As if the first beast was not bad enough. Revelation 13:11

Posted on 08/20/2015 by remso

This aspect of Revelation intrigues me more than some of the others, because of the similarities in terms of the signs that the two witnesses perform, and how this second beast parallels our Messiah in description. The potential for deception is huge.

Revelation 13:11-18 NASB

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.

My favorite part, tearing it up.

Lets focus on verse 11 for few minutes.

And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. (Revelation 13:11 KJV)

As if the first beast was not bad enough.

Is where the second beast comes from significant?

The word earth is gē and means soil; by extension a region. The same word was used in Revelation 13:3 and there it was defined as the world. But what else do we have to understand it?

The word was translated earth here in John 3:31:

John 3:31 ESV He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.

Jesus used the word and Matthew called it a region:

Matthew 4:16 KJV The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

Was there a region where the sun did not shine?

No, so it was an analogy for an area. In this case he is probably talking about the nations (I would have used the phrase gentile nations but we seem to associate gentile with Christian and one does not equal the other.)

Allow me to back up this concept of the region pointing to the nations:

And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. (Matthew 4:13-16 KJV)

What gentiles still are – are those without a relationship with Christ.

Can I admit something to you? God has really been working me over for several years now, as I was raised to be horribly judgmental. What that means is that I tended to give mercy only to those that did it according to my religious training. But there was that day when God showed me Matthew 25 where he, in the person of Jesus, calls the dead – those that remain in the ground from the nations/gentiles. He separates them into sheep and goats and invites the sheep into the kingdom. That took me some time to absorb, but I got it; and what I got is an understanding of God’s mercy that far surpassed anything I had ever understood. I still have my moments and must be reminded that God is merciful, and that I do not have anything mastered yet, but I am working on it.

and he had two horns like a lamb

Revelation 13:11 MSG I saw another Beast rising out of the ground. It had two horns like a lamb but sounded like a dragon when it spoke.

lamb with horns

We city folk don’t think about sheep as having horns, but they do. Farmers cut them off because they want to sell an undamaged hide eventually, but in John’s day, that did not happen.

We should have an imagery that sounds similar to Revelation 13:11.

One of the Elders said, “Don’t weep. Look–the Lion from Tribe Judah, the Root of David’s Tree, has conquered. He can open the scroll, can rip through the seven seals.” So I looked, and there, surrounded by Throne, Animals, and Elders, was a Lamb, slaughtered but standing tall. Seven horns he had, and seven eyes, the Seven Spirits of God sent into all the earth. (Revelation 5:5-6 MSG)

This is surprising, as the elders said, “ Don’t weep. Look–the Lion from Tribe Judah, the Root of David’s Tree, has conquered. He can open the scroll, can rip through the seven seals.” So I looked, and there, surrounded by Throne, Animals, and Elders, was a Lamb, slaughtered but standing tall..”

Notice what it sounds like when it speaks:

“but sounded like a dragon when it spoke.”

There are many descriptions of Jesus voice when he speaks, such as, the voice of many waters, but there are none in which he sounds like a dragon. (We already know that the dragon – the deceiver – is Satan.)

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1 ESV)

The King James version of Genesis 3:1 calls him subtile. Subtile is the Hebrew word cunning. To have the second beast speaking like a dragon tells us that he is to be not only crafty, but subtile.

We have not made it that far in our study of Revelation but chapter 16:13 attests to what comes out of the mouth of: the first beast, the second beast/false prophet, and the dragon/Satan – unclean spirits.

And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. (Revelation 16:13 KJV)

As you read this you should have huge red flags popping up. This is NOT Jesus the Christ. If not, then who is this person? In our spirits we see the lamb, Jesus Christ as John describes what he sees in Revelation 5, but this is definitely not the Jesus we know. One of the things that makes prophecy so special is the people who have taken the time to understand and pay attention to what Islam believes, then share that with us, like Joel Richardson does in his books, The Islamic Antichrist, and The Mideast Beast. I also found information by Dr. Mark Durie, and I give it to you here.

Islam too is awaiting their version of Jesus. They call him Isa:

From – ‘Isa, the Muslim Jesus – By Dr Mark Durie

The Qur’an tells us:

‘Isa, was a prophet of Islam’

“Jesus’ true name, according to the Qur’an, was ‘Isa. His message was pure Islam, surrender to Allah. (Âl ‘Imran 3:84) Like all the Muslim prophets before him, and like Muhammad after him, ‘Isa was a lawgiver, and Christians should submit to his law. (Âl ‘Imran 3:50; Al-Ma’idah 5:48) ‘Isa’s original disciples were also true Muslims, for they said ‘We believe. Bear witness that we have surrendered. We are Muslims.’ (Al-Ma’idah 5:111)”

“‘Isa’s mother Mariam was the daughter of ‘Imran, (Âl ‘Imran 3:34,35) — cf the Amram of Exodus 6:20 — and the sister of Aaron (and Moses). (Maryam 19:28) She was fostered by Zachariah (father of John the Baptist). (Âl ‘Imran 3:36) While still a virgin (Al-An’am 6:12; Maryam 19:19-21) Mariam gave birth to ‘Isa alone in a desolate place under a date palm tree. (Maryam 19:22ff) (Not in Bethlehem).”

So, to some small degree, Islam gets the genealogy correct, Jesus is born of Mary. But this guy is not Jesus.

Exodus 6:20 NASB Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses; and the length of Amram’s life was one hundred and thirty-seven years.

Born of Mary, but not of God, this Isa, is of the same lineage as Aaron and Moses. That, according to their beliefs, makes him eligible to be a priest. There may be some truth to this which will lend to the deception. Not wanting to jump ahead but this last aspect plays well into what we see in scripture. I opened this blog with a comment about the parallels between Jesus and Isa – the false prophet.

From Wikipedia:

“To aid in his ministry to the Jewish people, Jesus was given the ability to perform miracles (such as healing various ailments like blindness, raising the dead to life, casting out demons, etc.) which no other prophet in Islam has ever been credited with, all according to God’s will.”

Revelation 13:13, 14 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.

Again from Wikipedia:

“Like all prophets in Islam, Jesus (Isa) is considered a Muslim (i.e., one who submits to the will of God), as he preached that his followers should adopt the “straight path” as commanded by God. Traditionally, Islam teaches the rejection of the Trinitarian Christian view that Jesus was God incarnate or the son of God. The Quran says that Jesus himself never claimed to be the Son of God, and it furthermore indicates that Jesus will deny having ever claimed divinity at the Last Judgment, and God will vindicate him. Islamic texts forbid the association of partners with God, emphasizing a strict notion of monotheism(tawhīd).”

“Numerous titles are given to Jesus in the Quran and in Islamic literature, the most common being al-Masīḥ (“the Messiah”). Jesus is also, at times, called “Seal of the Israelite Prophets”, because, in general Muslim belief, Jesus was the last prophet sent by God to guide the Children of Israel. Jesus is traditionally understood in Islam to have been a precursor to Muhammad, and is believed by Muslims to have foretold the latter’s coming;”

The short of it:

The Jesus Islam looks for is named Isa. He will be a Jew, of the lineage of Aaron, and a priest. He will perform miracles, and he will be a Muslim. The scariest aspect of this, is that he may be in training to be a high priest within the new temple. Considering how he will set up the image of the beast and make it talk. Doesn’t that imply that he has access to the temple and the respect of his peers – at least for a time. He will cause many to be deceived. If he has this much power, what is to say that many Jews will not give up their faith and convert to Islam.

How do you avoid being deceived? You know what the original is like. Part of that process is to be intentional in having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It starts with you asking Jesus Christ into your life. After that you go on a quest to find out what his nature is and how He would respond to people. You would then know what he sounds like and how he responds when you talk to him. You will find that he is crazy passionate about you and can hardly wait to throw his arms around you.

Posted in Deception, End times, Prophetic, Thoughts on scripture | Tagged antichrist, Bible, Book of Revelation, deception, end times, Islam, Jesus, Jesus Christ, last days, muslim, prophecy, Quran, Revelation | Leave a comment

“and all who dwell on earth will worship it,..” Revelation 13:8

Posted on 08/18/2015 by remso

“and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.” (Revelation 13:8 ESV)

“and all who dwell on earth will worship it,..”

Is that a true statement? No!

How do I know that? Because the sentence continues:

“everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the

world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.”

So this applies to:

Those who have not accepted Christ in their lives.
Those I cannot explain clearly – those we see in Matthew 25. Having all received the wedding invitation fifty percent were not ready. Hebrews 9:28 tells us that he is coming for those who are awaiting Him. I know plenty that are not awaiting Him, taking the attitude that He has not come yet, He is not coming now. I cannot say their names are not written in the book of life, but they were clearly not anxiously waiting for his return.
Those that will continue to come to Jesus during the seven-year period. Their allegiance to Christ is no longer under the banner of grace and they must prove their faith at the cost of their lives – these are called saints, just as we are.

I know what you are thinking, as I did it myself, that momentary thought that says after the rapture people have no hope. God never gives up hope, and those whose names are written in the book of life, the ones you cannot imagine ever turning their hearts, will continue to come up to the last-minute.

You surely understand Islam’s goal to form a Caliphate by now.

Surprisingly, I constantly meet people who have no idea.

Territories of the Caliphs

A caliphate is the Islamic form of government representing the political unity and leadership of the Muslim world. The head of state (Caliph) has a position based on the notion of a successor to Muhammad’s political authority. The most recent caliphate was the Ottoman empire, however it was brought to its knees in 1924.

There was a time when they were not so open about this goal – The ultimate goal of the Caliphate would be to bring every square inch of this planet under Islam and convert/subdue all remaining Infidels.

The goal of the Caliphate

Anyone outside of Islam is considered an infidel, and therefore subject to any abuse they consider fit under Sharia law. This includes: stoning, chopping, sawing, hanging, raping, electrocuting, shooting, burning alive, and throwing people off buildings. Did I miss anything?

Many like to advocate that the Roman empire is where the Antichrist will come from, I would like to point out that the Ottoman empire held a comparable amount of land as well.

Roman empire at its height.

Now contrast this map with the Ottoman empire at its height.

Ottoman empire at its strongest

I want to point out one other thing – terminology.

“and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.” (Revelation 13:8 ESV)

I suppose at some point we need to standardize our translations. The problem there is deciding who is the most correct. That is why I compare constantly and look to the Greek or Hebrew, and the context.

As you can see, the ESV says they worship “it”. That is very proper for something so nondescript as an aspect of a multi-headed beast. One which we have established as empires or governing bodies for the heads. But this “it” has been taken one step farther in that it was given a mouth. That mouth seems to direct the action at this point and is therefore perceived as the power source. How quickly we forget that the dragon gave the beast its power. Yes, I see the implications that the mouth carries that power, but no greater than our own American Secretary of State might.

The NIV translates it like this:

All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast–all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world. (Revelation 13:8 NIV)

While the ASV declares this beast to be an him.

And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, every one whose name hath not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that hath been slain. (Revelation 13:8 ASV)

It is obvious that the beast becomes a worldwide ruler. This aspect of the beast has many names. In Daniel he is the willful king:

“And the king shall do as he wills. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done. (Daniel 11:36 ESV)

In Daniel chapter seven, he is known as the little horn:

I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. (Daniel 7:8 ESV)

This person is called the prince that is to come in Daniel chapter nine:

And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. (Daniel 9:26 ESV)

I think I ended on Daniel for a reason. So many are looking for this “prince” to come from Rome seeing as the troops operated under the Roman flag, under a Roman emperor, and they fulfilled the prophecy by destroying Jerusalem and the temple (This was also foretelling a future event.) The problem with the belief that we should be looking for someone to come out of Rome ignores historical evidence, for not only Josephus, but Tacitus also recorded that the troops were primarily conscript Assyrian troops, with a vile hatred of the Jews. They set fire to the wood lined temple. Titus the emperor was alerted and he came running in trying to stop it. They ignored his orders, knowing the potential repercussions.

If Titus was against the destruction of the temple, how can we say that he was the prince? We cannot. But because Assyrians, the lifelong enemy of Israel, destroyed the temple and the city, would it not make more sense to understand that this prince then, would come from Assyria. Assyria was Nineveh and Elam, known today as Iran and Iraq. Those nations are now represented by almost any nation where Islam is practiced.

Where then is this prince coming from?

Posted in End times, Prophetic, Thoughts on scripture | Tagged antichrist, Bible, Book of Revelation, Caliphate, end times, Islam, Islamic state, Israel, Jews, last days, Middle East, Muhammad, muslim, Ottoman empire, prophecy, Revelation, Scripture | 2 Comments

Things to look for in September

Posted on 08/15/2015 by remso

This particular post came about for two reasons.

Having heard many of these things, I wanted, no, I needed to have a better understanding. Is that because I am the great end times expert? Hardly, but people who know me are coming to me for answers.
As an aspect of his recent teaching on Revelation, Pastor Lee McFarland of Covina Assembly of God, covered a few of the bigger events that will happen in September. He ended this talk with, I am not setting dates, but I am telling you that there are enough events happening that it warrants our attention.

Hopefully he got people motivated enough to pursue the events that are coming so soon in September and begin to compare these events with what scripture says about them. An example, with something as notable as the last blood-moon coming September 28. The problem is that most have no clue what to look for, while the other half still think we are only talking about conspiracy theories.

Hint: It is not a theory if it has been proven true.

Things to look for in September

Sept. 11 – the 14th anniversary of the 9/11 attack on the U.S.A.

This date has special meaning to Islamic Jihadists and is a date on which they will want to commit acts of terrorism. Although by this time you should understand that Jihad is always a special day for them.

Sept. 13 – Elul 29 on the Jewish Calendar; the last day of the Shemittah Year.

On this date, Biblically all debts are to be wiped clean. While the Shemittah was intended to be a blessing it could also be a curse if not complied with, and Israel did not. For their sins of omission Israel went into captivity.

In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans–in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. (Daniel 9:1-2 ESV)

In the past the U.S. Stock Market has taken a big hit on Elul 29. As this is a Sunday this year, the Market might crash on the preceding Friday, Sept. 11, or the anytime shortly afterwards.

Sept. 13 – Rosh Hashanah. It includes the first ten days of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, beginning on Rosh Hashanah and culminating on Yom Kippur. Yes, September 13 begins the Jewish New Year, and it is marked by ten days of repentance before the Lord. It is also the day of the blowing of the trumpets. This in Jewish tradition is the shofar, and tradition calls for them to be blown 100 times.



Embed from Getty Images

Other things of note:

Genesis 8:13 And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth:
Exodus 40:2 On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.
1Chronicles 12:15 These are they that went over Jordan in the first month, when it had overflown all his banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys,…

It seems that most of the significant things that happened with Israel, happened in the first month, the new year – Tishri.

Sept. 14 – Anno Lucis, “The Year of Lucifer” Begins

IMPORTANT: The Satanists have plans. But we have the power of God and Jesus with us. Just because they have plans does not mean we cannot unmake those plans. Please pray against this.

Sept. 15 – The Jade Helm military exercise is supposed to end.

Considering how the Ferguson Missouri situation has erupted again, what do you really think our streets are going to look like soon. Operation Jade Helm is a massive military drill, extending across 9 states, for the purpose of gaining skills in “unconventional warfare”. Sadly, that means we the vocal public are the enemy. This is a precursor to Martial Law.

The logo is significant for an item that is difficult to see, and for what it states as its purpose.

Jade Helm – Master the Human Domain

In the dead center is a wooden clog. Do a search for wooden clogs in prison and you will find a disturbing relationship. The human domain is really simple in that it intends to bring warfare to where we live.

The clog, an allusion to internment.

Sept. 15 – The UN general assembly convenes.

How does this play into the scheme of things? Pay attention to the dates involving September 22-27. It is highly possible that the subject of Palestine, and the demand for Israel to give up Jerusalem to them.

Sept. 21 – International day of peace.

I am not sure where this is going, but Daniel’s prophecy tells us that there is a timing, and it involves the Antichrist signing a treaty with “many”, not just Israel, if at all. Will the Antichrist use this as his opportunity to sign a treaty? I do not know.

And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.” (Daniel 9:26-27 ESV)

The references to weeks are fairly simple. 1 week = 7 years. The passage does not say that he will make a peace treaty with Israel, but it does say that during that treaty the covenant will be broken and Israel will be ravaged by war. The temple, once again, will be taken over and desolated.

The International Day of Peace is a UN function that happens each year. The International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. The theme of this year’s commemoration is “Partnerships for Peace – Dignity for All” which aims to highlight the importance of all segments of society to work together to strive for peace. The work of the United Nations would not be possible without the initial partnerships that were active in its creation and the thousands of partnerships each year between governments, civil society, the private sector, faith-based groups and other non-governmental organizations that are needed to support the Organization in achieving its future goals.

The statements, “The theme of this year’s commemoration is “Partnerships for Peace – Dignity for All” which aims to highlight the importance of all segments of society to work together to strive for peace,” and “faith-based groups” sound benign enough, but they betray a darker side which we are already seeing, as many in government describe faith-based groups as deadly, irrational racists and bigots, that need to be silenced.

Sept. 22 – Pope Francis will arrive in the U.S.

His official agenda:

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

White House Welcoming Ceremony and personal meeting with President Barack Obama

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Speech to the Senate and House of Representatives (Joint Session of Congress)

Friday, September 25, 2015

The Pope will address United Nations General-Assembly. He may say something about Agenda 2030.

From Alex Jones, INFOWARS website. ”The globalists want to use “sustainable development” as an excuse to micromanage the lives of every man, woman and child on the entire globe. We are told that individual liberty and freedom are “dangerous” because when everyone just runs around doing whatever they want it is “bad for the planet”. For example, one of the goals of the sustainable development crowd is to push the human population into giant “megacities” and to allow nature to recapture much of what has already been settled by humanity.

Sept. 22 – The Hajj in Mecca

The Hajj (Arabic: حج‎ Ḥaǧǧ “pilgrimage“) is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, and a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey, and can support their family during their absence.

Only God knows if this will work the Muslims into a Jihad frenzy.

Thousands encircle the black stone, while an Imam speaks as the oracle of Allah.

Sept. 23 – Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement.

Yom Kippur is, the day when the Jews try to make up for any wrong things we have done. It is a day of fasting which starts at sunset on the 10th of Tishrei and finishes when night falls on the 11^th of Tishrei. Yom Kippur is also called the Sabbath of Sabbaths. It is the most holy day in the Jewish year. It is the day when God decides what will happen to every Jewish person in the year ahead.

Apply these concepts to what we know about our life in Christ.

The death and resurrection of Christ assured our forgiveness of sins. Our acceptance of Him affirms us of our home with him. We call this our hope. Jesus told us that He would come back for those who are His.

For us, atonement is a continual process, as we come to Jesus with our daily failures. Spend some time reading the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Rome and you will find sin to be a fully discussed topic; not because we are hopelessly lost, but as John states below, we have an advocate.

Since sin is merely missing the small bulls eye of a target. I should actually be happy because at least I am trying to hit the target.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. (1 John 2:1-3 ESV)

A “propitiation” (KJV, NASB) was an atonement, a way to appease or satisfy the wrath of a God whose standard had been violated;

Here is the bottom line for the follower of Christ; there is nothing left for us to do but await his coming. However, I must remember that Jesus was a Jew, and that these high holy days are very significant, so it should not surprise us if God has huge plan for this time.

Sept. 23 – Under the category of other things.

On May 13, 2014, French foreign minister Laurent Fabius announced that we were on the edge of the abyss and had 500 days to avoid ultimate chaos. Exactly five hundred days from that speech date is September 23, 2015.
On multiple occasions for years now, Hollywood films have alluded to the September 23rd date. Examples include “The Number 23” (2007) and most recently the Disney movie, “Tomorrowland” with George Clooney (2015).
Before his death in 1727, it is alleged that Sir Isaac Newton, the famous physicist and devout follower of Christ, concealed a prophetic script in one of his journals. These writings contained important information related to Israel and end times events. The manuscripts are detailed in the book Newtons Riddle. Interestingly enough, Newtons calculations point to something occurring on September 23, 2015.
It is alleged that 2.5 mile wide asteroid is to hit the earth somewhere off the coast of Puerto Rico. This is supposed to happen on September 23. If that were to happen it would take out the eastern sea board. To enhance this idea, many have had prophetic dreams in which they see a Tsunami that reaches into the Appalachian mountain range.
There are far too many things promoting the date of September 23 to ignore, such as: movies, illuminati recruitment videos, Sap business systems promotions, just to name a few.

September 25 – 27 TomorrowWorld Festival

This is taking place in Atlanta Georgia this year. It is a New Age, New World Order, Illuminati, and Rave party all mixed into one. This started in Belgium ten years ago, and it is filled occultist and NWO symbology through out.

Things one might see at TomorrowWorld festivals. Illuminati symbols, occultist symbols, and characters from the unknown world trying to draw you in.

Should you wish to go in-depth into what is happening here I suggest you do a search for Tomorrowworld illuminati.

This website has much information, and is clearly written.

http://theopenscroll.blogspot.com/2014/07/part-2-hidden-signs-of-goddess.html

Sept. 28 – The last Blood-moon we will see in our life times.

And it falls precisely on Yom Kippur – a Jewish high holy day observed on the 10th day of the month of Tishri by abstinence from food and drink and by the daylong recitation of prayers of repentance in the synagogue. Also called Day of Atonement.

Picture this: should we be in heaven at this point, do you not think that we will be participating in the highest of Holy Days, along with Jesus?

Random information: I made no real mention of CERN.

Many are saying CERN will be fully operational and will open a portal to the underworld in September 2015. CERN was scheduled to restart on 3/23/15—6 months before 9/23/15.

One of the aspects of CERN is the statue of the Hindu war-god Shiva that stands outside the entrance to the place. Add to this that the people who work there have recorded themselves dancing some weird war dance.

If none of these things convince you, then perhaps the words of two prominent Jewish Rabbis’ will.

From the website, Breaking News Israel, we read:

Leading Israeli Rabbi Says the Arrival of the Messiah is Imminent

By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz July 3, 2015 , 7:40 am

Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, a leading authority in mainstream Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, has been giving clear and unequivocal messages recently that the coming of the Messiah is imminent. He is urging Jews to make Aliyah as soon as possible. Aliyah, the Hebrew verb for going up refers to immigrating to Israel, which is seen as higher spiritual action that can help herald in the coming of the Messiah.

It was reported that the Rabbi Kanievsky was presented with a pamphlet, written by Rabbi Yitzchak Ben Tzvi from the city of Bnei Brak, dealing with the End of Days and many other related prophecies. Rabbi Kanievsky, who is a pillar of the Jewish community and known for his authoritative books on Torah law, read the pamphlet carefully. After a short consideration, he told those around him that the pamphlet needed to be distributed and that Jews living outside Israel should return to their ancestral land.

In yet another instance of Rabbi Kanievsky’s call for aliyah, author Rabbi Yekutiel Fisch revealed advice that was given to his cousin, a teacher at a prominent Lakewood Yeshiva who visited Israel recently and went to Rabbi Kanievsky to receive a blessing at the end of his visit.

The Rabbi told him that he should not leave Israel because the Messiah would be arriving very soon. The teacher responded that he had 700 students waiting for him in Lakewood. Rabbi Kanievsky told him that he must bring all of the students to Israel. Upon his arrival in Lakewood, the story spread quickly, creating quite an impression on the students who all revere Rabbi Kanievsky.

Rabbi Kanievsky has gone so far as to proclaim that the Messiah will arrive by the end of the Sabbatical Year, which ends on the 29^th day of Elul (Saturday, September 12, 2015).

It is important to note that this year is not only the Sabbatical Year, but it is also the Jubilee Year, which comes only once every 49 years. It is also extremely imperative to understand that the four blood-moon tetrad occurred in 2014-15 on Israeli feast days, the last of which arrives on Sukkot, September 28, 2015!

I (God) will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out” Ezekiel 20:34.

The second Rabbi I want you to know about.

Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri

Rabbi *Yitzchak Kaduri’s Prophecy***

Before his death, though, he wrote down two hints about the Messiah (Mashiach). First, that Messiah would appear after the death of Ariel Sharon. Next, that the Messiah’s name is Yehoshua, Yeshua, Yahusha … you got it, the one that most English speaking moderns call Jesus.

During his final years on Earth, Rabbi Kaduri’s thoughts were centered on the coming of the One who would redeem Israel. The Rabbi passed on in January of 2006. Very interesting … AND 2006 is the same year Ariel Sharon was declared to be incapacitated: serious medical problems began in January, the very month Rabbi Kaduri died.

“here is his vision: According to his followers, he fell into a trance-like state in 2005 on Yom Kippur, the Jewish holy Day of Atonement. This happened before a room full of his students and lasted 45 minutes. Afterwards, the old rabbi lifted his head and said “I have met the Messiah…..He shall appear soon.” He somberly continued, “….The Messiah has revealed to me that He will not present Himself until after the death of our prime minister, Ariel Sharon.

Kaduri died within three months after his vision, on January 28, 2006 at the estimated age of 108. It is said that he wrote a note instructing it to be opened one year after his death, which would reveal the name of the Messiah. The rabbi’s story was first published in the April 2007 issue of Israel Today Magazine. According to that article, here is what the note said (translated from Hebrew into English):

“Concerning the letter abbreviation of the Messiah’s name, He will lift the people and prove that his word and law are valid. This I have signed in the month of mercy, Yitzhak Kaduri.”

The Hebrew sentence with the hidden name of the Messiah reads: ירי העםויוכיח שדברו ותורתו עומדים (Yarim Ha’am Veyokhiakh Shedvaro Vetorato Omdim).

Kaduri supposedly told his followers to take the first letter of each Hebrew word in the sentence to spell out the name. The name that was revealed is said to translate as Yehoshua.”

From: Cynthia Nuara

www.facebook.com/propheciesinthebible

You made it through, and I can just about guarantee you that I left something out.

The HOPE is that we, as followers of Christ, will not have go through most of this. I have stated many times in my posts – that tribulations are a guarantee for the believer, so do go whining about “The Tribulation”. Besides that it is the time of God’s wrath, and that time was not meant for those who are in Him. Should you want to be in Him then you need only to say a simple prayer and mean it; something like this: “God, please forgive me of all of my sins. I believe that your Son, Jesus, died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins, and I receive Him as my Lord and Savior, in Jesus’s name I pray.”

Posted in End times, Hope, In Christ, Prophetic, Thoughts, Thoughts on scripture | Tagged antichrist, Belief, Book of Revelation, Christianity, Cults, deception, end times, future, God, High Holy Days, hope, International day of peace, Israel, Jesus Christ, Jewish holidays, Jews, last days, Old Testament, Operation Jade Helm, prophecy, Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri, Revelation, Rosh Hashanah, Satan, Yom Kippur | Leave a comment

This person is deadly and will command great power. Revelation 13:7

Posted on 08/10/2015 by remso

In an earlier post, I talked about this transition we see as the beast obtains a spokesman, and how that the first designations applied to the beast tend to make us look for a person as we try to figure out who this beast is. The spokesman is clearly a person, just as John Kerry is now the spokesman for the United States, in his role as the Secretary of State. However you and I need to get this straight; this “it”, is it the beast, or the spokesman? I am casting my vote for the spokesman.

john-kerry-has-been-pushing-for-air-strikes-in-syria

John Forbes Kerry is an American politician who is the 68th and current United States Secretary of State.

Do not make the mistake of thinking this spokesman is feckless like our Secretary of State, this person is deadly and will command great power. Another that has caught the eye of many is Alexis Tsipras, the Prime minster of Turkey. A devout atheist it might not take much for him to become a devoted Muslim.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras of Greece

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is the 12th and current President of Turkey

At this time – we have no solid idea who this spokesman – the antichrist scripture tells us about – is, although Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of Turkey, has declared himself to be god several times.

(Revelation 13:7 ESV) Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation,

“it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them.”

In a earlier post we read that the war it makes lasts 42 months, three and one half years.

And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. (Revelation 13:5 ESV)

Is there a difference between making war and exercising authority?

Authority is the Greek word exousia, and means: (in the sense of ability); privilege, that is, (subjectively) force, (objectively) mastery.

Apparently there is little difference, for if you restate verse five with alternate wording, you see that in both cases they are deadly.

“and it was allowed to exercise force and mastery for forty-two months.”

Is this deadly theme we see here something that we can find elsewhere? Absolutely; look at the prophecies of Daniel:

It is in, chapter 7 verses 20-25, where he speaks of “the other horn which came up; that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts”, and how “that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them.” Daniel also tells us about the blasphemous aspect of this spokesperson and the length of time. “He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.”
In 8:24,25 – We are made aware of the destructiveness of this spokesperson/mouth.”His power will be mighty, but not by his own power, And he will destroy to an extraordinary degree ; He will destroy mighty men and the holy people. And he will destroy many while they are at ease.
And in 9:26-27 ESV We find that the mouth has another name (he has several.) “the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. “..until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”

“authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation”

One last passage to show that this is all part of God’s plan, and fills all the parameters. This is one that Jesus revealed to the disciples.

Luke 21:22-24 ESV for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. (23) Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. (24) They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

To say “for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.” Is to tell you straight that this is the time of God’s wrath upon the earth, and it will be global. Muslims are killing Buddhists in Thailand, the indigenous people of Papua, New Guinea, Chad, Nigeria, and of course, in your country also.

Before we part for today, let me clarify something.

“it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them.”

This is not the christian community as I understand it today (moments before the rapture.) It is those that come to Christ after the rapture has taken place, and we see them called the Saints and the martyred.

Revelation 6:9-11 ESV When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. (10) They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (11) Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

While this could be speaking of the church, it also speaks of those martyred during the years of wrath.

Revelation 12:11 ESV And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

The second group, the martyred after the rapture, will not have grace, as we had. They will have to prove their allegiance to God at the edge of the sword. See, the problem is that we think God is just a weak wimp, and that is not the case. You want a daddy that spanks you? I suspect you have been spanked, you just do not recognize it. God does have rules, and the day will come when payment will be collected.

The number of those, regardless of how they must get there, that will choose to come to Jesus, will be uncountable.

Revelation 7:9-10 ESV After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, (10) and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

What is the distinction then between those that are caught up in the rapture, and those who are martyred?

At this time, a pre-rapture scenario, we live in what is known as the age of grace, a time of God’s mercy. What that means is, that in a sense I have the freedom to play the fool, doing as I please, knowing that my sins are forgiven and covered, and that I will not be judged for sin. However that statement does not exclude me from judgment. Merely to say to you will not be judged in one way, does not exclude you from being judged in another. As Christians we have all heard that we will stand before Jesus in judgment, but that judgment has more to do with what you did with Jesus. So, standing before Jesus as a believer, all the chaff – stuff I think is important – will be burned away. Down here on earth, we think our stuff makes us special and privileged. Suppose this burning away of the chaff leaves you with no underwear; how privileged will you feel at that moment? Truth is – there is no sorrow in heaven, only the joy of being in His presence.

The Apostle Paul told us that we should not allow our freedoms to cause others to stumble. It could be as simple as a friend of mine puts it when he says that some of his colorful language is not cussing and others should not be offended by it. Whether that is true or not, that other person, especially in Recovery groups, may have suffered tremendous verbal abuse as a child, and sitting there forty years later, not have a clue how to cope with what they perceive as abuse. Now extend this idea to social drinking, or your freedom to smoke pot. Some people, raised religiously, believe that the simple act of smoking can send you to hell. Do you think, I, with my co-dependent head, have time to worry about all this potential guilt? Absolutely NOT. I do however have a brain, I can read, and I have a conscience. I get it, and though yes, I like the taste of a cold beer, I choose not to partake because I have a calling upon my life – and His name is Jesus. Having this understanding helps to keep me from playing the fool.

I am not telling you how to run your life, you are free to be a fool if you want, and you are free to take it to the extreme. I will have difficulty feeling sorry for you when you stumble up to the microphone to say, Hi, my name is ….; a grateful believer, and I struggle with a meth addiction, alcohol addiction, and what ever else you spew out of your mouth; knowing full well that your own selfishness put you in that place. I will however, congratulate you for the bravery that it took for you to be honest and declare that you played the fool, finally understanding that you are not in control of your own life.

We, as followers of Christ, and those of us in Recovery, made a willing and conscious effort to turn our lives over to our higher power – Jesus Christ, for there is no lasting help in anything else.

Posted in End times, Prophetic, Thoughts on scripture | Tagged Alexis Tsipras, antichrist, blasphemy, end times, Islam, Israel, Jews, John Forbes Kerry, John Kerry, last days, Minister Alexis Tsipras, muslim, prophecy, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Revelation, Secretary of State, Syria, Turkey, Vladimir Putin | Leave a comment

The beast was allowed to speak. Revelation 13:5-6

Posted on 08/07/2015 by remso

The Revelation of St John: 12. The Sea Monster and the Beast with the Lamb’s Horn (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I gave a teaching on Victory in our Recovery meeting last night. An aspect of that teaching talks about giving yourself over to Jesus and allowing Him to change your life. I pointed out that real changes only happen when you open your bible as you pursue those changes. I am painfully aware of how heavy the bible covers are, but I told the crowd that I will help them to open it.

Surely at this point you picked up on my sarcasm; it also applies to our being able to understand the Revelation as well. While I had the desire, all those years ago, they faded quickly after the speaker left, because I was left to deal with finding these answers that were buried in my bible just as you are. Add to that, that I had undiagnosed learning disabilities. What began to change all this for me was technology, and a program called e-Sword. It gave me a number of resources and the ability to find things quickly through searches. There is one other thing that caused great change in me, and that was Joel Richardson and his book, The Islamic Antichrist. The word of God came alive after I began to read that book.

We are living in the Revelation as I speak. It makes my hair stand on end just saying that. As a British acquaintance of mine says, “Come on, get in!”

The beast was allowed to speak

Revelation 13:5-6 Darby (5) And there was given to it a mouth, speaking great things and blasphemies; and there was given to it authority to pursue its career forty-two months. (6) And it opened its mouth for blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle, and those who have their tabernacle in the heaven.

Pick a translation, most of them use the terminology him instead of it.

Why is this noteworthy? Because by going back to Daniel’s prophecy we established that we are dealing with empires or governing bodies that comprised the beast. Our understanding of what is taking place here can easily change depending on the translation. For example: if I was locked into the translation that calls the beast “him” then certainly I would be looking for a man. However, if I comprehend that this is an “it”, then the concept of a mouth given to it, takes on the form of a spokesman, and that is what we are looking for when we deal with verses 5 and 6.

The statue we see in Daniel chapter two, that Daniel describes to Nebuchadnezzar as the head, corresponds with the two other visions that Daniel saw in Daniel chapters seven, and nine. Since we know that the Babylonian kingdom was followed by the Medes and Persians, and then the Grecian empire we are able to grasp the direction this beast is going in terms of power and a global threat.

A second thing we need to pay attention to is what this spokesperson says. The passage itself tells us that he is “speaking great things and blasphemies”. Speaking great things does not sound so bad, does it. But what translation do you use? Let’s assume that you are old school and only use the KJV.

Revelation 13:5 KJV And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

“great things” does not seem so bad. With everybody running for president of the United States, all we hear are the great things the candidates claim they are going to do. The trained ear knows that 99% of that talk is lies, but we want to be appeased and therefore listen.

But if you explore other translations, such as the Message, you get this:

Revelation 13:5 MSG The Beast had a loud mouth, boastful and blasphemous. It could do anything it wanted for forty-two months.

Now it has changed a little. In concept it is not so different from the King James version, but let’s do one more for fun.

Revelation 13:5 ESV And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.

“the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words”, now it feels like more of an affront not only to God, but to my good nature. I have not yet approached this idea of blasphemy, but will, so hang on.

The Greek word translated mouth is stoma. This is similar to a word that we learned in Horticulture, and is a small opening on the plant used for transpiration, the exchange of gases. In a human I believe we call this exchange of gases coming out of the mouth hot air, but is it hot air if there is a deadly truth to it? Check out how the Strong’s concordance defines stoma: the mouth (as if a gash in the face); by implication language (and its relations); figuratively an opening (in the earth); specifically the front or edge (of a weapon): – edge, face, mouth.

The Greek word translated as haughty, boastful and arrogant, is megas. For crying out loud, we have a shark by that name, a Mega Mouth. The definitions for megas cover a range from big and arrogant, to fierce and large. I suspect, that since this “mouth” is more than likely Islamic, then he will tell you exactly what he is going to do, and mean it.

Revelation 13:5 ISV The beast was allowed to speak arrogant and blasphemous things, and it was given authority for 42 months.

“arrogant and blasphemous things”

How many times have you heard someone talk about the possibility that they committed the unpardonable sin? Jesus sort of verbally crashed into the pharisees one day immediately after healing someone. The story begins with:

Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to talk was brought to him. Jesus healed him so that the man could speak and see. All the crowds were amazed and kept saying, “This man isn’t the Son of David, is he?” But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man drives out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” He knew what they were thinking and told them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. (Matthew 12:22-25 ISV)

So the Pharisees, seeing this healing, say quietly, this man drives out demons by the power of Satan. How did Jesus respond to this murmuring?

Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. (Matthew 12:31-32 ESV)

His response was almost immediate. “every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.” Analyze what happened here in Matthew. Jesus heals a man that is blind and cannot speak. In that condition the man is incapable of telling anyone what caused the problem. Jesus merely heals the man, and yet the Pharisees, pick up on the fact that Jesus released this man from a demon possession. They do not give honor to God, but attribute what just happened to the devil. Jesus adds: “but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” The bottom line is this, you can challenge Jesus/God all day long, but attribute what he does to the devil and you have crossed the line.

What is this “mouth” doing? He is speaking evil against God. Since we know that this mouth, the Antichrist is thrown into eternal punishment with Satan, one can assume that his blasphemies were against the Holy Spirit/God, and unforgivable.

If this mouth is Islamic, quite possibly taking the role of the twelfth Imam – The Mahdi Islam awaits, and the Antichrist, then wouldn’t it be his job to put God and Jesus down, while lifting himself up. In that role, what kind of things would he be saying? Not sure, but I cannot imagine them being pleasant. We get a taste of what Islam says and believes even now, as they brutalize their captors – especially if they are Christians – raping them, and then killing them in some brutal fashion.

One last thing: “and it was given authority for 42 months.” The time of God’s wrath lasts seven-years. Therefore the 42 months or three and one half years, parallels either the first half, the second half, or somewhere in between. I suggest this is the first beast, and shows up at the beginning of the time period, signs a peace treaty, presumably with Israel (although the scriptural terminology calls for many), wages a continuous war against the saints (these are those who are martyred during this time period), and then seems to step aside as the false prophet shows up at the midpoint.

The object is not to scare you, but to inform you. The more you know and understand, the easier it is for you instruct many in righteousness, and that is what we are all about.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal savior then ask Him into your life. It may be the wisest thing you have ever done. He is coming back for those who belong to him, otherwise I foresee nothing but pain in the future.

Posted in Thoughts on scripture | Tagged antichrist, Bible, blasphemy, Book of Revelation, deception, end times, hope, Islam, Jesus, Jesus Christ, last days, muslim, prophecy, Revelation | 2 Comments

No one is like this beast! No one can fight against it. Revelation 13:4

Posted on 08/06/2015 by remso

“No one is like this beast! No one can fight against it.” That is not true, however, in the process of physically fighting against it you become just like it. We have waited too long to eliminate this evil that has waited silently in our nations, infiltrating the fabric of our governing bodies, and now it is awakening around the globe.



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As overwhelming as this looks, it is being restrained. Restrained by little insignificant people like me. People who have been willing to look at what is coming and talk about it. I am telling you that ignoring it can and will get you killed, and what use are you when you are dead?

2 Thessalonians 2:7 ESV (7) For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.

It is you, it is me, and it is the Spirit of the living God that flows through my veins and gives me a voice that is restraining this beast. Am I having an impact on the Middle Eastern world? It does not seem like it, but then you do not know my God, and his name is Yeshua, NOT Allah.

“No one is like this beast! No one can fight against it.”



Embed from Getty Images

Revelation 13:4 ESV And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”

An 1800s Russian engraving depicting the Whore of Babylon riding the seven-headed Beast (a Sirrush) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Context: The dragon is Satan.

Revelation 12:9 ESV “And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan,..”

We know that the beast comes up out of the sea (Revelation 13:1), and the sea is presumed to be the sea of people. I suppose it is like saying it comes out of the masses of people. The beast also has multiple heads, and since that does not happen we understand that the beast is an empire or large governing body. John’s application tended to address the known world and to him it was the Mediterranean region. At that time the Mediterranean was under Roman control, but in time would see an Islamic Caliphate in control of those same lands and more.

Revelation 13:3 ESV One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.

We established that this beast we see in Revelation 13:3 is an empire or governing body, much like the Ottoman empire. The Islamic Caliphate called the Ottoman Empire, was abolished by British in 1924. Therefore this beast is nothing more than Islam attempting once again to rule the earth under an Islamic caliphate. If that happens the law of the land will be Sharia; this works out well if you are a man, but not so good if you are a woman.

Who are the “they” in verse 4? Verse 3 informs us that “the whole earth” followed the beast. Now I have two possibilities for an answer: Either the “they”are those that follow the beast – hence now after the dragon, or, it literally implies “the whole earth”. If it is the whole earth, then the Holy Spirit or John is taking some literary license here because you should know that there are followers of Christ on the earth, Jews, and a few other religions that are not so inclined to knowingly follow after the dragon/Satan. Jesus told us that the deception would be great, and even the “godly” Christian community may be inadvertently following after the dragon. If you do not think that is possible, then how do you explain this:

1 John 2:15-16 ESV Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (16) For all that is in the world–the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life–is not from the Father but is from the world.

“For all that is in the world–the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life–is not from the Father but is from the world.” And Satan owns the world. He will own the world up to the time that Jesus locks him up for a thousand years. So all my attempts at satisfying what my flesh wants is really nothing more than following foolishly after the dragon.

“And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast,”

I have talked of those that inadvertently follow after the dragon, but by the time we get to Revelation 13:11-14, you will begin to see that a second beast has risen and makes people worship the first beast.

Does the world in general comprehend that Satan is in control and is giving his power and authority to this beast that is currently rampaging over the earth? I do not think so. I believe they, just like us, believe it is merely a bunch of thugs with guns trying to enforce their will on people so that someone gets rich, for that is the way it always works.

There is however, a growing number of people who seem bent on throwing their lives into the hands of Satan, merely because they know it upsets God. (I believe you can see this clearly in the music industry. Katy Perry was raised in church, as were many of them.) They do so because they think they will obtain the power that they see the beast getting. The problem with that is that even they were created in the image of God, therefore Satan hates them as well, and will attempt to destroy them too. The result for those that follow Satan will the same fate reserved for him, eternal separation and anguish.

The fools that follow after the dragon say, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”

I have to tell you that even I have asked that question. Once I realized that Islam was the beast, and watched it spread throughout the globe over the last several years; I have wondered how you fight against such an ideology. Sadly there is only one way if I focus on man’s resources, but that way makes us butchers just like them. As followers of Christ we have NOT been called to be butchers. Mind you, young men have gone off to war and scripturally I see no problem with that, as we are subject to governing authorities – when they are within reason. However, when they are not within reason then we have a necessity to stand up for what is right. Just ask the three Hebrews under Nebuchadnezzar’s reign who were told to bow to the statue and refused. Their response was: “But even if he doesn’t, we still won’t worship your gods.” [You can find this story in Daniel chapter 3.]

(As a side note: you would not be living in America if people did not put their lives on the line for what was right; so there is a time and a place for everything. I am going to tell outright, if you lift a weapon against what is coming, you will die at the hands of an equal or greater force. Many of us will be taken captive, thrown into FEMA prison camps and be made to disappear. But I will guarantee you this though, I will not be silent.)

My pastor has for several weeks now been teaching on Revelation, but he is quick to take the cutting-edge off by adding, “however, we will be watching from the Mezzanine”. This has actually made some people angry, but I am sure that the concept is, we – as followers of Christ – will not be here. Yes, that makes me a pre-trib believer. I have repeatedly pointed out that these arguments are of our own making. Look at what Paul wrote in his first letter to the church in Thessalonica.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 ESV (9) For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

What we have called “the tribulation” is a poorly named description of the seven years of God’s wrath being poured out upon the earth. Our lack of a proper description of this time period has many to be confused and some to lose hope. The confusion, it seems, borders on religious wars, and that is a waste of all our precious time.

Romans 5:9-10 ESV Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. (10) For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Think about the logic of this verse. If God saved us when we were yet sinners, speaking horrible things about him, since we have become His own possession through our acceptance of Jesus Christ, why would He then leave us to suffer and be tormented, over and above what life dishes out, by a wrath that God designed to punish the Jews that rejected Him, and the nations that ignored Him. Beside that, God sacrificed His only Son and now we are complete in Him through acceptance. Would He once again abuse his Son and us? I do not think so, and neither do you.

Our relationship in Him is precious. It has cost God time, the loss – at least momentarily – of his son, and the blood of precious saints to rescue us from this earth once created for the sole purpose of his creations pleasure, but now destroyed by Satan.

If you do not know Jesus Christ you can. Merely ask him into your life and turn your own life over to him. Then you too can have a hope in the fact that Jesus will come back for those who are His own.

Posted in End times, In Christ, Prophetic, Thoughts on scripture | Tagged Belief, Bible, Book of Revelation, Christianity, end times, God's word, hope, Islam, Islamic Caliphate, Jesus Christ, last days, muslim, Ottoman empire, prophecy, Revelation, Scripture | Leave a comment

One of his heads seemed to have a deadly wound. Revelation 13:3

Posted on 08/03/2015 by remso

One of the guys at this mornings “bible study” asked the question, do you think God will punish us for not doing more, or even something about these horrible baby abortions? I raised my hand because it was now time to say something – I had been silent all morning. I said, there was a day that I was reading in Isaiah when I saw God saying, “I have called you be a watchman upon the wall.” God spoke to me and said, this is what I have called you to. And that is why I write, for it is the primary thing I can do.

You, my readers, are who I am talking to, and I blow the trumpet about things that I believe are related to end times events.

Revelation 13:3 ESV One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.

A comparative verse.

Revelation 13:3 AMP And one of his heads seemed to have a deadly wound. But his death stroke was healed; and the whole earth went after the beast in amazement and admiration.

Let’s start with a logic approach to understanding. Without any other information, what do we know of that has multiple heads? Nothing, so are we looking for some creature with multiple heads? No.

The mere fact that it refers to multiple heads tends to end the possibility of this being a human, does it not?

Our context initiates with:

Revelation 13:1-2 ESV And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. (2) And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority.

In earlier posts I pointed out how this imagery is also found in the book of Daniel in the Old Testament. Daniel tells us that these are empires or governing bodies. Yes, a governing body can certainly have a man running it, but Daniel did not get so specific, so neither can we. Therefore, this head that sustains a deadly wound and is healed is an empire or governing body.

Given the premise that the beast rises from the sea, and appears to have a singular body indicates that there is a central theme running through all these empires. Since Daniel started with the Babylonian empire and ended his definitions with the Grecian empire(s), what could be the commonality if we extend this thought up until the nineteenth century? Everyone of them ruled over the Jewish people of God. The Medes and Persians were Assyrian, and the Grecian empire which ended with the Seleucid empire controlling what we now consider the Middle East and Mediterranean regions. If we add into this mix the Ptolemaic dynasty, which included Egypt and the Northern African nations, we effectively have what became the Ottoman empire.

If the Ottoman empire was that head, was it wounded and presumed dead? Absolutely. The empire, founded in 1299, officially ended on November, 1, 1922, when the Ottoman sultanate was abolished and Turkey was declared a republic. The Ottoman caliphate continued as an institution, with greatly reduced authority, until it was abolished on March 3, 1924.

Territorial changes of the Ottoman Empire (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If it took a fatal wound, when did it come back and in what form? It resurrected in 1979 in the form of the Iranian revolution, where the American embassy was taken hostage. Fifty-two American diplomats and citizens were held hostage for 444 days (November 4, 1979, to January 20, 1981), after a group of Iranian students, belonging to the Muslim Student Followers of the Imam Ayatollah Khomeini, took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.

The goal was to rule the world under an Islamic Caliphate, but that takes time, and support. Consider what the Iranian revolution did to Iran; it threw the country into the dark ages once again. We can that the Taliban did the same thing to Afghanistan.

Have there been other Caliphates attempting to control the world? Certainly, and none paid any attention until ISIL raises its ugly head, because none had such a global impact. Beside that they were always seen and merely angry young men, tired of oppression. However none, until recently, has ever been able to regain a foothold like the Ottoman empire did.

Rashidun Caliphate (632–661)
Umayyad Caliphate (661–750)
Abbasid Caliphate (750–1258, 1261–1517)
Fatimid Caliphate (909–1171)
Umayyad Caliphate of Córdoba (929–1031)
Almohad Caliphate (1147–1269)
Ottoman Caliphate (1517–1924)
Sokoto Caliphate (1804–1903)
Khilafat Movement (1919–1924)
Sharifian Caliphate (1924–1925)

Let’s say we have established what this wounded head is. What do we see next in the passage?

Revelation 13:3 ESV One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.

“and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.”

The whole earth means just that. Look around you and what do you see? What seems like the entire earth following Islam.

The word marveled is the one that upsets me. It is the Greek word thaumazō and means: to wonder; by implication to admire: – admire, have in admiration, marvel, wonder.

Now that we have had ample time to see the handy work of Islam, how could a reasonable person have anything but a vile disgust for Islam, and yet this scripture tells us that the world is in admiration of it. Consider how our Islamic American President fawns over them, calling the atrocities they commit, the acts of frustrated young men, instead of the global terrorism that it is.

As a student in 1999 I was a computer room lab assistant, working with students from every corner of the world. One of things I actually enjoyed was interacting with the foreign students. Some that stand out in my mind were from Persia and Indonesia. None of us had any clue about Islam. We lived naively under the imagery of Humphrey Bogart, heart-broken, leaning across the piano, smoking a cigarette, and saying, play it again Sam, in Casablanca.

Screenshot of the title screen of the trailer. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We all saw the travel shows, and most of us wanted to experience the mystery of Morocco. I thought it would be amazing to see the architecture of Tangiers or Turkey. And churches have sent missionaries to Nigeria, Chad, even Somalia, but any of those nations is like putting your head in a mouse trap as Boko Haran – an Islamic terrorist organization – will kill you.

I do not understand, outside of Satan blinding the minds and eyes of people, how anyone could follow such a beast.

Posted in End times, Prophetic, Thoughts on scripture | Tagged Beast, Belief, Bible, future, God's word, Islam, Israel, Jews, last days, mortal wound, muslim, Old Testament, Ottoman empire, prophecy, Revelation | Leave a comment

And the dragon did give to “it” his power – Revelation 13:2

Posted on 08/01/2015 by remso

Over the course of three weeks I was asked to do a personal bible study on Revelation with one fellow, while a second began asking questions about the “beasts” in Revelation 13, which made me think I need to have a better understanding about the book of Revelation.

Do you realize that this book, written by John, is: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, so that he could tell his servants what must happen soon. Albert Barnes, in his commentary states: “The word rendered “Revelation” – Ἀποκάλυψις Apokalupsis, whence we have derived our word “Apocalypse” – means properly an that is, nakedness; from ἀποκαλύπτω apokaluptō, to uncover. It would apply to anything which had been covered up so as to be bidden from the view, as by a veil, a darkness, in an ark or chest, and then made manifest by removing the covering. It comes then to be used in the sense of disclosing or revealing, by removing the veil of darkness or ignorance. “There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed.” It may be applied to the disclosing or manifesting of anything which was before obscure or unknown.”

The things in the book were meant to be known, and we are in the time of unveiling. As my grandpa used to say, “landsakes” when he was slightly agitated or trying to get a point across. I am tired of hearing, “no one can really understand the book of Revelation”, and they say this as though they are the source of all wisdom. You do not understand because you are not applying yourself to understanding, or you just do not want to. A friend of mine essentially tells me, it is all too scary and I just do not want to know. That I can understand, but it is our hope and faith that is meant to carry us through. What do think is giving those Christians that live in places where the governing bodies condone the horrendous violence against them, the strength to make it through another day? Hope and faith. Now ask yourself, when was the last time a bible teacher tried to strengthen your hope?

Do a word search on hope; Paul centers on it because God does. In his letter to the church at Rome Paul explains to them (I am pulling from several translations as each has a piece of clarity I want you to see.):

Romans 8:17-18 BBE And if we are children, we have a right to a part in the heritage; a part in the things of God, together with Christ; so that if we have a part in his pain, we will in the same way have a part in his glory. (18) I am of the opinion that there is no comparison between the pain of this present time and the glory which we will see in the future. 8:19 ERV Everything that God made is waiting with excitement for the time when he will show the world who his children are. The whole world wants very much for that to happen. 8:20-21 ESV For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope (21) that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Adam’s transgression in the garden (he was told not to eat off that tree and yet he did – with a full knowledge and understanding – a treasonous act) brought down the house on everything. Is it possible that God intended for this to happen? I believe He knew and coordinated it into his plan to restore all things back to his original plan.

Have you ever thought, how could I serve or live under a God that manipulates things in this way? It has crossed my mind, but then I look back at who and what Adam was before the fall. There he was with his wife in the most peaceful and contented state a human could live in. NO mental health issues, and no one wanting to kill you, merely for fun. Even after the fall, Jesus walks in the garden, the creator of the universe, and asks – out of respect – where Adam was. I strongly suspect that a person who can walk through walls can see through trees, and yet He still had respect for the man he created. He gave Adam free will, just as we have, because He hoped for a relationship of mutual trust, love and respect.

Our hope is based in the faith that this will all be restored, and it will. You should of course understand the idea behind an apologetic. It is the defense of the gospel, and no, we are not apologizing for anything. However in showing the world that God’s word is true, we present evidence. The evidence is that which tends to stand up in court, such as:

Physical evidence – He rose from the dead, walked through walls, walked on water, and rose up into heaven – all as he said he would. Physical evidence also includes things like the dead sea scrolls.
There is the testimony of credible witnesses. Paul tells us that he had first hand accounts from men that walked with Jesus. After Jesus rose from the dead he was seen by over four hundred people (I believe the number is 500 but I thought I would be conservative.)
And documentation. It is clearly understood that the new believers had a common, written creed passed among the new and growing church, within months, along the lines of – We believe, and it stated the common evidence. The gospels were written within forty years of Jesus death. While things like the Greek philosophers were written somewhere around sixteen hundred years after their death. How good is your memory after that long? Documentation also falls under the physical evidence category, but one of those is the Codex Sinaiticus.

I admit I am not an apologist, if I was I would have given you precise information, but hopefully you get the idea. We have a hope and it is based on valid evidence. Evidence feeds our faith, and faith gives us hope. We were told that He is coming back for us and we would live with Him in eternity. Well that will happen, one way or the other. We were told that we would be spared from God’s wrath, and we will, but that in no way guarantees you that the world, under the power of evil people, would come crashing down on you. If you don’t believe that just ask our dead Christian brothers and sisters in the Mid East. He will come for those who await Him, and then, in the twinkling of an eye, we will be healed and whole.

Now, can we jump into Revelation 13:2 and this dragon that is giving it power to something?

Revelation 13:2 MKJV And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and its feet like those of a bear, and its mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him its power and its seat and great authority.

This imagery meant much to the Jewish reader, because they knew Daniel’s prophecy.

Daniel 7:3-7 MKJV And four great beasts came up from the sea, different from one

“And behold another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb…” (Book of Revelation, 13:11) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

another. (4) The first was like a lion and had eagle’s wings. I watched until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on its feet like a man. And a man’s heart was given to it. (5) And behold another beast, a second, like a bear. And it raised itself up on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said this to it: Arise, eat up much flesh. (6) After this I saw, and lo, another, like a leopard, which had four wings of a bird on its back. The beast also had four heads; and rulership was given to it. (7) After this I looked in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, frightening and terrifying, and very strong. And it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the rest with its feet. And it was different from all the beasts before it; and it had ten horns.

Daniel wondered what these things were and so the angel explains.

Daniel 7:15-18 MKJV I Daniel was distressed in my spirit in its body, and the visions of my head troubled me. (16) And I came near one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the meaning of the things. (17) These four great beasts are four kings; they shall arise out of the earth. (18) But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.

Now here is the question I want to ponder. Since “the dragon gave him its power and its seat and great authority” who is the dragon and who is he giving this power and authority to.

Satan told Jesus that “all this” was his to give. Jesus did not argue the point.

Matthew 4:8-9 MKJV Again, the Devil took Him up into a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. (9) And he said to Him, All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.

What we see in Revelation 12:3-4 is Satan.

Revelation 12:3-4 MKJV And another sign was seen in the heavens. And behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads! (4) And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and cast them onto the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman being about to bear, so that when she bears he might devour her child.

Satan claimed, in the time of the Savior, all power over the kingdoms of the world, and asserted that he could give them to whomsoever he pleased. See the notes on Mat_4:8-9.

But we have a problem as we attempt to understand and it comes through translation.

There is no him in Revelation 13:2. Not one of these has been defined as a man as yet. Moreover, if I take this literally, we still are dealing with symbology that sounds like it was pulled out of mythology.

Young’s Literal translation reads more appropriately:

Revelation 13:2 YLT and the beast that I saw was like to a leopard, and its feet as of a bear, and its mouth as the mouth of a lion, and the dragon did give to it his power, and his throne, and great authority.

By operating under the idea that Satan is giving direct power to a man, then we go looking for a man, and that may not be the case – as yet. Since we know that we are dealing with fallen empires, then lets see if we can pick out an empire that fits the description of “it.”

One of the clues we have comes from Daniel.

Daniel 9:26 KJV And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

Was the Messiah cut off? Absolutely; this was Jesus Christ and they put him on a cross and he was buried. (We know he rose again on the third, but that is not relevant to the discussion at the moment.) What is important for us is the timing we see in Daniel’s prophecies.

The passage states: “after threescore and two seeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself”. As a stand alone sentence we only get 62 weeks out of the seventy that were declared to Daniel. The previous verse gives us seven more weeks of years and I will show you.

Daniel 9:25-26 KJV Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. (26) And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

Now we have seven weeks plus sixty-two weeks, equaling sixty-nine weeks. 69X7=483 years. However Daniel 9:24 tells us that the entire length of the time period is seventy weeks. 70X7=490 years. This leaves us with an undefined gap in time, but that is not for this discussion.

Allow me to give you a quick way of comprehending what this idea of weeks is all about.

As Israel wandered in the desert God gave them commands, it really amounted to a sort of retraining process for Israel, as they were deeply embedded in idolatry and the ways of the nations. Very few of them knew God. In order to get their attention they were told that during a given seven-year period, and he told them when that started, they were to work the land for six years and let it rest for the seventh. To disregard this command brought punishment, and Israel was seventy years in captivity because of their disregard. Hence, a week (7) of years. The Jewish mind got this immediately.

You should have picked on the fact the sixty-nine weeks came and went. Jesus was crucified, but not as an aspect of the seventieth week. How do I know that? Pay attention here:

Daniel 9:24 KJV Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

So, the defining things that make the seventieth week are:

To finish the transgression

What does it mean to finish transgression? Assuming that you are a believer may falsely tell me that you understand that Christ died and rose again for the purpose of forgiving sin (all of them) and bringing us into the kingdom of God as a part of His body. Having done that one might say the transgression is finished. Common sense tells you that transgression is still running rampant.

This is where taking the time to look at the origins of the words comes in handy because the phrase, “to finish transgression” in the Hebrew, gives us more leeway for understanding because of the meaning of the words. Finish is the Hebrew word kawlaw’ and means to restrict, while transgression is the Hebrew word pesha’ and means revolt.

Can we extrapolate and eventually find evidence that the revolt is restricted in the earth? Perhaps once we consider the impact Christ makes on the life of dedicated follower. Even though Christ death was all-encompassing, relieving everyone on earth from sin, nothing about this act changes the heart; that only happens when you accept Christ into your life. Sadly though, people still continue to sin, and the world certainly does. I would say in general that the revolt has yet to be restricted.

When will that happen? First, when Jesus comes back to earth and sets the martyred Saints up as judges. I suspect that there will low tolerance for revolt during this time. I might consider this the end of transgression. The true end will be at the end of the millennial reign when Satan will be permanently done away with as we enter eternity.
To make an end of sins

This is essentially the same response as the answer I gave for transgressions. You have to think through the scenarios scriptures gives us, for during the millennial reign people will still have to come before the Lord and bow in worship. Failure to do that will result in punishment or death at the second infraction. Obviously sin or can we say revolt will still be a problem. If I can take the actions of the cross
To make reconciliation for iniquity

The word reconciliation is the Hebrew word kaphar, and means to cover. Ask yourself, in light of the cross, was iniquity covered? The answer is yes, but still to this day we preach about sin, as though the cross and Jesus death was not enough.
To bring in everlasting righteousness

Everlasting is the Hebrew word olam, and means: properly concealed, that is, the vanishing point. Where is the vanishing point? After the 1000 years as we migrate into eternity.
To seal up the vision and prophecy

To seal up seems self-explanatory, but it also means to close up. God is closing the prophecy. The word vision is the Hebrew chazon and means: a sight (mentally), that is, a dream, revelation, or oracle: – vision. Clearly all this takes us to the end of time.
And to anoint the most Holy.

I recently got accused of putting the cart before the horse, as I responded to a question addressed to the bible study group. In a way this feels the same way, but is it? We see Jesus doing this very thing to the heavenly places. It is possible, even likely that there will be a final crowning ceremony in heaven at the end. How appropriate that would be.

Hebrews 9 tells us Jesus entered into heaven itself and cleansed the holy place. He did this once for all time.

Hebrews 9:22-28 KJV And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (23) It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. (24) For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (25) Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; (26) For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (27) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (28) So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Hebrews chapter one implies that Jesus has already sat down, anointed by God.

Hebrews 1:2-9 KJV Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (4) Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. (5) For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? (6) And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. (7) And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. (8) But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. (9) Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

The transitional return to the seventieth week is initiated by the Antichrist person signing the peace treaty for the seven-year period. Many might ignore this but the time covers the entire time of wrath.

I do not believe we will be here to see this signing, but maybe. I was asked when we will know who the Antichrist personage is, and my response was, probably not until he signs the peace treaty. Turn your life over to Christ now, and you to can have a hope and future with Him.

Posted in End times, Hope, Prophetic, Thoughts on scripture | Tagged antichrist, Belief, Bible, Book of Revelation, Christ, Christianity, Daniel, Dark Prince, end times, God, hope, Israel, Jesus, Jesus Christ, last days, prophecy, Revelation, Satan | Leave a comment

A beast with ten horns and seven heads; really? Revelation 13:1

Posted on 07/31/2015 by remso

This title is fairly close to what one of the guys said, as he ranted on how no one can understand the book of Revelation.

This particular guy acts like a baby and I am quite certain he would have to be spoon fed to get him through most the Revelation. The oddity is that he was a gunnery sergeant in the military. He of all people knows that there are rules to making and keeping things working, like a mortar. Those things have to be cleaned or they blow up in your face. Where did you learn that skill set? You either read it, or listened intently because you wanted to go home that night.

Why do we not apply this level learning to the word of God?

As you read Revelation 13:1 you get the sense that John is in mid-thought, and it may help us gain clarity and context if we back up a step.

Revelation 12:17 ESV Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

The dragon/Satan, standing on the sand of the sea, is doing what, looking for more victims? That seems to be his one purpose and goal – killing off those that represent God’s kingdom.

Revelation 13:1 ESV And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.

The Beast from the sea with seven heads (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Satan/the dragon standing on the sand of the sea and now John sees a beast rising up out of the sea.

What John saw, chronologically, places the dragon in the second half of the seven-years of God’s wrath being poured out on the earth. Satan is merely a tool to carry out that end. What you do not get a sense for is any precise timing, everything seems to fall within the last of days on earth.

The beast, rising out of the sea, takes us back in time to Daniel, and yet it has an impact on us today. This is not mythical, neither is this a mystery, but deadly real, and this last ruler is alive today.

John was a Jew, and if he failed the memorization aspect of Torah school as a kid, locking him into a job as a deckhand on a fishing boat, that was not the case anymore. Therefore John wrote with an understanding of scripture and prophecy.

I get it, many of you balk at the mere concept of prophecy, but this was God’s way of communicating ideas to those who belong to Him, and it is still valid today. John wrote as the Holy Spirit inspired him and it corresponded with words spoken through the hearts of men, inspired by that same Holy Spirit, hundreds of years earlier, such as the prophet Daniel.

To the Jewish mind prophecy is repeatable patterns, so what patterns do we find?

a beast rising up out of the sea
with ten horns
like a leopard
like a bear
like a lion

Where else do we find anything like this? The prophecies of Daniel.

Daniel 7:3-7 ESV (3) And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. (4) The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. (5) And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’ (6) After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it. (7) After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.

The first beast, like a lion, is explained in Daniel 4:34. It is also the head of gold on the statue that Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream and Daniel told him that it was him. This first beast then is the Babylonian empire represented by Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar lost his sanity, eventually regaining it when he acknowledged God as supreme.

So, in terms of prophecy, what Daniel describes in chapter four, correlates with Daniel chapter seven. “and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it.”

Daniel 4:34 AMP And at the end of the days [seven years], I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding and the right use of my mind returned to me; and I blessed the Most High [God] and I praised and honored and glorified Him Who lives forever, Whose dominion is an everlasting dominion; and His kingdom endures from generation to generation.

Daniel had one more beast than we see in Revelation 13:1-2, but it is not assigned an animal form, however this thing is extremely dangerous, and does have its correlating identity.

“and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.”

We find the iron, in the form of the fourth kingdom, in Daniel chapter two:

And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, (Daniel 2:40-44 ESV)

The ten horns are an aspect of what we saw in Daniel 7:3-7. If you do a search for the “ten horns” you only find it Daniel and the Revelation.

Daniel 7:20 KJV And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

Daniel 7:23-25 KJV Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. (24) And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. (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.

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

The last aspect of Revelation 13:1 that I want to discuss is:

“and blasphemous titles (names) on his heads.”

Seven heads (I suppose this is because you tend to need a head to hold a crown) and each head has a blasphemous name on it.

What does that mean?

I have heard this stated as both a question and a spiritual position “that someone had blasphemed God and committed the unpardonable sin”, all my life. However it was Jesus himself that defined what blasphemy was, and he directed his comments at the religious leaders – the pharisees.

But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaks against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. (Matthew 12:24-32 KJV)

What did the pharisees do? They attributed the works that Jesus did, the works of “the Holy Spirit” to the devil. Did you notice in the passage that horrible things get said against the Son as well, but those things are forgiven. I am not so sure I see the blasphemy written upon these heads as being forgiven. It does however seem to play a role in their identity.

If each of these heads has blasphemy written upon it, then what is that telling us? It is telling us that these ruling authorities are in opposition to God, and by Jesus definition attributing the work of God to the devil. Is the attribution direct, perhaps not. Look at what the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica:

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 MKJV (3) Let not anyone deceive you by any means. For that Day shall not come unless there first comes a falling away, and the man of sin shall be revealed, the son of perdition, (4) who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself forth, that he is God.

These people or empires are opposing and exalting themselves above all that is called God. What does it mean to oppose all that is called God?

Because we are in Christ and a part of his body, is it possible that in the spiritual realm we are called God?
Jesus told everyone that would listen that he was the physical presentation of God. Doesn’t that make him God as well?
Is the Word of God a part of who He is? Jesus was and is the Word, and therefore God.

Who does that, opposing and exalting themselves above God? Many, but one stands out in my mind and it is Islam. A “religion” where converts are demanded to acknowledge that there is only one god, Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger. So coming against even one of God’s creation is in effect blaspheming God/the Holy Spirit. (Let that settle in, you will get it.)

While all this can be overwhelming, the key for the believer is to hold to hope. However we have a problem as most of us have no idea what we are hoping in. Hope was the central message preached by Paul and it was based in our knowledge of all Jesus did and our being caught up to be with God. Thinking you are excluded from deadly tribulation just because you are a believer is wrong on so many levels. Jesus guaranteed you tribulation. He even said they will hate you because of your relationship with Him. Nonetheless, as a believer, you are excluded from the wrath that is to come. This wrath is God’s wrath being poured out on the earth and its inhabitants, unfortunately people will still be coming to the Lord, and both this beast and the one to come will be actively hunting and killing Christians.

Posted in Thoughts on scripture | Tagged Bible, blasphemy, Book of Revelation, Christ, Christianity, end times, Gentile, God, Holy spirit, hope, horns, Islam, Israel, Jesus, Jews, last days, muslim, prophecies of Daniel, prophet Daniel, Revelation, Scripture | 3 Comments

What does it mean to be blessed?

Posted on 07/21/2015 by remso

In Matthew chapter five we find the Beatitudes.

You know them as the “Blessed are the ….” statements.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The Sermon of the Beatitudes (1886-96) by James Tissot from the series The Life of Christ, Brooklyn Museum (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

(Matthew 5:3-5 KJV)

What does it mean to be blessed?

The Greek word from which we get blessed is: makarios – meaning, supremely blest; by extension fortunate, or well off.

So, if I look at this first blessed statement and restate it, I get this: “Well off are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

This alone gives me problems because I see this condition in recovery every time I go there. People that are poor in spirit because of their hangups, but they are anything but well off. So this must have a meaning beyond the idea of bouncing around like a cheerleader, leading people into the kingdom with our phony smiles.

One of the men in our Monday morning bible study responded to some of the foolishness that was being voiced with, Consider that these statements were made to the disciples, while the crowd – in general – was excluded. This information was deeper than Jesus wanted or needed to go with the crowd that followed him around because they wanted to get something out of him.

This entire talk was meant to build something inside the disciples that would sustain them in the future, help them to understand this journey they were going to embark on, and in time, sustain us – the church – as well.

Now I want to know too.

Being well off, does not put smiles on people’s faces all the time. Why not? Because it is never enough.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3 NASB)

Let’s try looking at this in another version.

“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule”. (Matthew 5:3 MSG)

Now it is making more sense to me because this is the typical reason you find people in recovery, as they finally hit the end of their rope.

“the poor in spirit”

Poor is the Greek word ptōchos – pto-khos’ From πτώσσω ptōssō (to crouch; akin to G4422 and the alternate of G4098); a beggar (as cringing), that is, pauper (strictly denoting absolute or public mendicancy,

MEND’ICANCY, a. [L. medicans.] Beggary; a state of begging.

This person is definitely hurting, but are they willing to be honest. I can just about guarantee you that the community around you are aware of your brokenness.

Spirit is the same word that we use for the Holy Spirit or human spirit.

If the implication here is a human with the Spirit of God in them – and it is, then we are talking about a member of the church body. Look, I get it, we are not all super-fans, or body builders in church. Some don’t even know what a protein shake looks like (that is my analogy to opening their bible.) They are however on the same team, and found in this condition they are broken and desperately needing help, not a baseball bat to the head.

An aspect of the nonsense heard at bible study was the weekly barrage of guilt and condemnation over sin. If you are a follower of Christ, you have received your forgiveness for your sins, and that put you into the arms of the Father, never to be released. So if I continue to “sin” then I need to change my thinking and or surroundings, because I am certainly not thinking as clearly as I should.

“and God’s servants must not be troublemakers. They must be kind to everyone, and they must be good teachers and very patient. Be humble when you correct people who oppose you. Maybe God will lead them to turn to him and learn the truth. They have been trapped by the devil, and he makes them obey him, but God may help them escape.” (2 Timothy 2:24-26 CEV)

If sin is merely missing the bulls-eye, we are all capable of doing that, but in reality the target is large, and for the most part easy to hit. Doesn’t that show that most of us are trying, and really do not wish to find themselves in a beggarly state.

We understand that “blessed” really has little to do with joy or the condition of your face – as in a smile, but could.

Paul wrote to the church in Rome:

May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in your faith, that you may be overflowing with hope by the power of the holy Spirit! (Romans 15:13 Moffatt NT)

Joy is the Greek word chara, and means cheerfulness. So while one might obtain a cheerfulness from possessing some thing, like a sixty foot luxury ocean power cruiser, it is not what God wanted us to learn here. I will show you why:

For all that is in the world–the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life–is not from the Father but is from the world. (1 John 2:16 ESV)

For me, the bottom line here is this. I am better off when I live like this:

“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are–no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought. (Matthew 5:3-5 MSG)

Posted in Thoughts on scripture | Tagged Beatitudes, Blessed are the poor in spirit, Christ, Christianity, God, God's word, Gospel of Matthew, hope, Jesus, kingdom of heaven, Matthew 5:3, Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes | 3 Comments

A Voice in the Wilderness

As if the first beast was not bad enough. Revelation 13:11

My favorite part, tearing it up.

As if the first beast was not bad enough.

and he had two horns like a lamb

Islam too is awaiting their version of Jesus. They call him Isa:

The short of it:

“and all who dwell on earth will worship it,..” Revelation 13:8

You surely understand Islam’s goal to form a Caliphate by now.

Things to look for in September

Things to look for in September

Random information: I made no real mention of CERN.

If none of these things convince you, then perhaps the words of two prominent Jewish Rabbis’ will.

Leading Israeli Rabbi Says the Arrival of the Messiah is Imminent

The second Rabbi I want you to know about.

Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri

Rabbi *Yitzchak Kaduri’s Prophecy***

This person is deadly and will command great power. Revelation 13:7

“it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them.”

The beast was allowed to speak. Revelation 13:5-6

The beast was allowed to speak

No one is like this beast! No one can fight against it. Revelation 13:4

The fools that follow after the dragon say, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”

One of his heads seemed to have a deadly wound. Revelation 13:3

And the dragon did give to “it” his power – Revelation 13:2

Now, can we jump into Revelation 13:2 and this dragon that is giving it power to something?

A beast with ten horns and seven heads; really? Revelation 13:1

What does it mean to be blessed?

What does it mean to be blessed?

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A rebuttal to a post I made several years ago. Revelation 13:7

We need to have an enthusiasm for the rapture. Scriptures to back up a pre- tribulation rapture.

A commentary on John 1:45-46. We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph

Answers for Rick. The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22.

Scriptures that speak to our knowing, within a tight window of opportunity, when Jesus will return for His bride.

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My favorite part, tearing it up.

As if the first beast was not bad enough.

and he had two horns like a lamb

Islam too is awaiting their version of Jesus. They call him Isa:

The short of it:

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You surely understand Islam’s goal to form a Caliphate by now.

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Random information: I made no real mention of CERN.

If none of these things convince you, then perhaps the words of two prominent Jewish Rabbis’ will.

Leading Israeli Rabbi Says the Arrival of the Messiah is Imminent

The second Rabbi I want you to know about.

Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri

Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri’s Prophecy

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“it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them.”

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The beast was allowed to speak

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Now, can we jump into Revelation 13:2 and this dragon that is giving it power to something?

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What does it mean to be blessed?

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Recent Posts: A Voice in the Wilderness

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Rabbi *Yitzchak Kaduri’s Prophecy***