At Hand

At Hand - By Daymond Duck -

https://www.raptureready.com/2020/05/24/at-hand-by-daymond-duck/

A reader recently e-mailed me Hal Lindsey's quote, "The coming of the Lord is at hand" (James 5:8).

This great prophecy teacher pointed out that "at hand" does not mean that the Rapture would happen in the next few years (although it could have).

"At hand" means the Rapture will happen at any time and without warning.

"At hand" is an admonition for everyone in every generation to be ready to go at any moment, all the time.

There is a lot of misunderstanding about this issue.

God told Adam if he ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he would die in that day (Gen. 2:17).

Adam ate the fruit, but he did not die within 24 hours; he died when he was 930 years old (Gen.5:5).

1,000 years in man's eyes are like one day to God (Psa. 90:4; II Pet. 3:8).

Some Christians believe that "last days" sometimes refers to days 5, 6 and 7 of a 7,000 year cycle (two 1,000-year God-days called the Church Age and one 1,000-year God-day called the Millennium (Heb. 1:1-2; I Pet. 1:20; James 5:3; II Pet. 3:3).

The first 4 God-days (4,000 years; equivalent to our Sun., Mon., Tue. and Wed.) ran from Adam to the first coming of Jesus.

The last 3 God-days (last 3,000 years; 2 days of Church Age and 1 day of rest called the Millennium; equivalent to our Thur., Fri. and Sat.) run from the first coming of Jesus to the end of the millennium.

Don't forget that Peter called the beginning of the Church on Pentecost the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy of the last days (Acts 2:16-18).

Days 5 and 6 (two 1,000-year God-days) began when the Holy Spirit was "poured out" on Pentecost (Acts 2:17), and they will end when the Holy Spirit is "taken out" of the way at the Rapture of the Church (II Thess. 2:7).

It is debatable, but according to Catholic tradition, Jesus was crucified and the Church began in 30 A.D. (others say 30-33 A.D.).

Now, take note of the fact that the UN goal of a world government by 2030 is exactly 2,000 years or two God-days from the possible beginning of the Church.

Below are more reasons to believe that the Church could be in the last hours of the Church Age (last hours of the last days on God's clock).

One, concerning tracking everyone, a new bill called the "Covid-19 Testing, Reaching, And Contacting Everyone (TRACE) Act has passed and been signed.

TRACE originated in the House of Representatives and, for some strange reason, it is numbered H.R. 6666.

H.R. 6666 appropriates $100 billion to trace and monitor people that have come in contact with someone that has (or has had) the Coronavirus, plus it hints at more money for future use (monitoring that could extend into the Tribulation Period).

Monitoring includes mobile testing stations; visiting people in their homes, if necessary; requiring (forcing) people to be tested for the Coronavirus; and "other purposes" (a phrase with ominous overtones).

This is more evidence that the Mark of the Beast prophecy is literal, and the Tribulation Period could be close.

Two, in mid-May 2020, the Mayor of Los Angeles, Cal., said he intends to send city employees and volunteers to visit defiant businesses that are open and urge them to voluntarily close.

People that refuse to voluntarily close will have their water and electricity shut off (city will not sell, and businesses will not be allowed to buy water and electricity).

FYI: For more details on these first two items, listen to the message by J.D. Farag at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPvghpK3oxk

Three, on May 12, 2020, the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Dr. Anthony Fauci, was addressing a U.S. Senate Committee about the development of a vaccine for the coronavirus when he said he is cautiously optimistic, but "There's no guarantee that the vaccine is actually going to be effective."

Pray that an effective vaccine will be found but know that man cannot do anything without God's permission, and make sure you are saved in case He does not grant it.

Four, on May 11, 2020, Israel announced that Israel's Health Ministry will immediately start offering voluntary blood tests at existing clinics.

Israel's health officials believe some people may have been exposed to the virus and developed an immunity to it.

These officials plan to test 100,000 volunteers for antibodies that show an immunity.

If some people are immune to the virus, they do not need to be vaccinated or quarantined; they can go back to work, travel, etc.

If this is true, a law requiring everyone on earth to be vaccinated and tattooed may be unnecessary.

Five, on May 15, 2020, Executives at Sorrento Therapeutics in California said they have discovered a Coronavirus antibody that has been 100% effective in lab tests.

They said the antibody will protect healthy cells from the virus and get rid of it in 4 days.

Six, concerning world religion and his departing from the faith, on May 10, 2020, possible (emphasis on possible) False Prophet, Pope Francis said, "I believe that should he (Trump) be re-elected, God will abandon all of his blessings upon America, and may see fit to raze it down, as Sodom and Gomorrah."

Pope Francis should know that the problem in Sodom and Gomorrah was homosexuality, not people like Trump (Gen. 19:1-28).

Pope Francis has departed from the traditional Roman Catholic teaching (and the teaching of Pope Benedict) that homosexuality is unchristian.

Concerning America's future, Anne Graham Lotz (Billy Graham's daughter) said it well, "For years we've (American's have) been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the Gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?"

Seven, on May 14, 2020, U.S. Sec. of State Mike Pompeo was in Israel to: 1) try to advance Pres. Trump's Peace to Prosperity proposal, and 2) to discuss the Israeli annexation of parts of Judea and Samaria.

These two issues relate to prophecies that must happen after the Rapture.

The Antichrist must confirm a covenant of peace before the Tribulation Period can begin (Dan. 9:27; there could be swift movement after the rapture of the Church, plus many Arabs are beginning to move away from the Palestinians and toward Israel).

The Palestinians want all Jews out of Judea and Samaria, but Jesus revealed that there will be a Temple, and Jews living in Judea at the middle of the Tribulation Period (Matt. 24:15-16).

In exchange for Israel's written assurance that Israel will make an honest effort to negotiate a final peace treaty with the Palestinians, the U.S. is ready to recognize Israel's annexation of about 30% of Judea and Samaria (There has been some wavering in Israel because of threats from the UN, EU, Palestinians, Jordan and others, but at this time it looks like Israel plans to vote on it around July l, 2020).

Advancing Trump's peace proposal and annexing 30% of Judea and Samaria does not mean that the Tribulation Period is close (the Ten Kings haven't appeared, Elijah hasn't appeared, etc.), but it seems evident that the Tribulation Period is shaping up, and dividing Israel has ominous implications for the Battle of Armageddon (Joel 3:2).

Prime Min. Netanyahu said, "I think that this (Israel's new government) is an opportunity to promote peace and security (peace and safety), based on the understandings that I reached with President Trump (during) my last visit in Washington in January."

The promotion of peace and safety is a major sign that the Tribulation Period could be close (I Thess. 5:3), and Trump's peace proposal is like fuel on a fire.

The creation of a map by Israel and the U.S. that will divide the Promised Land (if agreed to) and set aside 70% of Judea and Samaria for a potential Palestinian State, the freezing of Israeli construction on 70% of Judea and Samaria for four years, and the abandonment of 10,000 Jews to Palestinian control transgress the warnings of God.

Finally, there is always hope for every individual and nation.

God is all-powerful, God can destroy, God can deliver, and God offers hope to individuals and nations that do not know Him or that have abandoned Him (Jer. 1:10; II Chron. 7:14).

But the Bible is very clear that truly accepting Jesus as one's Lord and Saviour is the only way to be saved (John 14:6; Acts 4:12), and the Rapture is the only hope of the terminal generation (Titus 2:13).

Be sure that you are trusting in Jesus and nothing else, draw close to Him, repent of your sins, and no matter what happens you will come out on top (Joel 2:11-13).

Because the Rapture is at hand, the time to act is now.

Prophecy Plus Ministries, Inc.

Daymond & Rachel Duck

9 Signs Of The End Times That Are Unfolding Right In Front Of Our Eyes -

9 Signs Of The End Times That Are Unfolding Right In Front Of Our Eyes - By Michael Snyder/End of the American Dream -

https://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=4078

 

Global events are beginning to spiral out of control, and this has created a resurgence in interest in what the Bible has to say about "the last days". Throughout the Scriptures, we are warned about apocalyptic events that will precede the second coming of Jesus Christ, and a lot of people are wondering if that period of time is now upon us.

 

All over the Internet, people are engaging in all sorts of speculation and lots of really bizarre theories are being thrown around, and this is causing a great deal of confusion. But all of this confusion is not necessary, because the Bible is actually very clear about what is coming.

 

Jesus had quite a bit to say about the time just before His return, and He specifically instructed His followers to watch for certain signs. He wanted us to understand that He knew about all of these things in advance, that He has a plan, and that He is in control.

 

So there is no need to fear. In fact, Jesus told us these things so that we would not be afraid.

 

Three of the key chapters where Jesus discusses the events of the last days are Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. To set the stage for the rest of this article, let me share just three quick verses from Luke 21...

 

9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

 

10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

 

11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

 

Could it be possible that we have entered a time when these things are starting to be fulfilled?

 

To answer that question, let's examine some of the global events that are currently unfolding...

 

#1 Wars And Rumors Of Wars

 

War is coming to the Middle East, and it might be coming a lot sooner than most people think.

 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is very eager to annex portions of Judea and Samaria before the U.S. election in November, and the coalition agreement that he reached with Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz allows him to do that as early as July.

 

I believe that it will happen at some point in the coming months, and the Palestinians are openly warning that such a move will mean war. In fact, Mahmoud Abbas is so upset about this pending annexation that he just publicly backed out of all previous agreements with the United States and Israel...

 

In an emergency meeting in Ramallah Tuesday, Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas announced that due to Israeli plans to annex parts of Judea and Samaria, all agreements with Israel and the U.S. are null and void.

 

This would include the Oslo Accords, which was the basis for the establishment of the Palestinian Authority.

 

And Jordan's King Abdullah just told a German newspaper that annexation "would lead to a massive conflict with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan"...

 

In an interview with the German newspaper Der Spiegel, the Jordanian monarch reiterated that a two-state solution was the "only way forward" as a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.

 

"What would happen if the Palestinian National Authority collapsed? There would be more chaos and extremism in the region. If Israel really annexed the West Bank in July, it would lead to a massive conflict with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan," said Abdullah.

 

This is something to keep a very close eye on, and we also need to keep in mind that a major war between Israel and Iran could erupt at literally any moment as well.

 

#2 Earthquakes

 

Our planet continues to become increasing unstable, and my regular readers know that I am particularly concerned about the west coast of the United States. It is just a matter of time before "the Big One" hits California, and this week we did see two very alarming quakes strike just off the California coast...

 

The first measured at a 4.7 magnitude. It hit at 11:56 p.m. Sunday about 163 miles west of Eureka.

 

The second earthquake was stronger, measuring a 5.5 magnitude hitting in the same area about 160 miles west of Eureka at 12:02 a.m. Monday.

 

The second quake was at the same depth as the first earthquake at about 6 miles down.

 

Overall, there have been 2,668 earthquakes in California and Nevada over the last 7 days, and that is definitely unusual.

 

Meanwhile, large earthquakes continue to strike other areas of the globe with frightening regularity. For example, a magnitude 6.2 quake just rocked the Mediterranean Sea, and that made headlines all over the globe.

 

In the days ahead, the shaking is only going to get worse, but most people don't understand what is happening.

 

#3 Volcanoes

 

I have written about Mt. Popocatepetl near Mexico City many times, and it has roared to life once again.

 

In fact, it is being reported that it was shooting hot ash 20,000 feet into the air on Wednesday.

 

Keep a very close eye on this volcano, because someday a catastrophic eruption of Mt. Popocatepetl will result in the worst disaster in the history of Mexico.

 

Of course Mt. Popocatepetl is far from alone. According to Volcano Discovery, 24 volcanoes around the globe are erupting right now, and dozens more are showing signs of unrest.

 

#4 Crazy Weather Patterns

 

You may have noticed that global weather patterns have gone absolutely nuts.

 

We are seeing record setting droughts in some parts of the world, in other areas we are witnessing unprecedented flooding, and global food production has been greatly disrupted by one unforeseen event after another.

 

For instance, this week India and Bangladesh are preparing for Super Cyclone Amphan to make landfall. On Monday night, that storm "officially became the strongest storm ever recorded in the Bay of Bengal"...

 

Millions of people in India and Bangladesh are bracing for what is now being called the strongest storm ever recorded in the Bay of Bengal. Super Cyclone Amphan is anticipated to make landfall in less than 36 hours, bringing destructive winds and heavy rain to a region already struggling with the coronavirus pandemic.

 

According to CNN, Super Cyclone Amphan officially became the strongest storm ever recorded in the Bay of Bengal on Monday night, after intensifying with sustained wind speeds of up to 165 miles per hour. Even though Amphan has weakened slightly the storm is still the equivalent of a Category 3 Atlantic hurricane, with winds speeds up to 115 mph.

 

#5 Armies Of Locusts

 

Billions of locusts have been traveling in giant swarms the size of major cities across large portions of Africa, the Middle East and Asia. These mammoth swarms can travel up to 90 miles a day, and when they descend on a farm they can eat all of the vegetation in as little as 30 seconds.

 

I have written about these enormous locust armies numerous times, and they keep making headlines all over the world. This week, video of these locusts "blocking out the sun in Iran" was being widely shared on social media...

 

Terrifying footage of an apocalyptic swarm of locusts blocking out the sun in Iran has emerged after it was revealed the military could be called to fight a plague that may destroy at least $7billion (£5.7bn) worth of crops.

 

The chilling video shows a haze formed of millions of the bugs covering the horizon on a motorway in the south of the country.

 

#6 African Swine Fever

 

Before COVID-19 came along, African Swine Fever was the most serious pestilence affecting the planet.

 

There is no vaccine, there is no cure, and it is killing pigs all over the globe at a staggering rate.

 

In fact, approximately half the pigs in China and approximately one-fourth of all the pigs in the entire world have already been wiped out by this disease.

 

Needless to say, this is having a tremendous impact on the global food supply, because much of the world relies on pig meat as a primary source of protein.

 

#7 Famines And Food Riots

 

You know that things are bad when even the United Nations is using the word "biblical" to describe the famines that are beginning to emerge around the globe.

 

The head of the UN World Food Program, David Beasley, is publicly warning that we are heading into "the worst humanitarian crisis since World War Two", and he is telling us that we could soon see approximately 300,000 people literally starve to death every single day...

 

"If we can't reach these people with the life-saving assistance they need, our analysis shows that 300,000 people could starve to death every single day over a three-month period", he upheld. "This does not include the increase of starvation due to COVID-19".

 

We have already witnessed very large food riots in Africa, and now they are starting to happen in South America.

 

For example, check out what just happened in the capital of Chile...

 

The coronavirus hit Chile at a particularly delicate time. Back in October, the Chilean military deployed tanks and troops onto the streets of Santiago - the Chilean capital - and President Sebastian Pinera declaring a state of emergency to quell a violent uprising triggered by - of all things - a hike in metro fares (can you imagine that happening in NYC?).

 

Now, some of the nation's poorest are rising up against the government again in a violent protest movement over the lack of government assistance. Specifically, food shortages have left thousands of Chileans with nothing to eat, and the mandatory closures have made it impossible for them to work or buy food.

 

Global food supplies have gotten very tight, and they are only going to get tighter in the months ahead.

 

#8 Economic Collapse

 

Countries all over the world have locked down their economies in 2020 due to fear of COVID-19, and that has plunged the entire global economy into a deep depression.

 

Here in the United States, more than 36 million Americans have already lost their jobs, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago says that the real rate of unemployment in the United States is now 30.7 percent, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta is projecting that U.S. GDP will fall by 42.8 percent during the second quarter of this year.

 

Now that our economic bubble has burst, the dominoes are just going to continue to tumble, and the days ahead are looking quite bleak.

 

#9 The Coronavirus Plague

 

This is the greatest public health crisis in a hundred years, and it looks like this pandemic is going to be with us for many months to come.

 

Already, there have been more than 5 million confirmed cases around the world and more than 300,000 people have died. Many had been hoping that the worst was behind us, but the head of the WHO just told us that Tuesday was the worst day for new cases "since the outbreak began"...

 

"We still have a long way to go in this pandemic," Tedros said at a briefing in Geneva. "In the last 24 hours, there have been 106,000 cases reported to WHO - the most in a single day since the outbreak began. Almost two-thirds of these cases were reported in just four countries."

 

Jesus specifically warned us that there would be "pestilences" during the time before His return, and I believe in the future we will see even worse pandemics than this one.

 

In fact, many of the signs that I discussed above will get worse in the days ahead. Just as birth pains increase in frequency and severity as the time for birth gets closer, we should expect many of the signs that Jesus warned about to increase in frequency and severity as well.

 

But even in the midst of all the chaos that is coming, God will be moving, and I believe that the greatest revival in all of human history is still ahead of us.

The Season of His Coming -

The Season of His Coming - By Michael Hile -

https://www.raptureready.com/2020/05/26/the-season-of-his-coming-by-michael-hile/

 

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven..." (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

 

The Song of Solomon talks about the bridegroom (my beloved) coming for His bride (my love, my fair one) after "winter is past" and when "the fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell" (SOS 2:10-13). The book of Luke tells us that "the kingdom of God is near at hand" when "the fig tree, and all the trees...shoot forth" and "summer is near at hand" (Luke 21:29-32).

 

The statement "winter is past" lets us know that summer has probably not yet arrived, while "summer is near at hand" implies that winter has passed, and summer is close, but has not yet arrived. After winter but before summer is a period called "seedtime" in the Bible but is referred to as spring in modern usage. Spring is generally regarded as beginning in the month of March and ending in the month of June, depending upon the calendar system used.

 

"While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease" (Genesis 8:22).

 

As summer draws near, the first three spring feasts (Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Firstfruits) have passed, and the fourth feast, Pentecost, is quickly approaching. Christ's ascension into Heaven (Ascension Day) was forty days after He rose from the grave on the feast of Firstfruits (resurrection day, traditionally called Easter). The feast of Pentecost, which is ten days after Ascension Day, occurs during the months of May or June each year, and is always fifty days after resurrection day. The anniversary of Christ's ascension and the feast of Pentecost occur during springtime, after winter but before summer.

 

Spring is the season when Jesus Christ was crucified for the sins of mankind, was buried in a borrowed tomb, and rose from the grave. His death, burial and resurrection were on the feast days, and He literally fulfilled the first three feasts of the Lord (Lev. 23:1-44). Spring is the season when Christ ascended into Heaven and "two men...in white apparel" [angels] standing near, asked the apostles: "Why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus...shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven" (Acts 1:9-11). Spring is the season when "the day of Pentecost was fully come," and "they were all filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:1-4).

 

Spring is the season when the bridegroom, in the Song of Solomon, says to his future bride: "Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away" (SOS 2:10-13). Spring is the season when "the fig tree putteth forth her green figs," "her branch is yet tender and putteth forth leaves," "summer is near" and "the kingdom of God is near at hand" (SOS 2:10-13; Mark 13:28-29; Luke 21:29-31). We are told, "when ye shall see all these things," you are to "know that it [the bridegroom and the kingdom of God] is near, even at the doors" (Matthew 24:32-33).

 

Modern-day Israel, sometimes symbolized by the fig tree in the scriptures, was absent from its land for nearly 2,000 years before beginning to come back from its dispersion throughout the world (the Diaspora) in the mid 1800s. Then, through several miraculous events, the Jewish people acquired national status (statehood) on May 14, 1948. Is it coincidental that the season (spring) of Israel's birth date, over seventy years ago, corresponds with the season in which the fig tree buds, puts forth green leaves and begins to develop green figs? Is it pure happenstance that spring is also the season that the bridegroom comes for His bride, as pictured in the Song of Solomon?

 

Although no one knows the "day and hour" the Lord will return, will the bridegroom arrive at some future date in the spring to whisk away His ecstatic bride to the ultimate, consummate, wedding ceremony as hinted at in the Song of Solomon? Is spring the season, before summer arrives, when the Lord will return to earth, in some future year, to set up His kingdom on earth? The Lord has not given us concrete evidence for the time of His return; however, spring is the season for new life and new beginnings, and the Lord fulfilled much of His redemption plan for mankind during the spring season. Although we do not know what time of the year the Lord will return in the air for His saints, spring, after winter but before summer, is an important season to be watching!

 

Is the Day of His Return Approaching?

 

Although no clue is given in the Scriptures concerning the precise time of the Lord's return, some believe Hebrews 10:25 implies that we will be able to see the day of His coming (the rapture) approaching:

 

"...Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is: but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching."

Knowing "the times and seasons" of the Lord's return is similar to knowing the Thanksgiving season is near when the merchants start putting up their Christmas decorations. The appearance of Christmas lights and ornaments in the marketplace several months prior to Christmas heralds the coming of the Christmas season; however, we also know the arrival of the Thanksgiving holidays is even closer than the advent of Christmas day.

 

In like manner, when we see the prophecies that will take place during "the day of the Lord" approaching and beginning to assemble themselves on the world scene, we can be confident that "the day of redemption" (rapture) (Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30; Luke 21:28; Romans 8:22-23) is even closer, and the season for the "catching away" of the 'bride of Christ" has finally arrived. Believers would not be excited to see "the day of the Lord" (judgment) approaching unless they were confident "the day of redemption" would occur before "the day of the Lord."

 

Anticipation of the approaching rapture of God's saints also seems to be implied in the book of Luke as "the day of redemption" draws near, and the generation that will usher in the kingdom of God is revealed:

 

"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled" (Luke 21:28-32).

 

A Thief in the Night

 

The Lord told His apostles, as recorded in Acts 1:6-7, that it was not for them "...to know the times or the seasons..." for the restoration of the kingdom to Israel. The mystery of "the times and seasons" of the kingdom's restoration was not for the apostles to know, but it was to be reserved for and revealed to a future generation. The timing of the rapture, also called the "blessed hope" in Titus 2:13, will be as "a thief in the night" to those not watching, but "the times and seasons" of the rapture will not be a surprise to those who are looking for His return (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6; Matthew 25:1-13; Luke 21:34-36; Rev. 3:3).

 

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:11-14).

 

Jesus told His disciples that the judgments coming on the earth would happen suddenly, like a trap that closes quickly on its prey. He predicted that many would be caught off-guard, and cautioned them not to be distracted by overindulgence, desires of the flesh and the daily cares of this life. Jesus' advice to the terminal generation living at the close of this age was to watch for "the signs of the times" pointing to His return and pray continuously that they would be "kept from the hour of Temptation" that would "come upon all the world" (Rev. 3:10).

 

"... take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man" (Luke 21:34-36).

 

Those Taken and Those Left Behind

 

When the Lord returns in the air for His saints, there will be two categories of people on the earth: the saved and unsaved; also called believers and nonbelievers. All of the nonbelievers will be caught off guard when the Lord returns for His saints "as a thief in the night." Those "left behind" will not immediately know when "the great theft" takes place, unless they see believers disappear on a TV screen or happen to be near those who are taken. Those "caught up" (raptured) will immediately know they have been removed from the earth to "stand before the Son of man" and will "escape" the coming judgments (Matt. 24:21; Luke 21:34-36; Rev. 3:10-11; Rev. 22:12-14).

 

Those "caught up" will also receive their glorified body and complete the glorification salvation process (Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Cor. 15:51-58). The raptured saints will be rewarded for their faithfulness and will receive a "crown of righteousness" given to "all...that love his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8). On the other hand, there are many nonbelievers who are "scoffers" that mock and make fun of those who are watching the gathering signs of the Lord's return. Even among believers, there are some "not watching" but "scoffing" (2 Peter 3:3-18; Jude 14-19).

 

Professing believers, who are "not watching," may be going to church, but they are "spiritually asleep" and not following the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:26-28). They are in love with this world and the things of this world and don't realize they have deceived themselves. We are to be "doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving our own selves" (James 1:21-22). If your focus is on the "world" and "the things in the world," the scriptures boldly and bluntly state that the love of God is not in you.

 

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever" (1 John 2:15-17).

 

What are Your Priorities in Life?

 

People many times set priorities early in their life that include education, sports, recreation and leisure time. As we get older and more mature, our goals may become more focused on higher education, career goals and technical skills that help us become productive members of society. At some point, hopefully earlier rather than later, we should establish spiritual priorities and cultivate a relationship with God, the creator and sustainer of all things.

 

"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things...for in him we live, and move, and have our being..." (Acts 17:24-28).

If you have developed a relationship with the God of the Bible, your focus should not only be on the current world we live in but also on the world to come. In fact, as we serve the Lord on the earth in our career and through some ministry He has given us, our main focus should be on making preparations for our Heavenly home.

 

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory" (Colossians 3:1-3).

 

That is why Jesus and His disciples exhorted the saints over a dozen times to "watch" for the signs of his return and commanded them to be "ready" when the "son of man cometh." If you are not watching for the return of the Lord, you are ignoring Christ's commandments and will miss out on many rewards and crowns. Apparently, some of the members of the church in Sardis were professors of salvation rather than possessors of salvation, so Jesus told them to "be watchful...and repent." Jesus then warned the church in Sardis: "If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee" (Rev. 3:2-3).

 

Conversely, Jesus commended the church in Philadelphia because they had "kept my word" and had not "denied my name." Jesus informed the church in Philadelphia:

"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown" (Rev. 3:8, 10-11).

 

Charles H. Spurgeon, famous pastor (1834-1892) of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, described the spiritual mindset that should be present in those who are seriously watching for the Lord's return:

 

"While I am at work, my Master may come. Before I get weary, my Master may return. While others are mocking at me, my Master may appear; and whether they mock or applaud, is nothing to me, I live before the great Task-master's eye, and do my service knowing that He sees me, and expecting that by-and-by He will reveal Himself to me, and then He will reveal me and my right intention to misrepresenting men. May the Lord keep you waiting, working, watching..." 1

 

In the Twinkling of an Eye

 

When the time of His coming arrives, "...the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words" (1 Thess. 4:16-18).

 

After laying out the events of the resurrection and rapture, the Apostle Paul states boldly that his brothers in Christ were not in darkness, and the day of the Lord would not include them (children of light and the day) as it would the nonbelievers (children of the night and darkness), who would be overtaken as a thief in the night. Rather, Paul's brothers in Christ were told to be spiritually awake and to watch and be sober, while continuing to grow in faith and love, knowing they had the hope of salvation.

 

"But of the times and the seasons [of the resurrection and rapture], brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you...But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day [the day of the Lord] should overtake you as a thief ([they would not be part of the day of the Lord]. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober...For God hath not appointed us to wrath [during the day of the Lord], but to obtain salvation [be caught up] by our Lord Jesus Christ...Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do" (1 Thess. 5:1-11).

 

Paul told his brethren to be comforted and to comfort one another concerning both "the day of redemption" (rapture) and "the day of the Lord" (judgment). Being comforted and comforting others, knowing "the day of the Lord" was coming, would only make sense if they (Paul's listeners) knew they were going to be "caught up" (raptured) before "the day of the Lord," and they were confident and assured they would escape God's wrath that would be poured out during "the day of the Lord" (Luke 21:34-36; Rev. 3:10).

 

That is exactly the scenario set forth by the Apostle Paul (1 Thess. 4:13-5:11), with the "resurrection" and "catching up" of the saints preceding "the day of the Lord," and both events surprising those left behind as "a thief in the night" (Matthew 24:43-44; Rev. 3:3, 16:15; 1 Thess. 5:2, 4; 2 Peter 3:10). The description given by the Apostle Paul is also the order of events that seem to be emerging today, with the leaders of the future Gog and Magog war (Russia, Iran and Turkey) meeting regularly, and the leaders of the Israel/Palestinian peace process (U.S. and other nations) using the prophesied code words "peace and security" in their speeches and formal documents (Ezekiel 38:1-39:29; 1 Thess. 5:1-3).

 

Prophecies that will take place during "the day of the Lord" are beginning to assemble themselves on the world stage and cast their shadows backward into today's news headlines. As the day of our redemption draws near, each of us should be asking ourselves: Am I "watching" for the Lord's return, and will I "be ready" when He returns "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump?" (Luke 21:34-36; 1 Cor. 15:52; Rev. 3:3).

 

Those who are wise in the prophetic scriptures (Dan. 12:9-10) know the evidence is overwhelming that we are living in "the times and seasons" of the Lord's return. Whatever your priorities may be, make sure you are ready to go (Luke 21:34-36; Rev. 3:3) and not one of those who will be left behind (John 3:16-18; Romans 10:9-13; James 4:7-10). Don't wait until tomorrow to take care of your eternal destiny (Prov. 27:1; James 4:13-15). Eternity is way too long to be wrong. Make your reservation for Heaven today!

 

.........................

1) The Second Coming of Christ, Charles H. Spurgeon, Chicago, Illinois: Fleming H. Revell Company, Moody Press, 1896, 117, 118

What Shall Be the End of These Things (Part 2)

What Shall Be the End of These Things (Part 2)

- by Pastor Mike Taylor - https://pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com/2020/05/what-will-end-of-these-things-be-part-2.html

 

43, "And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

44, And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. " (Daniel 2:43-44)

 

11,"And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

12, Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.

13, But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days. " (Daniel 12:11-13)

 

5,"And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

6, And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

7, And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.

8, The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is." (Revelation 17:5-8)

 

This is part 2 of a series dealing what is coming upon the earth in the form of the false prophet supporting the coming Anti-Christ. A class of people may not approve of the message, but history shows what has been and what will be according to your Bible...Daniel and Revelation prophecy what is written.

 

As we studied the end of Daniel's book in chapter 10-12 in our last message, we explored the possible rise again of the "Holy" Roman Empire after it's defeat in 1798 and the Pope was imprisoned coinciding with the Catholic Church's influence over the whole earth dwindled and she changed her leopard spots and instead of a wolf, began to project the image of being harmless as a lamb. But times are changing in these final days of man's rule upon the earth and I believe the connection between Daniel and Revelation points to a resurgence of the political power wielded by Rome during the Dark Ages.

 

DANIEL'S INTERPRETATION REVISITED

 

In Daniel chapter 2, Daniel is given the interpretation of King Nebachadnezzer's dream of a golden idol and the true God in heaven reveals the kingdoms that will arise after Mystery Babylon is replaced as the world power. Then at the end of the book, Gabriel the ark angel reveals the future of these kingdoms, their rise and their fall. Daniel was astonished and said:

 

" And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?

9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." (Daniel 12:8-10).

 

It was not for Daniel to know, as the future was forward some 500+ years before part of the vision was fulfilled, but another 2000 years to come to our time...our time of the end, when the prophecy is set to be completed.

 

The two books of prophecy in Daniel and Revelation have given many scholars trouble understanding and the average Joe on the street steers clear of prophecy to his detriment, as " the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of the prophecy." (Revelation 19:10b)

 

Let us now examine certain aspects of Daniel and the book of Revelation to show how they are forever connected with one another, as they speak of the same events in different ways.

 

In Daniel 2:43, the Word of God says that the seed of men will mingle:

 

"And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay."

 

The great obscurity of this verse is partially cleared by a reference to Jeremiah 31:27-28:

 

27 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.

28 And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the Lord."

 

To my understanding, this is the political power that governs the world being mingled with "apostate religions" that I have coined the title "Chrislam" or the joining of all religions into a one world religion, with Islam and apostate Christianity at its center. They will be loosely connected for nothing else but political and religious power upon the earth.

 

Daniel appears to be contrasting what man is endeavouring to accomplish by his own efforts with that which the God of heaven will carry out :

 

44 "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever."(Daniel 2:44)

 

IN the past, man has formed his plans for uniting the discordant parts of this empire, by encouraging marriages between the royal families that rule the various component kingdoms. The allusion in this verse is to matrimonial alliances contracted between the Ptolemies and the Seleucidae :

 

6 "And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times." And in another chapter in Daniel:

 

17 "He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him". (Daniel 11:6; Daniel 11:17),

 

This did not, however, succeed in producing permanent harmony or union between them. Each kingdom fell until the Roman Empire became the strongest, "like iron that breaks" until they imploded from within and the kingdom was given over to Papal rule instead of pagan rule, which is a contradiction in terms, as both were just the flip side of the same coin. We discussed this in our last message, but let us move on when the truth is revealed in Revelation when it was obscure in Daniel's time.

 

REVELATION, REVEALING PROPHECY IN JESUS CHRIST

 

The testimony of Christ, a testimony of the most solemn character, is to be borne to the world. All through the book of Revelation there are the most precious, elevating promises, and there are also warnings of the most fearfully solemn import. Will not those who profess to have a knowledge of the truth read the testimony given to John by Christ? Here there is no guesswork, no scientific deception. Here are the truths that concern our present and future welfare.

 

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

 

2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand." (Revelation 1:1-3)

 

Beginning with chapter 1 of Revelation with the description of the One who stood among the seven golden candle sticks, with seven stars in His hand that represented the seven Asian Churches at the time, and the future which represents the time period of the Christian Church until the return of Christ. Thus there are three applications that can be made.

 

-The first is the literal letter to the literal Church

-the second is the application showing the time period of the Christian Church until the return of Christ,

-and lastly certain aspects we find in these messages apply to the condition of our own Christian experience.

 

This is a vision that was given to John by Jesus Christ Himself, as He spoke to John as the sound of a trumpet. Each successive period of church history shows that down through the ages, the church of Jesus Christ has had 7 periods in church history that Jesus reveals to John with the last being the church of the end times, the Laodecian Church of luke warm believers that have fallen into apostasy and will be cast headlong into the Tribulation.

 

COME UP HITHER

 

The book of Revelation makes a defined shift after chapter 3 leading into chapter 4, as John is called by the sound of trumpet calling:

 

"After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show you things which must be hereafter.

2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald." (Revelation 4:1-3)

 

This is a different vision given to John and they run concurrently, as God reveals the opening of the 7 seals of judgment upon the earth. Notice one of the first thing John sees after the description of "One who sat upon the throne" is 24 elders sitting on their respective thrones. Many people have tried to imply and to interpret who these elders are. First let us look at their descriptions:

 

"And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold." (Revelation 4:4)

 

Note that they are clothed in white raiment which stands for righteousness which is defined in chp. 19 of Revelation in describing the bride of Christ, and the armies who come back with Jesus to reign and rule. So they are clothed with the righteousness of Christ and a crown of victory. They have been in warfare with sin and overcome. (sin is only upon this earth) They are seen in heaven before the sequence of the seals begins and have been redeemed from among men. They have crowns of gold on their heads, which represents rewards for service. This is none other than the crown of life or crown of righteousness that the Lord gives to those that have endured temptation and have fought the good fight of faith, finishing their course and have overcome.

 

Since they can't be angels, as angels are in service to those of the redeemed, the Church, then the vision shows redeemed mortal men saved by the blood of the Lamb. They have received rewards, they are seated, as they have received victory over their struggles with evil. The rewards of service to God Almighty comes only in one time period..the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ to receive rewards for things done for Christ in this life. They are a multiple of the number 12, as the number 12 is the divine sign of government. The only explanation is that this is the Church, redeemed from the earth and taken to heaven just before the wrath of God is poured out upon the earth.

 

"10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."(1st Corinthians 3:10-15)

 

Another false doctrine spewed by the Gnostic Church of the dark ages, was this passage spoke of "purgatory", which was nothing but a scam to gather riches in giving out prayers of indulgences to "so-called" pray these folks out of torments for minimal sins, (Venial Sins). This is what Paul spoke of as a reward ceremony for work done for the Kingdom of God and built upon the solid Rock, which is the foundation of the church, Jesus Christ. All work done for ourselves, will be burned up, BUT those done for Christ that have produced results will command a reward for service....even if a man's or woman's works are all burned up, save Jesus Christ in his heart, as a deposit of future glorification, he will received a reward of righteousness, and eternal life, even passing through the fire of revealing what sort of work it is.

But I point to a passage that says those who have that deposit of God's Holy Spirit will NOT be subject to what is coming upon the earth.

 

Remember what Jesus said in chapter 3 of this book:

 

"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." (Revelation 3:10)

 

The original Greek tells us that Jesus is saying we will be taken out of this time period, not through as some erroneously believe. Because the phrase "will keep thee from, is the Greek word 'EK" which I have preached many times, which literally means "to be taken out by force from the time and place of the event" What event is Jesus speaking of...yes, the coming Tribulation that will engulf the whole world.

 

Then in Chapter 6 of this Revelation, it is reveals the plagues that come upon the earth, starting with the four horseman of the Apocalypse.

 

As Daniel saw in vision the rise of a great beast out of the sea and described in terrible ferocity, so too does Revelation speak of this beast that comes, but first God describes him as a rider on a white horse, with a bow in his hands.

 

"And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer." (Revelation 6:2)

 

The man has a bow, but no arrows. He rides a white horse, which is a false sign of purity and righteousness. He goes to conquer, but with words of flattery, words of deceit, and political power given to him by other nations as their supreme leader. He has a crown, but unlike the King of kings, his crown is a crown of conquest and victory, much like the victor's crown of leaves given to Roman athletes in the Colosseum.

 

We are reintroduced to this man, which is described as a beast power, ridden and controlled by a "harlot woman" in chapter 17 noted in the opening verses of this message:

 

6, "And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

7, And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.

8, The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is." (Revelation 17:5-8)

 

I've spoken of this in past messages, that the woman is a harlot. In scripture, the sign of a harlot woman is a sign of a religious organization that has prostituted itself to false gods, and doctrines of demons and devils. Greek porne - Meaning "prostitute," "harlot." Porne probably goes back to a word meaning "to sell" or "to export for sale" such things as slaves. In Greece prostitutes were usually purchased slaves. The Old Testament prophets often compare apostate Israel, which repeatedly went "a whoring" after heathen gods, (Ezekiel 23:30; Isaiah 23:17; Ezekiel 16:15) with an adulterous woman. Concerning mystical Babylon as a harlot (Revelation 19:2) For Old Testament passages whose thought or wording is similar to that of chapter 17, see Isaiah 47:1; Jeremiah 25:12; 50:1; Ezekiel 26:13.

 

She has slain millions upon million of the innocent down through the ages and is drunk with their blood.

 

She has a sign of her habitation of sitteth upon many waters. Exercising power over many "peoples" and "nations." (see verse 15) The form of the verb in Greek presents the "great whore" as in power at the time and as continuing to exercise power. As the ancient city of Babylon was situated upon the literal waters of the Euphrates (see Jeremiah 50:12, 38) and dwelt figuratively "upon many waters" or peoples, (Jeremiah 51:12-13; cf. Isaiah 8:7-8; 14:6; Jeremiah 50:23) so modern Babylon is represented as sitting upon or oppressing the peoples of earth.

 

12 "And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.

13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.(Revelation 16:12-15)

 

This whore in but a metamorphosis of ancient Babylon who received power from the imploding Roman Empire and instead of Caesar became the leader of a pagan religion. But look again at the end of verse 8 of the above passage in chapter 17: "the beast that was, and is not, and yet is."

 

Who have we revealed as the persecutor and tormentor of millions of non-compliant Christians and Jews throughout the Dark Ages? Who has robes of scarlet and purple, pearls and costly jewels? Who was defeated in 1798 by France and "that was, and is not, yet is" ?

 

There is only one institution that fulfills every aspect of this description that seeks a return of her former glory and sadly, my Catholic friends, it is the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy headed by the Pope of Rome. I take no pleasure in warning of this "religion",but even as much as I would warn of Islam and it's "religion", because people follow a creation, and institution, a man-made parallel to worshiping God in vain and both, if a person is not careful, will lead those people to hell. Both proclaim a different way to God instead of the true way through Jesus Christ. This present "Pope" has clearly stated that there are alternative ways to heaven. "Just be good" is what he says giving a pass to atheist (denying that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life) or not taking a stand on Romans 1 that God calls homosexuality an abomination, but says "who am I to judge?" He even gives a pass to Muslims who "worship" a false god saying "we all worship the same God" (NO, we do not), and any other aberration to the Truth of God's Word. Thus the head of this "religion" denies that Jesus is the Only Way back to God the Father.

 

Jesus calls this institution, "a beast" which represents kingdoms or political powers. (Daniel 7:3-7, 17; 8:3, 5, 20-21; cf. Revelation 12:3; 13:1) The color of this beast no doubt representing a sinful kingdom, not just sinful but one that thought to change the law of God.

 

25 "And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints (Tribulation saints, my explanation) of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time." (Daniel 7:25)

 

The names of blasphemy with which it is covered indicate that it stands in opposition to God. Accordingly, the beast itself may be identified as Satan working through those political agencies in all ages that have submitted to her control.

 

In certain respects this beast resembles the great red dragon of Revelation 12:3, and in others the leopard like beast of Revelation 13:1-2 . The context makes the latter relationship appear to be closer. The chief difference between the beast of chapter 13 and that of chapter 17 is that in the former, which is identified with the papacy, no distinction is made between the religious and the political aspects of Papal power, whereas in the latter the two are distinct. The beast representing political power and the woman a religious power.

 

ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT AND ONE WORLD RELIGION

 

I have covered this before, but for this message, I will briefly touch on it again. The United Nations coupled with the USA and the rest of the world are pushing for a complete and total control of every aspect of human life and endeavor by the year 2030. Agenda 21 introduced in the 1990's has morphed into 'SUBSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT" and their aim is a one world government. Stage right, the pope in Rome advocating the implementation of this nefarious scheme for complete control of planet earth. And it is reported that he has commanded that this be taught in every parish that he controls through his priest. Some will scoff, but coupled with the foolish notion of "climate change" the earth dwellers are being primed for tyranny and a one world government. What better way to unite the world, than to unite them in the same religious authority. "Which was, and is not, but is" and will rise again. She has inherited and proclaimed the abominations of ancient Babylon:

 

Seduction. By seducing the kings of the earth into illicit union with her, in order to further her own sinister designs.

Oppressive despotism. By sitting upon "many waters" and oppressing the people of earth. '

 

Contributing to human delinquency. By making the people of earth except for the saints, drunk with the wine of her political policy thus causing them to become her accomplices in her evil plot. By her fornication, she "did corrupt the earth" (Revelation 19:2)

Drunkeness. By being "drunken with the blood of the saints, who had offended her by refusing to drink of her evil potion of error or to submit to her ambition to rule the earth.

Murder and attempted murder. By plotting the murder of God's people, the "woman" of chapter 12. This political/religious organization has been anti-semitic from her inception and has attempted to destroy the Jewish nation, even through Nazi Germany of which she was in bed with.

 

Note in the verses, that she rides the beast and controls him though from the beast perspective, reluctantly. She guides it's policy. The beast representing political power and the "harlot woman" the spiritual power of the last days found in the Tribulation and the Great Tribulation. But who controls this beast of Revelation...the Catholic church is but a tool of the supreme deceiver who will arise out of the bottomless pit. But when the "beast" is done with the uniting the known world through apostate religion, he, the Anti-Christ, will destroy her....why? Because the Anti-Christ which is possessed of Satan will both desire worship, as Satan has from the time of his fall from heaven when pride entered into him and he became corrupted.

 

When the beast exists again as "the eighth," "they that dwell on the earth shall wonder whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world when they behold the beast." Remember the analogy of the sixth pope stepping down to take the helm of the European Union and then taking it up again from the seventh who will become the false prophet, until the beast "will burn her (this false religion) with fire and eat her flesh". (For a refresher course, if you have not read part 1. then see my blog and read how the 8th pope comes into existence.)

 

A very similar statement is made in Revelation 13:3, 8 on the world's attitude toward the beast of that chapter when its deadly wound is healed:

 

"All the world wondered after the beast ... And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

 

If chapter 13 refers to the same event as Revelation 17:8, it means the statement "his deadly wound was healed" (Revelation 13:3) is equivalent to the expression "shall ascend out of the bottomless pit." (Revelation 17:8; Revelation 20:3, 7) In a similar way the words "did live" (Revelation 13:14) would be equivalent to the expressions "yet is" and "he is the eighth." (Revelation 17:8, 11) The wounding of the head, (Revelation 13:3) the going "into captivity" and "the wound by a sword" (Revelation 13:10, 14) would have their counterpart in the implied descent of the "beast" into the "bottomless pit." (Revelation 17:8) And "death" (Revelation 13:3) would be equivalent to the "bottomless pit" phase of the experience of the beast. The similarities noted here tend to identify the seventh head of the beast as the Papal head. If there be any doubt, then I invite you to take these scriptures passages and read them for yourself and then decide who the description fits and who is pandering to the whole religious world telling them to "Come home to the mother church" .

 

DANIEL AND REVELATION IN PARALLEL

 

My reader, the book of Daniel was a prophecy of what was to come upon the earth, but history has proven it to be correct. Daniel was not given the details of how this would come to pass, so it was hidden from view until the events actually happened.

 

Revelation in comparison is written to "reveal" what Daniel wrote when that prophecy was given to him by the angel Gabriel from our ABBA Father God in heaven. Jesus came to flesh out the events and they are not obscure if you study them closely and compare them to other prophets in your bible...History is fast becoming completed in our modern times and all we wait for it the signs that point to the coming of a one world government and the installing of it's one world religion...already, the world is promoting a cashless society in different parts of the world into digital cash to monitor every transaction on earth. For one reason, and one reason only is control of the masses of the earth. That is what the coming Anti-Christ will demand, utter and complete control.

 

I'm a firm proponent that the church, the true Church of Jesus Christ, washed in His precious blood which is not an institution, a building, (but members of His own body as individuals one at a time upon receiving grace and mercy through faith in the atonement paid for on Calvary's cross), will never see the actual in the flesh Anti-Christ, but if we see the stage being set for his revealing, how much closer is the Lord Jesus coming for His people, the Bride of Christ? That much closer everyday. The signs are all around us, from the Middle East, to Israel, to the USA, to the United Nations, and yes, even to this pope.

 

6 "And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2nd Thessalonians 2:6-12)

 

I pray for family members who have been seduced into this false religion who have come full circle from a Christian home, into atheism, then the occult, Wiccan, and finally becoming an agnostic only to succumb to the Satanic lie disguised as the "rock that Jesus would build His Church on"...that Rock is Christ, not some religious organization headed by a "vicar of Christ", but try telling that to a convinced and converted Catholic. (the strongest kind that are blindly convinced of their piety by being members of this cult). If you have come out of this harlot church, then praise God for His mercy. If you see yourself in any of this, or still being influenced by the idolatrous doctrines spewed by your priest, your bishop, or even this pope or any pope, then I pray you will look behind the curtain that hides their abominations by looking at their history and their hypocrisy...I pray for my family members daily that their lives are sold out to the real Jesus, not the Catholic Jesus who they insult with their false doctrines and blasphemy.

 

Remember my friend, the Catholic church is not the way of salvation....Jesus is the way:

 

"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man cometh to the Father, but by Me.." (John 14:6)

 

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:16-18)

 

8 "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:8-13)

 

I know I have briefly described what will be coming upon this earth, when Jesus comes for His bride, as a thief in the night, but if you will see what I speak of and believe in your heart the two passages above and repent of the way you have lived, even if it a moral life, but devoid of Jesus Christ as Savior...then you WON'T see any of the horrific fulfillment of prophecy that Daniel and Revelation paint a most hellish time on this earth, that Jesus said:

 

"21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." (Matthew 24:21-22)

 

I pray earnestly that you will make that decision for Jesus Christ and become a child of God with a deposit of His Holy Spirit which is the guarantee of our future glorification, even as Jesus was glorified, which Romans describes our future family with ABBA Father as the head of the Family of God.

 

"16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God." (Romans 8:16-19)

 

And what if we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ? What has Jesus got that we will share in?? Everything that is pure, righteous and holy....we will be immortal and live for eternity in the presence of our God, and our Lord and Savior. The opposite is even truer....those who reject the calling of God's Holy Spirit will experience torment instead of joy, peace, love, holiness, and life, instead they will be given eternal death.

 

"27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out." (Luke 13:27-28)

 

9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness," (2nd Peter 3:9-11)

 

This is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying you escape the apostasy that will fill the earth in the coming Tribulation. If you need counseling, prayer, or just a listening ear, email me at pastormiketaylor@yahoo.com , . God bless all.

 

TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET