Category: Eschatology

THE FINAL TRUMPET

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

When does the “Great & Terrible Day of The Lord” and the 7 years of the Great Tribulation begin?

Knowing when the season of the tribulation can help you know when the Great Tribulation begins, so you can be ready.   This can be a great mystery, but, it need not be.  Here is a video and the Tribulation Timeline, in summary:

A.1. The opening of Tribulation Seal ONE began between AD 60 and AD 100, and perhaps as early as AD1.  

This is confirmed by Jesus and several Apostles in

One of the first, most accurate, and most persistent advocates of the Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church can be found at Zion’s Hope, with videos on this site. Finally, in this 21st century, there are a few prominent Bible teachers who are now arriving at this same conclusions (John Piper, and Corrie Ten Boom) Here is a continuing list of Famines: A list of global famines (link)

Seals ONE through FIVE have been broken, progressively, up until this day. We are now standing at the precipice of the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal.

A.2. With the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal we will see that 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 and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. (Matthew 24:29-31 & Revelation 6:12-16)

A.3. Sometime after the rapture of the church, which occurs at the 6th Seal, the Antichrist enters a treaty with Israel. This begins the seven-year tribulation.

 A.4. At the midpoint of the tribulation (1,260 days later), the Antichrist breaks the treaty, desecrates the temple, and begins to persecute the Jews.

 A.5. At the end of the tribulation (1,260 days after the desecration of the temple), Jesus Christ returns to earth and defeats the forces of the Antichrist.

 A.6. During the next 30 days (leading up to 1,290 days after the desecration of the temple), Israel is rebuilt, and the earth is restored.

 A.7. During the next 45 days (leading up to 1,335 days after the desecration of the temple), the Gentile nations are judged for their treatment of Israel.

 A.8. The dispensation of the millennium begins, and it will last for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:3, 5–6).

(Below here is a more complete description of the Tribulation Timeline. Concern yourself with the first SIX SEALS.)

B.1. The ‘tribulation period of birth pangs‘ (Matthew 24:8 & Revelation 6) begins with the breaking of the 1st Tribulation Seal and continues through the 5th Tribulation Seal, during which time we will see the

  • Apostasy,
  • the great persecution of Christians,
  • the revealing of the man of perdition and
  • the signing of a peace treaty between Israel and her enemies.

The 1st Seal of the tribulation was being broken just after the death and resurrection of Christ and the succeeding seals (Seals 2 – 5) have been broken at various periods of time since AD 1 and that we have now entered the time of the breaking 5th Tribulation Seal. Jesus refers to this period, the breaking of the tribulation Seals ONE through FIVE as “the beginning of the birth pangs”, and He points out that “this is not yet the end”.

B.2. Then, with the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal of, THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD, THE GREAT TRIBULATION, BEGINS. (Matthew 24:29, & Revelation 6:12)

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

B.3. The “7 years of Great Tribulation” (aka Daniel’s 70th week) begins with the breaking of the 6th tribulation seal, will reach the mid-point of the tribulation period, (after 3.5 years) with the sounding of the 6th Trumpet of the Great Tribulation.

B.4. Then, the Great Tribulation will end with the pouring out of the 7 Bowls of Wrath.

The Tribulation Judgments lead to the End of the Age. (This article concerns the first 6 Seals).

Here is a comparison between Jesus’ Words in Matthew and Revelation regarding the first 6 Tribulation Seals:

Revelation Ch. 6 – as corresponding to – Matthew Chapter 24

the 1st Tribulation Seal  –  Global conquest and political intrigue

the 2nd Tribulation Seal –  Wars and Rumors of War

the 3rd Tribulation Seal  –  Famine

the 4th Tribulation Seal  –  Death

the 5th Tribulation Seal  –  Martyrs, persecution, Anti-Christ, falling away

*The Opening of the 6th Tribulation Seal is the BEGINNING OF the 7 year “GREAT TRIBULATION” period.

The 6th Tribulation Seal  –  Cosmic disturbances, blood moon, darkened sun

  • The Trumpet
  • The Rapture
  • Multitude from the tribulation before the Throne of God
  • Sealing of the 144,000

And He will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant”!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

THE SIXTH TRIBULATION SEAL

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

(You can listen to this audio podcast as you read along, and, you can stop the audio to follow links on this page, then resume the audio when you are ready)

THE SIXTH TRIBULATION SEAL

(See New Video Below).

Identifying the eschatological timeline of THE LAST DAYS and what may have already occurred, can help us identify the “season” we are now in and the urgency of our day.

OUTLINE OF THE TRIBULATION SEALS – Seal 1 through Tribulation Seal 7

The 1st Tribulation Seal  –  Global conquest and political intrigue,
The 2nd Tribulation Seal –  Wars and Rumors of War,
The 3rd Tribulation Seal  –  Famine,
The 4th Tribulation Seal  –  Death,
The 5th Tribulation Seal  –  Martyrs, persecution, Anti-Christ, falling away.

(We have already entered the 5th tribulation Seal and are only waiting for the revealing of the Antichrist before the 6th Seal is broken – the beginning of The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord, aka, The Great Tribulation period).

The 6th Tribulation Seal

Revelation 6:12  “When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, verse 13 .  and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. verse 14. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. verse 15. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, verse 16. calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, verse 17.  for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

The 6th Tribulation Seal  – During the 6th Seal the world will see Cosmic disturbances, a blood moon, the sun darkened

  • Sealing of the 144,000
  • The Rapture
  • Multitude from the tribulation before the Throne of God

The breaking of The 6th Tribulation Seal is the beginning of the 70th week of Daniel, which are the final 7 years of the great Tribulation. (The 7th Trumpet is the mid-point or 3.5 years)

We are on the verge of seeing one of the greatest outpourings of the Holy Spirit since the Day of Pentecost, as foretold by the Apostle Peter:

Acts 2:14  “But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. Verse 15. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.

Verse 16 . But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

Verse 17.  “And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;

Verse 18.  “even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

Verse 19.  “And I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;

Verse 20.  “the sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.

Verse 21. “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.“

Get Ready.  Stay Ready.  It is beginning!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

MORE resources on this matter:

The Rapture Revealed.

The 5th tribulation seal.

Am I Really Seeing What I Think I am Seeing.

When Does the 7 Years Begin?

The Last Days.

THE RAPTURE REVEALED

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

(You can listen to this audio while you read along, then, you can stop the audio to follow a link, then, resume the audio when you are ready)

There is a lot of interest and conversation and controversy about an event called “The Rapture”, both inside and outside Christian Circles.  Scores of books, articles and movies have been written and produced on the subject, so many in fact, that one internet search returned over 1,500,000 hits on the subject.

The “Rapture”, as it is called, is an eschatological (study on matters of end times) theological position held by some Christians, of an end-time event when all Christian believers who are alive, along with resurrected believers, will rise “in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.”[1] The idea of a rapture as it is currently defined is not found in historic Christianity, and the term “rapture” is not found in the Bible.

The doctrine of a rapture is a relatively recent idea of Evangelical Protestantism, introduce by John Nelson Darby, a British pastor, writer and educator in the mid 1800s .  Darby formulated the idea of the rapture from the book of 1 Thessalonians chapter 4:13-17, specifically from verse 17, “Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” 

The words “caught up” translate from the Greek verb “harpazō”.  The Latin Vulgate translates the Greek as “rapiemur” meaning “we are caught up” or “we are taken away” from the Latin verb rapio, where we get the English word, rapture.

This ministry’s position is a definitive “Pre-Wrath Rapture“.  The foregoing link will take you to an explanation and three videos produced by Zion’s Hope (also shown on this page) ministries and one video by The Fuel Project on this matter.

For the sake of brevity on this posting, I will leave you with this PDF presentation comparing the Words of Jesus in the Book of Matthew, chapter 24 and the book of the Revelation, taken from chapters six and seven. (click on the image or the text below here).

THE RAPTURE REVEALED 

More videos on the Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church:

“RAPTURE AND WRATH:  READY OR NOT?”

“RAPTURE AND WRATH:  READY OR NOT?  PART 2 B – A SCROLL”

“RAPTURE AND WRATH:  READY OR NOT? PART 2 A – THE 7 SEALS”

“THE FUEL PROJECT GUIDE TO THE 6TH TRIBULATION SEAL”

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

More material on the Tribulation and The Rapture by The Whitestone Fellowship:

Am I Really Seeing what I Think I am Seeing?

When do the 7 Years of Tribulation Begin?

The 5th Tribulation Seal.

The 6th Tribulation Seal.

AMERICAN UNDER SIEGE

Which “GLORIOUS RETURN” is it?

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

There are many Evangelicals and ‘Reformed’ Bible teachers, as well as Pentecostal, Charismatic, et al., who propose a “patchwork–quilt-type-of eschatology” about The Second Coming of Jesus.

These folks will say that the account in Matthew 24 which describes Jesus’ “appearing on the clouds of the sky” when everyone will see Him, is NOT the second coming; but they won’t call it the rapture, either. They may go on to say that Revelation chapter 19 is where we find Jesus’ 2nd coming, which, according to scriptures, is seen only by John the Revelator.

Let’s take a look at the ‘PLAIN LANGUAGE OF THE BIBLE’ and decide.

AND, WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

(a)  It is important because Jesus tells us we must ‘endure to the end’ and knowing the sequence of events will help us to ‘not lose heart and faint’.

(b)  The apostle Paul tells it is important because “God takes no pleasure in the one who shrinks back”, and knowing that our ‘salvation draw near’ will help us endure to the end.

(c)  Jesus tells us that it is important because we must stay alert be found doing what He has commanded us, when He returns, or we may be “assigned a place with the hypocrites”. Knowing the day is near will help us stay focused and ready for His return.

SO, WHICH IS IT?

Is It

Jesus’ Glorious 2nd Advent?

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

REPEAT:

Matthew 24:29 “But immediately after the tribulation of those days

(What are “the tribulation of those days”? See Matthew 24:2-14 & Revelation 6)

(a). Matthew 24:5, says,  “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people.”

(b). Matthew 24:6-7, says,
And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. 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,”

(c). Matthew 24:7, says, “and there will be famines.”

(d). Matthew 24:7, says, “and there will be earthquakes in various places.  But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.”

(e). Matthew 24:9 says, “Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.”

(f). Matthew 24:10 says, “And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another.”

(g). Matthew 24:11, says, “And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people.”

(h). Matthew 24:12, says, “And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold.”

(i). Matthew 24:13, says,  “But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved.

(j). Matthew 24:14, says, “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.”

Matthew 24:29, clearly states, “But immediately after the tribulation of those days.(see Matthew 24:2-14)

LET’S REPEAT Matthew 24:29.

Matthew 24:29, “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.”

Revelation 6:12. confirms Matthew 24:29 when is says, “I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood;

Verse 13, continues with, “and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind.”

LET’S REPEAT MATTHEW 24:30.

Matthew 24:30, says, “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.

  • 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.

LET’S REPEAT MATTHEW 24:31.

Matthew 24:31, tells us, “And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”

“And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET

“and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”

Or is it…

Jesus’ Glorious THIRD Advent?

       Revelation 19:11-20: says, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. 13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
     Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in mid-heaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God, 18so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.”

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

      And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. 

      And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.”

OR, IS IT “BOTH”?

NOTE: There is only ONE 2nd ADVENT. There is NO “third advent”.  There is no secret rapture.  When Jesus returns, the Bible says, “every eye will see Him”!  What we see in Matthew 24, as narrated by JESUS, is the following:

(a)  Breaking of the 6th Seal of the Tribulation,

(b)  The beginning the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord,

(c)  Which is the beginning of Daniel’s 70th Week also known as the final 7 years of the Great Tribulation,

(d)  Jesus’ SECOND ADVENT,

(e)  The Rapture of the Church,

(f)  The heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True,

(g)  From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron;
and

(h)  He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty

NOTICE:  In Revelation 1:7, the Bible says, AND EVERY EYE  ON THE EARTH WILL SEE HIM, but In Revelation 19, JOHN SEES HIM IN THE HEAVENS. 



This is one event being seen from TWO PERSPECTIVES, as it unfolds: One perspective as seen from the earth, and the other perspective from John’s prophetic vision – a Spiritual and Heavenly perspective !

Look at it this way:   When Hurricane Irma hit the U.S. it was a category 5 storm;  As Irma progressed up the peninsula of Florida, it became a category 4 storm;  then as it entered Alabama it became a category 3 storm;  and finally as it entered Georgia, Irma became a tropical storm; and later as it entered Tennessee, it became a rain event.

To those in the various states which hurricane Irma entered, it would have appeared to them that Irma might have been 5 different storms, occurring consecutively; first a Category 5 storm, then, a Category 4 storm, then, a Category 3 hurricane, then, a Tropical storm, and, finally, a rain event.  But if viewed “From Above” it was ONE CONTINUOUS STORM, progressively unfolding to its conclusion.

SO IT IS WITH THE ‘LAST DAYS’ AND THE 2nd COMING OF JESUS as seen in the breaking of the ‘Seven Seals of the Book’ as recorded in Revelation chapters 5,6,7 and 8; although, the breaking of each Seal may seem like seven different events, if viewed “from above” it is ONE CONTINUOUS EVENT (eschatological STORM), progressively unfolding to its conclusion.

  • Breaking of the 6th Seal of the Tribulation,
  • The beginning of the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord,
  • The beginning of Daniel’s 70th Week also known as the final 7 years of the Great Tribulation,
  • Jesus’ SECOND ADVENT,
  • The Rapture of the Church,
  • The heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True,
  • From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and
  • He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty

Why does it matter?

  • Jesus tells us that it matters because we must ‘endure to the end’ and know the sequence of events will help us to ‘not lose heart and faint’.
  • The apostle Paul tells us that it matters, because “God takes no pleasure in the one who shrinks back”, and knowing that our ‘salvation draw near’ will help us endure to the end.
  • Jesus tells us it matters and that we must stay alert be found doing what He has commanded when He returns, or we may be “assigned a place with the hypocrites”. Knowing the day is near will help us stay focused and ready for His return.

Don’t be deceived.  There is only ONE Second Coming of Christ.  There is only ONE Rapture.  There is only ONE Armageddon.

Know your Bible.  Know the sequence.  Be Ready, found doing as He has said.  Endure to the end and be saved !!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

MARK OF THE BEAST

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Seemingly, the most popular and most prevelant view of “the Mark of the Beast” is some sort of a seal for the followers of Antichrist and the false prophet (the spokesperson for the Antichrist). The false prophet (the second beast) is the one who causes people to take this mark. The mark is literally placed in the hand or forehead and is not simply a card someone carries.

“Recent breakthroughs in medical implant chip and RFID technologies have increased interest in the Mark of the Beast spoken of in Revelation chapter 13. It is possible that the technology we are seeing today represents the beginning stages of what may eventually be used as the mark of the beast. It is important to realize that a medical implant chip is not the mark of the beast. The mark of the beast will be something given only to those who worship the Antichrist. Having a medical or financial microchip inserted into your right hand or forehead is not the mark of the beast. The mark of the beast will be an end-times identification required by the Antichrist in order to buy or sell, and it will be given only to those who worship the Antichrist.

“Many good expositors of Revelation differ widely as to the exact nature of the mark of the beast. Besides the implanted chip view, other speculations include an ID card, a microchip, a barcode that is tattooed into the skin, or simply a mark that identifies someone as being faithful to the Antichrist’s kingdom. This last view requires the least speculation, since it does not add any more information to what the Bible gives us. In other words, any of these things are possible, but at the same time they are all speculations. We should not spend a lot of time speculating on the precise detail”.  (GotQuestions.org)

A common erroneous perception and is that this “MARK” will be available before the “tribulation period”* begins and before the “Rapture”* occurs, so everyone, including professing Christians will have to make a decision about taking this “MARK”.

I will show the reader, in the next several pages, the Biblcial facts (not suppositions or denominational presuppositions)

 1.  The WHAT, WHEN AND WHERE of the “Mark of The Beast”.

 2.  Anyone on earth after the mid point of the Great Tribulation cannot be saved

 3.  The Mark of the Beast will come much later than you might have previously thought

The main passage in the Bible that mentions the “Mark of The Beast” is Revelation 13:15-18. Other references can be found in Revelation 14:9, 11, 15:2, 16:2, 19:20, and 20:4 but, we need to start at the beginning.  Please, bear with me and read to the end.

THE TRIBULATION JUDGMENT SEALS

(As I have written on many times *The tribulation of the “Last Days” began in or around A.D. 1 and have continued progressively until this day.  It would appear that we are experiencing an intensification of the 5th tribulation seal).

The First Seal—Rider on White Horse

      1  Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come.” 2I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.




The Second Seal—War

      

      3  When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come.” 4And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.




The Third Seal—Famine

      

      5  When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.”


The Fourth Seal—Death

      7When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” 8I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.




The Fifth Seal—Martyrs

      

      9  When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; 10and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.




The Sixth Seal—Terror

      

      12  I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; 13and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. 14The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; 16and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; 17for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

An Interlude

      REVELATION 7:1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. 2And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 3saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”



The 144,000

      

      4  And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

5from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, 6from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, 7from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, 8from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.



*A Multitude from the Tribulation



 1.  (As found in the Bible, there is only one second advent of Christ, there is no secret 2nd appearing. 

 2.  As found in Matthew 24:29  “But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

 3.  verse 30. “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn,

and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory.

 4.  verse 31. “And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.“

There is only ONE example of “a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; 10and they cry out with a loud voice, saying,
 “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”  This is the Church, raptured, and in heaven”.

      Revelation 7:9  After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; 10and they cry out with a loud voice, saying,
      

“Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 11And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12saying,
 “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
      

      Verse 13. “Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?” Verse 14. I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

      Verse 15. “For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. Verse 16. “They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; Verse 17. for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

The Seventh Seal—the Trumpets

Revelation 8:1 says, “When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Verse 2. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
      

Verse 3. “Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. Verse 4. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. Verse 5. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.

THE TRIBULATION JUDGMENT TRUMPETS

      Verse 6. “And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them.
      Verse 7. “The first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
       Verse 8.  “The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, Verse 9. and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed.
      Verse 10. “The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. Verse 11. The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.
      Verse 12. “The fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way.
      Verse 13. ” Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”

The Fifth Trumpet—the Bottomless Pit

Revelation 9:1 Then the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him. Verse 2.  He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit. Verse 3. Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. Verse 4. They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. Verse 5. And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man. Verse 6. And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death flees from them.     

Verse 7.  “The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads appeared to be crowns like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. Verse 8. They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions. Verse 9. They had breastplates like breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle. Verse 10. They have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt men for five months. Verse 11. They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon.

      Verse 12/ The first woe (Bowl) is past; behold, two woes are still coming after these things.




The Sixth Trumpet—Army from the East—Mid-Point of The Great Tribulation

      

      Verse 13. Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Verse 14. one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” Verse 15. And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind. Verse 16. The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. Verse 17. And this is how I saw in the vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone. Verse 18.  A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths. Verse 19. For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm.

     Revelation 10:20 – The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; (v21) and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts.

NOTE:  No one will be saved after this point; after the midpoint of the Great Tribulation.

The Two Witnesses

      Revelation 11:1 Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it.

Verse 2. “Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.

Verse 3. “And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”

Verse 4. “These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. verse 5. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows 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 have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.

      Verse 7. “When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. verse 8. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. Verse 9. Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. verse 10. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

      Verse 11. But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. verse 12. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. verse13. And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

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




The Seventh Trumpet is Sounded—Christ’s Reign Foreseen



Revelation11:15 says,  “Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom 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 on their faces and worshiped God, verse 17. saying, “We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign.

Verse 18. “And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy 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 and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm.”

The Woman, Israel

      Revelation 12:1 says, “A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; verse 2. and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.

The Red Dragon, Satan 


      Verse 3.  “Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. verse 4. And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.




The Male Child, Christ

      

      Verse 5.  “And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was 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 there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.




The Angel, Michael

      

      Verse 7.  “And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, verse 8. and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. Verse 9. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole 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 of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.

Verse 11. “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

Verse 12.“For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”

Verse 13. “And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave 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, from the presence of the serpent. Verse 15. And the serpent poured 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 drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth. Verse 17. So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

The Beast from the Sea—Between the 7th Trumpet and the 1st Bowl

Revelation 13:1 says,  “And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore.
      Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. Verse 2.  And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. Verse 3.  I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; Verse 4. they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” Verse 5. There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. Verse 6. And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven.

      Verse 7.  “It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. Verse 8. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. Verse 9. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. Verse 10. If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.


The Beast from the Earth

      

      Verse 11.  “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. Verse 12. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. Verse 13. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men.”

     Verse 14.  “And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life.

NOTE:  The placement and timing of Revelation 13:15-17 and the Mark of the Beast occurs AFTER the 6th Tribulation Woe (Bowl) which is at the Mid Point of the final 7 years of the Great Tribulation period (aka, Daniel’s 70th Week).

Revelation 13:15 – And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. verse 16. And he causes 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, 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.

Verse 18. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.

The Lamb and the 144,000 on Mount Zion

      Revelation 14:1  Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. Verse 2. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. Verse 3. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. Verse 4. These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. Verse 5. And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.”

      Verse 6. “And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; 7and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.”

      Verse 8. “And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality.”



Doom for Worshipers of the Beast

      

      Verse 9.  Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, Verse 10. he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

      Verse 11. “And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; 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 the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

      Verse 13.  “And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”



The Judgment Reapers

      

      Verse 14. “Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. Verse 15. And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.” Verse 16. Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.


      Verse 17. “And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. Verse 18. Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe.”

Verse 19.  “So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God. 20And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles.

THE TRIBULATION JUDGMENT BOWLS

A Scene of Heaven

      Revelation 15:1 says,  “Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.
      Verse 2.  “And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God.

      Verse 3. And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,


            
      “Great and marvelous are Your works,
 O Lord God, the Almighty;
 Righteous and true are Your ways,
 King of the nations!

      Verse 4.  “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
 For You alone are holy;
 For ALL THE NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU,
 FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS HAVE BEEN REVEALED.”

      Verse 5.  After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened, 6and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded around their chests with golden sashes. Verse 7. Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. Verse 8. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory 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

 1.  The “Last Days” began around AD 1

 2.  The first through the fourth tribulation seals have been progressively broken since AD 1 and are overlapping.

 3.  The Fifth Tribulation seal is now being broken and all the events of the 5th seal have been manifest except the revealing of the ‘man of lawlessness’, which is the antichrist.

4.  The Sixth Seal will mark

      • The the final 7 years of the Great Tribulation Period
      • Cosmic disturbances, darkned sun, blood moon
      • Sealing of the 144,000
      • The Rapture
      • Multitude from the tribulation before the Throne of God

5.  The antichrist will require people take “The Mark of the Beast” sometime after the 6th Trumpet or between the 6th Trumpet and the 1st Bowl judgment.

Unless you would endure the horrors of the Great Tribulation period, now is the time to accept Christ Jesus as your Lord and your Savior.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Link to more on this matter, The Antichrist and the Mark of the Beast

FOOTNOTES

Revelation 13:7
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.

Revelation 14:11
“And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

Revelation 16:2
So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and it became a loathsome and malignant sore on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.

Revelation 19:20
And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.

Revelation 20:4
Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

IMAGINE

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

#I.   IMAGINE with me, if you will, standing in the community square, talking with neighbors on just another ordinary, sunny day, when suddenly there is a rumbling beneath your feet. Then, without warning, the skies turn dark. You are blinded by a flash of light in the heavens. Then a deafening sound cracks above you, and thunder continues as a roar with an intensity that shakes you and your surroundings.

But this is only the beginning of this living terror. Drops of water, the size of which you have never experienced, slowly begin to crash into and all around you. Water begins to rise on your feet and within minutes you are knee deep in angry swirling flood waters.

A fierce wind begins to blow and spray the surging waters. Your mind is in a panic. You search frantically for your family and look about for high ground. The waters are now shoulder-deep and lifting you off the ground.

Your mind flashes back to a warning you had heard, but had ignored: “A flood is coming”.  No one had ever heard of such a thing. It was as ridiculous as it was fantastic.

All the fountains of the great deep burst open, and the floodgates of the sky were opened. The rain is falling upon the earth.  You scan the horizon for Noah’s Ark.

You think, with deep sorrow and panic, “If I had just believed, I could have been saved”. It’s too late, the waters overcome you. You are lost.

Then God said, (Genesis 9:11). “I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12God said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations; 13I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. 14“It shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow will be seen in the cloud, 15and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh”

The date is now sometime after Sunday, December 6, 2020.

#II.  IMAGINE with me if you will, that you are talking with a neighbor on what appears to be just another ordinary, sunny day, when suddenly, there is a great earthquake; and the sun becomes black, and the whole moon became like blood; and asteroids and meteorites fall to the earth, like a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. The sky appears to split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island are moved out of their places. (Revelation 6:12-14)



Then, hail and fire, mixed with blood fall to the earth; and a third of the earth is burned with fire, and a third of the trees are being burned, and all the green grass is burned.

Something which looks like a mountain, burning with fire falls into the sea; and a third of the sea becomes blood, and a third of the creatures in the sea, die; and a third of all the world’s ships are destroyed.

A great meteor falls from heaven, burning like a torch, and it falls on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters become wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.

A third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars are struck, so that a third of them would are darkened and the day does not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way.

Then you look, and hear a loud voice in the heavens saying, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth”. (Revelation 8:7-12)

Your mind flashes back to a warning you had heard, but had ignored: “A Great Tribulation and the ‘End of Days’ is coming”. No one had ever heard of such a thing. It was as ridiculous as it was fantastic.

You think, with deep sorrow and panic, “If I had just believed, I could have been saved”. But, it’s too late, the terror overcomes you. You are lost.

Are the examples ridiculous and too fantastic to believe?

Please consider this: The odds against – yes, AGAINST – Jesus Christ having fulfilled just 48 of the over 450 prophecies written about Him, is a ratio of 1 to 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. (This is 1 to 10 to the 157th power)

To give you a perspective, electrons are very small objects. They are smaller than atoms. It would take 2.5 TIMES 10 to the 15th power of them, laid side by side, to make a strand one inch long.

Even if we counted 250 of these electrons each minute, and counted day and night, it would still take 19 million years just to count a line of electrons one-inch long. 19 MILLION YEARS!

These “IMAGINE” stories are not just ‘stories’.  These are real events which have been proven by the incredible accuracy of God’s Prophetic Word.

IMAGINE #1 has already come to pass.  IMAGINE #2 is at our doorstep.

I pray that you take them as seriously as they are given.

An Urgent Prophetic Word

Is Another Kind of Flood Coming?

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

BIBLE PROPHECY HAS COME TO PASS

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

 

This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the Prophet:

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

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

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

Read that again, please.  Why is that significant?

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

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

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

No odds can defy the REALITY of Jesus Christ

Despite the mathematical probabilities, the greatest and most definitive proof is that Jesus Christ lived on our earth – and the world has never been the same! He proved the Word of God, in living colors. The entire world admitted it as true. Now, over two thousand years later, and the sacrifice of His life and the cost of millions of other Christ followers’ lives to bring this Good News to you, you would dare stand in judgement of Him and His Word – the Bible? Is that simple ignorance? Gross hubris? Or is it the pinnacle of arrogance? Either way, it is dangerous to your quality of life now, and fatal in eternity. Please, just consider the facts, and if that falls short, use faith!

So, here we stand at the PRECIPICE.  Only a few prophecies are yet to be fulfilled.

This is the “final yard”, so to speak. But, it is going to be the FINAL and the TOUGHEST of eschatological yards. Some so-called theologians or Bible teachers say, “It’s already happened”. 


Some theologians or Bible teachers say “It won’t happen”


But, the evidence says, “It is in the process of happening”.


LOOK AT WHAT HAS ALREADY OCCURRED:

Matthew 24:3 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?”
Verse 4. And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. Verse 5. “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. Verse 6. “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end, Verse 7, for nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. Verse 8. “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
Verse 9. “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. Verse 10. “At that time, many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Verse 11. “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Verse 12. “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. Verse 13. “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. Verse 14. “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.”

LOOK AT WHAT IS COMING, SOON, and VERY SOON:

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

Are you ready?

Do you know what to do in preparation?

Is another type of flood coming?

Your Brother and Friend

Mike Young

THE LAST DAYS – Part 2

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Are we living in the LAST DAYS?

I have been writing on this matter for about 13 years.  I am amazed at how times have ‘suddenly changed’ from speculative to appearing alarmingly realistic as the LAST DAYS.

I have been saying, for over 13 years now, that scriptures clearly tell us that the LAST DAYS began in or around AD 1, and that the DAYS OF DISTRESS, also known by names such as the tribulation, end of days, times of trouble.  

I have been saying, for 13 years now, that over these past 2,000 years we have seen and are seeing the progressive opening / breaking of the first 5 Tribulation Seals.

The Last Days

When do the final 7 years begin?

There are others saying these things, but they are the minority – until now. Now we are seeing more clearly.

One substantial example of this ‘awakening’ can be found on a video sermon / teaching by pastor John Piper.

(John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. He has served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, for more than thirty years. He is author of more than fifty books, and his sermons, articles, books, and more are available free of charge at desiringGod.org.)



Piper begins his teaching on the subject of “How to Live in History’s Last Days” taken from 1 Peter 4:7 – 9, Reading verse, 1 Peter4:7 “The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.”, Piper asks, “What does that mean? “The end of all things is at hand.” That was 2,000 years ago.

“The end of all things, (as found) in the New Testament, (is) the period of time that begins with the coming of the Messiah (His birth) and ends at the second coming (Matthew 24:29-31) .”

(John Piper video sermon on: “How We Should Live In These Last Days”:  Below)

      • 1 Peter 1:20 “For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you.”
      • Acts 2:16-17. “but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: ‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says,
         ‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND;
                    AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY,
                    AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS,
                    AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS.
      • Hebrews 1:1-2. “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, v2 in these last days has spoken to us [b]in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.
      • Hebrews 9:26, “Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
      • 2 Peter 3:3, “Know this, first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?”

      • The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 10:11, tells us, “Now these things happened to them as an example and warning [to us]; they were written for our instruction [to admonish and equip us], upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”

2.  How Should We Live in These Last Days?

Should we hunker down? Dig in? Hide away? Run to a mountain retreat with stockpile of food, water and weapons?


1 Peter 4:7-9 “The end of all things is near; therefore,

      • be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of [b]prayer.
      • Verse 8. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
      • Be hospitable to one another without complaint.
      • Verse 10. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
      • Verse 11. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God;
      • whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

 

3.  What should we expect in these Last Days?

      • 1 Peter 4:12 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled or the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

      • Verse 15. “Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.

      • Verse 17. “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God;”

The LAST DAYS began with the birth of Christ. The 5th Seal is being broken / has been broken. The final Seal (The 6th Seal, The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord) will happen next.

In order to ‘be saved’, you and I must “endure to the end” and we shall overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of our Testimony!

So, fear not! It is written in His Blood and by His Breath and cannot be amended. Now, let’s get this thing finished and be ready to meet Him in the air!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Other important pre-tribulation Pre-Wrath sources:

UPDATE – PRESIDENT TRUMP’S MIDDLE EAST PEACE PLAN

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

Click image (above) for LATEST BREAKING NEWS! (10/25/2020)

COULD THIS BE THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE FINAL “PEACE COVENANT”?  UPDATE!!

Peace deal between Israel & UAE

Peace in the Middle East? Could world peace start with a peace agreement in the Middle East? There are some who think that if this area can find a solution, there may be real hope for the rest of the world.

Any prospect for a Peace Treaty for the Middle East garners great worldwide attention, as has the recent announcement of a Middle East peace initiative by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.

The main stream media is completely ignoring this historic and growing accord, but it is moving forward, none-the-less.

The question now, could this be THE PEACE TREATY spoken about in Daniel 9:27? “He [the ruler at that time] will confirm a covenant [peace treaty] with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation.”

“When Jesus was asked about His coming and the end of the age (Matthew 24:3–15), He referred to the above verse. Jesus’ end-time explanation, confirms that there will be a third Jewish Temple in the last days and a seven-year peace covenant, which likely will be brought about by the anti-Christ.

“Just as the Hebrew Prophet Daniel searched the Scriptures for clues to understand the time in which he lived, we also should be diligently searching the Scriptures.

“Indeed, when we examine current events in the light of Bible prophecy, there can be no doubt that we are living at the end of the age.

“The necessity remains to scrutinize world happenings so we may be prepared for whatever is coming, especially since recent attempts at peace in the Middle East may be a precursor for the fulfillment of Daniel’s final seven-year period.

“This peace covenant will begin the 70th week in Daniel’s prophecy, the final seven-year stretch before the return of Jesus.”

More about the 70th week of Daniel, click here: 

Now is an exciting time to be alive.  We have a ‘ring side seat’ for Bible Prophecy in our day!  But, we must be prepared!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

GET READY – STAY READY

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AND YOU SHALL BE MY DISCIPLES – Lesson #39

  • Await My Return

“Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.

“But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would

have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.

 “For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.”  Matthew 24:42-44

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

These are some to the most dire and clearest warnings given by Jesus about His Return and the necessity of our readiness.  Pay close attention and do what He says or be left behind!

 The context of these words start in

Matthew 24: 32  “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near;

33  so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.

34  “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

35  “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

36  “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

37 “For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.

38  “For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,

39  and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.

40  “Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.

41  “Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.

First, some literary housekeeping:  There are various discussions and debates about the supposed complexity and intricacies of these verses. 

  • Some theologians say these verses lead one to believe there will be “two Second Comings of Jesus” – which is utter nonsense.  Believe it or not, Jesus can do more than one thing at a time!
  • Others wrestle with the wording of the metaphor in verse 32 which says, “you will know when summer is near” and a seeming contradiction found in verse 42 which says “you do not know which day your Lord is coming”.  This too is nonsense.  Clearly, it reads that you will know the “season” but not “the exact day”.
  • Some “theologians” wrestle with the idea of Jesus being compared to a “thief in the night”.  “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.”  Once again, this is nonsense.  These are two separate statements, connected only by sequence of events. 

#1 – “be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming” is a stand-alone statement of fact.

#2 – “the thief”  is a warning and a direct reference to the breaking of the 6th Seal, The Great Tribulation and the Wrath of the Lamb, which will seem like a “thief breaking into your home, stealing your goods and harming you and your family”.

The wording of our focus verses (Matthew 24:32-44) is made clear when you and read these verses in context of the preceding verses in Matthew 24:29-31.

v29  “But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

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

31  “And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

IMPORTANT:  Verse 29 says “But immediately after the tribulation of those days“ which is a reference to the beginning of the tribulation period, also known as the “Days of Distress”.  This period is described by Jesus in Matthew 24 verses 3 through 28. 

They are also found in Revelation 6:1-11 and are named the “Seals” of the tribulation.  Seal ONE through Seal FIVE have already been opened or are being opened and are ongoing events, all of which began sometime between AD 1 and AD 90.

NOTE:  The 6th Seal will mark the beginning of the a period, known variously as “The Day of Wrath”, “The End of Days”, “The Wrath of the Lamb” and “The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord”.

If you read our focus verses in Matthew 24 in the context of the entire chapter you will see why this is such an important warning.

AN ONGOING ALERT

Jesus words, “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming” take on a new and urgent meaning when you realize we are on the verge of the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord (Seal 6).

The ALERT mentioned in Matthew 24:42 is an ongoing ALERT!  We must stay ever vigilant and ready for Jesus’ return.

Finally, and just before the opening of the 6th Tribulation Seal, two important events must occur: 

1.  The Great Apostasy (A rebellion, an abandonment of God’s revelation.)  https://www.gotquestions.org/great-apostasy.html

2.  The revealing of the anti-Christ

These events are likened to a thief breaking into your home at night and robbing you, destroying your home and harming you and your family.

2 Thessalonians 2:1  Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,

2  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.

3 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,

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.

These events could occur at any moment.  You and I must be ready in a moment’s notice in “a blink of the eye”.  We must stay on alert if we are to escape this calamity, keep our homes and family safe, and  join Jesus when “He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”

Now, it is your turn:

HOW MUST YOU DO IT?

HOW MUST YOU TEACH IT?

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

CONTEXT OF THIS “END OF DAYS” WAR

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 2 Comments

We are at war.  Like it or not.  So, what shall we do?  First, we must understand the CONTEXT!

As an example:  I was talking with friends about the rapture.  One of them said the rapture could happen at any moment because all scripture had been fulfilled.

I suggested that 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2 says differently.

My friend became a bit animated and says, “That is talking about the Tribulation and not the raptures because it is about our gathering with Him after the rapture.  We will never experience the tribulation.”

I then suggested they might try reading 2nd Thessalonians 2:1 for CONTEXT which says, “Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,

2  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.

3  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,

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…

Furthermore, the CONTEXT for “The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him” can be found in Matthew 24:29, which says, 

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:” 

This event is also found in Revelation Chapter 6, verse 12 and says, 

“I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood;

13  and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind.

14  The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

Which, IN CONTEXT of the whole Bible, shows that “the gathering to Him” which is found in 2nd Thessalonians 2:1 occurs after the 5th Seal of the Tribulation is opened, which means we will experience the first 5 Seals of Tribulation.

NEXT, 2nd Thessalonians 2:3 goes on to say, ” Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first.”

Which is a great falling away from God through faith in Jesus Christ, which is just now beginning.  It is a world-wide phenomenon.

FINALLY, 2nd Thessalonians 2:3 also says, “3 ¶  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”

This man is also known as the anti-Christ and the son of perdition.  He has not be revealed yet.

My friend retorts “He (the anti-Christ) won’t be revealed until after the Rapture!”

I simply said, please re-read 2nd Thessalonians 2:3 “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”.

My friend blinked at me and said, “Well…..”  Unconvinced and uninformed.

NOW TO MY MAIN POINT about CONTEXT

The End of Days are well under way.  We now find ourselves in world-wide circumstances which strongly suggest that we are into the breaking of the 5th Seal of the Tribulation which marks the beginning of the Great Apostasy, the love of many growing cold, a period of great persecution, anarchy and the revealing of the anti-Christ.

And let me say, if you believe you will escape the first 5 Seals, just relax.  You have already been through most of the first 5 Seals! 

It is the 6th Seal you better hope you will miss because the Wrath of God begins with the 6th Seal and the 6th Seal marks the beginning of the 7 Years (Daniel’s Seventieth Week) of THE GREAT TRIBULATION which is the period of GOD’S WRATH, also known as the GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD, and the RAPTURE)

– TIME IS SHORT –

THE WAR HAS BEGUN – WE ARE UNDER ATTACK

HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND?

Most of what I read, outside the Bible, which is being written or said by Christian Leaders is a muddled mix of

  • “Be kind and gentle like Jesus”,
  • “We are sheep to the slaughter”,
  • “Win people to Christ while we have time” and
  • “Don’t Worry – God’s Got This”

There is truth scattered around in those types of statements, but it is OUT OF THE CONTEXT of the entire Bible.

But, most of what I read inside the Bible says another thing all together.  But it must be read IN CONTEXT of the entire Bible! 

In this article, I will only address what our response to the End of Days should be ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE, and not about our preparation FOR the End of Days.

THE OLD TESTAMENT

In the entire Old Testament, when the House or Nation of Israel (God’s People) was under assault for reasons other than God’s Discipline, they responded according to their circumstances – IN CONTEXT OF THE ASSAULT.  (I.e., when their lives were threatened they defend their lives with a violent forceful response.  When their food source was threatened by famine they responded with the agricultural technology they had.  When their water source was threatened by drought, they didn’t go to war, they looked for alternate sources.  CONTEXT!)   The instances of how ISRAEL responded to EVIL and threats on their lives, are so numerous that I will only cite this one example but I will add a link to other great battles SO YOU CAN SEE THE CONTEXT AND THE PATTERN OF THE BIBLE:

DAVID’S CAMP WAS RAIDED AND DAVID RESPONDED

  1 Samuel 30:1  “Then it happened when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid on the Negev and on Ziklag, and had overthrown Ziklag and burned it with fire; 2 and they took captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great, without killing anyone, and carried them off and went their way.”

1 Samuel 30:8  “David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I pursue this band? Shall I overtake them?” And He said to him, “Pursue, for you will surely overtake them, and you will surely rescue all.”

1 Samuel 30:16  “When he had brought him down, behold, they (the Amalekites) were spread over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing because of all the great spoil that they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. 

17 David slaughtered them from the twilight until the evening of the next day; and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled.

18 So David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and rescued his two wives. 19 But nothing of theirs was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that they had taken for themselves; David brought it all back.

20 So David had captured all the sheep and the cattle which the people drove ahead of the other livestock, and they said, “This is David’s spoil.”

What is the CONTEXT of David’s response?

  1. David and his camp were attacked by evil men
  2. David inquired of the Lord
  3. God told David that he would prevail
  4. David hunted the evil men down
  5. David and his men attacked and slaughtered the evil men
  6. David and his men took their property back
  7. David also took the Amalikite’s  property as spoils of war
  8. David divided the spoil among the faithful men in his camp

That is the pattern and THE CONTEXT of the correct response.  Here Other Great Battles In Ancient Israeli And Biblical History to help with CONTEXT:

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/greatest-battles-in-ancient-israeli-and-biblical-history.html

THE NEW TESTAMENT

The New Testament does not diminish our right and our capacity to fight battles, resist and overcome the enemy – it enhances it.  But it must be kept in CONTEXT.

The CONTEXT begins with Jesus teaching about 2 Kingdoms:

1.  The Kingdom of Heaven a.k.a., The Kingdom of God

2.  The kingdoms of this world.

Jesus always separates the two kingdoms in His Teaching, and instructs us that the kingdoms of this world are subject to the Kingdom of God!

In other words, you cannot successfully respond to an earthly threat (attacks, assaults, etc.) from an earthly perspective.  You see the CONTEXT from a heavenly perspective!

Jesus’ Teaching and Response about confronting evil and the End of Days

Let’s see what the Bible really says about how we are to prepare and how we should respond, using Jesus as our model.

Many times we see a circumstance from our own personal earthly mindset or worldview.  This can cause us to misread or misinterpret what is really going on and how we can understand what we are actually seeing and how we should respond. 

We, as Christians,

  • must know what the Bible really says
  • in the context of how it was said,
  • why it was said and
  • we must know how to apply it.

And, Jesus is the only place we can find The Truth of these matters.

A pastor and friend of mine liked to say, “Remember to be kind and gentle like Jesus”.  And, yes, that is right.  But keeping Jesus’ behavior and words in context of the situations He found Himself, you will find that there were times when Jesus would respond to evil and say things you may not have expected.  For example,

Did Jesus really,,,

(Click on the above links for details)

Jesus’ response was always IN CONTEXT.  Jesus’ response was always RIGHTEOUS and sometimes indignant!  But, make no mistake, when called for, He was not always gentle, but He was always Right!

EPHESIANS 6 gives us the Perfect outline for CONTEXT:  (The red lettering tells you what it says and what to, the black lettering tells you what it means)

  • 6:10  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
  • 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
    • 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly
  • 6:13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God,
    • so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
  • 6:14 Stand firm therefore,
    • HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH,
    • and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
    • 6:15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;
    • 6:16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil
    • 6:17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
  • 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and
    • with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
    • 6:19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
  • 6:21 But that you also may know about my circumstances,

OUTLINED:

  1. Be Strong in the Lord
  2. Put on His Full Armor
  3. Stand firm against evil
  4. Pray at all times
  5. Know your circumstances (CONTEXT)

What about the END OF DAYS?

Jesus tells us in Mathew 24:31-50  “And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

“Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near;

So, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.

v 50 “For, the Master will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

CONTEXT:  These are serious and terminal matters.  And, God is calling.  CONTEXT:  You are called and you must respond.  You have a role to fill.  CONTEXT:  You will engage and be engaged by the enemy which is evil.  CONTEXT:  Prepare.  Engage.  Endure.  Overcome!

  1. Some of you will be called on as Pastors by way of a “field promotion”
  2. Some of you will be called on as Evangelists by way of a “field promotion”
  3. Some of you will be called on to resist the devil and his armies by way of a “field promotion”
  4. Some of you will be called on as martyrs and will die for your testimony and because of His Word
  5. We all will be called to engage the enemy and to preach the Gospel

Finally, a word of encouragement.  Hebrew 10:35-38 tells us “Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

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

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


Consider what Jesus has taught us, shown us and commanded of us – and let’s not shrink back for He goes before us. 

CONTEXT:  The battle is ours!  Let’s get on with it!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

 

 

 

 

 

https://whitestone2020.com/what-does-it-mean-to-get-ready/

THE ANTICHRIST and the MARK OF THE BEAST

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 2 Comments

Who is the Antichrist?

No one knows who the Antichrist will be, but we do know that when he is revealed he will not be a frightening figure.  In fact, he will be just the opposite until he has gained power. 

There is a reference in Daniel 11:21 comparing Antiochus Epiphanes to a type of antichrist, who is one of the most brutal rulers known in history, easily eclipsing the horrors of Adolph Hitler and his Third Reich.

But, the horrors of Antiochus Epiphanes will pale in comparison to the brutality and horror of the coming Antichrist.

Traits of the Antichrist Described in the Bible

  • Intelligent: Revelation 13:18; Daniel 7:8.
  • Charismatic Speaker: Daniel 7:8 Revelation 13:5.
  • Crafty Politician: Daniel 9:27; Revelation 17:12, 13, 17.
  • Distinct Physical Appearance: Daniel 7:20.
  • Military Genius: Revelation 4; 17:14; 19:19.
  • Economic Genius: Daniel 11:38.
  • Blasphemer: Revelation 13:6.
  • Utterly Lawless: 2 Thessalonians 2:8.
  • Selfish, Ambitious Egomaniac: Daniel 11:36, 37; 2 Thessalonians 2:4.
  • Greedy Materialist: Daniel 11:38.
  • Controlling:  Daniel 7:25.
  • Proud and Self-exalting Above God and Everything: Daniel 11:36; 2 Thessalonians. 2:4.

What is the purpose of the Antichrist?

His purpose is to deceive.  The Antichrist is a person prophesied by the Bible to oppose Christ and substitute himself in Christ’s place before the Second Coming.

ANOTHER BEAST  –  The False Prophet

Revelation 13:11 says, “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.

  • He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence.

  • And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.

  • He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men.

  • And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life.

  • And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

  • And he causes 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,

  • 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.

“Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.”  Revelation 13:11-18.

He will doom anyone who receives his “mark” and worships him to suffer God’s Wrath.  “So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and it became a loathsome and malignant sore on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.”  Revelation 16:2 

Those which he deceived, those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image, are thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.  Revelation 19:20

WHAT IS THE MARK OF THE BEAST

No one knows what ‘the mark’ will actually look like.  There is speculation that it could be an image (icon) or a microchip or a tattooed type of barcode used in place of money or credit cards for tracking, commerce and trade.  But, from scriptures we do know…

  • And he causes 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,

  • 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.

  • Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.  Revelation 13:11-18

WHEN WILL THIS BEAST GIVE HIS MARK?

The most popular idea is that the Antichrist will “cause 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, 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.”  from, Revelation 13:16-17  sometime before the rapture of the Church.

HOWEVER, the Bible tells us that the Antichrist will be revealed before the rapture of the church.

2 Thessalonians2:3 tells us, “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, 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” ), which is sometime during the 5th Tribulation Seal period, or just at the beginning of the 6th Tribulation Seal.

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 or during the 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 free men 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.”  

As I have proposed on numerous occasions, the Tribulation Seal Judgments 1 through 4 (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).

We have seen 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.

The Apostle Paul informs us, in 2 Thessalonians 2

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.

  1. Verse 3.  “Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and
  2. 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.”

What this means to you and to me is that some of us will have the opportunity to suffer awhile before God takes us away in the Rapture.  How do we know this?  The Bible says so:

1 Peter1:3  says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

  • verse 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
  • verse 5.  who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
  • verse 6.  In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Revelation 6:9 tells us that, “When the Lamb broke the fifth seal,

  • I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; verse 10. and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

  • Verse 11.  And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.

The ‘times of distress’ encompass Tribulation Seals 1 through 5.

The Great Tribulation also known as The Wrath of God, that is the Wrath of the Lamb, begins with the breaking or opening of the 6th Seal of the Tribulation.

NOTE: The final 7 years of Daniel’s 70 Weeks, also known as the 7 Years of the Great Tribulation will begin with the Breaking of the Sixth Tribulation Seal. It will reach the mid-point (3 1/2 years) at the Blowing of the 7th Trumpet Judgment and will conclude with the pouring out of the 7th Bowl Judgment.

Be comforted by this, that God has not appointed us to His Wrath but to obtain His salvation!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

The Mark of the Beast

President Trump’s Peace Plan

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment
World Peace.jpg

“TRUMP’S PEACE PLAN”

COULD THIS BE THE GROUNDWORK FOR

THE FINAL “PEACE COVENANT”?

Peace deal between Israel & UAE

Peace in the Middle East? Could world peace start with a peace agreement in the Middle East? There are some who think that if this area can find a solution, there may be real hope for the rest of the world.

Any prospect for a Peace Treaty for the Middle East garners great worldwide attention, as has the recent announcement of a Middle East peace initiative by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.

“My vision presents a win-win situation for both sides,” Trump said. “Today, Israel has taken a giant step toward peace.” President Donald Trump, January 2020

“White House officials described President Trump’s Middle East peace plan as realistic and said Israel is prepared to act. According to White House officials, the plan calls for a two-state solution, including the state of Israel and the “future” State of Palestine. Under the plan, the Palestinians would have to reach certain benchmarks to achieve a state. Those benchmarks include rooting out terrorism, stopping what they call “pay to slay,” implementing steps toward free speech, and other political reforms.

“The plan is a basis for negotiations with Israel, Trump officials said, claiming many of the Palestinians’ red lines are met, including their calls for a Palestinian state and a capital in parts of East Jerusalem.

“The vision calls for more than doubling the amount of territory the Palestinians control.

“This plan will double Palestinian territory and set the capital of the Palestinian state in eastern Jerusalem, where the United States will happily open an embassy,” Trump said. “Our vision will end the cycle of Palestinian dependence on charity and foreign aid.”

“The plan also includes a map of a contiguous Palestinian state in the West Bank, with a proposed tunnel to connect the West Bank and Gaza Strip. There would also be land swaps south of Gaza to give the Palestinians more territory.

“This is the first time Israel has agreed to a Palestinian state with defined borders.

“A small strip of land between the Egyptian border and the proposed land swap areas south of Gaza would remain Israeli territory and be subject to Israeli security control. This was requested by Egypt as a buffer against cross-border terrorism.

“As part of the plan, Israel has agreed to halt settlement construction for four years. But in one detail sure to provoke Palestinian objections, the plan recognizes Israeli sovereignty over major settlement blocs in the West Bank.

“The plan calls for a demilitarized Palestinian state. Israel would maintain overall security, though it does create programs for the Palestinians to show the capability to secure their areas, including a local police force. The more the Palestinians show they can secure their areas and cooperate with Israel, the less Israel will have to do in terms of maintaining security, officials said.

“Israel would maintain sovereignty of the Jordan Valley east of the West Bank, according to the proposal. Israel would also maintain the security of the area.

“There is a plan that over time, Palestinians would be able to achieve some civil sovereignty in the Jordan Valley, like farming, officials said.” Excerpts from a Fox News article, January 29, 2020

BUT, WILL THERE BE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST?

Searching for a peace plane for the Middle East is nothing new. The Messianic Prophecy Bible Project website, explains how this has been an ongoing idea for centuries.

“It is vital to understand what the Prophet Daniel and Jesus told us about a peace plan for Israel and the Middle East and the last days, so we can recognize the times and warn others also.

A Middle East peace plan will begin the final countdown to the return of Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah).

Does President Trump’s Peace Plan The Harbinger For The End of Days?

“The ninth chapter of the Book of Daniel, tells us that Daniel, who was in exile in Babylon with the Jewish People, was studying the Book of Jeremiah looking for answers.

“As he read, he understood that Jeremiah foretold a 70-year period of Babylonian captivity before the restoration of Israel would come to pass (Jeremiah 29:10).

“Daniel’s heartfelt, moving response was to pray, confessing his sin and the sin of the entire nation of Israel.

“As he prayed, the angel Gabriel came to him, telling him of an additional time period, this time of shevuim shevim (seventy sevens) or 490 years. This was the time that would elapse before sin would end and everlasting righteousness would be established:

“Seventy [shevim] ‘sevens’ [shevuim] are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.” (Daniel 9:24)

End-Time Prophecy: What Are the “Seventy Sevens”?

“Shevuim (sevens) is similar to the concept of a decade (10 years), but refers to a seven-year period.

“Seventy sevens (70 X 7), therefore, represents a period of 490 years before the prophecy would be fulfilled.

“Of these 490 years, 483 have been fulfilled with remarkable precision; they represent the time between the decree by the Persian king Artaxerxes to rebuild Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1–8) and the cutting off of Yeshua HaMashiach:

“From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven [sheva] ‘sevens’ [Shevuim] and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One [Mashiach / Messiah] will be put to death and will have nothing. (Daniel 9:25–26)

“From Artaxerxes’ decree (Ezra 7:13–28) to Yeshua’s death on the Roman execution cross, was 483 years.

This leaves a seven-year span that has yet to be completed

and will be fulfilled

in the “Last Days” during the Tribulation Period.

“Daniel describes that time in Daniel 9:27: “He [the ruler at that time] will confirm a covenant [peace treaty] with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation.”

“When Jesus was asked about His coming and the end of the age (Matthew 24:3–15), He referred to the above verse. Jesus’ end-time explanation, confirms that there will be a third Jewish Temple in the last days and a seven-year peace covenant, which likely will be brought about by the anti-Christ.

“Just as the Hebrew Prophet Daniel searched the Scriptures for clues to understand the time in which he lived, we also should be diligently searching the Scriptures.

“Indeed, when we examine current events in the light of Bible prophecy, there can be no doubt that we are living at the end of the age.

“The necessity remains to scrutinize world happenings so we may be prepared for whatever is coming, especially since recent attempts at peace in the Middle East may be a precursor for the fulfillment of Daniel’s final seven-year period.

“This peace covenant will begin the 70th week in Daniel’s prophecy, the final seven-year stretch before the return of Jesus.

“Daniel also highlights the halfway point in the seven-year covenant, this leader will set up an abomination in the Temple, perhaps an image of himself to be worshiped. (The Book of Revelation also mentions a three and a half year period in Revelation 11:2–3; 12:6; and 13:5).” END OF EXCERPT

As I have said before and have written in numerous articles, we are now, undoubtedly, seeing the breaking of the 5th Seal of the tribulation period. https://www.whitestone2014.com/is-this-the-end

As stated in the Messianic Prophecy Bible Project article, This peace covenant will begin the 70th week in Daniel’s prophecy, the final seven-year stretch before the return of Jesus.

Additionally 2 Thessalonians 2:1 tells us, “Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 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.”

The Day of the Lord will not come unless

        1. The apostasy comes first, and
        2. The man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.”

The final seven-years of Daniel’s 70th week, also known as the period of the Great Tribulation begins with this peace covenant and will quickly be followed by the breaking of the 6th Seal, and thus, the beginning of the GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD.

The Bible tells us – Jesus tells us – no man know the day or the hour, but, we can know the season.

THE TIME TO PREPARE IS NOW

The Day of the Lord will come upon us like a thief in the night, and will overtake all who are not prepared.

If you would like to talk, use the form below to GET IN TOUCH or use the comments section.

Your Brother and Friend

Mike Young

UPDATE on Trump’s Peace Plan

The antichrist and the mark of the beast

 

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

DANIEL’S SEVENTY WEEKS

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 1 Comment

(You can listen to this audio as you read along, and, you can pause the audio to follow links, then resume audio when you are ready.)

QUESTION & ANSWERS ABOUT “DANIEL’S 70TH WEEK”

1.  When did Daniel have his vision about the End of Days?                  

660 BC

2.  What is Daniel’s Seventy Weeks?                     

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

1) “to finish transgression,”

2) “to put an end to sin,”

3) “to atone for wickedness,”

4) “to bring in everlasting righteousness,”

5) “to seal up vision and prophecy,” and

6) “to anoint the most holy.”

Notice that these results concern the total eradication of sin and the establishing of righteousness. The prophecy of the 70 weeks summarizes what happens before the End of the Age, and when Jesus sets up His millennial kingdom.  (From Gotquestions.org, seventy weeks)

3.  When did the 70 Weeks (490 years) begin?

Gabriel said the prophetic clock would start at the time that a decree was issued to rebuild Jerusalem. From the date of that decree, 445 BC, to the time of the Messiah (30 AD) would be 483 years. We know from history that the command to “restore and rebuild Jerusalem” was given by King Artaxerxes of Persia c. 445 B.C. (see Nehemiah 2:1-8).

The first unit of 49 years (seven “sevens”) covers the time that it took to rebuild Jerusalem, “with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble” (see Daniel 9:25). This rebuilding is chronicled in the book of Nehemiah.

Using the Jewish custom of a 360-day year, 483 years after 445 B.C. places us at A.D. 30, which would coincide with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (see Matthew 21:1-9). The prophecy in Daniel 9 specifies that after the completion of the 483 years, “the Anointed One will be cut off” (verse 26). This was fulfilled when Jesus was crucified.

Daniel 9:26 continues with a prediction that, after the Messiah is killed, “the people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.” This was fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The “ruler who will come” is a reference to the Antichrist, who, it seems, will have some connection with Rome, since it was the Romans who destroyed Jerusalem.  (From Gotquestions.org, seventy weeks)

4.  When does the final week, the 70th Week of Daniel, begin?

Read again, in Daniel 9:26, the prediction that, after the Messiah is killed, “the people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.” This was fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

This issue has been hotly debated for centuries.  Scriptures have been clear. A simple face-value reading of scriptures leads to the conclusion that the final 7 Weeks, the ‘BIRTH PAINS’ also known as a period of tribulation (not to be confused with the Great Tribulation Period or the “Wrath of the Lamb”), will END with the breaking of the breaking of the 6th Seal of Tribulation.

After that, Mid-Point of the Great Tribulation, (after 3 1/2 years) begins with the blowing of the 7th Tribulation Trumpet and will conclude after the pouring out of the 7th Tribulation Bowl Judgment.

5.  What will happen to the people on earth?

All of those who, by faith, have repented of their sins, and who have confessed Jesus as savior and followed Him in obedience, will be saved. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 says, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Verse 17. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.”

6.  Is there anything I need to do to get ready for these events?

Yes.  Romans10:9, says, “that 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; verse 10. For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”

Matthew24:42 also tells us, “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. Verse 43. “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. Verse 44. “For this reason, you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.

Verse 45.  “Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Verse 46.  “Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.”

“Giving hem their food at the proper time” means you are to be teaching them about Jesus, His Gospel Message, and making them disciples of Jesus and teaching them to go and make other disciples.  (Click the link here for a timeline comparison chart:  Daniel’s 70 Weeks – A comparison of a  World History Timeline, Daniel’s 70 Weeks Timeline, and A Biblical Timeline.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

For more information on Daniel’s 70th week, click the following links:

There is a Flood in the Book of Daniel, Chapter 9.

Is there ANOTHER type of Flood Coming?

 

THE DRAGON, THE BEAST & THE LAMB

~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ 3 Comments

NOTE:  THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS.  Check back often!


I am presenting a Play, a Drama, I will call “The Great Tribulation”.  Imagine with me that you are seated in a grand theater.  Your seat is front row, center, on the edge of  the universe, in heaven, looking down at the stage, planet earth.

The following is an actual detailed description and a panorama of coming events taken directly from the New Testament Book of The Revelation, using New American Standard Bible version. 

When I make comments, they will be in green italics, to explain the symbolism and other relevant information.  My remarks will be brief.  For fuller commentary I recommend ENDURING WORD COMMENTARY.

NOTE:  This presentation is actual BIBLE PROPHECY taken directly from the Bible.  The scriptures quoted are indisputable.  I will not add to nor will I take away from the words found in Scriptures, the N.A.S.B. version. 

I will make references to historical events, current events and future events and I will code them in purple italics – whether you agree with my references are up to you, the reader.

INTRODUCTION TO “THE PLAYERS”

The Woman, Israel

William Blake (British, 1757 – 1827), The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun, c. 1805, pen and gray ink with watercolor over graphite, Rosenwald Collection 1943.3.8999

Revelation 12:1  A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars;

2and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.

The “woman” represents Israel.  According to Joseph’s dream (Genesis 37:9-11), the sun represented Jacob, the moon represented Joseph’s mother Rachel, and the eleven stars were the sons of Israel which bowed down to Joseph. In this sign with twelve stars, Joseph is now among the other tribes of Israel.

The Child is Jesus.  The pain described refers to the travail of Israel at the time of Jesus’ birth (under Roman occupation and oppression).


The Red Dragon, Satan

 
      3Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. 4 And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.

 

A red dragon “symbolically suggests” an actual person will come to power on earth, with fierce power and a murderous nature.  This is a picture of the complete evil with hideous strength.”

The revived Roman Empire is in view, here.  The seven heads and ten horns refer to the original ten kingdoms of which three were subdued by the little horn of Daniel 7:8, who is to be identified with the world ruler of the great tribulation who reigns over the revived Roman Empire.”

Seven diadems on his heads: This dragon (person and political power) had great power (seven heads and ten horns) and claimed royal authority (seven diadems). The crowns represent his presumptive claims of royal authority against the true King.

His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven: Many believe this describes one-third of the angelic host in league with Satan (his angels of Revelation 12:9). This army of angelic beings in league with Satan makes up the world of demonic spirits. 

Matthew 18:18  says, “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”

Remembering that “what is seen comes from what is unseen”, this represents a dramatic shift, a diminishing of Godly influences “in the heavens” by one third in the heavens and this shift is manifest on earth.  Evil is to be increased exponentially, on earth. 

To devour her Child as soon as it was born: The attempt to devour her Child was initially fulfilled by Herod’s attempts to kill Jesus as a child (Matthew 2:16-18). It was also fulfilled throughout Jesus’ life as Satan attacked Him (John 8:58-59 and Mark 4:35-41).

The Male Child, Christ



   Revelation 12:5  And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. 6Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

 

 

A male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron refers to Jesus Christ, the Messiah. He rules the world with a rod of iron (Psalm 2:9 and Revelation 19:15) refers to the triumphant return of Jesus.  By stating the starting point and ending point of Jesus’ earthly work, John alluded to all that stood in between.

After a conflict with the Prince of this world (Satan and his evil accomplices), who came and tried Him, but found nothing in Him, the Son of the woman (Jesus the Christ) was taken up to heaven and sat on the right hand of God (Ephesians 1:20).  Words can hardly be plainer than these.

“She would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days” is a reference to a three and one-half year period connects these events with the final seven years of the Daniel 9 prophecy.  Since Revelation 12:5 describes the ascension of Jesus, and Revelation 12:6 describes yet-to-occur events in the 70th week of Daniel, between these two verses lies hundreds of years sometimes known as the “Age of Grace” (our current period).

 

The Angel, Michael

 

     Revelation12:7  And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Around the mid-point of the great tribulation, God will turn the tide against Satan – first in heaven, then on earth.  A battle is taking place that will deny Satan access to heaven.

ACT –  I

   Revelation12:7  And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon The dragon and his angels waged war, 8and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,
      “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.

Satan’s angels were cast out with him: This indicates that demonic spirits are indeed fallen angels, those who joined with Satan in His rebellion against God. These are “his angels.”  These angels are also the same as the “third of the stars of heaven his tail swept away and threw them to the earth”, described in Revelation 12:4. 

This even is occurring at just before the sounding of the 7th Trumpet Judgment which marks the end of the first 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation Period, also known as Mid-Tribulation.  

11“And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. 12“For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”

They overcame him because of the Blood of the Lamb represents Jesus’ Blood shed at His crucifixion.  Jesus died and was raised again to life, defeating the cruse of sin and the devil for all times and for all who believe in and follow Him.

They overcame him because of the Word of their testimony represents our confession as explained by the Apostle Paul in  Romans 8:8  “But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that 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; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”

God had allowed one-third of the Angels to rebel and now Satan and these rebellious demon-angels are cast down from heaven.  The have lost their authority and have seen their power and influence subdued.  Their time is short before God casts them to their destruction in the bottomless pit and the lake of eternal fire.

      13And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. 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, from the presence of the serpent. 15 And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth. 17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

The dragon (Satan), having been thrown down to earth, knowing his defeat is at hand, in a rage persecutes the woman, which is Israel. (This period of persecution has lasted for 2 centuries).  But, the woman will fly to “the wilderness” where she will be nourished for “a time and times and a half a time” which is a reference to the first 3 1/2 years of the 7 Year Period of the Tribulation known as Daniel’s seventieth week.  This first 3 1/2 years begins with the Breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal and will last until the Blowing of the 6th Tribulation Trumpet.

“The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood“. 

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

*God is using Satan’s “flood” as a means to cleanse, purify and restore His Church in preparation for the Wedding Feast of the Lamb and the Rapture of His Church.  (see Daniel 12)

The Flood is used in reference to God’s Judgments, once in Daniel, twice in Matthew, once in Luke and once in Revelation.  These references are related to the End of Days in some way. 

*These references link Past Events of God’s Judgments with the Present Day and the Present Day with Future Judgments.

AN EARTHLY HISTORICAL TIMELINE (click here for a detailed explanation from 445 BC through AD 70)

ACT –  II

 Revelation 13:1  And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore.
Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. 2And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. 3I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; 4they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” 5There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. 6And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven.

      7It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. 8All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. 9If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.


ACT –  III

The Beast from the Earth

      Revelation 13:11  Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. 12He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. 14And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. 15And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 And he causes 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, 17and 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. 18Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.

ACT –  IV

The Lamb and the 144,000 on Mount Zion  (see Revelation 7:4 )

      Revelation 14:1  Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads. 2And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps. 3And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth. 4These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. 5And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.

ACT –  V

Vision of the Angel with the Gospel

      Revelation 14:6  And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; 7and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.”

      8And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality.”

ACT –  VI

Doom for Worshipers of the Beast

      Revelation 14:9  Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11“And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” 12Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

      13And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”

ACT –  VII

The Reapers

      Revelation 14:14  Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. 15And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.

      17And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. 18Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe.”

   Revelation14:19  So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God. 20And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles.

ACT VIII

A Scene of Heaven

      1Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.

      2And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God.

3And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
            
      “Great and marvelous are Your works,
            O Lord God, the Almighty;
            Righteous and true are Your ways,
            King of the nations!

      4“Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
            For You alone are holy;
            For ALL THE NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU,
            FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS HAVE BEEN REVEALED.”

      5After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened, 6and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded around their chests with golden sashes. 7Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. 8And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory 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.

INTERMISSION

PLEASE, BE AWARE

The Mark of the Beast is given just before the Sealing of the 144,000 saints of God from Israel. 

This most likely will occur during the “interlude” between the 6th & 7th Seals and the Rapture.

We are very near the 6th seal, now, 7/30/2020.

During this time chaos will reign in the world and the need for a savior will be great.  The antichrist will make a peace treaty the world seeks after.  But, assuming the anti-Christ and the Beast are the same, he will suffer and mortal wound to his head, then he will recover.  Then, people will turn to this Beast and worship and will receive his mark on their forehead or on their hand will be doomed to suffer in hell forever.

WE MUST BE PREPARED

Now is the time to prepare, if you have not already.  Preparation begins in your heart and in your mind.  No matter if you call yourself a Christian or not, call on the Name of the Lord and you will be SAVED:  Made safe, made healthy, made whole, given your purpose in life, saved from the coming wrath, made a child or God and a freind and brother of Jesus, given an eternal home with God.

(Stay Tuned for the Rest of the Play)