EZEKIEL’S PROPHECY – THE INVASION OF UKRAINE – God Will Strengthen

“Russia invades Ukraine in Europe’s ‘darkest hours’ since World War II”

IS THIS THE SPARK?

Headline, Reuters:

KYIV/MARIUPOL, Ukraine, Feb 24 (Reuters) – “Russian forces invaded Ukraine on Thursday in a massed assault by land, sea and air, the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since World War Two.

“Missiles rained down on Ukrainian cities. Ukraine reported columns of troops pouring across its borders from Russia and Belarus, and landing on the coast from the Black and Azov seas.”

This headline could have read, “The forces of God and Magog invaded Scythia on Thursday in a massive assault by land in an apparent attempt to rebuild the empire.”

HEADLINE UPDATE:  Ukraine and Russia in prophecy – the beginning of the end?

Putin issues nuclear warning, as Russia’s assault on Ukraine hits second year. , Fox News,

With the nuclear card in his back pocket, Russian President Vladimir Putin believes Russia will out-suffer and outlast its adversary as Friday marks the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. ( Click here on HEADLINE UPDATE above)

The Book of Ezekiel is a prophecy about the end of days, filled with bizarre visions and puzzling revelations. There have been precursor events, foreshadowing events to the final fulfillment of this prophecy. There is much speculation about the meaning and the fulfillment of the words of Ezekiel, but there has never, in all of history, been a convergence and a concurrence of  both historical and prophetic events as we see them now.

Is this the early preparation for the final dramatic act of The End of the Age?

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 38:1, “Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, verse 2, “Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, verse 3, and say, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “Behold, I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Verse 4. So I will turn you around and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them magnificently dressed, a great contingent with shield and buckler, all of them wielding swords; Verse 5. Persia, Cush, and Put with them, all of them with buckler and helmet; Verse 6. Gomer with all its troops; Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops, many peoples with you.”

Theme

Ezekiel the priest, assures his fellow Jews, through this prophecy, that God will one day, (FIRST), return them to Jerusalem, and (SECONDLY), restore the temple. The Jews were restored to Israel in 1948. The temple is yet to be rebuilt, but that day is drawing near.

Beneath the surface and you’ll find timeless lessons about God and his relationship with you:

  • He’d rather forgive you than judge you.
  • He remains faithful even if you don’t remain faithful.
  • He can use anything, even something bad, to accomplish his greater good.

Ezekiel wrote this book to the Israelites living in exile. They needed to know that the God of Israel was God even in pagan Babylon. Ezekiel warned the people that their idolatry would be judged. Later, after Jerusalem’s destruction, he wrote to encourage them that God would bring them back to Judah and Jerusalem. (excerpt from Biblegateway.com).

Author:  Ezekiel

Timeline:  Between 593–571 BC.

Genre:  Allegory; Autobiography; Narrative; Oracles; Poetry; Prophecy

Origina Language:  Hebrew

Audience: Jews who were taken captive to Babylonia in 597 BC.

WHO ARE THE ‘PLAYERS’?

GogGog and Magog appear in the Hebrew Bible and the Quran as individuals, tribes, or lands. In Ezekiel 38, Gog is an individual and Magog is his land; in Genesis 10, Magog is a man and eponymous ancestor of a nation, but no Gog is mentioned; and centuries later Jewish tradition changed Ezekiel’s “Gog from Magog” into “Gog and Magog”.

The Gog prophecy is meant to be fulfilled at the approach of what is called the “end of days“, but not necessarily the end of the world.

Jewish eschatology viewed Gog and Magog as enemies to be defeated by the Messiah, which would usher in the age of the Messiah.

Christianity‘s interpretation is more starkly apocalyptic: making Gog and Magog, nations rather than individuals, allies of Satan, aligned against God at the end of the millennium, as described in the Book of Revelation.

Meshech, Tubal:  Meshech (also spelled Meshek) and Tubal were sons of Japheth, one of the three sons of Noah who survived the flood with him (Genesis 10:1–2). Meshech (whose name means “long, tall, or drawn out by force”) is the sixth son of Japheth. The land of Meshech is closely associated with that of Tubal, especially in a prophecy of Ezekiel. The region of Meshech is often identified as being north of the Black Sea (southern Russia and Ukraine and possibly the Republic of Georgia), and Tubal as an area in central Turkey.

The land of Meshech is used in Psalm 120:5 as a generic reference to barbarous regions where “those who hate peace” live (verse 6). The lands where Meshech’s and Tubal’s descendants settled figure significantly in some prophecies of Ezekiel, and it is in that book where they are mentioned most. In the prophecy of Ezekiel 38, Meshech and Tubal are ruled by Gog, a prince over those territories: “The word of the LORD came to me: ‘Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, “Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal”’” (Ezekiel 38:1–3). Ezekiel repeats God’s words of judgment against the descendants of the two sons of Japheth when he prophesies that God will defeat them in a war against Israel (Ezekiel 39:1–5).

Many biblical scholars equate the land of Gog in Ezekiel’s prophecies with Russia, who will attack Israel “from the far north” (Ezekiel 38:15). Meshech and Tubal could be two of the “many nations” joining Russia in their invasion of Israel (verse 6).

The advance of the alliance involving Meshech and Tubal will be like “a cloud covering the land” (Ezekiel 38:9). Some commentators believe this war, often called the Battle of Gog and Magog, will be one of the events leading up to the end-times’ tribulation. Others believe it will occur close to the midpoint of the tribulation, since Israel will feel secure at the time, “dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates” (verse 11).

God will defeat this powerful alliance (Ezekiel 38:22) to reveal His greatness to all the world (verse 23) and restore the people of Israel to a right relationship with Himself (Ezekiel 39:21–29). Meshech and Tubal, despite the strength of their numbers and help of their allies, will fall. (GotQuestions.org)

Cush: The Kingdom of Kush; Assyrian: was an ancient kingdom in Nubia, centered along the Nile Valley in what is now northern Sudan and southern Egypt.

Put – Phut or Put is the third son of Ham (one of the sons of Noah), in the biblical Table of Nations (Genesis 10:6; 1 Chronicles 1:8). The name Put (or Phut) is used in the Bible for Ancient Libya, but a few scholars proposed the Land of Punt known from Ancient Egyptian annals.

Gomer: The Hebrew name Gomer refers to the Cimmerians, who dwelt in what is now southern Russia, “beyond the Caucusus”, and attacked Assyria in the late 7th century BC.

Beth-togarmah: Togarmah is a figure in the “table of nations” in Genesis 10, the list of descendants of Noah that represents the peoples known to the ancient Hebrews. Togarmah is among the descendants of Japheth and is thought to represent some people located in Anatolia. Medieval sources claimed that Togarmah was the legendary ancestor of several peoples of the Caucasus -including Armenians and Georgians.

The Prophecy against Gog – Future Invaders Destroyed

Ezekiel 39:1 “And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “Behold, I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; verse 2, and I will turn you around, lead you on a rope, take you up from the remotest parts of the north, and bring you against the mountains of Israel. Verse 3. Then I will strike your bow from your left hand and make your arrows fall from your right hand. Verse 4. You will fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops, and the peoples who are with you; I will give you as food to every kind of predatory bird and animal of the field. Verse 5. You will fall on the open field; for it is I who have spoken,” declares the Lord GOD. Verse 6. “And I will send fire upon Magog and those who inhabit the coastlands in safety; and they will know that I am the LORD.

Verse 7. “And I will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel; and I will not allow My holy name to be profaned anymore. But the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. Verse 8. Behold, it is coming and it shall be done,” declares the Lord GOD. “That is the day of which I have spoken.

Verse 9. “Then those who inhabit the cities of Israel will go out and make fires with the weapons and burn them, both bucklers and shields, bows and arrows, war clubs and spears, and for seven years they will make fires of them. Verse 10. They will not take wood from the field or gather firewood from the forests, because they will make fires with the weapons; and they will take the spoils of those who plundered them and seize the plunder of those who plundered them,” declares the Lord GOD.

Verse 11. “On that day I will give Gog a burial place there in Israel, the valley of those who pass by east of the sea, and it will block the way of those who would pass by. So they will bury Gog there with all his horde, and they will call it the Valley of Hamon-gog. Verse 12. For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them in order to cleanse the land. Verse 13. And all the people of the land will bury them; and it will be to their renown on the day that I appear in My glory,” declares the Lord GOD. Verse 14. “They will also select men who will constantly pass through the land, burying those who were passing through, those left on the surface of the ground, in order to cleanse it. At the end of seven months they will conduct a search. Verse 15. As those who pass through the land pass through and anyone sees a human bone, then he will set up a marker by it until the burial detail has buried it in the Valley of Hamon-gog. Verse 16. And even the name of the city will be Hamonah. So they will cleanse the land.”’

Verse 17.“Now as for you, son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Say to every kind of bird and to every animal of the field: “Assemble and come, gather from every direction to My sacrifice, which I am going to sacrifice for you as a great sacrifice on the mountains of Israel; and you will eat flesh and drink blood. Verse 18. You will eat the flesh of warriors and drink the blood of the leaders of the earth, as though they were rams, lambs, goats, and bulls, all of them fattened livestock of Bashan. Verse 19. So you will eat fat until you are full, and drink blood until you are drunk,  from My sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you. Verse 20. You will eat your fill at My table with horses and charioteers, with warriors and all the men of war,” declares the Lord GOD.

Verse 21. “And I will place My glory among the nations; and all the nations will see My judgment which I have executed, and My hand which I have laid on them. Verse 22. And the house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God, from that day onward. Verse 23. The nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile for their wrongdoing, because they were disloyal to Me, and I hid My face from them; so I handed them over to their adversaries, and all of them fell by the sword. Verse 24. In accordance with their uncleanness and their offenses I dealt with them, and I hid My face from them.”’”

Future Israel Restored

Verse 25. Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: “Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on all the house of Israel; and I will be jealous for My holy name. Verse 26. They will forget their disgrace and all their treachery which they perpetrated against Me, when they live securely on their own land with no one to make them afraid. Verse 27. When I bring them back from the peoples and gather them from the lands of their enemies, then I shall show Myself holy through them in the sight of the many nations. Verse 28. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God because I made them go into exile among the nations, and then I gathered them again to their own land; and I will leave none of them there any longer. Verse 29. I will not hide My face from them any longer, for I will have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel,” declares the Lord GOD.

NOT YET THE END

Ezekiel was written between 593–571 B.C., about 2,600 years ago and refers to a climatic battle between God and the forces of evil, as recorded in the book of Revelation. The word, “Armageddon” ultimately comes from the Hebrew word Har-Magedone, which means “Mount Megiddo,” the predicted location of the battle.

the Battle of Armageddon will be a real battle in the future, near the end of the tribulation. Demonic influences will cause the kings of the earth to gather their armies for an all-out assault on Jerusalem. The Antichrist will be leading the charge (Revelation 16:13–16). Jesus Christ will return to earth with the armies of heaven (Matthew 25:31; Revelation 19:14); His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4); He will defeat the forces of evil (Revelation 19:15–16); He will cast the Antichrist and the false prophet into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20); He will bind Satan; and He will set up His kingdom on earth for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1–6). At Armageddon the Lord Jesus Christ “treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty” (Revelation 16:19), and all things will be made right.

The placement of the future and final battle of Armageddon, as foretold in the book of Ezekiel and as described in greater detail in the 16th chapter of the Book of the Revelation, will occur after the pouring out of the 7th Tribulation Bowl of Wrath – at the end of the Great Tribulation period.

WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT?

We are now, by all accounts and appearances, experiencing the breaking of the 5th Tribulation Seal.

1. There are those who will be martyred during this 5th Seal. (Revelation 6:9-11)

2. The Day of The Lord will not come unless the apostasy comes first. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).

3. The Day of The Lord will not come until the man of lawlessness is revealed and he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).

We are on the precipice of the 6th Triblation Seal. We will mericifully be taken from the earth at or before the end of the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal and before the breaking of the 7th Tribulation seal.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU?

First, you must be prepared for what is upon you. It is my desire to keep this short and to the point:

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Secondly, you can take heart. The Lord Jesus will take His Own from the earth to dwell with Him in His Father’s House.  He will wipe away every tear from your eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. (Revelation 21:4)

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Here is an excellent video teaching on the History of Ukraine and Russia and Eastern Europe, leading to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia:

More Important Prohetic Events:

WHEN DOES THE 7 YEARS OF GREAT TRIBULATION BEGIN?

WHEN DID THE TRIBULATION BEGIN?

THE JOURNEY TO PERFECTION

IT IS TIME TO GRID UP

(You can listen to this by audio and pause the audio to follow important page links for greater detail on this teaching; then, resume the audio when you are ready. Please note that I use page links in lieu of footnotes and references.)

An Urgent Message of Hope and Encouragement

GIRD UP – (From Strong’s Bible Concordance): encompass, equip, prepare for confrontation or for war, as in to gird oneself “tighten the belt and tuck up loose garments to free the body in preparation for a task or journey.” To jeer at.

Our world is quickly descending into a dark and evil chaos; the call for wars and rumors of wars is escalating and the ability to wage devastating and destructive wars and to end all life on earth has never been greater. There is an increase in earthquakes, famines and diseases. Evil is being called as good, and good evil; We substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; We substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! We have become wise in our own eyes and clever in our own sight! And, it is not just the world-at-large, but the postmodern church has fallen into a great and terrible state of apostasy.

God told Job, in response  his lament, “Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask you, and you instruct Me.” (This was God-sized sarcasm at its best.)

Job had begun to listen to his wife and friends assessment of his maladies, diseases and torment. They said his situation was his own fault because of something he had done wrong. They said God was angry with him. They were wrong on so many levels.

Can the same be said about the Christian Church at large? Have we been listening to the “religious-know-it-alls”, and the hirelings, for much too long now, these religious people ‘who tithe mint and dill and cummin but neglect the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness’?  Have they influenced our thinking so that we too are complaining, finding our own reasons for suffering under a greater spiritual malaise? Have we allowed ourselves to become self indulgent, self righteous and lazy toward the things of God, taking on a form of Godliness which lacks power?

Job had begun to obsess over the possibility that his children had sinned and cursed God, ‘so Job did continually’! This gave Satan an open door into Job’s life. Have we, like Job, become overly zealous with instructing God, thereby opened a door for Satan into our lives?

Are we living in fear, obsessing and telling God about the sins of others, about what we need to happen rather than humbling ourselves, and praying and seeking God, turning from our wicked ways, so God will hear from heaven, and will forgive our sin and heal our land?

Soon after considering his error, Job lamented that “the very thing I have feared has come upon me”. (Job 3:25). Are we so different?

Is it past the time that we should have humbled ourselves and sought the face of God?

THE REMNANT

The Bible speaks of a remnant of God, being raised up at the right time in the closing days of this age. A foreshadowing of this was Noah and his family when were the remnant saved out of the millions on the earth before the flood (Genesis 6). There was also Lot and his two daughters survived the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, a very small remnant, indeed (Genesis 19). When Elijah despaired that he was the only one left in Israel who had not bowed down to idols, God assured him that He had reserved a remnant of 7,000 “whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him” (1 Kings 19).

Is it now time for the remnant of God to arise once again. Is it time for us to gird ourselves for war?

Is God now saying to us, as He told Job, as a response to our lament, “Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask you, and you instruct Me.”

If so, this time it is not sarcasm. It is our time.

HIS GLORIOUS RETURN – THE END OF THIS AGE

Matthew chapter 24 records Jesus telling His disciples then and now, of the sign of His coming, and of the end of the age. Jesus’ narrative throws back to the tribulations of the world between AD 1 and AD 69 and gives a panorama of the coming tribulation, concluding with these verses in Matthew 24:29-31:

“But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet blast, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”

To repeat, “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet blast, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”

The breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal marks the rapture of the Church, the beginning of the 7 years of the Great Tribulation and the outpouring of the Wrath of the Lamb, at which time our task on earth is completed.

Revelation 7:1-13, says, ”After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind would blow on the earth, or on the sea, or on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, holding the seal of the living God; and he called out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth, or the sea, or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”

The 144,000

“And I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

“from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, and from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.”

A Multitude from the Tribulation

“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all the tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they *cried out with a loud voice, saying,

“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

“And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying,

“Amen, blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might belong to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

“Then one of the elders responded, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?” I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason they are before the throne of God, and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. They will no longer hunger nor thirst, nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

A NEW SONG – THE TRIBULATION SCROLLS ARE BROKEN

Revelation 5:9-14, proclaims, ”And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slaughtered, and You purchased people for God with Your blood from every tribe, language, people, and nation.

You have made them into a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”

“Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing.”

“And I heard every created thing which is in heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, or on the sea, and all the things in them, saying,

“To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion forever and ever.”

And the four living creatures were saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.”

THE ARMIES WHICH ARE IN HEAVEN

 Revelation 19:11-21, says, ”And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.  And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

“Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid-heaven, “Come, assemble for the great feast of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, both free and slaves, and small and great.”

“And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies, assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse, and against His army.”

“And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

“And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.”

Take comfort. Be at peace. It is finished.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Revelation 12:11, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

GNOSTICS, JUDAIZERS, FALSE TEACHERS, HYPOCRITES AND PHARISEES – Keeping it Simple.

(You can listen by audio and pause the audio to follow page links for important teaching details, the resume the audio when you are ready. Please note that I use page links in lieu of footnotes and page references.)

GNOSTICS, JUDAIZERS, FALSE TEACHERS, HYPOCRITES & PHARISEES – Keeping it Simple

What do all these have in common? They all say that Jesus is not enough. They all say “Jesus, plus these other things”. The Bible says Jesus is the only way to life, both now, and later in heaven.

Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” John 14:6-7

“Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them.

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me; just as the Father knows me and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life, only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” John 10:7-18

From the day Jesus spoke these words, until not, those who heard these words are  divided. Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?” But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

WHAT ARE THE ODDS?

The odds of 1 to 100, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000 is 1 to 10 to the 157th power.

These are the odds against – yes, AGAINST – Jesus Christ having fulfilled just 48 of the over 450 prophecies written about Him.

In order to give you some perspective, electrons are very small objects. They’re smaller than atoms. It would take 2.5 TIMES 10 to the 15th power of them, laid side by side, to make one inch. Even if we counted 250 of these electrons each minute, and counted day and night, it would still take 19 million years just to count a line of electrons one-inch long.  19 MILLION YEARS!

Read that again, please.  Why is that significant?

It is significant because it gives us evidence that the Bible is true and correct when it says that Christ Jesus came to earth and is the Savior of the world.

It gives YOU evidence, if you choose to pay attention, that your life can be eternal with the only LIFE source which gives eternal Peace, Safety, Security, Joy and fulfillment the universe has ever known or ever will know.

Just think about it: It is a scientific and a mathematical impossibility that HAS COME TO PASS!

No odds can defy the REALITY of Jesus Christ.

NOW, WHAT ABOUT THE ‘OTHERS’?

Gnostics

Gnosticism is a collection of religious ideas and systems from the late 1st century AD among Jewish and early Christian sects. These various groups emphasized personal spiritual knowledge (gnosis) above the orthodox teachings, traditions, and authority of religious institutions. They view material existence as flawed or evil; Gnostic cosmogony generally presents a distinction between a supreme, hidden God and a malevolent lesser divinity who is responsible for creating the material universe. Gnostics considered salvation to be direct knowledge of the supreme divinity in the form of mystical or esoteric insight. Many Gnostics do not deal in concepts of sin and repentance, but with illusion and enlightenment. There are those who call themselves Christian, but practice forms of Gnosticism, which are heretical to the Christian faith.

The “Emergent Church movement” has been a recent variety of Gnosticism, approving of abortion, mysticism, new age idealism, homosexuality and more, both in their ordination practices and in their personal lives.

The Prosperity Gospel, although claiming to hold to a form of the Christian Gospel, is a form of Gnosticism.

Judaizers

In the early church, those who taught a combination of God’s grace and human effort for salvation, were called “Judaizers.” The word Judaizer comes from a Greek verb meaning “to live according to Jewish customs.” The word appears in Galatians 2:14 where Paul describes how he confronted Peter for forcing Gentile Christians to “Judaize.”

A Judaizer taught that, in order for a Christian to truly be right with God, he must conform to the Mosaic Law. Circumcision, especially, was promoted as necessary for salvation. Gentiles had to become Jewish proselytes first, and then they could come to Christ. The doctrine of the Judaizers was a mixture of grace (through Christ) and works (through the keeping of the Law). This false doctrine was dealt with in Acts 15 and strongly condemned in the book of Galatians.

The Catholic church, oddly enough, is a form of Judaizers. It is a mixture of grace through Christ and works through keeping the doctrines of the laws and rituals of the church.

False Teachers

Matthew 7:1516, warns us to, “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.”  The word beware means all of us should be alert, but especially shepherds, to identify not just false teaching, but false teachers, whose ways are subtle. They’re clothing themselves with lamb’s wool while they’re wolves.

The Apostle Paul used the same Greek word for beware in Acts 20:28–29 when he said, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.”

False Teachers

2 Peter 2:1, warns us, “But false prophets also appeared among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Verse 2. Many will follow their indecent behavior, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; verse 3. and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

Verse 4. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, held for judgment; Verse 5, and did not spare the ancient world, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; Verse 6, and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example of what is coming for the ungodly; Verse 7, and if He rescued righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the perverted conduct of unscrupulous people 8 (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), Verse 9, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from a trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, verse 10, and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt passion, and despise authority.

Reckless, self-centered, they speak abusively of angelic majesties without trembling, verse 11. whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a demeaning judgment against them before the Lord. Verse 12. But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, using abusive speech where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed, verse 13, suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions as they feast with you, verse 14, having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having hearts trained in greed, accursed children; verse 15, abandoning the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the reward of unrighteousness; verse 16, but he received a rebuke for his own offense, for a mute donkey, speaking with a human voice, restrained the insanity of the prophet.

Verse 17. These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved. Verse 18. For, while speaking out arrogant words of no value they entice by fleshly desires, by indecent behavior, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, verse 19, promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what anyone is overcome, by this he is enslaved. Verse 20. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. Verse 21. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. Verse 22. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”

Many in the contemporary Pentecostal movements practice the ways of Balaam, the son of Beor, and claim a type of hyper-grace to justify their sins and to escape the coming punishment. They claim “God loves us so much, He can love us no less”, a nonsensical adage to soothe a guilt ridden soul and to satisfy the lusts of the rebellious.

Hypocrites & Pharisees

Matthew 23:1, says, ”Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, verse 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses. Verse 3. Therefore, whatever they tell you, do and comply with it all, but do not do as they do; for they say things and do not do them. Verse 4. And they tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as their finger. Verse 5. And they do all their deeds to be noticed by other people; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. Verse 6. And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the seats of honor in the synagogues, verse 7, and personal greetings in the marketplaces, and being called Rabbi by the people. Verse 8. But as for you, do not be called Rabbi; for only One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. Verse 9. And do not call anyone on earth your father; for only One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Verse 10. And do not be called leaders; for only One is your Leader, that is, Christ. Verse 11. But the greatest of you shall be your servant. Verse 12. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

Verse 13. “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites…”

HOW RAPANT IS THIS APOSTASY?

The False Church Emerges

Has the Apostasy Begun?

The One World Church

Pulpit Bullies, False Teachers, Apostates, Heretics – The Postmodern Church

HOW ARE WE TO DEAL WITH THEM WHICH ARE OF THE SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST?

Do not associate with them. 1 Corinthians 5:11; 2

Stay Away from them them. Thessalonians 3:6, 14; 2

Avoid them. Timothy 3:5; 2 John 10.

Stand firm against them. Ephesians 6:10-18

Call them out. 2 Timothy 4:10, 2 Timothy 1:151 Timothy 1:19–20, 2 Timothy 2:17.

 

THE FALSE CHURCH EMERGES

 

THE AGE OF APOSTASY

I. Jesus’ model of ministry – versus – “false church”:

Jesus said to follow Him. (AD 27-29).

Jesus was baptized, and the Spirit came upon Him. (Matthew 3:16) We must be baptized. (Acts 2:38).

Jesus was tempted, tested, by the devil. (Matthew 4) We must be tempted and tested. (Matthew 5).

Jesus began His ministry of calling people to Himself, making disciples, teaching and preaching the Gospel, practicing the Gospel.

Jesus instructs His disciples on the cost of following Him.

Leave your home and come with Me, (Matthew 19).

Forsake your former life and follow Me.

Leave your families and follow Me ,(Luke 14:26).

Give up all you have, or you cannot follow Me, (Luke 14:33).

If you love your life, you will lose it, (Matthew 10:39).

Jesus walks with His disciples, teaching and showing His Gospel.

Jesus sends His disciples to do His Work, (Matthew 10).

Jesus continues to minister, teach and preach.

Jesus is crucified. (Matthew 27).

Jesus ascends to His Father and sends His disciples to continue His Works. (Matthew 28) We are to make disciples, baptizing them, preaching the Gospel, teaching them all He commanded. (Matthew 28).

A very abbreviated history leading to the Great Apostasy:

II. The emergence of the False church

AD 1 The Church of Jesus Christ, The Body of Christ, had no buildings, little money and no wealth. The Church was a Movement.

Jesus said to make disciples; collect no money except to make your journey.

The penalty for becoming a Christian was often death.

The Church grew exponentially.

AD 49 The Church expanded into Greece. The Church became a philosophy to many. The Church grew and size and influence.

AD 313 The Church expanded into Rome and it gained recognition. It grew in power and popularity. It obtained wealth, buildings, property and influence. It became an institution.

AD 380 The Church expanded into Europe. It was becoming a worldwide phenomenon. It grew in wealth, stature, power and influence. It had become a culture.

AD 1607 The Church reaches America.

AD 1681 The Church became corporate. It had become a business and incorporated. It became regulated by the government.

The Corporate Church grew. It needed money to support growth and expansion, which meant the Corporate Church needed more people.

AD 1777 The state of Virginia granted tax exemption to houses of worship.

AD 1894 The corporate church was granted tax exemptions by the Federal Government.

AD 1954 The Federal Government regulated what a church could and could not say in order to retain tax-exempt status.

The church continued to grow, and in order to attract more people the Corporate Church lowered its membership and doctrinal standards. More people became ‘members’ and gave more money to support more growth.

The Church corporation is complete with leaders, boards and membership and a business model.

Local churches compete against one another for members (customers). The church is selling itself in “three line slogans”.

The Church members now have choices and have become religious consumers. Church people can shop around for the religious brand and standards that best suits them. (2 Timothy 3)

The Leadership (pastors and preachers) have become CEOs, disciples have become church leaders, growing their 501(c)(3) business models.

Record numbers of pastors quitting because of stress, burnout or are being fired by their congregations (some stats say 1500 – 1700 leave “the ministry” each month).

Church debt in America soars; church foreclosures soar.

AD 1968 The church ordains homosexuals as clergy.

AD 1972 The United church of Christ ordains homosexual clergy

AD 2010 The Lutheran church ordains homosexual clergy

AD 2012 The Presbyterian church USA ordains homosexual clergy (not to be confused with the Presbyterian church PCA).

The Episcopal Church in the United States and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have also allowed ordination of openly gay and lesbian candidates for ministry for some years.

Internationally, churches that have ordained openly lesbian or gay clergy include the Church of Scotland, the Church of England, the Church in Wales, the Church of Sweden, the Church of Norway, the Church of Denmark, the Church of Iceland, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, the Evangelical Church in Germany, the Methodist Church in Britain, the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, the United Protestant Church in Belgium, the Swiss Reformed Church, the United Protestant Church of France, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Anglican Church in Canada, the Old Catholic Church, the Czechoslovak Hussite Church and the United Church of Christ in Japan.

AD 2024 The church is losing and has lost influence. The church in 2020 is losing members.

AD 2024 The church is teaching and living a different Gospel than that of the Apostles.

THE AGE OF APOSTASY IS WELL UNDER WAY

We, The Church, The Body of Christ, must be prepared. We must be doing those Works that Jesus commanded.

Your Brother and Co-Laborer

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Mike Young

(Note: This article is NOT an indictment against The Church, The Body of Christ.

This is a brief view of the ‘track’ or history of the emergence and growth of the FALSE CHURCH around the world. It is a sign of The Great Apostasy which Jesus warned about – the breaking of the 5th Seal of the tribulation.

There are many faithful Gospel teaching Churches in America and around the world. But, the facts remain, we have entered a time of Great Apostasy, and we need to be prepared, for Jesus’ return is near.)

 

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN – Part 13

(You can listen by audio and pause the audio to follow page links, then resume the audio when you are ready. Please Note: I use page links in lieu of footnotes or references. The page links contain important details for this teaching – especially for this episode.)

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN– Part 13

John 1:29-34, says, The next day he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He in behalf of whom I said, ‘After me is coming a Man who has proved to be my superior, because He existed before me.’ And I did not recognize Him, but so that He would be revealed to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” And John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. And I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.” 

At first glance, this seems to be a narrative, by John, of his experience encountering Jesus for the first time. But this is much more. It is a profound prophetic event and John is telling us of what was, what is and what is to come. Reader beware.

This is prophecy fulfilled. It is important to remember that prophecy is an ongoing process. For example, once the Christ-child was born, prophecy was fulfilled, but that was only the beginning of what was to come. So it is when John says, ” The next day he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

John, through these verses, is identifying the identity of Christ, the purpose of Christ and the immediate future of Christ.

Jesus is called the Lamb of God in John 1:29 and John 1:36, which is referring to Him as the perfect and ultimate sacrifice for sin. In order to understand who Christ was and what He did, we must begin with the Old Testament, which contains prophecies concerning the coming of Christ as a “guilt offering” (Isaiah 53:10). In fact, the whole sacrificial system established by God in the Old Testament set the stage for the coming of Jesus Christ, who is the perfect sacrifice God would provide as atonement for the sins of His people (Romans 8:3; Hebrews 10). (taken from GotQuestions.org)

It is not enough to just know about this prophetic event, you must know that it is true and that it impacts and forever changes the trajectory of your life as a follower of Jesus. You are no longer your own and fate no longer has any charge over you. You are now of a royal priesthood, an ambassador for Christ, on mission with Him. This is your calling and your future.

You are to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that He has commanded.

You are now a soldier in God’s called army. You are to be engaged in the spiritual war leading to the End of Days. You are to now stand firm against the schemes of the devil. Your struggle is no longer against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, you are to take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day.

Next, John is revealing the eternal nature of Jesus as God when he says, ‘After me is coming a Man who has proved to be my superior, because He existed before me.’

You are to experience the most astounding of all miracles. Not only are you called, you are to be sanctified in the truth, which is the reason Jesus came into the world.

And, you are to be made one, just as the Father is in Jesus and Jesus is in The Father, you also are in Them, so that the world may believe that The Father sent Jesus.

Please get the significance of being made one with Jesus and the Father. You have been folded into the Holy Trinity by the prayers of Jesus. You are being made into the righteousness of God, a humble servant yet a warrior of the cross!

As Romans 3:22 says, – But it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction,

As Romans 5:17 says, – For if by the offense of the one, death reigned through the one, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

As Romans 8:10 says, – If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

As Philippians 1:11 says, – having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, for the glory and praise of God.

And, as Philippians 3:9 says, – and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.

John is a first-hand witness to this prophetic event. He is telling of what he personally saw, experienced and touched with his own hands. And I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen, and have testified, that this is the Son of God.” 

Finally, John tells us that this is the Son of God Who baptizes in the Holy Spirit. It is important to know, again, the significance of what this will mean to you. Matthew reports on this event in Matthew 3:12 when he says, “His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

THERE ARE FIVE POINTS GIVEN IN VERSE 12 WHICH ENCAPSULATES THE ENTIRE TRIBULATION PERIOD, BEGINNING WITH THE BREAKING OF THE TRIBULATION SEALS, CONTINUING THROUGH THE TRUMPET AND BOWL JUDGMENTS, INCLUDING THE  WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT AND CULMINATING WITH THE DESTRUCTION OF THE 1ST HEAVEN AND THE FIRST EARTH WITH INTENSE HEAT.

(a)  “His winnowing fork is in His hand:  Cleansing, refining, purifying His Church.

(b)  He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor:  Preparation through tribulation.

(c)  He will gather His wheat into the barn:  Jesus gathering His Church through the rapture and taking us to our eternal Home.

(d)  He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire: The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and the destruction of the first heavens and earth.

Listen and read carefully. The Ultimate Purpose of God’s Eternal Plan is Perfection. He is maturing His people, of all the ages, by His Plan, to live in perfect harmony with Him and with one another. In the end, God is going to destroy this earth and heavens with an intense heat, and will create a New and Perfect heaven and earth.

Having become a Christian, a disciple of Jesus, you are no longer of this world. You are to take up your rightful place as a child of God, and as the righteousness of God, you must stop thinking as this world thinks. God is preparing you to be an active participant in the events of these Last Days.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Please bookmark this page and continue with me on this exciting journey in God’s Word.

Next Chapter: THE GOSPEL OF JOHN – Part 14

NOW FAITH IS THE CERTAINTY – Episode 1

NOW FAITH IS – THE CERTAINTY – Episode 1

(Click on image above for slide presentation)

AND NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE

I am presenting a study series on faith. Faith is the bedrock of Spiritual Warfare. I will start with Hebrews chapter 11:1 through chapter 12:3. These verses speak clearly about the results of faith and mark out the path we must follow to have the same results in our own lives.

May God bless us as well travel this path and may we find and exercise the faith He has given us, to His credit and Glory!

Hebrews 11:2 “For by it the people of old gained approval.”

It is by the exercising of your faith, that you will be commended as dependable and honest, and your testimony is valued as true.

Verse 3. By faith, we understand that the world has been created by the word of God so that what is seen has not been made out of things that are visible.

It is by the exercising of your faith, that you will have attained the ability to understand that faith has substance and that substance is the evidence that the things not yet seen, will appear and come to pass.

Verse 4. By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was attested to be righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.

It is by the exercising of your faith, that you will be attested to be righteous.

(We can’t really know why “God had regard for Abel and his offering;  but for Cain and his offering, He had no regard“. But we do know that Cain, because he lacked the faith to trust God, became angry and sinned by killing his brother, then lied to God; now the blood of his sin, “cries out from the ground”.)

Likewise, we cannot know some things about God, but, it is by the exercising of our faith, that we must “do well, and our face will be cheerful, and do not do sin, as it is lurking at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” (paraphrase Genesis 4:7)

Verse 5. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for before he was taken up, he was attested to have been pleasing to God.

Although our mortal bodies will see death, by God’s grace and by our faith we will be taken up, having been attested as pleasing to God, we will live eternally in the house of the Lord.

Verse 6. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.

Verse 7. By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

We have been warned about things not yet seen through God’s word, and He has given us and our entire household, Jesus, the ark of our salvation, by which He has offered the entire world salvation, so we can become heirs of righteousness, which is according to the exercising of our faith.

Verse 8. By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he left, not knowing where he was going.

And, It is by the exercising of your faith, that when you are called, you go to a place which you are to receive for an inheritance; not knowing where you might be going.

Verse 9. By faith, he lived as a stranger in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; verse 10, for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Verse 11. By faith even Sarah herself received the ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. Verse 12. Therefore, even from one man, and one who was as good as dead at that, there were born descendants who were just as the stars of heaven in number, and as the innumerable grains of sand along the seashore.

Verse 13. All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen and welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. Verse 14. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. Verse 15. And indeed, if they had been thinking of that country which they left, they would have had opportunity to return. Verse 16. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not  ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

There may be times when we feel as though we have not received the promises of God. But, we must press on in faith, and not lose our hope in Him. He as given us the One Main Promise of Christ, Who is our Hope, and He has prepared a city for us, a home for us.

Verse 17. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and the one who had received the promises was offering up his only son; verse 18, it was he to whom it was said, “THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE NAMED.” Verse 19. He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.

Verse 20. By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.

Verse 21. By faith, Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

Verse 22. By faith, Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

Verse 23. By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

Verse 24. By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, verse 25, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin, verse 26, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.

Verse 27. By faith, he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as though seeing Him who is unseen.

Verse 28. By faith, he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them.

Verse 29. By faith, they passed through the Red Sea as through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were

Verse 30. By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down after the Israelites had marched around them for seven days.

Verse 31. By faith, the prostitute Rahab did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.

Verse 32. And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,

verse 33, who by faith conquered kingdoms,

performed acts of righteousness,

obtained promises, s

hut the mouths of lions,

verse 34, quenched the power of fire,

escaped the edge of the sword,

from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war,

put foreign armies to flight.

Verse 35, Women received back their dead by resurrection;

and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection;

verse 36, and others experienced mocking and flogging, and further, chains and imprisonment.

Verse 37. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tested, they were put to death with the sword;

they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented,

Verse 38, (people of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts, on mountains, and sheltering in caves and holes in the ground.

Verse 39. And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, verse 40, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us, they would not be made perfect.

Hebrews 12:1, exhorts us, saying, Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, verse 2, looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Verse 3. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Thus says the Lord. Amen and Amen!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

The following chapters in this series are Biblical teaching on the exercising of your faith and the outcomes. This is not just for reading, but, for you and me to learn to exercise our faith and to see these outcomes in our own lives.

Go to, Episode 2 – FAITH IS

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

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(The following contains deep Spiritual Truth. Only Believers and Followers of Jesus need to proceed)

URGENT NOTICE:

CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF WISDOM

The mission of The Whitestone Fellowship Rev2:17 is to “Inform, Inspire, Influence, Ignite”. The idea behind our mission is to LEARN and APPLY.  The converse is that “Un-applied knowledge is just useless information”.

So, then, what is wisdom?

One source defines it this way, “There is a very clear difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is merely “knowing”, learning, or understanding facts as they pertain to certain situations. Wisdom, on the other hand, is the ability to apply that knowledge to given situations.”

There seems to be a critical lack of wisdom in our world, and it seems to be getting worse.

The Bible uses the word “Wisdom” over 200 times. Here are just a few of examples of how the Bible defines “wisdom”:

Exodus 35:31 “And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding and in knowledge and in all craftsmanship”

Psalms 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.”

Ecclesiastes 7:19 Wisdom strengthens a wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.”

Many of us hear lectures and sermons in Church, on TV, the radio or the internet, that impart valuable information and knowledge. But often, the message is delivered in such a way that the application is either weak, missing or is superficial.

What I mean by this is that many Bible-based sermons start with information about a Bible ‘story’ (hearing), then tend to give a third-person view of the information (observation), then tends to end with a “motto” or a “moral” (the close) instead of clear instruction on how to use or apply what the Bible teaching.

The goal of preaching the Bible is to

  • Inform in order to teach,
  • Inspire a person to learn what he or she has heard,
  • Influence that person to become a source of the truth, and
  • Ignite the person to continuous action.

Here is an example from John chapter 15

Abiding in Christ, The Vine:

John 15:1  says, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser. Verse 2. “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. Verse 3. “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Verse 4. “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. Verse 5. “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. Verse 6. “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. Verse 7. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. Verse 8. “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”

There is much to say, to teach and to preach from this section of Scripture. But, I want us to focus on learning and using word. Let’s start with the “WORD”.

This teaching is by Jesus and is obviously “inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness”. In other words, YOU CAN and MUST USE IT.

John 15:3, says, “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

John 15:7, instructs, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

1. INFORM – TO TEACH: This “WORD” is from the Greek word, “Logos”. It is the sayings of God, a decree, mandate or order, the moral precepts given by God. It is prophecy given by the prophets which denotes the essential Word of God, Jesus Christ. His personal wisdom and power in union with God, in creation and government of the universe, the cause of all the world’s life both physical and ethical, which for the procurement of man’s salvation put on human nature in the person of Jesus the Messiah shone forth conspicuously from His words and deeds.

2. INSPIRE – TO LEARN: “You are already clean because of the WORD”. “Clean” comes from the Greek word, “katharos” which means you are already made clean, pure as if you have been purified by fire (cauterized). Likewise, a vine is cleansed by pruning and so fitted to bear fruit.

Because of this WORD, you are made ethically clean, free from corrupt desire, from sin and guilt, free from every admixture of what is false. The embracing and consumption of Word makes you sincere genuine, blameless, innocent, unstained with the guilt of anything.

3. INFLUENCE – TO BECOME A SOURCE OF TRUTH: “because of the word which I have spoken to you”. This WORD is from God and is both PROPHETIC and CAUSATIVE. God foretells, proclaims and creates the Truth IN YOU and THROUGH YOU! This is the Work of God through you! Embrace it and let the WORD OF GOD abide in you.

4. IGNITE – ACT CONTINUOUSLY: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

This time, “WORD” is from the Greek “Rhema” which means, that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, a thing spoken, a spoken word.

We are taught, and we learn, we are informed and inspired as the Living Logos of God abides within us. Now that WORD wells up inside us and spills out of our mouth as the Rhema, the Spoken Word of God. We are but the clay and the Potter is announcing the most profound Truths through His willing and submitted servant.

ABIDE. This is critical. It is essential to “Abide in Christ”. It is to remain, to sojourn, tarry, not to depart, to continue to be present, to be held, kept, continually, to remain as one, not to become another or different. This is the only way.

ABIDE: This is critical. It is essential that His Words abide in you. His WORD is to remain IN YOU, to sojourn IN YOU, tarry IN YOU, not to depart FROM YOU, to continue to be present IN YOU, to be held IN YOUR MIND AND HEART, kept IN YOUR MIND AND HEART continually, to remain as one, not to become another or different. This is the only way.

ASK: “Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise from another place, and you and your house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”.

Don’t shrink back. Accurately handle the Word of God. ASK, SEEK, KNOCK and Let’s GO and get allow Him to get this done!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Me2.jpg

ADDITIONAL READING: For Such A Time As This by Dr. Tony Evans, senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, TX. (reprinted below).

(Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews.  For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”). – Esther 4:13-14

Many people quote Mordecai’s rebuke to Esther as a life-verse which is to represent prestige, power and favor. You’ll see shirts, hats, mugs and social media posts that proudly ring out, “for such a time as this.”

But few people truly connect the context of the verse with how they are using it. Esther was being scolded for her self-indulgent, self-preserving mindset. Esther was being reproofed for living large and embracing royalty over service. Through those telling words, Mordecai was reminding Esther that she had been chosen to set her own interests aside, let go of her own ambitions and face an enemy full-on.

She was to risk her life and her legacy with no guarantees of a positive outcome. That’s the “for such a time as this” Esther was challenged to accept. And that’s the “for such a time as this” God also sets before you.

He didn’t place you where you are so you could eat figs all day long or post pictures of yourself on social media.

It is God who has given you your job, position, resources, education and more. It is God who has opened the opportunities for you to optimize for His kingdom purposes. He didn’t place you where you are so you could eat figs all day long or post pictures of yourself on social media. He’s placed you where you are because you are in the midst of a battle; a war. You are in the midst of a seismic conflict involving Good versus Evil.

To miss your kingdom assignment because you have become too caught up in your personal kingdom itself is the greatest tragedy you could ever face.

To miss your kingdom assignment because you have become too caught up in your personal kingdom itself is the greatest tragedy you could ever face. An entire nation was grateful for how Esther responded to Mordecai’s rebuke. Their lives were spared. How many can be spared in the culture where we live today when we choose to step up to service, even if it involves sacrifice?

To miss your kingdom assignment because you have become too caught up in your personal kingdom itself is the greatest tragedy you could ever face. Click To Tweet.

MARXISM-AGENDA 2030-THE U.N. – THE DESTRUCTION OF THE UNITED STATES – Episode 6

(You can listen to this article by audio and pause the audio to follow important page links for details, then, resume the audio when you are ready. Please note that I use page links in lieu of footnotes and references for important teaching details.)

I stated, in the last Episode, that I would address each stated goal of the U.N. initiated and U.N. controlled Marxist-Globalist Agenda 2030 and uncover their actual goals, methods and results. Because Agenda 2030 Goal #3 is so broad and includes all the goals, I am doing a panorama of all 17 goals and will point out the REAL OBJECTIVE and METHODS of each goal. (You can click on photos to see the webpage source).

Goal #3 – Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

There is a social and political war raging in America between ‘Conservatism’ and the ‘Radical Left’, and it is for the life or death of America.

Better said, the war is between Capitalism and Marxism, Democracy, (in the case of America, a Constitutional Republic) and Marxist-Communism, prosperity and severe lack and poverty; between slavery and freedom, between Christianity and Atheism.

The Leftists and Marxist have a well-defined game plan and a simplified strategy, while the Right has a confused defense and no effective game plan. It seems the Conservatives, Christians and most Republicans are furiously fighting the myriad brush fires being ignited by the Left, while ignoring the source – or should I say, ignorant of the source.

If you don’t stop the problem at its source, you will always fight the endless brush fires, until you tire and collapse.

What is ‘The Source’? Liken ‘the source’ to flying a kite. You can know all about the materials of the kite, the construction of the kite and the kite’s aerodynamics.  But, until you know what is DRIVING the kite, you will always deal with the failure of an earth born kite or kite tangled in trees or high electrical wires.

‘The Source’ of the kite is the wind.  It is the wind that drives a kite.

It is a combination of the Socialist-Communist-Marxist hatred, resentment and envy of Western prosperity and values, greed and the dream of a Communist Utopia, (which is the absence of the latter), that drives the political and social war in America and around the world.

COMMUNIST UTOPIA:  A place of ideal perfection, especially in laws, government, and social conditions.

Adherents of Marxism, (into which I am lumping Socialism, Communism and all other variants of these ideologies) truly believe that they can achieve

1.  World Peace and the end of wars by eliminating gun ownership and by creating one global police force, a one world court system and a one world government. (Click on photos for website referenced).

2.  The end of hunger by controlling worldwide agriculture, food production and distribution, but scarcity is the result.

3.  Good health and well-being for all of earth’s inhabitants by way of the World Health Organization directing which medical practices are allowable, pharmaceuticals, medicine production and distribution; making unilateral decisions on abortions, assisted suicides and euthanasia (i.e., world population control).


(Life in Cuba)

4.  Quality Education through tightly controlled state sponsored education programs which teach or indoctrinate government policies and practices of Marxism.

(Life in Cuba)

5.  Gender Equality by promoting and protecting aberrant behavior and lifestyles which are counterproductive for social and psychological stability and population growth –  not to mention the destruction of women’s sports programs.

Lia Thomas.

(Transgender Lia Thomas)

6.  Clean water and sanitation by rationing the availability of resources.

(Water pollution in China)

7.  Affordable clean energy by eliminating all fossil and nuclear fuels and through rationing.

Employees work on a high-voltage transmission tower in China.

(High wire electrical workers in China)

8.  Decent work and economic growth as determined by Elitist policymakers in the highest offices of a One World Government. (This is so ill-defined and subjective that no further comment is needed.)

(Labor conditions in China)

9.  Resilient Infrastructure.

(Venezuela infrastructure/)

10. Reduced inequalities is another way of saying, “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs” is a slogan popularized by Karl Marx in his 1875 Critique of the Gotha Program. The principle refers to free access to and distribution of goods, capital and services according to Marxist Doctrine.

Woman feeding baby next to white-haired man eating (© Ariana Cubillos/AP Images)

(Reduced inequalities in a Socialist Venezuela)

11. Sustainable cities and communities as defined by Marxism.

12. Responsible consumption and production as defined by Marxism.

13. Climate action by eliminating all fossil fuels and any production method with emissions of any kind. Funded through taxation and redistribution of wealth.

(Climate change initiatives working for Cleaner air in China)

14. Cleaner oceans according to Marxist doctrine, which usually mean restricted use.

15. Cleaner environment according to Marxist doctrine, which typically means restricted use.

china-environment

16. Peace and justice according to Marxist doctrine by strict dictatorial rules.

How effective is China's criminal justice system? - Quora

17. Partnerships for these goals – though a One World Government.

 

 

 

 

The U.N. and their surrogate-partnerships are simply a front for a One World Marxist-style Government. They have accomplished what they endeavored to do.  Agenda 2030 has publicly and brazenly stated they will have achieved all their objectives by the year 2030. They are ahead of schedule.

The war is drawing to a close. The terror and suffering will soon begin. Get ready and stay ready!

Michael J Young

Daniel 12:1 says, “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. Verse 2. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Verse 3. And those who have insight will shine like the glow of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. Verse 4. But as for you, Daniel, keep these words secret and seal up the book until the end of time; many will roam about, and knowledge will increase.”

Matthew 24:29 warns that, “But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Verse 30. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. Verse 31. And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET BLAST, and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”

Matthew 24:21, tells us that, “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again. Verse 22. And if those days had not been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.”

MARXISM, AGENDA 2030, THE U.N., THE AMERICAN DEMOCRAT PARTY – Episode 5

FOREIGN TO AND IGNORES IDEAS PRECIOUS TO THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE

WHEN DO THESE FINAL 7 YEARS BEGIN?

MARXISM, AGENDA 2030, THE U.N., THE AMERICAN DEMOCRAT PARTY – Episode 5

(You can listen by audio and pause the audio to follow page links, then resume the audio when you are ready.  Please note, I use page links in lieu of footnotes or references, which give important details.)

I will address each stated goal of the U.N. initiated and U.N. controlled Marxist-Globalist Agenda 2030 and uncover their actual goals, methods and results.

One of the tentacles of the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 is the ICLEI was formerly known as the ‘International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives’. This international association was established when more than 200 local governments from 43 countries convened at its inaugural conference, the World Congress of Local Governments for a Sustainable Future, at the United Nations in New York in September 1990.

This is important because the American Democrat Party and many in the Republican Party, have endorsed and installed Agenda 2030 operatives in over 235 cities throughout the United States, as agents of the I.C.L.E.I., and, despite their publicly cited goals, they are politically and socially promoting the Marxist policies and ideologies of the U.N. and the Agenda 2030. (Click here for the ICLEI U.S.A. member’s list).

I.C.L.E.I., is the activist army implementing  the Agenda 2030, worldwide.

Their most recent manifesto, Agenda 2030 contains seventeen far-reaching goals and initiatives which will negatively impact democracies and personal freedoms around the world.

Agenda 2030 and I.C.L.E.I.’s Goal #2.  End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.

*The U.N.’s agenda is to control social programs worldwide, one of which is to have complete control over agriculture, food production and distribution

Achieving such a monumental task requires huge sums of money. Where does the money come from?

First, let’s discuss the financing of this plan.

There is a certain amount of money in any economy’s treasury, and it is from the treasury that governments spend money on mandatory social programs such as social security, medicare and medicaid, then there is discretionary spending on things such as our nation’s infrastructure and foreign aid and spending on national defense and government-at-large.

As of 2022, the democrat controlled U.S. government expects to spend $6.011 trillion. More than 65% of that pays for mandated benefits such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Discretionary spending pays for everything else. It will be $1.688 trillion. The U.S. Congress appropriates this amount each year, using the president’s budget as a starting point.

Interest on the U.S. debt is estimated to be $305 billion. Interest on the approximate $29 trillion federal debt is the fastest-growing federal expense, expected to double by 2028. The U.S. Treasury must pay the interest to avoid a U.S. debt default. A debt default by the U.S. has unknown consequences because it has never happened.

The U.S. debt limit hovered at about $28.4 trillion through December 2021, until Congress passed legislation to raise it by an additional $2.5 trillion. It stood at more than $31 trillion as of December 16, 2021.

Mandatory spending is estimated to be $4.018 trillion in FY 2022. This category includes entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment compensation. It also includes welfare programs such as Medicaid.

Social Security will be the biggest expense, budgeted at $1.196 trillion. It’s followed by Medicare at $766 billion and Medicaid at $571 billion.

Social Security costs are 100% covered by payroll taxes and interest on investments. There was more coming into the Social Security Trust Fund than was being paid out until 2010. The Trust Fund is still running a surplus, thanks to its investments.

The Social Security Board of Trustees estimates that Social Security’s Trust Fund will be depleted by 2034. Social Security revenue from payroll taxes and interest earned will cover only 78% of the benefits promised to retirees.

Medicare is already underfunded because taxes withheld for the program don’t pay for all benefits. Congress must use tax dollars to pay for a portion of it. Medicaid is 100% funded by the general fund, also known as “America’s Checkbook.” This account is used to finance daily activities and long-term operations of the government.

The point here is that in a Socialist system, funds of a country’s income and treasury are redistributed from other necessary and income producing areas to government, to enrich the lawmakers and to fund social programs such as seen in the Agenda 2030 plan until the treasury is bankrupted.

Secondly, government ‘handouts’, such as free college education, poorly managed welfare programs, food stamp programs, to name a few, are a disincentive and subject to widespread abuses. I.e., ‘why work when I get free money, food and housing?’, and that is exactly what is happening in the United States.

The Social Security Act was enacted August 14, 1935. The Act was drafted during President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first term by the President’s Committee on Economic Security, under Frances Perkins, and passed by Congress as part of the New Deal. The Act was an attempt to limit what were seen as dangers in the modern American life, including old age, poverty, unemployment, and the burdens of widows and fatherless children. By signing this Act on August 14, 1935, President Roosevelt became the first president to advocate federal assistance for the elderly.

Then this beast began to grow and gain strength:

August 10, 1939, the program broadened to include benefits for workers’ dependents and survivors.

January 31, 1940: Ida M. Fuller became the first person to receive a monthly benefit. Her first check was for $22.54, the inflation-adjusted equivalent of $420.15 today. Fuller lived to the age of 100.

October 1950: Congress authorized the first cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), an increase of 77 percent.

August 1, 1956: Social Security Act amended to provide benefits to disabled workers ages 50-64 and disabled adult children.

September 1960: President Eisenhower signed a law amending the disability rules to permit payment of benefits to disabled workers of any age and to their dependents.

June 30, 1961: All workers now allowed to take early retirement at age 62, albeit at a reduced Social Security benefit.

July 1975: First annual automatic COLA, an 8 percent increase, was paid. Before 1975, each COLA required authorization by Congress.

July 1980: Beneficiaries received the highest annual COLA increase ever — 14.3 percent. The inflation rate in 1980 was 12.5 percent.

April 20, 1983: Comprehensive changes to Social Security, based on recommendations of the National Commission on Social Security Reform (also known as the “Greenspan Commission”) were signed into law, making sweeping changes to shore up the program’s shaky financial footing. The changes included raising payroll taxes and raising Normal Retirement Age (NRA).

October 1, 1988: A nationwide toll-free number was implemented for people to contact the Social Security Administration (SSA).

May 17, 1994: The SSA official website was launched.

October 1, 1999: The annual mailings of Social Security Statements began. About 125 million statements, showing workers’ earnings and projected benefits, were sent to all workers ages 25 and older.

April 7, 2000: The Senior Citizens’ Freedom to Work Act of 2000 was signed into law, eliminating the Retirement Earnings Test (RET) for those beneficiaries at or above NRA. (The RET still applies to those beneficiaries below NRA.) The RET was an original feature of the Social Security Act.

February 12, 2008: Kathleen Casey-Kirschling, the first boomer to apply for Social Security retirement benefits, received her first monthly benefit payment.

May 1, 2012: The Social Security Statement became available online after most paper statements stopped being mailed out in 2011. Today, paper statements are mailed only to workers 60 and over who are not yet collecting benefits and who have not set up an online My Social Security account.

March 17, 2020: Social Security field offices shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most services continued to be offered online or by telephone, rather than in person.

April 22, 2020: The annual report from the Social Security trustees projected the combined trust funds would be exhausted in 2035, after which only just over three quarters of benefits could be paid.

September 17, 2021:  SOCIALISM, is hiding in the United States, in plain sight. Take a look at the U.S. Budget and where the money goes.

Socialism, which is just the early steps until Marxism is achieved.

Again, their goals sound worthy, but the methods used to achieve these goals and the long-term outcomes are self-defeating and disastrous for people.  They end up creating the very things they claimed to eliminate.

Every single government that has ever tried or is currently employing Socialist style economic policies has enslaved its people, corrupted their government, bankrupted their economy and have become Marxist.  Lack, want, hopelessness, suffering and death follows. Always.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Next Episode: MARXISM-AGENDA 2030-THE U.N. – THE DESTRUCTION OF THE UNITED STATES – Episode 6

Previous Episode: Marxist-Globalism – Episode 4

Additional reading:

FOREIGN TO AND IGNORES IDEAS PRECIOUS TO THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE

What can we do? Read “The Overthrow of America by Social Marxism – the Silent Coup”.

I.C.L.E.I. – THE MEMBERS LIST – THE TAKEOVER OF AMERICA

One of the tentacles of the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 is the ICLEI was formerly known as the ‘International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives’. This international association was established when more than 200 local governments from 43 countries convened at its inaugural conference, the World Congress of Local Governments for a Sustainable Future, at the United Nations in New York in September 1990.

Thanks to Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush, I.C.L.E.I. operations have been embeded in 252 know city, local and state governments, promoting the agenda, goals and initiatives of the United Nation’s Agenda 2030 of Global Marixm. (Here is a link back ot Episode 5 – MARXISM, AGENDA 2030, THE U.N., THE AMERICAN DEMOCRAT PARTY)

Here is a comprehensive list of the U.S. Cities operating as surrogates for the American Democrat implemented, Socialist takeover of America.

I.C.L.E.I. Member’s List by City or County, then State. (Count, 406) as of 3/22/202.

(The count has increased to 406 as of 4/24/2025 – for an updated list you can go to this webiste https://iclei.org/iclei-members/ and click on REGIONS + and click the box for North America, then click the yellow SHOW button at the bottom of that page) :

Anchorage, AK
Homer, AK
Solomon, AK
Birmingham, AL
Florence, AL
Fayetteville, AR
Little Rock, AR
Flagstaff, AZ
Pima County, AZ
Tempe, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Antioch, CA
Auburn, CA
Benicia, CA
Berkeley, CA
Chula Vista, CA
Cupertino, CA
Dublin, CA
Elk Grove, CA
Fremont, CA
Hayward, CA
Humboldt County, CA
Long Beach, CA
Los Altos, CA
Manteca, CA
Menlo Park, CA
Monterey, CA
Mountain View, CA
Oakland, CA
Palmdale, CA
Palo Alto, CA
Piedmont, CA
Riverside, CA
San Diego, CA
San Jose, CA
Santa Ana, CA
Santa Clara County, CA
Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Monica, CA
South Lake Tahoe, CA
Stockton, CA
Windsor, CA
Aspen, CO
Avon, CO
Boulder, CO
Brighton, CO
Colorado Springs, CO
Crested Butte, CO
Durango, CO
Eagle County, CO
Eagle, CO
Englewood, CO
Fort Collins, CO
Glenwood Springs, CO
Golden, CO
Gunnison, CO
Lake County, CO
Lakewood, CO
Littleton, CO
Louisville, CO
Mount Crested Butte, CO
Mountain Village, CO
Municipality of Grand Junction, CO
Pitkin County, CO
Vail, CO
Bridgeport, CT
New Haven, CT
Stamford, CT
West Hartford, CT
District of Columbia
Wilmington, DE
Boca Raton, FL
Broomfield, CO
Broward County, FL
Cape Coral, FL
Carbondale, IL
Coral Springs, FL
Deerfield Beach, FL
DeLand, FL
Delray Beach, FL
Dunedin, FL
Dunedin, FL
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Gainesville, FL
Hallandale Beach, FL
Key West, FL
Lake Worth Beach, FL
Maitland, FL
Manatee County, FL
Miami Beach, FL
Miami-Dade County, FL
Miami, FL
Miramar, FL
North Miami, FL
Oakland Park, FL
Orlando, FL
Pinecrest, FL
Saint Petersburg, FL
Sarasota County, FL
Sunrise, FL
Tallahassee, FL
Tarpon Springs, FL
Tequesta, FL
Volusia County, FL
West Palm Beach, FL
Wilton Manors, FL
Winter Park, FL
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta, GA
Savannah, GA
Honolulu, HI
Kauai County, HI
Maui County, HI
Cedar Rapids, IA
Des Moines, IA
Dubuque, IA
Huntington Woods, MI
Johnson County, IA
Linn County, IA
Ada County, ID
Blaine County, ID
Boise, ID
Hailey, ID
McCall, ID
Moscow, ID
Elgin, IL
Lake County, IL
Lake Forest, IL
Naperville, IL
Oak Park, IL
Park Forest, IL
Urbana, IL
Wilmette, IL
Bloomington, IN
Indianapolis, IN
South Bend, IN
West Lafayette, IN
Lawrence, KS
Mission, KS
Nebraska, KS
Wichita, KS
Gonzales, LA
Acton, MA
Cambridge, MA
Newburyport, MA
Wellesley, MA
Bowie, MD
College Park, MD
Gaithersburg, MD
Greenbelt, MD
Howard County, MD
Washington Grove, MD
Washington Grove, MD
Bar Harbor, ME
Chebeague Island, ME
Freeport, ME
Kennebunk, ME
Kittery, ME
Rockland, ME
Saco, ME
York, ME
Ann Arbor, MI
Battle Creek, MI
Birmingham, MI
Eaton County, MI
Grand Rapids, MI
Holland, MI
Ingham County, MI
Kalamazoo, MI
Lansing, MI
Rockford, MI
Southfield, MI
Sterling Heights, MI
Washtenaw County, MI
Biddeford, ME
Duluth, MN
Duluth, MN
Minneapolis, MN
Saint Paul, MN
Kirksville, MO
Saint Louis, MO
Webster Groves, MO
Hattiesburg, MS
Missoula County, MT
Missoula, MT
Whitefish, MT
Community of Big Sky, MT
Apex, NC
Asheville, NC
County of Durham, NC
Greenville, NC
Hendersonville, NC
Wilmington, NC
Concord, NH
Durham, NH
Nashua, NH
Portsmouth, NH
Princeton, NJ
Hoboken, NJ
Jersey City, NJ
Mercer County, NJ
Westfield, NJ
Pueblo of Sandia, NM
Santa Fe County, NM
Santa Fe, NM
Reno, NV
Washoe County, NV
Albany, NY
Austerlitz, NY
Beacon, NY
Binghamton, NY
Buffalo, NY
Dover, NY
East Hampton, NY
Gardiner, NY
Haverstraw, NY
Kent, NY
Monroe County, NY
Mount Kisco, NY
New Rochelle, NY
New York, NY
Nyack, NY
Orange County, NY
Pleasantville, NY
Rochester, NY
Rye, NY
Sleepy Hollow, NY
Tompkins County, NY
Tuxedo, NY
Ulster County, NY
Union Vale, NY
Bowling Green, OH
Cincinnati, OH
Cleveland Heights, OH
Cleveland, OH
Columbus, OH
Dublin, OH
Fairfield, OH
Halton Hills, ON
Kent, OH
Oberlin, OH
Oxford, OH
Beaverton, OR
Portland, OR
Salem, OR
Abington Township, PA
Carlisle, PA
Derry Township, PA
Forest Hills Borough, PA
Lewisburg, PA
Marshall Township, PA
Narberth, PA
Pittsburgh, PA
State College, PA
Barrington, RI
Providence, RI
Charleston, SC
Greenville, SC
Chattanooga, TN
Davidson County, TN
Knoxville, TN
Austin, TX
Dallas, TX
Denton, TX
Fort Worth, TX
Grand Prairie, TX
Harris County, TX
San Antonio, TX
Travis County, TX
Logan, UT
Moab, UT
Park City, UT
Salt Lake County, UT
Summit County, UT
Albemarle County, VA
Alexandria, VA
Charlottesville, VA
Fredericksburg, VA
Harrisonburg, VA
Leesburg, VA
Richmond, VA
Roanoke, VA
Williamsburg, VA
Bainbridge Island, WA
Bellevue, WA
Bellingham, WA
Burien, WA
Iowa City, IA
Issaquah, WA
Jefferson County, WA
Kenmore, WA
Kent, WA
Kirkland, WA
Lakewood, WA
Mercer Island, WA
Metropolitan King County, WA
Olympia, WA
Port Angeles, WA
Redmond, WA
Shoreline, WA
Spokane, WA
Tacoma, WA
Thurston County, WA
Vancouver, WA
Eau Claire County, WI
Eau Claire, WI
La Crosse, WI
Madison, WI
Milwaukee County, WI
Milwaukee, WI
Sun Prairie, WI
Albany County, WY
Jackson, WY
Lander, WY
Laramie, WY

ICLEI Members list, location, Agent in Charge:

Ada County, ID, United States
Ada County, ID, United States
Kendra Kenyon Title: Commissioner, Chair of the BOCC Population: 481587 Member since: 01.02.2021
Alameda County, CA, United States
Alameda County, CA, United States
Scott Haggerty Title: Supervisor Population: 1647704 Member since: 01.02.2018
Albemarle County, VA, United States
Albemarle County, VA, United States
Ned Gallaway Title: Chairperson Population: 87970 Member since: 01.01.2020
Blaine County, ID, United States
Blaine County, ID, United States
Jacob Greenberg Title: County Commissioner Population: 21376 Member since: 01.04.2021
Borough of Carlisle, PA, United States
Borough of Carlisle, PA, United States
Title: Population: 18916
Borough of Glen Rock, NJ, United States
Borough of Glen Rock, NJ, United States
Title: Population: 11829 Member since: 01.04.2019
Borough of Lewisburg, PA, United States
Borough of Lewisburg, PA, United States
Elijah Farrell Title: Council Member Population: 5730 Member since: 01.05.2020
Borough of State College, PA, United States
Borough of State College, PA, United States
Ronald L. Filippelli Title: Mayor Population: 42352 Member since: 01.10.2019
Broward County, FL, United States
Broward County, FL, United States
Title: Population: 1838844 Member since: 11.02.2009
Charleston County, SC, United States
Charleston County, SC, United States
Billi Tuten Title: County Administrator Population: 411406 Member since: 01.02.2021
Chatham County, NC, United States
Chatham County, NC, United States
Mike Dasher Title: Chair Population: 72243 Member since: 13.09.2016
City and Borough of Anchorage, AK, United States
City and Borough of Anchorage, AK, United States
Ethan A. Berkowitz Title: Mayor Population: 291826 Member since: 01.02.2020
City and County of Denver, CO, United States
City and County of Denver, CO, United States
Michael Hancock Title: Mayor Population: 693060 Member since: 31.01.1992
City and County of Honolulu, HI, United States
City and County of Honolulu, HI, United States
Rick Blangiadi Title: Mayor Population: 337256 Member since: 01.08.2018
City of Alameda, CA, United States
City of Alameda, CA, United States
Title: Population: 78906
City of Albany, NY, United States
City of Albany, NY, United States
Kathy Sheehan Title: Mayor Population: 97856 Member since: 01.05.2020
City of Alexandria, VA, United States
City of Alexandria, VA, United States
Justin Wilson Title: Mayor Population: 150575 Member since: 07.04.2008
City of Ann Arbor, MI, United States
City of Ann Arbor, MI, United States
Christopher Taylor Title: Mayor Population: 116121 Member since: 11.04.2001
City of Antioch, CA, United States
City of Antioch, CA, United States
Sean Wright Title: Mayor Population: 108930 Member since: 31.10.2007
City of Asheville, NC, United States
City of Asheville, NC, United States
Esther Manheimer Title: Mayor Population: 83393 Member since: 01.11.2020
City of Ashland, OR, United States
City of Ashland, OR, United States
John Stromberg Title: Mayor Population: 21639 Member since: 20.02.2007
City of Aspen, CO, United States
City of Aspen, CO, United States
Located high in the Rocky Mountains, Aspen is the 53rd largest city in the state of Colorado. Two hundred miles southwest of Denver and 130 miles east of Grand Junction, it is at the Southeastern end of the Roaring Fork Valley. Aspen encompasses 3.66 square miles and is a relatively flat valley floor surrounded on three sides by Aspen, Smuggler and Red Mountains. It was founded in 1880 and incorporated in 1881. Aspen is internationally renowned as a winter and summer resort.
Torre Title: Mayor Population: 8427 Member since: 10.03.1997
City of Auburn, WA, United States
City of Auburn, WA, United States
Nancy Backus Title: Mayor Population: 77472 Member since: 13.09.2016
City of Austin, TX, United States
City of Austin, TX, United States
Chartered in 1839 as the capital of the Republic of Texas, Austin became the state capital when Texas was admitted to the Union in 1846 as the twenty-eighth state. Austin is now the fourth largest city in the state and the fifteenth most populous city in the nation with total resident count of 842,592. Austin is located in Travis County, which has a total population of 1.096 million.
Leslie Pool Title: Council Member Population: 912791 Member since: 29.10.1993
City of Bainbridge Island, WA, United States
City of Bainbridge Island, WA, United States
Joe Deets Title: Council Member Population: 24846 Member since: 01.04.2019
City of Baltimore, MD, United States
City of Baltimore, MD, United States
Title: Population: 622793 Member since: 22.10.2012
City of Bath, ME, United States
City of Bath, ME, United States
Mari Eosco Title: City Councilor, Chair Population: 8329 Member since: 01.04.2019
City of Beacon, NY, United States
City of Beacon, NY, United States
Title: Population: 14523 Member since: 01.05.2019
City of Beaverton, OR, United States
City of Beaverton, OR, United States
Lacy Beaty Title: Mayor Population: 93542 Member since: 05.10.2007
City of Belfast, ME, United States
City of Belfast, ME, United States
Eric Sanders Title: Mayor Population: 6668 Member since: 01.01.2020
City of Bellevue, WA, United States
City of Bellevue, WA, United States
John Chelminiak Title: Mayor Population: 120000 Member since: 01.10.2019
City of Bellingham, WA, United States
City of Bellingham, WA, United States
Seth Fleetwood Title: Mayor Population: 87574 Member since: 01.12.2015
City of Bend, OR, United States
City of Bend, OR, United States
Sally Russell Title: Mayor Population: 91122 Member since: 01.01.2018
City of Benicia, CA, United States
City of Benicia, CA, United States
Title: Population: 27618 Member since: 19.11.2007
City of Berkeley, CA, United States
City of Berkeley, CA, United States
Jesse Arreguín Title: Mayor Population: 118853 Member since: 20.03.2019
City of Biddeford, ME, United States
City of Biddeford, ME, United States
William Emhiser Title: Ward 1 Councilor Population: 21514 Member since: 01.04.2021
City of Binghamton, NY, United States
City of Binghamton, NY, United States
Richard C. David Title: Mayor Population: 45672 Member since: 01.01.2010
City of Birmingham, AL, United States
City of Birmingham, AL, United States
Randall Woodfin Title: Mayor Population: 212237 Member since: 01.09.2017
City of Bloomington, IN, United States
City of Bloomington, IN, United States
John Hamilton Title: Mayor Population: 80405 Member since: 01.01.2010
City of Boise, ID, United States
City of Boise, ID, United States
Lauren McLean Title: Mayor Population: 223154 Member since: 01.01.2017
City of Boulder, CO, United States
City of Boulder, CO, United States
In 2007, Boulder was the first city in the USA to enforce a carbon tax.
Sam Weaver Title: Mayor Population: 105112 Member since: 19.03.2007
City of Bowling Green, OH, United States
City of Bowling Green, OH, United States
Michael Aspacher Title: Mayor Population: 31504 Member since: 01.08.2021
City of Boynton Beach, FL, United States
City of Boynton Beach, FL, United States
Steven B. Grant Title: Mayor Population: 69654 Member since: 25.04.2008
City of Bozeman, MT, United States
City of Bozeman, MT, United States
Carson Taylor Title: Mayor Population: 45250 Member since: 27.06.2007
City of Burien, WA, United States
City of Burien, WA, United States
Jimmy Matta Title: Mayor Population: 33313 Member since: 01.11.2019
City of Cambridge, MA, United States
City of Cambridge, MA, United States
Marc McGovern Title: Mayor Population: 110651 Member since: 09.02.2001
City of Campbell, CA, United States
City of Campbell, CA, United States
Title: Population: 40939 Member since: 15.02.2018
City of Cedar Rapids, IA, United States
City of Cedar Rapids, IA, United States
Brad G. Hart Title: Mayor Population: 133174 Member since: 01.05.2020
City of Charleston, SC, United States
City of Charleston, SC, United States
John Tecklenburg Title: Mayor Population: 130113 Member since: 05.04.2007
City of Charlottesville, VA, United States
City of Charlottesville, VA, United States
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Nikuyah Walker Title: Mayor Population: 46912 Member since: 16.04.2007
City of Chula Vista, CA, United States
City of Chula Vista, CA, United States
Mary Casillas Salas Title: Mayor Population: 260988 Member since: 02.03.1994
City of Cincinnati, OH, United States
City of Cincinnati, OH, United States
John J. Cranley Title: Mayor Population: 297517 Member since: 28.04.2008
City of Clearwater, FL, United States
City of Clearwater, FL, United States
Title: Population: 116478 Member since: 01.09.2019
City of College Park, MD, United States
City of College Park, MD, United States
Patrick L. Wojahn Title: Mayor Population: 32275 Member since: 16.05.2007
City of Collinsville, IL, United States
City of Collinsville, IL, United States
Mitchell Bair Title: City Manager Population: 25800 Member since: 01.02.2021
City of Colorado Springs, CO, United States
City of Colorado Springs, CO, United States
Richard Skorman Title: Councilmember Population: 478221 Member since: 01.07.2021
City of Columbia, MO, United States
City of Columbia, MO, United States
Brian Treece Title: Mayor Population: 120412 Member since: 01.01.2019
City of Columbia, SC, United States
City of Columbia, SC, United States
The City of Columbia, South Carolina is deemed “Famously Hot” for its infamous hot summer days. Columbia is the capital of South Carolina and the largest city in the state. It lies at the confluence of the Saluda River and the Broad River, which merge at Columbia to form the Congaree River. Columbia is also home to the University of South Carolina, the state’s flagship and largest university, and is also the site for Fort Jackson, the largest US Army installation for Basic Combat Training.
Steve Benjamin Title: Mayor Population: 133803 Member since: 01.05.2020
City of Columbus, IN, United States
City of Columbus, IN, United States
Jim Lienhoop Title: Mayor Population: 47051 Member since: 01.08.2018
City of Columbus, OH, United States
City of Columbus, OH, United States
Andrew J. Ginther Title: Mayor Population: 835957
City of Concord, NH, United States
City of Concord, NH, United States
Jim Bouley Title: Mayor Population: 42904 Member since: 01.07.2021
City of Creve Coeur, MO, United States
City of Creve Coeur, MO, United States
Barry L. Glantz Title: Mayor Population: 16759 Member since: 07.05.2008
City of Cupertino, CA, United States
City of Cupertino, CA, United States
Savita Vaidhyanathan Title: Mayor Population: 58302 Member since: 08.01.2020
City of Dallas, TX, United States
City of Dallas, TX, United States
Eric Johnson Title: Mayor Population: 1317929 Member since: 01.10.2017
City of Davis, CA, United States
City of Davis, CA, United States
Title: Population: 68111 Member since: 11.05.2007
City of Decatur, GA, United States
City of Decatur, GA, United States
Patricia “Patti” Garrett Title: Mayor Population: 25696 Member since: 01.01.2021
City of Deerfield Beach, FL, United States
City of Deerfield Beach, FL, United States
Title: Population: 75018
City of DeKalb, IL, United States
City of DeKalb, IL, United States
Jerry Smith Title: Mayor Population: 43152 Member since: 01.01.2019
City of Delray Beach, FL, United States
City of Delray Beach, FL, United States
Shelley Petrolia Title: Mayor Population: 67371 Member since: 01.02.2017
City of Denton, TX, United States
City of Denton, TX, United States
Chris Watts Title: Mayor Population: 133808 Member since: 01.02.2006
City of Des Moines, IA, United States
City of Des Moines, IA, United States
T.M. Franklin Cownie Title: Mayor Population: 209220 Member since: 12.02.2008
City of Dublin, CA, United States
City of Dublin, CA, United States
David Haubert Title: Mayor Population: 59583 Member since: 26.09.2007
City of Duluth, MN, United States
City of Duluth, MN, United States
Emily Larson Title: Mayor Population: 86238 Member since: 01.11.2020
City of Dunedin, FL, United States
City of Dunedin, FL, United States
Julie Ward Bujalski Title: Mayor Population: 36381 Member since: 01.02.2018
City of Durango, CO, United States
City of Durango, CO, United States
Christina Rinderle Title: Mayor Population: 18503 Member since: 17.12.2013
City of Durham, NC, United States
City of Durham, NC, United States
Steve Schewel Title: Mayor Population: 274291 Member since: 01.12.2019
City of East Lansing, MI, United States
City of East Lansing, MI, United States
Mark S. Meadows Title: Mayor Population: 48579
City of Eau Claire, WI, United States
City of Eau Claire, WI, United States
Andrew Werthmann Title: Council Vice President / Acting President Population: 66278 Member since: 22.10.2012
City of Edmonds, WA, United States
City of Edmonds, WA, United States
Title: Population: 41840 Member since: 01.08.2017
Don Iveson Title: Mayor Population: 899447 Member since: 17.01.1992
City of Elk Grove, CA, United States
City of Elk Grove, CA, United States
Jason Berhmann Title: City Manager Population: 174775 Member since: 03.01.2021
City of Encinitas, CA, United States
City of Encinitas, CA, United States
Title: Population: 63131 Member since: 01.01.2010
City of Eugene, OR, United States
City of Eugene, OR, United States
Lucy Vinis Title: Mayor Population: 166575 Member since: 17.12.2013
City of Fayetteville, AR, United States
City of Fayetteville, AR, United States
Lioneld Jordan Title: Mayor Population: 85257 Member since: 01.01.2020
City of Ferndale, MI, United States
City of Ferndale, MI, United States
Melanie Plana Title: Mayor Population: 20075 Member since: 01.03.2020
City of Flagstaff, AZ, United States
City of Flagstaff, AZ, United States
Paul Deasy Title: Mayor Population: 68785 Member since: 16.06.2008
City of Florence, AL, United States
City of Florence, AL, United States
Steve Holt Title: Mayor Population: 39959 Member since: 01.09.2017
City of Fort Collins, CO, United States
City of Fort Collins, CO, United States
Located in northern Colorado, Fort Collins is home to Colorado State University and an outstanding public school system. Fort Collins offers its 161,000 residents exciting recreational opportunities, unique cultural offerings, live music and local food. The city is also a regional center for employment and shopping. Fort Collins is committed to achieving a sustainable future and approaches sustainability efforts with a triple bottom line approach.
Title: Population: 161000 Member since: 03.03.2009
City of Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
City of Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
Dean Trantalis Title: Mayor Population: 178752 Member since: 01.01.2010
City of Foster City, CA, United States
City of Foster City, CA, United States
Title: Population: 30567 Member since: 03.04.2008
City of Freeport, ME, United States
City of Freeport, ME, United States
John Egan Title: Council Chair Population: 8039 Member since: 01.12.2020
City of Fremont, CA, United States
City of Fremont, CA, United States
Lily Mei Title: Mayor Population: 220000 Member since: 09.11.2007
City of Gainesville, FL, United States
City of Gainesville, FL, United States
Lee Feldman Title: City Manager Population: 124354 Member since: 01.11.2020
City of Gaithersburg, MD, United States
City of Gaithersburg, MD, United States
Jud Ashman Title: Mayor Population: 67776 Member since: 10.10.2007
City of Gonzales, LA, United States
City of Goshen, IN, United States
City of Goshen, IN, United States
Title: Population: 33566 Member since: 01.12.2019
City of Granite City, IL, United States
City of Granite City, IL, United States
Title: Population: 28746 Member since: 01.01.2020
City of Greenbelt, MD, United States
City of Greenbelt, MD, United States
Emmett V. Jordan Title: Mayor Population: 23909
City of Greenville, SC, United States
City of Greenville, SC, United States
Knox H. White Title: Mayor Population: 66928 Member since: 01.07.2018
City of Hallandale Beach, FL, United States
City of Hallandale Beach, FL, United States
Sabrina Javellana Title: Vice Mayor Population: 37113 Member since: 01.11.2019
Fred Eisenberger Title: Mayor Population: 536917 Member since: 17.01.1992
City of Harrisonburg, VA, United States
City of Harrisonburg, VA, United States
Richard Baugh Title: Council Member Population: 40468 Member since: 01.09.2020
City of Hattiesburg, MS, United States
City of Hattiesburg, MS, United States
Toby Barker Title: Mayor Population: 45951 Member since: 01.02.2019
City of Hayward, CA, United States
City of Hayward, CA, United States
Barbara Halliday Title: Mayor Population: 149392 Member since: 13.06.2007
City of Helena, MT, United States
City of Helena, MT, United States
Wilmot Collins Title: Mayor Population: 30809 Member since: 01.10.2018
City of Hoboken, NJ, United States
City of Hoboken, NJ, United States
Ravinder Bhalla Title: Mayor Population: 55044 Member since: 01.10.2018
City of Holland, MI, United States
City of Holland, MI, United States
Nathan Bocks Title: Mayor Population: 33543 Member since: 01.11.2017
City of Homer, AK, United States
City of Homer, AK, United States
Donna Aderhold Title: Council Member Population: 5003 Member since: 01.07.2020
City of Irvine, CA, United States
City of Irvine, CA, United States
Christina L. Shea Title: Mayor Population: 266122 Member since: 05.11.2001
City of Jersey City, NJ, United States
City of Jersey City, NJ, United States
Steven M. Fulop Title: Mayor Population: 247597 Member since: 01.04.2019
City of Kalamazoo, MI, United States
City of Kalamazoo, MI, United States
Jeanne Hess Title: Commissioner Population: 76200 Member since: 01.12.2020
City of Keene, NH, United States
City of Keene, NH, United States
Kendall W. Lane Title: Mayor Population: 23409 Member since: 30.07.2007
City of Kenmore, WA, United States
City of Kenmore, WA, United States
Title: Population: 23097 Member since: 01.07.2020
City of Kent, OH, United States
City of Kent, OH, United States
Jerry T. Fiala Title: Mayor Population: 30071 Member since: 01.05.2018
City of Key West, FL, United States
City of Key West, FL, United States
Teri Johnston Title: Mayor Population: 26990 Member since: 17.09.2007
City of Kirkland, WA, United States
City of Kirkland, WA, United States
Penny Sweet Title: Mayor Population: 87701 Member since: 05.03.2007
City of Kirksville, MO, United States
City of Kirksville, MO, United States
Title: Population: 17602 Member since: 01.06.2021
City of Kirkwood, MO, United States
City of Kirkwood, MO, United States
Timothy E. Griffin Title: Mayor Population: 27609 Member since: 01.01.2010
City of Knoxville, TN, United States
City of Knoxville, TN, United States
Indya Kincannon Title: Mayor Population: 183270 Member since: 13.09.2016
City of La Crosse, WI, United States
City of La Crosse, WI, United States
Tim Kabat Title: Mayor Population: 51567 Member since: 01.12.2020
City of Lakewood, CO, United States
City of Lakewood, CO, United States
Adam Paul Title: Mayor Population: 154393 Member since: 01.05.2015
City of Lakewood, WA, United States
City of Lakewood, WA, United States
Don Anderson Title: Mayor Population: 60111 Member since: 01.11.2020
City of Lander, WY, United States
City of Lander, WY, United States
Melinda Cox Title: Councilmember Population: 7458 Member since: 01.06.2021
City of Lansing, MI, United States
City of Lansing, MI, United States
Andy Schor Title: Mayor Population: 114297 Member since: 01.12.2019
City of Laramie, WY, United States
City of Laramie, WY, United States
Erin O’Doherty Title: Council Member Population: 32473 Member since: 01.03.2020
City of Lawrence, KS, United States
City of Lawrence, KS, United States
Lisa Larsen Title: Mayor Population: 95358 Member since: 04.09.2007
City of Leon Valley, TX, United States
City of Leon Valley, TX, United States
Chris Riley Title: Mayor Population: 11485 Member since: 01.04.2019
City of Livingston, MT, United States
City of Livingston, MT, United States
Title: Population: 7784 Member since: 01.04.2019
City of Logan, UT, United States
City of Logan, UT, United States
Title: Population: 51542 Member since: 01.05.2021
City of Long Beach, CA, United States
City of Long Beach, CA, United States
Robert Garcia Title: Mayor Population: 469428 Member since: 01.04.2020
City of Los Altos, CA, United States
City of Los Altos, CA, United States
Neysa Filgor Title: Mayor Population: 7922 Member since: 01.03.2021
City of Madison, WI, United States
City of Madison, WI, United States
Paul R. Soglin Title: Mayor Population: 252551
City of Maitland, FL, United States
City of Maitland, FL, United States
A. Dale McDonald Title: Mayor Population: 17652 Member since: 01.01.2021
City of McCall, ID, United States
City of McCall, ID, United States
Robert Giles Title: Honorable Mayor Population: 3470 Member since: 01.10.2020
City of Menlo Park, CA, United States
City of Menlo Park, CA, United States
Title: Population: 33888 Member since: 27.06.2007
City of Miami, FL, United States
City of Miami, FL, United States
Francis Suarez Title: Mayor Population: 417650 Member since: 07.05.2007
City of Milwaukee, WI, United States
City of Milwaukee, WI, United States
Tom Barrett Title: Mayor Population: 594833 Member since: 21.05.2007
City of Milwaukie, OR, United States
City of Milwaukie, OR, United States
Mark Gamba Title: Mayor Population: 20929 Member since: 01.02.2018
City of Minneapolis, MN, United States
City of Minneapolis, MN, United States
Minneapolis is the largest city (by population) in the state of Minnesota. It is bisected by the Mississippi River and shares an eastern border with the state’s political capital, it’s “twin” city, Saint Paul. Minneapolis has one of the best public park systems in the country, has extensive bicycling routes and trails, hosts two light rail lines; and has plans to double its downtown residential population to 70,000 by 2025.
Jacob Frey Title: Mayor Population: 407207 Member since: 24.09.1992
City of Missoula, MT, United States
City of Missoula, MT, United States
John Engen Title: Mayor Population: 72364 Member since: 22.02.2007
City of Monterey, CA, United States
City of Monterey, CA, United States
Clyde Roberson Title: Mayor Population: 28454 Member since: 21.04.2008
City of Montpelier, VT, United States
City of Montpelier, VT, United States
Anne Watson Title: Mayor Population: 7436 Member since: 01.05.2019
City of Moscow, ID, United States
City of Moscow, ID, United States
Bill Lambert Title: Mayor Population: 23800
City of Mountain View, CA, United States
City of Mountain View, CA, United States
Alison Hicks Title: Councilmember Population: 74066 Member since: 01.05.2021
City of New Haven, CT, United States
City of New Haven, CT, United States
Justin Elicker Title: Mayor Population: 130768 Member since: 01.01.2019
City of New Rochelle, NY, United States
City of New Rochelle, NY, United States
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Noam Bramson Title: Mayor Population: 77062 Member since: 06.01.2009
City of New York, NY, United States
City of New York, NY, United States
Bill de Blasio Title: Mayor Population: 8491079 Member since: 04.03.1999
City of Newark, CA, United States
City of Newark, CA, United States
Alan L. Nagy Title: Mayor Population: 45810 Member since: 27.11.2007
City of Newark, NJ, United States
City of Newark, NJ, United States
Title: Population: 277140 Member since: 01.08.2020
City of Newberg, OR, United States
City of Newberg, OR, United States
Title: Population: 23844 Member since: 01.11.2019
City of Newburyport, MA, United States
City of Newburyport, MA, United States
Donna Holaday Title: Mayor Population: 17987 Member since: 01.04.2018
City of North Miami, FL, United States
City of North Miami, FL, United States
Smith Joseph Title: Mayor Population: 62435 Member since: 18.10.2007
City of Oakland Park, FL, United States
City of Oakland Park, FL, United States
Jane Bolin Title: Mayor Population: 44326 Member since: 01.09.2017
City of Oberlin, OH, United States
City of Oberlin, OH, United States
Bryan Burgess Title: Council President Population: 8331 Member since: 11.04.2007
City of Olympia, WA, United States
City of Olympia, WA, United States
The City of Olympia is the Washington State capital and is located at the southern end of Puget Sound on Budd Inlet. Olympia is approximately 60 miles south of Seattle, Washington’s largest City. Olympia receives an average rainfall of 50 inches per year. City streets, creeks and rivers often flood in the months of November through February. The monthly mean temperature ranges from 38.4 °F in December to 64.1 °F in August. Seasonal snowfall for 1981–2010 averaged 10.8 inches.
Cheryl Selby Title: Mayor Population: 51020 Member since: 10.06.1991
City of Orlando, FL, United States
City of Orlando, FL, United States
Buddy Dyer Title: Mayor Population: 285713 Member since: 01.04.2019
City of Oxford, OH, United States
City of Oxford, OH, United States
Kate Rousmaniere Title: Mayor Population: 22885 Member since: 01.03.2019
City of Palmdale, CA, United States
City of Palmdale, CA, United States
Steven Hofbauer Title: Mayor Population: 157356 Member since: 17.12.2013
City of Palo Alto, CA, United States
City of Palo Alto, CA, United States
Eric Filseth Title: Mayor Population: 67024 Member since: 15.02.2007
City of Park City Municipal Corporation, UT, United States
City of Park City Municipal Corporation, UT, United States
Andy Beerman Title: Mayor Population: 7558 Member since: 01.03.2017
City of Peekskill, NY, United States
City of Peekskill, NY, United States
Kathie Talbot Title: Deputy Mayor Population: 24746 Member since: 01.08.2019
City of Pensacola, FL, United States
City of Pensacola, FL, United States
Title: Population: 52713 Member since: 01.03.2020
City of Peoria, AZ, United States
City of Peoria, AZ, United States
Cathy Carlat Title: Mayor Population: 163226 Member since: 01.05.2020
City of Philadelphia, PA, United States
City of Philadelphia, PA, United States
James Kenney Title: Mayor Population: 1560297 Member since: 05.10.2007
City of Piedmont, CA, United States
City of Piedmont, CA, United States
Robert McBain Title: Mayor Population: 11353 Member since: 11.01.2007
City of Pittsburgh, PA, United States
City of Pittsburgh, PA, United States
William Peduto Title: Mayor Population: 303625 Member since: 13.01.2016
City of Port Angeles, WA, United States
City of Port Angeles, WA, United States
Title: Population: 20076 Member since: 01.10.2019
City of Portland, OR, United States
City of Portland, OR, United States
Portland’s commitment to sustainability began before the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, and has resulted in the city developing strategies that incorporate municipal policy and urban planning to foster growth of the green economy and create more liveable neighborhoods. The city has worked to integrate sustainability principles throughout all of its operations and policies.
Ted Wheeler Title: Mayor Population: 619360 Member since: 22.07.1991
City of Portsmouth, NH, United States
City of Portsmouth, NH, United States
Title: Population: 21485 Member since: 08.01.2007
City of Redmond, WA, United States
City of Redmond, WA, United States
Angela Birney Title: Mayor Population: 52406 Member since: 01.01.2020
City of Reno, NV, United States
City of Reno, NV, United States
Title: Population: 245255 Member since: 14.04.2016
City of Richmond, VA, United States
City of Richmond, VA, United States
Levar M. Stoney Title: Mayor Population: 217853 Member since: 12.11.2007
City of Riverside, CA, United States
City of Riverside, CA, United States
William Bailey III Title: Mayor Population: 324722 Member since: 12.09.2007
City of Roanoke, VA, United States
City of Roanoke, VA, United States
Sherman P. Lea, Sr. Title: Mayor Population: 99660 Member since: 02.03.2007
City of Rochester, NY, United States
City of Rochester, NY, United States
Lovely A. Warren Title: Mayor Population: 206759 Member since: 17.12.2013
City of Rockland, ME, United States
City of Rockland, ME, United States
Lisa Weastkaemper Title: Mayor Population: 7146 Member since: 01.03.2020
City of Rockville, MD, United States
City of Rockville, MD, United States
Bridget Donnell Newton Title: Mayor Population: 67331 Member since: 01.10.2018
City of Roeland Park, KS, United States
City of Roeland Park, KS, United States
Title: Population: 6786
City of Saint Paul, MN, United States
City of Saint Paul, MN, United States
The City of Saint Paul is the capital city of the state of Minnesota, and helps make up the 16th largest metro area in the United States. Saint Paul serves over 300,000 residents, 6,000 businesses, state and county government, and a dozen colleges and universities. Saint Paul is a diverse and dynamic community located on the Mississippi River that is leading innovative city-building work with ongoing commitments to creating vibrant places and spaces throughout the city and putting people first.
Melvin Carter Title: Mayor Population: 304000 Member since: 25.07.1995
City of Saint Petersburg, FL, United States
City of Saint Petersburg, FL, United States
Rick Kriseman Title: Mayor Population: 260999 Member since: 01.05.2021
City of Salem, OR, United States
City of Salem, OR, United States
Chuck Bennett Title: Honorable Mayor Population: 174365 Member since: 01.09.2020
City of Salisbury, MD, United States
City of Salisbury, MD, United States
Title: Population: 28327 Member since: 01.02.2020
City of San Antonio, TX, United States
City of San Antonio, TX, United States
San Antonio is one of the most unique American destinations, tracing her roots to 1691 when Spanish missionaries discovered the beautiful San Antonio River and its springs. Today, the city is the seventh-largest in the U.S., with a population of 1.3 million residents and 25 million visitors a year. San Antonio’s one-of-a-kind River Walk is the lifeline of this charming city, anchoring a vibrant downtown that sits in the very heart of South Texas. It flows past lively restaurants and clubs, world-class hotels and spas, historic villages and museums. Not far from the River Walk is the iconic Alamo, a Spanish mission that in 1836 was the site of a 13-day battle between the Mexican Army and Texas defenders. The Alamo is one of the most-visited destinations in Texas. Many cultural groups have influenced San Antonio, including Spanish, Mexican, German, Native American, French, Irish and more. The city’s architecture, industries, food, traditions and customs reflect its multicultural origins, making it a place of contrasts—old world and new, quaint and contemporary. From the historic downtown area to the surrounding Texas Hill Country, San Antonio embodies the charm and culture of an authentic American city.
Ron Nirenberg Title: Mayor Population: 1469845 Member since: 01.03.2020
City of San Jose, CA, United States
City of San Jose, CA, United States
Samuel Theodore Liccardo Title: Mayor Population: 1031942 Member since: 01.12.2018
City of Santa Ana, CA, United States
City of Santa Ana, CA, United States
Vicente Sarmiento Title: Mayor Population: 334217
City of Santa Cruz, CA, United States
City of Santa Cruz, CA, United States
Santa Cruz is the County seat nestled between the oceans and mountains where public agencies and residents are mutually committed to progressive climate protection policies and actions. City climate activities are coordinated through the City’s Climate Action Program, housed in the City Manager’s office.
Martine Watkins Title: Mayor Population: 63789 Member since: 17.08.2001
City of Santa Fe, NM, United States
City of Santa Fe, NM, United States
Santa Fe is the second oldest city in the United States and is a cultural center for the Southwest. The city is a gathering place for writers and artists. The capital of the state of New Mexico, Santa Fe is a blend of Native American, Spanish, New Mexican, and Anglo (English) cultures. Santa Fe is also a center for commerce, light industry, and science and technology.
Alan Webber Title: Mayor Population: 83500 Member since: 14.09.2007
City of Santa Monica, CA, United States
City of Savannah, GA, United States
City of Savannah, GA, United States
Vanessa Johnson Title: Mayor Population: 146763 Member since: 28.08.2007
City of Scottsdale, AZ, United States
City of Scottsdale, AZ, United States
Solange Whitehead Title: Councilmember Population: 250602 Member since: 01.05.2021
City of Sedona, AZ, United States
City of Sedona, AZ, United States
Sandy Moriarty Title: Mayor Population: 10336 Member since: 01.10.2018
City of Shoreline, WA, United States
City of Shoreline, WA, United States
Chris Roberts Title: Mayor Population: 55333 Member since: 01.03.2021
City of Sioux Falls, SD, United States
City of Sioux Falls, SD, United States
Title: Population: 151505 Member since: 01.11.2020
City of Snoqualmie, WA, United States
City of Snoqualmie, WA, United States
Matthew R. Larson Title: Mayor Population: 13190
City of South Bend, IN, United States
City of South Bend, IN, United States
James Mueller Title: Mayor Population: 101735 Member since: 17.11.2008
City of South Lake Tahoe, CA, United States
City of South Lake Tahoe, CA, United States
John Friedrich Title: City Council Member Population: 21717 Member since: 01.02.2021
City of Spartanburg, SC, United States
City of Spartanburg, SC, United States
Junie White Title: Mayor Population: 37876 Member since: 01.03.2018
City of Spokane, WA, United States
City of Spokane, WA, United States
Breean Beggs Title: Council Member Population: 217300 Member since: 01.06.2020
City of Stamford, CT, United States
City of Stamford, CT, United States
Matthew Quinones Title: President of the Board Population: 122643 Member since: 01.04.2020
City of Tacoma, WA, United States
City of Tacoma, WA, United States
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and is the county seat of Pierce County, Washington. The City of Tacoma is a coastal city, sitting on the Puget Sound, and is situated between Seattle and the state capital. Tacoma ranks as the third largest state in Washington and serves as the center of business activity for the South Sound region.
Victoria Woodards Title: Mayor Population: 202308 Member since: 19.07.2007
City of Tallahassee, FL, United States
City of Tallahassee, FL, United States
John Dailey Title: Mayor Population: 190894 Member since: 19.01.2000
City of Tarpon Springs, United States
City of Tarpon Springs, United States
Title: Population: 25577 Member since: 01.08.2020
City of Tempe, AZ, United States
City of Tempe, AZ, United States
Corey Woods Title: Mayor Population: 182498 Member since: 01.07.2017
City of Thousand Oaks, CA, United States
City of Thousand Oaks, CA, United States
Rob McCoy Title: Former Mayor Population: 128888 Member since: 01.09.2017
Bill Mauro Title: Mayor Population: 108359 Member since: 09.01.2013
John Tory Title: Mayor Population: 2731571 Member since: 01.12.1992
City of Union City, CA, United States
City of Union City, CA, United States
Title: Population: 75322 Member since: 19.03.2007
City of Urbana, IL, United States
City of Urbana, IL, United States
Urbana is part of the Urbana-Champaign micro-urban community. The term “micro-urban” applies to population centers of 250,000 or less that possess a highly uncommon set of desirable attributes normally exclusively associated with much larger metropolitan centers. Among these are an internationally diverse population, a strong technology base, a vibrant arts/culture/entertainment scene, and a palpably animated public discourse on major societal and global concerns.
Diane Marlin Title: Mayor Population: 41250 Member since: 26.11.2008
Kennedy Stewart Title: Mayor Population: 631486 Member since: 13.04.1993
City of Vancouver, WA, United States
City of Vancouver, WA, United States
Title: Member since: 01.06.2020
City of West Hollywood, CA, United States
City of West Hollywood, CA, United States
John D’Amico Title: Mayor Population: 36698 Member since: 01.05.2018
City of West Lafayette, IN, United States
City of West Lafayette, IN, United States
John R. Dennis Title: Mayor Population: 48308 Member since: 01.10.2019
City of Westminster, CO, United States
City of Westminster, CO, United States
Title: Population: 112798 Member since: 01.11.2018
City of Wheat Ridge, CO, United States
City of Wheat Ridge, CO, United States
Bud Starker Title: Mayor Population: 31324 Member since: 01.02.2021
City of Wilmington, NC, United States
City of Wilmington, NC, United States
David Ingram Title: Sustainability Program Manager Population: 122607 Member since: 01.05.2019
City of Wilton Manors, FL, United States
City of Wilton Manors, FL, United States
Justin Flippen Title: Mayor Population: 12682 Member since: 21.07.2016
City of Winter Park, FL, United States
City of Winter Park, FL, United States
Phil Anderson Title: Mayor Population: 30208 Member since: 01.05.2018
City of Ypsilanti, MI, United States
City of Ypsilanti, MI, United States
Steven Wilcoxen Title: City Council Member Population: 19621 Member since: 01.11.2019
County of Durham, NC, United States
County of Durham, NC, United States
Steve Schewel Title: Mayor Population: 306212 Member since: 22.05.2008
District of Columbia, United States
District of Columbia, United States
Muriel Bowser Title: Mayor Population: 693972 Member since: 20.02.2008
Eagle County, CO, United States
Eagle County, CO, United States
Kathey Chandler-Henry Title: County Commissioner Population: 54364 Member since: 01.07.2018
Eau Claire County, WI, United States
Eau Claire County, WI, United States
Title: Population: 101564 Member since: 01.12.2019
Ferguson Township, PA, United States
Ferguson Township, PA, United States
David G. Pribulka Title: Township Manager Population: 19350 Member since: 01.03.2018
Gunnison County, CO, United States
Gunnison County, CO, United States
Title: Population: 15725 Member since: 01.05.2021
Hawaii County, HI, United States
Hawaii County, HI, United States
Harry Kim Title: Mayor Population: 198449 Member since: 01.03.2018
Humboldt County, CA, United States
Humboldt County, CA, United States
Rex Bohn Title: Chairperson Population: 136373 Member since: 01.07.2019
Island County, WA, United States
Island County, WA, United States
Janet St. Clair Title: Commissioner Population: 85141 Member since: 01.12.2020
Jefferson County, CO, United States
Jefferson County, CO, United States
Title: Population: 565524 Member since: 01.01.2020
Jefferson County, WA, United States
Jefferson County, WA, United States
Kate Dean Title: County Commissioner Population: 31729 Member since: 01.04.2019
Kauai County, HI, United States
Kauai County, HI, United States
Derek Kawakami Title: Mayor Population: 72029 Member since: 01.04.2018
Leon County, FL, United States
Leon County, FL, United States
Title: Population: 287074 Member since: 01.11.2018
Manatee County, FL, United States
Manatee County, FL, United States
Title: Population: 394855 Member since: 01.11.2019
Maui County, HI, United States
Maui County, HI, United States
Michael Victorino Title: Mayor Population: 165386 Member since: 01.01.2017
Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, TN, United States
Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, TN, United States
David Briley Title: Mayor Population: 659042 Member since: 25.07.2008
Metropolitan King County, WA, United States
Metropolitan King County, WA, United States
Dow Constantine Title: County Executive Population: 2117125 Member since: 26.03.2007
Miami-Dade County, FL, United States
Miami-Dade County, FL, United States
Miami-Dade County encompasses more than 2,000 square miles (larger than Rhode Island and Delaware) along the southeast tip of the Florida peninsula. One-third of the western part of the County is located in Everglades National Park. Beautiful Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean are located to the east, the Florida Keys to the south, and Broward County to the north. The area has a fascinating history and ceremonial artifacts have been discovered dating back 2,000 years near the Miami River.
Carlos A. Gimenez Title: Mayor Population: 2674279 Member since: 31.10.1991
Milwaukee County, WI, United States
Milwaukee County, WI, United States
Chris Abele Title: County Executive Population: 956406 Member since: 01.01.2020
Missoula County, MT, United States
Missoula County, MT, United States
Nicole Rowley Title: County Commissioner and Chair Population: 116130 Member since: 01.12.2016
Monroe County, NY, United States
Monroe County, NY, United States
Adam Bello Title: County Executive Population: 749847 Member since: 01.04.2020
Montgomery County, MD, United States
Montgomery County, MD, United States
Marc Elrich Title: County Executive Population: 1048332 Member since: 01.11.2018
Orange County, FL, United States
Orange County, FL, United States
Jerry L. Demings Title: Mayor Population: 1314367 Member since: 10.06.2003
Pueblo County, CO, United States
Pueblo County, CO, United States
Garrison Ortiz Title: Commissioner Population: 163591 Member since: 01.10.2020
Santa Clara County, CA, United States
Santa Clara County, CA, United States
Title: Population: 1927852 Member since: 01.01.2021
Santa Fe County, NM, United States
Santa Fe County, NM, United States
Henry Roybal Title: Chairman Population: 148651 Member since: 01.06.2017
Sarasota County, FL, United States
Sarasota County, FL, United States
Shannon Staub Title: Chair Population: 433742 Member since: 01.08.2021
Snohomish County, WA, United States
Snohomish County, WA, United States
Dave Somers Title: County Executive Population: 713335 Member since: 28.11.2007
Solano County, CA, United States
Solano County, CA, United States
John Vasquez Title: Chairman Population: 440207 Member since: 02.12.2008
Summit County, UT, United States
Summit County, UT, United States
Tom Fisher Title: County Manager Population: 40307 Member since: 05.07.2007
Tompkins County, NY, United States
Tompkins County, NY, United States
Martha Robertson Title: Chair Population: 104871 Member since: 06.05.2007
Town of Acton, MA, United States
Town of Acton, MA, United States
Dean Charter Title: Selectman Population: 23633 Member since: 01.01.2017
Town of Andover, MA, United States
Town of Andover, MA, United States
Title: Population: 36500 Member since: 01.03.2021
Town of Apex, NC, United States
Town of Apex, NC, United States
Brett Gantt Title: Council Member Population: 67074 Member since: 01.10.2020
Town of Apple Valley, CA, United States
Town of Apple Valley, CA, United States
Curt Emick Title: Mayor Population: 73453 Member since: 01.02.2021
Town of Berwyn Heights, MD, United States
Town of Berwyn Heights, MD, United States
Title: Population: 3261 Member since: 01.06.2020
Town of Blacksburg, VA, United States
Town of Blacksburg, VA, United States
Blacksburg is a large college town, home to Virginia Tech, in the Appalachian foothills of southwest Virginia. Blacksburg has been actively working toward a clean energy future since signing on the the Mayors’ Climate Commitment back in 2007 and has set an 80×50 emissions reductions target, has performed a community-wide GHG emissions inventory and has developed a community wide Climate Action Plan.
Leslie Hager-Smith Title: Mayor Population: 42620 Member since: 01.02.2007
Town of Boone, NC, United States
Town of Boone, NC, United States
Title: Population: 19667 Member since: 01.04.2021
Town of Brattleboro, VT, United States
Town of Brattleboro, VT, United States
Title: Population: 11563 Member since: 01.04.2020
Town of Breckenridge, CO, United States
Town of Breckenridge, CO, United States
Eric Mamula Title: Mayor Population: 4896 Member since: 16.01.2009
Town of Camden, ME, United States
Town of Camden, ME, United States
Title: Population: 4825 Member since: 01.02.2019
Town of Carrboro, NC, United States
Town of Carrboro, NC, United States
Lydia Lavelle Title: Mayor Population: 19582 Member since: 08.10.2001
Town of Coupeville, WA, United States
Town of Coupeville, WA, United States
Title: Population: 1845 Member since: 26.08.2008
Town of Davie, FL, United States
Town of Davie, FL, United States
Judy Paul Title: Mayor Population: 101871
Town of Dedham, MA, United States
Town of Dedham, MA, United States
Title: Population: 24729 Member since: 18.07.2008
Town of Dover, NY, United States
Town of Dover, NY, United States
Linda French Title: Supervisor Population: 8424 Member since: 01.04.2018
Town of East Hampton, NY, United States
Town of East Hampton, NY, United States
Peter Van Scoyoc Title: Town Supervisor Population: 22009 Member since: 01.10.2017
Town of Gardiner, NY, United States
Town of Gardiner, NY, United States
Franco Carucci Title: Board Council Member Population: 5664 Member since: 01.04.2021
Rick Bonnette Title: Mayor Population: 61161 Member since: 09.02.2009
Town of Haverstraw, NY, United States
Town of Haverstraw, NY, United States
Title: Population: 12034 Member since: 01.02.2019
Town of Jackson, WY, United States
Town of Jackson, WY, United States
Title: Population: 10429 Member since: 01.04.2019
Town of Kennebunk, ME, United States
Town of Kennebunk, ME, United States
Title: Population: 11529 Member since: 01.04.2019
Town of Kennebunkport, ME, United States
Town of Kennebunkport, ME, United States
Title: Population: 3639 Member since: 01.07.2019
Town of Kittery, ME, United States
Town of Kittery, ME, United States
Judy Spiller Title: Chair, Town Council Population: 9846 Member since: 01.10.2020
Town of Lexington, MA, United States
Town of Lexington, MA, United States
Suzanne E. Barry Title: Mayor Population: 33410 Member since: 01.10.2020
Town of Los Gatos, CA, United States
Town of Los Gatos, CA, United States
Title: Population: 30545 Member since: 01.02.2018
Town of New Hartford, NY, United States
Town of New Hartford, NY, United States
Paul Miscione Title: Supervisor Population: 21992 Member since: 01.11.2018
Town of New Paltz, NY, United States
Town of New Paltz, NY, United States
Neil Bettez Title: Supervisor Population: 7221 Member since: 01.01.2019
Town of San Anselmo, CA, United States
Town of Superior, CO, United States
Town of Superior, CO, United States
Tim Howard Title: Board Trustee Population: 13087 Member since: 01.05.2021
Town of Surfside, FL, United States
Town of Surfside, FL, United States
Daniel Dietch Title: Mayor Population: 5802 Member since: 01.01.2019
Town of Tuxedo, NY, United States
Town of Tuxedo, NY, United States
Kenneth English Title: Town Supervisor Population: 3536 Member since: 01.06.2021
Town of Vail, CO, United States
Town of Vail, CO, United States
Kim Langmaid Title: Mayor Pro Tem Population: 5483 Member since: 01.08.2021
Town of Wellesley, MA, United States
Town of Wellesley, MA, United States
Jack Morgan Title: Chair Population: 29215 Member since: 24.08.2008
Town of Westfield, NJ, United States
Town of Westfield, NJ, United States
Shelley Brindle Title: Mayor Population: 29512 Member since: 01.06.2021
Town of Windsor, CA, United States
Town of Windsor, CA, United States
Dominic Foppoli Title: Mayor Population: 27555 Member since: 01.05.2017
Town of York, ME, United States
Town of York, ME, United States
Todd A. Frederick Title: Chairman Population: 13737 Member since: 24.12.2008
Town of Yountville, CA, United States
Town of Yountville, CA, United States
John Dunbar Title: Mayor Population: 3010 Member since: 15.10.2008
Travis County, TX, United States
Travis County, TX, United States
Brigid Shea Title: Commissioner Population: 1199323 Member since: 13.06.2016
Ulster County, NY, United States
Ulster County, NY, United States
Title: Population: 182493 Member since: 01.07.2020
Ventura County, CA, United States
Ventura County, CA, United States
Title: Population: 849738 Member since: 05.02.2008
Village of Ardsley, United States
Village of Ardsley, United States
Steve Edelstein Title: Trustee Population: 4502 Member since: 01.05.2021
Village of Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, United States
Village of Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, United States
Nicola Armacost Title: Mayor Population: 7715 Member since: 26.08.2008
Village of Lancaster, NY, United States
Village of Lancaster, NY, United States
Title: Population: 10118 Member since: 01.04.2020
Village of Mount Kisco, NY, United States
Village of Mount Kisco, NY, United States
Peter Grunthal Title: Village Trustee Population: 11103 Member since: 01.03.2018
Village of Nyack, NY, United States
Village of Nyack, NY, United States
Don Hammond Title: Mayor Population: 7185 Member since: 01.03.2019
Village of Oak Park, IL, United States
Village of Oak Park, IL, United States
Anan Abu-Taleb Title: Mayor Population: 51878 Member since: 01.02.2020
Village of Park Forest, IL, United States
Village of Park Forest, IL, United States
Jonathan Vanderbilt Title: Mayor and Board President Population: 21975 Member since: 01.11.2017
Village of Pinecrest, FL, United States
Village of Pinecrest, FL, United States
Title: Population: 18223
Village of Pleasantville, NY, United States
Village of Pleasantville, NY, United States
Peter Scherer Title: Mayor Population: 7150 Member since: 01.01.2019
Village of Tuxedo Park, NY, United States
Village of Tuxedo Park, NY, United States
Title: Population: 600 Member since: 01.07.2021
Washtenaw County, MI, United States
Washtenaw County, MI, United States
Sue Shink Title: Commissioner Population: 344791 Member since: 01.12.2019
Whatcom County, WA, United States

NOTE: The I.C.L.E.I. has now hidden the above information from view, ONLY REGARDING LOCATIONS WITHIN THE UNTIED STATES. (You can still view each location individually by going to this link at the I.C.L.E.I. members page, then starting on page 12 through page 17, you can view each city and county in which I.C.L.E.I. has operatives; and by clicking on each individual location you can obtain the name of the individual, the address and thier level of involvement.  For example, on page 17:

United States, North America

City of Coral Springs, FL

MayorScott Brook
POPULATION134394
POPULATION YEAR2020
MEMBER SINCE01/01/2022

Here is a link back to Episode 5

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN – Part 12

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN– Part 12

John 1:24-28, says, And the messengers had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, saying, “I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. It is He who comes after me, of whom I am not worthy even to untie the strap of His sandal.” These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing people.

Apart from Jesus Christ, John the Baptist is probably the most theologically significant figure in the Gospels. As was the case with Jesus, his birth was meticulously recorded ( Luke 1:5-25 ). His entrance into the world was marked by angelic proclamation and divine intervention ( Luke 1:57-80 ). John’s birth not only parallels that of Jesus, but echoes the momentous occasion of the birth of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah ( Genesis 17:15-22 ; 21:1-7 ). John is clearly a pivotal figure in the salvation history of God.

Although his formative years were lived in obscurity in the desert ( Luke 1:80 ), his public ministry ended nearly four hundred years of prophetic silence. John was that voice crying in the wilderness, preparing the way for the coming Messiah.

The central theme of his ministry was, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” ( Matthew 3:2 ), which was also the message and teaching of Jesus.

John was an end-times prophet. He conducted his ministry with an eschatological authority that demanded immediate action. He taught that judgment is at hand. The axe is laid to the roots and God will thoroughly purge his threshing floor ( Matthew 3:10-12 ; Luke 3:9 Luke 3:17 ). And the authenticity of repentance was evidenced in very practical terms: share with those in need, eliminate graft, and prohibit extortion ( Luke 3:11-14 ).

John was no “crowd pleaser.” He willingly confronted the hypocrisy of the religious establishment ( Matthew 3:7 ; Luke 3:7 ). He did not hesitate to expose the immorality of Herod and chose to die a martyr’s death rather than compromise his convictions ( Matthew 14:3-12 ; Mark 6:17-29 ).

All of these characteristics portray John as a fiery prophet proclaiming the apocalyptic message of God. Indeed, Luke says that John came “in the spirit and power of Elijah” ( Luke1:17 ). He goes on to allude to Malachi 4:5, which states that Elijah will return “before that great and dreadful day of the Lord.” In fact, some contemporaries of John inquired if he were Elijah ( John 1:21 ).

And finally, the psychological and sociological analysis of John is of interest here. In accordance with the criteria of the sociology of deviance, John’s behavior and message could be classified as “deviant.” In this light, Matthew’s use of Isaiah 40:2-3 in 3:7-10 may seek to justify John and endorse the legitimacy of his ministry.

John continues in these verses to demonstrate his calling of God and his role. One main reason this is recorded in the Bible is that this is our example.:

  1. “And the messengers had been sent from the Pharisees asked John, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, saying, “I baptize in water…”

Our Takeaway:  The contemporary, postmodern Christian has been taught that baptism is an ‘ordinance’ or a ‘sacrament’ administered only by ‘ordained, professional clergy’. This is not Biblical and it is not correct. I suspect the organizational church has done it this way to keep records and to keep order, which are worthy goals, but they are not Biblical.

The Bible speaks of all Christian, believers and followers of Jesus, that we are a Royal Priesthood, as it says in 1 Peter 2:4-10, And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by people, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture:

“BEHOLD, I AM LAYING IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNERSTONE,

AND THE ONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.” This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for unbelievers,

“A STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,

THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE,” and,

“A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”;

for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this they were also appointed.

But you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Additionally, in Matthew 28, scriptures tell us that we as believers, disciples of Jesus, are to, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that Jesus commanded .”

YOU go, YOU tell, YOU make disciples and YOU BAPTIZE THEM!

 2.  Next, John tells those who come to him, “Among you stands One whom you do not know. It is He who comes after me, of whom I am not worthy even to untie the strap of His sandal.”

Our Takeaway:  John is talking to the unbeliever, stating the obvious, “they do not know Him”. At the same time, John is acknowledging his role as telling about Jesus and his stature in comparison to the Christ. This is our role and example.

  1. Finally, we are told that These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing people.”

Our Takeaway:  The narrative tells us where this occurred “in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing people”. The significance of the phrase, “in Bethany beyond the Jordan”, is interesting, and I am going to go ‘out of traditional bounds’ here and explain the symbolism of the words used in this verse and these words:

Bethany translates, literally as, “house of affliction”, “house of depression or misery” or “house of dates”.

Beyond (the Jordan) can mean to “to pierce through” or “to cross over”.

The Jordan translates as “the descender” which comes from two ancient roots words meaning “a physical distance of place” or “a temporal distance of time” and “hateful, hated, detestable”.

The correct context of the word Jordan, is the name of a river;  But, God always gave the things, places and people which He made a name of their intended purpose, function or usefulness. Taken together in the symbolism of the intended purpose, function or usefulness of the Jordan, we might read:

“These things took place in Bethany, which symbolizes a world of affliction, depression and misery. But it had been ‘dated’ or foretold, that at this specific time, God has gone beyond the physical, and pierced through, time and space, reaching beyond the sinful, hateful and detestable, where John was baptizing people; a physical symbolism of being changed; a metamorphosis occurs, and they will never be the same again. People are made new with a future and a Hope.

This is our testimony and our confession, and this is our pattern. Let’s go, tell this Good News, just as John and Jesus have taught!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Please bookmark this page and continue with me on this exciting journey in God’s Word.

MARXIST – GLOBALISM – Episode 4

(You can listen by audio; pause the audio to follow page links, then, when you are ready, resume the audio. Please note: I use page links in lieu of footnotes and references.)

AGENDA 2030, MARXISM, THE AMERICAN DEMOCRAT PARTY, THE GOALS, THE METHODS, THE RESULTS

(Be sure to watch the video at the end of this page)

The Agenda 2030 Preamble starts this way:

Declaration. Introduction.

  1. We,the Heads of State and Government and High Representatives, meeting at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 25 to 27 September 2015 as the Organization celebrates its seventieth anniversary, have decided today on new global Sustainable Development Goals.

My first point is about the subterfuge, lies and deceit while advancing a One World Government as predicted and coming anti-Christ figure as predicted, (prophesied), in the Bible. The U.N. and the signatory list to the Globalist-Marxist Agenda 2030 is nowhere to be found, that is, they hide their signatory list.

Here is a partial list of the attendees.

Han Zheng, Vice-Premier of the People’s Republic of China; Angela Merkel, Federal Chancellor of Germany; Giuseppe Conte, Prime Minister of Italy; H.R.H. The Prince of Wales; Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission; Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain; Simonetta Sommaruga, President of the Swiss Confederation; Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan; Sebastian Kurz, Federal Chancellor of Austria; Ivan Duque, President of Colombia; Felix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Lenin Moreno Garcés, President of Ecuador; Sanna Marin, Prime Minister of Finland; Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana; Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece; Barham Salih, President of Iraq; Leo Varadkar, Taoiseach of Ireland; Omar Al Razzaz, Prime Minister of Jordan; Khaltmaagiin Battulga, President of Mongolia; Mokgweetsi Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana; Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands; Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway; Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan; Mohammad Ibrahim Shtayyeh, Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority; Andrzej Duda, President of Poland; Maxim Oreshkin, Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation; Macky Sall, President of Senegal; Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore; Kais Saied, President of Tunisia; Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine; Barak Obama, President of the United States.

My second point is to address each goal of the U.N. initiated and controlled Marxist-Globalist Agenda 2030, but, in this post, I will address just their first stated goal.

Goal #1. End Poverty.  This sounds like a glorious goal, but the Socialists methods form ending poverty can be found in the Marxists manifesto and can be seen played out in history in communist Russia, China, Cuba, Venezuela, Brazil and dozens of other countries.

The Marxist doctrine on Ending Poverty: How is Marxism related to poverty?

According to the Marxist view, the major cause of poverty is inequality or uneven distribution of wealth and income, a main consequence of capitalism. From one point of view, any society with inequality is bound to have poverty. In other words, poverty is more likely to occur in a society which accepts inequality.

What did Karl Marx suggest was the solution to poverty?

And as is still the case with most of our own intellectual and political leaders today, the only solution that Marx and Engels ever offered to end poverty was to have the government increase its compulsions and prohibitions over the people in their economic activities.

How does this play out in real economies?

Instead of ‘lifting people out of poverty’, everyone is reduced into poverty.

The outcome in Venezuela

With the largest oil reserves in the world, Venezuela was once the wealthiest nation in Latin America. But today, it is experiencing a historic economic collapse that has forced over 2.3 million citizens to flee the country. Since 2013, Venezuela has lost a third of its gross domestic product while inflation rates have soared at a record pace. The International Monetary Fund now predicts that the country’s inflation rate, which is already the highest in the world, could reach 1,000,000 percent by the end of the year.

No matter how you analyze the situation, one thing is clear: socialism is the root cause and the main driver of the tragic fall of a country that once championed democracy and prosperity. Venezuela’s failed socialist experiment serves as a reminder for the United States, where support for socialism has noticeably increased in recent years. The crisis that is on display in the South American nation highlights why socialism is a threat to the freedom that we all deserve.

How Venezuela Got There

The Pre-Hugo Chávez Era: The once-democratic nation did not become socialist overnight. In fact, the process took generations to be completed. During the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela had a significant level of economic freedom. Most sectors of the economy, including the oil industry, were privatized, and the individual tax rate remained low at 12 percent. Furthermore, labor laws were flexible, corruption was kept in check, and foreign trade was relatively unrestricted. However, beginning in the 1950s, politicians began taking away these economic freedoms by installing exchange-rate, price, and rent controls, while simultaneously nationalizing private businesses and forming state corporations and regulatory agencies like Cordiplan. They also tripled the marginal tax rate to 36 percent in the 1960s.

Due to the massive corruption in the government, wealthy elites disproportionately benefited from the government revenue. For instance, the urban population that had strong ties to Democratic Action, a major political party, had access to state resources that were not available to the poorer, rural migrants. The corruption increased when oil prices dropped in the late 1980s and suffocated the country’s economy. By the end of the century, the loss of economic freedom had decimated the Venezuelan middle class and created a massive gap between the elites and the poor. The growing economic divide led to the rise of Hugo Chávez, a populist who campaigned on transforming the partially socialist Venezuela into a full-scale socialist state.

The Hugo Chávez Era

After being elected in 1998, Chávez replaced the decades-old Venezuelan constitution with a new socialist constitution in 1999. The new version declared employment, healthcare, and housing as basic rights that must be provided by the state. Additionally, Section VI of the Constitution stated that the government is responsible for promoting agriculture and manufacturing, among other sectors of the economy. In other words, the new constitution marked the end of the free market in Venezuela.

Chávez’s regime then doubled down and passed additional legislation that redistributed land and wealth.

Final Thoughts

It is extremely difficult to separate the centralization of economic power from that of political power at a large scale. This is why socialism is a threat to the freedom that we enjoy today. It is unlikely that the United States will be in Venezuela’s position anytime soon, but there is no denying that socialism has become increasingly popular in this country, especially among Millennials. To those that support socialism, Venezuela should serve as a reminder of the importance of protecting America’s democratic foundations and capitalist economic system. (Berkley Political Review).

More reading on the collapse of Venezuela: The Venezuelan Crisis.

The outcome in BRAZIL

Socialism ruined Brazil. Socialism and democracy cannot co-exist but the people in Brazil thought they could.

Cash transfers and welfare benefits nearly bankrupted Brazil and plunged it into its deepest recession since the 1930s.

In 2006, The Workers’ Party leaders and top officials bribed the legislative members into voting with them on their Socialist policies. Socialists can’t win on ideas but bribery works.

Lula aka Luíz Inácio Lula da Silva , the socialist president, got himself reelected despite scandals and a flailing economy.

The Socialists thought they could go on forever, benefitting from a rise in commodity prices and bleeding the State oil company dry.

Lula got Dilma Rousseff elected as his successor after his terms were over. She was known as the “mother” of the huge infrastructure program Brazil was undergoing. No more than 30% of it has been finished.

To win votes, Rousseff ran up deficits.

Rousseff spent wildly and expanded welfare programs. She won reelection in 2014 by hiding spending. Millions of people now march in the streets against her.

Powerful executives and party leaders in Brazil have funded campaigns and bribed politicians using kickbacks from state-owned oil company Petrobras.

Bleeding the State-owned oil company Petrobras led to a recession and, while welfare helped the poor, there were no new jobs for the middle class.

Brazil is divided like the United States. So-called minorities think they are entitled to reparations owed to them by white, blue-eyed people.

The politicians increased debt, calling it a stimulus, and increased the minimum wage. Civil servants were given increased and unsustainable salaries and benefits. Jobs in government grew and it was called good governance.

Workers are forced to pay mandatory contributions to more than 15,000 syndicates and unions.

It’s the evil wrought by Socialists in Latin America.

Social justice was the buzzword.

The economy began to shrink under Lula but Brazil decided to move further left. They thought big government with politicians picking winners and losers in business was the way to go. These government-backed businesses didn’t succeed as expected; Petrobras did not make Brazilians self-sufficient in oil; and a government-backed credit program sank with the economy.

The Petrobras scandal was the end of Socialism in Brazil. They demanded a payment of 3% of the value of any contract the company would be part of and, legally, the company would be part of virtually every single oil related project in Brazil. The embezzled money was a way to keep the Workers Party in office.

A devastated Petrobras is selling off its shares, the economy has shrunk, inflation is in double digits, and the recession has dragged on for two years.

Latin America has a stake in Socialism succeeding in Brazil and are keeping the pressure on.

Capitalism and limited government are looking a lot better to Brazilians – there is hope – but the damage is very extensive. (The Independent Sentinel)

Michael J. Young

Next: MARXISM, AGENDA 2030, THE U.N., THE AMERICAN DEMOCRAT PARTY – Episode 5

A SECRET RAPTURE?

Rapture words.jpg

Eisegesis:  The process of interpreting text in such a way as to introduce one’s own presuppositions, agendas or biases. It is commonly referred to as reading into the text. It is often done to “prove” a pre-held point of concern, and to provide confirmation bias corresponding with the pre-held interpretation and any agendas supported by it.

This is the method (eisegesis) by which many Bible teachers, preachers, pastors and theologians try to prove their predetermined point of view of the Biblical raputure.

If, however, you start with no predisposition on this matter, read and study scriptures, taking them at face value, studying the Greek words used, and keeping the matter in the context of the entire Bible, you can find the truth.

There are many who teach that Jesus ‘appears in the sky’ as told in Matthew 24:30, secretly raptures the Church, only to come back again, implying a third advent, to defeat Satan in the End of Days war at Armageddon.

There is no scripture which says that Jesus, after appearing in the air to gather His Elect (Matthew 24:31), will then ‘disappear’, only to reappear later to wage war on the antichrist.

His appearing (2nd Advent) and the events to follow, are continuous and will be completed. (see notes on Rev 19:11, below) You must be ready or you will perish.

Here is what the Bible teaches about Jesus’ Return and the rapture (corollary verses color coded):

Jesus appears in the sky, in the heavens, in the clouds, with great glory, at the sound of the archangel and the sound of a trumpet, and He will gather His Elect together, both those who are ‘asleep’ and those who are alive, and they will meet in the air, and so they will be with Him forever.

Jesus’ appearing will be continuous, whether you see Him continuously or not, as He raptures or gathers His Elect, takes them to Heaven, seals the 144,000 from the tribes of Israel, and then wages war on the Antichrist and his forces.

Revelation 1:7  “BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.”

Scriptures do not support a secret rapture. Scriptures do not support a third appearing.

Here are many of the scriptures referenced when most denominational preachers and teachers try to explain a ‘secret rapture’ and later a third, and, public appearing of Jesus during the tribulation period.

Matthew 24:29 “But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30“And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. 31“And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

IMPORTANT for understanding:  The context and Jesus’ emphasis in Matthew 24 is to give His disciples, then and now, an answer to their question “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3) It is an outline or an overview of coming events, IN ANSWER TO THEIR QUESTION. This must be kept in context as it is not an exhaustive explanation of ancillary events.

Jesus redirects His attention, in Matthew 24 verse 33, from the events of The Tribulation and the Day of the Lord, and onto the disciples and what it means to get ready for His Return and those end days.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. Verse 14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. Verse 15. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. Verse 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Verse 17. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Verse 18. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

Let’s take a second look at these verses from the Amplified Bible version:

1 Thesslaonians 4:13, Now we do not want you to be uninformed, believers, about those who are asleep [in death], so that you will not grieve [for them] as the others do who have no hope [beyond this present life].

Verse 14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again [as in fact He did], even so God [in this same way–by raising them from the dead] will bring with Him those [believers] who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

Verse 15. For we say this to you by the Lord’s [own] word, that we who are still alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede [into His presence] those [believers] who have fallen asleep [in death].

Verse 16. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the [blast of the] trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

Verse 17. Then we who are alive and remain [on the earth] will simultaneously be caught up…

(raptured = the Greek word, ‘har-pad’-zo’, meaning to seize, catch up, snatch away, ‘obtain by robbery’. From Strong’s Bible concordance. #726,harpázō’, seize by force; snatch up, suddenly and decisively – like someone seizing bounty (spoil, a prize); to take by an open display of force, i..e. NOT covertly or secretly.

See Matthew 24:30, And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory.”; 

Also see Revelation 1:7, BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.” )

…together with them [the resurrected ones] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord!

Verse 18. Therefore comfort and encourage one another with these words [concerning our reunion with believers who have died].

IMPORTANT for understanding:  See the similarity in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 ‘the heavens with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel and with the trumpet of God” with Matthew 24:31. This is the same event.

Paul writes this in the context of encouraging and comforting believers that the Second coming of Christ and the Rapture has not passed, but is yet to come. This must be kept in context as it is not an exhaustive explanation of ancillary events.

Zechariah 12:10 says, “I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. Verse Verse 11. “In that day there will be great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo. Verse 12. “The land will mourn, every family by itself; the family of the house of David by itself and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself and their wives by themselves; Verse 13, the family of the house of Levi by itself and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shimeites by itself and their wives by themselves; Verse 14, all the families that remain, every family by itself and their wives by themselves.”

Zechariah 14:1, says, “Behold, a day is coming for the LORD when the spoil taken from you will be divided among you. Verse 2. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. Verse 3. Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. Verse 4. In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south. Verse 5. You will flee by the valley of My mountains, for the valley of the mountains will reach to Azel; yes, you will flee just as you fled before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD, my God, will come, and all the holy ones with Him!

Verse 6. In that day there will be no light; the luminaries will dwindle. Verse 7. For it will be a unique day which is known to the LORD, neither day nor night, but it will come about that at evening time there will be light.

Verse 8. And in that day living waters will flow out of Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea; it will be in summer as well as in winter.”

IMPORTANT for understanding: This is a prophecy from Zechariah explaining how Jesus, after He has gathered His Elect and sealed the 144,000, will wage war against the nations and will defeat Satan, the antichrist and their legions.

Revelation 19:11  “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. Verse 12. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. Verse 13. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. Verse 14. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. Verse 15. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. Verse 16, “And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Verse 17. Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God, Verse 18. so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.”

Verse 19. And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.”

***IMPORTANT for understanding:  Rev. 19:11 says “And I saw heaven opened”. It is very impotant to note that the word OPENED is in the aorist tense which is characterized by its emphasis on punctiliar action; that is, the concept of the verb is considered without regard for past, present, or future time.

In other words, it did not ‘open just then’, nor did it ‘re-open’. It was already OPENED and has stayed OPEN and will remain OPEN until Jesus’ Mission is complete.

This shows, again, that Jesus does not “appear”, “disappear” and then “re-appear”.

Jesus appears in the sky, in the heavens, in the clouds, with great glory, at the sound of the archangel and the sound of a trumpet, and He will gather His Elect together, both those who are ‘asleep’ and those who are alive, and they will meet in the air, and so they will be with Him forever.

Jesus’ appearance will be continuous as He raptures or gathers His Elect, takes them to Heaven, seals the 144,000 from the tribes of Israel, and then wages war on the Antichrist and his forces.

If you are interested, here is a peek at the rapture events in a little more detail:

Revelation 7:12 says, “And I beheld when He had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

Verse 13. And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

Verse 14. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

Verse 15. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

Verse 16. And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

Verse 17. For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”

The events following the Rapture and during Jesus 2nd Advent or appearing

FIRST, the sealing of the 144,000: Revelation 8:1  says, “And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

Verse 2. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

Verse 3. Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

Verse 4. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Verse 5. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.

Verse 6. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.

Verse 7. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.

Verse 8. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

SECOND, a panorama of the Gathered or Raptured Saints in heaven:

Revelation 8:9, says, “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

Verse 10. And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

Verse 11. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

Verse 12. Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Verse 13. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

Verse 14. And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Verse 15. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

Verse 16. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

Verse 17. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Revelation 9:1, says, “And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.’

THIRD, Jesus will wage war against the nations

Revelation 19:11, says,And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. Verse 12. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. Verse 13. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. Verse 14. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. Verse 15. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. Verse 16. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Verse 17. Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in mid-heaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God, Verse 18, so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.”

Verse 19. And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.”

Why does this matter?

Why does the sequence of events matter? After all no one can change or affect what is coming and is already at hand.

It matters because there will be no second chances. You must understand the seriousness of this moment. You must understand how swiftly and devastatingly sure these events will unfold, at the breaking of the SIXTH SEAL. That time is at hand!

It would strongly suggest that the ‘ “Time, Times and a half time” or the Seven Weeks of Tribulation will actually begin with the breaking of the 6th Seal.

Jesus is coming and He will complete His Mission. If you are not ready and found doing what He has commanded, you will not survive. You will be left behind and you will be caught up in a truly hellish nightmare of real events.

Satan, the antichrist and the legions of evil will be defeated, as well as those who do not believe in Jesus and have not confessed Him as Lord and Savior and are not found doing what He has commanded.

PLEASE, LISTEN: If you are not ready, you will endure seven years of unspeakable horror and torment and will finally be cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

And the remnant will be slain with the Sword of Him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Please. Understand the gravity of this message and make preparations.

It has been written for thousands of years. It is coming to pass before your eyes.  Yet many have misunderstood or misstated this message. I am trying to make it plain.

This is urgent.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Further reading:

Additional Relevant Scriptures:

THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS

A SECRET RAPTURE?

ONLY ONE 2nd APPEARING!

ONLY ONE SECOND COMING AND NO SECRET RAPTURE

THE RETURN OF JESUS AND THE END OF THE AGE

“A PRE-WRATH – PRETRIBULATION RAPTURE”