returns to save Jerusalem from the invading armies. (See Zech 12-14 and Rev 19). The house of Israel (both unfaithful sisters, Oholah and Oholibah) will know then, without a doubt, that Jesus is their Lord, Savior and God from that day forward - forever. (Ez 23: 7) This will not happen until this last great battle for Jerusalem occurs, as described in Ez 38, 39.

So, in conclusion, God gives us another view of His feelings, thoughts and intended actions in regard to the two beloved, yet very mischievous and promiscuous houses of Israel -- the daughters, Oholah (the elder harlot sister - Samaria, the 10 norther tribes of Israel, now disbursed throughout the world among the Gentiles) and Oholibah (the younger harlot sister who committed worse idolatry - Jerusalem (the tribe of Judah, and those of Israel associated with Judah) many of whom now occupy and live in the land of Israel today). Praise God!

Time is short. Repent, and prepare your heart for God.

2015 - True Believer

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God is Judging America - Severe Judgement Coming Unless Repentance Comes Soon -- Repent & Prepare: Jerimiah 51:7-14 Being Fulfilled

2014-10-24T12:56:00.001-04:00

I posted a first message on this subject, for the church of Christ to WAKE UP, in August 2013. The body of Christ, the church, must take this message to heart NOW, be sober-minded, and seek Him with contrite heart. Time is short for the church here in America. National elections will be held in two weeks. But, a political solution to the present situation in our nation is NOT the solution. God is our only solution.

Previously, I spoke of increased opposition to all things Christian occurring in this nation. There is increasing hatred of Christianity. This hatred is approaching critical mass; now permeating our society and government. This situation will continue, increase and not end any time soon without repentance.

The church of God, the body of Christ, consists of participants and believers. Participants attend church once a week (if that often), sing praises to God while at church, go home, go to work, go online, play video games, go shopping, and watch sports. GOD WANTS AND HONORS BELIEVERS, NOT PARTICIPANTS. Participants are like unpleasant smoke in His nostrils (Is 65: 5); a luke-warm substance He will spit out of His mouth. (Rev 3: 16)

A believer is one who sighs and cries/groans (Ez 9: 1-6) seeing all the abominations swirling around us in in America in our ever-darkening anti-Christian, secular society. A believer sees what is happening and prays intercessory prayers in the name of Jesus for forgiveness of our nation, and for forgiveness as individuals who have missed the mark in their own lives. Participants do not see the darkness and the changes coming upon us, or if they do notice, they shake their heads (at most) and think, "well, what can I do?" Participants are NOT believers. Which are you?

Are you shocked? Are you outraged? Do you have a clue?

The prevailing message in the church today spoken each Sunday by church leaders, both pastors and priests, is that God is love and that Jesus loves you. This is true, but we need more to grow spiritually. Some leaders are also preaching, falsely, that things will get better soon -- just hang in there. This is not true. No such thing will happen without repentance. Some are preaching the prosperity message of "just claim God's promises that He will make you rich, etc." This is nonsense.

Jesus said to seek FIRST the kingdom of God, and HIS righteousness, and then (and only then) everything you NEED (not everything you want/covet) will be given to you. (Mat 6: 33) The major part of seeking God and His kingdom is personal repentance. The body of Christ CANNOT change anything without this first step. In fact, judgment (separating believers from participants) will begin first, and I believe has begun, IN THE CHURCH and will intensify. (1 Pet 4: 17; Ez 14: 6)

Many of you may not believe this or want to hear this. WHY NOT? Could it be because you have been dumbed-down as a Christian through endless sermons on Sundays which never amount to much more than kindergarten basics for Christians? Such sermons are just "milk", as Paul said. (1 Cor 3: 2)

Do you have faith to survive Ebola? Do you have faith to survive a nuclear attack? Do you have faith to survive a famine with the power grid down and/or martial law in place? Do you have faith to survive tremendous civil unrest, accompanied and caused by food shortages, gasoline shortages, and ATM/bank cash shortages?

Is your heart ready for this? Because if it is not, PREPARE NOW.

You may wonder why or how God would judge us, America. After all, God helped establish America. Right?

Some years ago, I was taught by a great teacher of the bible that "God is not judging America" and that he will never judge America. His statement was based on his belief that God is not judging individuals these days, since all judgment and punishment for all sin had been placed upon Jesus (which it was). This teacher also tells us (correctly) that God's grace is upon each of us who have accepted Jesus as our Lord (master), Savior and Redeemer.

BUT, God is indeed judging NATIONS, including America. (See, Ps 9:17, God tells us that all nations that turn from Him will be sent to hell). God has been judging nations since nations have existed, including Israel who God likened to the "apple of His eye", and this is a pattern for any nation which once embraced God and His blessings and then turns a calloused eye to Him once prosperity in that nation causes complacency. God never changes.

Israel (which is an example for us, and for any nation) was constantly judged by God for straying from God. It is a sin, yes a sin, which God WILL NOT overlook forever. God does not change. He is merciful, He warns, He brings increasing judgments, He warns again, He even brings great prosperity after these warnings and judgements because it is the goodness of God that He uses to bring people, HIS people, to repentance.

This verse of scripture is often used as a tool in evangelism to bring a non-believer to accept Christ as Savior and Lord. (Rom 1:18 - 2: 11) But if you read the entire scripture cited here in its context in the Book of Romans, it tells us that God brings righteous judgment against all who live lives without concern for their sinning and without repentance -- whether they be a non-believer or a "participant" church member. A true believer knows this, and lives to be holy -- asking for forgiveness and repenting when they miss the mark. A believer seeks God DAILY and asks that He guide them and counsel them. A believer trusts in Him on a daily basis in order to live a life seeking God and relying on Him to get through anything that comes along at home, at work, or in traffic. Indeed, for such a person, God will guide them and get them THROUGH it. I do NOT say or intimate that God will make sure you never encounter trials or trouble. Jesus tells us that in the world we WILL have troubles, but we are to remember that He has overcome everything and will help us overcome as well -- if we trust in Him and follow Him. (John 16: 33)

If anyone reading this is unsure of God's heart toward any nation who turns from Him, your uncertainty should be gone. What God said regarding His judging such nations, as recorded by Old Testament prophets, is also for us today. God punishes, yesterday and today, all such nations. (See, also Ez 14: 12-20, regarding God's judgment on a land having persistent unfaithfulness toward Him.)

In Jer 18: 7-10, God speaks about any nation which sins against Him and the nation which does, or does not, repent of that sin. Beginning in verse 7 God speaks, "The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it." (Emphasis added)

So, how much more do you think it breaks God's heart to see a nation such as ours turn from Him, a nation that was ONCE UPON A TIME faithful to Him? A nation, similar to the nation of Israel, which He founded and blessed and has set apart to be a light to the rest of the world? We indeed have brought light to the world through our sharing of the Gospel, but now we are bringing darkness and death to the world through our sharing of liberal, ungodly moral conduct and values.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, unless we the church, believers and participants, humble ourselves, pray, seek His face and TURN from out wicked ways God has NO CHOICE but to judge our nation and to destroy it. He is just and must bring justice.

Read Jer 51: 7-14. This describes America's destruction, as does much of Jer 50 and 51. Read Rev 18. This describes America's destruction. So does Is 47. There are more scriptures also describing the coming destruction, but these portions of scripture give specific clarity. America IS the Mystery Babylon of Rev 18 and the "daughter of Babylon" of Is 47 and Jer 50 & 51.

However, 2 Chron 7: 14 also gives us a way out. It says that if God's people (the believing church, not the unbelieving ungodly secular individuals, some of whom are leaders of this nation) humble themselves, pray, seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, God will hear us from heaven, forgive our sins and HEAL OUR LAND!

Without the leadership of our nation participating in such repentance by acknowledging these wrong immoral activities, putting an end to them and requesting God's forgiveness, the church must "go it alone" and be strong in its repentance, seek Ps 91 protection, and request that our nation's leaders also acknowledge the need for a national repentance -- to save our nation. But, those of God's true church of believers, the Philadelphia church of Rev 3, are the only ones promised an escape from coming judgment. (Rev 3: 10) I am NOT talking about a mythical "pre-tribulation rapture" of the church. This is not Biblical nor promised by God. (See my blog regarding no pre-tribulation rapture, based on scripture which disproves such a myth.)

Jesus said that we should be watchful, vigilant, and "pray to escape the things that will come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21: 36) It is the Philadelphia church of God, true believers who have chosen the narrow and difficult way to live a holy life free from sin and who repent who will be saved. An unrepentant nation or individual is doomed. A repentant church of believers (a group of called-out ones of God) will be saved.

Our once-great nation blessed by God Almighty is being scrutinized by the Almighty and is ripe for destruction. The stench of the immoral ungodly activities of those in our nation, and condoned by our nation's leadership, including many clergy, is clearly in His sight and is reaching, and one may argue has already reached, the breaking point.

In fact, God speaks about a nation, a nation which was once Godly, founded by God, which has turned from God and begun to worship idols. This nation, a spiritual Babylon, is America. God has begun the judgement of America with the fall of the World Trade Center twin towers on September 11, 2001. This is discussed at length by Jonathan Cahn in his book "The Harbinger", and refers to the Is 9: 10 prophecy regarding "the bricks have fallen, etc." and what it portends for America. If you are unfamiliar with that prophecy, please Google it and investigate for yourself.

In God's continued and increasing judgment, our economy was hit -- in September 2001 and again in September 2008. Unless we as a nation repent, we will be hit again and MUCH HARDER in September 2015.

Additionally, a part of the prophecy in Jer 51 of the spiritual Babylon which is America is being fulfilled. In Jer 51: 14, God tells us that he will fill up our nation with men as numerous as locusts who will "raise a shout" against us. This has begun. The open border in the southern United States has allowed numerous individuals to enter this nation, who are hell bent on one thing -- the destruction of America. Whether they come here to cause chaos through beheadings (we have already witnessed this in this nation), through suitcase nuke "dirty bombs", through diseases, through anarchy, etc., we indeed are being filled with people seeking to bring our nation to its knees and to destroy it.

Now, I can hear some of you thinking that I have gone too far -- that God will never judge our nation and that what I am saying is not only unpatriotic but blasphemous! Dear reader, I do not apologize for this message. But, I do want to edify and instruct you and not just pound my proverbial fist and lament over what I see happening in our nation today.

We as individual Christians and members of the Body of Christ are not powerless. In fact, Jesus only acts for us WHEN WE PRAY TO THE FATHER IN THE NAME OF JESUS that He help us. We need to pray, to speak to our pastors, to our priests, and to our lay leaders. Church leadership must shepherd their sheep to repentance and preparation of the heart -- NOW. Time to prepare, to change hearts, to change the future of our nation, is running out. Without repentance, God will give us what we deserve -- destruction of this nation and captivity for believer, participant and unbeliever alike. God will indeed bring a sword (via our own government, or a foreign instrumentality) against this nation -- against believer, participant and unbeliever alike.

I pray that you seriously consider this message and act accordingly. Your liberty and freedom to operate peaceably as a Christian in this nation is at risk. Your life on this earth and the lives of your family members and friends are at risk.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? IT IS TIME TO WAKE UP, PREPARE YOUR HEART, PRAY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY, AND TO SEEK THE LORD WITH TRUE REPENTANCE (turning from your sinning ways).

Do this, and God will indeed hear you and help you if you seek Him with all your heart, ask for His forgiveness (which He will graciously give you) and REPENT.

Time is short.

2014 - True Believer

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The Coming Assyrian (Muslim) Antichrist -- Part III -- His Activities, Characteristics, Timing & Purpose

2014-03-28T17:57:00.002-04:00

In this Part III, our final portion of our study, we examine some of the activities to be carried out by the coming Antichrist, the extent of his reign, God’s purpose for him, the timing of events associated with his coming, and other scriptural references to the coming Antichrist.

Activities & Characteristics of the Coming Antichrist

When the AC comes, what will he do?

Daniel 11 describes a series of kings which will arise on the world scene after Darius the Mede. At the time of this prophecy, Darius was king of the Media/Persian Empire which had conquered the Babylonian kingdom. The first verses of chapter 11 makes it clear that king Darius was ruling over the captives of Judah at that time. After king Darius, there were to be three more kings who would rule over the Media/Persian kingdom (Dan 11: 2).

After these kings a Greek king would arise (Dan 11: 3, 4) who would have great power and dominion before his kingdom would be broken into four portions. History indicates that this was Greek king was Alexander the Great, whose kingdom was indeed broken into four major portions at his death. We discussed this previously in Part II of our study in regard to the prophecy of Dan 8 and the geographic origin of the coming AC.

The narrative in Dan 11 then describes additional future kings of the North and kings of the South, and other individuals, which appeared in history subsequent to the demise of the Media/Persian Empire. Much of the Dan 11 narrative describes various battles and actions taken by the Kings of the North and Kings of the South who would arise after the then-existing King Darius of the Medes who was, in a sense, the first King of the North of Dan 11.

Winding through the text down to Dan 11: 20 we see a future King of the North who is to impose taxes on the land of Israel (the “glorious kingdom”). Some scholars argue that this taxing king was Seleucus III of Syria. Others argue that it is an authority figure who has not yet come, and may be one of the 10 horns (leaders) of Rev 17: 12 who will share power for a brief time with the beast AC in the kingdom of the coming AC and will then be subdued by the AC as he ascends to rule over the worldwide government (kingdom), as described in Dan 7: 8, 20 and 22. In either case, the King of the North who imposes the taxes on Israel clearly precedes the coming AC.

It is the final King of the North who comes after the taxing king who is the coming AC, the “vile person” who does not receive the honor of royalty. So, whether there is a 2,000 year gap between taxing king and the coming AC, or whether the coming AC arises to power and subdues him directly, Dan 11: 21 begins a description of the coming AC.

Some Jewish writings teach that Antiochus Epiphanes IV (approx 215–164 BC) fulfilled the role of the “vile person” King of the North of Dan 11: 21 who stops the daily sacrifice in the temple in Jerusalem. For reasons given below, Antiochus IV did not fulfill this prophecy of Dan 11: 21-45 as the final King of the North and is simply a type or pattern of the coming AC. At best, it can be argued that Antiochus IV merely partially fulfilled the role and actions of the “vile person”, the final King of the North, by fulfilling at most that which is described in Dan 11: 21-35, which leaves Dan 11: 36-45 to be fulfilled by the coming AC.

According to historians, in about 175 BC Antiochus Epiphanes IV began his rule over the Seleucid Empire (a geographic area of one of the four “notable horns” of Dan 8, discussed previously in Part II of this study). The Seleucid Empire included Palestine (modern Israel) and Jerusalem. Antiochus harassed the Jews mercilessly and infringed upon their practice of Judaism. He effectively ended worship in the temple in Jerusalem after he entered the temple and burned a pig on the sacred alter. By doing so he desecrated and defiled the temple, thereby making it unclean for worship.

In response to his actions, a group of Jews known as the Macabees (plural of the Hebrew word for hammer) rose up and began to fight the Seleucid soldiers using guerrilla tactics. They eventually prevailed in defeating the Seleucids and driving them from Palestine. Thereafter they cleansed the temple, rededicated it, and reestablished animal sacrifices and worship to God in the temple.

There are obvious problems with the Jewish interpretation of Dan 11: 21-45 as having been fulfilled by Antiochus. The Rashi interprets Dan 11: 40 (the final battle of the King of the North against the King of the South and the attack of the land of Israel by the King of the North) as occurring during the time of the end when the redemption of the Jewish people occurs. However, since the Jewish people have not yet been redeemed, this prophecy still awaits fulfillment in the last days when Jesus returns. The final redemption of the nation of Israel will occur at that time when Jesus will put an end to the Battle of Armageddon and will “save the tents of Judah first.” (Zech 12: 7) It is only when Jesus returns to destroy the coming AC, the final King of the North, that the complete prophecy of Dan 11: 21-45 will be fulfilled.

Analysis of Scripture for Characteristics of the Coming AC

What follows is a non-exhaustive list of the characteristics, intentions, and activities of the coming AC. As we get closer in time to the public unveiling of the AC, these items will begin to match up perfectly with current events.

1. He participates in an affirmation/strengthening of an existing covenant involving Israel (Dan 9: 27; Job 41: 4) At this point his identity may still be unsure, since multiple parties will be involved in this affirmation process.

2. He rises to power quietly with just a few and intrigues many. He becomes strong once he assumes control of the worldwide government (Dan 11: 21-23; Dan 8: 9)

3. He has fierce / stern features (Dan 8: 23)

4. He is vile, despicable person (Dan 11: 21; Nahum 1: 14; Job 51: 24)

5. He is a liar (Dan 8: 12)

6. He promotes deceit (Dan 8: 25)

7. He conceives sinister plans (Dan 8: 23; Dan 11: 23; Nahum 1: 11; Ez 38: 10)

8. He is controlled by Satan himself or one of his high ranking demons or fallen angels (Gog) (Rev 13: 4; 2 Thes 2: 9; Ez 38: 3; Ez 39:1)

9. He is given authority of the worldwide government by its 10 leaders (Rev 13: 8; Rev 17: 13; Dan 7: 7-8, 23-24; Dan 11: 39; Dan 2: 42)

10. He subdues three of the 10 leaders as he ascends to power, or shortly thereafter (Dan 7: 8, 24)

11. He never rules over central and southern Jordan (Dan 11: 41)

12. He shows his true evil heart after entering into an alliance of nations, presumptively for peace, then acts deceitfully and breaks the peace terms of the formerly confirmed covenant. He overwhelms armed forces before him, including the “prince of the covenant” with whom the alliance was made (Dan 11: 22-23; Job 41: 4)

13. He highly values military strength and promotes his own god, which is not the god(s) worshipped by his fathers (Dan 11: 37-38; Ez 38: 15; Job 41: 9-33)

14. He devises military plans against strong defenses and attacks them viciously to gain the wealth they protect (Dan 11: 24, 38-39; Rev 13: 4)

15. He prospers and performs great conquests, for 42 months (Rev 13: 4-5; Dan 8: 24; Dan 11:22)

16. He schemes against and attacks the King of the South (KOS – Egypt?) with a great military force (Dan 11: 25)

17. He defeats the KOS with the help of insiders who betray the KOS (Dan 11: 25-26)

18. He returns to his own land from the land of the KOS with plunder taken from the KOS. On the way to his country he will enter/attack Israel (therefore, Israel is between KOS and his home country) (Dan 11: 28; Is 10: 24)

19. He shares and distributes his plunder and spoils from his conquests of rich regions among his followers/sympathizers, (Dan 11: 24; Ez 38: 12)

20. After some time he returns to again attack the KOS, but warships from nations opposed to him off the coast in the Mediterranean thwart his efforts, which enrages him (Dan 11: 29-30)

21. After his efforts are thwarted, he retreats to his home country. Along the way, his anger causes him to come again against Israel and cause destruction (Dan 11: 30; Is 10: 24; Ez 38: 16; Ez 39: 2)

22. He gives favor to those who flatter him and who oppose Israel. He allows them to rule over others on his behalf. Meanwhile he imposes harsh laws (a yoke) on Jews in Israel and stops the daily sacrifice. He enters the newly constructed temple in Jerusalem and places there an “abomination of desolation” spoken of by Daniel the prophet and by Jesus (2 Thes 2: 4; Rev 13: 14; Mat 24: 15-16; Mark 13: 14; Is 14: 25; Is 10: 27; Jer 30: 7; Nah 1: 13Dan 8: 11; Dan 11: 30-32, 39)

23. He exalts himself mightily above every god and speaks pompous things and blasphemies against Almighty God (2 Thes 2: 4; Dan 7: 8; Dan 8: 11, 25; Dan 11: 36-37; Job 41: 34)

24. The setting up of the Abomination of Desolation initiates the 3.5 year period of the Great Tribulation spoken of by Jesus, which period includes severe “natural” catastrophes and severe persecution of Jews in the land of Israel (Mat 24: 15-21)

25. His appearance in the temple precedes by about 3.5 years the coming of Jesus Christ, the rapture of the Church of Jesus Christ and the resurrection of the just (2 Thes 2: 1-3; 1 Thes 4: 15-17; Dan 12: 1-2)

26. He confiscates the property and wealth of many who have insight and understanding of the true God. He also kills and imprisons some of them, but they will nevertheless teach and instruct many about God (Dan 11: 33)

27. He persecutes the Jewish people and God’s saints around the world during the Great Tribulation for 3.5 years after he enters the temple in Jerusalem (Rev 12: 13, 17; Rev 13: 7; Dan 7: 21, 25; Dan 8: 24; Dan 11: 30; Is 10:24)

28. He divides land for gain and allows those who flatter him to do likewise (Dan 11: 39)

29. He speaks blasphemies against God (Dan 7: 25; Dan 11: 36; Is 52: 5; Rev 13: 5, 7)

30. He and the False Prophet initiate a worldwide monetary and payment system which must be used by anyone desiring to transact business. The system requires a certain mark on the right hand or forehead of a person (Rev 13: 16-17)

31. He and the False Prophet bring about a worldwide “religion”, which is actually the worship of Satan (Rev 13: 4-5, 12)

32. The False Prophet performs many great lying signs and wonders and deceiving miracles. He even calls fire to come down from the sky, which deceives even some of those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ (2 Thes 2: 9-11; Rev 13: 13-14; Mark 13: 6, 22; Mat 24: 5, 11; Luke 21: 8)

33. He and the False Prophet cause those who fail to worship the coming AC and/or his worldwide government to be killed by being beheaded. He has beheaded those who will not take the mark on their right hand or forehead (Rev 13: 15; Rev 20: 4; Rev 6: 9)

34. He has a number or symbol associated with him of “666” (Rev 13: 18)

35. He has no regard for the “desire of women” (Dan 11: 37) (gay? staunch abortionist?)

36. He destroys the mighty (Dan 8: 24; Rev 13: 4)

37. He destroys the prosperity of many (Dan 8: 25)

38. He intends to change times and law (Dan 7: 25)

39. At some time he sets up his headquarters in the mountains of Israel near Jerusalem (Dan 11: 45)

40. The KOS attacks him at time of the end, and he counter-attacks with a vast military force (Dan 11: 40)

41. He defeats Egypt and takes its gold and other wealth, and is helped by the Libyans and Sudanese (Dan 11: 42-43)

42. He is allied with Iran and some northern Africa nations, including Libya and northern Sudan (Dan 11: 43; Ez 38: 5-6)

43. While attacking Egypt, he hears fearful news of approaching armies from the east and north and goes out to confront them (Dan 11: 44)

44. He possibly initiates WWIII, where 1/3 of people on earth will die (Rev 9: 18) Otherwise, WWIII will occur prior to his reign over the worldwide government, most likely prior to Daniel's 70th week.

45. He has God’s two witnesses (Enoch and Elijah) killed in the streets of Jerusalem just before Jesus returns (Rev 11: 3-15)

46. He rises up to fight against the Prince of Princes – Christ Himself (Dan 8: 25; Rev 17: 14; Rev 19: 19)

47. He is defeated and is destroyed without human means by the Word of God, Jesus Christ, when Jesus Christ returns to earth while Jerusalem is surrounded by armies during the battle of Armageddon (Rev 16: 16; Rev 19: 20; 2 Thes 2: 3, 8; Dan 7: 11, 26; Dan 11: 36, 45; Joel 12: 20; Is 10: 26; Is 14: 25, 33; Is 31: 8; Ez 38: 18-23; Ez 39: 4, 5, 11; Micah 5: 5; Nahum 1: 15)

Extent of the Reign of the Coming AC

The reign of the coming worldwide government of the coming AC will be over the entire earth, except for the southern region of Jordan.

Some argue that the coming worldwide government will only control one quarter of the earth. They base their argument on a single verse in scripture found at Rev 6: 8, which describes how death, the rider of the green horse (Greek word here, pronounced “chloros” means green), and Hades (or hell) which follows, will have power (authority) over one fourth of the earth to kill using sword, hunger, death, and the beasts of the earth. This verse simply describes that the death, famine, pestilence, etc caused when the 4^th seal is opened will occur only over one quarter of the earth – not that the extent of the reign of the coming AC is limited to one quarter of the earth.

As a matter of proper interpretation, no doctrine should be created out of a single Bible verse. To do so is almost always problematic. It is best to let the fullness of scripture reveal the truth. Rev 13: 3 tells us that “all the world marveled and followed the beast.” Revelation 13: 7 describes how “authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.” Additionally, Rev 13: 12 informs us that the second beast, the False Prophet, will cause “the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast.” (Emphasis added) Clearly, these verses show that the coming AC will indeed attempt to control the entire world and have the authority to do so. Again, his authority will not be limited to one quarter of the earth.

The activities associated with the first four seals described in Rev 6: 1-8 are, I believe, preliminary events which lead up to the establishment of the worldwide government of the coming AC. A “need” for a world government will increase and grow in stages, as the earthly disasters that are associated with the opening of seals two through four show increasingly greater destruction. No doubt, the wars, economic collapse, food shortages, famines, disasters, diseases and deaths which occur from events associated with the opening of seals two through four are so devastating to the people of the world that they eagerly turn to a government, even a worldwide government, to give them relief from the situation.

The coming AC who will come to power will not be easily or quickly recognized by many for the true evil man he is. He will rise to power quietly. He will no doubt promise a stop the wars, the famines, the terrible world economy, and other things along those lines. He will probably be a smooth talker and promise things the people of the world ache to hear.

The people of the world will no doubt fall in love with his rhetoric. Daniel 11: 21 confirms that notion, and describes how the coming AC shall come in peaceably to take leadership of that government by intrigue, with a small number of people. People will be fascinated with him. Rev 13: 2 tells us that his rise to power will be assisted by Satan, the red dragon of Rev 12: 3 who has seven heads and 10 horns, showing that Satan is behind evil world empires and evil leaders. The rise to power by the coming AC will be assisted by another beast which arises, the False Prophet of Rev 13: 11, who will be a religious “sidekick” and cheerleader for the coming AC.

Before the coming AC takes complete control of the worldwide government, it will be ruled and controlled for a while by ten leaders, which are represented by the 10 horns of the seven-headed beast of Dan 7, Rev 12, Rev 13 and Rev 17. Some time after the 10 leader worldwide government forms, the coming AC will rise to power among them. Perhaps he will replace one of the 10 leaders. In any case, he will thereafter remove three of the 10 rulers and thereafter take sole control of the worldwide government. These actions by the coming AC are described in Dan 7: 8 and 24, and Rev 17: 12-13.

Timing of Events Associated With the Coming Antichrist

The coming AC will likely be associated with a group of nations which affirms or strengthens an existing covenant, to which covenant Israel is a party. (Dan 9: 27; Job 41: 4). The exact identity of the coming AC may not at that time be specifically known since that group will likely have many participants. This affirmation of the covenant begins Daniel’s 70^th week (7 years of 360 days each), set forth in Dan 9: 27. Jesus will return to earth to bring in His kingdom and defeat the armies of the coming AC gathered at Jerusalem at the end of that week of years.

As a parallel, Islam looks for their 12^th Imam, their savior the Mahdi, to arise during a time of war, world conflict and chaos. His characteristics are eerily similar to those of the coming AC of the Bible who will likely rise to power after a major war and/or worldwide economic catastrophe.

The coming AC will publically reveal himself to the world at the mid-point of Daniel’s 70^th week of years, 3.5 years before Jesus returns, and 3.5 years after the affirmation of Israel’s covenant, when he enters a newly built temple in Jerusalem and declares himself to be the Messiah, the Son of God, or God Himself. (2 Thes 2: 3-12; Dan 9: 27; Dan 11: 31, 36) It is at this time that the Great Tribulation spoken of by Jesus (Mat 24: 15-21) begins.

Referring to the image above, let us consider certain events described in the book of Revelation. Rev 12: 1-2 describes how John saw a great sight in heaven of a “woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth” to a male child. Some (mostly Catholics) believe this represents Mary, the mother of Jesus, giving birth to Jesus. Others believe this represents the 12 tribes of Israel (the nation of Israel) giving birth to Jesus (cf, Gen 37: 9 – Joseph’s dream of the sun, moon, and 11 stars (his 11 brothers) bowing to him). Still others believe this represents the Church of Jesus Christ giving birth to a “new man” (cf, Eph 2: 15 – representing Jew and gentile as one new man in Christ).

Rev 12: 3-5 makes clear that the child is Jesus (v. 5 – He is to rule all nations with a rod of iron; See also Ps 2: 9; Rev 2: 27; Rev 19: 15) and that Satan (the red dragon) wants to destroy Him (which he thought he had done at the cross). But the male child was taken (caught up) to heaven to the throne of God (Jesus’ ascension into heaven after His resurrection; Luke 24: 51).

By analysis, the Church cannot be the woman, since it cannot give birth to a child which had not yet created the Church. It seems clear that the male child who is born and who is to rule the nations with a rod of iron is clearly a description of Jesus.

Interestingly, though I am not a Catholic, I believe that this image, at least in a sense, could represent both Mary and the nation of Israel. Verse 6 describes how “the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.” After Mary gave birth to Jesus, she fled to Egypt with Joseph to escape King Herod’s order to have killed all male children age two and younger in and around Bethlehem. (Mat 2: 13, 16) Many scholars believe that Jesus was in Egypt for about three years or so until the death of Herod. Perhaps Mary being kept safe with Jesus in Egypt for 3.5 years is a partial fulfillment prior to the ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy when the nation of Israel is kept safe during the final 3.5 years of the Great Tribulation.

This vision described by John in about 90 AD, however, cannot be a prophecy of Jesus’ birth, since His virgin birth had already occurred almost 100 years earlier. This notion is also given support in Rev 4:1, where Jesus calls John up to heaven through the “open door” to see things which were to occur in the future after Jesus delivered to John the seven letters to the seven churches described in Rev 2 and 3. Since Rev 11-13 describe events which will take place beginning at the mid-point of Daniel’s 70^th week, it seems likely that Rev 12 is indeed describing the safe-keeping of the nation of Israel during the Great Tribulation.

Rev 12: 13-17 shows us how Satan will persecute during the Great Tribulation both the woman (i.e., the nation of Israel, a betrothed wife of God cf, Jer 2: 2; the betrothed who then became adulterous cf, Ez 16:32; but who will be renewed at the end of time as a perfected bride (the New Jerusalem) which will come down from heaven cf, Rev 21: 1, 2, 9, 10) and the rest of her offspring (i.e., the Church of Jesus Christ – the Israel of God, Gal 6: 16, who obey God’s commands and have the testimony of Jesus Christ).

The woman (the nation of Israel) will be given a physical means of escape to “her place in the wilderness”. According to Rev 12: 11, God does not promise the church protection from death. Those in the Church must stay “in Christ” to overcome by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony, and are commanded not to love their lives to the end.

The remnant of the nation of Israel which flees to safety from the coming AC at the mid-point of Daniel’s 70^th week (the beginning of the Great Tribulation) will be supernaturally protected by God (Mat 24: 15-21; Rev 12: 6), but the Church of Christ is not given such a promise. Instead, the Church is told to remain strong in Christ (Eph 6: 10), to endure persecution (cf, Rev 13: 10; Rev 14: 12), and to overcome and face death without failing to keep and to obey God’s word (Rev 12: 17) in order to receive the ultimate prize of eternal glory. (Eph 3: 14; Rev 20: 4)

On September 23, 2017, a very rare alignment of the sun, the moon, a few planets, and the constellation Virgo (the virgin) will appear in the sky. Here is a link to an article which succinctly describes this coming event. Many others similar articles can be found online.

Referring to the above image, this rare sight in the heavens shows that the planet Jupiter (the king) will emerge seemingly as being “born” from the “womb” of the virgin (Virgo) who is clothed in the sun, with the moon at her feet, and twelve “stars” over her head. This particular alignment last occurred in the heavens around the time of the birth of Christ in about 4 BC. So, is God giving us a signal of something significant which is coming upon us? Is Daniel’s 70^th week not far off?

God’s word tells us in the Book of Genesis that God gave us the sun, the moon and the stars for "signs" and "seasons", as well as for light. The Hebrew word (אוֹת - oht) translated as "sign" can also mean "signal." The Hebrew word (מוֹעָדִים - moed) translated as "season" literally means an "appointed time." (See, Gen 1: 14) So, as depicted in the coming 2017 alignment in the heavens, God seems to be sending us a clear notice that an "appointed time" is upon us – a unique time in history.

Perhaps the sign in the heavens tells us that Daniel’s 70^th week will commence in September 2017. Most likely, this date does not indicate the mid-point of the 70^th week since as of this writing in early 2014 we have not yet begun the 70^th week. There appears to be no affirmation yet of a covenant which involves Israel, which is necessary (cf, Dan 9: 27) to begin Daniel’s 70^th week. I make no prediction of any time for its commencement; however, as evidenced by God’s coming “timing signal” in the sky, it cannot be far off.

It is conjecture, but perhaps the placement of Rev 12 in the book of Revelation shows us the timing of the fall of Satan from heaven (God’s presence) and that it will occur at about the midpoint of the 70^th week. This would precipitate Satan being cast down to the earth, along with his fallen angels. In turn, this event would likely cause the coming AC to be given power by Satan (Rev 13) and perhaps become possessed by Gog (a demonic spirit or fallen angel). The coming AC would then enter the temple in Jerusalem and declare himself to be God. This event begins the Great Tribulation, with persecution of the nation of Israel and Christians worldwide.

We now look at God’s purpose for the coming AC.

God's Purpose for the Coming AC

That God be glorified. When Jesus returns to defeat the coming AC and his armies gathered at Jerusalem, the nations will see that He is the only true God. (cf, Ez 38: 16, 20, 23; Ez 39: 21, 23; Zech 14: 9, 16)

To make known His holy name (YHVY) to His people in the land of Israel when Jesus returns. To show them that He is their God and that He is in their midst. (cf, Ez 39: 7, 22; Is 10: 24; Is 52: 6)

To end His punishment of the entire house of Israel (all 12 tribes), to show Israel His loving mercy, and to pour out His Spirit on the whole house of Israel when Jesus returns. (cf, Zeph 3: 15; Ez 39: 29; Joel 2: 29; Dan 11: 30; Rev 13: 13)

To punish the wicked, by using the coming AC as God’s “rod of anger” on earth. (Is 10: 5)

To separate to Himself those who are the true worshippers of God from those who will let themselves be deceived and believe the lies of the coming AC and worship Satan by following the coming AC. (cf, John 4: 23-24; 1Pet 4: 17; 2 Thes 2: 11; Rev 3: 16)

To purify and refine through trial, persecution, affliction and tribulation His holy ones who are the saints of the true church of God – the Philadelphia church (Rev 3: 8) – which will create for Jesus, the coming King, a pure bride for Himself. (2 Cor 11: 2)

We conclude our study of the coming AC with a non-exhaustive Appendix list of some scriptural references to the coming AC. I pray that you ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom on how to conduct yourselves in these last days to prepare your hearts for what is to come upon the earth, according to God's Word.

Appendix: Scriptural References to the Coming Antichrist

Below are various portions of scripture which give us information about the geographic origin, characteristics, activities, and intents of the coming AC. Relevant portions are highlighted to illustrate the reference to the coming AC.

Is 10: 24-25, 27 – (after speaking about the remnant of Israel returning and God making “a determined end in the midst of the land (Israel)”) therefore, says the Lord God of hosts: “O My people who dwell in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrian; he shall strike you with a rod and lift up his staff against you, in the manner of Egypt; for yet a little while and the indignation (AC activities against Israel) will cease, as will My anger in their destruction; it shall come to pass in that day that his burden will be taken away from your shoulder and his yoke from your neck and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil

Is 14: 25-26 – I will break the Assyrian in My land, and on My holy mountains tread him underfoot; his yoke shall be removed from them and his burden removed from their shoulders; this is the purpose that is purposed against the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations

Is 19: 23 – in that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria (King’s highway?) and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria and Egyptians will serve with the Assyrian

Micah 5: 5-6 – when the Assyrian comes into our land and when he treads in our palaces then we will raise against him 7 shepherds and 8 princely men; they shall waste with the sword the land of Assyria and the land of Nimrod (N. Iraq) at its entrances; thus He (the Lord) shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and when he treads within our borders

Nahum 1: 11, 15 – from you (Assyria) comes forth one who plots evil against the Lord, a wicked counselor … for the wicked one shall no more pass through you. He is utterly cut off.

Is 16: 3-4 – hide the outcasts, do not betray him who escapes, let My outcasts dwell with you O Moab, be a shelter to them from the face of the spoiler

Jer 31: 1-2 – At the same time (latter days, end of chapter 30), says the Lord, I will be the God of all the families of Israel and they shall be My people, Thus says the Lord: the people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness (Petra??) – Israel when I went to give him rest

Ps 55: 20-21 – He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him, he has broken his covenant, the words of his mouth were smoother than butter but war was in his heart, his words were softer than oil yet they were drawn swords

Dan 8: 9-11 – and out of one of them (the 4 notable horn remnants of the Greek kingdom) came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, the east, and toward the Glorious Land (Israel); he even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host (of heaven) and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away

2 Thes 2: 3-4 – let no man deceive you by any means, for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition (destruction), who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so he sits as God in the temple of God as God

Dan 8: 23 – and in the latter time of their kingdom (4 remnant Greek kingdoms) when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king will arise having fierce features; he shall destroy the mighty and also the holy people (Israel); he shall exalt himself in his heart; he shall even rise against the Prince of Princes (Jesus); he shall be broken without human means

Is 19: 4 – the Egyptians I will give into the hand of a cruel master, and a fierce king will rule over them

Dan 7: 23-25 – the 4^th beast shall be a 4^th kingdom on earth; it shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces; the 10 horns are the 10 kings who shall arise from this (4^th) kingdom, and another shall arise after them (from them); he shall subdue 3 kings; he shall speak pompous words against the Most High

Dan 11: 21-38 – and in his (taxing king’s) place shall arise a vile person; with a force of a flood they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, and also the prince of the covenant (person not the AC?); forces mustered by him shall stop the daily sacrifices and place there the abomination of desolation; he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god and speak blasphemies against the God of gods

Mat 24: 15-16; Mark 13: 14 – therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place (where it ought not) then let those in Judea flee to the mountains

Rev 13: 1-8 – and I saw a beast rising up out of the sea (humanity, typically Gentiles) having 7 heads and 10 horns; all the world marveled and followed the beast; they worshipped the beast; he was given authority to continue for 42 months; he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God; it was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them

Rev 19: 19 – and I saw the beast, the kings of the earth and their armies gathered to make war against Him who sat on the horse (Jesus) and against His army

Job 41: 1-34 – (the description and attributes of the “great Leviathan” from the sea is analogous to the “beast” rising out of the sea of Rev 13) (v. 34) He is king over all the children of pride

Amos 7: 1 (Greek LXX Septuagint) – thus has the Lord shown me, and behold, a swarm of locusts coming from the east (Muslim army led by the coming Muslim AC), and behold one caterpillar, king Gog (demon spirit controlling the coming Muslim AC)

Ez 38: 2-6 – son of man, set your face against Gog of the land of Magog, the prince (Rosh) (chief, ruler) of Meshech and Tubal and prophesy against him; Persia, Ethiopia and Libya are with them; Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north (perhaps Turkey, southern Russia; Hebrew – “north recesses”) and all of its troops

Dan 11: 40, 43 – at the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him (AC); also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels

Ez 38: 5 – Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them (i.e., with the army of Gog), all of them with shield and helmet

Ez 38: 17 – Thus says the Lord God, “Are you he of whom I have spoken in former days by My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied for years in those days that I would bring you against them?”

Ez 39: 1-2 – prophesy against Gog and say “behold, I am against you O Gog, the prince of Meshech and Tubal, and I will turn you around and lead you on, bringing you up from the far north and bring you against the mountains of Israel

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The Coming Assyrian (Muslim) Antichrist -- Part II -- His Names & Descriptions, Who is Gog?

2014-03-26T13:01:00.000-04:00

In this Part II of our study, we examine the Gog of Ez 38, 39 and how Gog is related to the coming Antichrist. We also examine various names given in scripture to the coming Antichrist which give clues to his character, origin and other attributes.

In Part III of our study, we examine some of the activities to be carried out by the coming Antichrist, the extent of his reign, God’s purpose for him, the timing of events associated with his coming, and other scriptural references to the coming Antichrist.

Is the Gog of Ez 38, 39 the Coming Assyrian AC?

For reasons I hope to detail in a future blog, I feel confident to state unequivocally that the battle of Armageddon referenced in Rev 16: 16 and the battle of Gog/Magog referenced in Ez 38, 39 refer to the same battle, which is the last days battle for Jerusalem. Many teach that these battles are distinct and that they take place years apart from one another near opposite ends of Daniel’s 70^th week. This battle will take place in the days leading up to the return of our Lord Jesus Christ who will return to earth and destroy the invading armies before they destroy Jerusalem and wipe out His remnant of the nation of Israel who will be trapped in Jerusalem by the invading armies.

In Ez 38, 39 God identifies Gog as being associated with the invading armies which are coming against the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem. In Ez 38: 14, Gog is identified with the coming AC. Through Ezekiel He poses a question: “Are you he of whom I have spoken in former days by My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied for years in those days that I would bring you against them?” (Emphasis added) To whom is God referring? He is referring to none other than the coming AC. But, the question remains - is Gog the coming AC?

The name Gog shows up nowhere in scripture apart from Ez 38, 39 and Rev 20, unless we consider the Septuagint (LXX) translation of Amos 7: 1 (discussed in more detail below). Apart from the LXX translation of Amos 7, no other prophet of God in the Old Testament specifically names this same Gog in any prophecy. Since God does not lie, His statement found in Ez 38: 14 that He had already spoken about Gog through His other prophets (plural) must refer to other descriptions and names used by other prophets which refer to the same person or entity. Ez 38 and 39 tell us that Gog is a person or entity who comes on the scene during the last days to lead an army to destroy Jerusalem.

Many of God’s other prophets have also written about the last days and a coming evil person who will persecute and attempt to destroy the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem. The prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Amos, Zechariah, and Zephaniah, to name a few, have written about these coming events and a coming evil leader. We shall investigate the names and descriptions they have given to this coming evil person.

Throughout the Old Testament we find various descriptions of evil men who are types and patterns of the coming AC figure. In Part I of this study we discussed one of these in our discussion of Dan 9 (i.e., Antiochus Epiphenes IV). As another example of a pattern of the coming AC, in 2 Kings 18: 13 – 2 Kings 19: 37 and other scripture we find a description of the intents and actions of King Sennacherib of ancient Assyria (more on him later) and how he plotted evil against the nation of Israel. He invaded the land of Israel, then captured and carried away most of the remnant of the 10 northern tribes who lived there. He then dispersed them throughout the lands of his Assyrian kingdom to the north and east of Jerusalem.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of various names, titles and descriptions given by Old Testament prophets and New Testament writers which clearly refer to the same coming AC giving us clues as to his origin, character, and activities. Only the prophet Ezekiel specifically mentions “Gog”, as we discussed above, yet these various descriptions refer to the same dark entity or individual who will wreck havoc on the nation of Israel and the world.

- The Antichrist: (1 John 2: 18, 22; 2 John 7; Mat 24: 23-24) John is the only writer in the Bible who uses this exact title for this coming worldwide government leader. The coming AC will likely deny that God (YHVH) the Father and Jesus the Son are one, and that they are both God Almighty.

- The Assyrian: We learned in Part I of our study that Dan 2, Dan 8, Dan 9, and Micah 5 speak of the coming AC, and that he will be an “Assyrian.”

Historical King Sennacherib was a type and pattern of the coming AC. Many passages in scripture refer to this King Sennacherib of ancient Assyria of the early 8^th century BC, who was ultimately defeated by God. (cf; 2 Chron 32; Is 36: 1; Is 37: 8, 17, 21, 36, 37; 2 Kings 18: 13 – 2 Kings 19: 37) King Sennacherib placed a yoke or heavy burden on the people of the 10 northern tribes of Israel when he invaded in approximately 701 BC and took most of those 10 tribes away as captives. He thereafter dispersed them throughout his Assyrian kingdom.

Meanwhile, King Hezekiah of Judah saw the destruction and evil that King Sennacherib was imposing on the 10 northern tribes and feared that he might invade Judah also and destroy it. Hezekiah prayed to God for deliverance and protection of Jerusalem and the people of Judah. God heard his prayer and an angel of the Lord destroyed the army of Sennacherib in a single night (2 Kings 19: 35-36). After this, Sennacherib returned home to Nineveh, the capitol of Assyria, and was soon murdered there by two of his sons (2 Kings 19: 37).

God will also destroy the coming AC, but this time without using human agents. When Jesus Christ returns, He will defeat the armies of the coming Assyrian AC and will destroy him in the lake of fire which awaits him. (Rev 19: 20)

There are passages in scripture which describe an end time Assyrian AC who will invade Israel with the intent to destroy Jerusalem. (cf, Is 10: 12-34; Is 14: 25; Is 30: 30-33; Is 31: 8-9; Is 52: 4; Micah 5: 5-6). The description of how this future Assyrian AC is destroyed by God on the mountains of Israel (Is 14: 25) closely resemble the description of God’s destruction of the army of Gog / Magog (Ez 38: 18 - Ez 39: 20).

As the armies of historical King Seenacherib were destroyed by God, the armies of the coming Assyrian AC will be destroyed by God on the mountains and the open fields in the land of Israel and around Jerusalem (Ez 38: 21, 39:5).

- The Beast: (Rev 13; Rev 17: 3-16; Rev 19: 20; Dan 9: 27) The coming AC who will rule the coming worldwide government during Daniel’s 70^th week.

- Destroyer of Nations: (Is 10: 7) God will use the coming AC to judge and to punish and destroy many ungodly nations. (Compare, “Rod of My Anger”, below).

- Gog: (Ez 38; Ez 39) description of the evil spiritual entity which will influence the coming AC. He is the “prince” of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal and leads a confederation of armies against the land of Israel and Jerusalem. (The LXX translation of Amos 7: 1 mentions Gog as a “caterpillar” who is king and leader of an army of invading “locusts” which is to come against the land of Israel. More on this later.)

- He of Whom I Have Spoken: (Ez 38: 17) Generic term for the coming AC.

- King Having Fierce Features: (Dan 8:23; Rev 13: 4) A descriptive name for the “little horn” of Dan 8: 9 who will arise in the last days from one of the four “notable horns” (kingdoms) of Alexander’s Empire. He will stop the daily sacrifices in Jerusalem and will persecute the saints of God. His power will come from Satan.

- King of Assyria: (Is 10: 12) The coming AC is the final King of Assyria, who is a very arrogant and prideful man who will come against a "godless nation" (Israel??) and will cause much destruction there, though it is actually God who is using him to do so. (See, Is 10:5-12)

- King of the North: (Dan 11: 21) The coming AC is the final King of the North of Daniel 11. Dan 11: 21 tells us that the coming AC will “seize the kingdom by intrigue” (the kingdom of the north) and will then act deceitfully while warring against many nations, destroying and stealing from them, and attacking the people of God inside and outside of the land of Israel. (More on his exploits later.)

- Leader of the Northern Army: (Joel 2: 20) God’s destruction of this Northern Army closely parallels the description of God’s destruction of the army of Gog found in Ez 39: 11, where God drives that army into the area of land near the Dead Sea where He destroys it and it is buried there. Dan 11: 38-39 and Rev 13:4 tell us that the coming AC, as the King of the North, has great military might and uses it against other nations and their strong military defenses.

- Leviathan: (Job 41; Is 27: 1; Ps 74: 14; Ps 104: 26) Chapter 41 of the Book of Job speaks about a beast in the sea (Rev 13: 1) called Leviathan which is an allegorical description of the coming AC and many of his characteristics, attitudes and activities which echo descriptions found elsewhere in scripture which pertain to the coming AC.

Below are representative verses of chapter 41 of the Book of Job which pertain to the coming AC. Under each relevant verse is one or more verses of scripture found elsewhere in the Bible which have a description very similar to that being described in Job 41.

In reference to the “Leviathan” of Job 41, God asks Job the following questions:

o Can you pierce his jaw with a hook? (v. 2)

§ I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaw, and lead you out (Ez 38: 4)

o Will he make supplications to you? Will he speak softly to you? (v. 3)

§ He shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue. (Dan 11: 21)

§ He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him. He has broken his covenant. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. (Ps 55: 20-21)

o Will he make a covenant with you? (v. 4)

§ He shall confirm a covenant with many for one week (Dan 9: 27)

o Will you leash him for your maidens? (v. 5)

§ The city shall be taken, the houses rifled and the women ravished. (Zech 14: 2)

o Will your companions make a banquet of him? (v. 6)

§ Speak to every sort of bird and to every beast of the field: “Assemble yourselves and come gather together from all sides to My sacrificial meal which I am sacrificing for you.
A great sacrificial meal on the mountains of Israel, that you may eat flesh and drink blood. You shall eat the flesh of the mighty, drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams and lambs, of goats and bulls, all of them fatlings of Bashan.
You shall eat fat till you are full, and drink blood till you are drunk at My sacrificial meal which I am sacrificing for you. You shall be filled at My table with horses and riders, with mighty men and with all the men of war,” says the Lord God. (Ez 39: 17-20)

§ I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.” (Rev 19: 17-18)

§ Be silent in the presence of the Lord God, for the day of the Lord is at hand. For the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, He has invited His guests. And it shall be in the day of the Lord’s sacrifice that I will punish the princes and the king’s children, and all such as are clothed with foreign apparel. (Zeph 1: 7-8)

§ For God is my King from of old … You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces, and gave him as food to the people inhabiting the wilderness (Ps 74: 12, 14)

o Can you fill his skin with harpoons, or his head with fishing spears? Lay your hand on him, remember the battle. Never do it again. Indeed, any hope of overcoming him is false. Shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him? No one is so fierce that he would dare stir him up… I will not conceal his limbs, his mighty power, or his graceful proportions. Who can remove his outer coat? Who can approach him with a double bridle? Who can open the doors of his face with his terrible teeth all around? His rows of scales are his pride, shut up tightly as with a seal… On earth there is nothing like him which is made without fear. (vv. 7-10, 12-15, 33)

§ And they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” (Rev 13:4)

§ Nimrod, a type of AC, began to become a mighty hunter on the earth. (Gen 10: 8-9) He challenged God by gathering all men to exalt and make a name for themselves by building a large tower to glorify not God, but themselves. The name Nimrod comes from a Hebrew word meaning rebel or rebellious. Nimrod was the first Assyrian world leader. The coming AC will be the final Assyrian world leader.

§ He shall honor a god of fortresses, and a god his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory (Dan 11: 38-39)

§ In that day the Lord with His severe sword, great and strong, will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent; Leviathan that twisted serpent. And He will slay the reptile that is in the sea. (Is 27: 1)

o He beholds every high thing. He is king over all the children of pride. (v. 34)

§ How you are fallen from heaven O Lucifer, son of the morning. How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations. For you have said in your heart:
I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.
Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit. (Is 14: 12-15)

§ I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words… He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. (Dan 7: 7, 25)

§ And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land. It grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host … he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes, but he shall be broken without human means. (Dan 8: 9-11, 25)

§ Then the king shall do according to his own will. He shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished. For what has been determined shall be done. He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god, for he shall exalt himself above them all. (Dan 11: 36-37)

§ In that day you shall not be shamed for any of your deeds in which you transgress against Me. For then I will take away from your midst those who rejoice in your pride, and you shall no longer be haughty in My holy mountain. I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness and speak no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth. (Zeph 3: 11-13)

§ For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, … wickedness, deceit, … blasphemy, pride, ... . All these evil things come from within and defile a man. (Mark 7: 21-23)

- Little Horn: (Dan 7: 8, 20; Dan 8: 9, 21-23) In Dan 7, we see a “little horn” which arises up among 10 existing horns (kings) on the head of a terrible end time beast (kingdom) which arises upon the earth. It describes how three of those 10 horns fall because of the “little horn.” The “little horn” of Dan 8 arises out of one of four existing “notable horns” (kingdoms) which existed after the fall of Alexander’s Greek Empire and is itself representative of a “king having fierce features”, discussed above.

- Man of Sin / Man of Lawlessness: (2 Thes 2: 3-4) the lawless one; the Satan-possessed coming AC who will exalt himself to be equal to God.

- One of Whom I Have Spoken in Former Days: (Ez 38: 17) As we discussed above, Israel’s prophets of old prophesied about a last days coming AC who would come against Jerusalem and the land of Israel seeking destruction.

- Prince Who is to Come: (Dan 9: 26) We examined this topic in Part I of our study. This verse is helpful to discern the ethnic origin of this coming AC.

- Rod of My Anger: (Is 10: 5) The coming AC will be used by God to punish and to destroy the ungodly on earth. (Compare, “Destroyer of Nations”, above).

- Son of Perdition / Son of Destruction: (2 Thes 2: 3) The Greek word translated perdition or destruction is the word "Apollyon” which means destroyer. In this verse it is used in a context which refers to a state of eternal damnation.

- The Spoiler: (Is 16: 4) Describes a time when refugees from the land of Israel will be sheltered in the land of Moab to escape the “Spoiler.” Dan 11: 41 describes how the land of Moab will escape his hand and not be under the control of the coming AC, the final King of the North of the last days.

- Vile / Despicable Person: (Dan 11: 21; Nahum 1: 14) The Hebrew word used in these verses denotes an unpleasant person who is morally corrupt in a context of an end time coming AC.

- Wicked Counselor / Wicked One: (Nahum 1: 11, 15) This prophecy was written in about 615 BC. It is not, as some argue, a mere historical description of what the Assyrian Empire did to the 10 northern tribes of Israel in the early 8^th century BC. Rather, this is an end time prophecy which refers to a future wicked person to be from and ancient land of Assyria who will place bonds and a yoke upon God’s people, which yoke will be destroyed and bonds will be broken when Jesus returns to earth (v. 13).

- Yoke Giver: (Jer 30: 7-8; Nahum 1: 13; Is 14: 25; Is 47: 6) A phrase which describes the coming AC who will place a yoke, a heavy burden, on the people in the land of Israel, as did King Sennacherib, the historical King of Assyria. This yoke will be destroyed by Jesus at His coming.

Ezekiel 38, 39 Analysis

Let us now examine Ez 38, 39 to determine the nations and/or groups of peoples who will come with the AC against the land of Israel.

Ez 38: 3 and Ez 39: 1 is often translated such that Gog is the “prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal.” Other translations have Gog as: “chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.” After studying a very detailed analysis of Hebrew words and Hebrew grammar specific to these very verses, in a 2003 book by Dr. Jon Mark Ruthven entitled, “The Prophecy That is Shaping History – New Research on Ezekiel’s Vision of the End”, I am convinced that the correct translation of these verses should be: “prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal”, and not “chief prince of Meshech and Tubal”.

Some today associate “Rosh” of Ez 38: 2 with the people and the nation of Russia and “Meshech” with the people who once lived in the land around the modern Russian city of Moscow. Furthermore, they associate “Tubal” with a geographic region which ranges from the southern end of the Ural Mountains in south central Russia and projects northward into north central Russia.

The people groups who are Rosh, Meshech and Tubal are thought to be those which have migrated to locations in Russia today from lands within what is now Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. In ancient times, these lands were within the bounds of the fullest extent of the ancient Assyrian Empire (see map below), which is consistent with our hypothesis that the coming AC will be an Assyrian.

The maps above indicate possible land areas where those three people groups lived in ancient times. Today, these land areas are within modern Turkey, and in Georgia and Azerbaijan (those areas just south of the Caucasus Mountains, an east-west range of steep mountains which separate Georgia and Azerbaijan to the south from Russia to the north). Other than Russia (except for the province of Chechnya in southern Russia), all of these countries today have mostly Muslim populations who practice Islam.

It is unclear whether the people groups mentioned in Ez 38: 2 as being associated with Gog (prince of Rosh, Meshech, Tubal) represent modern Russia or Turkey, but it seems very likely since these nations have legitimate military forces. These people groups may otherwise or represent people of the modern nations located northeast of Turkey and south of the Caucasus Mountains, which are Georgia, and Armenia. This scenario seems unlikely since these small nations are not very wealthy nor do they have much in the way of a standing military.

A review of numerous texts, writings and maps on the subject convinces me that the exact location of the three people groups of Ez 38: 2 is not possible today. I have no doubt, however, that once events in the world take shape and line up more and more with the descriptions found in Ez 38, we will know the exact identity of these people groups. Their exact identity today is still clouded and confused through many migrations of peoples having similarly sounding names throughout history throughout the Mideast and central Asia.

In any case, Ez 38: 2-6 makes clear that Gog will lead a group of people (Rosh, Meshech, Tubal, together with Togarmah and Gomer) from somewhere north of Israel against the land of Israel in the last days. This group will be joined by Persia (Iran; Ez 38: 5) to come against the land of Israel.

Let us examine Ez 38, 39 to determine whether the Gog described therein refers to the coming AC or to someone or something else. Ez 38: 1 and Ez 39: 1 record God telling Ezekiel to prophecy (speak) against Gog for various reasons. I have uncovered the following slightly differing translations of the Hebrew words which follow the word “Gog” in those verses to help understand better what God is saying.

We have the following translations:

"Gog and the land of Magog" (Greek LXX Septuagint);

"Gog (toward the) land of Magog" (Masoretic text); and

"Gog from the land of Magog" (NKJV).

Gog is associated with the land of Magog. Whether or not Gog is a ruler from the land of Magog is unclear. But, it is clear that Gog and the people of the land of Magog will join forces and come down against the land of Israel, led by Gog.

We look to Rev 20: 8 for additional help. That verse tells us that both Gog and Magog will come again against Jerusalem after the 1,000 year earthly reign of Christ. In the Greek, in Rev 20: 8 the definite article “the” precedes “Gog” and “Magog,” which yields: the Gog and the Magog. Therefore, to be consistent with what Rev 20: 8 is telling us in the Greek, I believe the thrust of the Hebrew of Ez 38: 1 refers to two specific individuals or specific people groups. Gog may indeed be confederated or otherwise associated with the land of Magog, but Gog is not the same “person” or “people group” as Magog. Magog is the origin of the people of Magog.

In any case, Gog will align with a confederation of groups of northern peoples, whether or not they dwell in the same land or nation today, to come up against Israel for the purpose of attacking and taking its spoils in the last days.

We need to examine whether this Gog is the same person who is the coming AC.

I suggest that Gog is not the actual AC, but is a malevolent non-human spirit entity which will influence and control the actions and intents of the coming human AC. This conclusion is consistent with Rev 20: 8 which requires Gog to appear on the scene again after the 1,000 year reign of Christ, which is 1,000 years after the human AC has been tossed alive into the lake of fire and destroyed (Rev 19: 20). It appears likely that Gog is the evil spiritual force behind the coming invasion of Israel which will bring armies from parts of the world north of Israel. Gog is not a flesh and blood human being. Perhaps Gog is none other than Satan himself or one of his high ranking fallen angles or demon spirits.

As further evidence of Gog being a spirit being, the name Gog also appears in the Greek LXX Septuagint translation of the Book of Amos (Amos 7: 1). This version of the Old Testament existed at the time Jesus walked the earth with His disciples and was used by Jewish leaders of the time. I found nothing to indicate that Jesus ever commented on that verse to correct it or ever mentioned that it was incorrect. In Amos 7: 1 of the LXX, Gog is named as a caterpillar king over a swarm of "locusts” which come from the east to invade the land of Israel. Prov 30: 27 tells us that “the locusts have no king.” So if natural locusts have no king then Ezekiel 38, 39; Rev 20: 8; and Amos 7: 1 (LXX) must be describing a non-human spirit “king” named Gog.

Does this sound absurd? The apostle Paul tells us in Eph 6: 12 that we do not struggle “against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Emphasis added)

There is precedent in the Bible for a specific description of a non-human spiritual evil leader which is referred to as a king or prince. Please note that Dan 10: 13 reveals the “prince” of Persia that prevented an angel sent from God from coming directly to Daniel to deliver God’s answer to Daniel’s prayer. The angel had been delayed for three weeks by this “prince” who thwarted his efforts. From the context of the verse, it is clear that the “prince” who interfered with the angel sent by God to Daniel was not a human being, but a demonic spiritual force which no doubt controlled, or at least highly influenced, the activities of the actual flesh and blood King Cyrus who was at that time the king of Persia (Dan 10: 1).

Dan 10: 13 tells us plainly that the angel sent by God to speak with Daniel could not get past the “prince” of Persia until “Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help him.” The angel further explains in verse 13 that he (the angle) had difficulty until Michael (a more powerful archangel) showed up to help him and that he had been “left alone there with the kings of Persia.” (Emphasis added)

The Hebrew word for “kings” is pronounced meh'·lek and denotes a single king and not plural kings. In any case, the context of Dan 10: 13 demonstrates that the spirit “kings of Persia” which thwarted the angel are not flesh and blood kings, but is likely they are demonic spirits which are more powerful than the “prince” who also withstood the angel.

Another example in the Bible of a non-human ruler is found in Ez 28: 11-19, where a lamentation against the “king” of Tyre refers to Satan himself and not to an earthly flesh and blood king of Tyre.

Similarly, in Is 14: 12-21 in the midst of a discourse about the actual flesh and blood “king” of Babylon these verses suddenly begin to describe the fall of Satan. The verses also describe how God will destroy those earthly humans who are following Satan at Christ’s coming, and how God will eventually destroy Satan also.

From this Biblical analysis, it seems conclusive that Gog is indeed a non-human malevolent spiritual force behind the invading troops which will come against Israel from the north (Ez 38: 2-4, 6) and from Persia (the locusts of Iran) in the east (Ez 38: 5). Gog will be destroyed at the end of the 1,000 year reign of Christ. (Rev 20)

As an interesting side note, Abul A’la Mawdudi, one of Islam’s most prominent scholars of the 20th century, used the word “abyss” in his book written for non-Islamic people concerning the beginnings of Islam. (“Towards Understanding Islam”, 8th ed. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: National Offset Printing Press, 1986) The book was written to introduce English-speaking people to the basics of Islam. Therein, Mawdudi informs his readers that Mohamed and his message came out of “Arabia – the Abyss of Darkness.” These words appear in bold print as a sub-heading under the title page of the book.

One could argue that Mawdudi unwittingly identified the religion of Islam as “the Abyss of Darkness.” In Rev 9: 1 the word “abyss” appears in relation to the sounding of the 5^th trumpet. Many English versions of the Bible instead use the phrase “bottomless pit”, but the Greek word used actually means “abyss.” This non-Biblical source may indeed be evidence to corroborate our hypothesis that the coming AC will likely be an “Assyrian” which indicates he is from lands where Islam is practiced today.

In various writings of Islam praise is given to the locust for being able to destroy the enemies of Islam, but not vegetation. This also lines up with the sounding of the 5^th trumpet, where in Rev 9: 4 the “locusts” are commanded to not harm the vegetation (the grass, trees, or any green thing). Could this Rev 9 Islamic invasion be the same as the invasion of Iran (Persia) forecast in Ez 38: 5? It appears most likely.

Further, there is Islamic lore that Mohamed had a dream where locusts came to rest on his shoulder. On the wings of the locusts was written, “we are the army of the most high God …”. Is this a somewhat strange corroboration that the “locusts from the east” described in the LXX version of Amos 7: 1 are the “locusts” of Rev 9 and the invasion of Islamic troops of Iran of Ez 38: 5? Is this all a coincidence? Time will tell.

In Part III of this study we will examine the activities, timing, extent of reign, and purpose of the coming AC and other attributes in greater detail.

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The Coming Assyrian (Muslim) Antichrist -- Part I -- Background & Geographical Origin

2014-03-25T16:42:00.001-04:00

This bible study will analyze the various prophecies given by the prophet Daniel and other Old Testament prophets in order to determine the geographic origin, activities, characteristics, timing, purpose and intentions of the coming Antichrist. This study is broken into three parts which will be published consecutively as a series of three blogs over the span of a few weeks.

In this Part I, we give a brief summary of the overall purpose, analysis and conclusion of our bible study. We also explore some background information pertaining to the term “antichrist” and give some detailed analysis to determine the geographic origin of the coming Antichrist.

In Part II of our study, we examine the Gog of Ez 38, 39 and how Gog is related to the coming Antichrist. We also examine various names given in scripture to the coming Antichrist which give clues to his character, origin and other attributes.

In Part III of our study, we examine some of the activities to be carried out by the coming Antichrist, the extent of his reign, God’s purpose for him, the timing of events associated with his coming, and other scriptural references to the coming Antichrist.

Purpose: This blog is an in-depth Bible study to identify the geographical source, religious alignment, character, and activities of the coming antichrist (hereafter, coming “AC”) who will rise to power quietly then lead a worldwide government which opposes everything Godly and which persecutes those who worship the one true God – the Holy One of Israel, be they Jew or Christian. The analysis herein is based on prophecies found in the Bible and on historical fact found in secular non-Biblical sources. We must be vigilant and watchful as current news events around the world reveal to us on an ever-increasing basis that the end time beast government of Rev 13 is beginning to form.

Analysis - I have compared Biblical prophecies and descriptions about the coming AC with the writings of many Biblical scholars, both of antiquity and of recent vintage, and numerous old and new world maps which indicate the location of various people groups in history relevant to our discussion. As a result of my study, I have reached some general conclusions regarding the geographic origin of the coming AC, which we will examine below in greater detail.

Summary Conclusion: The Bible requires that the coming AC is from a certain geographic area, rule over a worldwide government, and carry out various activities. (cf., Dan 2, Dan 7, Dan 8, Dan 9, Dan 11, Micah 5, Rev 13, and Rev 17). Based on my analysis, I believe the coming AC will originate from a geographic area of the world which was ruled in ancient times under each of the consecutive empires of: Assyria, the Greeks under Alexander, the Seleucids of the post-Alexander era, and the eastern portion of the Roman Empire. Today, that geographic area of the world includes the following nations: Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, and Iran – all of which today have mostly Muslim populations which practice Islam. Therefore, it is my belief that the coming AC will be a practitioner of Islam -- a Muslim.

Combining an analysis of history with an analysis of Biblical prophecies and descriptions concerning the coming AC, I believe that he will most likely originate from, or be a very direct descendent of someone who originates from, one of the following modern nations: Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq or Iran. He will be an individual who hails from the eastern portion of the old Roman Empire, and will most likely be someone who either practices Islam or who sympathizes deeply with those who do.

As partial evidence of this hypothesis, consider Rev 13: 15. In that verse, God tells us that those who refuse to take the mark of the image of the beast will be killed. Rev 13: 10 tells us that he who kills with the sword must also be killed with the sword. Finally, Rev 20: 4 tells us that “the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands” will live and reign with Christ during the 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth. (Emphasis added)

The sword is the Islamist’s weapon of choice and is used to behead infidels. The sword, or its equivalent, will no doubt be used by the coming AC and loyal Islamic forces to kill by beheading Christians who refuse to bow to him and to take his “mark."

Current Political Environment

In the United States for the past decade or so there has been an increased variety and amount of federal policies and programs that, regardless of their purported purpose, have resulted in a decrease in individual rights and freedoms – from healthcare reform legislation to mandatory “safety measures” for air travel to prevent terrorism on airplanes. Americans today are being conditioned and acclimated to increased government intrusiveness in daily life, which is something Americans of generations past would not have tolerated.

Today’s younger Americans, those under age 30, passively accept these negative changes since they have been methodically neutered through “political correctness” which began during their primary school education as children. This generation is asleep and oblivious to the real issues in the world and would rather play on their “smart phones” and watch sports or celebrity gossip shows while remaining blissfully ignorant and having not much care, concern or understanding of current geopolitical or economic events. Without a doubt, most of this generation is clueless and unconcerned about what the Bible says about the times in which we live and where we are heading.

Worldwide, we see increasing political and economic chaos enveloping nation after nation around the world. These chaotic activities will ultimately culminate in wars, political turnover and economic collapse, thereby creating a worldwide “need” for a form of government to ostensibly eliminate those wars, calm the political chaos, and stabilize economic markets. The only certain outcome of more governmental control, on wherever scale it is implemented, is a decrease of individual freedoms.

The noted Christian lecturer Gary Kah has reached the same conclusion. He is an outspoken opponent of the Wold Constitution and Parliment Association which promotes a unified world government and worldwide interfaithism (merger of Christianity, Islam and many religions with the false belief that there are MANY paths to God, and that Jesus is not the only way to the Father). For an interesting 1 hour video of Gary Kah and these concepts, please visit this link.

The Bible has more to say about the epoch of time in which we now live than any other epoch in human history. God has warned us through the prophets to make sure that today those of us who have eyes to see and ears to ear have plenty of information to help us discern the times and seasons based on patterns and prophecies in the Bible which are matching up with current events.

We must not sleep. We must be vigilant and watch. We must prepare our hearts for the travail which will soon come upon the world. Hard times are ahead, but God has also given Christian believers plenty of hope and encouragement so we may endure the coming tribulation for the joy He has set before us – to stand before the Son of Man and be rewarded as an overcomer.

For those of you who believe that you need not worry because you will not be here to see the coming AC or the tribulation and hard times he brings because you will escape in a secret pre-tribulation rapture, I strongly advise you to read my blog entitled, “There Will Be No Pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church –Here’s Why.” Better to prepare your heart to endure than to do nothing and be surprised when your hoped-for pre-tribulation rapture does not occur.

The term “Antichrist” in the Bible

Let us first explore the use of the term “antichrist” in the Bible. The Greek word translated “antichrist” appears in the Bible only in 1 John 2: 18, 22; 1 John 4: 3; and 2 John 1: 7. In 1 John 2: 18 the Greek word for “antichrist” is preceded by the definite article “the.” The Greek word transliterated “anti” means “the opposite of” or “in the place of.” Thus, 1 John 2: 18 is the only verse in the Bible which indicates that “the antichrist” will be a certain individual who will oppose, or claim to be a substitute or replacement for, Christ. The other usages of the term “antichrist” in 1 John and 2 John are directed generally to anyone in the course of history who has a spirit which opposes Christ.

1 John 2: 18 reads:

“Little children it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.” (Emphasis added - NKJV)

The Bible gives us many other descriptive titles to the coming AC which provide us information about his geographic origin, intents, attitudes, activities, timing, etc. These clues are scattered throughout the entire Bible. It for us to find and study them.

We will investigate in this study many of those descriptive titles and descriptions and will put together many of these clues to form a mosaic which hopefully will give the reader enough detailed information about the coming AC to allow the reader to recognize the AC when he comes on the world scene.

The Geographic Origin of the Coming Antichrist

We begin our analysis of the geographic origin of the coming AC in Daniel 2. Beginning in verse 31, Daniel tells King Nebuchadnezzar the dream that the King had, and also interprets the dream for him. In the dream God had shown to the King a great image or statue of a figure, representing present and future earthly kingdoms. The image had a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, a belly and thighs of bronze (or copper), legs of iron, and feet and toes partly of iron and partly of clay.

Daniel tells the King that the head of gold represented his Babylonian kingdom and that the remaining body parts on the image of differing composition represented kingdoms that would follow Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom. The feet of the image represented the last earthly kingdom which would exist at the end of time. During the time of this final kingdom, God would destroy all earthly kingdoms and create an eternal kingdom which would never be destroyed. We should be familiar with this story in Daniel.

Most Bible teachers tell us that Dan 2 and history teach the following:

1. Head of gold – Babylonian Empire

2. Chest and two arms of silver – Median/Persian Empire

3. Belly and thighs (sides) of brass (copper) – Greek Empire under Alexander the Great

4. Legs of iron – Roman Empire

5. Feet and toes of iron and clay – Revived Roman Empire based in Europe

Sound familiar?

Many Bible teachers over the past 30 years tell us that the revived Roman Empire has already been formed, as evidenced by the birth of the European Union or Commonwealth of European Nations. But, before we jump on that bandwagon and agree with that analysis of a western Europe revived Roman Empire, let us consider additional information God has given us to determine the origin of the coming AC.

The 10 toes on the feet of the two iron legs of the image of Dan 2 consist of 5 toes on one foot and 5 toes on the other foot of the image. Since the western portion of the Roman Empire was based in Rome, we would expect five leaders (five toes of the “western” foot of the image) of the coming worldwide government to be from European nations – most likely western European nations. Similarly, since the eastern portion of the Roman Empire was based in Byzantium in Turkey (the name was changed by Constantine of Rome in 324 AD to Constantinople after he fled Rome) we would also expect five leaders (five toes of the “eastern” foot of the image) of the coming worldwide government to be from Middle East nations which comprised the original eastern portion of the Roman Empire. Thus, five of the 10 end time government leaders from the west (European nations) and five from the east (mid-east nations). More on this later.

In Dan 7 we have the vision of the “four beasts” which arise out of the Great Sea. The first beast is described as being like a lion having eagles wings on its back which are then plucked off, after which the lion is given a man’s heart and was lifted up to stand on its two feet like a man. The second beast is described as being like bear which is raised up on one side and has three ribs in its mouth, after which it is told to arise and devour much flesh. The third beast is described as being like a four-headed leopard having four wings of a foul on its back.

Many teach, incorrectly, that the first three beasts of Daniel’s vision in Dan 7 (the lion, the bear and the leopard) represent the same ancient kingdoms represented by the head of gold, the chest/arms of silver, and the belly/thighs of bronze, respectively, of the great image of Dan 2. But, Dan 7 shows us that this cannot be true since all four of the Dan 7 beasts must represent end time nations and kingdoms. Dan 7: 7 teaches that those first three beasts exist contemporaneously with each other and with the end time beast until Jesus returns to establish His Kingdom on earth. (We will see later that Rev 13 teaches us that these three beasts (nations) will form part of the end time beast government and describe its characteristics.)

Dan 7: 12 reveals that God takes away the dominion of the first three beasts when Jesus returns but also that those three beasts are not destroyed, but they continue “for a season and a time.” Dan 7: 7 states that the fourth terrible beast “was different from all the beasts that were before it.” (Emphasis added) The Aramaic word translated “before” (Strong’s 6925) means “in front of” or “before” in a spatial sense. It does not mean “before” in time. Dan 7: 12 confirms this, since only the dominion of these beasts is taken away by Christ when He returns. They are not destroyed but continue during Christ’s reign on earth. Only the fourth beast of Dan 7, the terrible beast representing the end time worldwide AC government, is destroyed when Jesus returns, along with the ancient kingdoms described by the first three kingdoms of the image of Dan 2.

We see that first three beasts of Dan 7 are contemporaneous with the end time terrible beast worldwide government. The images of the first three beasts of Dan 7 do not represent historic Babylon, Media/Persia, and Greece. These three kingdoms were represented by the upper three portions of the great image of Dan 2, but they will be destroyed when Christ returns. The descriptions of the first three beasts of Dan 7 were given to us in such a way to enable us today to be able to determine that the end time worldwide government is not far off. When we see all three of these nations arise, we know we are in the end times and that the terrible end time beast kingdom will soon form.

Rev 13 describes how the terrible 7-headed, 10-horned end time beast, which is the same beast as the fourth beast of Dan 7, is a composite of the characteristics of each of the first three Dan 7 beasts. The first three beasts (nations) of Dan 7 are identifiable by us today (unlike in Daniel’s time, or in history until the 20^th century) through the symbols and descriptions used to identify those three beasts. Based on those descriptions it appears these three beasts are:

(1) The United Kingdom (the lion) having eagle wings (America) being plucked from it (the United States’ 1776 declaration of independence from England);

(2) Germany (the leopard) having four heads (representing three historic fascist Reichs – 1871, 1919 and 1934, and a fourth future Reich) and having four wings of a fowl on its back (two pairs of fowl wings, each representing a Franco-German relationship which existed during each of the two prior world wars; the national bird of France is a rooster); and

(3) Russia (the bear).

Dan 7 shows us that these three kingdoms are contemporaneous end time kingdoms or nations which will have their dominion taken away, but are not destroyed, when Jesus returns and destroys the end time beast (the fourth beast). These three nations will continue (v.12) for a while (into the millennium). Since these three kingdoms will continue into the millennium, they must be future kingdoms (future to Daniel’s time) which exist only when Jesus returns.

Dan 7: 17 provides further evidence, and states: “Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which shall arise out of the earth.” (NIV - Emphasis added) These are future kingdoms. The angel is speaking to Daniel during the reign of the Babylonian kings (Dan 7: 1), and since at the time the angel is speaking to Daniel Babylon has already arisen the lion of this prophecy cannot be representative of Babylon but represents a future kingdom to arise on the earth some time after the Babylonian Empire. Also, from the context of Dan 7 we learn that this fourth beast represents an end time kingdom which shall arise in the last days. This terrifying end time kingdom will be led by the “little horn” which will seek to harm the saints of God for 3 ½ years before having its dominion taken away forever by God Almighty, and Dan 7: 7 shows us that these other three kingdoms are contemporaneous with it.

Dan 7 also predicts an end time resurgence of fascism (the 4^th Reich). Will it begin and then flourish in Germany, and/or elsewhere -- perhaps America. As noted above, there have already been three Reichs in German history. The coming end time fascism will be a main characteristic of the coming worldwide beast government. Fascism, totalitarianism, tyranny, no freedom -- slavery for the people.

Rev 13: 2 tells us that the coming beast world government (the 4^th beast of Dan 7) is first and foremost “like a leopard.” Thus, the coming worldwide beast government will be fascist. Watch for a growing fascist movement in the world in the coming years as a clear sign that the worldwide government will soon take over. The fourth Reich will likely begin to coalesce in the not too distant future after a worldwide economic collapse (Please visit my blog: The Heavens are Signaling an Economic Collapse in 2015 -- Make Ready) which will usher in the worldwide government with the support of Germany and the West. God help us if the cradle of the fourth Reich is America.

Dan 7, 8 and 11 tell us that the worldwide beast kingdom will speak loud proud things (mouth of the lion), be powerful in movement and military strength (feet of the bear), and be totalitarian or fascist in nature (body of the leopard). As Dan 7 tells us, it will devour, destroy and break in pieces those who oppose it.

Many teach that the 4th beast of the Dan 7 vision is the equivalent of the “revived Roman Empire” they say is represented in Dan 2 by the two feet and 10 toes at the bottom of the two iron legs of the image, where the two feet and 10 toes are comprised of iron mixed with clay. My reading of Dan 2 and Dan 7 reveals to me a somewhat different analysis.

I believe the Roman Empire was a “kingdom” represented by the legs of iron of the Dan 2 image and that it followed the Greek Empire “kingdom” represented by the belly/thighs of bronze. I believe that the feet of toes of the Dan 2 image represent another kingdom, a divided kingdom (Dan 2 : 41) which is both weak and strong and is not the revived ancient Roman Empire kingdom which was not described in Dan 2 as being divided or weak. As Rome represented by the two iron legs followed Greece as the belly of bronze, so the end time divided beast kingdom will follow Rome as the two legs of iron.

Dan 2 describes the 10 toes of the image and infers that they represent 10 future kings. Dan 2: 44 tells us that “in the days of these 10 kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed.” Dan 2: 41-43 tells us that the feet and toes of the image are partly of iron and partly of miry clay signifying that “this kingdom will be divided, and partly strong and partly fragile, and that they (perhaps fallen angels or demonic influence?; cf. Jer 31: 27 regarding mingling of seed of man and beast) shall will mingle with the seed of men but they will not adhere to one another”, as iron and miry clay will not adhere to one another. (Emphasis added) We see that the future divided kingdom is the 4^th beast of Dan 7 – the coming end time beast government run by 10 rulers and ultimately by the coming AC.

Rev 13: 1 describes this 7-headed beast as the end time beast which shall dominate the world just before the return of Christ, since Rev 13: 1 states that the 10 kings (10 toes of Dan 2) of the 7-headed beast (the 4th terrible beast of Dan 7) are each given authority (a crown) in the end time context. Rev 17: 12 confirms that the 7-headed beast is the end time beast, where its 10 horns on the 7-headed beast represent 10 kings who (at the time of John's life) have received no kingdom as yet, but they will receive authority “for one hour as kings with the beast (the coming AC).”

I believe the 5 toes on one foot of the Dan 2 image represent 5 kings of the coming divided end time kingdom of areas within the original eastern portion of the Roman Empire and the 5 toes on the other foot represent 5 kings of the coming divided end time kingdom of areas within the original western portion of the Roman Empire. Based on Dan 2, the coming worldwide beast government will be headquartered somewhere within the combined eastern and western geographical boundaries of the original Roman Empire (represented by the two iron legs of the image of Dan 2), but this government will itself be a new end time divided kingdom represented by the two feet and 10 toes of the image of Dan 2, where it will have great strength and also have weakness.

Scripture shows that the 10 kings will initially rule the coming worldwide beast government during the first half of Daniel’s 70^th week (2 Thes 2: 3-4; Rev 13: 5; Rev 17: 12-13; Dan 7: 7-8: Dan 9: 24, 27) before they hand control of the government over to the coming AC during the second half of the week (i.e., the final 3 ½ years before Christ returns).

As mentioned above, many teachers (Christian TV preachers and sellers of Christian prophecy books) tell us that the revived Roman Empire will come from Europe (e.g., the European Union) which is the western portion of the old Roman empire represented by one of the legs of the image of Dan 2. For the analysis we just completed, I disagree. Perhaps they forget that the Dan 2 image had TWO legs representing the Roman Empire – a western portion AND an eastern portion.

Most who study the Dan 2 prophecy agree that the two feet and 10 toes made of mixed iron and clay represent an end time empire. But many forget, or fail to notice, or choose not to notice, that the separation between the two legs of the image, representing a maintained separation of the eastern and western portions of the Empire, is maintained during the last days. The image illustrates that the two legs maintain their separateness and distinct identity throughout their time in history as two separate legs – one leg “in the west” and one leg “in the east.”

About 100 years ago, Sir Robert Anderson, a renowned early 20^th century English authority on Biblical end time prophecies found in the books of Daniel and Revelation, also found problematic a European-centric end time beast masquerading as the “revised Roman empire” as being the supposed fulfillment of the prophecy of the feet and toes of the image in Dan 2. In one of his writings he had this to say about the Dan 2 vision of the image of Nebuchadnezzar:

"It has been confidently urged by some that as the ten kingdoms were symbolised by the ten toes of Nebuchadnezzar's image, five on either foot, five of these kingdoms must be developed in the East, and five in the West. The argument is plausible, and possibly just; but its chief force depends upon forgetting that in the prophet's view the Levant and not the Adriatic, Jerusalem and not Rome, is the centre of the world." (Sir Robert Anderson, The Ten Kingdoms)

Based on what we have seen, the Bible tells us that the coming AC will originate from somewhere in the eastern portion of the old Roman Empire. The eastern portion was headquarted in what is now Istanbul, Turkey.

Daniel 8 Analysis

We must fine tune the location of origin of the coming AC within the area of the eastern portion of the old Roman Empire by considering additional Bible prophecies which are on point. In Dan 8, we have another vision by Daniel where he sees a two-horned ram being destroyed by a male goat which has a large notable horn between his eyes and which charges quickly toward the ram from the west. The goat attacks the ram viciously with furious power and knocks the ram to the ground before trampling it.

The vision shows that afterwards the goat becomes strong, but eventually the large horn is broken off and in its place four notable horns arise. Then out of one of the four horns arises a “little horn” which grows exceedingly toward the south, east, and the Glorious Land (land of Israel). An angel in the vision tells Daniel that the ram represents the kingdom of Media/Persia and the goat represents Greece. The “little horn” represents a vile person who will arise in the last days from one of the kingdoms represented by the four horns on the goat during the latter time of their kingdoms when transgressors had reached their fullness.

The Dan 8 prophecy illustrates the destruction of the Babylonian Empire by Alexander the Great. The Dan 8 vision informs us, among other things, the geographical area of the world from which will arise the coming AC. In this prophecy of the he-goat representing Alexander the Great of Greece, the goat travels quickly towards, slams into and tramples the ram (male sheep) representing the Babylonian Empire. We know from history that this prophecy was fulfilled in the 4^th century BC when Alexander and his Greek army quickly crossed the Middle East and defeated the Median/Persian Empire.

In that prophecy, there is also mention of the four notable horns which arise afterwards, which represent how after Alexander’s death his Empire was split into four major (notable) geographic regions, each led by one of Alexander’s former top generals or associates. Also in the vision, “out of one of the 4 notable horns” arises a “little horn” which speaks blasphemous things and exalts itself. This is clearly an image of the coming AC.

An angel explains to Daniel (Dan 8: 17) that the vision refers to the time of the end. The little horn of the vision of Dan 8 is similar to the little horn of Dan 7 and is given further description in Dan 8 as one who will deceive, destroy God’s people, be cunning, exalt himself, and eventually be destroyed by God.

Another lesson learned from Dan 8 is than the vision can be used to determine the geographic origin of the coming AC. The angel told Daniel that the little horn arises from one of the four horns of the male goat. Thus, the coming AC arises out of one of the 4 regions of Alexander’s split empire.

History teaches us that after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC the Greek Empire split apart. Each portion was governed as a separate political kingdom having its own small or large geographic footprint within the now defunct Greek Empire. After some in-fighting among several of those kingdoms in the post-Alexander world, four predominate (notable) kingdoms emerged. Those four kingdoms and their respective leaders were:

(1) Ptolemy in Egypt;

(2) Lysimachus in Macedonia (modern northern Greece) and western Turkey;

(3) Cassander in Greece (modern southern Greece); and

(4) Seleucus in Asia Minor and Asia (modern eastern Turkey, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and portions of Iran and Afghanistan).

We must now determine which one these four post-Alexander kingdoms best fulfills the prophecy of Dan 8 and is the geographic area form which the “little horn” will arise in the last days who is the coming AC. None of these four post-Alexander kingdoms included Western Europe, so for the coming AC to arise from Western Europe from either the European Union or the Commonwealth of European nations, as many teach, would violate the prophecy of Dan 8.

Sir Robert Anderson, who was mentioned earlier in this study, reached the same conclusion regarding the geographic origin of the coming AC in his book, “The Coming Prince”, which was first published in Great Britain in 1894. On page 191 of the 1977 reprint of his classic work, he states affirmatively:

That Antichrist is to arise from the eastern part of the Roman empire, and from that part of the east which fell under the rule of Alexander’s successors, is rendered unquestionable by this chapter [8 of Daniel]. (Emphasis added)

The Assyrian Connection

According to the Bible, Nimrod of Gen 10 fame was not only from the original Babylon but could be considered an Assyrian since he lived and ruled in Nineveh, which is in the land eventually controlled by the Assyrian Empire which would follow original Babylon. The Assyrian Empire controlled land within territory which eventually would be controlled by the Seleucid reign after Alexander’s death noted above.

Nimrod was a prototype of the coming AC and was the leader of the first “kingdom” of Babylon. God did not destroy him, but He thwarted Nimrod’s efforts to unite all peoples into a worldwide government bent on challenging God’s authority. God confused their common langue when they were building the tower of Babel in their pride to show how great they were. Babel means “confusion” and God confused their language so they were dispersed throughout the world and could not continue united against Him.

A review of Dan 2, Dan 8, Micah 5 and other scripture, places a bull’s-eye on the land of the ancient Assyria Empire as the ethnic origin of the coming AC. He will be the final “Assyrian king” who will be the leader of the final world government. We must now determine the geographic area in the modern world that corresponds to that part of the world once controlled by ancient Assyria.

Below are several maps which identify the approximate geographical territory of the largest extent of the ancient Assyrian Empire in the early 7^th century BC. Also included is a map which shows the modern borders of nations in the Middle East.

Based on my review of these and other maps, both old and new, which show the extent of the Assyrian Empire at various times in its history, the largest geographical area it encompassed occurred sometime between 650-625 B.C. As can be seen in the map below, at that time the area of the Assyrian Empire included: eastern Turkey, land to the southern slope of the Caucasus Mountains (Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan), Lebanon, Syria, Jordon, Iraq, Kuwait, western Iran, northern Saudi Arabia, and Egypt (along the Nile valley eastward and including the Sinai peninsula). All of this area today is ground zero for the Islam religion, with small pockets of Christianity spread throughout that region.

As shown in the maps, the ancient city of Nineveh, one-time home of Nimrod and the capital of the Kingdom of Assyria, was located in modern Iraq just across the Tigris River from the modern city of Mosul. Its ruins are found on a plain of land located between the Tigris River and the Khosr River which is a tributary to the Tigris River.

During the days of ancient Nineveh the Khosr River ran directly through the center of Nineveh. Nineveh was surrounded by a protective wall which also came right up to the bank of the river Khosr. In its prime, Nineveh was one of the largest cities in the world and was an important commercial center located along an ancient trade route which ran from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea.

Perhaps when Micah 5: 5 is fulfilled (when the coming AC ventures into the land of Israel) it will bring about the fulfillment of the prophecy of Ez 17/Jer 49 (when the city of Damascus is destroyed by Israel or another nation – a sword against Assyria, land of Nimrod at its entrances). Time will tell.

In summary, the coming AC will arise from or be a close descendant of people of that are from a geographic area previously controlled by the eastern portion of the old Roman Empire, the Seleucid Empire, and the ancient Assyrian Empire. More evidence of a future Assyrian AC is found in Rev 17.

In Rev 17: 10 an angel tells the apostle John that the 7-headed beast which appears before him (also described in Rev 13) represents 7 kings (kingdoms). He says that, "Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come." The angel is speaking to John in approximately the year 90 AD. At that time in world history 5 major world kingdoms had come and gone:

(1) Egypt (others would suggest ancient Babylon under Nimrod, instead of Egypt, was the first true world empire);

(2) Assyria;

(3) Babylon (or neo-Babylon);

(4) Media/Persia; and

(5) Greece.

One world kingdom (the Roman Empire) existed at the time of John, and one world kingdom had not yet come (the future divided worldwide kingdom of the coming AC, illustrated by the feet and 10 toes of mixed iron and clay in the great image of Dan 2 and the 7-headed, 10-horned beast of Dan 7 and Rev 13, 17). As we discussed, the future divided kingdom will initially be ruled by 10 rulers (the 10 toes/horns of Dan 2: 42; Dan 7: 24; Rev 13: 13; and Rev 17:10, 12, 13). These rulers will then give complete control of the divided kingdom to the coming AC, who emerges from among the 10 kings (Dan 7: 8) and subdues three of them. (Dan 7: 8, 20, 24)

The Bible tells us that the coming AC worldwide government will itself be an 8th beast (Rev 17: 11) and "is of" or "is from among" the seven which preceded it. I believe that the head which appears to be mortally wounded (Rev 13: 3, 14) represents the kingdom of ancient Assyria. In the last days we will come to learn that Assyria was never destroyed, though it appeared to have been for the past several thousand years. The geographic area of ancient Assyria will be the origin and power base of the coming AC.

We now turn to Dan 9 for confirmation of our coming Assyrian AC analysis.

Daniel 9 Analysis

Dan 9: 26 gives us more clues regarding the geographic origin of the coming AC. Among other things, that verse discusses the timing and description of various events which have already occurred in history, including: the decree issued by King Artaxerxes of the Media/Persian Empire which ordered the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple; the public appearance of Jesus the Messiah as King on a Palm Sunday in Jerusalem when He rode in on a donkey amongst cheering crowds only days from his crucifixion; and the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD.

Most importantly for our purpose, Dan 9: 26 gives provides a clue as to the geographic ethnicity of the coming AC who is described in this verse as the infamous coming “prince” of the people who were prophesied to destroy Jerusalem and the temple. As noted, Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed in 70 AD. Who and from where were those who actually carried out that destruction?

Many teach that this coming “prince” of the people who destroyed Jerusalem must be from western Europe -- from the western portion of the old Roman Empire which was based in Rome. They base this analysis on their conclusion that the people who destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD were Romans from Rome, and thus were western Europeans. They find further support for this conclusion in view of the Dan 2 image which has the two legs of iron – representing the eastern and western portions of the old Roman Empire. They conclude that the geographic area of land represented by the “western” leg of iron of the image will give rise to the coming AC. For reasons previously stated, I believe such an analysis is flawed, and thus such a conclusion is erroneous.

Let us take a look at historical secular records which help us identify the "people" who destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. Once we identify those people, we will know their origin and thus the origin of the coming AC, the coming prince of Dan 9: 26. We will also examine whether Jewish orthodox teaching is correct which states that this verse describing a coming "prince" was fulfilled in the 2nd century BC by Antiochus Epiphanes IV.

In pertinent part, Dan 9: 26-27 reads as follows:

(v. 26) “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined.

(v. 27) Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering; and on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.”

(NKJV – Emphasis added)

We can see in these two verses the reference made to the “people” and the coming “prince” of those people. Most Bible teachers agree that this coming “prince” is the coming AC who was previously mentioned herein in reference to Dan 8: 9, 23 (the “little horn”; and the “king having fierce features.”)

Let us analyze the identity of the “people” who carried out the destruction.

In Dan 9: 26, the Hebrew word translated “prince” may be better translated in this context as a “ruler” or “leader” (Strong’s 5057), since there is no required association of royalty with the Hebrew word. This notion is confirmed in Dan 11: 21 which refers to the coming AC and states that to him “they will not give the honor of royalty.” (Emphasis added) So, the coming AC will not be a true king having royalty but will likely have a high title or position of authority in a secular government.

As an aside, some Jewish teachings and commentary on the Old Testament (Rahsi) suggest that the Messianic references in Dan 9: 26 regarding he who is “cut off” refer to King Agrippa (A.D. 27-93) of Judea and not to Jesus the Messiah. Such an interpretation appears faulty even for reasons based strictly on historical grounds. My research indicates that King Agrippa actually helped Rome to destroy the temple in 70 A.D. and that he did not die until 93 AD which was 23 years after the temple was destroyed. Obviously, Agrippa was not “cut off” prior to or during the destruction of the temple. Therefore, for the remainder of our analysis of the coming AC, we will assume that Jesus is indeed the Messiah figure referred to in Dan 9: 26 who was cut off.

Interestingly, in a short hand written note by a 109 year old, well respected Orthodox Jewish man, Rabbi Yitzhak Kadur, prior to his death in January 2006 alludes to the identity of the soon-coming Messiah. It is said that the Rabbi had often mentioned that the Messiah was going to come soon. The note, written in the rabbi’s handwriting, is translated as: "he will raise the people and confirm that his word and law are standing", which by an acronym formed from the Hebrew words used in this message suggests the name "Yehoshua" as the name of the coming Messiah. We know of such a person as Jesus.

Apparently, the rabbi had asked that the note not be read until one year after his death. It was posted to a website for the Jewish community and subsequently removed after the discovery of the allusion to Jesus being the Messiah. I am certain this note by such an esteemed orthodox Jewish rabbi, who dedicated his entire life to study of the Torah, has caused no small stir in the Orthodox Jewish community.

The Jewish Rashi also interprets the “prince” that is to come of Dan 9: 26 as being the Roman monarch Titus of Rome since it was “Roman” soldiers who destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. (This is the same conclusion reached by some Christian teachers, as we discussed previously, that those who destroyed Jerusalem were Roman and European.) They reason that the “people” are Roman soldiers since the “prince” of those soldiers was Titus of Rome. However, we have already shown that by letting scripture interpret scripture the coming “prince” is not of royalty. Additionally, we will see below that the “people” who actually destroyed the temple were not Romans from Rome, but were conscripts from lands conquered by Rome and used by the Roman army to do some of their dirty work.

In writing about the destruction of the Temple, the historian Tacitus writes:

''Early in this year Titus Caesar, who had been selected by his father to complete the subjugation of Judea …. He found in Judea three legions, the 5th, the 10th, and the 15th, all old troops of Vespasian’s. To these he added the 12th from Syria, and some men belonging to the 18th and 3rd, whom had withdrawn form Alexandria (Egypt). This force was accompanied by twenty cohorts of allied troops and eight squadrons of cavalry, by the two kings Agrippa and Sohemus, by the auxiliary forces of king Antiochus, by a strong contingent of Arabs, who hated the Jews with the usual hatred of neighbors, and lastly, by many persons brought from the capital and from Italy by private hopes of securing the yet unengaged affections of the Prince. With this force Titus entered the enemy's territory, preserving strict order on his march, reconnoitering every spot, and always ready to give battle. At last encamped near Jerusalem.'' (Emphasis added)

This gives evidence that the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple was carried out in large part by Roman conscription soldiers who were Syrians, Egyptians, and Arabs. They clearly were not of western European descent.

The Jewish secular historian Josephus writes:

''Hereupon some of the deserters, having no other way, leaped down from the wall immediately, while others of them went out of the city with stones, as if they would fight them; but thereupon they fled away to the Romans. But here a worse fate accompanied these than what they had found within the city; and they met with a quicker dispatch from the too great abundance they had among the Romans, than they could have done from the famine among the Jews; for when they came first to the Romans, they were puffed up by the famine, and swelled like men in a dropsy; after which they all on the sudden overfilled those bodies that were before empty, and so burst asunder, excepting such only as were skillful enough to restrain their appetites, and by degrees took in their food into bodies unaccustomed thereto. Yet did another plague seize upon those that were thus preserved; for there was found among the Syrian deserters a certain person who was caught gathering pieces of gold out of the excrements of the Jews' bellies; for the deserters used to swallow such pieces of gold, as we told you before, when they came out, and for these did the seditious search them all; for there was a great quantity of gold in the city, insomuch that as much was now sold [in the Roman camp] for twelve Attic [drams], as was sold before for twenty-five. But when this contrivance was discovered in one instance, the fame of it filled their several camps, so that the deserters came to them full of gold. So the multitude of the Arabians, with the Syrians, cut up those that came as supplicants, and searched their bellies. Nor does it seem to me that any misery befell the Jews that was more terrible than this, since in one night's time about two thousand of these deserters were thus dissected.'' (Emphasis added)

Recent research from Walid Shoebat and Joel Richardson provides:

''Indeed, the majority of the ''Roman'' soldiers that destroyed Jerusalem were Arabs, Syrians and Turks. When we look at the four Roman legions that were under Titus during the siege against Jerusalem, we see that they were from the Eastern portion of the Empire and were primarily from Syria or eastern Turkey. Below are the four legions that were under Titus during the Jewish Roman war and the location that history records for their garrisons:

Legion X Fretensis: Turkey, Syria

Legion 15 Apollinaris: Syria

Legion 12 Fulminata: Melitene: Eastern Turkey, Syria

Legion 5 Macedonica: Moesia: Serbia, Bulgaria

These four legions were all involved in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. The legion X, or tenth legion, in particular was the group which went through the wall breach and set fire to the Temple. It was this particular legion that actually pulled down the entire Temple and made the Temple Mount its new base. It should be pointed out that each legion was composed of several smaller ''cohorts.''

Below is a list of the actual cohorts that comprised the X, or tenth, legion and where they originally came from:

A. Thracum: Syria (Syrians)

B. IV Cohort Thracia: Bulgaria and Turkey (Turks)

C. Syria Ulpia Patraeorum: Petra in Edom (Nabatean Arabs)

D. IV Cohort Arabia (Arabs)

Again, these were a mixture of Syrians, Turks and Arabs. While the people who destroyed the temple were indeed Roman citizens, they were not primarily Europeans or Italians, but rather the peoples that lived in Syria and Eastern Turkey during the first century. This verse is concerned with the heritage and lineage of the people as restricted by the text ''people of the Prince'' and not their allegiance to Rome. This is why the text is written in this way. It insists in this connection. Once again, the Bible has led us to the same region. In context, the ''people of the prince'' are simply the people of the Antichrist; the Hebrew ''Am'' for people is persons, members of one’s people, compatriots, countrymen, kinsman and kindred. (Strong's 5971)” (Emphasis added)

From these sources, we conclude that the “people” of the prince who is to come in Dan 9: 26 who caused most of the destruction to the city of Jerusalem and the temple were mostly Arabs, Syrians, and Turks, all of who are from the eastern portion of the Roman Empire. These ethnic groups hated the Jewish nation and would have taken pleasure in sacking Jerusalem and the temple. No doubt, that is why the Roman general Titus used their services.

In Christian teaching, it is commonly accepted that the coming “prince” of Dan 9: 26 corresponds to the coming AC. This is based on what Jesus told His disciples, as recorded in Mat 24: 15, that they were to watch for the coming Abomination of Desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet. Jesus was obviously referring to the reference in Dan 9: 26-27 of the coming "prince" who is to set up the Abomination of Desolation. If Antiochus Epiphanes IV had fulfilled this prophecy in Daniel almost 200 years earlier, Jesus would not have referred to it as being a future end time event to occur just prior to His return to earth. Therefore, I will dispense with an analysis of the word translated “prince” from the Hebrew word pronounced “naw-gid” (Strong’s 5057) and an analysis of what the Jewish Rashi has to say on the subject.

Suffice it to say that the word “naw-gid” means a ruler or leader, rather than a prince having royalty. This fits perfectly with Dan 11: 21 which says that the coming “vile person” will not be given the honor of royalty.

Dan 9: 27 uses Hebrew words and idioms which are apparently difficult to translate clearly and succinctly into English. Note the variation of interpretations of various English words and phrases used in this verse among the various extant English versions of the Bible (e.g., the KJV, the NKJV, the NIV, the Amplified version, etc.) For the purpose of our analysis, to obtain a perhaps more accurate and useful interpretation, I chose to take a look at Rashi commentary on this subject.

Below is an English interpretation of Dan 9: 27 highlighted with Rashi commentary:

(v. 27) “And he will strengthen a covenant for the princes for one week;”

(Note: The Rashi indicates this refers to many princes of Israel, but I would suggest it is not limited to a rulers of Israel and may refer instead to a group of nations which includes the nation of Israel)

“And half the week he shall abolish sacrifice and the meal offering; and on the wing (on high), among abominations (detestable things), will be the abomination which makes desolate (the dumb or silent one); until destruction and extermination befall the one making desolate (the dumb one / silent one).”

(Emphasis added – Note mine – Words in parentheses from the Rashi)

The Rashi is helpful here in interpreting this difficult verse by giving the following commentary on some of the Hebrew words and phrases used:

- the abomination which makes desolate is referred to as the “dumb one”, which is a pejorative phrase referring to pagan deities

- abominations are disgusting, detestable things

- “wing” refers to a high place, like the height of a flying bird

- the abomination will continue until it is destroyed in the days of King Messiah

- at that time, total destruction will fall upon the dumb one (the image of the pagan deity), and upon its worshipper

So, what exactly is this “dumb” one or “silent” one? The Hebrew word translated “dumb” means silent or unable to speak. In 1 Cor12: 2, Paul writes to gentile believers in Corinth and uses a similar description by referring to “dumb idols” that they, as gentiles, used to worship. The Greek word used by Paul for “dumb” likewise denotes silent, or an inability to speak. It appears then that the thing referred to in Dan 9: 27 is some sort of idol for a false deity which will be set up in the temple in Jerusalem by the coming AC.

In Dan 11: 31 and Dan 12: 11, the same Hebrew words are again used to describe this detestable idol which the coming AC, or his false prophet sidekick, is going to set up for worship.

Jesus commented on this abominable thing, as recorded in Mat 24: 15 as follows:

“Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place …” (NKJV – Emphasis added)

The Greeks words translated “abomination of desolation” could also be translated “foul/detestable” or “destruction” or “grief.” So the phrase “abomination of desolation” could be translated as “the detestable thing causing destruction or grief.” This interpretation informs us that this “abomination” being referred to is a nonliving thing and not a person.

In sum, it appears that some sort of detestable idol will be set up in the Most Holy Place of a future temple in Jerusalem by the coming AC and/or the false prophet who will cause grief and destruction among worshippers of the true God. This idol may be the image of the beast described in Rev 13: 14 which is to be worshipped.

Prince of the Covenant Analysis

We will now analyze whether the coming prince (the coming AC) of Dan 9: 26-27 is the same person as the “prince of the covenant” found in Dan 11: 22. Let us consider those verses using Christian and Jewish interpretations in an attempt to give us a clearer understanding of what those verses mean. Relevant words and phrases are highlighted below for our study.

Daniel 9: 26-27 appears in many Christian translations similar to the following:

²⁶“And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined. ²⁷Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate.” (NKJV)

These same verses appear in orthodox Jewish translations similar to the following:

^26
“And after the sixty-two weeks, the anointed one will be cut off, and he will be no more, and the people of the coming monarch will destroy the city and the Sanctuary, and his end will come about by inundation, and until the end of the war, it will be cut off into desolation. ²⁷And he will strengthen a covenant for the princes for one week, and half the week he will abolish sacrifice and meal-offering, and on high, among abominations, will be the dumb one, until destruction and extermination befall the dumb one.”

Daniel 11: 21-23 appears in many Christian translations similar to the following:

²¹And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue. ²²With the force of a flood they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, and also the prince of the covenant. ²³And after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people. (NKJV)

These same verses appear in orthodox Jewish translations similar to the following:

²¹And a contemptible person will stand in his place, and they did not place the glory of the kingdom upon him, and he will come in peace and seize the kingdom with flattery. ²²And the arms of inundation will be inundated from before him and be broken, and also the leader with whom they made a covenant. ²³And from the alliance with him he will work deceitfully, and he will go up and overpower with few people.”

In both the Christian and orthodox Jewish versions of these passages, it becomes apparent that the “prince” or “leader” who is to come described in Dan 9: 27 cannot be the same person who is the “prince of the covenant” of Dan 11: 22 who is overpowered or broken by the coming AC. Looking at both versions, though the wording in each is slightly different, the point being made in both versions is the same – that the “prince who is to come” of Dan 9: 26 is also the “vile” or “contemptible” person of Dan 11: 21 who is the coming AC. It is the coming AC who overpowers the “prince” of Dan 11: 22 after a covenant has been made with him.

Perhaps this “covenant” referred to in Dan 11: 22 creates the “league” or “alliance” with the coming AC which is discussed in Dan 11: 23. But, this is not the same “covenant” of Dan 9: 27 which was not made but “confirmed” or “strengthened” for one week (7 years). Therefore, the confirmed covenant of Dan 9 must already be in existence when it is strengthened by the coming AC, whereas the Dan 11 covenant is created by the coming AC with another ruler (likely a ruler in Israel) who is then overcome by the coming AC.

In sum, we see that the “covenants” of Dan 9 and Dan 11 are not the same and that the two “princes” of Dan 9 and Dan 11 are not the same. The coming AC will at first (by himself or with others) give strength to an existing agreement involving Israel (perhaps an acknowledgment of God’s land covenant that He made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in perpetuity found in Gen 12, 15, 26, 28). The coming AC will some time thereafter enter into a newly created peace agreement with a “prince” (leader) in Israel and others to create a league or alliance of nations to facilitate an illusory peace, which he will use to his advantage through lies and deceit.

Dan 11: 21 et seq. shows us that this illusory peace will be shattered by the lies and deceit of the coming AC as he sets out to gain power and use the alliance to his advantage. He will tighten his grip on world domination and control, acting spitefully against Israel (the people of the covenant) and in favor those who oppose Israel.

In Part II and Part III of this study we will examine the activities of the coming AC and other attributes in greater detail.

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The Two Witnesses of Revelation 11 Will Be Enoch & Elijah -- The Bible Tells Us So

2014-03-18T15:49:00.002-04:00

One of the mysteries of the Book of Revelation written by Apostle John is who the two witnesses of Rev 11:3 will be. Who are those "two olive trees and lamp stands" who will prophesy in the streets of Jerusalem for 3 1/2 years during the Great Tribulation period comprising the last half of Daniel's 70th week (Dan 9: 26)? This unique and terrible period of time commences when the Abomination of Desolation (spoken of by Daniel in Dan 9: 27 and by Jesus in Mat 24: 15) appears in the the rebuilt Jerusalem temple at the midpoint of Daniel's 70th week (Dan 9: 26-27).

At the beginning of the Great Tribulation God's two witnesses will supernaturally appear on the streets of Jerusalem and speak boldly of God's coming judgment on the ungodly world. (Rev 11: 3-12) They will be despised by unbelievers as they inflict various ecological and meteorological plagues upon the world, including: severe droughts, turning waters to blood, and other non-specified disasters, in an effort to convince unbelievers to take seriously their warning message of God's soon-coming severe judgment upon humanity. As a defense, the two witnesses are able to destroy with fire from their mouths anyone who comes near them.

Most likely the coming Antichrist (AC), who causes the Abomination of Desolation to be set up in the temple 3 1/2 years prior to Jesus' return, becomes possessed by Satan a short time after Satan and his angels are defeated in heaven by Michael and his angels (Rev 12: 7-9). After Satan is thrown down to the earth, he gives the AC his demonic power (Rev 13: 2) who then begins a reign of terror and persecution against the nation of Israel and Christian believers. (Rev 12: 13, 17) It is during this period of severe persecution of God's people that the two witnesses have their ministry.

After warning the inhabitants of the earth for 3 1/2 years to repent of their ungodly behavior, the Satan-possessed AC finally has the two witnesses killed (Rev 11: 7-10) and the world rejoices. Their two dead bodies lie unburied in the streets of Jerusalem and the world celebrates their death. Television and internet videos will show the dead bodies to the world. (Rev 11: 9) Suddenly after 3 1/2 days, they are resurrected by God and called to heaven in a rapture event which is seen by the world. As they are raptured into heaven, an earthquake shakes Jerusalem causing 7,000 deaths and destroying 1/10 of the city. (Rev 11: 13)

I believe that soon after these two witnesses are taken up into heaven the rapture of the church will take place, and then the 7 bowl judgments of God's wrath will come upon the earth and the unrepentant. (For support for this statement, please visit my blog: "There Will Be No 'Pre-tribulation' Rapture of the Church -- Here's Why")

So, why Enoch and Elijah? God's word tells us that "it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." (Heb 9: 27 - Emphasis added) Many Christians speculate that the two witnesses will be Moses and Elijah. They reason that since the plagues described in Rev 11 are similar to those brought about by Moses while he was in Egypt arguing with Pharaoh about the release of the nation of Israel from Egypt, Moses must be one of the two witnesses. Since Elijah never died and was taken up into heaven, they argue that he is the other witness.

Such arguments may appear logical, but scripture cannot be contradicted. Heb 9: 27 clearly tell us that a man cannot die more than once. Moses died and was buried. (Deut 34: 5-6) The Bible tells us that only two individuals did not die and were taken directly to heaven. They are Enoch and Elijah. (Heb 11: 5; 2 Kings 2: 11)

Clearly, Elijah will return to testify in the streets of Jerusalem with a call to repentance. His return will also literally fulfill the prophesy of his return to earth found in Malachi 4: 5-6, which John the Baptist fulfilled only in a spiritual sense. Enoch never died, so he will also return to earth to die in the streets of Jerusalem with Elijah.

The "time of trouble" spoken of throughout the Old Testament is indeed just around the corner. It is time to repent and to prepare your heart to seek the Lord. (Psalm 27: 5; Zeph 2: 3; Rev 3: 10)

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God's Coming Judgment Will Divide America -- "They have Divided Up My Land"

2014-03-13T16:17:00.000-04:00

In the Book of Joel, God speaks to us about His coming last day judgment against the nations gathered against Jerusalem. In Joel 3, we see that when Jesus returns to defeat the armies gathered at Jerusalem, during the Battle of Armageddon (Rev 16: 16), He will judge the nations gathered there. Even secular non-Christians have heard about the Battle of Armageddon and know that it is an end time event.

In Joel 3: 1-2, God says that He will judge these nations which have come to destroy His people Israel and His city Jerusalem. He also tells us that one of the reasons for His judgement is because they have divided His land. His words are as follows:

“For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations. They have also divided up My land." (NKJV - Emphasis added) So God clearly is not pleased that His land has been divided.

By way of today's newspapers and internet articles anyone who cares to know can see how the United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, has been involved in ongoing negotiations with Israel and the Palestinians for the past few months to obtain a "peace" agreement between these parties. The latest peace proposal being pushed by Kerry, with orders from President Barack Obama and his staff, calls for Jerusalem to be divided. Here is a link to one of today's internet articles, dated March 12, 2014 by Michael Snyder, entitled, "The Obama Peace Plan Includes Permanently Dividing The City Of Jerusalem."

(Updated 8/29/15) - It has recently been announced that President Obama will meet Pope Francis at the White House on September 23, 2015 (Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement). If, as is rumored, a "peace" deal is announced which divides Jerusalem and gives the Palestinians land in Israel, with East Jerusalem being their new capital, expect God to punish America for the deal by physically dividing the land and people of America soon thereafter. God will not be mocked. It could also very well be the beginning of Daniel's 70th week, signalling the beginning of what is commonly called the "7 year tribulation."

The proposed peace agreement includes a provision that divides Jerusalem and creates a new Palestinian State in the West Bank having its capital as east Jerusalem. I do not know if this exact arrangement proposed by Kerry will prevail, but I have shown you what God thinks about His land being divided.

We know from the Book of Genesis that the land of Israel, God's land, was given in perpetuity to Abraham, Issac, and Jacob and their descendants by God's unilateral promise -- His covenant. It is clear from Joel 3 that His land will indeed be divided one way or another by the Gentile nations prior to Jesus' return.

Revelation 11: 1-2 tells us that an angel told John the Apostle, as part of John's vision of the last days, to measure a temple but to not measure its outer court which will be tread underfoot by the Gentiles (non-Jews) for 42 months (the 3.5 year period of the Great Tribulation which begins when the Abomination of Desolation of Dan 9: 27, spoken of by Jesus in Mat 24: 15, is set up in the new temple in Jerusalem.) This temple is not yet built, but we know it will be built prior to the appearance of the coming Antichrist world leader who will enter that future temple (2 Thes 2: 4).

The push for peace by the United States via John Kerry, and by other nations, will no doubt soon pressure Israel into giving up land in Israel to the Palestinians for a putative "peace" with the Palestinians. After the agreement, the Palestinians will move into the West Bank in Judea and will set up their new Palestinian government in or near east Jerusalem.

Perhaps the temple mount in Jerusalem will also be considered in such a peace deal, where the United Nations, or some other "neutral" government entity, will agree to provide security and control over the temple mount so the Jews can build a new temple there as part of the consideration Israel will demand for giving up some of its land. This seems likely.

If the United States prevails in pressuring Israel to physically divide God's land, the land He gave to the nation of Israel, I believe God will also physically divide the United States. Most likely, this will occur by way of some sort of seismic event which will split open the New Madrid fault in and around eastern Missouri causing the land to be split open from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. Perhaps this seismic event is preceded by a meteor hit on a fault line in the Caribbean which then triggers the New Madrid fault to open.

In either case, it is clear that God will bring judgment of like kind to the nation that divides His land. As God tells us in Gen 3: 12, "I will bless those who bless you (the nation of Israel), and I will curse him who curses you." God does not lie. Obediah 1: 15 gives further proof: “For the day of the Lord upon all the nations is near. As you have done, it shall be done to you." (Emphasis added)

Clearly, if the United States divides Israel, God will divided the United States.

Is the church awake? Do they know about this? Do they care? God cares.

The "time of trouble" spoken of throughout the Old Testament is indeed just around the corner. It is time to repent and to prepare your heart to seek the Lord. (Psalm 27: 5; Zeph 2: 3; Rev 3: 10)

2014 - True Believer

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The Danger of Chrisitan "Righteousness" -- Do Not Deceive Yourself

2013-12-14T12:15:00.001-05:00

I was praying to the Father this morning for understanding of His word and for guidance. Before I prayed, I was thinking of reading through parts of 1 Corinthians for guidance in my life regarding how to help purify myself as He is pure. (See, 1 John 3: 3)

I was paging through the Bible to get to 1 Corinthians, and as I came to the Book of Ezekiel I heard God tell me to read Chapter 33 of Ezekiel. From memory, I did not recall specifically what was in that Chapter. After reading through verse 20 of Chapter 33 it became clear what the Father wants me to do today, which is to write this blog for all who have ears to hear in regard to what the Father wants those who call themselves Christians to hear and understand. Please read on.

In Ezekiel 33, after discussing the responsibilities of a watchman, which I believe I am, God's word very simply sets forth a principle of righteousness to be followed, which is as applicable today as it was in the days of Ezekiel. Jesus is the word of God (John 1: 1) who NEVER changes (Heb 13: 8). Do not be tricked into believing that whatever God said in the Old Testament has no application, or not much application, today. His principles on righteousness NEVER change.

God says in Ez 33: 12-20 that in the day of judgment the self righteousness of those who say they are righteous SHALL NOT DELIVER THEM. This means that if you consider yourself a Christian, you cannot simply relax ("pine away", verse 10) in saying or believing that you are righteous, without living a righteous life. Of course, one must obtain the righteousness of God given to you by grace through your acceptance and belief in what Jesus did on the cross. But, a true Christian must be ACTIVE, not relaxed, in working out his/her salvation (Phil 2: 12) through good works (Eph 2: 10; James 2: 14) and doing what is right on a DAILY basis (Luke 9: 23).

You cannot fool God. God looks at the heart (1 Sam 16: 7) and not pretense. If your heart is set on trying to get away with a little evil here or there and think to yourself that it's OK since you are saved by grace, YOU ARE DECEIVING YOURSELF. This is not a pleasant message to hear -- for myself or for you who are reading this. But this is the message that God wants us to know and understand. It is how he feels about sin. He HATES sin.

God understands that we will fail. When we do fail we are to ask for forgiveness, which will be granted freely (1 John 1: 9) and we are to turn from such ways. If we continue failing in the same areas in our life: anger, theft, disobeying authority, adultery, covetousness, etc. one must seriously consider several things:

Am I truly born again?
If I am, then why am I continuing, perhaps habitually, in sinful behavior in certain areas of my life?
Have I asked Jesus to forgive me, with a heart-felt understanding that I am wrong and have sinned?
Am I actively trying on a daily basis to deny what I want and to purify myself, my life, the things I do and say, to become more like Jesus?
Am I unaware or deceived into believing that I can continue in sin without consequence?

As God says very clearly in Ez 33: 13, do not trust in your own righteousness, the things you are doing well, to save you if you continue in sin without much regard for its consequences. As we learn in the New Testament, Jesus forgives our sins, but then asks us that we "go and sin no more." (See John 8: 11, in regard to the story of the woman caught in the very act of adultery)

If you are a born again believer, your DUTY is purify yourself EVERY DAY to become more like Jesus while you are on this earth. It is a struggle (Mat 7: 14, the "narrow way" is difficult), but God gives the Holy Spirit freely to all who ask (Luke 11: 13) to help us to overcome sin. In the Holy Spirit we have the strength of Jesus IN US to help us overcome sin. Jesus lived not as God on earth, but as a man. He emptied himself of being God (Phil 2: 6-8) to live on earth and operated as a man solely under the power of the Holy Spirit to help him overcome sin. Jesus' life on earth is a model of how God wants EACH of us to live. You should reread the 4 Gospels and focus on how Jesus lived His life in the face of all adversity and sinful temptation. He followed the Father's desires (known today to us through His word) AT ALL TIMES AND IN EVERY SITUATION.

This too is our daily goal. Do not live your life without being mindful of these things. Do you spend more time making sure your computer is free of harmful viruses than you do making sure your soul is free of harmful sin?

I pray that God opens the eyes of your heart to see more clearly His desire for you to be perfect, as He is perfect, through the power of the Holy Spirit which is in you.

2013 - True Believer

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The Time for Repentance By God's Church has Come -- A Prayer for the United States

2013-08-11T12:57:00.000-04:00

This message has been brewing in my spirit for about a year or so. It is being written for those in the United States church, but it is applicable to any true born-again believer in any nation in the world. It is time to publish it.

Many in the church today have some understanding or spiritual awareness that things are not going well in the United States of America these days. In fact, things are getting worse at a rather high rate of change. I am speaking of increased opposition to all things Christian. This increasing strong hatred of Christianity is approaching critical mass and now permeates our society and government. Sadly, it is becoming difficult to speak the name of Jesus openly in public, whether at a high school commencement ceremony by a valedictorian student or by a chaplain in the U.S. armed forces. Bibles are becoming forbidden.

We know who is behind these activities. He is the same being who tempted Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden so long ago. His tactics do not change. His message does not change. His hatred for all things associated with our God is greater than anyone can imagine. Jesus informed us years ago, as recorded in John 10: 10, that "the thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." That is his plan, and it has never changed and will never change. Satan has been defeated, but he is not yet destroyed. He will only flee from those who resist him.

We see the ungodly behavior in this nation on the rise. A nation founded by God, under God, and blessed by God. We now hear from our leaders in Washington DC that we were NOT founded on Christian principles. We hear our leaders say that Islam has, and has had, as much influence in this nation as Christianity or any other religion. That is a lie and an attempt to restate actual historic fact.

We see gay pride parades on the increase. We see hostility against anyone who speaks the name of Jesus in public or attempts to openly do anything in His name. We see same sex marriage being approved by more and more states. We see abortions being condoned, encouraged, and discounted on Sundays!

In many states, voters who call themselves Christian are voting in favor of these laws in the interest of being "fair to all people" and thereby being "politically correct." God still considers same sex marriage an abomination. God never changes. To Him, this type of behavior will ALWAYS be an abomination. These people will never enter the Kingdom of God. Paul says the same thing in 1 Cor 6: 9.

Some years ago, I was taught by a great teacher of the bible that "God is not judging America." His statement was based on his belief that God is not judging individuals these days, since all judgment and punishment for all sin had been placed upon Jesus (which it was). This teacher also tells us (correctly) that God's grace is upon each of us who have accepted Jesus as our Lord (master), Savior and Redeemer.

BUT, God is indeed judging NATIONS. He has been doing this since nations have existed. Israel was constantly being judged for straying from God, and indeed, the partial blindness over their nation (the Jewish nation worldwide) spoken of by Paul in Rom 11: 25 resulted from their turning from God and still remains today. This is the reason most Jews cannot accept Jesus as the Messiah. This blindness will be removed when Jesus returns, as the bible says.

King David wrote over 3,000 years ago that, "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." (Emphasis added) (See, Ps 9: 17-18) This was a message of warning to all nations for all times. God does not change.

In Jer 18: 7-10, God speaks about any nation which sins against Him and the nation which does, or does not, repent of that sin. Beginning in verse 7 God speaks, "The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it." (Emphasis added)

If anyone reading this was unsure of God's heart toward a nation who turns from Him, your uncertainty should now be gone. What God said regarding His judging the nations, as recorded by Old Testament prophets, is also for us today. God punishes, yesterday and today, all such nations. (See, also Ez 14: 12-20, regarding God's judgment on a land having persistent unfaithfulness toward Him.) How much more do you think it breaks God's heart to see a nation such as ours turn from Him, a nation that was ONCE UPON A TIME faithful to Him? A nation, similar to the nation of Israel, which He founded and blessed and has set apart to be a light to the rest of the world? We indeed have brought light to the world through our sharing of the Gospel, but now we are bringing darkness and death to the world through our sharing of liberal, ungodly moral conduct and values.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, unless we the church humble ourselves, pray, seek His face and TURN from out wicked ways God has NO CHOICE but to judge our nation and to destroy it. However, 2 Chron 7: 14 also gives us a way out. It says that if God's people (the church, not the unbelieving ungodly secular individuals some of whom are leaders of this nation) humble themselves, pray, seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, God will hear us from heaven, forgive our sins and HEAL OUR LAND!

Without the leadership of our nation participating in such repentance by acknowledging these wrong immoral activities, putting an end to them and requesting God's forgiveness, the church must "go it alone" and be strong in its repentance and request that our nation's leaders also acknowledge the need for a national repentance -- to save our nation. But, those of God's true church, the Philadelphia church of Rev 3, are the only ones promised an escape from coming judgment. It is the Philadelphia church of God, true believers who have chosen the narrow and difficult way to live a holy life free from sin and who repent who will be saved. An unrepentant nation is doomed. A repentant church (a group of called-out ones of God) will be saved.

Our once-great nation blessed by God Almighty is being scrutinized by the Almighty and is ripe for destruction. The stench of the immoral ungodly activities of those in our nation, and condoned by our nation's leadership, is clearly in His sight and is reaching, and one may argue has already reached, the breaking point.

Now, I can hear some of you thinking that I have gone too far -- that God will never judge our nation and that what I am saying is not only unpatriotic but blasphemous! Dear reader, I do not apologize for this message. But, I do want to edify and instruct you and not just pound my proverbial fist and lament over what I see happening in our nation today.

It is true that God hates the kind of abominable ungodly behavior being allowed and even encouraged in our nation. I believe that we have three paths for the future of this nation:

Path 1 -- The church remains dead and asleep, or at best lukewarm. Either condition is considered an abomination to God. (See Rev 3, regarding the churches at Sardis and Laodicea.) On this path, God will judge this nation and bring the sword upon believer and unbeliever alike. (See, Ez 21: 4)

Path 2 -- The church wakes up and becomes emboldened to proclaim the truth. This will not happen unless church leaders wake up and become bold shepherds under the influence of the Holy Spirit. New leaders of the church will arise from nowhere to lead God's people into repentance. Former church leaders will become emboldened by this and join in repentance, or will be swept aside. On this path, without true change by our nation, God may still bring judgment on this nation and destroy it, but keep from destruction by the sword in the time of trouble those whose hearts have repented. (See, Ps 27: 5; Luke 21: 36)

Path 3 -- The awakened and emboldened church causes a true national revival and call to true repentance. Many ungodly leaders and ungodly individuals will fight this movement, but will be swept aside as the power of God flows through those leading and following the repentance movement. New political leaders will arise who will follow Godly morals. Ungodly behavior will be outlawed. Signs and wonders will follow those who believe, causing unbelievers to become believers and thereby increasing the momentum and power of the cleansing repentance sweeping our nation. On this path, God can and will bring new leaders to run this nation once He sees this kind of true, heartfelt repentance. God rules in the kingdom of men and gives to whom He wills. (See, Dan 4: 14) He will hold off on His judgment and heal this nation. (See, 2 Chron 7: 14)

My desire is that we as a nation proceed down Path 3. Already, church leaders such as Billy Graham have felt this need of a national repentance as well. He, at over 90 years of age, has called a national week of repentance, with a special day of prayer set for November 7, 2013 (Billy's birthday). Other leaders have called for a day of prayer and repentance on September 11, 2013. I hear of more and more of these types of "calls to repentance" declared almost weekly. But, repentance must begin NOW by members of the church of Christ. There must be follow-through of actual repentance, a turning away from participation or support of these immoral activities and not just a feel-good CALL to repentance.

These calls to repentance may have good intentions and may raise awareness among the church and the secular of our nation of the moral decay our nation is contaminated with, but THESE ACTIVITES ARE NOT ENOUGH! We as individual Christians and members of the Body of Christ are not powerless. We need to pray, to organize, to speak to our pastors, to our priests, and to our lay leaders. Church leadership must shepherd their sheep to repentance. Failure to do this will cause God to bring the sword against this nation. Against believer and unbeliever alike.

Without true repentance, our nation is progressing down Path 1 by becoming step-by-step the Great Harlot of Rev 17 and 18 to be destroyed by a nation, or group of nations, that God chooses to be His sword. Again, this will destroy both believer and unbeliever.

I pray that you seriously consider this message and act accordingly. Your liberty and freedom to operate peaceably as a Christian in this nation is at risk. Your life on this earth and the lives of your family members and friends are at risk. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

I felt the Holy Spirit convict me to do something after I asked myself in early 2012, "what could I, just one person, do?" The Holy Spirit put to my mind the fact that Daniel, as recorded in Dan 9, spoke a prayer to God on behalf of his people of Judah who were then being held captive in Babylon. I felt inspired at that point to write a prayer based on the prayer Daniel spoke to God, while making some additions and changes which align with our New Covenant under the Lord Jesus Christ. I felt inspired to take this very prayer to Washington, D.C. on October 8, 2012, where I read it aloud on the White House Elipse. I don't know why God wanted me to do that, but I was obedient and did it.

If we as a nation are to truly repent to keep God's hand from delivering His wrath upon this nation, I believe we must all pray this prayer, or a similar prayer, from our hearts. If we do, and we repent and turn from our wicked deeds, God will hear from heaven, forgive our sins, and heal our land. I do not believe the nation will repent. But, God does not expect the nation to repent. Rather, He commands and expects His church to repent - those called by His name.

Here is the prayer:

Prayer for the United States (January 28, 2012)

-Read on the grounds of the White House Ellipse, Wash. D. C., October 8, 2012

O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him and who abide in Him, we as a nation, the people of the United States of America, have sinned and have committed iniquity against You. We have turned from You and have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts, and by not heeding Your commands – that we love You with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and that we love each other as we love ourselves.

O Lord, all righteousness belongs to You, but to us as a nation, shame of face for turning from Your precepts and Your commands. We have failed to obey Your voice.

You have endowed to this nation since its inception a multitude of blessings, which include: prosperity, freedom to speak our mind, and freedom to practice our faith. But, we have strayed from You and forgotten that You are the source of all these blessings. We have ignored Your protective hand upon us and have become, in our own hearts, self-reliant and self-important. We have elected leaders who, in their hearts, do not consider Your counsel or command, and have no recognition of Your divine provision of these blessings upon us.

Yes, the United States as a nation has transgressed against You and has departed so as to not obey Your voice. Therefore, the hedge of protection You have provided for us is in danger of being removed. You have sent us harbingers to warn us to turn back to You and to heed Your commands, in recognition of our iniquities as a nation. We have departed from You and have forgotten Your truth – that You are God, and that You rule in the kingdom of men and give it to whom You will.

And now, O Lord God, who created our nation and has blessed us, we come to You this day and acknowledge that we as a nation have sinned against You by not obeying You, or considering You in our hearts. We ask that You forgive our nation for its iniquities and help us to turn again toward You. We ask that You raise up Godly men and women to rule our nation, who will not forget You and who will seek Your counsel in leading our nation to greatness once again. We do not ask these things because of our own self-righteousness, but because of Your great love and mercy.

O Lord, hear us. O Lord, forgive us. O Lord, act and do not delay for Your own sake on behalf of this nation which You created to obey your voice, and to be blessed and be great, and to be a friend of Israel. We, your people whom You have called, ask these things of You, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

2013 - True Believer

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The Heavens are Signaling a Major Economic Collapse in 2015 (OR 2016?) -- Make Ready (Updates)

2013-03-04T15:48:00.004-05:00

In an earlier blog concerning a coming tetrad of blood moons (please visit my December 15, 2012 blog: Significant Mid-East Event Likely in 2014 -- The Moon is Giving a Sign), I discuss how a very rare approaching tetrad of blood moons in 2014-15 may signal the beginning of Daniel's 70th week and/or a war in the Middle East involving the nation of Israel in 2014-15.

In this present blog, I describe additional celestial events which are to occur during 2013-2015 which likely signal significant economic events coming soon to the world stage.

A first recently discovered comet is making its way toward the inner solar system. This comet, known as comet ISON, may by Thanksgiving holiday (late November) of 2013 be so bright as to be visible in the sky during both day and night. If it shines as predicted, it will be one of the brightest objects in the night sky -- at times brighter than the full moon. Potentially, it could be the brightest comet since the Great Comet of 1680.

UPDATE II: After rounding the sun in its orbit on November 28, 2013, the corona from the comet appears to have greatly diminished. Thus, it will probably not be the show of the century that was first predicted.

In the secular world, comets have historically been perceived as harbingers of doom. The larger the comet, the larger the doom. In God's word, the word "hosts" in verse 12 of Isaiah 45:11-12 has been interpreted to include comets, and is one of God's ways of announcing Himself to man. Comet ISON is supposed to be quite large and spectacular. Is God announcing a coming judgment?

A second recently discovered comet (C/2013 A1 Siding Spring) is heading toward a possible collision with the planet Mars on or about October 19, 2014. Whether or not a collision will occur cannot be determined until late summer 2013. If there is a collision, it will likely leave a crater several hundred miles wide on the surface of Mars. Telescopes from earth, and the space telescope orbiting earth, will no doubt be able to see a visible explosion from the impact. Earth is safe whether the comet hits Mars or not, but wonders in the heavens would be on display.

UPDATE I: Scientists have determined that comet Siding Spring will most likely not hit Mars on or about October 19, 2014 and will most likely miss Mars, but only by about 84,000 miles. This is merely 1/3 the average distance between the earth and the moon. Close, but not a hit. Does this signify that it is not yet time for God's judgment (not a direct hit by the comet), but time for His judgment is very close (comet to pass relatively close to Mars)? Time will tell.

UPDATE IV: The comet passed within 87,000 miles of the planet Mars early today, October 19, 2014. Scientists describe this close encounter between a comet and a planet as "an extremely rare event." I believe it signifies God's close approaching judgment on the world system.

The planet Mars is called Ma'adim in Hebrew, which means "turning red" and is associated with judgment. A comet is also typically associated with judgment. So, for the comet to strike Mars, it may be interpreted as God's coming judgment of "turning red" things on earth. In the words of Rev. 14: 19-20: "So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs." This indeed is the coming judgment of God against those gathered against Jerusalem at the Battle of Armageddon. Perhaps the Almighty is signaling this event, and associated judgment, is not far off.

Prior to this last-day judgement, however, the Book of Revelation discusses other coming events, initiated by God, which will cause blood (a "turning red") to manifest in nature (e.g., the sea turned to blood in the 2nd Trumpet judgment of Rev. 8: 8; the sea and waters turned to blood in 2nd and 3rd Bowl/Vial judgments of Rev. 16: 3-7)

Additionally, during the years 2014-15 there will be four blood moons and two solar eclipses, depicted above. All of these events will occur on Biblical (Israel) holy days. My prior blog discusses the four blood moons. The dates and corresponding holy days for the two solar eclipses are as follows:

Total solar eclipse - March 20, 2015 - Adar 29 - Abib/Nissan 1 (1st month of the Biblical New Year, begins on 1st of Abib/Nissan)
Partial solar e clipse - September 13, 2015 - Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah, on Tishri 1 which begins 7th Biblical month of Tishri), the Day of Atonement/Coverings (Yom HaKippurrim, on Tishri 10), and Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot, on Tishri 15-22)

According to Jewish rabbis, a blood moon (lunar eclipse) represents a coming judgment by God against the people of Israel, while a solar eclipse represents God's coming judgment against the Gentile nations. For these four blood moons and two solar eclipses, each coming on a Biblical feast day, or notable day on the Biblical calendar, to occur in a two year period (2014-15) is quite extraordinary.

In the Book of Genesis, Moses wrote that God gave us the sun, the moon and the stars for "signs" and "seasons", as well as for light. The Hebrew word (אוֹת - oht) translated as "sign" can also mean "signal." The Hebrew word (מוֹעָדִים - moed) translated as "season" or "feast" literally means "appointed time." (See, Gen 1: 14) So, as depicted in the image above, God seems to be sending us a blinking beacon of "signals" that an "appointed time" is upon us. A unique time in history.

It appears as though these rare celestial events put in motion by God place a "bull's eye" on 2015, signalling a warning of severe judgment against the nations of the world -- possibly, the beginning of Daniel's 70th week. At a minimum, it may very well be a year of major economic catastrophy. Coupled with the two solar eclipses in 2015 is the fact that 2015 is a Biblical shmita year (a sabbath 7th year described in Leviticus Chapt 25), as was 2008 (U. S. economy and stock market melt-down in September 20 08), and as was 2001 (September 11th event and a September 2001 U.S. stock market single-day crash).

If this shemitah pattern repeats in 2015, then look for the U.S. stock market, and perhaps many world markets, to decline significantly beginning on or about September 14, 2015 and continuing into October 2015. September 14, 2015 is the Feast of Trumpets (Tishri 1 on the Biblical calendar). On this same Biblical date of Tishri 1, the severe stock market declines of September 2001 and September 2008 occurred.

Update VI: The US stock market fell sharply during the last week of August 2015 and then recovered only to decline again in late September of 2015. However, no great crash occurred in 2015. But, 2016 is acknowledged by many to be a year of Jubilee, according to God's calendar, which could make 2016 (and not 2015) God's shemitah year of debt cleansing. If this is true, then the US stock market, and world stock markets, should decline severely in the shemitah Jubilee year of 2016 with a final wipe out coming in late September and early October 2016, which would be the shemitah and the end of the Jubilee year. Time will tell.

I believe that by all these celestial signals, including the coming tetrad of blood moons, God is giving us a "two minute warning" regarding the beginning of Daniel's 70th week, which cannot be far off. The revealing of the anti-Christ is just over the horizon, with Jesus' return and the rapture of the church occurring only 3 1/2 years afterwards. Yes, the church will go through tribulation to be refined and purified. (See my earlier blog which discusses, based solely on scripture, that there will be no pre-tribulation rapture of the church.)

Luke 21:25 states:

And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring ...

In Joel 2: 30-31, it is written:

And I will show wonders in the heavens ... The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.

Mark 13: 35-37 records Jesus discussing with His disciples "end time" events, wherein He tells them, "Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming - in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning - lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say to you (his disciples) I say to all (includes us today) - Watch!" (Emphasis added)

UPDATE III: In my blog from August 2013 regarding that it is time for repentance by the house of God, I discuss how God is now judging America, and will judge EVERY NATION that turns from God (implying that such a nation, as was ancient Israel, was once a God-fearing nation). (Jer 18:7-11) God does not change.

UPDATE V: In my more recent blog from October 2014, I was once again led by the Holy Spirit of God to plead with those with ears to hear that God is INDEED beginning to judge America and that time is getting short. But, judgement will begin first in the church, the house of God, as it says in 1 Peter 4:17. The biggest problems in the church today are sin and deception. Those who say they have no sin are liars and only deceive themselves (1 John 1:8). John is speaking to Christians -- not to heathens. Repentance is necessary for forgiveness and cleansing by Jesus, who does so freely to those who ask. (1 John 1:9)

Deception is being brought by God Himself upon casual Christians -- to those who do not know the truth (2 Thes 2:11-12; i.e., never read their Bible) and therefore have no love for the truth or a strong desire to seek the truth for themselves. They are being taught on "Christian" TV, and in their churches by weak pastors, that once saved a Christian has no need to repent or seek forgiveness from God for any sin. Ask yourself -- why did John plead so fervently with fellow CHRISTIANS to repent when he wrote his letter to them (see 1John 1:8) if it were unnecessary for them to repent and seek forgiveness? Why does Peter write, to CHRISTIANS, that we are to be holy as God is holy and to pursue holiness in our daily life? (1 Peter 1:14-24) God does not waste words.

The "time of trouble" spoken of throughout the Old Testament is indeed just around the corner. It is time to repent and to prepare your heart to seek the Lord to escape things to come and to be hidden in the time of trouble. (Psalm 27: 5; Zeph 2: 3; Rev 3:10)
2013 - True Believer

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Check the Condition of Your Heart -- Which Type of Soil are You?

2012-12-24T14:58:00.001-05:00

Several years ago I attended a Bible College in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Classes were held from 8 am to noon so I had plenty of free time every afternoon to take a walk, go to the gym, or read the Bible. During some of these afternoons I would take a nap, and while napping I would sometimes receive some amazing revelation about God's word which I had been reading, studying in class, and/or meditating upon prior to my nap. When I awoke from my nap after receiving a revelation, I would record it in a notebook.

I now share with you one of these revealed messages, which message I believe is appropriate for any Christian today as we enter these last days of ever-increasing darkness before Christ appears and renews all. I believe that this message is instructional and helpful to give feedback to each believer regarding his/her present condition of holiness.

Many of us are familiar with the verses of Rom 12: 1-2, where the apostle Paul in his letter to the believers in Rome, pleads with those in Rome, and by extension to us today, to present ourselves as a living sacrifice which is HOLY and acceptable to God, and that to do so is one's reasonable service to God (i.e., what is EXPECTED of us, and not something exceptional). Verse 2 says that we are to be TRANSFORMED by RENEWING OUR MIND to be able to discern the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.

So, then what is the will of God? I had been giving that much thought. I was looking for understanding and for practical, useful instructions on how to renew my mind. For several days prior to my nap I had been thinking about these two verses in Romans and how they could be accomplished in a simple way that I could understand and implement.

Psalm 89: 14 describes how God's throne (i.e., His authority) is founded on righteousness (doing what is right) and justice (being perfectly fair without discrimination or favoritism), and that mercy and truth flow outward from Him. Zephaniah 2: 3 states, "Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness." Proverbs 3: 3 states, "Let not mercy and truth forsake you. So, it must be God's will for us to also live this way.

We should always do what is right and what is fair. We should always show mercy and speak the truth in love. In 1 Pet 1: 14-16, we are reminded that God is holy and that we are required to be holy, as obedient children. To be holy we need to change (i.e., be transformed) from being unholy. Sounds logical, right? But, how?

A theological description for the transformation process might be written by a seminary professor or a bible college lecturer, as something like this:

When a logos word of God is heard or read from the Bible, and is stored in
the mind, and is meditated on and prayed on for understanding, it will give
birth to a rhema word which will cause the heart to be incrementally transformed
toward a better condition which is closer to the heart (mind) of Christ.

OK. So what exactly does that mean? How do I do it? How do I know whether or not I am on track?

I believe that answers to these questions were given to me by God during a nap I took one afternoon in November 2009. The basic points to the message are numbered as Steps 1 and 2, below. I have added scripture cites to support the message I received from God during my nap. I did not receive the scripture cites shown herein during my nap, but I looked them up later. Not surprisingly, the basic points of the message I received were found in God's word after I did a little searching.

Step 1. Renew your mind - change the way you think

To accomplish this, we must line up our thinking with the word of God. Very simple idea, but very difficult to do if we do not know the word of God. Our mind must be "reprogrammed" with God's word. So, the first thing we need to do is to become familiar with God's word by reading it, listening to it, and meditating on it. In Rom 10:17 it is written that, "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." You cannot meditate on that of which you are ignorant.

Meditation on the word we read and/or hear must be done for its meaning to become clear, or at least more understandable and useful for our goal of renewing our mind. The Holy Spirit helps us with this task.

King David, over 3,000 years ago, wrote the words found in Psalm 1: 1-2, which describe how one who meditates on God's word will be blessed. I believe that at least part of the blessing such a person receives is the understanding of what God wants of us, which is revealed through His word. So then, understanding of His word is necessary to help us renew our mind.

As a preliminary matter, we must bring into captivity every thought in obedience to Christ (2 Cor 10: 5) and stop thinking thoughts which run contrary to Christ (Christ, who is the Word of God). But, as I said, we must know God's word before we can bring thoughts into captivity and determine whether our thoughts line up with God's word.

According to Phil 4: 8, our thoughts (meditations) should be focused on things which are: noble, just, pure, lovely, involving good news, virtuous, and praiseworthy. Any thought which does not fall into one of these categories is to not remain fixed in our thoughts.

OK. How? I've got problems with my job, my family, my wife, my husband, my kids, my mortgage. How do I ignore these problems and think only on those lovely things described in Phil 4?

Answer -- Praise!

What? Are you kidding? I've got real-time life issues. I don't have time to praise God, and how can I praise Him while things are going so wrong?

Answer -- Praise!

Re-read Phil 4:4. It says, "rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS. Again I will say, REJOICE!" Paul wrote that instruction. If you don't think that he had many real-life issues then look at the short list of what he went through, which is recorded in 2 Cor 11: 25-28.

Paul was beaten with rods (sharp blows with a metal or wooden pole in the back and behind the legs); he was stoned to the point of death, he was shipwrecked three times and on one of those occasions spent a day and a half floating and drifting in the sea; he had long journeys by foot covering long distances; he was in danger during his journeys of drowning, of being robbed, of being persecuted by Greeks, Jews and Gentiles; he was in danger in the cities to which he traveled and in the countryside he traversed to get to the cities; he was often bone-tired and weary; and he was often without much sleep, hungry, thirsty and without warm or comfortable clothing. These things are but a short compilation of his problems.

Yet, in spite of all these things he endured. Many of us do not come close to having to endure any one of these things, yet Paul, who endured all these things tells us to rejoice ALWAYS. Paul lived the life of which he preached. He lived and breathed the word of God.

It is recorded in the Book of Acts at 16: 24-26 how Paul, and Silas his traveling companion, were put in stocks and chains in a dark prison in Philippi after being unjustly beaten by a local magistrate. At midnight, they were not complaining, but were singing hymns and rejoicing to God. An earthquake followed which caused their chains to be broken. I believe that the earthquake was God's reward to them for their praise in the face of their adversity. I believe that He will also get us through our real-life issues and give us a means of escape from them, if we remember Him and go into praise mode in the midst of the adversity. Praise Him for who He is and for what He has given us -- not the problems.

Step 2. Transform your heart - be aware of the condition of your heart

The message I received during my nap included the thought that the condition of your heart can be represented by the 4 types of soil described by Jesus in the parable of the sower and the seed. Slightly different versions of this parable are recorded in Mat 13: 3-9, 18-23; Mark 4: 3-8, 14-20; and Luke 8: 5-8, 11-15. Each version gives additional information on the meaning of the parable which is not found in the other versions. Taken together, they give the complete description of the 4 soil types, which is a real-time snapshot of the condition of one's heart.

Your heart can be thought of as your "thought/belief system." This is evidenced in Prov 23: 7, where it says, "as he thinks in his heart, so is he." Also, Mat 12: 34 states that, "out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks."

Most of us are familiar with the parable of the sower told by Jesus to the crowd gathered to Him on a large level area on a mountainside near the Sea of Galilee. The parable was given as a part of Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount" when He gave to those listening the "beatitudes" concerning required behavior, such as "love you enemy", etc. The parable of the sower can be summarized using the three versions found in the Gospels, as follows:

A sower went out to sow seed and some fell on the wayside and the birds came to devour it. Some fell on stony ground and immediately it sprouted, but because there was not much depth of soil it had no root and it withered away in the sun's heat. Other seed fell among thorns which grew up and choked the seed and it yielded no crop. Lastly, some seed fell upon good ground which yielded a crop, some of which had a 30-fold increase, some a 60-fold and some a 100-fold.

Jesus later told his disciples privately that the seed sown was the word of God, that the soil is the heart, that the first type of soil - the wayside (a hard packed path upon which travelers walked) represents those who do not understand the word and do not keep it in their heart. They allow the devil come and take it from their heart immediately after they hear the word. This represents those who are unsaved. (See Luke 8: 12)

The second type of soil - the stony ground represents those who hear the word of God but then fail to have faith in it or rely on it when difficult circumstances or temptations arise. In the modern vernacular, these are "powerless Christians" who are believers who perhaps received the word with joy but who spend not much time in church, or in reading the Bible, or in Bible study, or in any other activity which would increase their understanding of the word and thereby their faith. They do not have personal "depth of soil" which would give them "root in themselves." Therefore, their understanding of the word of God, and thus their faith in the word of God, is quite limited.

The third type of soil includes thorns which choke the seed, preventing it from bearing fruit. This represents those who are perhaps "spirit-filled believers", but who allow the cares, concerns and pressures of the world, and the pursuit of riches/material things, to prevent any fruit from fully developing and maturing in them. I believe that this is the most common type of condition of soil found in the true body of Christ today. We need to put aside worldly pursuits to be able to transform our heart (belief system) to the condition represented by the fourth type of soil. As stated in Col 3: 2, "set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth."

The fourth type of soil represents those who hear the word of God, accept it, understand it, and bear fruit. It is "those who hear the Word and and keep it (hold fast to it) in an honest and good heart" (Luke 8:15) They will bear fruit with patience (in time). Some a 30-fold increase, some a 60-fold and some a 100-fold. As James 1: 22 tells us, "be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

A perfect model of holy living, representing the fourth type of soil, is described by Paul very succinctly in Titus 1: 11-14 and 3: 2. Paul lays out in his letter to his student Titus, who is going to head up a church of believers, how those believers in Jesus Christ whom Titus is to shepherd should conduct themselves. He reminds Titus that the grace of God has appeared (through Jesus) to the world, and that through this grace all people have access to God's salvation. He says that because of this grace, we are:

being trained to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions (selfish desires and covetness)
to live self-controlled, upright (doing what is right), and Godly lives
to wait patiently (while living Godly lives) for the return of Jesus in His glory
to be zealous for good works (to evidence that we are true believers)
to speak evil of no person
to show perfect courtesy toward all people

Each of these items requires effort under any circumstance to act in a Godly manner. It also requires much practice. The Christian life is not easy. That is why Jesus said that not many would be able to endure to the end to be saved. But when we stumble and ask for His forgiveness, with repentance in our heart, He will cleanse us of our unrighteousness (doing the wrong thing, i.e., sin).

In summary -- how you think and what you believe reveals the condition of your heart (the type of soil) at any given time. How you think and what you believe cause you to act a certain way and to do and/or say certain things.

Thoughts control action. That is why Step #1 above is a necessary fist step in the process to change the condition of the heart (the soil-type) and to bring it into alignment with the heart of God. To do so, we must know the word of God, which is God's heart. Every thought we have, in regard to an action we intend, should line up with God's word. We must seek its meaning if we do not understand. Then, we must do God's word. If you do these things you will change (transform) your heart in time, and with patience.

The condition of your heart (how you think and what you believe) determines whether you are saved, and if you are saved, whether you will produce any fruit of the Spirit in your life. The 12 fruits of the Spirit are given in Gal 5: 22-23. That list includes: love, joy, peace, patience, etc.

We must remember to praise God for who He is and not be consumed by our worldly troubles. Do so and watch the results.

For me personally, I try to give praise and remind myself to "weed my garden" often to keep the weeds and thorns from choking out fruit from being produced in my life. I also need to confess what I do wrong and ask for forgiveness. It humbles you, but it's necessary. Nobody said it was easy.

The "time of trouble" spoken of throughout the Old Testament is indeed just around the corner. It is time to repent and to prepare your heart to seek the Lord to escape things to come and to be hidden in the time of trouble. (Psalm 27: 5; Zeph 2: 3; Rev 3:10)

2012 - True Believer

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Significant Mid-East Event Likely in 2014 -- The Moon is Giving a Sign

2012-12-15T20:34:00.002-05:00

While watching Christian TV the other night, I switched channels and caught part of a teaching on blood moons. The TV preacher said that there have been only three times during the past 500 years where a group of four blood moons had occurred on Biblical (Jewish) feast days. I did some research of my own and discovered that NASA calls a collection of four blood moons which occur during a two-year period a tetrad of blood moons.

A blood moon is commonly known as a lunar eclipse. This occurs when the earth moves along a path in space between the sun and the moon. The moon passes through the shadow created by the earth blocking the light from the sun, and the moon appears to get darker and darker until it glows an eery red color similar to the color of blood.

So, why is it always a tetrad of blood moons which corresponds with Biblical feast days? Four blood moons comprise a tetrad. God's name has four letters. In Hebrew it is represented as:

These are the four Hebrew letters which spell God's name. They are read right-to-left, and are phonetically pronounced: Yode, Hey, Vav, Hey. Could these tetrads be God's way of signing His name? Similar to saying, "Hey, it's Me." Just a thought.

So then, the most recent three tetrads of blood moons which fell on Biblical feasts occurred in the period from:

1493-94 (shortly after Jews persecuted and evicted from Spain in 1492 and Columbus (a Jew) sailed to New World to find them a new home. Columbus returned to America in 1493 with 1,500 men and 17 ships);
1949-50 (after state of Israel for repatriating Jews was created in May 1948 in one day); and
1967-68 (Jews capture Jerusalem in June 1967, the City of God, in a supernatural victory during the "Six Day War").

According to NASA, the next tetrad of four blood moons will occur between April 2014 and September 2015.

I found some internet articles which discuss the coming tetrad of blood moons. Those articles mostly described the coming tetrad to be possible evidence of the timing of the return of Jesus. But, I have found that the Bible does not predict a "pre-trib" rapture of the church. (Please visit my blog: April 2012, which gives the scriptural basis for this assertion.) Also, since Daniel's last week of 7 years has not yet begun, which is commonly called the "7-year tribulation", since no peace treaty with Israel has yet been affirmed as required by Dan 9: 27, then Jesus' return must be more than 7 years in the future, and thus occurring some time after the years 2014-15.

The exact dates predicted by NASA for the approaching 2014-2015 tetrad of blood moons are:

April 15, 2014
October 8, 2014
April 4, 2015
September 28, 2015

I compared these dates from the NASA website with a website which lists a calendar of Biblical feasts. To my amazement, the dates of the coming tetrad of lunar eclipses (blood moons) forecast for 2014-15 COINCIDE with certain Biblical feasts, as follows:

April 15, 2014 - 1st day of Passover

October 8, 2014 - Feast of Tabernacles

April 4, 2015 - 1st day of Passover

September 28, 2015 - Feast of Tabernacles

Check out these sites for yourself:

http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/lunar.htm l

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0002072.html

The next tetrad of blood moons which coincides with Biblical feasts will not occur for hundreds of years. So, I believe that something very significant which involves Israel is going to occur on the world stage just prior to, or between, April 2014 - September 2015.

UPDATE VI: As of today (October 1, 2015) no war has yet broken out in the Middle East which involves Israel; however, Russian troops and advisers are now in Syria. Chinese ships, and perhaps troops, are on the way. Iran is sending troops. Russia is bombing ISIS. The United States and Israel are both a bit nervous over this development. The war drums are pounding, but it is too early to tell what the US (and Israel) is going to do.

One common feature involved with each of the three prior tetrads described above is LAND ACQUISITION by Israel (the Jewish people). The discovery of America initiated the founding of America as a nation which has served as a safe-haven for Jews over the past several hundred years. Jews have been able to escape persecution by living in America. The 1948 creation of the state of Israel gave them a homeland, once again. The 1967 war gave them Jerusalem, which had been lost to them for almost 2,000 years. So, land acquisition is key.

Perhaps the Psalm 83 war will occur (prophetic psalm describing how Israel will defeat the nations/groups of peoples immediately surrounding Israel, based on their historic biblical tribe names, now known as Hamas and the Palestinians in Gaza, and Hezbollah in S. Lebanon, etc.) and Israel may expand its borders to occupy these troubled areas. In Zeph 2: 8-9, the prophet describes how after the people of Israel are gathered together, which occurred in 1948 and continues today, God hears the reproach (blame, revilings) of Moab (today's Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank) and the insults/taunts of the people of Ammon toward His people Israel and the borders of Israel. Is this kind of noise not in today's news? The prophet also describes how the "residue/remnant" of Israel shall plunder them and how the "remnant/remainder" of Israel shall possess them.

UPDATE II: I recently found a few verses in Jer 49 (vv. 1-2) that give additional support for Israel to soon occupy more land. These verses call for a "judgment against Ammon" and for Israel to take possession of the land which God gave them -- the land of the Ammonites (modern Jordon). (Jer 49: 1-2) This action may or may not be part of the coming conflict, but will certainly be a future event prophetically predicted by Jeremiah, a 6th century B.C. prophet of God.

UPDATE III: Also in Jer 49 (vv. 34-38) it describes an event where Elam (a western province of modern Iran) will be attacked and its "bow" broken -- the "foremost of their might." Could this be a preemptive attack by Israel, alone or with help, against the nuclear research and storage facilities located in western Iran? This action also may or may not be part of the coming conflict.

UPDATE IV: There are additional verses in Jer 49 (vv. 23-27) that discuss the total destruction of the city of Damascus, Syria such that it ceases from being a city and is made a "ruinous heap." Likewise, most of Is 17 prophesies this destruction of Damascus which is to occur in one night. Since the Jeremiah prophecy was written in the 7th century B.C. and the Isaiah prophecy was written in the 8th century B.C., Damascus has never ceased from being a city. Nothing short of a nuclear attack could conceivably accomplish such a thing. For various reasons, including the reference in Jer 49: 23 of there being "trouble on the sea", which I understood to mean a foreign power (not Israel) having ships at sea which could launch nuclear missiles for such an attack, I did not initially mention these verses in this blog. Israel would most likely use land-based or air-based platforms to launch such an attack against Damascus, and would not use ships at sea. For this reason, I did not believe the prophesied destruction of Damascus would occur during the imminent mid-east conflict being announced by the coming blood moon tetrad. It is speculation, but Israel may have submarines equipped with nuclear missiles. Also, nations friendly to Israel could have ships or submarines at sea equipped with nuclear missiles. But, Syria would have to be aware of such a threat and be frightened of the threat at sea, according to Jer 49: 23-24. With conditions in Syria rapidly deteriorating, and angst between the United States, Israel, Syria, Iran and Russia escalating, I feel impressed to include these verses in Jer 49 and Is 17 as a possible event connected with the coming mid-east conflict.

Perhaps the coming action by Israel against the peoples surrounding Israel will initiate events which cause the affirmation of the peace agreement which commences Daniels 70th week. Who knows? Best to keep your eyes on the headlines.

UPDATE IA: Here are recent HEADLINES involving Israel and Syria.

I believe there will be some sort of major conflict which is going to ultimately effect Israel in a major positive way. God will protect Israel from being destroyed.

Luke 21:25 states:

And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring ...

The "time of trouble" spoken of throughout the Old Testament is indeed just around the corner. It is time to repent and to prepare your heart to seek the Lord to escape things to come and to be hidden in the time of trouble. (Psalm 27: 5; Zeph 2: 3; Rev 3:10)

UPDATE IB: For more celestial harbingers of God's coming judgment, please visit my March 2013 blog entitled, "The Heavens are Signaling an Economic Collapse in 2015 -- Make Ready"

UPDATE V: In my blog from August 2013 regarding that it is time for repentance by God's church, I discuss how God is now judging America, and will judge EVERY NATION that turns from God. If a nation turns from God, it implies that such a nation, as was ancient Israel, was previously a God-fearing nation which has abandoned God as evidenced by its immoral activities.

For an interesting and informative May 2012 video featuring Pastor Mark Biltz of El Shaddai Ministries which explains in more detail the coming blood moons and other celestial signs for 2014-15 which evidence the soon coming of Jesus, please visit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71CGGfBj5I0

2012 - True Believer

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Repentance is Necessary to be Saved -- Jesus said so

2012-12-15T13:33:00.000-05:00

Over the past year or so, on TV and the internet, I have heard and read many "Christian" teachings stating that you do not need to repent to be saved, but simply must believe in Jesus to be saved. Many cite Rom 10: 9-10 (if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God the father raised Him from the dead, you will be saved), or John 3: 16 (for God so loved the world... ). You may have heard similar lessons preached. However, it is always appropriate to compare scripture to scripture and not take a verse here or there out of context with which to create a "doctrine".

Some of these teachings give the example of the "good thief" on the cross next to Jesus, who the Bible, they say, does not record as having repented, yet Jesus told him that he would be with Him that day in paradise after the thief acknowledged Jesus and told Jesus to remember him when He came into His Kingdom. Thus, they say, aha - repentance is not required for salvation.

This verbal exchange is recorded in Luke 23: 42-43, where the "good thief" says to Jesus, after first mocking Him, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Jesus then says to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

I have never felt comfortable with that teaching on salvation without repentance. Throughout the Old Testament in the Bible, there is much about repentance, or turning, from evil. God frequently told the nation of Israel, through the prophets, to repent from their evil idolatry, and other abominations, or risk His wrath.

The New Testament gives the example of John the Baptist preaching the baptism of repentance to turn the hearts of the Jews to prepare them for Jesus. Luke 23: 40-41 does indeed describe that the "good thief" repented in his heart. After mocking Jesus, he said to the other thief on the cross, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” I believe that was repentance.

The other day I was listening to the Gospel of Luke on my iBible. When it came to Luke 11: 9, I heard the words "seek and you will find." I stopped the playback at this point and thought about those words. I decided to believe those words on the spot. I knew right then in my heart that God WILL teach me His word and give me understanding regarding the end times, which I have been desiring and praying for, but I think He showed me something else that day in just a few chapters in Luke.

In Luke 11: 29 Jesus said, and I'm paraphrasing, that you Jews seek a sign but no sign will be given except the sign of Jonah. Remember that Jonah preached repentance to the dreadful ancient Assyrians in their capital city of Nineveh. By the way, every time I've ever read this scripture in Luke 11: 29 about the sign of Jonah, or heard it preached, it was said that this means (which it also does, I believe) that Jesus (as Jonah was in the fish) would be in the earth for 3 days and nights after He was crucified and died. But this scripture where Jesus is speaking about the prophet Jonah also gives a message of repentance (which lesson I have never heard preached with regard to this verse in Luke 11).

Just after that, in Luke 11: 31 Jesus continues by saying that the Queen of the South will rise with this generation (those unbelieving Jews to which Jesus was speaking) at the Judgment to accuse this generation, because she came to seek the WISDOM of Solomon, and that a greater than Solomon (Jesus) was here. In this context, Jesus is saying that it is WISDOM to repent. I have never understood the use of this verse regarding the Queen of the South, but with God's revelation to me, this verse is simply reinforcing Jesus' statement that repentance is needed and therefore it is WISDOM (for eternal life) to repent.

Also, right after that, in Luke 11: 32, Jesus says that those of Nineveh who repented from Jonah's preaching (of the need to repent from their evil) will rise at the Judgment to accuse this generation (those unbelieving Jews to which Jesus was speaking), since those of Nineveh had repented of their deeds.

So, it's clear from these three almost consecutive verses in Luke 11 that Jesus is saying something quite simple, yet something which is necessary for salvation: that one must repent and obey God to be saved, and to do so is wisdom.

This lines up perfectly with what Jesus says earlier in Luke 8: 21. He said, "who are my mother and my brothers but those that hear the word of God and do it." This requires turning from anything that does not line up with God's word. It is also consistent with James 1: 22 which says to be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

This also lines up with what Paul tells us in 2 Cor 7: 10, that "godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted. But the sorrow of the world produces death." (Emphasis added) Sorrow of the world means simply that one is sorry only after they have been caught, which produces not much true repentance.

In Luke 13 Jesus discusses how men from Galilee had been killed by Herod, and that their blood had been was mingled by Herod with the Jewish sacrifice so that it became an abomination. Also in Luke 13 Jesus discusses how men of Jerusalem had been killed by the falling of the tower of Siloam. Jesus makes the point that all of these men who were killed were sinners, but were no worse sinners than others in Israel at the time. Jesus then stated that one MUST repent or die like those men, i.e. in their sins with no hope of salvation.

After His resurrection from the dead, Jesus spoke to His disciples and told them, as it recorded in Luke 24: 47, that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to ALL NATIONS.

So, from only these few select verses found in the Gospel of Luke, it is quite readily apparent that for the purpose of salvation, repentance is required. This is a very awesome and compact message from our awesome God.

REPENT TO BE SAVED. His mercy is given simply by asking. God loves mercy and will grant it freely to a repentant sinner.

The "time of trouble" spoken of throughout the Old Testament is indeed just around the corner. It is time to repent and to prepare your heart to seek the Lord to escape things to come and to be hidden in the time of trouble. (Psalm 27: 5; Zeph 2: 3; Rev 3:10)

2012 - True Believer

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"Come Out Of Her My People" – Utter Destruction is in the Forecast for New York City, and for America -- Babylon the Great

2012-09-03T17:59:00.000-04:00

In this article I will explain this warning given by God in the Book of Revelation, and what it means. Hopefully, those who read this will warn someone they know who does not know the Lord so they may escape the coming complete and utter destruction of this very populous city, and of America.

In the Book of Revelation (Rev 18:4) God gives a command. He admonishes “His people” to come out of Babylon. So, where or what is Babylon, who are “His people”, and why must they come out?

To understand the context of God’s command, we must back up to Rev Chapter 17, where in verses 1-6, it describes a woman, a great harlot (seen by John, a disciple of Jesus, while he is brought up to heaven by Jesus during John's interment on the Isle of Patmos) who appears to John riding on a scarlet beast having 7 heads and 10 horns (v. 7). Verse 5 describes the woman as having a name written on her forehead:

“MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT. THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH”.

The remainder of Chapter 17 describes further characteristics of the 7-headed beast. In verse 18, it states that “the woman who you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”

So where is this great city Babylon? Is it the ancient city of Babylon in what is now the nation of Iraq? No, that city, which was the principal city of the kingdom of Babylon, was destroyed by Cyrus of the Median/Persian empire in approximately 539 B.C. You can look it up. In fact, Saddam Hussein started to rebuild it, to no avail.

Is it, as some TV evangelists and others say, the ancient city of Babylon rebuilt in the 21^st century? No. Isaiah prophesied in approximately 740 B.C., in his “burden against Babylon” (Is 13: 1, 17-22) that the actual kingdom of Babylon would be destroyed forever and never would again be inhabited. In Jeremiah Chapter 25, it is also prophesied that Babylon shall never be rebuilt. This was written in about 625 B.C. So, this “Babylon the Great” referred to in the Book of Revelation cannot be a rebuilt actual city of Babylon in Iraq.

A careful reading of Chapter 18 of the Book of Revelation describes, in amazing detail, that the Great Harlot – Babylon the Great is indeed an actual city with which most of the world's leaders (political, financial) have “committed fornication” (v. 9), where she has lived luxuriously (v. 7), has made the merchants of the world rich (v. 15), and by her “all the nations were deceived” (v. 23). Her destruction will come about “in one hour.” (vv. 10, 19)

The placement of this description of Babylon the Great in the Book of Revelation is immediately after the 7^th angel pours out his bowl of God’s wrath at the end of Chapter 16, which completes God’s wrath against an unrepentant world and the ushering in of the Kingdom of God.

But, Chapters 17 and 18 are considered by many Bible scholars as “parenthetical” in nature, since they are not a real-time description of events occurring on earth or in heaven vis-à-vis the 7 trumpet-initiated events or the 7 bowl judgments. Rather, these chapters are an off-line dialog between John and an angel to reveal to John further detail regarding the judgment by which that city, Babylon the Great, will suffer, including the characteristics of that city.

In another parenthetical chapter, Chapter 14 (v. 8), another angel tells John that “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” The phrase “is fallen” is stated twice since the original historical city/kingdom of Babylon has already fallen (by the hand of the Medes), and now the present existing city of spiritual Babylon has fallen. Another explanation for stating this twice is that both the political and religious world systems which originated with ancient Babylon are now fallen.

Either way, the placement of this twice mention of Babylon being fallen in Chapter 14 is just after the description of the rapture of the 144,000 found in verses 1-5. Just prior to that, in Chapter 13, the beast, or anti-Christ, is described, including his authority to continue for 42 months (3 1/2 years). (Rev 13: 5)

Just after the mention of Babylon being fallen in Chapter 14 is a description, beginning in verse 9, of a warning to not worship the beast or his image or to take the mark of the beast. To do so would doom one for eternity.

So, it seems clear that Babylon the Great is an actual city which exists at the time of the beast, i.e. the anti-Christ. I believe that we have only a short time, no more than 10-15 years, or less, before the anti-Christ will indeed be revealed. I can think of no other city and host nation on earth which presently exists that dominates and “reigns over the kings of the earth” (Rev 17: 18) and makes all the merchants of the world rich, aside from New York City and America. Additionally, Rev 18: 19 describes a lament of merchants for the destruction of "that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth." This must be New York City and host nation America, as well.

Some teach that the "great city" is Rome (or more accurately, the Vatican) because it associates the "great harlot" with a false church associated with the false prophet of Rev chapter 13, and they further associate that false church with the Roman Catholic church which is headquartered at the Vatican. But, Rev 18: 19 requires that all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth. I do not believe that Rome, or the Vatican, make all ship owners rich, or engage in the amount of commerce on par with New York City, and also with America.

Some also base this assumption regarding Rome on Rev 17: 9, which gives information about the 7-headed beast on which the harlot sits, whereby it states that "the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits." The use of the term "seven mountains" in this verse, I believe, does not connote the 7 hills of Rome, but connotes rather 7 world kingdoms or nations and not 7 literal mountains.

While I do believe that the city of Rome and the Vatican will become an apostate religious Babylon during Daniel's 70th week, and may indeed be destroyed by the antichrist some time around the mid-point of Daniel's last week (i.e., about 3 1/2 years prior to Jesus' return), I believe these passages of Chap 17 of Rev refer to something else -- a political/economic Babylon. The next verse, Rev 17: 10, confirms this and gives further information about the 7-headed beast by stating that "there are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come." I believe that these 7 kings signify leaders of the 7 "mountains", or world kingdoms, described in Rev 17: 9.

Remember that the angel is speaking to John in approximately the year 90 A.D. At that time in world history 5 world kingdoms had come and gone (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Media/Persia, and Greece), one world kingdom then-existed (Roman Empire), and one world kingdom had not yet come (future revived Roman empire). Remember also that the great city has to exert control over leaders of the world in finance and trade, according to the Book of Revelation. No other city in the present world has more influence on the entire world in regard to finance (stock markets and commodity trading located there) and trade. Couple that thought with the huge amount of drug use, pornography, prostitution, same-sex marriage, gay pride activities, and other activities considered abominations to God occurring within New York and within America. Indeed, the cup of her abominations and the filthiness of her fornications are filling to the brim of her golden cup. (Rev 17: 4) Without repentance by the people of this nation, God’s wrath will be carried out and she will be judged.

So, the question remains regarding who God refers to as “My people”. A quick concordance study of the bible shows many, many references in the Old Testament which describe the nation of Israel as “My people” in the eyes of God. Examples are too numerous, but 1 Chron 11: 2 describes a scene where God is speaking to David after David was anointed to be king of Israel, although Saul was still king of Israel at the time. God tells David that he “shall shepherd my people Israel.” (emphasis added)

However, in Rom 9: 25, the apostle Paul tells us, quoting the prophet Hosea (Hos 2:23), that God has included a new group of people as “My people”. Hosea had prophesied that God “will call them my people who were not my people.” (See also, 1 Pet 2: 10) Thus, Gentile Christian believers are now “My people”. I do not believe, however, as many do, that this description by Paul, citing Hosea, gives grounds for Christians to claim that THEY, and only they, are now considered by God as “My people.” This is part of what is known as “replacement theology”, where Christians have become replacements for the Jews in God’s eyes.

I believe that God, as prophesied by Hosea, has simply increased the group of those He considers “My people” and has not substituted one group for another. The nation of Israel, i.e. the Jews, will ALWAYS be his people. He made that promise to Abraham in Genesis Chapter 12. Also, in Deut 14: 2 it is recorded by Moses that God considers the Jews His "holy people" and "a people for Himself." I do not believe that God will ever back-off these promises.

Since both Jews and Christians are considered “My people” in God’s eye, then what does the command mean? In full, Rev 18: 4 states, "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, 'Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.'" (See also, Jer 51: 45)

UPDATE: So then, if a believer leaves the United States prior to its destruction, where should he/she go? Perhaps verse 50 of Jer 51 offers a clue. God's word says to "let Jerusalem come to mind." It says this in the context of speaking to those who have escaped the sword which has come upon Babylon and has destroyed her. God may indeed be telling such ones who escape His wrath against the United States to seek shelter in Israel. Seek the Lord to confirm this in YOUR heart.

I believe that the harlot of Rev 17 represents the entire Babylonian system, which is a human governmental system and accompanying religious system fostering a way of living which includes pride, false idols and a corrupt God-rejecting government. This Babylonian system originated with Nimrod, great-grandson of Noah, after the flood, and is described in Gen 11. God wants us to "come out" of such a Babylonian system and to seek Him with all our heart by living holy for His kingdom. Be a memeber of the true church, the "Philadelphia church", and not the lukewarm "Laodicean church" of Rev 3. That is, God wants us to be standard bearers for Him and His kingdom -- ambassadors. These Babylonian systems are increasing in strength in America. Do not be overcome, but continue to do good throughout the ever-increasing evil times which are rapidly accelerating around us. The Kingdom of God transcends the Babylonian systems. We live in the world, but we need to operate to show we are in His Kingdom which is spiritual.

So, if New York City is that great city Babylon the Great, then the United States of America is the spiritual nation of Babylon which includes that great city. How can this be? How could God birth America and then bless America for over 200 years only to bring her to nothing?

Read the prophecy found in Ob 1: 1-4. It speaks of the ancient nation of Edom, but it appears equally applicable to the United States. God has indeed set America's "nest among the stars" but also vows to "bring her down" because of her pride and to "make [her] small among the nations." God hates pride, which shows lack of consideration and deference to Him. Clearly, America as a nation has turned away from and forgotten God.

King David wrote over 3,000 years ago that, "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." (Emphasis added) (See, Ps 9: 17-18) There is no exception in that psalm for America. A nation cannot forget God until it first knows God. America was founded on God's word. In the early 1600's, the Puritans who landed at Plymouth Rock in the Massachusetts Bay colony founded that colony on biblical principles and saw America as a New Israel. Recently, however, the president of our nation told the world that America is the world's largest Muslim nation. Insanity. Who does not believe that America as a nation has indeed forgotten God?

Read the prophecies concerning "Babylon" found in Jer chapters 50, 51 and the many descriptions therein which were not fulfilled by ancient Babylon. For example, Jer 51: 6-14 speaks of a "Babylon" which I believe refers to that same "Babylon the Great" of the Book of Revelation. Read it for yourself and note the similarities between that prophecy and America today. Notice the similarities between Jer 51: 6-8 and Rev 14: 8, Rev 17: 2, and Rev 18: 3 regarding the characteristics and destruction of the "Babylon" described therein.

UPDATE: As recorded in Jer 51: 12-14, the prophet Jeremiah hears God's spirit say, "set up the standard on the walls of Babylon; make the guard strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes. For the Lord has both devised and done what He spoke against the inhabitants of Babylon. O you who dwell by many waters, abundant in treasures. Your end has come, the measure of your covetousness. The Lord of hosts has sworn by Himself: 'Surely I will fill you with men, as with locusts and they shall lift up a shout against you.'” (Emphasis added) I, and others far more scholarly in biblical research than I, believe that this prophecy is against the Babylon the Great of the end times. That is the Babylon described in the Book of Revelation which I and they argue is the United States of America.

UPDATE: Ancient Babylon was not geographically located "on many waters." America is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico. The Great Lakes provide a thousand miles of shoreline in the northern portion of America. Truly, America is a nation on many waters.

UPDATE: I believe that in addition to the destruction of America by external sources, such as a nuclear attack from Russia and/or China, internal foreign forces will cause America to become paralyzed and perhaps go into occupation and control by foreign forces. Jeremiah calls this a takeover by men as numerous and characteristic as locusts. Locusts swarm in large numbers, and they devour.

UPDATE: Verses 41-44 of Jer 51, describe the total destruction of Babylon (Sheshach), the praise of the earth. I believe this description is literal and that it describes America. After a devastating and complete nuclear attack, the great earthquake associated with the 7th Trumpet in the Book of Revelation will shift the land of America in such a way as to have the oceans overflow the land, forever.

UPDATE: In Jer 50: 14-15, the prophet records God saying, "put yourselves in array against Babylon all around, all you who bend the bow. Shoot at her, spare no arrows, for she has sinned against the Lord. Shout against her all around. She has given her hand, her foundations have fallen. Her walls are thrown down for it is the vengeance of the Lord. Take vengeance on her." Verses 29-32 describe further detail regarding America's coming destruction.

UPDATE: Again, I believe this prophecy is for America. Ancient Babylon was taken over in a relatively peaceful invasion by the Medes in one night (See, Dan 5: 26-30) The coming combined invasion and subsequent destruction of America will not occur in one night. Its utter destruction will occur in one day, but the prior invasion by foreign forces will most likely take months.

Some ask, "How could God bless America and then bring her down?" In Jer 18: 7-10, God speaks about any nation which sins against Him and the nation which does, or does not, repent of that sin. Beginning in verse 7 God speaks, "The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it." (Emphasis added)

Does anyone doubt that America today is going in the wrong moral direction vis-a-vis God? Can the need for repentance in America be any more clear to avoid God's judgment and utter destruction? Without such repentance, judgment and utter destruction are coming to New York City, and sadly, I believe to most of America. When? Only God knows, but he has given the warning.

My guess -- the destruction will occur some time during the final 3 1/2 years before Jesus returns, the final 3 1/2 years of Daniel's 70th week, based on the placement of the admonition of God in Rev 18: 4 which occurs after the anti-Christ/beast is revealed. At that time, I believe the principal city of America, "spiritual Babylon", New York City, and most likely much of America, will be utterly destroyed in one hour. This will probably be a nuclear event initiated by a nation such as Russia and/or North Korea, whose leaders have typically had hatred for America. Perhaps China could join in.

God warned Lot to leave Sodom before it was destroyed -- but Sodom was indeed destroyed. Effort should be directed by all born-again (from above) Christians to live as citizens of His Kingdom instead of trying to get God to hold-off on His judgement, which He cannot do since His Word says it will occur. God's people should focus on living holy for Him. When destruction comes to America, He will give His people a way out. Pray that you are counted worthy to escape. (Luke 21: 36)

It could be that after America is destroyed the war of Gog of Magog, described in Ezekiel Chapters 38 and 39, will occur. I always wondered how any nation, or group of nations, could come against Israel militarily without America preventing such an action. Once America is destroyed, or severely wounded by a nuclear attack, there would be no world power capable of preventing such a war as described in Ez 38/39.

The "time of trouble" spoken of throughout the Old Testament is indeed just around the corner. It is time to repent and to prepare your heart to seek the Lord to escape things to come and to be hidden in the time of trouble. (Psalm 27: 5; Zeph 2: 3; Rev 3:10)

2012 - True Believer

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There Will Be No 'Pre-tribulation' Rapture of the Church -- Do Not Be Deceived, Prepare to Endure

2012-04-22T15:50:00.000-04:00

Much of what I am about to say will be new to some, unbelievable to many, and controversial to most. But please read on and seriously consider what is written herein, because your eternal life depends on it.

I have spent many hours over the past few years studying the scriptures regarding the timing and substance of the rapture. Also, I have listened to lectures on the subject in-person and on TV, I have read numerous books on the subject, and I have heard sermons preached on the subject. You should also know that until a few months ago, I myself was a "pre-trib" rapture believer; however, I am quite confident that I was wrong. I have received recent revelation from the Holy Spirit in regard to the scripture I have studied on this subject, which has opened my eyes.

Again, please consider seriously what I say herein. I have no book contract or other financial reason to write this. I believe that what I say herein is God's truth for us and that he wants me to publish it. Study it out for yourself. Do not be complacent in your understanding. God desires that you prepare your heart to seek Him to know Him, His commands, and His truth. (See for example, Acts 15: 17; Zeph 2: 3; Jer 29: 13; Ps 27: 8; Is 55: 6; Hos 10: 12; Ezra 7:10; Chron 16: 10-11; 2 Chron 12: 14; 2 Chron 20: 33) To prepare your heart to seek the Lord means to determine in your heart that you will seek the Lord. The best way to do this is to read His word, fast and pray; with necessary repentance.

As many of you are aware, the term "rapture" is not found in any English translation of the Bible. It is the Latin word "raptio" which has been translated into English as "rapture" and was used in the Latin Vulgate version of the Bible to represent the original Greek words found in 1 Thes 4: 17 meaning to be "caught up" or "snatched away." The Latin Vulgate version of the Bible was commissioned in 382 C.E. by Damasus I of Rome.

In general, the rapture is a future event, believed by Christians, whereby there will be heard the voice of the Archangel Michael, the blowing of the trumpet of God (the last trump), and a shout of command of the Lord Jesus to call all true believers up to the clouds of heaven to meet with him in the air. At that time, all those who are dead in Christ having believed in Jesus' salvation for them will rise (i.e. be resurrected) and will be instantly given new, eternal and immortal spiritual bodies which are immune to death, disease and any other effect of sin. Then, those who are still alive and surviving who believe that Jesus is their salvation will be "changed in the twinkling of an eye" and also be given new, eternal and immortal spiritual bodies (1 Cor 15).

The Greek word translated as "remaining" in 1 Thes. 4: 17 in many English translations of the Bible more accurately means "alive and surviving." This rapture event will be amazingly quick and will result in a meeting with Jesus for the raised (resurrected) dead in Christ and those living and surviving on earth who are believers. Jesus will then take them with him to Heaven, soon to return to earth with him to battle, as described in Rev 19: 11, 14. From that point on, they will be with Jesus forever in their new immortal spiritual bodies.

As a point of history, over the past few hundred years, many Bible scholars have expressed various opinions regarding the likelihood, timing and conditions surrounding the rapture of the Christian church. As stated above, the term "rapture" is equated with the concept of a "catching away" of the church of Jesus Christ, as described in the New Testament, at a future point in time in proximity to the final 7 years of man's reigning on this earth, commonly referred to as the "7-year tribulation."

Firstly, I would rather refer to this final 7-year period as Daniel's 70th week (i.e., a "week" of years = 7 years; Dan 9: 27), since nowhere in scripture is there a period of time referred to as the "7-year tribulation", but there is indeed scriptural basis for the term "Daniel's 70th week." During this time, there will be "tribulation" (i.e. affliction, pressure) on all humanity. But, a period called the "Great Tribulation" is described by Jesus in Mat Chapter 24, and it will not commence until some time in the midst of the 70th week (Dan 9: 27) when the "Abomination of Desolation" (i.e., the person who will be the satan-possessed anti-Christ who will influence all world governments, and eventually rule a one-world government during Daniel's 70th week) described in Dan 11: 31 enters a future rebuilt temple of God on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and declares himself to be God (2 Thes 2: 3-4). Thus, the Great Tribulation begins about 3 1/2 years before Jesus' 2nd coming, which is to occur at the end of the 70th week.

I am aware that many TV evangelists, the typical Sunday school teacher, and most everyday Christians believe, teach and have been taught that a "pre-tribulation" or "pre-trib" rapture will purportedly take place some time prior to the "7-year tribulation", or Daniel's 70th week, which week commences with a peace covenant "with many" (perhaps a United Nations treaty, which most likely will include the nation of Israel) being "confirmed" by the "prince of the covenant." Again, this may be different from what some of you have been taught, but a study of Daniel Chapters 9 and 11 supports my contention regarding the terminology and substance of Daniel's 70th week.

I do believe that there will be a rapture of the church but I do not believe that scripture supports a "pre-trib", or "pre-70th week", timing of the rapture. I believe that the rapture will occur on a future Feast of Trumpets on a future Tishri 1 of the Biblical calendar (late-September/early-October). Generally, the church has been taught, albeit incorrectly, that the rapture will occur prior to Daniel's 70th week. The main reason for this misinterpretation of scripture, I believe, is due mainly to "wishful thinking." After all, who would want to endure the dreadful plagues and exceedingly hard times associated with the trumpet plagues of Rev Chapters 8 and 9?

Additionally, many ask, "how could a loving God punish his bride the church, and then after subjecting her to great affliction rapture her home to himself in heaven"? These questions appear logical, but remember where the Israelites were when the various terrible plagues of Egypt were brought about in the days of Moses -- the Israelites were in Egypt too, but were protected from the plagues while they lived in the area of Goshen, their place of refuge. The meaning of Goshen is "draw near." We will, no doubt, have opportunity to find and enter "mini-Goshens" during the 70th week. Where they will be geographically, I do not know. But, I have no doubt that they will exist and be available to those who seek the Lord, to those who draw near to Him, to be "hidden" in the time of trouble as described in Ps 27: 5. Likewise, God promises in Ps 50: 15 that if we call upon Him in the day of trouble we will be delivered.

So, to put it bluntly, for at least the reasons given herein, I believe that the rapture of the church, which includes both living believers and the dead in Christ, will not occur until the "Day of the Lord" at the end of Daniel's 70th week. At that time (the true "Last Day"), Jesus will return to earth to:

     1) "harvest" or "catch away" or "rapture" his church to himself;
   2) defeat the armies of the world's nations which have gathered at Armageddon (Mt. Megiddo) in Israel to destroy Jerusalem;
     3) bind satan for 1,000 years; and
     4) renew the earth and establish his eternal kingdom on earth, where he is forever King of kings and Lord of lords.

To properly understand scripture, the words of the Bible must be interpreted literally, unless they are clearly being used in a non-literal sense. Also, the context of the scripture must be considered. Taking quotes from scripture out of context misrepresents the true meaning of the scripture and misleads many.

The rapture event described in 1 Thes 4 is given a time frame in 1 Thes 5 as the "Day of the Lord." This is the day Jesus returns to earth, described above. Many teach that the event described in 1 Thes 4 is the "coming of the Lord" (i.e. the rapture) which is invisible to the world and is a separate event from the "Day of the Lord" described in 1 Thes 5 which, they say, is the Lord's "glorious appearance" (Titus 2: 13; Mat 24: 30) when Jesus returns and is seen by the entire world at His Second Coming on the Last Day. This bifurcating of the single event described in 1 Thes 4 and 1 Thes 5 is improper. In context, that which is described in 1 Thes 4: 15-17 is the same subject matter being further described in 1 Thes 5: 1-4, which follows immediately after 1 Thes 4 and is the same event. (See also, Ps 50: 4 describing a rapture of His saints during a last day scenario)

Jesus laid out the timing for the rapture/harvest on the Last Day in Mat 24: 29-31 while answering his disciples in regard to their questions concerning what would be the "sign of his coming, and the end of the age"? He answered them by saying that "immediately after the tribulation of those days ... they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds." (Emphasis added) This "gathering together "event is on the Last Day, the Day of the Lord. So, the tribulation comes first, then the rapture.

In Mat 13: 24-30 and 37-39, Jesus describes the same Last Day scenario of the rapture given by 1 Thes 5 and Mat 24: 29-31. He gives the parable of the good seed (wheat) and the bad seed (tares) being allowed to grow together until the harvest. The harvest is described in Mat 13: 27-29, 31 as occurring at the end of the age on the Last Day.

In his prayer for Christians in Thessaloniki, referred to in 2 Thes 1: 4-8, Paul states in his letter to them that because of their faith and patience through persecutions and trouble, they should be "counted worthy of the kingdom of God", and further states that God will repay with tribulation those who trouble them, giving them "rest ... when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels." (Emphasis added) (See also, Mark 8: 38) So, their rest from further persecution is not to be given by God until Jesus returns in full glory on the Last Day, described in Mat 24: 30 as His "glorious appearing."

If rest is to be given to believers from persecution, trouble, danger, etc., at any time other than the Last Day, then when? If such rest is to occur in a pre-trib rapture, prior to Jesus' being revealed, then why doesn't Paul say so? He describes only one time when such rest is to be given, and mentions no other time when rest for Christians from persecution will be given by God.

This Last Day rapture/harvest event and timing is vividly illustrated in Rev 14: 14-16, where the Son of Man is shown in the clouds of heaven putting in a sharp sickle to reap the earth of His followers at harvest. This event is placed in the Book of Revelation immediately prior to the pouring out of the last 7 plagues or "wrath of God" of Rev Chapters 15 and 16, described below.

Additionally, Rev 14: 4 describes the rapture of 144 thousand who have been redeemed from mankind and are first fruits to God and to the Lamb. If the church is raptured "pre-trib", this would also violate scripture since the 144 thousand are clearly raptured during the second half of the 70th week and are described in scripture as being first fruits. A "pre-trib" raptured church would necessarily precede the rapture of those 144 thousand and itself be first fruits which, according to scripture, cannot be.

The rapture/raising of the dead in Christ will also be a resurrection event. (See, 1 Thes 4: 16; 1 John 3: 2) But the first resurrection of humanity will not occur until the end of the 70th week, around the time the beast (anti-Christ) is destroyed. In fact, Christians who are killed for not taking the mark of the beast during the 70th week are participants in the first resurrection. (See, Rev 20: 4-6) Daniel 12: 2 teaches that "many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake." The timing for this event in Dan Chapter 12 is given at the end of Dan Chapter 11 and is the time when the anti-Christ is defeated. Furthermore, Jesus himself gave the Last Day as the time for the resurrection of those who believe in him, when he stated in John 6: 44 that "no one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day." (See also, John 6: 39-40, 53-54) So, any teaching of a "pre-trib" rapture contradicts the timing of such a rapture event as described in scripture, which event includes the first resurrection of humanity.

Many in the church have been taught that the reference in Rev 4: 1 of a door standing open in heaven, which is described just after the letters to the seven churches in Rev Chapters 2-3, is an image of the "pre-trib" rapture of the church. In that passage, John is called up to heaven by Jesus to see things which are to take place after the letters to the seven churches are discussed in Chapters 2-3. I do not believe that the open door of Rev 4:1 is a picture of a "pre-trib" rapture of the church. Here, Jesus simply is bringing John up to heaven for him to see future events which have not yet happened on earth.

In fact, in Rev 3: 8 the "open door" in heaven is promised only to the "Philadelphia church." The attributes of those qualifying as members of the "Philadelphia church" are given in Rev Chapter 3.  I believe that a rapture is indeed promised by Jesus to the "Philadelphia church" in Rev 3: 10, wherein Jesus says that "because you (the Philadelphia church) have kept my command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth." (Emphasis added) If this promise has any meaning, it is a reward only for those who persevere. Its interpretation must be consistent and in context with the above discussion and interpretation of scripture in regard to the substance and timing of the rapture.

In line with that, I submit that the "hour of trial" from which those who persevere will be kept is "the wrath of God" which occurs at the end of the 70th week, and perhaps all of the 7 trumpet initiated-events occurring during the 70th week since the Great Multitude in heaven of Rev Chapter 7 are seen by John just prior to the 7 trumpet initiated-events which begin in Rev Chapter 8. Therefore, one must strive to be a memeber of the true church, the "Philadelphia church", and not the lukewarm "Laodicean church" of Rev 3, or risk being left on earth during the entire Great Tribulation period (Mat 24; Mark 13) for cleansing and to bring about true repentance.

I believe that the "wrath of God" does not occur until the 7 bowl/vial plagues described in Rev Chapters 15 and 16 are carried out. In fact, the passages of Rev 15: 1, 7 and 16: 1 describe how the wrath of God is that which is contained in the 7 bows/vials to be poured out on the earth, which happens at the end of the 70th week. I believe that it occurs after the members of the church still on earth and surviving and who have not taken the mark of the beast have been raptured.

Understand that tribulation and God's wrath are not the same thing. The church on earth will endure tribulation, which is defined as persecution, great pressure, danger, and affliction. It is recorded in John 16: 33 that Jesus told His followers, "in the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (Emphasis added) At Mat 24: 9, Jesus tells His disciples in regard to their questions concerning what would be the "sign of his coming, and the end of the age" that "they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake." (Emphasis added)

As recorded in Acts 14: 22, Paul told believers in the cities of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) that "we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God." (Emphasis added) In 2 Tim 3: 12, Paul tells Timothy that "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." (Emphasis added) Revelation 2: 10 describes how Jesus, in addressing the church at Smyrna, tells the believers that they will suffer and be tested through tribulation, but to be fairthful and endure to receive the crown of life. Thus, there is no free pass given to a Christian to be kept from tribulation.

If we are alive and surviving during the time of the anti-Christ, we will face tribulation, but not God's wrath. Paul makes this point clear and tells us in 1 Thes 5: 9, that "God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Emphasis added) Jesus spoke of a Great Tribulation which is to begin in the midst of Daniel's 70th week, when the Abomination of Desolation enters the temple and declares himself to be God, and it will last for about 3 1/2 years until the Last Day. (Mat 24: 15-21; 2 Thes 2: 3-4; Dan 9: 27) But, the wrath of God is reserved for after the saints still alive and surviving on earth are raptured.

Whether or not the rapture of the church occurs literally on the "last 24 hour day" of the age or some time prior during the last half of Danienl's 70th week, it will certainly occur prior to the wrath of God being poured out near the end of Daniel's 70th week subsequent to the Great Tribulation period spoke of by Jesus in Mat 24 and Mark 13. The day of the rapture will indeed be the "last day" on earth for believers before Jesus comes to rule and reign as King of Kings.

Regarding the seven trumpet-initiated events, plagues or judgments of Rev Chapters 8, 9 and 11, I do not know when the first four of the seven events will occur, but because of their placement in the Book of Revelation vis-a-vis other events described therein, it seems most likely that they will occur during the second half of the 70th week during the Great Tribulation spoken of by Jesus in Mat Chapter 24. If so, these events must be endured by the church on earth at that time, and are designed to bring about God's final plan to bring man to repentance or to face judgment. If one or more of these events occur during the 70th week, their origin may be the two witnesses of Rev Chapter 11 who are given power/authority to cause various plagues (similar to Moses in Egypt) as often as they see fit. I believe that the final three trumpet-initiated events (trumpets 5-7 -- the three "woes") of Rev Chapters 9 and 11 will occur during the 70th week.

I believe that the two witnesses will appear on the scene in Jerusalem around the time the Abomination of Desolation appears on the scene. A reading of Dan 9: 27 in combination with Dan Chapter 11 and 2 Thes 2: 3-4 discloses that he who is the Abomination of Desolation (i.e. the beast, anti-Christ) is revealed in the midst of Daniel's 70th week in the new rebuilt temple of God in Jerusalem. According to 2 Thes 2: 3-4, the Day of the Lord cannot occur until after the "man of sin/lawlessness" is revealed. This is another nail in the coffin against the "pre-trib" rapture doctrine.

Additionally, I believe that events surrounding the opening of the seven seals discussed in Rev Chapters 6 and 8 are not judgments, but are simply an unfolding of events caused by the actual opening of the seals by Jesus, who has been in heaven for almost 2, 000 years. I submit that scripture does not confine events related to the opening of all seven seals to the 70th week. Jesus simply told John 2, 000 years ago to come up and see things which would occur in the future. (See, Rev 4: 1) Although I believe that events related to the opening of the final three seals will occur during the 70th week, I do not know whether any of the first four seal-related events have occurred in history or whether they will occur during the 70th week. But, I believe that events associated with the opening of each of the seven seals are necessary to accomplish God's plan of redemption of mankind and redemption of the earth.

You may consider the scroll being opened by the Lamb (i.e. Jesus) in heaven, one seal at a time, as the deed to the earth. The earth was originally given (deeded) to Adam (Gen Chapter 1), but through his disobedience (Gen Chapter 2) satan gained rights (through the deed) to the earth. A study of traditional procedures for the purchase and subsequent redemption of real property in ancient times involved such a scroll, having writing and being sealed until a time for the redemption of the property by the original owner, if the owner was able, to re-obtain the real property from loss. Such a procedure is described in Lev 25: 23-25, where a redeemer kinsman could purchase the property on behalf of the owner who had lost the property. In Jer 32: 10, it describes that a scroll describing a purchased title to real property was rolled up and then sealed. The outside of the sealed scroll contained the conditions necessary for the original owner to redeem the lost property.

Those who persevere during the 70th week and are raptured are members of the church who are alive and surviving at the end of the 70th week who do not shrink from their faith by not loving their own life to the point of death (Rev 12: 11; Rev 14: 13; Luke 17: 33; John 12: 25) and who refuse to take the mark of the beast. Many will be killed for such refusal (Rev 13: 15), and unfortunately, I believe that many members of the church living in the 70th week will not endure, but for the preservation of their life will accept the mark of the beast (Rev 13: 16-17) to be able to buy food and other items to survive. This short-sighted decision by believers and non-believers alike will be eternally fateful.

Here is a likely scenario -- once the treaty "with many" is confirmed, many in the church will be at a loss to explain why no rapture occurred, causing confusion among believers (see, 2 Pet 2: 3-4), or will attempt to explain that it was not the "covenant" of Dan 9: 27. But you reader, do not lose heart at that time, but know that no "pre-trib" rapture is promised in scripture. Thus, it is imperative that those living through the 70th week be strong in faith. As stated above, even if you are a believing, born-again Christian you can lose your eternal salvation if your faith waivers and you take the mark of the beast. To do so damns your soul for eternity (Rev 14: 9-11).

The ability to renounce your salvation forever is spoken of in scripture, for example, in Heb 6: 4-6 and Heb 10: 26-31. (See also, 2 Pet 2: 4, 20-21; Zeph 1: 2-3, 6) Once saved, you are in God's hand, and nothing in heaven or on earth can take you from God's hand. (See, John 10: 28-29) But, because God has given us each free will, you can walk away from God's hand, lose his protection, grace and favor, and be at risk of facing his eternal judgment along with unbelievers. You can also be blotted out of the Lamb's Book of Life. (Rev 3: 5) Obviously, you cannot be blotted out unless you were at one time in the Book of Life.

In summary, taken together, all the scripture discussed above point to a rapture of the church immediately prior to the "wrath of God" being poured out on those remaining on earth. If you are a believer, you have nothing to fear, but do not be complacent in hoping for and depending on a "pre trib" rapture to escape the coming "time of trouble" to occur during the 70th week. Do not love your life to the point of losing your salvation during the 70th week when things get quite uncomfortable and unpleasant. Do not take the mark of the beast on your hand or forehead.

Remember that Jesus commanded us to persevere and hold fast to our faith by practicing patient endurance, especially in the end-times. (See, for example, Rev. 3: 10; Mat 24: 13; Mark 13: 13; Luke 21: 19) (See also, 2 Pet 3: 17) By definition, you cannot endure without a struggle. But, to do so will bring you an everlasting reward of eternal life in a disease-free, joyful, unspeakably beautiful future with God himself. In Is 40: 31 it says that, "those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength." Renewing one's strength takes affirmative action and effort, not complacency. But we must wait on the Lord and be of good courage, and he shall strengthen our heart (Ps 27: 14).

The "time of trouble" spoken of throughout the Old Testament is indeed just around the corner. It is time to repent and to prepare your heart to seek the Lord to escape things to come and to be hidden in the time of trouble. (Psalm 27: 5; Zeph 2: 3; Rev 3:10)

For another argument against a "pre-trib" rapture, please click on "June 2009" under Blog Archive to see my June 2009 blog entitled, "Marriage Supper of the Lamb in Heaven or on Earth? Is there no pre-tribulation rapture?" Also, to check out my other previous blogs, click on the "Older Post" link below.

For an excellent video which touches upon many of the points made herein, please visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jTmZHDb_sP8#!

2012 - True Believer

To check out my other blogs, please navigate through my Blog Archive.

Marriage Supper of the Lamb on Earth, or in Heaven? -- Is there no pre-tribulation rapture?

2009-06-26T12:29:00.000-04:00

It is basic Christian doctrine that the "marriage supper of the Lamb", referred to in Rev. 19: 9, takes place in heaven during Daniel's 70th week (commonly referred to as the 7-year tribulation) and that there is a pre-tribulation rapture of the church of Christ which precedes the marriage supper. However, a close read of Luke 22: 14-18 raises several questions with this dogmatic notion.

In those passages in Luke, Jesus is reclining at table with the apostles at the last supper just prior to his being betrayed by Judas. While at the supper, Jesus makes an interesting statement described in verse 18, where, after taking a cup and giving thanks, He says, "Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." (Emphasis added) What does He mean? Until the kingdom comes where? A literal reading of verse 18 seems to indicate that Jesus is saying that He will not again drink the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes to earth. Where else would God's kingdom be coming?

Continuing in Luke 22: 29-30, Jesus tells his disciples that he bestows upon them a kingdom and that they will "eat and drink" with Jesus at His table in His kingdom. He does not say that they will be in the Father's kingdom, but in His (i.e., Jesus') kingdom. This must mean on earth, since that is where Jesus will inherit his physical kingdom, when He strips the earth of all the kingdoms of men. This is evidenced in Rev 11: 15, where the seventh angels sounds his trumpet and heavenly voices proclaim that "the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ."

Therefore, is the marriage supper of the Lamb, where Jesus most likely will drink the fruit of the vine with those at the supper, actually in heaven or on earth? If it were in heaven, as many have stated from their read of the Book of Revelation, then why does Jesus explicitly state in Luke that He will not drink the fruit of the vine again until Jesus' Kingdom comes and that the disciples will eat and drink with Him in His kingdom? After all, the kingdom of God is already in Heaven, but it is not yet on earth and will not come to earth until Jesus returns at the Second Coming (i.e., at Armageddon). In 1 Cor 15:24, Paul says that the kingdom of God will not be delivered (i.e., not come) until "the end," which is after all saints have been raptured at the end of the age. The coming of Jesus' kingdom to earth is also God's answer to a part of the Lord's prayer taught as a model prayer by Jesus, which specifically requests of God, among other things, that "thy kingdom come." (cf, Mat 6 :10)

If this analysis of Luke in conjunction with the Book of Revelation is correct, then it seems that there will be no pre-tribulation rapture of the church prior to the Second Coming of Jesus when God's kingdom is brought to earth by Jesus's appearance on earth on the last day at the battle of Armageddon.

Of course, this analysis raises other questions, such as: if the marriage supper of the Lamb is on earth, where on earth could it take place to be able to accommodate the billions of glorified Christians who would attend? I don't know. But, as stated in Mat 19: 26, with God all things are possible. Is this the feast which is described by the prophet Isaiah as recorded at Is 25: 6? Until I read this portion of the Book of Isaiah, after God gave me this revelation in the book of Luke, I was unaware of this prophetic feast described by Isaiah over 700 years before Jesus was born. Perhaps the Holy Spirit has given me a confirmation of that feast.

Revelation 19: 14 describes that the "armies of heaven" follow Jesus to earth at Armageddon while they ride on white horses being clothed in fine linen, white and pure. However, I cannot see any passage in the Book of Revelation which states that the marriage supper of the Lamb is actually held in heaven. For instance, in Rev. 19: 9 an angel says that those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb are blessed. And just prior to that passage, Rev. 19: 7 describes that a "great multitude" cried out that the time for the marriage supper of the Lamb had come. But, the event is not actually described as taking place in heaven -- it was merely announced in heaven.

Also, immediately subsequent to the announcement that the time for the marriage supper of the Lamb has come Rev 19: 11 describes heaven being opened and the Lord Jesus on a white horse riding down to earth to "judge and make war." So, it may be that some time shortly after His arrival on earth, with the armies of heaven with Him (glorified Christians from all ages), that the marriage supper of the Lamb will commence on earth. Perhaps this will occur on earth 1,335 days after the Abomination of Desolation enters the temple in Jerusalem. (See, 2 Thes 2: 4; Dan 9: 27: Dan 12: 12) By my calculation, that would be about 45 days or so after Jesus returns. Only God knows.

The "time of trouble" spoken of throughout the Old Testament is indeed just around the corner from us. It is now time to repent of your sins and to prepare your heart to seek the Lord to escape the things which are to come upon the earth soon, and to be hidden in the time of trouble. (See, Ps 27: 5; Zeph 2: 3; Rev 3: 10)

2009 - True Believer

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Eternal Life - Personal Relationsip With God, or Merely Living Forever?

2009-06-18T12:28:00.000-04:00

The words "eternal life" and "living forever" are synonyms, are they not? The answer to that question depends on your source. According to the Bible, they are not synonyms -- that is, "eternal life" and "living forever" do not have the same meaning.

Many are familiar with what is written in John 3:16 ("For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.") However, in chapter 17 of the same book of John, Jesus defines what is meant by those words "eternal life." John 17:3 records Jesus' words, "and this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."

Thus, the words "eternal life" do not mean simply living forever, but carry the additional meaning of requiring a relationship with God and Jesus. It is this special relationship which allows one to avoid hell, to live in heaven forever, and to live a life on earth (prior to death) full of the power and authority Jesus gives to anyone who through faith in Him recognizes Jesus as their only Savior from their sins.

Therefore, having faith in one's heart in Jesus Christ as the Son of God who, although in the form of God, came to earth as a human being and died for everyone by taking the sins of all upon Himself on the cross allows one a relationship with God through Jesus. It is this special relationship which is the "eternal life" spoken of by Jesus.

Faith in Jesus is the only means for salvation for one's sins and requires a special relationship with God through Jesus. Mere acknowledgment of Jesus does not give rise to a personal relationship with Him. Therefore, such a person does not posses the eternal life which allows an eternity of existence in the presence of God.

These are not my words. Discover them for yourself in the Bible.

2009 - True Believer

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Financial Crisis - One World Government

2009-06-09T13:41:00.000-04:00

One cannot turn on the TV these days without encountering a news item related to the present world financial crisis. Indeed, the main worry for most Americans is their own financial security in a world seething with financial insecurity.

Will my 401(k) recover? Will I have enough in savings to retire? Will I lose my job? Will I find a job? Can I make my next mortgage payment? How will I cover all my credit card debt? These questions currently resonate throughout America and the first world nations. So -- what to do? Where do we go from here? When will we recover and reach a level economic playing field?

I believe that behind the scenes (and in plain view) there is being set up a one-world government, beginning with a centralized financial system. We can already see evidence of this. China and other nations have recently stated a need for a one-world currency to overcome the declining value of the dollar. Since the price of oil is set in U.S. dollars, nations want to decouple the dollar from oil to allow the price of oil to moderate even as the value of the dollar declines. Also, since China and other nations hold hundreds of billions of dollars of U.S. treasury notes, their incentive to divest away from the declining dollar investments (U.S. treasury notes) increases.

Recently at the G-20 meetings, there was a call for standardization of accounting and financial rules on a centralized world-wide basis. The proponents of the call for this centralization plan argued that such a plan would eliminate, or at least diminish, future financial problems such as those on the forefront (i.e., the housing crises, the failure of many large banks, and recent bankruptcies of such large global corporations as GM and Chrysler).

This concept of global centralization of financial standards is simply a first step to a one-world economic system having centralized control. Next would come a one-world currency. A one-world centralized government is also on the horizon. This is truly what the proponents of a "new world order" have in mind.

Amazingly, all of this is laid out in the Bible (See, Revelation, Daniel, etc.) as a future reality. That future reality is becoming our present reality one step at a time. I believe that this global financial crisis, which began in the U.S. over the past several years and stems from lax financial laws concerning housing and derivative investments passed by Congress during the Bush administration, is the beginning of the end of U.S. financial autonomy and the beginning of the establishment of a one-world government and centralized financial institution.

As events unfold, we are marching headlong into the end times (See, End Times blog below). It's time to wake up, smell the coffee, stop our useless and incessant texting, and devote our lives to the Lord. This world as we know it is beginning to change and will soon end. Unfortunately, this change will be for the worse and will culminate at Armegeddon. Stay tuned. Don't say you were not forewarned.

2009 - True Believer

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