Author: Michael Young, Sr.

I am a practicing Christian, a disciple of Jesus, a husband of over 50 years, a father and a grandfather, a business man, a veteran and a friend to all who will have me. I have served or am serving, at various times, as an Evangelist, a Pulpit fill pastor, an Associate Pastor of Evangelism and as Senior Pastor of a church plant. My passion is for practicing and teaching the Bible, building small groups, reaching the lost with the message of the Gospel of Jesus, recovering the straying Sheep of God and the gathering together the Called of God, in neighborhoods, business settings and in churches by equipping other Christians. I have authored a few small books and I have a background in professional business management, finance and investments. I am glad to meet you, even if it is virtually. Write me at any time and let's become friends.

THE MYSTERY OF BABYLON – 2024

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

THE MYSERY OF BABYLON – THE HARLOT

Mecca-SaudiArbia.jpg

photo of MECCA, Saudi Arabia

There is much debate and discussion about the identity of

  • “BABYLON THE GREAT MOTHER OF HARLOTS” – Ezekiel 38
  • “THE ABOMINATION OF THE EARTH” – Daniel 7,9
  • “THE BEAST WITH SEVEN HEADS AND TEN HORNS” – Revelation 17

(Link to resources used for this page are  Zion’s Hope Videos Parts1, 2 & 3.  (I suggest watching all three videos, in order, but, video Part-2 may be of particular interest)

To be clear, this discussion is interesting and is helpful to some, but generally, it has nothing to do with our salvation in Christ. It can be helpful in our preparation, as followers and disciples of Jesus for His return. We are to be about His Work in these Last Days.  Some of the most popular guesses are that…

  • The Great Harlot, as suggested by Bible scholars, theologians and Bible teachers, could be Rome, (that is, the reemergence of Rome as a power),
  • One view suggest that the Apostle Peter uses the word “Babylon” as a symbolic way of referring to the new world culture at war with the covenant community. The Whore of Babylon is the spirit of seductive culture, actively engaged in the deception and destruction of God’s people. That she rides upon “the beast” means she is propped up by the forces of anti-Christian government.
  • The great whore, the harlot (Revised Version), seems to leave no doubt in some theologian’s minds, that this figure describes the degenerate portion of the Church of God. That the harlot sits on many waters therefore shows us that the faithless portion of the Church is to be found distributed amongst “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” (see Revelation 17:1).

Just like the beast, who was, and is not and is about to rise, the “Whore” keeps on rising from the dead! A particular brand of her seductive charm may fall into the dust and be buried by the sands of time, but just you wait! Before you know it, she will rise again in another place, known by another name but waging the same destructive war against God’s covenant people. With that said…

The Bible calls this a mystery for good reason. But, in Revelation 17, we read, starting in

Verse 1. (NOTE: At this point, the 6th Tribulation seal has been broken, and the Church is with Christ, before the Throne of God in heaven. Subsequently, the 7 Seal Judgements and the 7 Trumpet Judgements are also finished ). “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters,

verse 2.  “with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality.”

verse 3.  “And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.

verse 4.  “The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality,

verse 5.  “and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery,

verse 9 “Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits,

verse 10.  “and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while.

verse 11.  “The beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction.

verse 12. “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.

verse 13. “These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.

verse 14.  “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”

verse 15.  “And he said to me, “The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.

verse 16.  “And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and will burn her up with fire.”

David Rosenthal Videos posted give a complete and compelling description – video Part 2, in particular):

A COMMON AND TRADITIONAL VIEW OF THE MYSTERY OF BABYLON:

VERSE 9. “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.”

a. The seven heads are seven mountains: Many quickly associate the seven mountains with Rome and the Papacy, because Rome is well known as the city on seven hills. Yet literally, the Greek word means mountains, not hills.

i. 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.”

ii. 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.

b. 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.

i. 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.

ii. 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.” (Note: This is the endorsement for the One World Apostate Church.)

VERSE 10 – Seven kings and kingdoms.

“There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time.”

a. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come: This is one of the more difficult passages in the Book of Revelation. Some explain these seven kings, five past, one present, and one to come in the succession of Roman Emperors in John’s era, but there are many historical difficulties with this approach. More likely, it is a reference to:

· Five have fallen refers to the five world empires before John’s day: Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, Medo-Persia, and Greece

· One refers to the world empire of John’s day: Rome

· The other has not yet come refers to the one world empire to come: a revival of the Roman Empire

b. When he comes, he must continue a short time: This seventh will quickly be taken over by an eighth – and will become the state of the Antichrist (Revelation 17:11).

NOTE:  There are problems with this viewpoint as well (so some have taken the seven as symbolic). This plainly is a difficult passage!

VERSE 11. The beast (the Antichrist) is clearly identified as the eighth king.

“And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.”

Is he, himself, also the eighth: He is of the seven in the sense that he shares characteristics with all previous world empires, but his fate is clear. Perdition means “destruction,” and the beast will be destroyed.

Verses 12-15 – Ten kings to come, allies of the Antichrist.

“The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.

Ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet: This probably alludes to a ten-nation confederation (as in the toes of the image, Daniel 2:24-45), but some take ten as a symbolic number.

They are ten kingdoms which shall arise out of the fourth great kingdom there: ten European powers, which in the last time, in concert with and subjugation to the antichristian power, shall make war against Christ. In the precise number and form here indicated, they have not yet arisen… What changes in Europe may bring them into the required tale and form, it is not for us to say.” (Alford, 1866)

These are of one mind: Many have seen the European Union (formerly the European Economic Community) as the potential fulfillment of this. Perhaps, but now there are more than ten nations in this revived European power, and more on the way.

There is little doubt the EU itself claims to be a successor to the ancient Roman Empire. The EEC started in 1957, when six European nations met to talk about combining their nuclear, coal, and economic resources. They met together in Rome and signed the treaty of Rome – the beginnings of the present EU. In many places in Europe, the EU flag is just as prominent as any national flag.

We could still say what Alford wrote in 1866: “In the precise number and form here indicated, they have not yet arisen. What changes in Europe may bring them into the required tale and form, it is not for us to say.” But it will happen, and this confederation of nations will emerge as an heir to the ancient Roman Empire.

These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast: Whatever their exact identity, their actions are clear. They join with the Antichrist in the war against Christ, in the battle alluded to in the sixth and seventh bowls (Revelation 16:12-21).

The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits: The harlot presides over peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. This tells us that the harlot’s influence is worldwide, through her connection to the beast. This will be a truly one-world religion.

The interpretation of the harlot focuses on her relation to the beast: she is utterly connected to the beast and his government. If this sounds unthinkable, remember that throughout history, religion – not true Christianity – has often been the willing servant and supporter of tyrants.

A VIEW MORE BIBLICALLY ALIGNED – DAVID ROSENTHAL, Zion’s Hope:  The 10 Nation Confederation, (THE HEADS), of the BEAST from Ezekiel 38, of Daniel 7,9 and Revelation 17):

Nation #1. Gog:  A Reubenite, son of Shemaiah, the prophetic prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and Magog. Gog is identified as a descendant of the prophet Joel, and in Ezekiel 38–39, he is the chief prince of the tribes of Meshech and Tubal in the land of Magog, the mountainous region between Cappadocia and Media.

Nation #2. Magog:  The 2nd son of Japheth, grandson of Noah, and progenitor of several tribes northward from Israel; the mountainous region between Cappadocia and Media and habitation of the descendants of Magog, son of Japheth and grandson of Noah

Nation #3. Rosh:  “the Prince of Rosh” is Asiatic Russia receives confirmation from the Imperial Dictionary. “Evidence exists of an ancient people called Rosh, or Rhos, supposed to be the original stem from which the Russia or modern Russians have derived their race and name.” The scholar, Bishop Lowther says: “Rosh, taken as a proper name, in Ezekiel, signifies the inhabitants of Scythia, from whom modern Russians derived their name. We must conclude therefore, that Ezekiel’s “episode of Gog’s invasion” (A. B. Davidson) points irrefutably and undeniably to the Russians.

Nation #4. Meschack:  Was a Chaldean. The Chaldeans inhabited the coastal area near the Persian Gulf. About 630 Nabopolassar became king of the Chaldeans and in 626 he forced the Assyrians out of Uruk and crowned himself king of Babylonia. Modern day Turkey.

Nation #5. Tubal:  a region in east Asia Minor, perhaps nearly equal to Cappadocia

Nation #6. Persia:  Iran

Nation #7. Cush (Ethiopia):  located on either side or both sides of the Red Sea. As such, “Cush” is alternately identified in scripture with the Kingdom of Kush or ancient Ethiopia.

Nation #8. Put (Libya):  Ancient Libya. In this sense, Libya was the whole known African continent to the west of the Nile Valley and extended south of Egypt. Herodotus described the inhabitants of Libya as two peoples: The Libyans in northern Africa and the Ethiopians in the south.

Nation #9. Gomer:  (was the wife of the prophet Hosea (8th century BC), mentioned in the Hebrew Bible‘s Book of Hosea (1:3). Hosea 1:2 refers to her alternatively as a “promiscuous woman” (NIV), a “harlot” (NASB), and a “whore” (KJV) but Hosea is told to marry her according to Divine appointment. She is also described as the daughter of Diblaim.) 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.

Nation #10. Beth-Togarmah:  Togarmah is a city mentioned in Assyrian and Hittite texts. It was north of Carchemish on an Assyrian trade route. It may be related to modern Gurun between the Halys and Euphrates Rivers.

These are the 10 Nation Confederation, (THE HEADS), of the BEAST Ezekiel 38, of Daniel 7,9 and Revelation 17. All are Islamic, the Center of which is MECCA (see video #2).

The common argument is for Rome which is built on 10 hills. Guzik deals with the assumption as incorrect.

I know this is a difficult subject and a ‘tough read’. So, I will conclude by asking, “SO WHAT”?

While scholars may debate some of the fine details of this particular vision, the main points of application seem abundantly clear:

#1. We are crossing the threshold of a Global Transformation – and it does not look good for most people.

#2. By all indicators, God’s prophecy of the End of Days is well under way.

#3. The Bible says events will turn cataclysmic – very soon.

#4. Culture is not neutral. You will have to choose sides by your actions. Talk won’t work.
#5. Satan is boldly walking through the front door of a worldwide governmental alignment, even as I write this.

#6. The devil is encroaching through the backdoor of seduction, idolatry, technology, perverse entertainment and has crept into the church. He is now in the church, deceiving many.

#7. The majority of the Church is either compromised, asleep, ignorant or afraid to engage the enemy.
#8. A remnant is rising at the Voice of God.

#9. God is calling and it is time you and I mobilize and do the Works Jesus has commanded.
#10. Doing nothing, except being nice and “going to church”, assures you of nothing!

Let’s Remain, IN HIS GRIP!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

additional reading:

The Age of Babylon and the Great Harlot

The Mystery of Babylon – The 7 Hills

The 7 Hills of Rome

The Mystery of Babylon – 2 views

What are the 70 of Sevens (Daniel’s 70 Weeks)

The Christian Betrayal of Jesus

When does the 7 Years of Tribulation Begin

THE DISMANTLING OF AMERICA – And the Grand Opening of the NEW MARXIST UTOPIA – 2030

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

(Please be aware that I use internet page links in lieu of footnotes, citations and references. These links are very important to this message. You can pause the audio to review the.page links; and resume the audio when ready. Please, I urge you to read them.)

And the Grand Opening of the

Marxist Utopia – 2030

Before I get to my point, I APPEAL TO ALL AMERICANS to please STOP focusing on and worrying about the political and social ‘brushfires’ of Leftists, (Socialists, Marxists and Democrats) are starting, (‘Brushfires’ are the annoying, adrenalin producing, troubling, angering  and sometimes frightening, ‘hot topic headliners’ such as transgenderism, critical race theory, defunding police, etc.), and let’s focus on the source of these ‘brushfires’; and, let’s DO something about the source. (I will discuss what we are to do at the end of this article).

A SPECIAL NOTE To my brothers and sisters in Christ: A gentle reminder that we live as exiles, scattered throughout, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace and that special sense of spiritual well-being be ours in increasing abundance as we walk closely with God..(see 1 Peter verses 1 & 2). This is becoming as it was in the early days of the Church. Remain faithful, for the one who endure to the end will be saved!

Jesus told us that we are not of the world, just as Jesus is not of the world. We have been sanctified in the truth and we are set apart for His purposes, and made holy, by Him; Just as The Father commissioned and sent Jesus into the world, Jesus also  commissioned and sent us, His disciples and followers into the world. (see John 17, verses 16 through 18).

THE DISMANTLING

You can see it at every turn. It’s on television, in media streaming sources, in the newspapers, magazines, billboards, and hidden in product advertising. You can see it and hear it being taught in schools and colleges across our nation, and it is in our churches. Some might say that there is a cultural war being waged. Others are saying that America is being transformed into a Socialist nation. Transformed, they say? It is much more than just the transformation of America. The more astute person will recognize that America is being dismantled, piece by piece, and replaced with “a belief system which contains ideas that are foreign to the American experience, and ignores other values and ideas that are precious to the American experience. (A direct quote from The Commission on Global Governance). Marxism has risen from its grave and is consuming everything in its path.

The Leftists-Marxists (a.k.a. Democrats), are hiding under the banner of Globalism. And they are fully ensconced in our Federal, States and Local governments. They are in control of the vast majority of our media, or educational systems from kindergarten to the highest echelons of academia. They have invaded our monetary systems, our healthcare systems and our churches.

Many people are woefully unaware of the Global rise of Marxism which is imprisoning nation after nation into its deadly snare. Marxism, Communism, Leninism and its variants are the sworn mortal enemy of Christianity and every Christian on earth.

Communism, at last count, has murdered over 259,000,000 people since 1900, in its quest to ‘save the world‘.

Marxism is the antithesis of everything honest, fair, decent and right. Marxism is evil incarnate.

Please read these quotes by the fathers of Communism, Marxism and Leninism to make this point:

  • “Take away a nation’s heritage, and they are more easily persuaded.“ (You can see this has and is happening as our historical landmarks are torn down, religious symbolism destroyed, rewriting of history).
  • “Communism begins where atheism begins. “ (You can see this as Church attendance is falling to dramatic lows; over 50% of those attending church don’t believe the Bible is true or that Jesus was born of a virgin, and more.)
  • “The education of all children, from the moment that they can get along without a mother’s care, shall be in state institutions.” (You can see this through Government control of education, ‘no child left behind’, Critical race theory taught at all levels of schools, national association of teachers (Marxists in nature), Federal Education Department.)
  • “We have no compassion, and we ask no compassion from you. When our turn comes, we shall not make excuses for the terror.” (You can see this through Black Lives Matter, Antifa, burning down our cities, killing people, Defund Police movement, murder in our streets, schools and churches, and the LEFT blames the gun.)
  • “The meaning of peace is the absence of opposition to socialism.” (This is the rally cry of the American democrat party.)
  • “If you can cut the people off from their history, then they can be easily persuaded.” (You can see this through the revision of text books, historical data, historical sites.)
  • “The democratic concept of man is false, because it is Christian. The democratic concept holds that each man is a sovereign being. This is the illusion, dream, and postulate of Christianity.” (You can see this through the perversions and the Pagan practices which is being taught in schools, government and many churches.)
  • There are, besides, eternal truths, such as Freedom, etc., that are common to all states of society. (Communism abolishes eternal truths, it abolishes all religion, and all morality, instead of constituting them on a new basis; it therefore acts in contradiction to all past historical experience.)
  • “The Communists everywhere support every revolutionary movement against the existing social and political order of things. (They openly declare that their ends can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions.)
  • A heavy or progressive or graduated income tax is necessary for the proper development of Communism.” (Historically, the democrats call this a ‘fair tax’, but imposes it on everyone at every income level.)
  • “The first requisite for the happiness of the people is the abolition of religion.” (The 501-( c)-3, provision in the tax code, implemented by democrat president Lyndon B. Johnson, is one of the greatest attempts to mute or silence the pulpits in America.)
  • “The unity is brought about by force.“ (This is being done by the democrats by weaponizing the Departments of Justice, Education and the I R S.)
  • “From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.“ (This is the motto and rally cry of Communism, and it is the written mandates of Social Security, Socialized medicine (Obamacare), and scores of other social entitlements.)
  • “There is no greater stupidity than for people to marry and so surrender themselves to the small miseries of domestic and private life.“ (So the Progressives adopted Marxist idealism and modified divorce laws to make marriage and divorce a convenience or an inconvenience. Our children suffer and perpetual the harms done.)
  • “Taxes are the source of life for the bureaucracy, the army and the court, in short, for the whole apparatus of the executive power. Strong government and heavy taxes are identical.“ (This has ALWAYS been the rally cry of Democrats!).

 

The foregoing are quotes by  Karl Marx, one of the founding fathers of Communism and the namesake of Marxism.

 

Now, please read these quotes by Vladimir Lenin:

  • “Give me your four-year-olds, and in a generation I will build a socialist state.“ (Obviated by the various Federal Government sponsored programs in primary education).
  • “We can and must write in a language which sows among the masses hate, revulsion, and scorn toward those who disagree with us.” (Once again this vitriol is obvious in our Leftist press and media; pitting Americans against Americans.)
  • “The press should be not only a collective propagandist and a collective agitator, but also a collective organizer of the masses.“ (Again, an obvious fact of life in American media.)
  • “Why should freedom of speech and freedom of press be allowed? Why should a government which is doing what it believes to be right allow itself to be criticized? It would not allow opposition by lethal weapons. Ideas are much more fatal things than guns. Why should any man be allowed to buy a printing press and disseminate pernicious opinions calculated to embarrass the government?” (Hence, the muzzling of free speech and the implementation of ‘hate speech laws’).
  • “The way to crush the bourgeoisie is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation.“ (Just look at the history of taxation and the resulting inflation by Democrat party in general and the Biden administration in particular!)
  • “One man with a gun can control 100 without one.“ (Hence, ever tightening gun control laws.)
  • “As an ultimate objective, “peace” simply means communist world control.” (The liberals and democrats cry ‘peace at any cost’, then wage war on their own citizens!)
  • “Atheism is a natural and inseparable part of Marxism, of the theory and practice of scientific socialism. Our program necessarily includes the propaganda of atheism. “
  • “It is, of course, much easier to shout, abuse, and howl than to attempt to relate, to explain.“ (A tactic of Democrats everywhere).
  • “Medicine is the keystone of the arch of socialism.” (Obamacare).
  • “One of the basic conditions for the victory of socialism is the arming of the workers Communist and the disarming of the bourgeoisie to the middle class.” (Again, the constant demand for gun control by the Democrat Party.)
  • “The best way to control the opposition is to lead it ourselves.” (Think, RHINOS. Republican in name only, and they are everywhere!)
  • “There are no morals in politics; there is only expedience. A scoundrel may be of use to us just because he is a scoundrel.” (Bill Clinton, Joe Biden, Hunter Biden for examples.)

The foregoing are quotes by Vladimir Lenin, founder of Communist Leninism.

Can you tell the Democrat party’s platforms, doctrines and practices from Karl Marx’s Marxism, or from Lenin’s Communism? Do you get the feeling we are in big trouble, here? Do you get the sense that the America we have known over the last 250 plus years is well on her way to vanishing?

Many academics and highly regarded politicians proffered that Communism was dying and would indeed be dead by the end of the 20th century. Now, in the 21st century Communist Marxism has risen from its preordained grave to disprove the obituaries,  and has defiantly announced that it will have attained its longstanding goals by the year 2030 (hence the U.N.E.S.C.O’s Agenda-2030).

An ominous and brash announcement was made by the first Director-General of The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Julian Huxley as early as 1946, when he bragged, “The task before UNESCO, (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization a specialized agency of the United Nations claiming to be aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture). Huxley bragged, “U.N.E.S.C.O. is the emergence of a single world culture by transferring full sovereignty from separate nations to a world organization.

“The “new world order” will be a socialist, authoritarian global government and court with “global rule of law” and a “one-world economy,”.

“The recommendations of the Commission on Global Governance, if implemented, will bring all the people of the world into a global neighborhood managed by a world-wide bureaucracy, under the direct authority of a minute handful of appointed individuals, and policed by thousands of individuals, paid by accredited NGOs, certified to support a belief system which contains ideas that are foreign to the American experience, and ignores other values and ideas that are precious to the American experience.

On the surface, these lofty sounding goals seem reasonable and almost irresistible. But they will neither be what they seem nor will the methods used to implement these goals be what America expects. And the end results will be nothing like what is promised. These are Communists and Marxists, after all. Just look at their past methods and means. They have always come to kill, steal and destroy – ALWAYS!

Nonetheless, these Marxist Globalists are so certain and emboldened by their victories that the United Nations and its entities, with the complicity and support of the World Economic Forum, have published numerous intermediate documents parading their success and outlining their final goals.

In order to make this article a little easier to believe, here is a video by the World Economic Forum, brazenly telling about your loss of freedoms, rights of choice and self-government and proclaiming “you will own nothing, and you will be happy!”

  1. You will own nothing – and you will be happy (one way or another; like it or not).You will rent what you need.
  2. The U.S. won’t be the world’s leading superpower – a handful of countries will dominate (a.k.a., a one-world government).
  3. You will eat much less meat – it will be an occasional treat and not a staple, FOR THE GOOD OF THE ENVIRONMENT and your health.
  4. A billion people will be displaced by climate change (the Globalists have been saying this for decades but there is no evidence of an onset).
  5. “We” will do a better job of “welcoming and integrating refugees” (a.k.a., illegal aliens, for the sake of homogenizing the world through Globalism).
  6. There will be a (greater) carbon tax for oil and gas producers to make fossil fuels obsolete.
  7. “One of our main Global goals” and main effort is to focus and to find another inhabitable planet.”
  8. Western values have been tested (which means, “assaulted by Marxist”) to the breaking point – the (redefined) principles of democracy must not be forgotten. (presented by THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM).

The thesis and antithesis is:

  1. A Communist-Marxist system provides that The State is the sole owner of all goods, production and currencies and distributes them as it sees fit. The Bible says that it is good to work and enjoy the fruit of you own labors.
  2. The Bible warns against another ‘Tower of Babel’ scenario. The United Nations and the World Economic forum have worked ceaselessly in creating a one-world government. God will intervene once again. Remain faithful.
  3. The Bible says in 1 Timothy 4:1-5, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.
  4. Leftists, worldwide, are organized to promote measures to prevent or slow ‘climate change’.
    1. However, there is good reason to expect climate change since the climate has been changing continuously since the creation of the earth.
    2. The Bible says horrific climate change is coming with the Great and Terrible day of the Lord, also known as the Great Tribulation (see Matthew chapter 24:29-31 and Revelation chapters 6,7, and 8.
  5. By way of the Marxist Globalization, A method has emerged to integrate and consolidate the world’s population for mass control.
  6. By way of the Marxist Globalization a method has emerged to control the world’s population via energy production.
  7. Marxist Globalization has emerged as fulfillment of the prophecies related to the Tower of Babel, that say “humankind will build a ‘tower’ to reach the heavens so nothing will be impossible to them”.
  8. Democracy is dead and dying. The redefinition of democracy is a variant of Marxism or ‘social Marxism’ – with the principles of democracy have been replace with Marxist doctrines at its core.

WHAT CAN I DO?

Besides attending political rallies and conventions, start with prayer (for those of you who pray). Ephesians 6, verse 12 & 13 tell us that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, [contending only with our physical opponents], but it is against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (and the unseen places of the supernatural).Therefore, put on the complete ‘armor of God’, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious].”  (And please, for those who might say, “I don’t believe in ‘the unseen places of the supernatural’, when you believe in Dark Matter or Dark Energy, which can neither be seen or proven according to leading scientists.)

Next, we must act. This require that we come out of our ‘comfort zones’, even in our busy lives and out of our leisure times, and sacrifice for what must be done. Tell others. Speak up and speak out at political rallies, in the marketplace, in public, even at church; not with a message of revenge or retribution, but about what is coming upon us and that the Gospel of Christ is our only way of escape! (You and I must first understand the gravity and the urgency of what is happening and what is coming so we can communicate this with a convicting passion.)

I know that this matter and this entire story is long and complex. But at least you now have a (very) abbreviated bottom line of what has happened and what is happening and what is to come in our natural and physical world.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Please contact me with your questions or remarks.

PS: If you are a democrat or a democrat voter, please understand that I harbor no ill will for you as a person. I am trying to shed light on the outcomes of certain ideologies and the fulfillment of Bible prophecies as related to these events. I would urge; I would appeal to you to consider what I have written. I also urge you to browse our website for more information.

PSS:  Like the famous and loved Paul Harvey, the radio broadcaster would say, now for ‘The Rest of The Story’.

The rest of the story does not come from what we are able to see with our eyes, hear with our ears and can touch with our hands. What is manifest today is simply the remnant of what has already come to pass in the spiritual world of the unseen. The effects may trigger additional events and they may linger for a period of time, but everything has a season and everything has an end – everything except for God and what He has planned for His final act.

If you want the entire story broken into dozens of separate parts, go to these page links:

https://whitestone2020.com/category/most-used-socialism-marxism-communism-one-world-govt-u-n-agenda-21/ (34 articles).

https://whitestone2020.com/category/most-used-end-times-prophecy-eschatology-one-world-govt-pre-wrath-rapture-tribulation/ (53 articles).

I realize it would simpler if I just ‘bottom-lined’ the rest of the story, but I strongly encourage you read all you can in order to inform yourself and to prepare yourself for what is already upon us, so you can not only survive these events, but you can play an important role within your sphere of life.

HUNDREDS OF TIMES – I HAVE SAID IT

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

 

HUNDREDS OF TIMES

What is really driving American and Global politics?

I have spoken, and I have written, hundreds of times, about what is REALLY the ‘hidden-in-plain-sight’ driving force behind much of Global politics and the politics of the American Democrat Party. This may seem simplistic to some, conspiratorial to others, but my prayer is that an important few will get it and will share and tell others.

If you can get this, and view all Global politics within this framework, you will be amazed how it all makes sense, now. You should also be amazed at the clear and frightening picture that will emerge.

Sadly, most rank-and-file democrat voters have no clue as to what is coming upon them if the Dems continue to have their way, and I see no reason they won’t.

The rank-and-file Democrat voter, as I call them, are not particularly stupid. Quite the contrary. Many democrat voters have a college degree.

Around two-thirds of registered voters in the U.S. (65%) do not have a college degree, while 36% do. But the share of voters with a college degree has risen substantially since 1996, when 24% had one.

Voters who identify with the Democratic Party or lean toward it are much more likely than their Republican counterparts to have a college degree (41% vs. 30%).(see Pew Research).

But, a college degree doesn’t make a person particularly smart, either. They may have knowledge or information about a particular subject they studied in college, but considering their overall I Q or from observing their day-to-day lives, I have to say they are neither intelligent, smart nor wise, and they aren’t particularly well-informed on facts. Most of what I have observed and studies show, they accept without question and firmly believe the Democrat party’s public talking points.

I can say pretty much, the same thing about Republican voters, though, and that is a shame.

There is one major difference between Republican and Democrat voters, however. Republicans vote, largely, based on current information they can glean from the media, coupled with the past experiences of any given politician. Democrats vote Democrat, no matter what the case or record. But I digress. Let me get back on point.

(If you don’t get this, then you may well continue to vote based on what the media is telling you and your past observations and experiences with certain politicians; and the world will continue to spiral into chaos.)

What is really driving American and Global politics? Globalism.

The term ‘Globalism’, like so many words used by the political left, has been assigned a new meaning. Let me explain by starting with the idea that Globalism can have multiple meanings.

In political science, it is used to describe “attempts to understand all of the interconnections of the modern world, and to highlight patterns that underlie (and explain) them”.

While primarily associated with world-systems, it can be used to describe other global trends.

The concept of globalism is also classically used to focus on ideologies of globalization. It has been proposed as a “comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally and locally by organizations of the United Nations System, Governments, and Major Groups in every area in which human impacts on the environment.”

The Commission on Sustainable Development (C,.S.D.) was created in December 1992 to ensure effective follow-up of U.N.C.E.D. to monitor and report on implementation of the agreements at the local, national, regional and international levels. It was agreed that a five-year review of Earth Summit progress would be made in 1997 by the United Nations General Assembly meeting in special session.

This last example is the ideology being presented by these Globalists to mask the methods of their objectives. Since most of the leaders in the United Nations’ Globalist movement identify as Socialists, Marxists, Communists, Leninists and the like, it should be no surprise that their methods, in the end, will be heavy handed, despotic and dictatorial.

In fact, The Commission on Global Governance has publicly stated that when their Agenda-21 plan is fully implemented, “it will bring all the people of the world into a global neighborhood managed by a world-wide bureaucracy, under the direct authority of a minute handful of appointed individuals, and policed by thousands of individuals, paid by accredited NGOs, certified to support a belief system which contains ideas that are foreign to the American experience, and ignores other values and ideas that are precious to the American experience.” (see OUR GLOBAL NEIGHBORHOOD, Report of the Commission on Global Governance

(ISBN 0-19-827998-1; Published by Oxford University Press, 1995)

They have assigned the idea that Globalism is simply a ‘world community’, as their raison d’être, which is their ‘branding’ and cover story. They say they are simply on a quest to make the planet a more equitable and safer place to live. (And this is coming from the minds and mouths of Communist-Marxists who have a legendary history of threats, coercion, torture, imprisonment, gulags, and death camps for those who resist their demands.)

However, their Agenda-21, now renamed as Agenda-2030 which matches the year they say that they will have achieved their goals of global ‘sustainable development’, another code-word for Global domination through a One World Government  – which they benignly call ‘a global neighborhood managed by a world-wide bureaucracy, under the direct authority of a minute handful of appointed individuals, and policed by thousands of individuals, paid by accredited NGOs’.

Today, the Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG) in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (U,N,D,E,S,A,) provides substantive support and capacity-building for the SDGs and their related thematic issues, including water, energy, climate, oceans, urbanization, transport, science and technology, the Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR), partnerships and Small Island Developing States. DSDG plays a key role in the evaluation of U.N systemwide implementation of the 2030 Agenda and on advocacy and outreach activities relating to the SDGs. In order to make the 2030 Agenda a reality, broad ownership of the SDGs must translate into a strong commitment by all stakeholders to implement the global goals. DSDG aims to help facilitate this engagement.

If you, like me, are a simple-thinker, and need visual aids, please watch this short videos produced by the World Economic Forum, a major player and proponent of Agenda -2030, Global Sustainable Development, and the Globalist Movement. It is at least honest enough to tell you that when their plan is completed, ‘you will own NOTHING, and be happy about it’!

You have probably already heard enough. But, if you have it in you, let me tell you where this trend and movement began. It should either chill you or make you shake your head in disbelief.

The term Globalism is now more frequently being used pejoratively by Conservatives and Christians to refer to a New World Order.  This has its roots in Bible prophecy. But because of the time and attention span required, and the space needed to go into any depth, let me offer these weblink that will help start this prophetic journey which is being played out with frightening accuracy.

  1. Globalism and the Tower of Babel
  2. Now You Know

And, there you have it – or at least part of it.

Pray and Stay! Pray to God for wisdom and safety, and stay on the alert. Jesus is coming, soon!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Related articles:

NEWS FLASH …. THIS IS FOR REAL! – RE-EDUCATION CAMPS BY THE GLOBALISTS-LEFTISTS

FOREIGN TO AND IGNORES IDEAS PRECIOUS TO THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE

GLOBALISM AND THE TOWER OF BABEL

THE GLOBAL MARCH TO MARXISM

IT AIN’T ALWAYS EASY TO BELIEVE

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

IT AIN’T ALWAYS EASY TO BELIEVE

I am sharing four testimonies of miracles, when God intervened, rescued and saved me, my family or a friend! This is to encourage those of us who struggle and for those who say they don’t.

Miracle #1 – Provision and Rescue.  It Ain’t Easy!

Luke 17:6, And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”

The year is 1996. I am married with two young sons. I had started a fledgling insurance agency, and we are struggling to make ends meet. Each month we invested several thousand dollars into our agency and if sales were made, we could pay our bills and care for our family.

I had built a solicitation mailing program that required we input data from new home sales into the program and that program would interface with a bulk mail program and would print and sort a pre-prepared letter and envelope to be mailed. These letters would get a response from homeowners who wanted to buy insurance. The cost was so high, that if our operation was interrupted even one week, the result would be a financial catastrophe for our family and the end of our business.

One particular week, the computer program stopped working. The data input from, what was then called ‘floppy disks’, would not work. I feverously tried again and again. I even reformatted the entire hard drive, reinstalled the operating system on the computer, reinstalled the mailing programs and when I tried to download the homeowner’s data FROM THE 26 FLOPPY DISKS, the program would fail at disk number 18, and disks 18 through 26 were the critical disks. I prayed continuously. I prayed fervently. I prayed desperately.

I worked on this for TWELVE hours (through the entire night and into the next morning), reformatting the hard drive and repeating the process, knowing that if this failed, we would become bankrupt and could not even buy groceries the next month.

I stopped in exhaustion, cried out to God, “I give up. I quit! I have prayed and prayed to you! Now, I give up.”

I started putting things away in resignation. I was defeated. My mind darted back and forth between what to do next and resentment. It was then I decided to do this ONE MORE TIME.

I restarted the computer and put disk number one into the computer. The computer whirred and gave me a screen message that confused me, “INSERT DISK #18”. I was completely confounded. It made absolutely no sense that the computer would skip disks 1 through 17 and ask for disk 18.

I followed the instruction and inserted disk #18. The program accepted disk #18 and another message came on the screen asking for disk #19. This continued until disk #26, the final disk, and after installing the data from disk #26, the machine turned itself off! It did it own its own!

My heart was beating what seemed like a hundred beats a minute. I restarted the computer and told it to start printing the mailing list, AND IT WORKED!

I was exhausted and exhilarated at the same time. I was weeping with joy as I ran upstairs to tell my wife what had happened. I was so excited that I made little sense to her. All she knew from my excited rambling was that things were working. AND, WORKING, THEY WERE!

God had answered in a humanly impossible situation, in a physically impossible way. As far as I could tell, every logical law of math and programming had been violated and transcended. Yet, here we were. Saved again. Safe and sound. BUT IT WAS NOT EASY.

When God came through, it was an intersection of the natural and the supernatural, and that IS NEVER EASY.

(And a big PS: Our business grew from that point to amazing proportions, creating a living, not only for our family, but for dozens of insurance salesmen, their families and a support staff that grew to 22 people!)

Thanks be to God!

Miracle #2 – Rescue and Restoration. It Ain’t Easy!

Luke 19:10, For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

It was, 1993 and our family were members of Oak Grove Baptist Church in Chesterfield, Virginia. I had been a Christian for about 18 years at this point, but, like so many others, I had actually been a Christian for about three years, six times! In other words, I had not grown in the knowledge of God nor in the Word.

Then something happened. Whether God lit a fire in my spirit or I, somehow, needed ‘more of Him’, (or both), I had a major ‘spiritual growth spurt’. Instrumental in this growth, I believe, was a combination of life circumstances and an intense time of Bible study and prayer through a book and course named “EXPERIENCING GOD”, by pastor Henry Blackaby.

My ‘sudden change’ from being a ‘get along to go along’ Christian and member of Oak Grove church, to being weirdly ‘on fire for God’ and ‘doing what God has called us to do’, created quite a stir among my friends and acquaintances. Some, of whom, were not so patient nor friendly about it.

One particular Sunday, just after church services, a lady approached me as we were heading to the parking lot to go home. Her name is Dale.  Dale was suspicious of my ‘new walk with God’, and she hesitantly approached me and asked if I would pray for her and her daughter. I asked why she wanted me to pray, since I knew she wasn’t that fond of me. She said, “Because I know that your prayers get answered!”.

I smiled and protested slightly by saying that God would answer her prayer, too. With that, she became tearful and informed me that her daughter had taken her car and had run away from home the day before and the police had been unable to find her, and she needed God to help.

I agreed that we should pray. So I stopped walking and grabbed her hand and said, “Let’s pray”. Dale recoiled and said, “Right here? Right here out in the open?”

I answered, saying, “Yes. It sounds urgent, so let’s pray now!”

I began to pray and after only a few seconds, Dale’s cell phone rang. She answered the phone, mumbled ‘yes’, a few times and then shouted, “The South Carolina State Police have found her! She is safe, and I need to go get her! Thank you, Mike, I have to go!”

“Hold on Dale”, I insisted, “First, don’t thank me! Let’s take a minute and thank God for this quick answer. And tell me, what happened?”

“Her car stopped running, and she pulled to the side of the road just a few minutes ago. A state policeman was only a few cars behind her, so he pulled over to help and discovered she was a runaway, and called me!” She went on to say, “The policeman gave her the phone to talk to me, and she says she is sorry and wants to come home!”

We prayed and thanked God, together. Dale looked at me and said, “I still thank you, too, Mike, and I told you God hears and answers your prayers. I have just never seen Him answer that fast!”

This entire episode was full of surprises and was exciting. But, believe me when I say, IT WAS NOT EASY!

Miracle #3 – Provision.  IT Ain’t Easy!

My wife, Betty, and I travelled from Virginia to Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois for a ‘parents weekend”. We would also have a chance to see our oldest son, Michael, play in a soccer game.

Michael was concerned that he would have a chance to play. So, we prayed for that opportunity. In fact, I felt my son’s prayer was a bit tentative, so I encouraged him to pray a bolder prayer, and to ask what his heart actually desired. Finally, Michael asked not only to play, but to score a goal.

The game began, but Michael did not start. We reached halftime, and Michael sat on the bench. The second half was the same – no Michael. Then, with about 5 minutes remaining, we saw the coach motion to Michael to prepare to play.  Then a fun thing happened. Michael had been elected as the freshman class Chaplain at the beginning for the year, so most of the students knew him, and the students in the stand began to chant, “Michael! Michael! Michael!” (Chills down my spine!)

The score was tied, 1 to 1 and there was about 3 or 4 minutes left in the game by the time Michael got on the field. Play continued and at about the two minute mark, the opposing team’s goalie got the ball and prepared to punt it down the field. Michael was stationed about 15 yards from the goalie, but in his path. The goalie mis-kicked the ball and hit our son directly on the back side. The goalie’s forward motion took him past Michael, but the ball now laid at Michael’s feet, 20 yards from the open net. I don’t know what was going through his mind, but Michael ‘drilled’ the ball into the back of that net, with a bit of force!

The crowd erupted in cheers! Olivet now led by a score of 2 to 1. The referee signaled, “GOAL” and called for the ball to restart play, but the final horn sounded, GAME OVER!!

Afterwards, I asked my son what he thought. His remark was, “I have seen God answer prayers, but never so fast and like that!”

I have so many more to relate, but here is one that is most special to me.

Miracle #4 – Mercy, Rescue and Salvation. It Ain’t Easy!

Mark 9:24

 “Immediately, the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Our family was travelling from a vacation in Orlando, Florida. My sons were about five and eight years old. We stopped at a ‘pull off area’, sort-of-a rest stop, on highway A-1-A somewhere near Saint Augustine, Florida.

The weather was cloudy and blustery. The waves were splashing onto the sidewalk along the shore line, which was lined with large stones to stop erosion, I guessed.

My youngest son, I and walked to the end of a sidewalk cul-de-sac to look at the splashing water. I felt safe enough, then suddenly a huge wave crashed over the rock abutment and onto the two of us. When the water receded, my son was gone! The wave had sucked him into the turbulent water and I could see no trace of him. Prayers began to race in my mind and out of my mouth.

Psalm 116:8-9

For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling;
I will walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.

Panic seized me and my first thought was, “GO GET HIM!”. So, I kicked off my tennis shoes and turned to dive into the water, which was probably a very bad idea, when another huge wave crashed onshore and as suddenly there was my son Jody, standing upright on the sidewalk, soaking wet, sputtering water and crying! I grabbed him and ran back toward the car, thinking, “WHAT JUST HAPPENED? Nobody is going to believe this.”

You know, it would be easy to say, “Yeah, well, that could have been a coincidence”, and rightly so. But, when this just keeps on happening, time after time, after praying, and believing in faith, I just have to BELEIVE!

So, believe it or not, God saved us again! AND IT WAS NOT EASY. When God gets involved, IT AIN’T EVER EASY, but it’s always good – really good – all the time!

Psalm 116:15-17

Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his saints.
O Lord, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your maidservant.
You have loosed my bonds.
I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the Lord.

What more can we say? By faith, Moses? By faith, Abraham? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mocking and flogging, and further, chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented (people of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts, on mountains, and sheltering in caves and holes in the ground.”

Let’s have faith. Let’s step out on faith. Let’s pray for one another, please.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PREVIOUS:  IT AIN’T EASY – MAKING DISCIPLES FOR JESUS

NEXT:  DO YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW? REALLY?

 

A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – “Do You Believe I Am Able”, Part 41

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – “Do You Believe I Am Able”, Part 41

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional

“Do you believe I am able?”

“As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, screaming loudly, “Have mercy and compassion on us, Son of David (Messiah)!” When He went into the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them,

“Do you believe [with a deep, abiding trust] that I am able to do this?”

They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying,

“According to your faith [your trust and confidence in My power and My ability to heal] it will be done to you.”

And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them:

“See that no one knows this!”

But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout that whole district.

The Words of Jesus, Matthew 9:27-31.

This may be one of the greatest teachings and greatest tests about faith. Please pay close attention. Pray, think, mediate and ask our God of mercy and compassion to reveal the truth and to give you wisdom.

QUESTION: Why would two blind men, following Jesus, cry out, “Have mercy and compassion on us, Son of David”?  What does ‘mercy and compassion’ have to do with being blind and crying out to the Son of God?

Earlier we read, in Matthew 4:23-24, “And Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having epileptics, and paralytics, and He healed them.”

You see, these blind men knew that Jesus had what they needed and wanted, and they knew Jesus could do what they needed and wanted. This is true faith.

Their faith is expressed (pressed out) in their cries, “Have mercy (and compassion) on us, Son of David”, in essence and in fact calling Jesus the Messiah! They knew!

Faith, in and of itself, is the clear and substantive evidence of things not yet seen with the natural eyes, and the conviction in your heart, mind and soul, of their reality. These blind men, by faith in Jesus and His ability, comprehended as fact what could not be experienced by the physical senses. ( see Hebrews 11:1-3)

PLEASE NOTE: The OBJECT of their faith is not on ‘being healed’. The OBJECT of their faith is Jesus and in Him alone!

If you find yourself praying and saying, “I stand, believing for my healing” you will be disappointed.

Romans 10:11 tells us that, “For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on JESUS] WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED [in his expectations].”  (If you don’t get this, your faith will always fall short.)

What we have read here, and what Jesus has said and done, is the model of faith. Jesus tells us in Revelation 3:17, “you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked”.  So, please, put yourself in the position of these blind men and ask yourself:

THE TEST:  Are you willing, like these two blind men, to follow Jesus, screaming loudly, “Have mercy and compassion on me, Son of David – The Messiah”? (Most people would be too embarrassed and would feel foolish and would not).

Are you willing, like these blind men, to publicly come up to Him? And Jesus said to them, (Most people prefer to the “right where you are, while nobody is watching, say to Him…”)

In response to Jesus’ question, “Do you believe [with a deep, abiding trust] that I am able to do this?”, are you willing to say to Him, “Yes, Lord.”? (Or, do you prefer “if it is your will”, as if you don’t really know or believe you know His willingness).

Will your testimony be like these blind men when they were healed, that is, to go out and spread the news about Him throughout your town? (Most Christians will tell each other, but will not go throughout the region telling everyone).

Jesus knows the condition of your heart, and He is saying, “you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked”, Revelation 3:17.

Are you going to be like everyone else, or like these two blind men, and express (press out) your faith in Him?

It’s the only way!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS: Please do not get discouraged if you do not see your ‘success’ immediately. The Bible is replete with examples of those who doggedly pursued Jesus before finding relief. This is never easy – despite what you might hear from those wanting to ‘tickle your ears’. IT IS THE ONE WHO ENDURES TO THE END WHO IS SAVED!

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

PREVIOUS:   A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – “And then they will fast”, Part 40

NEXT:  A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – “The Harvest is Plentiful”, Part 42

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Additional Reading: DO YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW?

THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 16 – Six Bowls of Wrath, Armageddon & The 7th Bowl of Wrath  – Episode 18

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 16 –  6 Bowls of Wrath, Armageddon & The 7th Bowl of Wrath

Episode 18

(These Episodes are meant to not only ask and answer the questions, “When, Why, How and What?”, but also the question, ” WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO ME”)

 Chapter 16 brings us God’s final and most severe judgements; the 7 Bowl Judgements, which usher in The End of the Age. There is still much to occur with the completion of the old and the dawning of the coming New Jerusalem, and the creation and establishment of a new heaven and a new earth.

Six Bowls of Wrath

Revelation 16:1, Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath and indignation of God.”

Verse 2. So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and loathsome and malignant sores came on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.

Verse 3. The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a corpse, [foul and disgusting]; and every living [footnote ‘a’] thing in the sea died.

Verse 4. Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water; and they turned into blood. Verse 5. And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “Righteous and just are You, Who are and Who were, O Holy One, because You judged these things; Verse 6. for they have poured out the blood of the saints (God’s people) and the prophets, and You [in turn] have given them blood to drink. They deserve Your judgement.” Verse 7. And I heard [another from] the altar saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all], Your judgements are true and fair and righteous.”

Verse 8. Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given power to scorch humanity with [a raging] fire. Verse 9. People were [severely] burned by the great heat; and they reviled the name of God who has power over these plagues, but they did not repent [of their sin] and glorify Him.

(Commentary Break: Every evil deed, committed throughout all time, is now being recompensed. Every ill-treatment, every hurt, every calamity, every disaster you may have suffered is now finding justice. Evils are repaid, and your future is fixed to suffer no more. (End Commentary Break)

Verse 10. Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness; and people gnawed their tongues because of the pain [of their excruciating anguish and severe torment], verse 11, and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their anguish and their sores, (abscesses and boils); and they did not repent of what they had done nor hate their wickedness.

(Commentary Break: Notice that the 5th Bowl is poured out on the beast as his kingdom is plunged into darkness. The pain and anguish is most severe. Still, the rebellious blasphemed God, instead of crying for mercy, they would not repent of their sinful deeds, their hate or their wickedness, this Triad has always been the earmark of the unbelieving and lost. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 12. Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for [the coming of] the kings from [footnote ‘b’] the east.

(Commentary Break: The kings of the east can be identified in Ezekiel 38, in Daniel chapter 7 and 9 and again in Revelation chapter 17, as

1. Gog, which is known as a part of modern day Russia,

2. Rosh, also part of modern day Russia,

3. Magog, again part of Russia,

4. Gomer, also known as Eastern Europe and Southern Russia,

5. Put, known as modern day Libya,

6. Cush, known today as Ethiopia,

7. Persia, known as Iran,

8. Meshech, known as modern day Turkey,

9. Tubal, known today as an area in central Turkey and

10. Beth-Togarmah, also known as (Georgia, Chechnya, Turkey/Armenia). (End Commentary Break).

Armageddon

Verse 13. And I saw three loathsome spirits like frogs, leaping from the mouth of the dragon (Satan) and from the mouth of the beast (Antichrist, dictator) and from the mouth of the false prophet; verse 14, for they are [actually] the spirits of demons, performing [miraculous] signs. And they go out to the kings of the entire inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. Verse 15. “Behold, I am coming like a thief. [footnote ‘c’] Blessed is he who [footnote ‘d’] stays awake and who keeps his clothes [that is, stays spiritually ready for the Lord’s return], so that he will not be naked, spiritually unprepared, and men will not see his shame.” Verse 16. And they, (the demons) gathered the kings and armies of the world together at the place which in Hebrew is called [footnote ‘e’] Har-Magedon (which is Armageddon).

(Commentary Break: The three evil spirits that looked like frogs leaping from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgement day of God the Almighty. This is the counterfeit trinity of Satan, the antichrist and the false prophet. Verse 15 reminds us of Jesus Words found in Matthew 24 verses 42 through 44, that we are to stay on alert, for we do not know which day the Lord is coming. But we are to be sure of this, that if we had known at what time the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed our house to be broken into. For this reason, we must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.

Now we are told of the coming battle of Armageddon. The size of the Armies from the East, as of the year 2024, (and as previously described in the Book of Ezekiel), are Russia, with an army of one million one-hundred thousand; Turkey, with an army of three hundred fifty-five thousand; Iran, with an army of five hundred twenty-three thousand, (including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard); Ethiopia’s army of one hundred thirty eight thousand; Chechnya’s army is approximately ten thousand; the army of Georgia is approximately twenty-one thousand; Even with this abbreviated list we can count two million, one hundred forty-two thousand fighting troops. The size of these forces has been foretold in Revelation 9 verses 16 through 18 as two hundred million. (End Commentary Break).

Seventh Bowl of Wrath

Verse 17. Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne [of God], saying, “It is done. [It is all over, it is all accomplished, it has come.]” Verse 18. And there were flashes of lightning and loud rumblings and peals of thunder; and there was a massive earthquake, nothing like it has ever occurred since mankind originated on the earth, so severe and far-reaching was that earthquake. Verse 19. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the Nations fell. And God kept in mind Babylon the great, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce and furious wrath. Verse 20. Then every island fled away, and no mountains could be found. Verse 21. And giant hailstones, as heavy as a [footnote ‘f’] talent (which weigh about one hundred pounds each), fell from the sky on the people; and people reviled and spoke abusively of God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so very great. (End of text for Chapter 16).

It is over. No more suffering, no more tears, no more crying, no more pain, no more sorrow, no more death, no more evil. The old order is passed away and your eternity with God is set.

Our days on this old earth, for now, seem to be growing ever more chaotic and dangerous. The current world order is shifting rapidly away from any trace of righteousness. The things that were once called as good are now being called evil, and the things evil are now being called good; bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

The next chapter offers insights that will bolster our confidence as we read of the doom of Babylon and the Victory of the Lamb.

Your Brother and Friend,

 Mike Young

 Previous: THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 15 –  A Scene in Heaven  – Episode 17

Next:  THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 17 – The Doom of Babylon, The Victory of the Lamb – Episode 19

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Why Should I GO to church – When, after all, I Am The Church, The Body of Christ?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

WHY SHOULD I GO TO CHURCH – WHEN I AM THE CHURCH?

There seems to be a lot of reasons to GO to church, especially according to church growth experts, pastors of churches and church administrative leaders (including many theologians).

Got Questions.Org has a good piece on “Why Christians Should Attend Church”.  Take a look.

On the other hand, there are those who are committed Christians but, for the most part, have stopped attending church, and their numbers are growing). The main objection I get from people who say they are Christians but don’t go to church, is that “I go to church sometimes on holidays. But I don’t feel like I need to go to church all the time. I love God and I believe in Jesus for my salvation so why do I need to go to all the trouble and spend so much time going to a building? Besides, I can always watch church on television”.

Going deeper. Here is a link to “15 reasons why committed Christians stop attending church”. Take a look and see what you think.

Finally, here is a 12 minute video by The Fuel Project that features a woman, giving her testimony of why she is tired of and bored with church. She is meant to be representative of the growing group of Christians who have stopped attending church, many of whom become ‘NONES’, (those who may be Christians, but have no religious affiliation). Watch just a couple of minutes and see if it rings any bells for you.

Now, if you aren’t tiring of this topic, please give me another minute or two and I will get to the core matter of Going to Church. I believe it will either inspire you, convict you or perhaps, just irritate you.

Let’s start where it all began.

 THE EARLY CHURCH

(The Blue text below, is excerpts from the book, Pagan Christianity, by Frank Viola and George Barna.)

(1). The early Christians believed that Jesus is the very presence of God. They believed that the body of Christ, the Christians, which are the church, constitutes a temple. When Jesus was on earth, to make distinctions from the Church as the Body of Christ and a building, He made some radically negative statements about the Jewish Temple. Then, when Jesus would refer to ‘the real temple’, the Ekklesia, He was referring to Himself. (see Ephesians 2 verse 6). Since Christ has risen, we Christians have become the temple of God – The Church. DID YOU KNOW THIS? DO YOU BELIEVE OR FEEL THIS WAY?

Now and since His ascension, Jesus spiritually and actually takes up residence in the believers, thus making them His Temple, or His house. It is for this reason that the New Testament always reserves the word ‘church’, (ekklesia), for the people of God. It never uses this word to refer to a building of any sort. Additionally, when Christianity was born, it was the only religion on the planet that had no sacred objects, no sacred persons, and no sacred spaces. DID YOU KNOW THAT? HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT CHURCHES TODAY?

Although surrounded by Jewish synagogues and pagan temples, the early Christians were the only religious people on earth who did not erect sacred buildings for their worship. The Christian faith was born in homes, out in courtyards, and along roadsides. For the first three centuries, the Christians did not have any special buildings! DID YOU KNOW THAT?

As one scholar put it, “The Christianity that conquered the Roman Empire was essentially a home-centered movement.” Meeting in homes was a conscious choice of the early Christians. It was a coming together in a more intimate setting, a ones’ home. Very little could be hidden from one another in such an environment. It created an intimacy we rarely see among the organized church membership today. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS WAY OF ‘DOING CHURCH’?

So, to recap, the early disciples didn’t GO to church because they were the church. Acts 2 verses 43 through 47 tell us that in the early church, “Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all the believers were together and had all things in common; and they would sell their property and possessions and share them with all, to the extent that anyone had need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

To be fair, there were circumstances such as the severe persecution of the early church by both the Jewish religious structure and the Roman government that to a large degree dictated how, when and where the early church met. But external circumstances could not and did not create or affect the sense of awe, community, brotherhood and family of the early church. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS? AND, HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL?

Things have changed over the centuries, especially for America and Americans. We have found a large degree of personal freedoms and personal wealth. Our attitude about ‘individualism’ has divided even Christians as a family. We are not like the early church people in our attitudes or practices. I can GO to church, Sunday after Sunday, and reach out and warmly greet others, and still sit alone as an acquaintance but not as a friend and not as a family member of the Church. DO YOU UNDERSTAND AND WONDER?

Okay. Do you know what I have just done, though? I have made a presentation about going to church versus being the Church, and within this case, I have hidden a ‘binary trap’. Your answer requires a YES or a NO; I agree or I don’t agree. I left just a small space for other opinions. But, when we discuss or think this way with our church leaders, isn’t that how they approach situations like this? Rather than listening and looking for answers or solutions, we are told we are wrong and ‘here is how it is’! We are left in a binary trap. So we are faced with the choice to ‘get along or get out’.

So, which is the right way to ‘do church’? Actually, I believe BOTH choices have merits, and both have weaknesses.

Truthfully however, Jesus never recommended either way.

Jesus would, by example, preach and teach in the existing Jewish Temples and Synagogues, on streets, along roadways, on hillsides, in boats on lakes, in people’s houses and out in fields. Anyplace and everyplace was His pulpit and any place and everyplace was His mission field. Anyplace you might find His disciples, you had found His Church.

Jesus took this so seriously that on one occasion, “As they were going on the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (see Luke 9, verses 57 through 59).

In other words, this person, this scribe, was implying to Jesus, ‘I will follow you wherever you go, but let’s settle down a bit, and let me do my job as a scribe, but we need a permanent place, like a building of sorts, and become a permanent fixture’. To which Jesus responds with His memorable words that said, ‘I and My Body is on the move. Time is short and we have no time to settle in anywhere. We are only here for the time being’. And that is still true to this day!

Then on another occasion, “Jesus said to another, “Follow Me.” But the man said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” (see Luke 9 verses 59 through 60). Is Jesus lacking sympathy? No, He is not. The urgency and immediacy of the mission calls for drastic action! We rarely see this in the modern and postmodern church.

Finally, on another occasion,  “Another man said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say goodbye to those at my home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (see Luke 9 verses 61 and 62). WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS? AND, HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL? DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE?

In the end, the Apostle Paul gives this heartfelt instruction about meeting together, which many church leaders apply as a directive to GO to church, “Let us seize and hold tightly the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is reliable and trustworthy and faithful [to His word]; and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds, not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching. (see Hebrews 10, verses 23 through 25).

In reality, however, Paul means exactly what he says, “encourage one another to love and to do good deeds, not forsaking OUR MEETING TOGETHER [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some,

Whether in the existing church buildings, on streets, along roadways, on hillsides, in boats on lakes, in people’s houses and out in fields. Anyplace and everyplace is YOUR pulpit and any place and everyplace is YOUR mission field. Anyplace you find Jesus’ current day disciples, you have found His Church. Active, organic, hopeful, excited and on the move, because the day of His return is near.

Now that we know these things, also know that “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus. And He says for us to GO therefore, [into all the world] and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that He has commanded us. And remember, He is with us all the way to the end of the age.” And, please be aware and remember, Jesus was not talking to theologians or Bible teachers with a Masters of Divinity or a Doctorate in religion, He was talking to His disciples. These same disciples, who, ”when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.” (Does that verse from Matthew 28 verse 17, sound like someone who goes about in your Christian skin? If so, take heart and GO!)

If you consider yourself a fully devoted Christian, you are called by God to GO. If you don’t know how, then learn. Team up with someone who has an idea of how to GO. Or, with great prayer, caution and care, find a church  that properly teaches the Jesus model of evangelism and disciple-making. Just get started and GO.

Denominational ecclesiasticism is smothering and stifling the Church, the Ekklesia of God. Many of these so-called churches will say that they cannot allow you to ‘go rogue’ and become ‘a lone ranger Christian’. You might get it wrong or make a mess! To that I say HA! Just look at Jim and Tammy Faye Baker, Robert Tilton, Peter Popoff, Bill Hybels, Tony Alamo, Ted Haggard, Brian Houston, Carl Lentz, Ravi Zacharias, Jimmy Swaggart, Eddie Long and many other pastors and leaders of once-famous megachurches.

The Catholic church has been a disgraceful mess for centuries. Most recently is the priesthood being discovered as rife with homosexuals and pedophiles, and it seems it is only getting worse with a leftist, socialist leaning Pope!

Furthermore, take a look at these church’s world-wide messes:

The Episcopal Church in the United States and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have also allowed ordination of openly gay and lesbian candidates for ministry for some years, and now the United Methodist Church has follow the path to the dark side.

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

Read Matthew 3 verses 11 & 12, which says, in part, “He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

You see, (first), you GO, and (secondly), He, who is coming after you, Who is mightier than you, whose sandals you am not worthy to carry, (thirdly), will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Then, fourthly), [He, with] His winnowing fork is in his hand, will clear His threshing floor [His creation, this earth], and (fifth), He will gather His wheat, [those who believe on Him and follow Him] into the barn [into the Kingdom of heaven]; but (sixth and finally, regarding) the chaff [the unbelievers, the rebellious ones], He will burn [up in the lake of, and] with unquenchable fire.”

Oh. And by the way. None of this is really a good reason NOT to go to church. If you find a good church, you could really be surprised – and you could really benefit from it!

Just GO!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(Let’s GO! Email me at whitestonefellowship1@gmail.com or write me in the space below here).

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Thank you for your response. ✨

THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 15 –  A Scene in Heaven  – Episode 17

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 15 –  A Scene in Heaven

Episode 17

 (These Episodes are meant to not only ask and answer the questions, “When, Why, How and What?”, but also the question, ” WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO ME”)

Chapter 14 gave us the pronouncement of doom and the sentencing of Babylon and the worshipers of the Beast and the symbolism of the reapers of the earth and the great wine press from which the blood of the rebellious flowed as deep as a horse’s bridle is high,(about 5 or six feet deep), and sixteen hundred stadia (which is about 180 miles in length). A lake of blood six feet deep and 180 miles long.

 Now the time has come for the final judgements of God to be poured out. The stage is set, and the scene is as spectacular as it is ominous.

No commentary I could offer would be sufficient to describe or explain this chapter. It is self-explanatory. I stand in awe.

The Scene of Heaven

Revelation 15:1, Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and wonderful [a warning of terrifying and horrible events]: seven angels who had seven plagues, (afflictions and calamities), which are the last, because with them the wrath of God is finished, [and is completely expressed and reaches its zenith].

Verse 2. Then I saw something like a sea or large expanse of glass mixed with fire, and those who were victorious over the beast and over his image and over the number corresponding to his name were standing on the sea or large expanse of glass, holding harps of God [worshiping Him]. Verse 3. And they [footnote ‘a’] sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

“Great and wonderful and awe-inspiring are Your works [in judgement],

O Lord God, the Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all];

Righteous and true are Your ways,

O King of the [footnote ‘b’] nations!

Verse 4. “Who will not fear [reverently], and glorify Your name, O Lord [giving You honor and praise in worship]?

For You alone are holy;

For ALL THE NATIONS SHALL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU,

FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS [Your just decrees and judgements] HAVE BEEN REVEALED and DISPLAYED.”

Verse 5. After these things I looked, and the temple, (the sanctuary) of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened, verse 6, and the seven angels who had the seven plagues, (afflictions and calamities), came out of the temple, arrayed in linen, pure and gleaming, and wrapped around their chests were golden sashes. Verse 7. Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath and indignation of God, who lives forever and ever. Verse 8. And the temple was filled with [footnote ‘c’] smoke from the glory and radiance and splendor of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. (End of text for this chapter).

The next chapter, 16, brings the end of God’s judgements on the earth. The horrors of these final judgements are unimaginable, and the intensity is palpable. We must remember that God has been patient and merciful over the millennia, but that He is also just and His Justice must be served. God, over the centuries, has sent thousands upon thousands of messengers to warn of what was coming to those who reject Him. For all these centuries, God has pled to all humanity to be redeemed by the sacrifice of His only Son. But the rebellious continue to defy Him and curse His Name.  Now their end is come.

Author’s Note: Rather than just making a statement about God’s gift of salvation, I would like to ask you a question: How does making a statement or a profession of faith, as found in Romans 10 verses 9 and 10, such as, “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation”, save you?

Similarly, how does praying a small prayer of faith and repentance, you hear in many churches, save you? Prayers such as, “Dear God, I confess that I am a sinner, and I am sorry. I turn away from my former life and ask you to come into my heart and save me. I now believe by faith that you have, and I thank you for saving me.”

The best answer I can give is akin to Psalms 23 verse 7, “As a man thinks within himself or herself, so are they.” Then the proof of that salvation is found in a change of heart, mind and behavior or works.

Please, dear friends, let’s be certain. Let’s work out our salvation with fear and trembling, then rest upon His Word and promise.

 Your Brother and Friend,

 Mike Young

 Previous: THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 14 –  The Lamb, The 144,000, Doom & The Harvest,  – Episode 16

Next: THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 16 – The Bowls of Wrath & Armageddon  – Episode 18

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ADAM’S RIB – THE ALPHA

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

ADAM’S RIB – THE ALPHA

Where it all started – for all of humankind

“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him”. Genesis 1:27.

“And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh thereof;” Genesis 2:22.

RIB:  from Strong’s Concordance:  #6763, from the Hebrew word, tsela.

Definition: rib, side. Is also used as: a beam, a board, a chamber, a corner, a leaf, a plank, side chamber.

SECONDLY, and more amazing, is how much more fully we can understand these verses by way of the Hebrew language:

So, let’s look at these following verses and select words, from the Hebrew Language:

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

Now let’s see and better understand these select words, from the Hebrew Language: Then the LORD God (El-oh-heem, which is in the plural), formed man (which is the Hebrew word, adam, and means, rubbed red – imagine an image of a newborn baby) of dust from the ground, and, (God) breathed, (which is the word naphach in Hebrew, and means to seethe, and to give up life) the man’s, nostrils (which is the Hebrew word, aph, which reflects an angry facial expression while breathing hard. This tells us that God gave up something extraordinary in this act. He gave up part of Himself to His creation!) the breath of life; and man became a living, (from the Hebrew word, nephesh, which translates as a soul, a self, a living person; a person with an appetite, a mind, with desires, emotions, passions, but with dubious activity of mind, will, and character).

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;”

In the image, (which is the Hebrew word, tselem, which translates as a mere, empty, image, a resemblance, but not identical ; a vain showing; the word tselem comes from an unused root Hebrew word meaning to shade; as a phantom, i.e., an illusion; hence, simply a representative figure, of dubious character.)

Recap What We Have Seen

God, used in plural, representing God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, created, shaped and formed mankind.

God created mankind ‘in His Own image’ but, as a mere image of Himself; a vain showing and just a shadow of the Original; an image, an icon, or a phantom pattern; an illusion or a mere resemblance of the original; and a being of a dubious nature.

(God has deliberately made man and woman with a flaw, and has destined them to fail.)

    • God, has always existed and He is eternal.
    • He is the creator of life.
    • He creates with purpose and on purpose.
    • This creation has all the imagery of childbirth: ruddy, squeezed, passionate, violent, painful, raw and costly.
    • 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.
    • But God also made humankind with the greatest potential, being made in His image.
    • Then God provided a Savior – Jesus Christ, to redeem all who would believe on His Name – and the potential God put into humankind would be realized.

The Book of Genesis tells us of THE ALPHA

  • The creation of humankind.
  • The corruption of humankind
  • The destruction of humankind
  • The salvation of humankind
  • A time which is coming when all the heavens and earth will be judged for humankind’s corruption and those who have not called on the name of Jesus will perish, but those who call in the name of Jesus will be saved.

Revelation 21:1, ”Then, I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. Verse 2. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Verse 3. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, verse 4, and He will wipe away every tear from their 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.” Verse 5. And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”

Revelation 22:1, And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, verse 2, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Verse 3. There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; Verse 4, they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. Verse 5. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illuminate them; and they will reign forever and ever.

The Book of The Revelation tells us of THE OMEGA

  • A remarkable time that is coming when God will create a new heaven and a new earth,
    • And His Elect will dwell with Him forever.
    • At that time there will be no more tears, no more death, there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain.
    • At that time a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, will flow from the throne of God and of the Lamb. And on either side of the river there is the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month;
      • And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
      • There will no longer be any curse;
      • And the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it.
      • And His name will be on the foreheads of His servants.
      • And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illuminate them;
      • And they will reign forever and ever.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

ADAM’S RIB – The Alpha (video format)

Adam’s Rib, a very short video, is an encouraging overview of scriptures from Alpha to the Omega. A look at this panorama, using brief insights into the Hebrew language to give us deep insights into God’s Plan and perfecting of His Creation.

 

 

THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 14 – The Lamb, Babylon & The Harvest,  – Episode 16

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 14 –  The Lamb, The 144,000, Doom & The Harvest

Episode 16

 (These Episodes are meant to not only ask and answer the questions, “When, Why, How and What?”, but also the question, ” WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO ME?”)

Chapter 13 gave us a look at the two Beasts, one from the sea and one from the earth, making their move to have rule and dominion over the world. Although portrayed as metaphorical beasts, it is an apt description for the real nature and character of these men. And they are real, and horribly authentic. So fantastic, frightening and convincing is their appearance, their powerful acts and behaviors, and their influence that “the saints, God’s people, are overcome, and the Beast  will have the authority and power over every tribe and people and language and nation. All the inhabitants of the earth will fall down and worship him, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the Book of Life of the Lamb who has been slain as a willing sacrifice” (see Revelation 13, verses 7 and 8).

The grip and rule and dominion of this Beast becomes so absolute, that “He compels all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free-men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, signifying allegiance and obedience to this beast, so that no one will be able to buy or sell, unless they have the Mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name (which is six hundred, sixty six)”.

Important Note: The Bible gives us two specific verses, spoken by Jesus, which gives us a mystery: “Whatever is be bound on earth, shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever is loosed on earth, shall have been loosed in heaven”. (see Matthew 16 verse 19 and Matthew 18 verse 18). The meaning behind these verses come from a Chaldean and rabbinical idiom, meaning to forbid, prohibit, declare to be illicit; to be put under obligation; chained; imprisoned.

Secondly, this mystery is best understood, i.e., revealed, when viewed in the context of 2nd Corinthians 4 verse 18, which says, “while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal”, and again in Hebrews 11 verse 1, “Now faith is the certainty of things confidently expected, (hoped for), the proof (positive, and the absolute conviction) of things not (yet) seen.”

Third, it is of the utmost importance to recognize that this binding and loosing cannot be not random nor serendipitous. In order to understand this mystery, we must first acknowledge that everything that is to take place or that has taken place, is and has been pre-determined by God – even before the foundations of the world.  John 1 verse 3 confirms that ”All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being.”

THEREFORE, whatever is bound on earth, is an authority given by God to His elect (in these cases, Peter and the Church), to pray, confirm and bind matters on earth, which then become bound by legal spiritual and heavenly edict. As a result, those things which are not yet seen on earth, having been bound in heaven, will now be manifested upon the earth!

This is important to understand and to know because the things revealed in The Book of The Revelation (the apokalupsis), have been bound in  Heaven and are to be manifested on earth. All of the Revelation, although spoken and written in images, metaphors, similes, analogies, its manifestation is to be physically literal. Don’t underestimate what is coming. Don’t be led astray by the un-enlightened or false prophets who will say otherwise. BEWARE and BE READY.

Now, on to chapter 14, where we will see God’s heavenly counter-offensive, and in fact, the entire world will see the might, the irresistible power and the Glory of our God. Nothing and no one can stand before Him. Read with me.

The Lamb and the 144,000 on Mount Zion

Revelation 14:1, Then I looked, and this is what I saw: the Lamb stood [firmly established] on Mount Zion, and with Him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had His name and His Father’s name inscribed on their foreheads, [signifying God’s own possession]. Verse 2. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of great waters and like the rumbling of mighty thunder; and the voice that I heard [seemed like music and] was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. Verse 3. And they sang a new song before the throne [of God] and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased, (ransomed, redeemed) from the earth. Verse 4. These are the ones who have not been defiled [by relations] with women, for they are celibate. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased and redeemed from among men [of Israel] as the first fruits [sanctified and set apart for special service] for God and the Lamb. Verse 5. No lie was found in their mouth, for they are blameless, (spotless, untainted, beyond reproach).

(Commentary Break: These verses speak for themselves. But I would like to draw our attention to the contrast between the counterfeiting by the Beasts of the One True God. Similar but opposite. One works miracles but is domineering, murderous, evil, dark and frightening. This is the way of Satan and his false prophet. They come to steal, kill and destroy.

The other is miraculous and radiant, filled with light; angelic, harmonious and full of beautiful music; blameless, spotless, untainted and beyond reproach. Jesus came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly. (see John 10 verse 10). (End Commentary Break).

The Angel with the Gospel

Verse 6. Then I saw another angel flying in midheaven, with an [footnote ‘a’] eternal gospel to preach to the inhabitants of the earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people; verse 7, and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God [with awe and reverence], and give Him glory [and honor and praise in worship], because the hour of His judgment has come; [with all your heart] worship Him who created the heaven and the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

(Commentary Break: Here we have an angel preaching the Gospel to all the inhabitants of earth – every nation and tribe and language and people.

Remember that the 6th Tribulation Trumpet has sounded and now the 7th Tribulation Trumpet is being sounded as these events are taking place. The 6th Trumpet sounded the ‘last call’ to the inhabitants of earth for salvation. Now, with the 7th Trumpet sounding, the end of God’s remaining mercies has come. No one else is to be saved from the Wrath of the Lamb. (End Commentary Break).

Doom for Proud Babylon

Verse 8. Then another angel, a second one, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her immorality [corrupting them with idolatry].”

Doom for Worshipers of the Beast

Verse 9. Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “Whoever worships the beast and his image and receives the mark [of the beast] on his forehead or on his hand, verse 10, he too will [have to] drink of the wine of the wrath of God, [footnote ‘b’] mixed undiluted into the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone (flaming sulfur) in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb (Christ). Verse 11. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night–those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

Verse 12. Here is [encouragement for] the steadfast endurance of the saints (God’s people), those who habitually keep God’s commandments and their faith in Jesus. Verse 13. Then I heard [the distinct words of] a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘[footnote ‘c’] Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes, [blessed indeed],” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest and have relief from their labors, for their deeds do follow them.”

(Commentary Break: The edict is read. The end has come. Those who bear the image of the Beast are sentenced. And to those who habitually keep God’s commandments and their faith in Jesus may rest and have relief from their labors. They are taken away to abide forever with the Lord. It is over.)

The Reapers

Verse 14. Again I looked, and this is what I saw: a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was One like the Son of Man, with a crown of gold on His head and a sharp sickle [of swift judgment] in His hand. Verse 15. And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to Him who was sitting upon the cloud, “Put in Your sickle and reap [at once], for the hour to reap [in judgment] has arrived, because the earth’s harvest is fully ripened.” Verse 16. So He who was sitting on the cloud cast His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped (and judged).

Verse 17. Then another angel came out of the temple (sanctuary) in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. Verse 18. And another angel came from the altar, the one who has power over fire; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Put in your sharp sickle and reap the clusters of grapes from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe [for judgment].” Verse 19. So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and harvested the grapevine of the earth, and threw the grapes into the great wine press of the wrath and indignation of God [as judgment of the rebellious world]. Verse 20. And the grapes in the wine press were trampled and crushed outside the city, and blood poured from the wine press, reaching up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of [footnote ‘d’] sixteen hundred stadia.

(Commentary Break: It is important to know that this ‘reaping’ is for both the   ‘harvest of souls for righteousness’ of those who were not raptured with the Church at the 6th Seal Judgement (which comes before the final 7 years of the Great Tribulation). This is the Great Winepress of The Wrath and Indignation of God and His judgement on the rebellious world.

 The severity of this judgement and of the remaining judgements yet to come, is illustrated by the winepress and the volumes of flowing blood. It is deep as a horse’s bridle is high,(about 5 or six feet deep), and sixteen hundred stadia (which is about 180 miles in length). A lake of blood six feet deep and 180 miles long.

 (If one would conjecture the width of an ancient wine press at ten feet, then the volume of blood being squeezed from God’s winepress would be three hundred and fifty five million gallons of blood. The average body contains one point three gallons of blood, so this would be equal to the blood of  two hundred seventy four million people – perhaps the number of people to be slaughtered from God’s judgements (as well as from the battle of Armageddon?)

 This description, of course, implies the terrific nature of the punishment, probably nothing more. In the same way the distance mentioned is no doubt intended to denote the extensive nature of the punishment. (End Commentary Break).

Next, in chapter 15, the scene is set for the pouring out of The final Seven Bowl judgements. Seven angels who have seven plagues, will be the last of the judgements, because in them the wrath of God is finished.

Dear friends and loved ones, please, let’s think and meditate on these things, and pray that God gives us His Wisdom and the courage to stand ready at all times, staying ready to make a defense to everyone who asks, and to give an account for the Hope which is Christ Jesus, Who is in you.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Previous: THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 13 – The Beast from the Sea, The Beast from the Earth  – Episode 15

Next: THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 15 – A Scene of Heaven  – Episode 17

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A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – “And then they will fast”, Part 40

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – “And then they will fast” – Part 40

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional

“New Wine is put into fresh Wineskins”

 “Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And, Jesus said to them,

“Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

“No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.” – The Words of Jesus, Matthew 9:14-17

First, let’s please remember that this is not just a study ‘about the Bible’ or ‘about Jesus’. This is not just a story. This is The Word of God being demonstrated in real life situations. These Words are for your learning, your rebuke, your correction and training in righteousness, so that you may be thoroughly equipped for every good work? (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

This Word of God, is creative, causative, prophetic and instructional, for you to live successfully; for you and ultimately, for others to see, ‘through you’.

So, let’s ask, “what do these Words say, and what do they mean to you and to me?  And, how do we apply them to our life?

There seems to be two separate thoughts or teachings in response to John’s disciples’ question, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”

Jesus begins with, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

There were various reasons for fasting for a Jew. It could be as a custom or as a religious practice. It was traditional to fast during the mourning period following the death of a public figure, an acquaintance, a friend or a loved one.

Most importantly, here, Jesus is making a prophetic reference to Himself as the bridegroom and to His Body, the Church as the Bride, and about His coming death as the Sacrificial Lamb of God.

Jesus has recently condemned religious humanism and false ritual piety which was being practiced in so many churches and synagogues, when He said, “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice”, quoting from Hosea 6:6. This was a teaching against the hypocritical Pharisees. Here He is reminding His listeners to “Go and learn what this means:  ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:13). In other words, without a loving relationship with God, all the rituals in the world couldn’t help the Pharisees and anyone like them.

Additionally, Jesus is saying that fasting is much more than just a religious ritual or a tradition. Furthermore, He is saying as long as He, the bridegroom, is still with them, it is not yet time for fasting. That day is coming. Now is the time for celebration of Jesus.

Jesus then seems to suddenly change the subject from fasting to metaphors, comparing “old and new ways” with “old and new fabrics and new wine and old wineskins”.

Actually, these subjects are related. If I put this in layman’s terms, Jesus is saying a change has occurred. “Old things have passing away; behold, new things have come” 2 Corinthians 5:17-19. The Old Covenant is fulfilled by Christ’s coming and the New Covenant is begun.

NOTE: The reference to the wedding feast of the Lamb (Jesus Christ) and His bride (the Church) found in Revelation 19:7–10,

The first phase would be completed on when each individual believer places his or her faith in Christ as Savior. The dowry paid by the bridegroom’s parent (God the Father) would be the blood of Christ shed on the Bride’s behalf. The Church on earth, then, is “betrothed” to Christ, and, like the wise virgins in the parable, all believers should be watching and waiting for the appearance of the Bridegroom (the rapture).

The second phase symbolizes the rapture of the Church, when Christ comes to claim His bride and take her to the Father’s house.  “But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet blast, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”

The third and final step is the marriage supper. It is then that the marriage supper of the Lamb takes place in heaven between immediately after the rapture, when a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, (see Revelation 6 & 7).

SET FREE FOR FREEDOM’S SAKE

Finally, and most importantly, “No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”  Jesus is saying He is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (Romans 10:4)

There is no longer a need for a continuing sacrifice and spilling of animal blood for forgiveness of your sins. You no longer need to endlessly repeat religious rituals for cleansing of your soul.

These two parables illustrate the fact that you can’t mix old religious rituals with new faith in Jesus. Jesus’ disciples were not fasting along with the Pharisees and John’s disciples because they were now under the new covenant of grace and faith in Christ. As mentioned earlier, Jesus fulfilled the law; therefore, there is no longer any need to continue with the old rituals. Jesus cannot be added to a works-based religion. In the case of the Pharisees, they were consumed with their own self-righteousness, and faith in Jesus cannot be combined with self-righteous rituals.

The New Covenant in Christ’s Blood need not and cannot be applied along with (in conjunction with) the Law no more than you can put new cloth on an old garment without making the tear worse, nor can you put New Wine (The New Covenant through the sacrificial Blood of Christ) into an old wineskin (The Law) for if you do, the Old Wineskin will burst and be destroyed and all the Wine will be lost.

“The Law and the writings of the Prophets were proclaimed until John; but now, the gospel of the kingdom of God has been and continues to be preached, and everyone tries forcefully to go into it.” (Luke 16:16)

Jesus reminds us, however, “Do not think that I came to do away with or undo the Law of Moses or the writings of the Prophets; I did not come to destroy them, but to fulfill and complete their requirements of you. For I assure you and most solemnly say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of the pen written in the Law will pass from the Law until all things which it foreshadows are accomplished. So, whoever breaks one of the least important of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least important in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them, he will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”.  Matthew 5:17-20.

The Bible states emphatically in Galatians 5:1 that believers are free in Christ: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free”. Before Jesus died on a cross, God’s people lived under a detailed system of laws that served as a moral compass to guide their lives. The Law, while powerless to grant salvation or produce true freedom, nevertheless pointed the way to Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:19–24). Through His sacrificial death, Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law, setting believers free from the law of sin and death. God’s laws are now written in our hearts through the Spirit of God, and we are free to follow and serve Christ in ways that please and glorify Him (Romans 8:2–8). In a nutshell, this is the definition of Christian freedom. (GotQuestions.Org).

No longer condemned to grovel. You are released from the guilt and shame. You are no longer chained to the rock of your past sins. You are set free!

Jesus, has forgiven your past, secured your present life, and given you a future.

He has satisfied all the requirements of the Law of Moses, and has set you free from the law of sin and death.

The old way, that is the Law of Moses, is now fulfilled.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – “Do you believe I am able?”, Part 41

PREVIOUS:   A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – “I desire mercy, not sacrifice”, Part 39

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THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 13 – The Beast from the Sea, The Beast from the Earth – Episode 15

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 13 – The Beast from the Sea, The Beast from the Earth

Episode 15

 (These Episodes are meant to not only ask and answer the questions, “When, Why, How and What?”, but also the question, ” WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO ME”)

 If, as I have said previously, that the Book of The Revelation chapter twelve was difficult, with passages of strange imagery, symbolism, metaphors and similes, then let’s prepare ourselves for chapter thirteen.  Chapter 13 is one of the most difficult passages of eschatological scripture to interpret and to understand..

 I have previously stated that I would try to avoid lengthy explanations of symbolisms, the historicity or cultural, political, social, economic backgrounds or traditions. Therefore, I am supplying Text Links to serve those purposes. They are important, and I strongly encourage you to use them.  

 My goal is for us to gain a simple working knowledge, a basic understanding and gain wisdom that comes from God, and from our study of this Book. This is so we can prepare ourselves to be a witness to what we have learned. That said, please watch for and use links to external commentaries. Now to Chapter thirteen.

The Beast from the Sea

Revelation 13:1, And the [footnote ‘a’] dragon (Satan) stood on the sandy shore of the sea.

Then I saw a [vicious] beast coming up out of the sea with ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten royal [footnote ‘b’] crowns (diadems), and on his heads were blasphemous names. Verse 2. And the beast that I saw resembled a [footnote ‘c’] leopard, but his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth was like that of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. Verse 3. I saw one of his heads which seemed to have a fatal wound, but his fatal wound was healed; and the entire earth followed after the beast in amazement. Verse 4. They fell down and worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; they also worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like (as great as) the beast, and who is able to wage war against him?” Verse 5. And the beast was given a mouth (the power of speech), uttering great things and arrogant and blasphemous words, and he was given freedom and authority to act and to do as he pleased for [footnote ‘d’] forty-two months (which is equivalent to three and a half years). Verse 6. And he opened his mouth to speak blasphemies (abusive speech, slander) against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, and those who live in heaven.

(Commentary Break: Please refer to this EXTERNAL LINK: Benson Commentary, Biblehub.com, for the preceding verses.) (End Commentary Break).

Verse 7. He, (the Beast), was also [footnote ‘e’] permitted to wage war against the saints (God’s people) and to overcome them, and authority and power over every tribe and people and language and nation. Verse 8. All the inhabitants of the earth will fall down and worship him, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the Book of Life of the Lamb who has been slain [as a willing sacrifice]. Verse 9. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. Verse 10. If anyone is destined for captivity, he will go into captivity; if anyone kills with a sword, he must be killed with a sword. Here is [the call for] the patient endurance and the faithfulness of the saints [which is seen in the response of God’s people to difficult times].

The Beast from the Earth

Verse 11. Then I saw [footnote ‘f’] another beast rising up out of the earth; he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke like a dragon. Verse 12. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence [when the two are together]. And he makes the earth and those who inhabit it worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. Verse 13. He performs great signs (awe-inspiring acts), even making fire fall from the sky to the earth, right before peoples’ eyes. Verse 14. And he deceives those [unconverted ones] who inhabit the earth [into believing him] because of the signs which he is given [by Satan] to perform in the presence of the [first] beast, telling those who inhabit the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded [fatally] by the sword and has come back to life. Verse 15. And he is given power to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast will even [appear to] speak, and cause those who do not bow down and worship the image of the beast to be put to death.

THE MARK OF THE BEAST

Verse 16. Also he, (the second Beast), compels all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the freemen and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead [signifying allegiance to the beast], verse 17, and that no one will be able to buy or sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Verse 18. Here is wisdom. Let the person who has enough insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the [imperfect] number of a man; [footnote ‘g’] and his number is [footnote ‘h’] six hundred and sixty-six.

 (Commentary Break: It is important to place the timing of this event, the giving of the Mark of the Beast.

WHEN WILL THIS BEAST GIVE HIS MARK?

This is frequently speculated and often hotly debated subject. Specualtions can run a wild gamut from spiritualized metaphors to philosophies and imaginary ideologies to literal markings, tattoos, icons to implanted computer chips or other fantastic technological devices. Regardless of the actual method or identity of this Mark, the popular idea in many church denominations is that the Antichrist will give his “Mark of the Beast” before The Tribulation period but that, he will not be revealed until after the rapture of the Church.

Our text from Revelation 13 verse 16 and 17 says, he will “cause all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the freemen and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.”

HOWEVER, the Bible clearly tells us that *The Antichrist will be revealed BEFORE the rapture of the church and

*He will give his Mark of the Beast AFTER the rapture of the Church.

The Anti-Christ is to be revealed before the rapture

The Apostle Paul informs us, in 2 Thessalonians1:4  that, “Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”

The beginning of the great apostasy and an escalation of the persecution of the saints occurs sometime during the 5th Tribulation Seal, or just at the beginning of the 6th Tribulation Seal. (Compare Matthew 24 verses 9 and 10 with Revelation 6 verses 9 through12, and you will see the the great persecution of Believers and accompanied by the Great Apostasy)

We are seeing the 5th Tribulation Seal being opened in our lifetime, the great apostasy or falling away from the faith, false messiahs, great deceptions, a.k.a. the ‘deluding influence’ and alienation from one another, and it is become more pronounced as time passes.

As I have proposed on numerous occasions, the Tribulation Seal Judgments One through Four, (wars and rumors of war, famines, plagues, earthquakes, spread of new diseases) began in or around AD 1.  (click this link for “When Does Daniel’s 70th Week, also known as, the 7 Years of Great Tribulation, begin”).

RECAP

First, in Verse 2. “you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

Secondly, in Verse 3.  “Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and,

Finally, The man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, Verse 4. who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”

The Mark of the Beast comes AFTER the Rapture

And according to the Bible, the Antichrist gives his ‘Mark’ after the Seal Judgments, after the Rapture, and just after the 6th Tribulation Trumpet Judgment and at the advent of 7th Trumpet Judgment, which is the Mid-Point of the Great Tribulation, which is after three and one half years of the final 7 years of the Great Tribulation period.

Revelation 13:16-17 tells us when the Antichrist “causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the freemen and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, Verse 17. and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.”  

The placement of Mark of the Beast, as mentioned in the scriptures, also tells us it is immediately following the 6th Judgment Trumpet:

Seven trumpets are sounded (Seen in Revelation Chapters 8, 9, and 12):

(1). First Trumpet: Hail and fire, mingled with blood, are thrown to the earth burning up a third of the trees and green grass. (Revelation 8:6–7)

(2). Second Trumpet: Something that resembles a great mountain, burning with fire, falls from the sky and lands in the ocean. It kills a third of the sea creatures and destroys a third of the ships at sea. (Revelation 8:8–9)

(3). Third Trumpet: A great star, named Wormwood, falls from heaven and poisons a third of the rivers and springs of water. (Revelation 8:10–11)

(4). Fourth Trumpet: A third of the sun, the moon, and the stars are darkened creating complete darkness for a third of the day and the night. (8:12–13)

(5). Fifth Trumpet: The First Woe, (Revelation 9:1–12)

(a). A “star” falls from the sky, (Revelation 9:1).

(b). This “star” is given “the key to the bottomless pit”, (Revelation 9:1).

(c). The “star” then opens the bottomless pit. When this happens, “smoke [rises] from [the Abyss] like smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky [are] darkened by the smoke from the Abyss” (Revelation 9:2).

(d). From out of the smoke, locusts who are “given power like that of scorpions of the earth” (9:3), who are commanded not to harm anyone or anything except for people who were not given the “seal of God” on their foreheads, (from chapter Revelation chapter,7,and Revelation 9:4).

(e). The “locusts” are described as having a human appearance (faces and hair) but with lion’s teeth, and wearing “breastplates of iron”; the sound of their wings resembles “the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle”, (found in Revelation 9:7–9).

(6). Sixth Trumpet: The Second Woe, (found in Revelation 9:13–21)

(a). The four angels bound to the great river Euphrates are released to prepare two hundred million horsemen.

(b). These armies kill a third of mankind by plagues of fire, smoke, and brimstone.

(7). Interlude: The little scroll. (found in Revelation 10:1–11)

(a). An angel appears, with one foot on the sea and one foot on the land, having an opened little book in his hand.

(b). Upon the cry of the angel, seven thunders utter mysteries and secrets that are not to be written down by John.

(c). John is instructed to eat the little scroll that happens to be sweet in his mouth, but bitter in his stomach, and to prophesy.

(d). John is given a measuring rod to measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.

(e). Outside the temple, at the court of the holy city, it is trod by the nations for forty-two months (which is 3 and 1⁄2 years).

(f). Two witnesses prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. (Revelation 11:1–14)

(8). Seventh Trumpet, (found in Revelation 11:15–19): This is the Third Woe which is followed by the Seven Bowls.

(9). This is the point at which the Beast gives his ‘MARK’. so that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the ‘Mark of the Beast’.

(10). The temple of God opens in heaven, where the ark of His covenant can be seen. There are lightnings, noises, thundering, an earthquake, and great hail. (End Commentary Break).

What Does This Mean to You?

What this means to you and to me is that people have been suffering and many people are now suffering the effects of the “Birth Pains Period” of the tribulation, which covers the time period from the Birth of Jesus until this day. These are the stresses and trials of the tribulation Seals 1 through 5. (see Matthew 24 verses 5 through 8).

However, let’s be perfectly clear: No Christian will suffer the Wrath of God, following the rapture of the elect at the 6th Tribulation Seal, which is the beginning of the beginning of and the final 7 years the Great Tribulation Period, also known as Daniel’s 70th Week, The Great and Terrible Day of The Lord, and The Wrath of the Lamb. “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1st Thessalonians 5 verse 9.)

Next, in Chapter 14, we will be brought back into a more chronological view of future events as we move ever closer to the End of This Age.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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Next:  THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 14 – The Lamb, Babylon & The Harvest,  – Episode 16

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THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 12 – The Woman Israel, The Dragon, The Male Child, The Angel Michael  – Episode 14

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 12 – The Woman Israel, The Dragon, The Male Child, The Angel Michael

Episode 14

 (These Episodes are meant to not only ask and answer the questions, “When, Why, How and What?”, but also the question, “AND, WHAT? DOES THIS MEAN TO ME”)

We will now get a deeper spiritual perspective of the unfolding events of the Last Days. Chapter 12 gives us a review and an overview from above, of what was, what is and what is to come.

 Please remember and try to understand that “while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” This is the perspective of this Chapter twelve.

 (And, because of the extensive use of symbolism, metaphors and similes, I will comment more than usual, hopefully to give useful insights.)

The Woman, Israel

Revelation 12:1 And a great sign [warning of an ominous and frightening future event] appeared in heaven: a [footnote ‘a’] woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Verse 2. She was with child (the Messiah) and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.

(Commentary Break: It can be quite obvious that the woman clothed with the sun is Israel. The sun refers to Jacob, (who was also called Israel), and the moon is open to many interpretations, but one is that it possibly refers to Rachel, who is  the younger daughter of Laban and wife of Jacob, and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, who become two of the twelve tribes of Israel. The crown of 12 stars upon the woman’s head refers to the twelve tribes of Israel, originating with the sons of Jacob and Rachel.

 Verse 2 is, of course, referring to the birth of Jesus, which is very descriptive as “she, the woman Israel, cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth”. This is but another important time marker of the beginning to the Tribulation Period, known as the BIRTH PAINS, as spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 24, verse 8.

 I am providing a reprint of Matthew 24 verses 3 through 14, below here, to give the full context of (#1), Jesus’ remarks on this matter, and (#2), to show the specific time of the beginning of the BIRTH PAINS segment of The Tribulation, which include the first 5 tribulations, broken at the time of the birth of Christ Jesus! The 6th Tribulation Seal is not mentioned here, as it is the beginning of Daniel’s 70th Week, also known as The Great Tribulation and the beginning of the FINAL SEVEN YEARS of the Tribulation!

Matthew 24:3, And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” 

And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people. And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars, (Tribulation Seals 1 through 2 as described by Jesus in Matthew chapter 24 and Revelation chapter 6). See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom,(Tribulation Seals  and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.

“Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name (Third and fourth Tribulation Seals). And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold. (The Fifth Tribulation Seal). But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

To repeat: this is to give the full context of (#1), Jesus’ remarks on this matter, and (#2), to show the specific time of the beginning of the BIRTH PAINS segment of The Tribulation, which include the first 5 tribulations, broken at the time of the birth of Christ Jesus! The 6th Tribulation Seal is not mentioned here, as it is the beginning of Daniel’s 70th Week, also known as The Great Tribulation and the beginning of the FINAL SEVEN YEARS of the Tribulation! (End Commentary Break).

The Red Dragon, Satan

Verse 3. Then another sign [of warning] was seen in heaven: behold, a great fiery red dragon (Satan) with [footnote ‘b’] seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven royal crowns (diadems). Verse 4. And his tail swept [across the sky] and dragged away a third of the stars of heaven and flung them to the earth. And the dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.

(Commentary Break: The seven heads and ten horns correspond to the heads and horns of the beast in Revelation chapter 17, verse 3 through verse 17, and to those of the beast in Daniel chapter 7, verse 7 through verse 8 and following verses as well. Daniel’s description reveals that the ten horns are ten kings who temporarily reign with the Antichrist during the Great Tribulation. These ten kings, or nations, as found in Ezekiel 38, in Daniel chapter 7 and 9 and again in Revelation chapter 17, as the armies of Armageddon are from the nations of:

      1. Gog, also known as Rosh, (Russia) and,
      2. Rosh, (Russia),
      3. Magog, also known as (Russia),
      4. Gomer, also known as (Eastern Europe-Southern Russia),
      5. Put, also known as (Libya),
      6. Cush, also known as (Ethiopia),
      7. Persia, also known as (Iran),
      8. Meshech, also known as (Modern Day Turkey),
      9. Tubal, also known as (an area in central Turkey),
      10. Beth-Togarmah, also known as (Georgia, Chechnya, Turkey/Armenia).

 Next, John sees a sign in heaven: “An enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.” John then relates that the dragon was hurled down to the earth and positively identifies it as “that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray” (Revelation 12 verse 9). The dragon is not thrown to earth alone, however: “His angels were cast out with him” (verse 9). The angels that are ejected from heaven with Satan we associate with the “third of the stars” that the dragon’s tail swept from heaven to earth in verse 4. If the “stars” of Revelation 12 verse 4 are indeed a symbolic reference to Satan’s “angels” from verse 9, then what we have is a reference to the fall of a portion of the angels, (the heavenly hosts), who followed Satan in his rebellion. Two thirds of the angels remained loyal to God and are called the “holy angels” in Scripture (for example, Mark 8 verse 38); one third of the original angels joined Satan and are called “unclean spirits” or “demons” today (for example, Mark 9:25).

 This section closes with the obvious reference to Satan’s attempts to destroy the Christ Child. (see King Herod’s attempt to kill Jesus in Matthew 2, verses 1 through 18; and the crucifixion of Jesus in Matthew 27, and chapter 28, verses 1 through 15.) (End Commentary Break).

The Male Child, Christ

Verse 5. And she gave birth to a Son, a male Child, who is destined to rule (shepherd) all the nations with a rod of iron; and her Child was [footnote ‘c’] caught up to God and to His throne. Verse 6. Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that she would be nourished there for a thousand two hundred and sixty days (forty-two months; which is three and one-half years).

(Commentary Break:  Jesus is born and “was caught up to God and to His throne” is telling us of the ascension of Christ to heaven following His death and resurrection.

 Verse 6 continues by telling us that the woman, (which is Israel), flees to the wilderness where she had a place to nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days, which is 42 months or 3 and one half years. This is a difficult passage, but the woman’s flight into the wilderness for one thousand two hundred and sixty days most likely refers to the future time called the Great Tribulation. Twelve hundred, sixty days is 42 months (of 30 days each), which is the same as 3 and one half years. Halfway through the Tribulation period, the Beast (the Antichrist) will set an image of himself up in the temple that will be built in Jerusalem. This is the abomination that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24 verse 15 and Mark 13 verse 14. When the Beast does this, he breaks the peace pact he had made with Israel, and the nation has to flee for safety, possibly to Petra (also see Matthew 24 and Daniel 9 verse 27). This escape of the Jews is pictured as the woman fleeing into the wilderness.

 More likely however, rather than a literal place, this is ‘a time of relative peace’ for Israel during the first half of the seven year Great Tribulation period, which begins at the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal and will last until the Sounding of the 6th Tribulation Trumpet.. This is the time that they make the peace treaty as referred to in Daniel 9 verse 27. (End Commentary Break).

The Angel, Michael

Verse 7. And war broke out in heaven, Michael [the archangel] and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought, verse 8, but they were not strong enough and did not prevail, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. Verse 9. And the great dragon was thrown down, the age-old serpent who is called the [footnote ‘d’] devil and Satan, he who continually deceives and seduces the entire inhabited world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Verse 10. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom (dominion, reign) of our God, and the authority of His Christ have come; for the [footnote ‘e’] accuser of our [believing] brothers and sisters has been thrown down [at last], he who accuses them and keeps bringing charges [of sinful behavior] against them before our God day and night. Verse 11. And they overcame and conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, for they did not love their life and renounce their faith even when faced with death. Verse 12. Therefore rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them [in the presence of God]. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you in great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time [remaining]!”

Verse 13. And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who had given birth to the male Child. Verse 14. But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time (three and one-half years), away from the presence of the serpent (Satan). Verse 15. And the serpent hurled water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. Verse 16. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon had hurled out of his mouth. Verse 17. So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went off to wage war on the rest of her children (seed), those who keep and obey the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus [holding firmly to it and bearing witness to Him].

(Commentary Break: Although knowing these things, changes nothing in your life nor in your existence if you have already been Raptured from earth. Nor is there any way you can respond, or need to. But if you have not been saved by faith in Christ Jesus, and do not bear the protective Seal of the Lord, perhaps this is useful. Either way, for your information, Michael the Archangel is described in the Bible, in the books of Daniel, Jude, and Revelation, as a warrior angel who engages in spiritual combat. The word archangel means “angel of the highest rank.” Most angels in the Bible are portrayed as messengers, but Michael is described in all three books as contending, fighting, or standing against evil spirits and principalities (Daniel 10 verses 13 and 21; Jude 1 verses 9; and Revelation 12 verse 7). We do not have a full picture of any angel, and only two are named in the Bible. (Gabriel is the other). Scripture only gives us hints of their movements during human events, but it is safe to say that Michael the archangel is a powerful being (see Got Questions.Org).

 We see here that the Dragon and his angels are thrown down but they continue to deceive the whole world for a time. Knowing his time is short he persecutes Israel and the Christ with increasing ferocity, but is overcome and defeated by Christ Jesus and His armies, “by the Blood of the Lamb and because of the Word of their testimony”, and by the fact that they did not love their life and renounce their faith even when faced with death. This is our example and our response in the days leading up to these events.

 Once again we read that the woman (Israel) goes to the wilderness for safety, this time flown away on the two wings of an eagle, These two wings of an eagle are symbolic and used a metaphor of God’s strength and provision to a way of escape. We can see an example of this, which is found in Psalms 34. The Psalmist says, “The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous, And His ears are toward their cry for help. The face of the LORD is against evildoers to eliminate the memory of them from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears and rescues them from all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The afflictions of the righteous are many, But the LORD rescues him from them all.”

It is also interesting to see that ”the Serpent spews or hurls out water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood”. Three significant floods are mentioned in the Bible.

 The first instance of a flood is found in Genesis 6, verse 17, “Behold, I, even I am bringing the flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall perish”, in Noah’s day.

 The second instance is found in Daniel 9 verse 26, “Verse 26.  “Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing (see this article on “The Flood in Daniel 9” for details of the 62 weeks), 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 (this flood is a flood of people, of armies); even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.

The third instance is found in Matthew 24 verses 38 and 39, “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, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.”

Each instance refers to a catastrophic judgement instituted by God to bring an end to wickedness and to bring His Chosen Elect to Himself, making and forging us, more into the image of Christ, through tribulation. This changes everything for the earth and the people upon the earth. Take heed. Be prepared.

 This section ends with the serpent becoming enraged with the woman, who is Israel, and goes on to make war with her children, (her seed), which are those who keep and obey the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus, holding firmly to it and bearing witness to Him. This is saying not only the Jew, but now includes those who have been grafted into the Olive Tree of Israel – all Christians who carry the Name of Christ.  (End Commentary Break).

There we have it. Chapter 12. An abbreviated but a complete overview of God’s Plan for His creation, from beginning to end, run in a ‘fast forward speed’ so to speak.

God placed this in His Word, not just for your reading entertainment nor just for information, but it is important for our preparation for what is coming and for our understanding as ministers and witnesses of His Plan to this lost world.

Next, in Revelation chapter 13, we learn about the Beast from the Sea and the Beast from the Earth.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 11 – The Two Witnesses – Episode 13

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 11 – The Two Witnesses –

Episode 13

 (These Episodes are meant to not only ask and answer the questions, “When, Why, How and What?”, but also the question, “SO WHAT?”)

We are between the SIXTH Trumpet Judgement and the coming SEVENTH Trumpet Judgement of God. This is the point where no one will any longer repent of their murders nor of their sorceries, drugs, intoxications, nor of their sexual immorality nor of their thefts. It is now that God’s mercy to salvation is withdrawn, and He orders the release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates which is a great army of two hundred million soldiers who will now kill a third of mankind. We are entering the final three and one half years of the Great Tribulation, The Great and Terrible Day of The Lord and The final judgments, The Wrath of The Lamb are now at hand.

The Two Witnesses

Revelation 11:1, Then there was given to me a [footnote ‘a’] measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “[footnote ‘b’] Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar [of incense], and [count] those who worship in it. Verse 2. But leave out the court [of the Gentiles] which is outside the temple and do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles (the nations); and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months (which is three and one-half years). Verse 3. And I will grant authority to My two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, (which is forty-two months, or, three and one-half years), dressed in [footnote ‘c’] sackcloth.”

(Commentary Break: We are now at the mid-point of the Great Tribulation, The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord. There are three and one half years of God’s Judgements, remaining, The Wrath of The Lamb.

John is given a measuring rod like a staff, an implement used to make measurements. In this case, to measure (number 1), the temple of God and (number 2), the altar, and (number 3), to count those who worship in it’. This will inventory, confirm, validate and verify that which has been established by God. The Hebrew language here, tells us that John is, in essence, to lay  the facts of this matter to rest; i.e., to bring this message to closure, and to move to a conclusion. A more colloquial way of saying it would be, “we are taking inventory and closing up shop and moving on to bigger and better things”. The end has come and this is the first of the final acts.

The conclusion of ‘these things’ first of all, is that all of the saints of all the ages have now been Raptured, are standing before His Throne, and are eternally with God. (See Revelation chapter 7, Verses 9 and 10, “After these things I looked, and this is what I saw: a vast multitude which no one could count, [gathered] from every nation and from all the tribes and peoples and languages [of the earth], standing before the throne and before the Lamb (Christ), dressed in white robes, with, palm branches in their hands; and in a loud voice they cried out, saying, “Salvation [belongs] to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb [our salvation is the Trinity’s to give, and to God the Trinity we owe our deliverance].” – These are the Raptured Elect of God.)

Secondly, and conversely, John is told NOT to measure the outer court of the Gentiles because they are the ones bearing The Mark of The Beast and will join the Beast ‘to trample the holy city for forty-two months’, which is the remaining three and one half years of the Great Tribulation. All those who now remain on the earth are doomed to suffer the 7th Trumpet Judgement and the 7 Bowl Judgements of Tribulation, the Wrath of the Lamb and will be sentenced to the eternal lake of fire.

Additionally, God has given authority to His two witnesses to prophesy for three and one-half years. They are dressed in sackcloth which symbolizes a time of mourning. (End Commentary break).

Verse 4. These [witnesses] are the two olive trees and the two lampstands which stand before the Lord of the earth. Verse 5. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. Verse 6. These [two witnesses] have the power [from God] to shut up the sky, so that no rain will fall during the days of their prophesying [regarding judgment and salvation]; and they have power over the waters (seas, rivers) to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every [kind of] plague, as often as they wish.

Verse 7. When they have finished their testimony and given their evidence, the beast that comes up out of the abyss, (the bottomless pit), will wage war with them, and overcome them and kill them.

Verse 8. And their dead bodies will lie exposed in the open street of the great city (Jerusalem), which in a spiritual sense is called [by the symbolic and allegorical names of] Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.

Verse 9. Those from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations [footnote ‘d’] look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not allow their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. Verse 10. And those who live on the earth will gloat over them and rejoice; and they will send gifts [in celebration] to one another, because these two prophets tormented and troubled those who live on the earth.

(Commentary Break: Verses four through nine are pretty much self-evident, with the exception of the metaphors of the two olive trees and the two lampstands to describe the two Witnesses. The olive tree as used here, represents the people of God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit; The two lampstands represent the eminent prophets who will precede Christ’s appearing with His armies in heaven. His robe has been dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. His armies, which are also in heaven, are clothed in fine linen, following Him on white horses (see Revelation 19, verses 13 through 16).

Please Note: Many theologians and bible teachers say that this appearing of Jesus on a white horse, is His 2nd advent, whereupon He comes to the earth to wage this battle. THIS IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND IN SCRIPTURES. (Only an Angel descends to the earth.)

It important to note that there is a 10 Nation Confederation identified in Ezekiel 38, also in Daniel chapters 7 and 9 and again in Revelation chapter 17, as the armies of Armageddon are from the nations of:

Gog, also known as Rosh, (which is Russia), and Rosh, (also known as Russia), Magog, also known as a region in Russia, Gomer, identified as an Eastern European and Southern area of Russia, Put, now named Libya, Cush, also known as Ethiopia, Persia, also known as Iran, Meshech, also known as Modern Day Turkey, and Tubal, also known as an area in central Turkey.

It is clearly stated in Revelation 19, verses 13 through 21, and Revelation 20 verses 1 through 3, that Jesus and His armies appear in the heavens. He does not come to earth and engage in a physical battle. Jesus supernaturally defeats the forces of the antichrist and of the Beast, then an angel is sent to the earth to complete the work of binding Satan. There are some theologians and bible teachers who suggest the angel may have been Jesus, but if the Bible is nothing else, IT IS ACCURATE AND COMPLETE IN ITS WORDING. It was an angel doing the bidding of The Lord.

Next, there is mention of Sodom and Egypt as a symbolism or an allegory for Jerusalem. See this link for a probable explanation.

Finally, the stage is set to lead the people on earth, who bear the Mark of the Beast, to believe they have been triumphant in the defeat of the two Witnesses. But this is merely a method to amplify their dismay, surprise and terror as the Witnesses to come back to life. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 11. But after three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear and panic fell on those who were watching them. Verse 12. And the two witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they ascended into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. Verse 13. And in that [very] hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell and was destroyed; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest [who survived] were overcome with terror, and they glorified the God of heaven [as they recognized His awesome power].

Verse 14. The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

The Seventh Trumpet – Christ’s Reign Foreseen

Verse 15. Then the seventh angel sounded [his trumpet]; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom (dominion, rule) of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” Verse 16. And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell face downward and worshiped God, verse 17, saying, “To You we give thanks, O Lord God Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all], Who are and Who were, because You have taken Your great power and the sovereignty [which is rightly Yours] and have [now] begun to reign. Verse 18. And the nations (Gentiles) became enraged, and Your wrath and indignation came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and [the time came] to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints (God’s people) and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and [the time came] to destroy the destroyers of the earth.”

Verse 19. And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning, loud rumblings and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm. (End of chapter 11).

One might wonder, since the elect of God have been removed from earth, and these events will not affect them, why God is revealing these judgements and those yet to come. Perhaps this can be a deterrent for those who read these words and heed them, before this days comes.

Next, we will read in Revelation chapters 12 through 14 a recapitulation of events past and events yet to come, but this is more akin to a ‘backstory’ of sorts, given with great detail and symbolisms explained.

At any rate, those with wisdom and insight should prepare while there is time.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PREVIOUS: The Book of The Revelation – Chapter 10 – The 5th & 6th Trumpets – Episode 12.

NEXT: (coming soon). THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – Chapter 12 –The Woman, The Dragon, The Male Child, The Angel Michael – Episode 14.

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A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – “I desire mercy, not sacrifice”, Part 39

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – “I desire mercy, not sacrifice”- Part 39

Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional

“I desire mercy, and not sacrifice”

 “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. ’For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” – The Words of Jesus, Matthew 9:12-13

Next to the Great Commission, issued by Jesus before His ascension, (Matthew 28:18-20), this is Jesus’ greatest call and model for witnessing and evangelism.

Jesus is clearly saying, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” (Jesus is the great Physician).

 (“Sick” from the Greek, kakos, means to be amiss, badly, grievously; bad or evil, in the widest sense. “Inner malice”; inwardly foul, rotten (poisoned); inner malice flowing out of a morally-rotten character, (the “rot is already in the wood”), meaning, “wickedness, inner evil.”

 Many illnesses and diseases can be traced to their origins of “kakos”. This sickness can and does manifest as physical and mental illnesses if left spiritually untreated.

However, the postmodern church has increasingly turned inward, ministering almost exclusively to those claiming to already be righteous, rather than ‘going out and making disciples.”

JESUS GOES TO THOSE WHO WERE ‘SICK’

Jesus went about all the towns, cities and countryside preaching and teaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. His fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. (See Matthew 4:23-25)

JESUS SENDS HIS DISCIPLES TO THOSE WHO WERE ‘SICK’

And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

In the middle of His instructions, Jesus says, “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.”

In these few words, Jesus condemns the religious humanism and false ritual piety being practiced in so many churches and synagogues.

Hosea 6:6 reads, “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, knowing God rather than burnt offerings.”  Why does God desire love and knowledge of Him instead of burnt offerings? The key to answering this question is found in the words of the Shema: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD, is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). Love for God was the number-one priority for the people of Israel. The whole Law, including the offerings and sacrifices, was to serve as an expression of this love for the Lord.

However, over time, the Israelites began to worship other gods while continuing the ritual of the sacrifices. They “obeyed the Law,” yet they did not display love toward God, and they did not truly know Him. Hosea’s message was a response to Israel’s hypocrisy. God desired their love over external practices of piety. He longed for His people to long for Him rather than simply continue a religious tradition.

Scripture often notes that sacrifices to God are incomplete and even offensive without a changed heart that loves and knows the Lord. First Samuel 15:22 says, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” (See also Isaiah 1:11-17; Amos 5:21-24; Micah 6:6-8 and Matthew 7:21-23.) The same is said of other religious rituals, such as circumcision (Romans 2:28-29).

Jesus would later use Hosea’s teaching against the hypocritical Pharisees, saying, “Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:13; cf. 12:7). Without a loving relationship with God, all the rituals in the world couldn’t help the Pharisees. (GotQuestions.Org)

JOB’S RELIGIOUS PIETY

Like in the case of Job, who was “blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil, and was the greatest of all the people of the east,” Job’s practice of religious piety did not save him.

His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus, Job did continually.

Then one day the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” (See Job chapter 1).

WHERE ARE YOU?

Many religious people participate in Christian rituals, yet their hearts do not love God and seek to know Him. Those who practice empty rituals should heed Hosea’s words. God cares more about our heart’s love for Him than the things that we do in His name. We must not substitute religious traditions for a relationship with God. Let’s pray that we may never be like those whom Jesus described: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Mark 7:6). (GotQuestions.Org)

JESUS IS CALLING YOU

Finally, Jesus says, “For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”  This is your calling also.

  1. There are some things Jesus told us to BE.
  2. There are some things He told us to HAVE.
  3. Then, there are the things He told us to DO. Please don’t be confused, they are not the same thing.

What we are told to BE and what we are told to HAVE should lead us to DO the things He told us to DO.

Example:

YOU SHALL BE HOLY FOR I AM HOLY. (The indwelling Christ makes us holy. It is not something we can DO on our own.)

You shall BE My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”  (The indwelling Holy Spirit makes us witnesses. It is not something we can DO on our own.)

HAVE faith and Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. (When Jesus is the object of our faith, it is Jesus who does these works through us. It is not something we can DO on our own.)

FOLLOW ME and I will make you fishers of men. (Now, this is something we DO when we are drawn to the living God. This is something we can and must DO.)

If you DO these things, you shall never fall; give diligence to make your calling and election sure:  (This is something we DO when we are drawn to the living God. This is something we must DO.)

Jesus is asking, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not DO what I tell you?”

I talk with so many Christians who resist witnessing Jesus to others. They have their excuses, and they say they have ‘alternate ways’ of witnessing, but they are not doing what Jesus has told them to do!

Here is what Jesus said, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you”.

 Again, Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses (martus = martyr), both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”

We call on the name of the Lord in prayer, making many requests which have little to do with what He requires of His disciples. Yet, He is faithful.

You ask God for something and do not receive it, because you ask with wrong motives or out of selfishness or with an unrighteous agenda, so that when you get what you want you may spend it on your selfish desire for pleasure and the avoidance of pain.

He has told us He will provide all we need as we first seek Him and His Kingdom. He has told us we have overcome this world. Yet, we desire, even crave the things of this world, so we straddle the fences of earthly desires and the Kingdom of Heaven.

Many make excuses, but few have reasons. One day all of us will be called to explain why we called Him “Lord, Lord, but did not do what He has told us”.

Dear Loved Ones, listen to me.  Those who are well have no need of a physician. Bring Me those who are sick.

Now, go and learn what this means: ‘”desire mercy, and not sacrifice. ’For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

My enduring love to you. –  Jesus.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:   A PROPHETIC WORD FROM JESUS – “And then they will fast”, Part 40.

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