Month: February 2023

ESCHATOLOGY – The Study of the End Times – Part 1

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

PART I.

 Eschatology is the study end times. The word ‘eschatology’ comes from Ancient Greek (éskhatos) ‘last’, and -logy, the study of) is about the expectations of the end of the present age, human history, or of the world itself.[1] The end of the world or end times.

A NOTE before we start: (1). Your eschatological views may very well decide, or have already decided your core views (your understanding) of scriptures ((for example, if you don’t believe in a rapture you may believe only certain parts of the Bible are true or are  relevant to you; Or, if you dismiss the 1,000 year reign of Christ or a literal White Throne judgement, you may dismiss the need to obey scriptures because you believe, contrary to scriptures, that there will be no judgment; or, if you don’t believe scriptures are factual or without error, you may decide most things by your feelings));

(Secondly). Your understanding of scriptures will define your relationship with God through Jesus Christ. ((For example, if you say you believe in Jesus but you don’t believe that what Jesus taught or that you don’t have to do all that He taught or that you can modify what you do in response to His commands to suit your comforts, likes or methods you do not have a personal saving relationship with God.  Or, if you do not believe that Mary’s pregnancy was not ‘immaculate’ –  that she was a virgin who conceived, you do not have a saving relationship with God.));

(Third). Your relationship with Jesus will drive your attitudes, actions and behaviors in life. ((On issues such as abortion, homosexuality, and your behavior toward others, etcetera?))

Why does it matter “when” the tribulation starts or “when” Christians are to be raptured into heavens?

  • It matters because being ready for His Return is proof of true Christianity and only a true believer in Christ (The Word) will be guaranteed to join Christ at the sound of His Great Trumpet call and escape the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord.
  • It matters because being ready requires believing and doing what He has instructed us to do in preparation for His return.
  • It matters because He has warned that “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’
  • It matters because many Christians are sitting idly waiting for an event that has already begun and they are not DOING what He told them to do and therefore are in grave danger
  • It matters because some of our family, friends and neighbors are completely unaware or just don’t believe that Christ will return and God’s final judgments will sentence them to outer darkness.
  • It matters because, as Christians, our faith, our convictions and our behavior (how we live) are speaking louder than our words.

MILLENNIALISM – TRIBULATIONAL VIEWS – THE RAPTURE

There are certain words you will hear being tossed around when talking about eschatology, such as Millennialism, The Tribulation and The Rapture:

Millennialism (The Millennium)

This term can be further subdivided by

Millennium means a “thousand years” and refers to Revelation 20:1 And then I saw an angel descending from heaven, holding the key of the abyss (the bottomless pit) and a great chain was in his hand. Verse 2. And he overpowered and laid hold of the dragon, that old serpent [of primeval times], who is the devil and Satan, and bound him [securely] for a thousand years (a millennium); Revelation 20:3. and the angel hurled him into the abyss, and closed it and sealed it above him [preventing his escape or rescue], so that he would no longer deceive and seduce the nations, until the thousand years were at an end. After these things he must be liberated for a short time.

(The Millennial Reign)

Revelation 20:4. And then I saw thrones, and sitting on them were those to whom judgment [that is, the authority to act as judges] was given. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had refused to worship the beast or his image, and had not accepted his mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Revelation 20:5. The rest of the dead [the non-believers] did not come to life again until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.

Revelation 20:6. Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) and holy is the person who takes part in the first resurrection; over these the second death [which is eternal separation from God, the lake of fire] has no power or authority, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and they will reign with Him a thousand years.

(The Final Rebellion)

Revelation 20:7. And when the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison (the abyss), Revelation 20:8. and will come out to deceive and mislead the [c] nations which are in the four corners of the earth, [including] Gog and Magog (Russia) Gomer (Eastern Europe), Togarmah (Turkey/Armenia), Put (Libya), Cush (Ethiopia), Persia (Iran) —to gather them together for the war; their number is like the sand of the seashore. Revelation 20:9. And they swarmed up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints (God’s people) and the beloved city [Jerusalem]; but fire came down from heaven and consumed them. Revelation 20:10. And the devil who had deceived them was hurled into the lake of fire and burning brimstone (sulfur), where the beast (Antichrist) and false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night, forever and ever.

THE TRIBULATION

The Tribulation is associated with the day of the Lord, that time during which God personally intervenes in history to accomplish His plan (see Isaiah 2:12; 13:6–9; Joel 1:15; 2:1–31; 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:2). It is referred to as “tribulation in the latter days” (Deuteronomy 4:30, ESV); the Great Tribulation, which refers to the more intense period of the seven-year period (Daniel’s Seventieth Week) which begins with the breaking of the 6th tribulation seal (Matthew 24:21; Revelation 6:12); “a time of distress” (Daniel 12:1); and “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7, NKJV). And we have this description of the tribulation that attends the day of the Lord:

“That day will be a day of wrath and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness— a day of trumpet and battle cry” (Zephaniah 1:15–16).

The tribulation will be marked by various divine judgments, celestial disturbances, natural disasters, and terrible plagues (see Revelation 6—16). In His mercy, God sets a limit on the duration of the tribulation. As Jesus said, “Those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again. If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive” (Mark 13:19–20).

The 4 dominant tribulation views are:

pre-tribulational (the rapture occurs before the tribulation),

 mid-tribulational (the rapture occurs at or near the mid-point of the tribulation), and

 post-tribulational (the rapture occurs at the end of the tribulation).

pre-wrath (the ‘birth pains’ (tribulation) began around the time of the birth of Christ – 5 seals have been broken – we are waiting for the 6th seal and the rapture occurs at the 6th Seal).

 FURTHER SUBDIVISONS ARE:

 Pretribulation Dispensationalists believe the tribulation is a future seven-year period when God will finish His discipline of Israel and finalize His judgment of the unbelieving world.

Pre-Wrath Pretribulation believes the tribulation is spoken of as “times of distress” or “tribulation” with a small “t”; the Great Tribulation (capital “T”) and the “Days of Wrath”.

The tribulation seals began as early as Christ’s birth and five seals have been broken. We are awaiting the breaking of the 6th Tribulation seal and the beginning of the GREAT Tribulation, a.k.a., The Days of Wrath, The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord.

THE RAPTURE

The RAPTURE of the church is the event in which God “snatches away” all believers from the earth before the tribulation period begins, in order to make way for His righteous judgment to be poured out on the earth. This is spoken of, primarily in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50–54.

(This is the dispensational premillennialism and a pretribulation rapture view, which is considered by many traditional modern fundamentalists and conservative evangelicals churches as a future event and that the beginning of a year seven tribulation period will occur with the breaking of the 7 tribulation seals.  This has become their dominant view and teaching since John Darby introduced dispensational premillennialism and a pretribulation rapture around 1909.)

The rapture is associated with the tribulation period. The timing of the rapture in relation to the tribulation is one of the most controversial issues in the church today. Some of the primary views are

MORE DETAIL:

What is pre-tribulation Dispensationalism? It is a theological system of interpreting the Bible that was first espoused by John Nelson Darby. Dispensationalism maintains that history is divided into multiple ages or “dispensations” in which God acts with humanity in different ways. Dispensationalists generally maintain beliefs in premillennialism, a future restoration of Israel, and a rapture that will happen before the second coming, generally seen as happening before the tribulation.

What is Historic pre-millennial pre-tribulation rapture? Historic premillennialism is one of the two premillennial systems of Christian eschatology, with the other being dispensational premillennialism.[1] It differs from dispensational premillennialism in that it only has one view of the rapture, and does not require a literal seven-year tribulation (though some adherents do believe in a seven-year tribulation). Historic premillennialists hold to a post-tribulational rapture, meaning the church is raised to meet Christ in the air after the trials experienced during the Great Tribulation. Historic premillennialism does not require that apocalyptic prophecies be interpreted literally.

What is the Pre-Wrath Pretribulation?

The pre-wrath view states that there is a 7 year period which is NOT called the Tribulation, but is called Daniel’s 70th Week. Half way through it, or 3.5 years, the antichrist will set himself up with an image and demand to be worshipped as god. This starts the “Great Tribulation” and the satanic persecution of Christians and Jews. During this time there are cosmic disturbances, The Rapture and the pouring out of God’s Wrath, known as The Day of the Lord.

Daniel 9:24-27, Matthew 24:15-31, Joel 2:30-32, 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11, Revelation 6:12-17

NOTE: Your eschatological views may very well decide your core views (understanding) of scriptures; and your understanding of scriptures will define your relationship with God through Jesus Christ; and your relationship with Jesus will drive your attitudes, actions and behaviors.

Once again: Eschatology is the study end times. Eschatology is the study of matters concerning the end of the present age, human history, or of the world itself; The end of the world or end times.

 So, let’s start at the beginning and ask WHY in order to get to the end of these matters – because it is the WHY’s of eschatology that will drive our belief systems, our paradigms, our attitudes, our understanding, of the Bible, our living relationship with Jesus and our behaviors in response.

In the beginning, God created.

God began with the imperfect and created a Masterpiece – first in the heavens and then on the earth. His work completed in just seven days; He would allow His Masterpiece to mature for a millennium until it became His Perfection.

This is a journey of discovery and revelation of God’s Grand Plan and Design, from creation through the End of the Age, then into a New Heaven and a New Earth.

We can only know the reasons for WHAT God is doing in these Last Days, if we understand  WHY He is doing thing this way. My prayer is that, after studying this, everything we may have wondered regarding the reasoning behind God’s Plan for the world and your life, will fall into place.

(Perhaps, one of the reasons there are some many differing views of the tribulation, the rapture and the millennium is that men and women, over the ages, have failed to ask WHY and have only asked WHEN and WHAT).

There are many answers, or conjectures, as to WHY God created all things. Here are 3 popular examples:

GotQuestions.Org says, “The short answer to the question “why did God create us?” is “for His pleasure.” Revelation 4:11 says, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Colossians 1:16 reiterates the point: “All things were created by him and for him.” Being created for God’s pleasure does not mean humanity was made to entertain God or provide Him with amusement. God is a creative Being, and it gives Him pleasure to create. God is a personal Being, and it gives Him pleasure to have other beings He can have a genuine relationship with.

Southern Evangelical Seminary says, The first pattern is that God creates things for His glory. The second pattern is that the things God creates show God’s glory and attributes.

John Piper (Desiring God) says, When the first chapter of the Bible says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27), what is the point? The point of an image is to image. Images are erected to display the original — to point to the original, glorify the original. God made humans in his image so that the world would be filled with reflectors of God

The Blue Letter Bible says, 1. He Created It For Himself. One of the reasons that God created the universe was for His own self. Paul wrote, For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:36). For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him (Colossians 1:16).

THE SNAG

Genesis 1, Verse 27. So, God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

 It is helpful if not vital to understand the definition of each word used as it was written in the original Hebrew language, how it was worded and the arrangement of each sentence:

In His own image = tselem = an image; a mere, empty, image, semblance; image, vain show, from an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, i.e., an illusion, a resemblance; hence, a representative figure, especially an idol, an image, a vain shew, of dubious character.

God did not create mankind ‘perfect’ as God is perfect. He created mankind in a resemblance of His image and likeness, but with a designed flaw – mankind was given a dubious character which was on full display, from the beginning, in the Garden of Eden.

Man and woman failed – sinned – from the beginning!

Still, God created mankind with the potential of becoming ‘perfect as God is perfect’ and in the image and likeness of Jesus, like God. Mankind is also made as a plurality, with a mind, soul (will and emotions) and spirit. This is why in Matthew 5:48, Jesus said, “You, therefore, will be (esomai – future tense) perfect [telios – growing into spiritual maturity both in mind and character, actively integrating godly values into your daily life], as your heavenly Father is (esti – present tense) perfect.”

All of these Bible referenced teachers are right of course – in part – but their remarks could be arranged as ‘sub-topical’ supporting evidence of God’s Supreme Reason and Plan:

The Purpose of God’s Eternal Plan is “Perfection”.  He is maturing and perfecting His people into His image, ultimately to live in Perfect harmony with Him and with one another, in a New and Perfect heaven and earth.

“Because by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified.” – Hebrews 10:14

Each and every chapter, verse and word in the Bible, when viewed within this context of God’s Eternal Plan of Perfection, begins to make perfect sense.

IT ALL BEGAN – THE SCIENCE OF IT ALL

A strictly scientific study of the beginning of all things may reveal theories of WHAT, HOW and WHEN things might have begun, but science has never attempted to explain WHY. It is just not in the realm of scientific interest or possibility. But the scientific view has influenced and is influencing and invading the Biblical view of creationism.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:2

IT ALL BEGAN – THE SPIRIT OF IT ALL

The Bible has been telling the ‘WHAT’ and the ‘HOW’ all things began long before science began to catch up, but the Bible inform us from a Spiritual Perspective. It is from this paradigm that we understand that the universe was created by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible; it is by the spoken Word of God that the heavens (the cosmos) and the earth, and all that exists, came into being – became visible.

Most importantly, we can learn God created ALL THINGS, and this perspective gives not only the beginning, but forecasts the journey, giving insights of HOW, WHEN and all things are going as they are going, but also gives us the HOW, WHEN and  God allows, things such as suffering, disease, famines, earthquakes, pestilence trials, tribulations and death – all of which is the result of sin.

NONETHELESS, we must remember that “We know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. For those whom He foreknew [and loved and chose beforehand], He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son [and ultimately share in His complete sanctification], so that He would be the firstborn [the most beloved and honored] among many believers.” (See Romans 8:28-29)

*****If you will endeavor to gain insight and understanding from this study, you can obtain the strength of endurance through the hope that God indeed has a design and a plan for your life.  A plan for you like the one God promised His chosen people before their captivity into Babylon; ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11).

(PART II – Click here)

THE TRUTH BE KNOWN – Clue #2, Pointing To The End, Ch. 5

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

CLUE #2 – POINTING TO THE END

– THE GREAT FLOOD – DANIEL 9

(The 70 Weeks)

These verses provide a “timeline” that gives us an idea of when the Messiah, (Jesus), would come and some of the events that would accompany His appearance.

This is a revealing of the coming of the ‘great rescue of humankind’, and will be the first step in the re-creation of humankind – being made into the perfect likeness and image of God.

The prophecy of the 70 weeks also summarizes what happens before Jesus sets up His millennial kingdom.

The “seventy weeks” prophecy, found in Daniel chapter 9, begins with Daniel praying for Israel, acknowledging the nation’s sins against God and asking for God’s mercy. As Daniel prayed, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and gave him a vision of Israel’s future. In verse 24, Gabriel says, “Seventy sevens” are decreed for your people and your holy city.”  The seventy “sevens” should be understood as seventy “weeks” of years, in other words, a period of 490 years.

WE MUST BE READY 

The prophecy divides the 490 years into three smaller units:

  • one of 49 years,
  • one of 434 years, and
  • one 7 years.
    • The final “week” of 7 years is further divided in half.

Verse 25 says, “From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be

  • seven ‘sevens,’ and
  • sixty-two ‘sevens.’ “
    • (Seven “sevens” is 49 years, and sixty-two “sevens” is another 434 years: 49 years + 434 years = 483 years

Prophecy tells us that there will be 490 years of prophecy to be fulfilled, leading to the End of the Age. 

483 years of ‘Daniel’s 70 Weeks’ prophecy have been fulfilled.  We are now in, what some Bible teachers and theologians call, the “Age of Grace“. God is giving the world a final period of time to come to Jesus for redemption and salvation.

The ‘Age of Grace‘ is the period of time between the 483 years of completed prophecies leading to the End of the Age, also known as The Last Days, and the final 7 years of The Great Tribulation Period, which begins with the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal.

We are living in the Age of Grace now, and by all accounts we are in the 5th Tribulation Seal, waiting for the breaking of the 6th Seal. This will mark the end of the Age of Grace, the beginning of the Great Tribulation and the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord.

The Fulfillment of the 70 Weeks

Gabriel said the prophetic clock would start at the time that a decree was issued to rebuild Jerusalem. From the date of that decree to the time of the Messiah would be 483 years.

  • We know from history that the command to “restore and rebuild Jerusalem” was given by King Artaxerxes of Persia c. 445 B.C. (see Nehemiah 2:1-8).
  • The first unit of 49 years (seven “sevens”) covers the time that it took to rebuild Jerusalem, “with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble” (Daniel 9:25). This rebuilding is chronicled in the book of Nehemiah.
  • Using the Jewish custom of a 360-day year, 483 years after 445 B.C. places us at A.D. 30, which would coincide with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-9). The prophecy in Daniel 9 specifies that after the completion of the 483 years, “the Anointed One will be cut off” (verse 26). This was fulfilled when Jesus was crucified.
  • Daniel 9:26 continues with a prediction that, after the Messiah is killed, “the people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.” This was fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The “ruler who will come” is a reference to the Antichrist, who, it seems, will have some connection with Rome, since it was the Romans who destroyed Jerusalem.

 The Purpose of the 70 Weeks (i.e., the 490 years)

The prophecy contains a statement concerning God’s six-fold purpose in bringing these events to pass: Verse 24 says this purpose is:

1) “to finish transgression,” (that is, to end man’s rebellion toward God)

2) “to put an end to sin,” (that is, to bring an end to sin)

3) “to atone for wickedness,” (that is, to make amends or reparation for wickedness)

4) “to bring in everlasting righteousness,” (that is, the quality of being morally right or justifiable)

5) “to seal up vision and prophecy,” and (that is, to confirm these prophetic visions)

6) “to anoint the most holy.” (That is, to anoint, or to confer divine or holy office upon; in this case the Holy One, Jesus.)

Notice that the results of this six-fold purpose concerns the total eradication of sin and the establishing of righteousness.

The prophecy of the 70 weeks summarizes what happens before Jesus sets up His millennial kingdom.

Of special note is the third in the list of results: “to atone for wickedness.” Jesus accomplished the atonement for sin by His death on the cross (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17).

 The Purpose of the Final Week of the 70 Weeks

  1. Of the 70 “sevens,” 69 have been fulfilled in history. This leaves one more “seven” yet to be fulfilled.
  2. Most scholars believe that we are now living in a huge gap between the 69th week and the 70th week. The prophetic clock has been paused, as it were. The final “seven” of Daniel is what we usually call the tribulation period.
  3. Daniel’s prophecy reveals some actions of the Antichrist, the “ruler who will come.” Verse 27 says, “He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’” However, “in the middle of the ‘seven,’ he will set up an abomination that causes desolation” in the temple. Jesus warned of this event in Matthew 24:15. After the Antichrist breaks the covenant with Israel, a time of “great tribulation” begins (Matthew 24:21, New King James Version).
  4. Daniel also predicts that the Antichrist will face judgment. He only rules “until the end that is decreed is poured out on him” (Daniel 9:27). God will only allow evil to go so far, and the judgment the Antichrist will face has already been planned out.

The prophecy of the 70 weeks is complex and detailed There are various interpretations, and most interpretations are unnecessarily convoluted to fit a particular denominational view. However, if you will put biased ‘denominationalism’ aside, and read the prophetic scriptures, first for their plain face-value, then secondly, read them in the context of the entire Bible, an amazingly clear picture emerges. You will find a Pre-Wrath, pre-millennial view. One thing is certain: God has a timetable, and He is keeping things on schedule. God tells us what He has planned from the beginning though the end (Isaiah 46:10), and we should always be looking for the triumphant return of our Lord (Revelation 22:7).

The “Final Week” (Daniel’s Seventieth Week) of the 70 Weeks found in Daniel 9:25-27, tells us, “So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. Verse 26. “Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. Verse 27.  “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”

Remember, the “birth pains” is another name for the breaking of the 1st through the 5th Tribulation Seals, which began in our around A D 30. The “final week” of Daniel’s 70 weeks, is the 7 years of The Great Tribulation, which will commence with the breaking of the 6th Seal of The Tribulation.

The middle of this final week, (which is 3 1/2 years after the breaking of the 6th Seal), is the Mid-Tribulation point and is found at the blowing of the 7th Trumpet of God’s Wrath.

The flood, found in Daniel 9, verse 26, this time refers to “a flood of people”, that is to say that Jerusalem and her temple would be destroyed again by an overwhelming army. (This occurred in A D 70 with the destruction of the 2nd Temple). This was foreshadowed by the Great Flood in Genesis “A flood” was repeated in the Heavens by the old Dragon and manifest on the earth in the crucifixion of Christ.

 – “Many will be purged, purified and refined” and made ready for the Kingdom of God.”

 Verse 26 says, “And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.”  Each of the instances of “A Flood”, thereafter, came devastation. Each time God used “a flood” for the purpose described in Daniel 12:10, “Many will be purged, purified and refined” and made ready for the Kingdom of God.”

CONCLUSION:  The word “flood” is used about 28 times in the Bible. It is used eleven times in the Book of Genesis and refers to God’s Judgment on the world for sin by way of the Great Flood.

The word “flood” is used twice in the book of Job, either in general terms or symbolically; then, five times in Psalms, once in Proverbs, Isaiah and Nahum, once in Luke. It is used in reference to God’s Judgments, once in Daniel, twice in Matthew, once in Luke once in 2 Peter and once in Revelation. All of these references are related to the End of Days in some way, except for 2 Peter.

But I want us to focus on the mention of a flood in conjunction with God’s Judgment and the “End of Days” as mentioned, in Daniel 9, Matthew 24 and Revelation 12. This will tell us about the WHY of God’s plan and your purpose and your need for preparation in order to take part in His Plan,

IF YOU UNDERSTAND “DANIEL’S SEVENTY WEEKS”, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE NOW IN THE FINAL DAYS OF THE FINAL WEEK BEFORE JESUS RETURNS, USHERING IN THE “GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD”.

PREVIOUS:  THE TRUTH BE KNOWN – Clue #1, Pointing To The End, Ch. 4.

NEXT:  THE TRUTH BE KNOWN – Clue #3, Pointing To The End, Ch. 6

THE WORDS OF JESUS THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “Not Peace but a Sword”, Part 47

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 47

“Not Peace, but a Sword”

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.

 The Words of Jesus, Matthew 10:34-36

This hardly sounds like the Jesus we were taught about in Sunday school. Jesus has said things like, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid”. (John 14:27); and the word peace is used and talked about over ninety times in the New Testament. Yet here we have it straight from the mouth of Jesus, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

These words are not spoken in anger.  Jesus did not come into this world to condemn, but to save. It is because of their unbelief that some are already condemned.

We know that Jesus is our Great Shepherd, and that He cares for and protects His sheep (His followers). But to those who reject Him, He is an obstacle and a stumbling block, creating division between the righteous and the unrighteous, believers and the rebellious, dividing households and even families.

This is the ‘great divide’ (my term). We hear that at the End of the Age, God will divide the ‘wheat from the tares’, and the ‘sheep from the goats’, and those whose names are written in the Books – the  ‘Book of Life’ and those whose names are not found in that book – some to everlasting glory with God, and some to eternal torment in the lake of fire.

We (Christians – disciples of Jesus) are to follow Him in His methods and His ways. We are to be gentle as doves, yet wise as a serpent. Filled with the fruit of the Spirit, (the result of His presence within us), resulting in love, unselfish concern for others, joy, inner peace, patience, not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Lifting the name of Jesus, so He will draw many to Himself through our lives.

Still, the Apostle Paul reminds us that, “There are many, of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, who live as enemies of the cross of Christ [rejecting and opposing His way of salvation], whose fate is destruction, whose god is their belly [their worldly appetite, their sensuality, their vanity], and whose glory is in their shame–who focus their mind on earthly and temporal things. “But [we are different, because] our citizenship is in heaven.” (Philippians 3)

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Here is further reading on these matters that may be of help. Be blessed as you serve Him.

NEXT:  THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “Whoever love father and mother more than me Is not worthy of me”, Part 48.

PREVIOUS:   THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “Everyone who acknowledge me before men”, Part 46

THE WORDS OF JESUS THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “Everyone who acknowledge me before men”, Part 46

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 46

“Everyone who acknowledge me before men”

“So, everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” – The Words of Jesus, Matthew 10:32-33

Have you ever been encouraged by your pastor, Sunday school teacher to memorize Matthew 10:32-33 as important verses in the Bible? (I didn’t think so. Me neither.)

The wording of these verses is of a highly technical nature. They also issue a grave warning.

The word ‘acknowledge’ (or ‘confess’ in some versions), is the Greek word ‘homologeó’, meaning to voice the same conclusion, i.e. agree, (“confess“); to profess because in full agreement; to align with, (to endorse). Covenant, acknowledge.

The word ‘denies’ (or ‘rejects’, in some versions), is the Greek word ‘arneomai’, means to deny (refuse); hence, contradict, refuse to affirm or to confess (identify with); disown (repudiate), to abnegate (To give up rights or a claim; to renounce. To deny. To deny and reject; to abjure.)

Is it possible that you ‘deny’ Jesus when you continually disobey Him? (This is different from sinning, feeling remorse and turning away from that sinful behavior).

Is it possible that you are denying Jesus in ways you are not recognizing? Do you pray? Do you treat your enemies with respect? Do you witness Christ to others? Do you regularly do things in private that you would be ashamed to do in public?

This is urgent because if you are denying Him, His commandments, His ways, His methods, you may be at grave risk.

Jesus says, plainly and flatly, “whoever denies (or rejects) me before men, I also will deny (and reject) before my Father who is in heaven.”

The funny thing about salvation is that it is ‘all in’ or ‘not in at all’.  I hear preachers say you can ‘squeak into heaven’ or you can ‘make it to heaven by the skin of your teeth’, but that is a dangerous lie.

Jesus warns us that the devil is shrewd, and that we are to be sober, well-balanced and self-disciplined; we are to be alert and cautious at all times. Because your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a fiercely hungry, roaring lion, seeking someone to devour, (see 1 Peter 5:8), and that ‘someone’ is you and me.

Many in the current-day, postmodern church are turning a blind eye to sin and sinful behavior. In fact, sin is in fashion in the world and has crept fashionably into the churches. (Look how many people dress, talk, act and reject the ‘old ways’ of Christ). They call themselves Christians. They go to church, and, they would never consider themselves as ‘tares’, waiting to plucked up in the Great Harvest, thrown onto the fire and burned up, but that is the risk some are taking. DON’T BE ONE OF THOSE.

Understand this, that in these last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear]. For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane, [and they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of [sensual] pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them. (See 2 Timothy 3:1-5)

But the [Holy] Spirit explicitly and unmistakably declares that in later times some will turn away from the faith, paying attention instead to deceitful and seductive spirits and doctrines of demons, [misled] by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared as with a branding iron [leaving them incapable of ethical functioning]. (See 1 Timothy 4:1-2)

Dear brothers and sisters, let’s be on the alert and always ready to preach the word [as an official messenger]; be ready when the time is right and even when it is not [keep your sense of urgency, whether the opportunity seems favorable or unfavorable, whether convenient or inconvenient, whether welcome or unwelcome]; correct [those who err in doctrine or behavior], warn [those who sin], exhort and encourage [those who are growing toward spiritual maturity], with inexhaustible patience and [faithful] teaching. (See 2 Timothy 4:2).

The day of His return is very near – let’s pray for one another to stay sober, ready and on the alert.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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UKRAINE and RUSSIA in Prophecy – The beginning of the End?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

IS THE FUSE LIT, USHERING IN THE ‘LAST DAYS’ AS PROPHESIED IN THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL?

Putin Issues Nuclear Warning

Headlines:

KYIV/MARIUPOL, Ukraine, February 24, 2022.  (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.”

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.

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

Chapter 38:1, “And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

Verse 2. “Son of man, set your face against Gog of the land of Magog (current day Russia), the chief ruler of Meshech (southern Russia and Ukraine and possibly the Republic of Georgia) and Tubal (central Turkey), and prophesy against him,

Verse 3, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief ruler of Meshech and Tubal.

Verse 4. 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 clothed in full armor, a great horde with buckler (small shield) and [large] shield, all of them wielding swords;

Verse 5. Persia (Iran), Cush (Ethiopia), and Put (Libya, N. Africa) with them, all of them with shield and helmet;

Verse 6. Gomer (southern Russia) and all its troops; Beth-togarmah (the Caucuses region of Armenia and Georgia) from the remote parts of the north and all its troops–many peoples with you.

Theme

Ezekiel the priest, assures his fellow Jews, through this prophecy, that God will one day return them to Jerusalem and 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. 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.

Origina Language:  Hebrew

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

WHO ARE THE ‘PLAYERS’?

Gog – Gog 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, here indicating nations rather than individuals,[3] allies of Satan against God at the end of the millennium, as described in the Book of Revelation. (From Wikipedia).

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.

GOD CAUSES ISRAEL’S ENEMIES TO INVADE

Ezekiel 38:7, “You [Gog] be prepared; prepare yourself, you and all your hordes that are assembled around you, and be a guard and a lookout for them. Verse 8. After many days you will be summoned [for service]; in the latter years you shall come into the land that is restored from [the ravages of] the sword, where people have been gathered out of many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had been a continual wasteland; but its people were brought out of the nations, and they are living securely, all of them. 9You will go up [against them], you will come like a storm; you shall be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your troops, and many peoples with you.”

GOD DESTROYS THE ENEMIES OF ISRAEL

Ezekiel 38:17. ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days through My servants, the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you (Gog) against them? Verse 18. It will come about on that day, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” says the Lord GOD, “that My wrath will rise and show on My face. Verse 19. In My zeal and in My blazing rage I declare that on that day there will most certainly be a [c]great earthquake in the land of Israel, Verse 20, so that the fishes of the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals of the field, all the creatures that crawl on the earth, and all the men that are on the face of the earth will tremble and shake at My presence; the mountains will crumble, the steep places will fall, and every wall will fall to the ground. Verse 21. I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains,” says the Lord GOD. “Every man’s (invading soldier’s) sword will be against his brother (ally) [in panic and confusion]. Verse 22. With pestilence and with bloodshed I will enter into judgment with Gog; and I will rain on him torrents of rain with [great] hailstones, fire and brimstone on his hordes and on the many nations that are with him. Verse 23. Thus I shall magnify Myself and demonstrate My greatness and sanctify Myself, and I will be recognized and will make Myself known in the sight of many nations; they will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.”’

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:

THE RETURN OF JESUS AND THE END OF THE AGE

WHEN DOES THE 7 YEARS OF GREAT TRIBULATION BEGIN?

WHEN DID THE TRIBULATION BEGIN?

THE JOURNEY TO PERFECTION

THE TRUTH BE KNOWN – Clue #1, Pointing to the End, Ch. 4

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

CLUE #1 – POINTING TO THE END

THE GREAT FLOOD – GENESIS 6

The Purpose of God’s Eternal Plan is “Perfection”.  He is maturing and perfecting His people into His image, ultimately to live in Perfect harmony with Him and with one another, in a New and Perfect heaven and earth.

Each and every chapter, verse and word in the Bible, when viewed within this context of  God’s Eternal Plan of Perfection, begins to make perfect sense.

This process of “Perfecting His Elect”, sometimes referred to as sanctification, comes through many forms of trials, tribulations, persecutions, temptations. The Great Flood of Noah’s day is one example of this process.

The Book of Daniel puts it this way, “and there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation”, and “many will be purged, cleansed and refined. but the wicked will coninute to act wickedly“.

Daniel 12:1-13 gives us an accurate, albeit abbreviated, summary of what is coming:

1.  Verse 1. 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,

2.  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. Verse 3. And those who have insight will shine like the glow of the expanse of heaven,

  4. 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.” Verse 5. Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the stream and the other on that bank of the stream. Verse 6. And someone said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream,

5. “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” Verse 7. And I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that

(a)  it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish smashing the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed.  Verse 8. But as for me, I heard but did not understand; so, I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?”  Verse 9. And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words will be kept secret and sealed up until the end time.

  6. Verse 10. Many will be purged, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but  those who have insight will understand.

  7. Verse 11. And from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Verse 12.

(a)  Blessed is the one who is patient and attains to the 1,335 days! Verse 13. But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will rest and rise for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”

Books have been written, movies have been made and plays have been created about ‘Noah and The Ark’. Is it true, a legend or a myth?

Once you get past the dramatic effects, the playwright’s imagination, the stage drama, the literary license and production embellishments, there is a truth to be seen and a lesson to be learned. But the whole truth will only be found in the Bible.

The Bible gives great detail about Noah, his life, his family and his homeland. We get details about the reasons for the construction of The Ark and even greater detail about The Ark, itself.

We can find many lessons from the account of Noah’s life, his relationship with God, the people of the earth, about God’s intentions for His Own creation, about faith and obedience to God’s Word and the cost of rebelliousness and sin toward God.

Who would have thought that we could find answers to a 21st Century quandary from an ancient, 4,800-year-old, event?

By all accounts, our twenty-first century world is full of the same “wickedness of man” was which prevalent during Noah’s days. “Every intent of the thoughts of man’s heart was only evil, continually”.  A careful, prayerful study of God’s Word regarding the Last Days should lead you to see the concurrence of events pointing to the breaking of the breaking of the 6th Seal of the Tribulation judgment and the imminent return of Christ.

Jesus tells of these concurrent events in the twenty-fourth chapter of the book of Matthew and concludes His narration with the warning, “For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.” (Matthew 24:37)

I.   JUST LIKE IN THE DAYS OF NOAH Genesis 6:5, tells us, “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Verse 6. The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. Verse 7. The LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.

a) There can come a point when sin is so great, that God will blot out all mankind. We may have reached that point, again.

Verse 8. “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. 9 These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God. 10 Noah became the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.”

b)   You can find favor with God, and He will consider you as “blameless”.

However, the Bible tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” and that we can only be made Righteous “by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus”.

 Genesis 6:11 “Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence. Verse 12. God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. Verse 13.  Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth. Verse 14. “Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and shall cover it inside and out with pitch.“

c)   God always makes a way of escape for the Righteous.

Genesis 6:18, says, “But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark, you and your sons and your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. Verse 19. “And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. Verse 20. “Of the birds after their kind, and of the animals after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive. Verse 21. “As for you, take for yourself some of all food which is edible, and gather it to yourself; and it shall be for food for you and for them.” Verse 22. Thus, Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.”

d)   Prepare to endure to the end, for it is the one who endures to the end who will be saved!

Genesis 7:1, tells us, “Then the LORD said to Noah, “Enter the ark, you and all of your household, for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time. Verse 2. “You shall take with you of every clean animal by sevens, a male and his female; and of the animals that are not clean two, a male and his female; Verse 3, also of the birds of the sky, by sevens, male and female, to keep offspring alive on the face of all the earth. Verse 4. “For after seven more days, I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights; and I will blot out from the face of the land every living thing that I have made.” Verse 5. Noah did according to all that the LORD had commanded him.

e) Only those God sees as Righteous will be able to enter the Ark of His salvation, which is The New Covenant of His Blood,

II.  OF THAT DAY AND HOUR

“No one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.”  Matthew 24:36

a) No one knows the day or the hour.

Verse 38. “For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, verse 39, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so, will the coming of the Son of Man be. Verse 40. “Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Verse 41. “Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.”

b) “For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. Matthew 24:37

Matthew 24:42 “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. Verse 43. “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. Verse 44. “For this reason, you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.”

c) You must be Ready for His Coming

III. CHRIST OR JUDGMENT  

Hebrews 10:26, warns, “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, verse 27, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. Verse 28. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Verse 29. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?”

a) “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.”

“For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.”  Hebrews 10:30

b)   The Christian’s covenant duty, as we wait for Christ’s return, is to ‘endure to the end’ and to ‘overcome evil with good’.

c)  “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God”.  (Hebrews 10:31)

Hebrews 10:32. “But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, verse 33, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. Verse 34. For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one. Verse 35. Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. Verse 36. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.”

d)   Keep your confidence in Christ and on His promises, for you have a need of endurance.

Hebrews 10:37, instructs, “FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS   COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY. Verse 38. “BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.”

e)   God gives a warning that in these Last Days,

IV.  THE PROVING OF YOUR FAITH

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who, according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1 Peter 1:3)

  • Verse 4.  to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
  • verse 5. Who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed IN THE LAST TIME.
  • verse 6.  In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, verse 7, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the 12of Jesus Christ; verse 8, and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
  • verse 9. Obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your soul

“But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”

a)   DO NOT SHRINK BACK

This, therefore, is how we prepare and conduct ourselves until “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. 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. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

  IF YOU UNDERSTAND GOD’S PURPOSE AND MEANING OF THE FLOOD AS DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE NOW N THE FINAL DAYS OF THE FINAL WEEK BEFORE JESUS RETURNS, USHERING IN THE “GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD”.

PREVIOUS:  THE TRUTH BE KNOWN – The Main Point, Ch. 3.

NEXT:  THE TRUTH BE KNOWN – Clue #2, Pointing To The End, Ch. 5

TRUTH BE KNOWN – The Main Point. Ch. 3

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

SEQUENTIAL – RELEVANT

GROUNDWORK FOR THE CONCLUSION OF THE AGE

I could spend thousands of drudgerous hours trying to give examples of how everything throughout the history of earth and humankind points to its conclusion, but this would only reveal the HOW and WHEN.

Historical events and occurrences may seem either unrelated, circumstantial or randomly sequential, they are related in the sense. They are the manifest groundwork for The Conclusion of the age and reveal God is doing what He has done it this way. So, I will provide this chart for you to evaluate, and I will stick with pointing out just the main events in history, as related to Bible prophecy, which are sequential and relevant to our journey and the previously stated purpose of this thesis.

THE CHART

 I am providing a world historical timeline chart which compares a world historical timeline with a Biblical timeline. I don’t expect many people will read or study all the details of this chart, but it can be very useful for reference.  (I am placing the chart at the end of this book as an addendum and here as a link: Timelines: Historical, Daniel’s 70 weeks, The Bible ).

The world historical timeline reflects or shows the Bible timeline and the fulfillment of prophecy. By reviewing this timeline chart, you can see that what the Bible has prophesied has come to pass, and what the Bible says is yet to come, will come to pass. And this will reveal  world events have occurred, WHY humankind must endure these things, and the outcome of it all.

 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.” Hebrews 11:3

 NOTE: IF YOU UNDERSTAND THESE HISTORICAL TIMELINES AS DESCRIBED IN SECULAR HISTORY, IN DANIEL’S SEVENTY WEEKS AND IN THE BIBLICAL TIMELINES, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHERE HISTORY IS HEADED AND THAT WE ARE IN THE FINAL DAYS OF THE FINAL WEEK BEFORE JESUS RETURNS, USHERING IN THE “GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD”.

CLUES POINTING TO THE END – A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE

Genesis 6:5, tells us, “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Verse 6. The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. Verse 7. The LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.

Now, we will explore six of the greatest clues which are a foreshadowing – harbingers – of what is to come. God has given us a glimpse of future events to provide us the reason they have been necessary.

It is by reviewing six major events, signposts in the natural world and through Biblical historical events, that we can find and follow a predetermined path to the “Latter Days” (“The Last Days” and the “End of This Age”). Each of these events, individually and collectively, will begin to show us WHY.

Clue #1.  THE GREAT FLOOD, (“NOAH’S FLOOD”), GENESIS, CHAPTER 6.

Clue #2.  THE FLOOD OF DANIEL, CHAPTER 9.

Clue #3.  THE GREAT FLOOD IN MATTHEW, CHAPTER 24.

Clue #4.  THE GREAT FLOOD IN REVELATION, CHAPTER 12.

Clue #5.  THE TOWER OF BABEL.

Clue #6.  THE COVENANTS.

This trek will help us discover, (1), how we arrived where we are now and , , (2), where we are going, and,(3), how creation ends and and (5), what we should be doing in response and .

PREVIOUS:  THE TRUTH BE KNOWN, DOES GOD EXIST? Ch. 2.

NEXT:  Clue #1.  THE TRUTH BE KNOW, POINTING TO THE END – Ch. 4.

THE TRUTH BE KNOWN – Does God Exist? Ch. 2

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

I am not equipped to deal with philosophy, existential thought or superstition. So, I will make this a short chapter by saying, “God Is”.  WHY?  Because those thousands who have seriously pursued God and have invested their entire lives, and to the many who have given their lives to that end, have recorded what they have found in a book.  That book is the Bible, and the findings of these people tell us that “GOD IS”.

Hence, the basis, or foundation for this thesis: “IN THE BEGINNING, GOD”.

You may have chosen, at some time in your life, to go with the idea that science is a more reliable source when dealing with the material world, and you may believe that empirical evidence offers a chance to prove yet-unproven theories about the physical world. But science is a relatively new field of study, which has only recently explored the beginning of all things through a theory called the Big Bang. That theory has been revised a number of times and, in fact, is currently being reevaluated for accuracy – since it does not adequately fit current scientific mathematical models. And, science is myopically flawed in the sense that it largely, if not completely, dismisses the idea of GOD or any ‘higher being’ having a hand in the creation of all things. (What I have just postulated will not answer the question, “Does God Exist”, and could possibly cause some readers to leave this journey. I encourage you to continue, and make your own decision based on facts and faith.)

The only things that you or I can think we know about God is from we have personally experienced or what has been written by those who have experienced God. Even then, faith will play a role.

The Bible gives scores of personal accounts over several centuries, of those who have encountered God and testify that GOD IS. These encounters, experiences and writings transformed the world. Therefore, I will use the Bible’s extensive writings, original languages, as best I can, keeping this study in the Biblical context that says, “there is a beginning and there will be an end and there is a purpose and a reason for it all”.

Genesis 1:1, says, “In the beginning God, (Elohim), created the heavens and the earth. Verse 2. And the earth was a formless and desolate emptiness, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Verse 3. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. Verse 4. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. Verse 5. God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening and there was morning, one day.” (etcetera).

There are varying estimates as to when the Book of Genesis was written, from sometime around 1400 B.C. to 1800 B.C. There is also some debate on who actually wrote the book, but most agree that it was written by Moses under the inspiration of God. There was no reliable-recorded history, virtually no technology, and no way for Moses to know what he was saying if the Genesis account was correct.

Yet, Moses, standing in a remote part of earth’s wilderness, perhaps looking skyward, spoke those words. Now, roughly 3,800 years later, we find that science agrees that “the earth had been in fact, a formless and desolate emptiness, and darkness was over the surface of the deep…and somehow, the earth came into an orbit – at the perfect distance – around our sun, rotating and spinning at precisely the right speed to accommodate gravity, an atmosphere, creating a day and a night, months, seasons and years – and eventually, life! Christian, creationist, atheist, scientist or whatever you may call yourself, believing this takes some measure of faith, even if you think the thousands of things that had to have happened were somehow a ‘coincidence’ of cosmic proportion.

So, yes. I say that God, (Elohim), created all of this.

I will say again, since there is no credible way to deny that GOD IS, then I will continue to base our thesis on faith and the fact that GOD IS.

 “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.” – Hebrews 11:6

THEN CAME MAN (kind). The Bible clearly states that God, created all there is that is seen. There is a lot of speculation and conjecture and some good reasoning as to why God created all things. It is my intention to show how the Bible reveals Why. God created all things in the cosmos and on the earth.

 

By this, you and I can understand God’s Purpose, Plan and destiny for our lives. By this, you can understand .

THE MAJOR EVENT – But with a ‘flaw’

According to the Bible, God creates all things, seen and unseen. And, if that weren’t enough, God also created humans, or, as the Bible puts it, in Genesis 1:26, “Then God said, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness.”

This is a major event. The seminal event in all creation. God is making a creature He calls ‘mankind’ in His, (Their), own image and according to Their likeness. Reading and understanding this is a foundational key to understanding the entire journey, from creation to the End of Time.

Before we get to the creation of mankind, we see that God begins to set things in a specific order and to give them function and purpose in preparation for His Masterpiece work: the arrival of mankind; “And God blessed them [granting them certain authority] and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subjugate it [putting it under your power]; and rule over (dominate) the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every living thing that moves upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:28).

THEN AN ODD THING HAPPENS

In the midst of His creation work, an odd sounding thing occurs.  This is an event, an occurrence in the creation of mankind, which is completely overlooked by the vast majority, if not all, Bible teachers. It is only found by studying the context and the Hebrew language, in which it is written. (This is a bit technical, but please pay particular attention, as this is a game-changer.)

Genesis 1, Verse 27. So, God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

It is helpful if not vital to understand the definition of each word used as it was written in the original Hebrew language, how it was worded and the arrangment of each sentence:

Verse 27. “So created God, man in His own image, in the image of God, He created him, male and female, He created them.”

So created = bara’ = to shape, create, a formative process, to make robust.

 God = Elohim = God; very great, mighty; Plural of ‘elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used in the plural. Signifying, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

 man =adam, from ‘adam’; man, mankind. ruddy i.e. A human being (an individual or the species, mankind.

 In His own image = tselem = an image; a mere, empty, image, semblance; image, vain show, from an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, i.e., an illusion, a resemblance; hence, a representative figure, especially an idol, an image, a vain shew, of dubious character.

 Male = zakar = A male

 Female = naqab = female, from the sexual form.

 Genesis 1, Verse 27 , by transliterating this verse it would read, “So, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, very great and mighty, created by shaping through a formative process to make robust, man; that is, mankind. Ruddy (as the birth of a baby?), i.e., a human being, an individual of the species of mankind, in His own image, but a mere, empty, resemblance of God; a shadow or a phantom, an illusion, a faint copy of God; hence, a representative figure, but of dubious character.”

To repeat, God did not creat mankind ‘perfect’ as God is perfect. He created mankind in a resemlance of His image and likeness, but with a designed flaw – mankind was given a dubious character which was on full display, from the beginning, in the garden of eden. Still, God created mankind with the potential of becoming ‘perfect as God is perfect’ and in the image and likeness of Jesus, like God. Mankind is also made as a plurality, with a mind, soul (will and emotions) and spirit.

PLEASE NOTE: This cannot be overemphasized. This is crucial to understanding the rest of creation, ‘the fall’, sin, death, redemption the coming of Christ and, ultimately, End of the Age, the destruction and the heavens and the earth and the making of a new heaven and a new earth.

Genesis 1:28 tells us that, “God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Verse 29. Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; Verse 30, and to every animal of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to everything that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so. Verse 31. And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.” 

Genesis, chapter two, verses one through three, record the completion of creation. Now began the process of perfecting.

ITS NOT SWAMP GOO

Genesis 2:4, recounts God’s creation of man and woman in great detail. A careful study reveals some startling facts. Read with me:

Genesis 2, Verse 7, says, “Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living person.”

 Let’s look at the words in this verse in the language of the Bible, which is Hebrew. (Please be patient and deliberate, here.)

The wording of this verse, written in Hebrew, would be aligned as such:

“And formed Yahweh God man (from) the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and became the man a being living.”

Now, let’s add the definition of these Hebrew words and their translations to these words to clarify their meaning (you can browse this if you like, because I will reassemble all this with its meaning and significance):

“And formed = yatsar = earthen, fashion, form, frame, maker, potter, purpose; Through the squeezing into shape; to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively, to determine.

 Yahweh = Jehovah, the Lord, = hayah = (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God — Jehovah, the Lord.

 God = Elohim = God; very great, mighty; Plural of ‘elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used in the plural. Signifying, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

man = adam = From ‘adam; ruddy; a human being, an individual or the species, mankind + hypocrite, + common sort, + low man, of mean, of low degree; a person.

 (from) the dust = aphar = dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud — ashes, dust, earth, ground, mortar, powder, rubbish.

of the ground = ‘adam = soil (from its general redness) — country, earth, ground, husband, husbandry, land.

 and breathed = naphach = blow, breath, give up, cause to lose life, seething, snuff;

into his nostrils = anaph = a nostril, nose, face, anger; from the rapid breathing in passion, ire, angry.

 the breath = nasham; a puff, angry or vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect. blast, that breaths, inspiration, soul, spirit

 of life = chayah = alive; hence, raw flesh; alive, with appetite, of a wild beast, lively.

 and became = hayah = to fall out, come to pass, become, be.

the man = adam = from ‘adam’; man, mankind. ruddy i.e. A human being (an individual or the species, mankind.

a being = nephesh = from naphash; properly, a breathing creature.

 Living = chay = from chayah; alive; living; hence, raw (flesh).

Genesis 2, Verse 7, with transliteration, says, “Then the LORD Jehovah, the Self-Existent, Eternal God, formed, fashion, and framed, as maker and potter, with purpose, through the squeezing into shape the man, a ruddy a human being, into an individual or the species, mankind, a hypocrite, a common sort, a low man, of mean and of low degree, a person, of dust, ashes, earth, mortar, powder and rubbish from the ground soil, from its general redness, as husbandry-land, and breathed breath, giving up part of Himself, causing Himself to lose life, as seething, and snuffing into nostrils, and the face, by rapid breathing, in passion, ire, and anger, the breath, by an angry puff of vital breath, of divine inspiration and intellect, blasts of breaths of inspiration, soul and spirit, of life, hence, raw flesh came alive, with the appetites of a wild beast, lively; and the man, ruddy a human being, an individual of the species, mankind, became a breathing creature a living person, alive, living, hence, raw flesh.”

What we see:

      1. God, has always existed and He is eternal.
      2. He is the creator of life.
      3. He creates with purpose and on purpose.
      4. This creation has all the imagery of childbirth: ruddy, squeezed, passionate, violent, painful, raw and costly (very similar and descriptive of what we know as childbirth.)
      5. A being of passion with a wild nature and base appetites is created. Mankind is created with flaws, destined to fail, condemned to death and separation of God.

The reasonable next thing for us to do, would be to follow the sequence of events in scriputres: The fall of mankind, the pronouncement of the curse, their banishment from the Garden of Eden, their separation from God and the events that follow. But, all of that is recorded in the Bible for you to read.

This is an overview of those events with the purpose of discovering how we got to where we are now, how this ends and what we are to do in response to these “Latter Days” leading to “The Last Days” and  the “End This Age” – and, ultimately and most importantly, Why?.

THE WORDS OF JESUS THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “A disciple is not above his Teacher”, Part 45

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 45

“A disciple is not above his teacher”

“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor is a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.

“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” – The Words of Jesus, Matthew 10:24-31.

This is both a final warning of what is coming and what to expect as a disciple of Jesus, and a strong word of encouragement.

Jesus is saying, that as His disciple (servant) you should expect no less than what the Master (Jesus) experiences. So, if Jesus is maligned and called Beelzebul, His disciples can expect equal if not greater ill-treatment.

Jesus previously taught extensively on the personal cost of being His disciple (see Matthew chapter 5:10, “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Verse 11. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Verse 12. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you).

Much of the postmodern teachings of what it means to become a Christian omit Jesus’ teachings and warnings of the cost of discipleship. The modern subliminal message of the Gospel is that once becoming a Christian, your life will take a decidedly profitable and comfortable upward turn in trajectory and outcome. This teaching is errant in that it omits the extremely difficult path between your time on earth and your ultimate home in heaven.

HOWEVER, HAVE NO FEAR

“So have no fear of them, those wolves whose nature is to act in opposition to God; those who will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues.

“For nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.”

Jesus is telling his disciples (then and now) they are not to cover up your relation to Him, but to say out loud and bravely the message that He has given you. Those who believe in the present life of Christ and in the reality of present communications from him cannot fail to see here both the true source of their messages as preachers and the necessity of faithfulness to those messages.

Secondly, Jesus is calling His disciples they are to reveal the evil that is hidden in men’s hearts, minds and their hidden evil deeds. These are the secret dealings of those who reside within the church – the things that are counter to the transparent Truth of the Gospel and life of Jesus.

There is a verse found in Jeremiah 12:5 which warns, “If you have raced with men on foot, and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses? If you fall down in a land of peace [where you feel secure], Then how will you do [among the lions] in the [flooded] thicket beside the Jordan?”  This is similar to Jesus’ warning, as if to say, ‘if you think it’s been hard dealing with those outside of the church (i.e., ‘the men on foot’), just wait until you have to deal with those who are hiding their evil ways who are within the church (i.e., ‘the horses’).

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Jesus is referring to the threats and actions that will be leveled against you when you reveal those things which are hidden so that they will be known. When Jesus says ‘do not fear’, He is using a Hebraism expressing avoidance, shrinking, cowardly. God warns that He ‘takes no pleasure in those (cowards) who shrink back’ (see Hebrews 10:8).

Jesus has clearly prepared of His disciples – including you and me – about our calling, our mission, our methodology and about what will be coming upon us. Next, He will teach us about His authority, our relationship with Him and the Father; and about the ‘bigger picture’ of His purpose.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(If you have any questions or remarks, please contact me).

PREVIOUS:  THE WORDS OF JESUS – WHAT ARE YOU TO DO WITH THEM? Part 44, “Behold, I am sending you out”.

NEXT:  THE WORDS OF JESUS – WHAT ARE YOU TO DO WITH THEM? Part 46, “Everyone who acknowledges Me before men”.

THE TRUTH BE KNOWN – When It All Began, Ch. 1

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

IN THE BEGINNING

Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God (Elohim) created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth. Verse 2. The earth was formless and void or a waste and emptiness, and darkness was upon the face of the deep [primeval ocean that covered the unformed earth]. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters.”

There is an event coming which is so fantastic as to be unbelievable. I will show the evidence leading to this event, known as the ‘Rapture’ and I will even help you calculate the odds of its occurrence.  You will then be faced with the most monumental decision you have ever faced. You don’t want to miss this.

  IT ALL BEGAN.

The Purpose of God’s Eternal Plan is “Perfection”.  He is maturing and perfecting His people into His image, ultimately to live in Perfect harmony with Him and with one another, in a New and Perfect heaven and earth.

“Because by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified.” – Hebrews 10:14

Each and every chapter, verse and word in the Bible, when viewed within this context of God’s Eternal Plan of Perfection, begins to make perfect sense.

We will begin in Genesis, which is the foundation of what has happened, what is now happening and what is yet to come, and we will trace our steps through time and history, concluding with the period the world has entered, the final epoch of time, known by various names, such as, “The Last Days”, “The End The Age” the “Latter Days” and “The Tribulation Period”. This final epoch, the beginning of the end, was marked by the birth of Jesus. This will be more than just a trip through history – this will be a journey of discovery. We will discover, not just WHAT or WHEN certain events happened, but we investigate they occurred, so we can endeavor to know their purpose.

There are visible and observable signs and ancient writings to help you identify the stages in this progression of time. Most people, however, either don’t recognize the signs or writings or don’t believe in their literal fulfillment. Even among those who believe these prophecies are coming to pass and see the signs, few know what they are seeing, where they are leading or what to do in response. It is my intention to make the truth of these matters intelligible, understandable, believable and useful.

God’s plan is unfolding exactly as He purposed; from The Creation, through the Garden of Eden and the Fall of Man to the Great Flood, the Tower of Babel, the Exodus from Egypt, the possessing of The Promised Land, the Destruction of the First Temple and the Jewish Captivity in Babylon, the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus, the Destruction of the Second Temple, our steady march through time has been exactly as Bible prophecy has foretold.  We have entered an era leading to the destruction and, eventually, a rebirth of the heavens and the earth.

DANIEL’S 70 WEEKS – A glimpse into the future

It appears we have entered the Last Days as described in the Bible, and the best description of the purpose, length and, outcome of this End of Time, variously known as the “birth pains”, the tribulation and the Great Tribulation, (see Matthew 24:21, Revelation 2:22 and Revelation 7:14) or the Wrath of the Lamb, (see Revelation 6:16), is found in Daniel 12:1,

Daniel 12:1-13 gives us an accurate, albeit abbreviated, a summary of what is coming:

  1. 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,
  2. 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. 
  3. Verse 3. And those who have insight will shine like the glow of the expanse of heaven,
  4. 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.” Verse 5. Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the stream and the other on that bank of the stream. Verse 6. And someone said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream,
  5. “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” Verse 7. And I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that

(a)  it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish smashing the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed.  Verse 8. But as for me, I heard but did not understand; so, I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?”  Verse 9. And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words will be kept secret and sealed up until the end time.

  6. Verse 10. Many will be purged, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but  those who have insight will understand.

  7.  Verse 11. And from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Verse 12.

(a)  Blessed is the one who is patient and attains to the 1,335 days! Verse 13. But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will rest and rise for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”

Sometime in the early stage of the events described in Daniel 12, there will be an event which is so fantastic as to be unbelievable. But I will show the evidence leading to this event, known as the ‘Rapture’ and I will even help you calculate the odds of its occurrence.  You will then be faced with the most monumental decision you have ever faced. You don’t want to miss this.

Let’s return to the trailhead of our journey, the Book of Genesis, and begin by asking and answering the question, “Does God Exist”?

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  THE TRUTH BE KNOWN – Does God Exist? Ch. 2.

PREVIOUS:  THE TRUTH BE KNOWN – What the Bible says about our near future.

 

AND THEY BOWED THEIR HEADS AND PRAYED

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

It seemed that some saw their prayers answered; it seemed others did not receive what they prayed.  Some were rescued and delivered; others suffered and perished. Just what is prayer, and does it work?

Our common ideas regarding prayer are not found in the New Testament. Our greatest misunderstandings about prayer, which bring us our greatest disappointments and failures, are:

  • Typically, we look upon prayer simply as a means of getting things for ourselves.
    • But the biblical purpose of prayer is that we may get to know God, Himself.
  • We see prayer from a ‘natural perspective’, that is from a fleshly point of view, to provide for our physical, mental and emotional needs.
    • Prayer is a ‘spiritual exercise’ that produces eternal spiritual results.
  • To say that “prayer changes things” is not as close to the truth as saying, “Prayer changes me, and then I change things.”
    • God has established things so that prayer, on the basis of redemption, changes the way a person looks at things. Prayer is not a matter of changing things externally, but one of working miracles in a person’s inner nature.

A “Google Search” on “what is prayer” returned 1,100,000,000 results (0.58 seconds). This must be a very hot topic!  The ‘web page hits’ included views ranging from mainline protestant views, to Catholic views, Islamic views and every other idea about prayer invented by man or woman. But 1,100,000,000 is too many for me to read or research, so, here are a few definitions and explanations of ‘prayer’ from four well known Christian sources:

  1. (Got Questions.Org) The most basic definition of prayer is “talking to God.” Prayer is not meditation or passive reflection; it is direct address to God. It is the communication of the human soul with the Lord who created the soul. Prayer is the primary way for the believer in Jesus Christ to communicate his emotions and desires with God and to fellowship with God.

Prayer is described in the Bible as seeking God’s favor (Exodus 32:11), pouring out one’s soul to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:15), crying out to heaven (2 Chronicles 32:20), drawing near to God (Psalm 73:28, KJV), and kneeling before the Father (Ephesians 3:14).

Prayer is the Christian’s way of communicating with God. We pray to praise God and thank Him and tell Him how much we love Him. We pray to enjoy His presence and tell Him what is going on in our lives. We pray to make requests and seek guidance and ask for wisdom. God loves this exchange with His children, just as we love the exchange we have with our children. Fellowship with God is the heart of prayer. Too often, we lose sight of how simple prayer is really supposed to be.

 

  1. (carm.org.). Prayer is the practice of the presence of God.  It is the place where pride is abandoned, hope is lifted, and supplication is made.  Prayer is the place of admitting our need, of adopting humility, and claiming dependence upon God.  Prayer is the needful practice of the Christian.  Prayer is the exercise of faith and hope.  Prayer is the privilege of touching the heart of the Father through the Son of God, Jesus our Lord.

 

  1. (crosswalk.com). Prayer is Talking with God.
  • As believers in Christ, we have an amazing privilege; our Heavenly Father invites us to talk to Him! In Jeremiah 29:12, He invites His children to speak and promises to listen: “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” We can read God’s Word and talk to Him in the morning to align our hearts with His at the start of the day, and we can also talk to Him as we go about our daily routines.
  • Prayer is Praise.
  • Prayer is asking for a change of heart.
  • Prayer is telling God your needs in prayer.
  • Prayer is thanking God.
  • Prayer is asking for empowerment.
  • Praying is turning your heart toward God.

 

  1. (Oswald Chambers – My Utmost for His Highest). Prayer is not a normal part of the life of the natural man. We hear it said that a person’s life will suffer if he doesn’t pray, but I question that. What will suffer is the life of the Son of God in him, which is nourished not by food, but by prayer. When a person is born again from above, the life of the Son of God is born in him, and he can either starve or nourish that life. Prayer is the way that the life of God in us is nourished.

Our common ideas regarding prayer are not found in the New Testament. We look upon prayer simply as a means of getting things for ourselves, but the biblical purpose of prayer is that we may get to know God Himself.

“Ask, and you will receive…” (John 16:24). We complain before God, and sometimes we are apologetic or indifferent to Him, but we actually ask Him for very few things. Yet a child exhibits a magnificent boldness to ask! Our Lord said, “…unless you…become as little children…” (Matthew 18:3). Ask and God will do. Give Jesus Christ the opportunity and the room to work. The problem is that no one will ever do this until he is at his wits’ end. When a person is at his wits’ end, it no longer seems to be a cowardly thing to pray; in fact, it is the only way he can get in touch with the truth and the reality of God Himself. Be yourself before God and present Him with your problems— the very things that have brought you to your wits’ end. But as long as you think you are self-sufficient, you do not need to ask God for anything.

To say that “prayer changes things” is not as close to the truth as saying, “Prayer changes me, and then I change things.” God has established things so that prayer, on the basis of redemption, changes the way a person looks at things. Prayer is not a matter of changing things externally, but one of working miracles in a person’s inner nature.

  1. Prayer is not an exercise – it is the life.
  2. Our prayers are heard, not because we are in earnest, not because we suffer, but because Jesus suffered.
  3. Prayer is not logical – it is a mysterious moral working of the Holy Spirit.
  4. Get a place for prayer where no one imagines that that is what you are doing. Shut the door and talk to God.
  5. It is impossible to conduct your life as a disciple without definite times of secret prayer.
  6. It takes a tremendous amount of reiteration on God’s part before we understand what prayer is. We do not pray at all until we are at our wits’ end.
  7. God answers prayer on the ground of Redemption and on no other ground.
  8. Prayer is not getting things from God, that is the most initial stage; prayer is getting into perfect communion with God; I tell Him what I know He knows in order that I may get to know it as He does.
  9. Prayer imparts the power to walk and not faint.
  10. Never say you will pray about a thing; pray about it.
  11. Our Lord prayed because He was concentrated on God; that is, He did not worship prayer.
  12. God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize, but that we may intercede.
  13. Prayer is not only asking, but an attitude of mind which produces the atmosphere in which asking is perfectly natural.
  14. Never make the blunder of trying to forecast the way God is going to answer your prayer.
  15. Prayer is the answer to every problem there is.
  16. Inarticulate prayer, the impulsive prayer that looks so futile, is the thing God always heeds. The habit of ejaculatory prayer ought to be the persistent habit of each one of us.
  17. Jesus Christ carries on intercession for us in heaven; the Holy Ghost carries on intercession in us on earth; and we the saints have to carry on intercession for all men.
  18. Prayer is simple, prayer is supernatural, and to anyone not related to our Lord Jesus Christ, prayer is apt to look stupid.
  19. Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.
  20. When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message.
  21. You cannot truly intercede through prayer if you do not believe in the reality of redemption.
  22. Our understanding of God is the answer to prayer.
  23. Get into the habit of saying, “Speak, Lord,” and life will become a romance.
  24. Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God, whose ways you may not understand at the time.
  25. If we pray only because we want answers, we will become irritated and angry with God.
  26. Prayer is not a question of altering things externally, but of working wonders in a man’s disposition.
  27. The point of prayer is not to get answers from God, but to have perfect and complete oneness with Him.
  28. We are not here to prove God answers prayer, but to be living trophies of God’s grace.
  29. What hinders me from hearing is that I am taking up with other things. It is not that I will not hear God, but I am not devoted in the right place.
  30. When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message.– Oswald Chambers 

Is it that simple? I certainly hope so. But the Bible has much to say on this matter. So, let’s go to the Bible for the final word.

(I will add one scripture verse each week – as permitted – to the previous day’s verse until we have a complete picture of what the Bible says.  This way, we will then have the opportunity (and the encouragement) to put the Word of God into practice – weekly.

Click here for Week #1 verse and study:

Philippians 4:6, “Do

not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

 

 

AND THEY BOWED THEIR HEADS AND PRAYED – Week 1

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

WEEK 1

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

KEEPING IT SIMPLE

Let’s break this verse down into its component parts:

1 – Do not be anxious about anything, but (simple enough: don’t be anxious)

            2- in everything (simple enough: in everything)

                        3 – by prayer and supplication (simple enough)

                                    4 – with thanksgiving (simple enough)

                                                5 – Let your requests be made known to God. (simple)

The foregoing is one simple step to having an effective prayer life that gets answers – or is it?

Have you ever been anxious? Could you ‘turn it on and off’ at will? Not so easy, huh?

This word, anxious, means to be drawn in opposite directions; “divided into parts”, or to “to go to pieces” because you are being pulled apart in different directions. (From the Greek language (Strong’s concordance #3309), “merimnáō”)

Anxiety is the mind and body’s reaction to stressful, dangerous, or unfamiliar situations. It’s the sense of uneasiness, distress, or dread you feel before a significant event. A certain level of Anxiety helps us stay alert and aware, but for those suffering from an anxiety disorder, it feels far from normal – it can be completely debilitating.

Constant anxiety levies a toll on health. For example, anxiety increases levels of the stress hormone cortisol, raising blood pressure, which contributes over time to heart problems, stroke, kidney disease, and sexual dysfunction. And a 2017 Lancet study using brain scans measured activity in an area called the amygdala, which mounts split-second responses to danger and encodes memories of frightening events. Greater activity in the amygdala correlated with higher risk for heart disease and stroke, possibly, the researchers speculated, by triggering immune system production of extra white cells to fight perceived threats. In people struggling with emotional stress, this might drive inflammation and plaque formation that leads to heart attacks and strokes.

Quality of life suffers, too. Intrusive thoughts, dread of panic attacks, intense self-consciousness and fear of rejection, and other hallmarks of anxiety disorders compel people to avoid anxiety-provoking situations. This interferes with relationships, work, school, and activities as people isolate themselves, turn down opportunities, and forgo possible joys in life. (Note: there can be multiple medical reasons, emotional, psychological and physical contributing conditions that produce anxiety.)

What can be done to address or to alleviate anxiety? It seems that the more we try to avoid a behavior, the more we are drawn to it and the worse it becomes. The Apostle Paul talked about something similar when he said he was unable to do the good things he wanted to do (and the more he tried), the more he did the (bad) things he did not want to do. He lamented his condition and posed the question, “Wretched and miserable man that I am! Who will rescue me and set me free from this body of death [this corrupt, mortal existence]?”

FOCUS

Paul realized that it is all about one’s mindset – what we focus on. He says, “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:6-8)

It is not an easy thing, to change one’s mindset. It takes a long time to set one’s mind, and it will take an equally long or longer time to change it. With that in mind, Paul give us this:

Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].

Finally, brothers,

  • whatever is true,
  •  whatever is honorable and worthy of respect,
  • whatever is just and right,
  • whatever is pure and wholesome,
  • whatever is lovely and brings peace,
  • whatever is commendable, admirable and brings good repute,
  • if there is any excellence,
  • if there is anything worthy of praise,
  • continually dwell on and think on these things; [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, [in daily life], and the God [who is the source] of peace and well-being will be with you. (Philippians 4:7-9 – Amplified version.)

This takes patience, time and discipline to energize and create a prayer life that gets results, but in doing so you will have changed your life for the best!

Now, if you are willing, go back to the list (Philippians 4:7-9) and dwell on each ‘whatever’ and audibly name ‘whatever’, then write it down.

The outcome of daily prayer, focus, mediation and practice will give you what you are looking for:  “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(Back to the Introduction)

              Week 2

 Prayer Journal

THE TRUTH BE KNOWN – What the Bible says about our near future

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

PERFECTION

In the beginning, God created.

He began with the imperfect and created the Masterpiece, first in the heavens and then on the earth. His work completed in just seven days; He would allow His Masterpiece to mature for a millennium until it became His Perfection.

This is a journey of discovery and revelation of God’s Grand Plan and Design, from creation through the End of the Age, then into a New Heaven and a New Earth.

Reasons for WHAT God is doing in these Last Days, and He is doing it this way. My prayer is that, after reading this, everything you may have wondered regarding the reasoning behind God’s Plan for the world and your life, will fall into place.

By: Michael J. Young, Sr., evangelist, teacher.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:2

The Purpose of God’s Eternal Plan is “Perfection”.  He is maturing and perfecting His people into His image, ultimately to live in Perfect harmony with Him and with one another, in a New and Perfect heaven and earth.

“Because by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified.” – Hebrews 10:14

Each and every chapter, verse and word in the Bible, when viewed within this context of God’s Eternal Plan of Perfection, begins to make perfect sense.

IT ALL BEGAN – THE SCIENCE OF IT ALL

A strictly scientific study of the beginning of all things may reveal theories of WHAT, HOW and WHEN things might have begun, but science has never attempted to explain WHY. It is just not in the realm of scientific interest or possibility.

IT ALL BEGAN – THE SPIRIT OF IT ALL

The Bible also tells the ‘WHAT’ and the ‘HOW’ all things began, but from a spiritual perspective. It is from this paradigm that we understand that the universe was created by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible; it is by the spoken Word of God that the heavens (the cosmos) and the earth, and all that exists, came into being – became visible.

Most importantly, we can learn God created all things. But this perspective gives not only the beginning, but forecasts the journey, giving insights of HOW, WHEN and all things are going as they are going, but gives the HOW, WHEN and it will end.

This perspective also explains , despite the fact that there is so much suffering in our world from sin which results in wars, disease, famines, earthquakes, persecutions and deaths,

“We know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. For those whom He foreknew [and loved and chose beforehand], He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son [and ultimately share in His complete sanctification], so that He would be the firstborn [the most beloved and honored] among many believers.” (See Romans 8:28-29)

If you will endeavor to gain insight and understanding from this journey, you can obtain the strength of endurance through the hope that God indeed has a design and a plan for your life.  A plan for you like the one God promised His chosen people before their captivity into Babylon; ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11).

Join me as we go to where it all began: “IN THE BEGINNING”…

Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God (Elohim) created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth. Verse 2. The earth was formless and void or a waste and emptiness, and darkness was upon the face of the deep [primeval ocean that covered the unformed earth]. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters.”

There are varying estimates as to when the Book of Genesis was written, from sometime around 1400 B.C. to 1800 B.C. There is also some debate on who actually wrote the book, but most agree that it was written by Moses under the inspiration of God.

Modern day scientists will say that the earth is much older than the estimated 3,700 years and 4,100 since the writing of Genesis. In fact, many theologians and Bible scholars will estimate the age of the earth at 6,000 years, while scientist insist the earth is over 4 billion years old.

There is a reason that dating the age of the earth is important. According to Ken Ham, founder and CDO of “Answers in Genesis”, “The age of the earth is s at the heart of evolutionary naturalism (really, the religion of atheism). If the idea of millions and billions of years isn’t true, then the evolutionary religion falls apart. Sadly, many Christians have accepted part of the religion of atheism (naturalism)—the millions of years and/or evolution—and added it into the Bible. So how should we think about this issue?”

Conversely, if the billions of years theory is correct, then the very foundations of the Bible are called into question, which is why the anti-creation crowd is working so hard to prove an unprovable theory. But that is not the purpose of this book.

The purpose of this book is to discover the truth of God, through His written Word, the Bible is telling us. Although thousands of dedicated and honorable men and women have lived and died to bring us the written Word of God, I believe we only partially understand what God has been telling us because our focus has been on the infinite details rather than God’s narrative – what I will call the “Long View”.

Let me start by putting it this way, “In the beginning, God created.”

He began with the imperfect and created the Masterpiece, first in the heavens and then on the earth. His work completed in just seven days; He would allow His Masterpiece to mature for millennia until it becomes His Perfection.

This is a journey of discovery and revelation of God’s Grand Plan and Design, from creation through the End of the Age, then into a New Heaven and a New Earth.

This is a non-academic, yet a serious, thesis on the reasons for WHAT God is doing in these Last Days and WHY He is doing it this way. My prayer is that, after reading this, everything you may have wondered regarding the reasoning behind God’s Plan for the world and your life, will fall into place.

Patiently walk with me, and I will take you on an amazing journey. A journey from the beginning of time through recorded world and Biblical histories. We will identify important past Bible prophecies and correlate them to the actual past world events; then we will compare both prophecies and histories to one specific prophecy known as ‘Daniel’s Seventy Weeks’, which will bring us to current events and the final epoch of time known by various names, such as, “The Last Days”, “The End The Age” the “Latter Days” and “The Tribulation”, which are now unfolding with frightening accuracy.

I will not stop there, however. I will conclude by laying out a successful response to these events, a plan of action by which you can both survive and thrive in these final days.

We will take a journey coordinating Bible Prophecy with Biblical and World Histories, culminating with what the Bible calls “The End of Days”.

(Please bookmark this page for coming episodes and chapters)

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  THE TRUTH BE KNOWN – When It All Began, Ch. 1

THE WORDS OF JESUS THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them?, “Behold, I am sending you out”, Part 44

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 1 Comment

THE WORDS OF JESUS

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 44

“Behold, I am sending you out”

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.

When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.” – The Words of Jesus, Matthew 10:16-23

Will you imagine, with me, standing before Jesus and hearing these words spoken – to you?  I hope you are able to do this because He is still speaking these words today. They are Creative, Causative, Prophetic, and Instructional.

He spoke His Word in ages past, and He is still speaking His Words to us, today; and so it shall ever be.

God is eternal, omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent. He is all knowing, all present and all powerful. He was, He is, and He will forever be.

He is saying to you, this day. Let’s break this down into 5 important components:

YOUR ORDERS

“Behold, I am sending you out

You are His disciple. A Christian solider on mission, in God’s army. He is sending you into spiritual combat. Get ready.

YOUR RISK

as sheep in the midst of wolves,

You are potential prey to those who would behave as ravenous predators. You are at risk.

YOUR TACTICS

so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Be spiritually stealthy and without blame.

RECONNOITER AND KNOW YOUR EXPECTATIONS

Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake,

Don’t be surprised by their tactics. You will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of your testimony.

YOUR MISSION

to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.

Your mission is to bear witness of the Christ.

YOUR OFFENSIVE POWER

When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Do not be surprised that you will be ‘delivered over’ – you will be delivered over; prepare yourself now, so you will not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. Remember, it is not you who speaks, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

There are approximately 2,400,000,000 (2.4 billion) Christians worldwide and over 230 million Christians in America. Can you imagine the powerful impact this would have on our world if all the Christians, the disciples of Jesus, would submit themselves to these prophetic commands? Allowing the Spirit of the Father to speak through them.

Can you imagine the powerful impact on your life and your sphere of influence this would have if you would submit yourself to these prophetic commands? Allowing the Spirit of your Father to speak through you.

YOUR DEFENSIVE POWER

Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”

Do not be unaware or be deceived, because brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake.

But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

God is warning us now, that this time is at hand. Hebrews 10:32-36 tells us, “But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through insults and distress, and partly by becoming companions with those who were so treated. For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better and lasting possession. Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. 

FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE,

HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.

BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE WILL LIVE BY FAITH;

AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM. But we are not among those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith for the safekeeping of the soul.”  ((It is coming again))

Be aware that there are many within the church, in leadership, pastors, preachers, theologians and Bible teachers who are saying this is not so. They are denying that we have entered into the breaking of the 5th Tribulation Seal (The Great Apostasy and the Great Persecution) and matters will continue to intensify with the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal, the Day of God’s Wrath and the beginning of the final 7 years of Tribulation.

YOUR MARCH TO VICTORY ASSURED

When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”

You will be persecuted, even now, if you will go outside the walls of your ‘church’. Go into the world with the Gospel of Christ; stay on the move, navigating through the enemy’s lines, reaching the lost, bringing good news to the humble; binding up the brokenhearted, proclaiming release to captives, and freedom to prisoners; proclaim the favorable year of the LORD and the day of vengeance of our God;

To comfort all who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the cloak of praise instead of a disheartened spirit. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

It is so. The day is now at hand. Remember: The one who endures to the end will be saved.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(If you have any questions or remarks, please contact me).

PREVIOUS:  THE WORDS OF JESUS – WHAT ARE YOU TO DO WITH THEM? Part 43, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”

NEXT:  THE WORDS OF JESUS – WHAT ARE YOU TO DO WITH THEM? Part 45, “A disciple is not above his teacher”.

BABYLON THE GREAT HARLOT

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

SIGNS THAT WE ARE NOW SEEING THE AGE OF

 

“BABYLON THE HARLOT”

As in all prophecies of the Bible there have been a foreshadowing, precursors or harbingers of their fulfillment. The same is true with the breaking of the Tribulation Seals, the future sounding of the Tribulation Trumpets and pouring out of the Tribulation Bowls.

This is a commentary and a reminder that we are now seeing harbingers of the coming Great and Fearful Day of God’s Judgement and His Wrath. These verses are dealing specifically with the two beasts, the false prophet, satan and both the faithful Church and the faithless church and thier fate.

“And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven bowls, came to me, and spoke with me, saying.” – Revelation 17:1

Verse 1. This and the following chapters (to Revelation 19:21) consist of visions which are really included under the seventh bowl, but which, on account of their length and elaboration, may be considered apart from the other judgments of that bowl. In the preceding chapters we have had placed before us

1. A synopsis of three classes of ungodly people, and

  1. The three principles of evil in their abstract form,

(a) As they are represented, first, by the world (the first beast – the antichrist), the flesh

(b) And the second beast, (the false prophet), and

(c) The devil (the dragon).

The personal final overthrow of the devil is described in Revelation 20:10; Revelation 17. and 18, are devoted to the description of the judgments of the two former –

(a) the world, in its character of the openly hostile persecutor of the Church of God;

(b) and the other portion of the ungodly who, while still professing Christianity, find excuses for conforming to the worship of the image of the beast.

*The first beast is, therefore, identical with Babylon, and represents, as we have seen, the openly hostile and persecuting world power of all ages, of which, in St. John’s time, Rome was the foremost embodiment.

*The second beast is identical with the harlot, and represents faithless Christians, the apostate portion of the Church.

The very reason for the Apocalypse is to deal with these two forms of evil;

(a) to declare the overthrow of the one, and to warn and, if possible,

(b) to reclaim those under the influence of the other.

In the latter case, the warning consists in setting forth the judgment in store for faithless Christians; and as this is the course pursued with the former also, the two merge into one, and indeed are declared to be one.

The apostle in substance declares that, though there is a prima facie difference between the two forms of ungodliness, there is in reality no distinction to be made, but both are involved in one common final judgment. He thus twice solemnly asserts that the harlot is Babylon (verse. 5 and 18).

Revelation 17:2, “she with whom the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality, and the inhabitants of the earth have become intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”

Verse 2. – “Of the earth” is used here (as it frequently is) for the worldly as distinguished from the righteous; and the two classes mentioned indicate the universality of this faithlessness – it is not confined to any one grade of society.

As we have seen (see on verse 1 and Revelation 14:8), the figure of fornication is repeatedly used to describe faithlessness towards God. The verse, therefore, declares that

(a) this faithless portion of the Church has chosen rather to render to the world that love which is due to God, and

(b) to be connected rather with the powers of this world than to have its treasure in heaven.

The expression, “wine of her fornication,” is a repetition of that in Revelation 14:8, and is derived from Jeremiah 2:7 (cf. also Revelation 16:19 and Revelation 18:3). Revelation 17:2

Revelation 17:3, “And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was entirely covered with blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.

Verse 3. Some commentators have thought that the “wilderness” signifies the desolation which is the lot of the harlot (see verse 16; Revelation 18:2, 19; also Jeremiah 51:26). But we can hardly avoid the conclusion that the “wilderness” here is that spoken of in Revelation 12:6, 14, which is symbolical of this world, particularly when we remember that the “wilderness” in both cases is the abode of a woman, who moreover is representative of the Church; though in Revelation 12. She represents the Church of God as a whole, persecuted by Satan, and in this place the woman is representative of the faithless part of the Church (see also below on “beast”). Vitringa, referring to Isaiah 21:1, and Revelation 17:1, 15, and Ezekiel 20:35, arrives at a similar conclusion; it is a “wilderness of the people.” And I saw a woman. There is no article, but this vision, occurring immediately after the words of verse 1, “I will show thee… the great harlot,” identifies this woman with the harlot of verse 1. This woman represents the faithless portion of the Church (see on verse 1); that part which, following after worldly things, has thereby rendered to the beast the love and honor due to God alone.

 This woman is not identical with the woman of Revelation 12. The latter represents the faithful, the former the faithless, part of the Church. Sit upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. Here again, as in “wilderness” (vide supra), we have θηρίον, “beast,” without the article; but the identity of this “beast” with that of Revelation 13:1 is established by

(1) the same outward characteristics of names of blasphemy, seven heads and ten horns;

(2) its connection with “kings,” etc. (verse. 12-14 and Revelation 19:19, 20);

(3) its connection with the “false prophet” (Revelation 13. and Revelation 19:20);

(4) its connection with the harlot – the one representing the world power, the other the faithless, worldly portion of the Church. That the woman sits upon the beast denotes, not that she exercises control and guidance over it (as Alford), for comp. verse 16, but rather that the woman relies upon the beast for support and safety; thus presenting an accurate description of those who prefer to trust to the power and influence of the world rather than to God. Scarlet (whether the color of the beast itself or of its trappings is immaterial) may signify either

(a) the worldly pre-eminence and power of which it is the sign, and for which the woman allies herself with the beast; or

(b) the blood-stained persecution of which the beast is the author. The first interpretation coincides best with the words which immediately follow; the second one agrees with the description in verse 6 and Revelation 13:7. (On the “names of blasphemy,” as signifying opposition to and rivalry with God, see on Revelation 13:1.) The seven heads denote universality of (earthly) dominion, and the ten horns denote plenitude of power (see on Revelation 13:1). Revelation 17:3.

Revelation 17:4. “The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold, precious stones and pearls, [and she was] holding in her hand a gold cup full of the abominations and the filth of her [sexual] immorality.”

Verse 4. – These words, taken in connection with those that follow, seem to signify the worldly magnificence which may be the portion of the faithless Christian.

Some writers see an allusion to the purple robe of Christ. (On the meaning of “scarlet,” see on verse 3.) And decked with gold and precious stones and pearls; gilded with, etc. Similar descriptions are given in Ezekiel 16:13 and Ezekiel 28:13. Compare the description in Revelation 21:11.

This account is sufficiently characteristic of the world’s attractions to need no comment, only to say that this is the adornment of the faithless and false church. Having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication; full of abominations, even the unclean things of, etc. Another reference to Jeremiah 51:7 (cf. also Revelation 14:10). Abominations are all things that are displeasing to God. (On “fornication,” see on Revelation 14:8 and Revelation 17:1, 2; it signifies unfaithfulness towards God.) Revelation 17:4

Revelation 17:5. “And on her forehead a name was written, a mystery: “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES (false religions, heresies) AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”

Verse 5. – This practice was customary with harlots. Also, in Revelation 14:1 and Revelation 7:3 the faithful members of God’s Church have his Name in their foreheads; here the faithless ones, represented by the harlot, exhibit a spurious imitation.

(a) As God’s Name marked the former as His,

(b) So, the name Babylon, etc., marks the latter as belonging to the world (see on Revelation 16:19; 17:5; 18:2).

The name consists of the words following, to the end of the verse. MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. The word “MYSTERY” may be

(1) part of the name, standing coordinately with “BABYLON” (Alford, Bleek, Hengstenberg, Vitringa, Wordsworth);
(2) a description of the following title, being thus in apposition with ὅνομα, “name” (Auberlin, De Wette, Dusterdieck, Ebrard);
(3) an adverb used in the same sense as in the last case (Stuart). Whichever view be taken, there can be no doubt that the purpose is to draw attention to the fact which is contained in the following words – a fact which might otherwise be exceedingly difficult to receive.

For the rest of the verse asserts that the harlot is Babylon; that is, that the worldly portion of the Church, though nominally Christian, *is in reality identical with the world, which is openly antagonistic to God.

Indeed, the latter portion of the verse goes even further than this. This faithless (though outwardly Christian) portion of Christ’s Church is the mother, that is, the cause of the existence of unfaithfulness to God.

It is the professing Christian who is worldly minded who does more to cause disobedience and unfaithfulness in others toward God, than he or she who openly declares themself in opposition to God, and even persecutes the faithful; see the words to the Church in Laodicea, “I would rather that you were cold or hot” (Revelation 3:15). (On “ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH,” see on verse 4.) Revelation 17:5

Revelation 17:6. “I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints (God’s people), and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus [who were martyred]. When I saw her, I wondered in amazement.”

Verse 6. – And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus; of the witnesses (cf. Revelation 11:7).

Another point of contrast between this woman and the woman of Revelation 12; the former persecutes, the latter is persecuted.

It may be asked – How can these words be applied to professing Christians, as they must be, if such be the interpretation of the “harlot”?

The answer may be found in Jeremiah. In Jeremiah 2:33, 34 and Jeremiah 3:1-11 we find the origin of this passage. Judah is a harlot (Jeremiah 2:20; Jeremiah 3:1, 8) with a sign upon her forehead (Jeremiah 3:3), who causes transgression in others (Jeremiah 2:33; and compare above, “Mother of harlots “), and in whose “skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents” (Jeremiah 2:34).

She is clothed in crimson (Jeremiah 4:30) and golden ornaments (cf. Revelation 17:4); her lovers will despise her (Jeremiah 4:30) and seek her life (cf. Revelation 17:16). Just as it was declared that in Judah was found the blood of the innocent poor, so here we are told that the faithless part of the Church is guilty of the blood of the saints.

The reason is found in the inscription. The harlot is absolutely identified with Babylon. No distinction in guilt can be allowed between the openly hostile world and the faithless Christian. “He that is not with me,” God declares, “is against me” (Matthew 12:20). The description “drunken with,” etc., is similar to that of Babylon in Revelation 18:2; and also in Jeremiah 51:7.

And when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration; with a great wonder (Revised Version). Probably because the seer can scarcely realize that some who are professing Christians must be held guilty of such enormities; that the harlot, representing a portion of the Church, faithless even though it be, should be classed with the world, as represented by Babylon and the beast. Perhaps the wonder is caused by the fact that such a thing should ever be permitted to be; this leading to the following explanation, which shows how the unfaithfulness is avenged. Revelation 17:6

Revelation 17:7. “But the angel said to me, “Why do you wonder? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns.”

Verse 7. – Though the seer cannot fully comprehend the terrible significance of the sign he sees, viz. that a portion of the Church is one with the hostile world (see on verse 6), yet there are sufficient marks wherewith to identify it.

The woman, the wilderness, the reliance upon the world power, the inscription, the similar description of Judah in Jeremiah 2 and 3. (see on verse 6), might have made the interpretation plain.

“I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns; the ten horns” (cf. verse 5, which declares that this essential unity is a mystery).

Observe, too, that the “mystery of the woman and of the beast” is all one. (On the “beast,” “the seven heads,” and “the ten horns.” see on previous verses, especially Revelation 13:1.) In verse 1 the harlot is said to sit on the waters; here the beast carries her.

The two statements are really identical; both the beast and the waters represent the worldly power found among “peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues” (verse 14). Revelation 17:7

Revelation 17:8. “The beast that you saw was [once], but [now] is not, and he is about to come up out of the abyss (the bottomless pit, the dwelling place of demons) and go to destruction (perdition). And the inhabitants of the earth, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, will be astonished when they see the beast, because he was and is not and is yet to come [to earth].

Verse 8. – The latter part of this passage is related again in Revelation 19:20. The beast, as we have seen is the world power – Satan in his character of “prince of this world.” Three stages are marked out in the existence of this world power:

(a) first, it was;

(b) second, it is not now;

(c) thirdly, it reappears, to be cast into perdition.

The first period describes the condition of things before the sacrifice of Christ. Then it was that Satan ruled supreme in the world; that the power of the world – the beast – was. But Christ overcame the world (John 16:33); henceforth to all true believers there is “peace,” although they may “have tribulation” in the world (John 16:33); for the faithful Christian the power of the world – the beast – is not. Yet, though for the true servant of God there is a sense in which it may be said that this power has no existence, it nevertheless exists in the abyss, that is, in its natural abiding place in the world, among the worldly minded, and thus may cause “tribulation” to the faithful.

***A further downfall is, therefore, prepared for it – that which will take place at the last day, when it “will ascend from the abyss to go into perdition.” This nonexistence, contemporaneously with existence and subsequent reappearance, is exactly what is described in the wound healed (Revelation 13:3; see also the remainder of this verse).

The period, therefore, embraced in these words is that of the whole existence of this world. It coincides with the period referred to in Revelation 12:14 and 17, and in Revelation 20:3. Throughout the Apocalypse the word translated “bottomless pit” (Authorized Version) and “abyss” (Revised Version), is used to describe the dwelling place of Satan (see Revelation 9:1, 2, 11; Revelation 11:7; Revelation 20:1, 3) while working in the world. “Perdition” is described in Revelation 19:20 as the “lake of fire burning with brimstone.”

 “And the inhabitants of the earth, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, will be astonished when they see the beast, *because he was and **is not and ***is yet to come [to earth]”, how that the beast was, and is not, and shall be present. The last words show exactly what is meant in the first part of the verse (which see). The first words are a repetition of words in Revelation 13:8 (which see). Revelation 17:8.

Revelation 17:9. “Here is the mind which has wisdom [and this is what it knows about the vision]. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits;

Verse 9. – And here is the mind which hath wisdom. Omit “and.” Read, Here is the mind (or, meaning), etc. These words (as in Revelation 13:18) draw attention to the explanation which follows – or else that which precedes (cf. Revelation 13:18).

They also make it appear that the explanation which the angel offers of the “mystery” is not one to be understood without some difficulty.

  1. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. The diversity of opinions on the interpretation of this passage is mainly owing to the fact that writers are not consistent in their application of symbols and numbers; in one place interpreting figuratively, in another literally. We have repeatedly seen that the language of the Apocalypse and its numbers are symbolical.
  2. The seals are not literal seals, the Lamb is not a literal Lamb, the beast is not a literal beast, etc.
    1. So here, the mountains are not literal mountains. A mountain is a symbol of power (see on Revelation 8:8);
    2. seven is the number significant of universality (see on Revelation 1:4; 5:1, etc.).

The plain meaning of the passage, therefore, is that the woman relies upon a visibly universal power. This is precisely the idea contained in verse 3, which describes the faithless part of the Church (the harlot) trusting to the power of the world (the beast).

Of course, the most prominent form of this world power in St. John’s time was heathen Rome, hence some writers believe that “the seven-hilled city,” Rome, is referred to here – either pagan or papal Rome. And, indeed, this may be a partial fulfilment of the vision; but it is not the whole signification. To understand seven mountains literally in this place renders it necessary to interpret forty-two weeks, etc., literally in another. Revelation 17:9.

MY COMMENT:  Many commentators – especially those who see all of Revelation fulfilled in history – regard the seven mountains as an irrefutable connection with Rome. Clarke is a good example of this when he writes, “This verse has been almost universally considered to allude to the seven hills upon which Rome originally stood.”

    1. But in the Bible mountains are sometimes a figure of governments (such as in Daniel 2:35) and the city of Rome is built on hills, not mountains.
    2. The seven heads are seven mountains: It is probably better to see the seven mountains as representing the seven kings and kingdoms described in Revelation 17:10. Many people find the connection between religious Babylon and Roman Catholicism irresistible, yet it is flawed in the sense that there is no doubt that religious Babylon will incorporate a strong Roman Catholic element, but it will be much bigger than Roman Catholicism.
    3. Tendencies for Roman Catholicism’s ultimate partnership with a one-world religion were evident in Pope John Paul II’s bizarre involvement with and approval of other anti-Christian religions.
    4. In addressing a “prayer gathering” of Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and others, Pope John Paul II told participants that their efforts were “unleashing profound spiritual energies in the world and bringing about a new climate of peace.” The Pope pledged that “the Catholic Church intends to ‘share in and promote’ such ecumenical and inter-religious cooperation.”

iii. The Catholic Review commented on this and said, “The unity of religion promoted by the Holy Father Pope John Paul II and approved by His Holiness the Dalai Lama is not a goal to be achieved immediately, but a day may come when the love and compassion which both Buddha and Christ preached so eloquently will unite the world in a common effort to save humanity from senseless destruction, and lead toward the light in which we all believe.”

Revelation 17:10. “and they are seven kings: five of whom have fallen, one exists and is reigning; the other [the seventh] has not yet come, and when he does come, he must remain a little while.

Verse 10. – Here we have the same idea (cf. verse 9), with a somewhat different aspect. The phrase in verse 9, “seven mountains,” regarded the world power as one universal indivisible whole, without respect to particular times or modes in which it might be exhibited. In this phrase, “seven kings,” we have the same world power viewed in its successive exhibitions by different nations; though here again we must be on our guard not to interpret the number seven literally of seven nations.

The kings represent Worldly states or kingdoms; seven, again, betokens universality. We are thus told that this world power on which the woman relies is exhibited in the manifestation of power by successive nations, e.g., Egyptian, Assyrian, Roman, etc., as many as have ever existed or shall exist; for this is the meaning of seven.

      • Five are fallen, and
      • one is, and
      • the other is not yet come;
      • The five; the one; the other. Omit “and.” Here, again, not literally The seer divides the whole series of anti-theistic world powers into three groups, and he would say, some, probably the majority, of these are passed away.
      • The second group embraces the world power as it is exhibited now, whether Roman, Jewish, or any other; in the third group are included those yet to come.

Thus, those writers who enumerate Egypt, Nineveh, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Syria, etc., in the first group, are partially correct, and only wrong in so far as they attempt to limit and define the kingdoms; and similarly, also those who in the third group place the Roman empire after the barbarian invasions, or imperial Germany, etc. And when he cometh, he must continue a short space; a little while (Revised Version). This “short space” describes the remainder of the time of the world’s existence. Such is its meaning in Revelation 6:11 and Revelation 12:12, and again in Revelation 20:3. In a similar manner, also, “shortly come to pass,” etc. (Revelation 1:1, 3; Revelation 2:5, 16, etc.; cf also John 16:17, 28). Revelation 17:10

Revelation 17:11. “And the beast that [once] was but is not, is himself also an eighth king and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction (perdition).

Verse 11. – We may note that “eighth” refers to “king” in verse 10, being masculine gender;

  • the absence of the article before ὄγδος, “eighth,” shows that this is not the eighth in a successive series, in which the kings already mentioned form the first seven.

The Revised Version probably gives the correct meaning, “is of the seven;” that is, the beast himself consists of, and is formed by, what has been denoted by the seven kings. We have already interpreted the beast as the worldly power – Satan in his capacity of “prince of this world.” We have also shown that the “seven kings” describes this worldly power as it exists throughout all ages. This verse, therefore, sums up and reasserts briefly what has been already virtually intimated in the symbolism employed, viz. that the beast is the sum total of what has been described under the form of five kings, then one king, and then one king again (verse 10). His final doom is also reasserted, “he goeth into perdition” (cf. verse 8 and Revelation 19:20) Revelation 17:11

Revelation 17:12. “The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but [together] they receive authority as kings for a single hour [for a common purpose] along with the beast.

Verse 12. – The horns, as we have seen, are symbolical of power (see on Revelation 13:1), and ten signifies completeness and sufficiency (Revelation 13:1). By the ten horns, therefore, is expressed widespread, complete power. But this power, says the seer, has not come into existence as yet. He thus points to a coming power, hostile to God, such as is described in that part of the account of the seven kings which states “the other is not yet come” (verse 10).

It seems probable, therefore, that in describing the forces opposed to God – those past, those present, and those yet to come – St. John foresees that the hostile world power will not be always pre-eminently wielded by one nation, as in his own time; but will be divided into many parts, here represented by the number ten, though not necessarily exactly ten in number.

This, indeed, exactly describes what has really been the case since St. John’s time, and what, humanly speaking, seems likely to continue to the end of the world.

These ten horns seem thus to be identical with the seventh king of verse 10. Compare the account given of the horns in Daniel 7. But receive power as kings one hour with the beast; authority (Revised Version). One hour denotes “a short time,” in which way the Bible constantly describes the period of the world’s existence, and especially that period which intervenes between the time of the writer and the judgment day (cf. Romans 16:20; 1 Corinthians 7:29; Revelation 6:11; Revelation 12:12; Revelation 22:20, etc.).

This sentence thus declares that, though in the future divided into many parts, and thus not being visibly as potential as former single united kingdoms, nevertheless this hostile world power will be still formidable, having ranged itself on the side of the beast, acting for and with him, and receiving power from him. Verse 13. – These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast; they give (present tense) their power and authority, etc. That is, though apparently split up into many sections, they form practically one, acting by and for the beast on whose side they range themselves (see on verse 32). Revelation 17:12

Revelation 17:13. “These [kings] have one purpose [one mind, one common goal], and they give their power and authority to the beast.

Revelation 17:14. “They will wage war against the Lamb (Christ), and the Lamb will triumph and conquer them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him and on His side are the called and chosen (elect) and faithful.”

Verse 14. – This connects the description with Revelation 16:34 and with Revelation 19:11-21. This war between the Lamb and the powers of evil is that which extends throughout the history of the world (see below); it occupies the “one hour” of verse 12, which is equivalent to the period of the world’s existence. But the seer in this verse looks forward also to the termination of the conflict, the result of which, here briefly indicated, is soon to be narrated more fully. For he is Lord of lords, and King of kings.

This is the reason given to the Israelites (Deuteronomy 10:17) for obedience to God (cf. also Daniel 2:47; 1 Timothy 6:15; and Revelation 19:16). Though the beast may exercise m this world dominion and power as “prince of this world,” yet the Lamb is King still greater, to whom the beast must finally succumb. He is thus King above the kings of Revelation 17:2, 10. And they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. The Revised Version is more correct, And they that are with him, called and chosen and faithful [shall also overcome].

Another evidence of the lifelong nature of this war. Not only Christ wars and overcomes, but those associated with him are permitted to share in the battle and the victory.

  1.  Christ’s saints are called here to battle; in Revelation 19:9

  2.  they are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb, also

  3.  the exhortation to faithfulness in Revelation 2:10).

 

The three epithets describe the progressive life of those who share Christ’s victory They are called – as all men are – to serve him; having heard the call, they dedicate their lives to his service, and become his chosen servants; finally, having remained faithful to him, they share in his victory.

Revelation 17:15. “Then the angel said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.

Verse 15. – As in verse 7, these words form the preface to a particular description. Having explained the mystery of the beast, to whom the woman looks for support, the angel now proceeds to unfold the mystery of the harlot herself. “The waters which thou saw, where the whore sits”; those mentioned in verse 1. In verse 7 we are told that the beast carries the woman. Both statements are correct. The beast is the world power, which is found among the “peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.” Are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues, The fourfold description of the human race (cf. Revelation 5:9, etc.), which, as a whole, serves the beast (Revelation 13:3, 8, 12, 16), and out of which are selected the redeemed (Revelation 5:9; Revelation 9:9).

Revelation 17:16. “And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the prostitute and will make her desolate and naked [stripped of her power and influence], and will eat her flesh and completely consume her with fire.

Verse 16. – The two are spoken of separately, on account of the separate jurisdiction wielded according to verse 32 and 13. These shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire; and shall burn her utterly with fire (Revised Version).

These words describe the fate in store for the faithless portion of the Church. That world, to which she trusts, shall turn and rend her – a fitting sequel to her want of faith in the power of Christ. This is exactly the description given of the harlot in Ezekiel 16:37 (cf. also Ezekiel 23:22). “Eat her flesh” and “burn with fire” both describe similar results; possibly the one is thought of in connection with the symbol of “harlot,” the other with the symbol of “city,” with which the harlot is identical (see on ver. 5; but see Genesis 38:24; Leviticus 21:9; cf. also the judgment upon the wicked in James 5:3, “shall eat your flesh as it were fire”).

Revelation 17:17. “For God has put it in their hearts to carry out His purpose by [f]agreeing together to surrender their kingdom to the beast, until the [prophetic] words of God will be fulfilled.

Verse 17. – God did put, to do his mind, and to come to one mind (Revised Version). “His mind” is thought to signify the beast’s mind. Others understand God’s mind. In either ease the general sense is plain. While the world power is apparently performing the will of the beast, God is working above all; only by His permission can anything be done (the “it was given” of Revelation 13.). The “words of God” are his denunciations against those who trust to the world (cf. Ezekiel 16:37, quoted on ver. 16).

Revelation 17:18. “The woman whom you saw is the [g]great city, which reigns over and dominates and controls the kings and the political leaders of the earth.”

Verse 18. – A repetition of the assertion made in verse 5, that the harlot and Babylon are identical (see on verse 5). Many writers have been led by this verse to believe that Rome, either pagan or papal, is thus pointed out as the antitype of the harlot. That this is one fulfilment of the vision need hardly be doubted. Rome was in St. John’s time the foremost embodiment of the hostile forces of the world. But this is not the whole fulfilment, which is in all time (see above, especially on verse 1 of this chapter).
(All commentary is from The Pulpit Commentary, unless otherwise noted).

As in all prophecies of the Bible there have been a foreshadoing, precursors or harbingers of thier fulfillment. The same is true with the breaking of the Tribuilation Seals, the future sounding of the Tribulation Trumpets and pouring out of the Tribulation Bowls.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS: Click here for a more detailed look and study of

  1. THE MYSTERY OF BABYLON.
  2. THE DRAGON, THE BEAST AND THE LAMB