Links

HOME

ARTICLES - FOCUS ON GOD'S WORD

Follow ME
Keep MY Commandments


LOVING THE LORD GOD WITH ALL YOUR MIND

Lenny Smith's - "You Are The River" - Enter to Worship Jesus Christ

WE SHALL BE CHANGED IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE

SINNERS IN THE HANDS OF AN ANGRY GOD

The CROSS - The cost of our Redemption from sin CRUCIFIXION

THE HOLOCAUST

LINE UP OF THE END OF THE AGE EVENTS AND PROPHECIES

ANOTHER HOLOCAUST?

LINKS AND BANNERS

THE REALITY OF HELL

THE DOOR

A WORD OF THANKS TO PASTOR MURRAY

THE WATERS OBEY JESUS

PERSECUTIONS OF CHRISTIANS - TODAY

I WILL BE UNTO THEM AS A LION

JERUSALEM

PETER THE APOSTLE - A FISHER OF MEN

USS LIBERTY by RONALD KUKAL

ONE NATION UNDER GOD - IN GOD WE TRUST









ARTICLES
FOCUS ON GOD'S WORD








The Book of Daniel - Look and See!
(Through Chapter 7.)


Let us look into the Book of Daniel and behold the glorious truths embedded beneath the Images, Empires, Toes, Crowns, Heads, Horns, Kings and Kingdoms and the thoughts of interpretation and how they will all be fulfilled.

We will list some astounding and glorious truths here.

The name Daniel means God is my Judge. Please check out Daniel 12:13, James 5:9, and Romans 14:10. Also Daniel 7:9-12, 26 Daniel 7:22 Revelation 20:11-15.

Daniel 8:1 - 'Daniel purposed in his heart'. Centuries later, Paul the Apostle was also a determined man. (1Corinthians 2:2 Philippians 4:13) How determined and purposed are we in our hearts?

Daniel was a man of prayer and believed in his God. Daniel 6:10, 23

These events took place while the Tribe of Judah was captive in Babylon, about the 6th Century BC.

    The word BEHOLD and BEHELD are used almost 25 times in the Book of Daniel:
    Daniel 2:31
    Daniel 4:10,13
    Daniel 7:2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 1, 13, 21
    Daniel 8:3, 5,15,19
    Daniel 9:18
    Daniel 10:5,10,16,
    Daniel 11:2, 5

    The words VISIONS and DREAMS are in the following verses:
    Daniel 1:17 2:1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9
    Daniel 2:1, 2, 3, 19, 26, 28, 36, 45
    Daniel 4:5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 18, 19
    Daniel 5:12
    Daniel 7:1, 2, 7,13,15
    Daniel 8:1, 2,13,15,16,17, 26, 27
    Daniel 9:21, 23, 24
    Daniel 10:1, 7, 8,14,16
    Daniel 11:14

    'VISIONS OF HEAD UPON THE BED':
    Daniel 2:28, 29
    Daniel 4: 5,10,13
    Daniel 7:1

    GOD THE REVEALER/REVEALETH:
    Daniel 2: 22, 28, 29, 47

~ WHY WAS DANIEL TROUBLED? ~


In Daniel 7:15, 28, why was Daniel grieved within his body and why did the visions of his head bother him? Why was his face drained of color at the things he saw and why did they trouble him? Why did he keep these things to himself and ponder on them? (Other references to the affects of Visions and Dreams on Daniel. Daniel 8:17, 27 Daniel 10:8,10,15,17,19, 27)

Here is a partial listing of things that Daniel BEHELD. He was being shown things that no other man had been shown. John, in Revelation 1:17, fainted as if dead when He faced Jesus Christ in that vision. So, is it any wonder that centuries before that Daniel was thus affected? In Daniel 7:16, Daniel actually 'steps' into the Vision to ask of one of those 'standing by' for the interpretation and truth of the Vision.


~ DANIEL BEHELD ~


THE THRONE OF GOD - Daniel 7:9 Ezekiel 1:26, 28 Revelation 4 and 5 Revelation 19:11

THE JUDGMENT OF GOD - HE SITS in Judgment. Daniel 7:9, 26 Revelation 11:18 Revelation 19:15 (Psalm 2:8, 9 Psalm 110:1)

THE ANCIENT OF DAYS - Daniel 7:9, 13, 22

THE APPEARANCE OF THE ANCIENT OF DAYS - Daniel 7:9 Revelation 1: 14 (Isaiah 1:18 - Symbolic of purging of sin.)

FIERY FLAME, BURNING WHEELS OF FIRE - FIERY STREAM ISSUED AND CAME FORTH FROM BEFORE HIM - Daniel 7:9,10 Ezekiel 1:4 Isaiah 66:15,16 Psalm 68:17

A THOUSAND THOUSANDS MINISTERED TO HIM - Daniel 7:10 (Matthew 26:53)

TEN THOUSANDS TIMES TEN THOUSANDS STOOD BEFORE HIM - Daniel 7:10

SOME STOOD BY - Daniel 7:16

SON OF MAN WAS BROUGHT NEAR - Daniel 7:13

JESUS CALLED HIMSELF THE SON OF MAN - Revelation 1:13 Matthew 24:30 THE SON OF MAN - Perfect Man, not an evil beast. He was humble, taking on the form of man, Philippians 2:8, becoming obedient to the cross. HE WHO knew no sin, 2 Corinthians 5:21.

CLOUDS OF HEAVEN - The Clouds of Daniel 7:13 symbolize the Authority and Dominion of the SON OF MAN. He created Heaven and Earth (Colossians 1;16, 17) and has dominion over them. HE is not restricted to walking on the Earth, HE moves through the atmospheric elements of the Earth and throughout the Heavens.

THEY BROUGHT HIM NEAR - Those before the ANCIENT OF DAYS brought the SON OF MAN near before HIM. They stepped forward to the Throne. HE was accompanied by Heavenly Host. His Deity honored and His glory sublime.

HE IS GIVEN THE KINGDOM AND IT SHALL NOT BE DESTROYED - The SON OF MAN is given a Kingdom. All people, nations, and languages shall serve Him and His dominion is everlasting, it shall not pass away. Daniel 7:14 Revelation 11:15

THE SAINTS GIVEN THE KINGDOM - The Saints of the MOST HIGH shall take and possess the Kingdom forever and ever, when it is given to them. Judgment is given to them and they shall serve and obey the MOST HIGH. The Kingdom and its dominion and greatness is under the whole heaven, covering the whole Earth. Daniel 7:18, 22, 27 Revelation 5:10 Revelation 3:21 Revelation 20:4, 6 Revelation 1:6 - How can the Kingdom be given to both the SON OF MAN and the Saints? (Ephesians 1:22, 23)

HORRORS OF THE FOURTH BEAST - It is diverse, dreadful - has teeth of iron - nails of bronze - devours the whole earth - treads down - breaks into pieces - stamps residue - has horns - its eyes are stout - its mouth speaks great things - it wars on the saints - wears out the saints - thinks to change times and laws - it is given a time and times and the dividing of time. Daniel 7:19 -21, 23, 24, 25, 26 (Revelation 13:5, 6 2Thessalonians 2:4)

WAR ON SAINTS - The Beast will make war with the Saints of the MOST HIGH, prevail against them and wear them out - UNTIL - the coming of the Ancient of days. Daniel 7:21, 22, 25 Revelation 13:7 Revelation 2:10 Revelation 12:12

BEAST TO BE JUDGED, SLAIN, DESTROYED AND BURNED - His dominion will will be taken away and it shall be consumed and destoyed. Daniel 7:11, 26 (Revelation 19:20 Revelation 20:10)

~ HISTORY AND FULFILLMENT OF GOD'S PROPHECY ~


History is the fulfillment of God's prophecy.

The Images, Dreams and Visions give the picture of the world empires from the time of Nebuchadnezzar down through history unto the Coming of Jesus Christ and beyond.

Scriptures to compare.
Head - Gold - Babylon - Daniel 2:32, 38 Daniel 7:4
Chest/Arms - Silver - Medio-Persia - Daniel 2:32 Daniel 7:5 Daniel 8:20
Belly/Thighs - Bronze - Greece - Daniel 2:32, 39 Daniel 7:6 Daniel 8:21-22 Daniel 10:20 Daniel 11:2-4)
Legs/Feet/Toes - Iron and Iron/Clay - Rome - Daniel 2:33, 40, 41-43 Daniel 7:7, 11, 12, 19, 20, 24,
Stone - Christ the Stone - Daniel 2:34, 35 and 45 Ephesians 2:20
Mountain - Biblical symbol of a kingdom. Daniel 2:44 - 45 Daniel 7:14 Revelation 11:15 Zechariah 14:9

You will want to compare all these verses with Revelation 13:1-2 Revelation 17:7-18 and Revelation 19:15.




Comparing Verses In Ezekiel With Verses In Revelation

It is interesting to compare verses in Ezekiel with verses in Revelation.


Ezekiel 1:1 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

~~ + ~~ In both verses, the heavens are opened. In both verses there are visions of God, the True and Faithful One. ~~ + ~~

Ezekiel 1:5 Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. Revelation 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

~~ + ~~ Note that in both verses, there are 4 living creatures/beasts. Ezekiel’s have the likeness of a man and Revelation’s are full of eyes. ~~ + ~~

Ezekiel 1:10 As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. Revelation 4:7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

~~ + ~~ Note the mention of man, lion, ox, calf, eagle in both verses. In the Ezekiel verse they have faces and in the Revelation verse they are likened unto. ~~ + ~~

Ezekiel 1:22 And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the color of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.
Revelation 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

~~ + ~~ Notice the mention of crystal like glass and its color. ~~ + ~~

Ezekiel 1:24 And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings. Revelation 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

~~ + ~~ In Ezekiel the voice is as of the Almighty, an understandable voice speaking. In Revelation the voice is as the sound of many waters. ~~ + ~~

Ezekiel 1:26 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
Ezekiel 1:28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.
Revelation 4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

~~ + ~~ There is a rainbow, throne and sapphire stone mentioned in these verses. ~~ + ~~

Ezekiel 2:9 And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;
Revelation 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

~~ + ~~ A book and a hand is mentioned in both verses. In Revelation the hand is of the Lord. ~~ + ~~

Ezekiel 3:1 Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.
Ezekiel 3:3 And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.
Revelation 10:10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.

~~ + ~~ Very much the same experience is expressed here concerning a book/roll/scroll. It is to be eaten and it is sweet in the mouth, tasting like honey. ~~ + ~~

Ezekiel 7:2 Also, thou son of man, thus says the Lord GOD unto the land of Israel; An end, the end is come upon the four corners of the land.
Revelation 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

~~ + ~~ Here, we see winds and four corners mentioned. One verse mentions the land of Israel and one the earth. ~~ + ~~

Ezekiel 9:4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
Revelation 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads

~~ + ~~ The word seal/mark upon the foreheads of the servants of God. ~~ + ~~

Ezekiel 10:2 And he spoke unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill your hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in, in my sight.
Revelation 8:5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

~~ + ~~ We see fire being cast over a city in Ezekiel and over the earth in Revelation. Coals of fire and fire of the altar. The coals of fire were held in a hand and the fire of the altar was in a censer. ~~ + ~~

Ezekiel 14:21 For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?

Revelation 6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

~~ + ~~ Sword, famine/hunger, pestilence and beasts are mentioned in both verses. In Ezekiel, the judgments are on Jerusalem and in Revelation the fourth part of the earth is killed with them. ~~ + ~~

Ezekiel 26:13 And I will cause the noise of thy songs to cease; and the sound of thy harps shall be no more heard.

Revelation 18:22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;

~~ + ~~ Songs and, musical instruments and music are ceased. ~~ + ~~

Ezekiel 27:28 The suburbs shall shake at the sound of the cry of thy pilots.
Ezekiel 27:29 And all that handle the oar, the mariners, and all the pilots of the sea, shall come down from their ships, they shall stand upon the land;
Ezekiel 27:30 And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee, and shall cry bitterly, and shall cast up dust upon their heads, they shall wallow themselves in the ashes:

Revelation 18:17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
Revelation 18:18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
Revelation 18:19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

~~ + ~~ Note the mention of sea and all those having to do with shipping. (Commerce?) There is mention of them casting dust upon their heads and crying, wallowing/weeping/wailing. ~~ + ~~

Ezekiel 37:10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

Revelation 11:11 And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

~~ + ~~ Here we see the breath (of life) and the spirit of life from God revive those who are dead. It is the valley of bones in Ezekiel and the two witnesses in Revelation, all of whom stand upon their feet. ~~ + ~~

Ezekiel 37:27 My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

~~ + ~~ In both verses the Tabernacle of God is with His people and He shall be with them and He shall be their God. ~~ + ~~

Ezekiel 38:2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,
Ezekiel 38:3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:

Revelation 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

~~ + ~~ Gog and Magog is mentioned in each of these verses. In Ezekiel, God is against them, in Revelation they are gathered to battle. ~~ + ~~

Ezekiel 40:2 In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south.

Revelation 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

~~ + ~~ In both these visions, the prophet is taken to a high mountain where he sees the land of Israel in Ezekiel and Jerusalem in Revelation. ~~ + ~~

Ezekiel 40:3 And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.

Revelation 11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

~~ + ~~ Here, a measuring reed/rod is mentioned in both verses. ~~ + ~~

Ezekiel 43:2 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.

Revelation 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

~~ + ~~ His voice is heard as the noise/voice of many waters. ~~ + ~~

Ezekiel 47:1 Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.
Ezekiel 47:12 And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.

Revelation 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Revelation 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

~~ + ~~ Water is mentioned as coming from the House of the Lord, the Sanctuary/Throne of God and of the Lamb. River, trees, fruits, months for fruits, leaves, healing/medicine, banks/sides of river are mentioned in both verses. ~~ + ~~

Ezekiel 48:31 And the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates northward; one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi.

Revelation 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

~~ + ~~ Each gate of the city has the name of a tribe of Israel inscribed on it, both in Ezekiel and in Revelation. ~~ + ~~




!!THIS HONOR HAVE ALL HIS SAINTS!!
!!PRAISE YE THE LORD!!
Psalm 149:6-9


ANCIENT OF DAYS GIVES KINGDOM
TO
SON OF MAN, JESUS CHRIST


Daniel 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of Days did sit, Whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool: His throne was like the fiery flame, and His wheels as burning fire.
Daniel 7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him: thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
Daniel 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, One like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him.
Daniel 7:14 And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

Revelation 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.
Revelation 11:16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
Revelation 11:17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O LORD God Almighty, Who art, and was, and art to come; because Thou hast taken to Thee Thy great power, and hast reigned.
Revelation 11:18 And the nations were angry, and Thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that Thou should give ---- REWARD UNTO THY SERVANTS ---- the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear Thy name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth.

REWARDS FOR SAINTS
DURING THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST


Daniel 7:18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.
Daniel 7:22 Until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
Daniel 7:27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, Whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.

Revelation 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Revelation 3:21 To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.

Revelation 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him:
Revelation 22:4 And they shall see His face; and His Name shall be in their foreheads.
Revelation 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Psalm 149:6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand;
Psalm 149:7 ---- TO ---- execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;
Psalm 149:8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
Psalm 149:9 To execute upon them the judgment written: ---- THIS HONOR HAVE ALL HIS SAINTS. ---- Praise ye the LORD.

1 Corinthians 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1 Corinthians 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?




So Shall It Be In The Latter Days


Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets. Amos 3:7
The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy? Amos 3:8

~~ + ~~ What does Biblical prophecy tell us about the Latter Days? The following is a very short list. ~~ + ~~

MEN WILL WALK AS BLIND MEN
DAY OF DARKNESS AND GLOOM
MEN’S BLOOD WILL BE POURED OUT AS DUST


Zephaniah 1:15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
Zephaniah 1:16 A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.
Zephaniah 1:17 And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.

THE EARTH IS BROKEN AND REELS TO AND FRO AND IS MOVED


Isaiah 13:13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of His fierce anger.

Isaiah 24:19 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.
Isaiah 24:20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.

DAY OF VERY DARK DARKNESS


Amos 5:20 Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

FAMINE OF THE WORD OF GOD


Amos 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
Amos 8:12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

FAMINES, PESTILENCES AND EARTHQUAKES


Matthew 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

FALSE PROPHETS


Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

GREAT TRIBULATION


Jeremiah 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.

Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Matthew 24:21 For then shall be Great Tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

SCOFFERS


2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 2 Peter 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

PERILOUS TIMES – LOVERS OF SELF
PROUD AND UNTHANKFUL
FIERCE – RESIST THE TRUTH
BLASPHEMERS – DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS


2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 Timothy 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2 Timothy 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2 Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2 Timothy 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2 Timothy 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

KILLING – LACK OF PEACE ON EARTH – DEATH


Revelation 6:4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

Revelation 6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

MEN SHALL FEAR THE LORD
AND HIDE IN HOLES OF ROCKS AND IN CAVES
WHEN HE ARISES TO SHAKE THE EARTH


Isaiah 2:19 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
Isaiah 2:21 To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

GOD’S FURY IS POURED OUT
COSMIC DISTURBANCES AND EARTH UPHEAVAL


Nahum 1:5 The mountains quake at Him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at His presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. Nahum 1:6 Who can stand before His indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by Him.

Revelation 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
Revelation 6:13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
Revelation 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Revelation 6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
Revelation 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
Revelation 6:17 For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

MAN WILL BE MORE RARE/SCARCE THAN GOLD
MANKIND WILL BE AFRAID
GOD WILL PUNISH THE WORLD FOR ITS EVIL


Isaiah 13:6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction
Isaiah 13:7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt:
Isaiah 13:8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.
Isaiah 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
Isaiah 13:10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
Isaiah 13:11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
Isaiah 13:12 I will make a man more precious (scarce or rare) than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.

!!THEN AT LAST – HALLELUAH!!
!!BLOW THE TRUMPET!!
!!THE LORD ROARS OUT OF HEAVEN!!


Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

Joel 3:16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of His people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

Micah 1:3 For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of His place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.

Amos 1:2 And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.

Isaiah 66:15 For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with His chariots like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire.
Isaiah 66:16 For by fire and by His sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.




Them Also Who Shall Believe on ME!


"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also who shall believe on ME through their word:" - John 17:20

Do you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord? Then you are in this verse - "them also who shall believe on ME." Hallelujah, praise God, I am, too.

Stop and think, Jesus was thinking about us those 2,000 years ago as HE set HIS face toward Golgotha. Luke 9:51 - "And it came to pass, when the time was come that HE should be received up, HE steadfastly set HIS face to go to Jerusalem."

Think of this also. In the Garden of Gethsemane as CHRIST was within hours of HIS Death on the cross for us, HE was in great agony. As HE prayed HIS sweat became as drops of blood falling down onto the ground. HE was so weakened that an angel appeared to HIM from heaven to strengthen HIM. (Luke 22:39-46)

We cannot imagine the suffering caused by the weight of the sin of each of us bearing down on HIM. To HIM who was sinless, to bear all our sins in HIS own body, is beyond our comprehension. 2 Corinthians 5:21 - "HE has made HIM, WHO knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of GOD in HIM."

Can you imagine how grievous our sin is to GOD for HIM to have allowed HIS BEGOTTEN SON to endure such suffering? What love, allowing CHRIST'S blood to be shed for the washing away of our sin! (Revelation 1:5) It is summed up in John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that HE gave HIS only BEGOTTEN SON that whosoever believes in HIM should not perish but have everlasting life."

When you sin or your past nags you, remember - 1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, HE is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrigheousness."




Herod The Fox And Herod Agrippa


Herod 1 - Herod the Fox (Antipas) - Was Herod curious about Jesus? What did Jesus call Herod? Jesus Stands Before the Fox.

Herod 2 - Herod Agrippa - Which Herod persecuted the Church and had James killed? How did Herod Agrippa die?

Here is the Biblical account of these two Herods.

HEROD 1

1 - Was Herod Curious About Jesus?

(Note: This Herod is the son of the Herod who was King at the time of Jesus birth.)

Luke 3:1 - "Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee," A Tetrarch governed a quarter of a province and was sometimes called King.

Luke 9:7 - "Now Herod (Antipas) the Tetrarch (*see definition at end of article) heard of all that was done by Him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;"
Luke 9:8 - "And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again."
Luke 9:9 - "And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see Him."

Herod was curious about Jesus. Rumors about Jesus were floating around. Some were saying that He was John the Baptist, risen from the dead, or that Jesus was an Old Testament Prophet come back to life. People of that day certainly believed in a resurrection to be thinking that John or a Prophet had been raised from the dead.

Herod knew that he had beheaded John the Baptist, so he didn't believe Jesus was John. (He didn't seem to believe in a resurrection.) He heard a lot about the wonderful things Jesus was doing and he desired to see Jesus.

We wonder why he didn't go look. Our guess is that he would think it beneath his dignity as Tetrarch to seek Jesus out, and to be found among the crowd that followed Him. It would probably cause him to 'lose face' if his herald was seen clearing the way for him to appear before Jesus.

2 - What Did Jesus Call Herod?

Luke 13:31 - "The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto Him, Get Thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill Thee."
Luke 13:32 - "And He said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected."
Luke 13:33 - "Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem."

Jesus went through the cities and villages teaching as He heading toward Jerusalem, leaving Herod's jurisdiction. When He was approached with the statement that Herod had murderous intentions toward Him, so to keep going, He responded by calling Herod a fox and giving the Pharisees a message to take to him. He was indicating that the timing of what He did was in His hands and the Father's hands, not Herod's. He would cast out devils and heal until His time to die had come. He was calling Himself a Prophet and saying that He would perish in Jerusalem, not outside in Herod's jurisdiction. He was expressing that His sacrifice as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world, would come to completion and perfection.

Why would Jesus call Herod a fox. Fox kill sheep. Who are the sheep? Who is the Shepherd? The sheep are those who follow Jesus. The fox had killed John the Baptist. The name fox fits Herod's profile.

Mark 8:15 - "And He charged them (Disciples), saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod."

Jesus here associates Herod with leaven. (** see the definition of leaven at the bottom of the article) What would the leaven of Herod mean? Biblically, leaven is considered "a substance in a state of putrefaction." " It is also a figure of corruptness and of perverseness of heart and life." Leaven also fits Herod's profile.

3 - Jesus, King Of The Universe Stands Before Herod The Fox.

Luke 23:8 - "And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see Him of a long season, because he had heard many things of Him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by Him."
Luke 23:9 - "Then he questioned with Him in many words; but He answered him nothing."
Luke 23:10 - "And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him."
Luke 23:11 - "And Herod with his men of war set Him at nought, (scoffed - ridiculed) and mocked Him, and arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him again to Pilate."
Luke 23:12 - "And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves."

Now Herod the fox gets to see Jesus, the King of the Universe. He is actually excited about it, as he had desired to see Jesus for a long time. He hoped Jesus would perform a miracle. Herod was looking for a personal sideshow. He didn't get one. Not only didn't Jesus perform a miracle, He did not answer Herod's many questions. (Isaiah 53:7 - "He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth.") Jesus fulfilled Scripture.

Herod and his men of war put a gorgeous robe on Jesus, mocked and ridiculed Him, then sent Him back to Pilate.

Now look here at the humility of Jesus. The King of the Universe stands before a murderous human fox and takes verbal abuse and taunting without responding. (Philippians 2:6 - "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:" Philippians 2:7 - "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:" Philippians 2:8 - "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.") (The King of the Universe stood before a murderous human fox in judgment. The roles will be reverse at the judgment seat of Christ. The human fox will stand before the King of the Universe in judgment.)

Here is a reminder for the sheep. The Shepherd humbled Himself, are the sheep any better than their Shepherd? No, so they must be mindful to follow Him in exercising humility. Philippians 2:5 - "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:"

HEROD 2

1 - Which Herod Persecuted The Church And Had James Killed?

Herod Agrippa, from the line of Herod the Great, took over where Herod Antipas left off.

Acts 12:1 - "Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church."
Acts 12:2 - "And he killed James the brother of John with the sword."

After the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, Herod Agrippa persecuted the Church. Then he went on to kill James. He was a cruel and murderous man. He went after Peter.

Acts 12:3 - 23 gives the account of Peter coming under persecution and being imprisoned. You are all familiar with the Biblical account of Peter being put in prison and the Church praying for him.

Acts 12:6 - "And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison."
Acts 12:7 - "And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands."

Here we see an angel striking Peter to wake him up. He was chained with two chains, between two soldiers. Now Peter couldn't have been too worried. He was sleeping so soundly that the angel had to strike him to wake him up. The chains fell off, there was no need of a hacksaw blade. The angel led Peter out of the prison and Peter went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark. Peter knocked on the gate and when they finally let him in, he told them what had happened.

Acts 12:19 - "And when Herod had sought for him, and found him (Peter) not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death."

Herod came up short, he couldn't find Peter. The keepers of the prison were put to death, a command that would be expected coming from one of the murdering Herod's.

2 - How Did Herod 2 Die?

Act 12:21 - "And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them."
Act 12:22 - "And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man."
Act 12:23 - "And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost."

As an angel of the Lord struck Peter to wake him up, so an angel struck Herod Agrippa to put him to death.

Definitions From Easton's Dictionary.

* Tetrarch
strictly the ruler over the fourth part of a province; but the word denotes a ruler of a province generally (Matt. 14:1; Luke 3:1, 19; 9:7; Acts 13:1). Herod and Phasael, the sons of Antipater, were the first tetrarchs in Palestine. Herod the tetrarch had the title of king (Matt. 14:9).

** Leaven
(1.) Heb. seor (Ex. 12:15, 19; 13:7; Lev. 2:11), the remnant of dough from the preceding baking which had fermented and become acid.

(2.) Heb. hamets, properly "ferment." In Num. 6:3, "vinegar of wine" is more correctly "fermented wine." In Ex. 13:7, the proper rendering would be, "Unfermented things [Heb. matstsoth] shall be consumed during the seven days; and there shall not be seen with thee fermented things [hamets], and there shall not be seen with thee leavened mass [seor] in all thy borders." The chemical definition of ferment or yeast is "a substance in a state of putrefaction, the atoms of which are in a continual motion."

The use of leaven was strictly forbidden in all offerings made to the Lord by fire (Lev. 2:11; 7:12; 8:2; Num. 6:15). Its secretly penetrating and diffusive power is referred to in 1
Cor. 5:6. In this respect it is used to illustrate the growth of the kingdom of heaven both in the individual heart and in the world (Matt. 13:33). It is a figure also of corruptness and of perverseness of heart and life (Matt. 16:6, 11; Mark 8:15; 1Cor. 5:7, 8).




The Didache (Teaching of the Twelve Apostles)
An Early Christian Manuscript


A label attached to the outside of the scroll says: Teaching of the Twelve Apostles.

The full title of the text: OF THE LORD; BASED ON WORDS OF THE LORD AND ON THE LORD'S WAYS (11:8).

Didache means instruction or doctrine that has been taught.

It was complied sometime between 70 - 90 AD. (The preserved manuscript is dated 1056.) It is the oldest Christian document outside the Bible. The manuscript was found in 1873 among other early writings, in the library of the Holy Sepulcher at Constantinople.

It was quoted by Eusebius, Athanasius and Clement of Alexandria.

We are only posting Chapter 16 here, the complete version may be found at:
http://www.ocf.org/OrthodoxPage/reading/St.Pachomius/Liturgical/didache.html

We have presented Scriptures from the Holy Bible that confirm its teaching. Notice the order of events listed in this 16th chapter of Didache. A Deceiver, Fiery Test, Opening in Heaven, Trumpet, Resurrection, Coming with Saints, the whole World beholding Jesus Christ, the Truth. (Please compare with Matthew 24:29-31.

CHAPTER 16

~~ + ~~ DIDACHE 16:1 Watch concerning your life; let not your lamps be quenched or your loins be loosed, but be ye ready, for ye know not the hour at which our Lord cometh. ~~ + ~~

Matthew 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Matthew 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. (Parable of ten virgins. Matthew 25:1-13)

Luke 12:35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;

Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

~~ + ~~ DIDACHE 16:2 But be ye gathered together frequently, seeking what is suitable for your souls; for the whole time of your faith shall profit you not, unless ye be found perfect in the last time. ~~ + ~~

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth.

~~ + ~~ DIDACHE 16:3 For in the last days false prophets and seducers shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall be turned into hate; ~~ + ~~

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

Mark 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

~~ + ~~ DIDACHE 16:4 and because iniquity aboundeth they shall hate each other, and persecute each other, and deliver each other up; and then shall the Deceiver of the world appear as the Son of God, and shall do signs and wonders, and the earth shall be delivered into his hands; and he shall do unlawful things, such as have never happened since the beginning of the world. ~~ + ~~

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

2 Thessalonians 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Jeremiah 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.

~~ + ~~ DIDACHE 16:5 Then shall the creation of man come to the fiery trial of proof, and many shall be offended and shall perish; but they who remain in their faith shall be saved by the rock of offence itself. ~~ + ~~

1 Peter 2:8 - Stone of Stumbling - And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

Romans 9:23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into various trials; Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Revelation 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

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

2 Corinthians 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

2 Corinthians 4:9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

~~ + ~~ DIDACHE 16:6 And then shall appear the signs of the truth; first the sign of the appearance in heaven, then the sign of the sound of the trumpet, and thirdly the resurrection of the dead ~~ + ~~

Matthew 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Matthew 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

~~ + ~~ DIDACHE 16:7 -- not of all, but as it has been said, The Lord shall come and all his saints with him; ~~ + ~~

Zechariah 14:5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.

1 Thessalonians 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

~~ + ~~ DIDACHE 16:8 then shall the world behold the Lord coming on the clouds of heaven. ~~ + ~~

Matthew 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Matthew 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.




Man Of Sin/Anti-Christ?

WILL SATAN BE THE ANTI-CHRIST?


Many have been asking questions concerning the anti-christ/man of sin, so here are some thoughts on the subject.

Will Satan most likely be the anti-christ? Look at these two verses in Revelation.

Revelation 2:10 - "Fear none of those things which you shall suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and you shall have tribulation ten days: be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life."

Revelation 12:12 - "Therefore rejoice, heavens, and you that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time."

SATAN’S DESIRE TO BE WORSHIPPED
HE WANTS TO BE GOD


STEP 1:

Satan’s desire to be worshipped should be looked at. It helps explain what his future plans are. Isaiah 14:13-14 and Ezekiel 28:2,6,9 describe how Satan had in his heart a will to be the most High, Holy God. He desired to sit in the throne of God and exalt himself above God. He wanted God to worship him. Of course, he failed!!

Isaiah 14:12 - "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!"
14:13 - "For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:"
14:14 - "I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."
14:15 - "Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit."

Ezekiel 28:2 - "..Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a god, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas, yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God"
28:6 - "Therefore, thus saith the Lord God: Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God,"
28:9 - "Wilt thou yet say before Him that slayeth thee, I am a god? But thou shall be a man, and not God, in the hand of Him that slayeth thee."

STEP 2:

Having failed with God the Father, he turned to God the Son. He tried to persuade Christ to worship him. Matthew 4:8-10 give an account of this encounter in the wilderness. Satan tempted Christ three times; to turn stone to bread, to cast Himself off a cliff and to become the ruler of the world. This third offer was made in an attempt to receive Christ's worship. Of course, he failed again!!

Matthew 4:8 - "Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;"
4:9 - "And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me."
4:10 - "Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

STEP 3:

I believe Satan's next ploy will be an attempt to divert the Christians’ worship to himself, during the days of the Great Tribulation. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 indicate that in the End Times, the man of sin, son of perdition, Satan, will attempt to show himself as God in order to be worshipped by God's people. He already has unsaved mankind worshipping him, but that isn't enough, he wants God's chosen to worship him as God. So what will he do to try to accomplish that? My belief is that he will come to Earth as a false Christ and attempt to deceive Christians into worshipping him. It is referred to as the Abomination of Desolation. (Matthew 24:15 Daniel 9:27) (John 5:43 Revelation 12:12)

2 Thessalonians 2:4 - "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."

WILL HE FAIL
IN HIS ATTEMPT TO BE WORSHIPPED BY CHRISTIANS?


It looks like he will not fail completely.

2 Thessalonians 2:10,12 - "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie," - "That they all might be judged who believed not the truth ....."

Luke 18:8 - "I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?"

2 Thessalonians 2:3 - "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"

CHRISTIANS TEMPTED


Hebrews 4:15 - " For we have not an high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

The temptations that Christ faced are being presented to Christians of today. Satan failed with Christ, but is he failing in today's Christendom?

Overcoming temptation, Christ chose God's Word, not the bread of the world. Are Christians today choosing the bread of the world instead of the Bread of Life and the Word of God? Praise God, there are those who do adhere to the Word of God in their daily lives and are "setting their affections on things above, not on things on earth." (Colossians 3:2) Sadly, many are not.

Satan misquoted God's Word, but Christ correctly quoted God's Word to rebuke him. It would seem that one of Satan's underlying motives was that he wanted Christ to exploit His Gifts to prove that He was God. Christ didn't have to prove anything, He knew Who He was. Today, are some Christians succumbing to the tricks of Satan by desiring and seeking miracles and experiences rather than "desiring and seeking God"? (Psalm 42:1) Are they trying to prove who they are? Or do they know who they are?

The day will come when some who call themselves Christians will be deluded into worshipping Satan. (2 Thessalonians 2:3,10-12) We trust that you will not be one!!

NOTE: Here are some verses for a quick reference for anyone interested: Names: 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 8 (man of sin - son of perdition - wicked one) Matthew 24:15 Mark 13:14 Daniel 8:13,14 9:27 11:31 12:11 (the abomination/abominator)







The Dragon Of Revelation 13.


Between the 6th and 7th bowl, the dragon, beast and false prophet are mentioned. 3 entities. So, the dragon/devil could be the anti-christ/man of sin. The beast could be the alliance of nations, beast 1. The false prophet could be beast 2. (A nation or 2 nations or a religious leader?) References to the false prophet are at Revelation 13:11 and Revelation 19:20 and 20:10.

Note that in Revelation 12:3, the dragon appears in heaven but is cast out in Revelation 12:9. He lands on earth in Revelation 12:12. Woe to the earth and the people on it! In Revelation 12:12, it says he knows his days are numbered, so we see him going into action in Revelation 13, possibly as the man of sin/a/c. It says he is worshipped in Revelation 13:4. Would it be a fulfillment of 2 Thessalonians 2:3 – 4? Would the dragon/devil be the man of sin/son of perdition as in 2 Thessalonians 2: 3 – 4?

The dragon empowers beast 1 of Revelation 13:1. Beast 2 of 13:11 speaks like a dragon, but is not the dragon.

The beast and false prophet (beasts 1 and 2?) are cast into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. As beast 1 and beast 2 seem to be made up of a political and possibly a religious system, the systems are cast into the fire. (Revelation 19:19 - 20 & 20:1 – 3, 10)

But the dragon/devil/serpent/satan, whether the man of sin/a/c or not, is taken in hand by an angel and sealed and chained for a thousand years into a bottomless pit where he would most likely be suspended and dangling. He will not be allowed to deceive the nations during that time. He is known as a deceiver of nations. His feet had walked in the garden and holy mountain of God and he had walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. (Ezekiel 28:13 – 14) He was allowed to walk in the corridors of heaven and to and fro upon the earth, but at the time of his confinement he will have nowhere to touch his feet. (Job 1:6 - 12 1 Peter 5:8 Revelation 12:10) After the 1,000 years he is allowed a short time of rebellion to again deceive the nations, but he is taken and cast into the lake of fire burning with brimstone where the beast and false prophet await his company.

The devil/dragon (a/c, son of perdition, man of sin and beasts) will make war on the saints. It says the saints will be worn out and some cast into prison. (2 Thessalonians 2:4 Revelation 13:5,6,7 Revelation 2:10 Revelation 12:17 Daniel 7:25)

Who will be performing the miracles of 2 Thessalonians 2:9 and Revelation 13:13 – 14? Satan himself, a religious leader or a country? Who is calling himself God in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 - 4? Is the man of sin a religious or political leader, or satan himself?

Whether the dragon/devil is the a/c or not, we have seen the path of the dragon move from Revelation 12:3 to Revelation 13:4 to Revelation 20: 2 and thru to Revelation 20:10





What GOD Says To HIS 'People'


Right at the start, it will be clearly stated that – yes - any person on this earth can become a child of GOD by believing in JESUS CHRIST. (John 1:12 - Romans 8:14 - John 3:16 - John 14:6)

We are looking here, at the references that GOD HIMSELF has made to HIS/MY 'People'.

As you will see, beyond the Bible, there is history and archaeology to document the issue.

In the following verses, the context makes it clear who GOD’S 'People' are, and who is being addressed.

Psalm 105:6 - O ye seed of Abraham HIS servant, ye children of Jacob HIS 'Chosen'.

GOD’S 'People' are the 12 Tribes of Israel. All 12, who are all around the world, but ‘mainly’ in the Western countries of the world, not just the 2 Tribes of Judah and Benjamin, known as Jews, who are not only in the country of Israel but also, in other countries of the world. Christian, non-Christian and Jew. As you will remember, Jacob had 12 sons, thus the 12 Tribes, not 2 sons.

The Deplorable Spiritual Condition Of GOD’s People, As A Whole,
From Old Testament Times Until Christ Returns.
But HE Always Has A Faithful Remnant.


Deuteronomy 32:28- For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.
Deuteronomy 32:29 - O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their LATTER END!

Hosea 4:6 - MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shall be no priest to ME: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy GOD, I will also forget thy children.

Isaiah 30:8 - Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: Isaiah 30:9 - That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:

"For MY FOOLISH PEOPLE do not recognize My warnings! They are children of folly! They never reflect! They are wise for evil; - but cannot recognize good!" (Jeremiah 4:22 F/F/T)

“For MY PEOPLE ARE FOOLISH, they have not known ME; they are sottish (stupid) children, and they have no understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.” (Jeremiah 4:22 KJ)

If you don’t believe these verses, take a look at what is happening all around you. Many of GOD’S 'People' today, all the way from government leaders to the 'man in the street', still fit the profile of the above Old Testament verses. They are anti-GOD/CHRIST and spurn HIS commandments.

The Faithful Remnant

Ezekiel 6:8 - Yet will I leave a REMNANT, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries.
Romans 11:5 - Even so then at this present time also there is a REMNANT according to the election of grace.

HIS 'People' Were To Be Scattered And Ceased To Be Remembered As HIS People.


Deuteronomy 28:64 – And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shall serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone. Deuteronomy 32:26 - I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men:

How sadly true this is today, that HIS 'People' do not know who they are. This prophecy is being fulfilled before our eyes. Christians and non-Christians alike in the Western countries of the world reject the fact they are HIS 'People', that they are from the 12 Tribes of Jacob/Israel, Abrahamic/Hebrews.

Evil Will Befall Them In the Latter Days. Their Future Is In Clear View.


Deuteronomy 31:29 - For I (Moses) know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and EVIL WILL BEFALL YOU IN THE LATTER DAYS; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands.

Moses is talking about the Latter Day here. Most believe we are now in the Latter Day. This doesn’t sound like a very good ending. Watch Out!!

His People Will Be Invaded And Will Be Left Few In Number.


Deuteronomy 28:49 – The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies; a nation whose tongue thou shall not understand;

Deuteronomy 28:62 – And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou would not obey the voice of the LORD thy God.
Even George Washington had a vision of this country being invaded.

It is interesting that Reverend F. E. Pitts preached two sermons to the U.S. Congress on February 22 and 23, 1857, "The United States of America Foretold in the Holy Scriptures" and "The Battle Armageddon", concerning an end time invasion of America by Russia and Russia's allies.

Authorities on statistics are saying that the populations in the Western countries, that are considered to be mainly from the Tribes of Jacob/Israel, are decreasing.

God Will Come To Deliver HIS 'People' When Their Power Is Gone!


Deuteronomy 32:36 - For the LORD shall judge HIS 'People', and repent HIMSELF for HIS servants, WHEN HE SEETH THAT THEIR POWER IS GONE, and there is none shut up, or left.

Read above – the significance of the word ‘left’ in this verse will take on new meaning.

HE will come – HE will deliver but – HIS PEOPLE’S POWER WILL BE GONE. That is a very serious and definitive word – GONE!




Genesis 49:10 - The Sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto HIM shall the gathering of the people be.

Many believe that the throne of Judah now sits in England and will be, UNTIL CHRIST COMES TO GATHER HIS PEOPLE. Read Allen’s Book – “Judah’s Sceptre and Joseph’s Birthright”.






JESUS CHRIST SHALL RETURN, AS KING!



Copyright © 2003 by CDL All rights reserved.



webmaster Liz