Jehoshua is on the throne of David in New Jerusalem and He is the King of a New Israel
Revelation 13:17-18
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. The name of the beast represents the beasts character and his character is that of iniquity (lawlessness). The number of the beast is 666 which represents falling short of perfection. What is perfection according to scripture? Psalm 19:7 "The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul: The testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple." The mark of the beast as stated above is the breaking of Jehovah's perfect law. Now let's review Revelation 14 in this story of the battle of the church age. Revelation 14:1 "And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads." The Father's name is the seal of God as we see in Revelation 7:1-3 that the seal of God would be placed upon the saints foreheads. Again, the Father's name is His character and His torah is the transcript of it. Even the terms of the new covenant state that the law will be written on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-34). The three angels message Revelation 14:6 "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people" While some believe this is strictly an end time message it is actually a message for the whole new covenant Church age as it is the "everlasting gospel". It is to be preached to all nations just as Jesus commanded the apostles in Matthew 28:19. It is not just a message for Jews as many false teachers say. Whatever is part of the three angels message is what Jesus commanded to be preached when He gave the great commission to His disciples. The commonality of the three angels message and the great commission is the command to preach it to all nations, tribes, tongues and people. As we go through the three angels message we will see that there is more commonalities with the two messages. Revelation 14:7 "Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters" This is a key verse in understanding what the controversy is between Satan and the church. Remember, whenever you hear the phrase "fear God" it means "keep His commandments". Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.14For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Is God the same today as He was in the time of King Solomon? Of course He is (Malachi 3:6). The call to fear God is call to keep His commandments which is the whole duty of man (Adam). Notice that Solomon doesn't say it is the whole duty of Jews. Solomon, in agreement with Jesus and the apostles, says that Jehovah God will bring every work into judgment. This is important to remember as we wind down this study. If it is the whole duty of man to keep God's commandments and then right after Solomon says that every work will be brought into judgment, it is clear that the judging of all works will be based on God's commandments. But notice the language in verse 4, we find this language in the 4th commandment of the decalogue. Exodus 20:8-11 8Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.9Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work;10but the seventh day is a sabbath unto Jehovah thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:11for in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore Jehovah blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Just as in the first angels message, which is a call to fear God, we see creation language used here in Exodus 20:8-11. The first angel is calling us to worship the God who created the heaven, earth, sea and fountains of waters. We see this creation language in the Sabbath commandment because the Sabbath day is a memorial of God's creation. Genesis 2:1-3 1And the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.2And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.3And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it; because that in it he rested from all his work which God had created and made. Jehovah God sanctified the Sabbath long before sin came into the world and long before there was a Jew. Just as Solomon said it is the whole duty of man (Adam) to keep God's commandments, Jesus said God made the Sabbath for man (Adam) - Mark 2:27). Remember in Daniel 7:25 it was prophesied that the little horn would think ti change timesand the law. The one commandment of God in the decalogue that has to do with time is the Sabbath. The first angel's message is a call to fear God and keep His seventh day Sabbath. In Revelation 18:4, a call is given to come out of Babylon which has committed fornication against Jehovah God. While Babylon has both economic and political components it is also religious (Revelation 17:5). God wants His people to come out of the churches of Babylon for He has no people that are not washed by the blood of the Son of God. A Babylonian Church is defined by their breaking of God's commandments. Many churches do not promote the idea that is okay to break 9 of the 10 commandments, however they actively promote and celebrate the breaking of the Sabbath. Revelation 14:8 "And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication" Babylon being spoken of here is ultimately the Roman Catholic Church but it also includes her harlot daughters which are the Protestants and Evangelicals. Also, Babylon encompasses the whole unbelieving world at the end of the day. The Babylonian world system is already fallen only it's physical destruction is left. Revelation 14:9 "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand" The beast is the Papacy, the image of the beast is the union of Church and State i.e. Protestant America. By the Catholic church's own admission Sunday is the mark of their authority. Sunday as the day of the Lord is also promoted by the Protestant/Evangelical and even Mormon churches. Most denominations have their church services on Sunday even the Jehovah Witnesses. Revelation 14:10 "The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb" Those who take the mark of the beast will suffer the wrath of God and be cast into the lake of fire. Although the doctrine of eternal torment is not biblical there will be a real punishment for those who go into the lake of fire and there will be torment even if just for a period of time. Because of this, it is key that we identify what the mark of the beast actually is. Revelation 14:11 "And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." This verse may indicate eternal torment but it is the smoke of their torment that rises up for ever not their actual torment. This is metaphorical for eternal destruction in that the lake of fire will accomplish it's goal of completely destroying those who get cast into it. Just like Sodom and Gomorra was described as suffering the vengeance of eternal fire yet it is not around anymore, the same will be true of those cast into the lake of fire. The statement of "no rest day nor night" is somewhat interesting. Is this referring to the lake of fire or is there another possible meaning? In verse 7 we see that there is Sabbath language in the first angels message and his call to fear God and give Him glory and to worship Him. Here we see the ones who rejected the three angels message and instead of worshipping God they worship the beast Papacy) and his image (Protestant America). This results in these false worshippers taking the mark of the beast. If the mark of the beast is the breaking of the Sabbath then the statement that they have no rest day nor night could allude to the fact that they are Sabbath breakers which is a commandment of rest. No matter if someone keeps Sunday holy it is not a true day of rest. Revelation 14:12 "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Why do the saints need patience? Because they are keeping the commandments of God in the face of persecution from the antichrist and false prophet. The identifying mark of the antichrist is lawlessness/iniquity and the attempt to change God's times and and the law. The saints will also need to have the faith of the Son of God to keep the commandments as like Jesus they will have to deny themselves and pick up their cross. As lawlessness abounds, the saints will faithfully keep the commandments of Jehovah God. This shows us that the primary controversy between the antichrist/false prophet and the saints will be the commandments of God versus the mark of the beast i.e. the traditions of man. This is also the controversy that Satan has with the church (Revelation 12:17) as he started his persecution of the church right at Messiah's ascension into heaven. In Revelation 13 we see Satan employing the sea beast (Papal Rome) and later on the false prophet Protestant America) as his tools to persecute God's commandment keeping church. We see that throughout the church age Satan, the antichrist and false prophet work together to deceive the people of the earth and also persecute God's people. In both viewpoints of the war (from Satan's angle and the two beasts) the controversy is centered upon the commandments of God and the saints will need patience to be able to keep them due to the opposition they face from all 3 enemies of God. If Revelation 12:1 - 14:12 wasn't enough to prove that the controversy of the new covenant age leading up to Christ return is about the commandments of God then let's go to Revelation 11:15-19. Revelation 11:15-19 15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. The seventh trumpet sounds and ushers in the Kingdom of God and His Christ onto the earth. This is the end of the new covenant Church age and the culmination of the war between Satan and remnant commandment keeping church. Remember, the war started in chapter 12 with the birth of the man child Jesus Christ and was heightened after His ascension and spanned the history of the church as we read in Revelation 13. Also remember that Satan's war is specifically with the church that keeps God's commandments (Revelation 12:17). In chapter 12 we see that Satan is using the Roman empire and Israel religious establishment to conduct his war against the man child. Satan's plan fails and the man child is caught up to God's throne. Satan then sends a flood of persecution after the church right at the start of the new covenant church age. In Revelation 13 we Satan employ two kingdoms to execute His war against God's commandment keeping church. These Kingdoms wage war against the saints of God and a mark is employed to prevent God's church from buying and selling. This mark has to do with the breaking of God's commandments and we know this because the saints are described as being patient throughout this war because they keep the commandments of God. It is clear that this war against the church is all about the commandments of God. Satan employs the two beasts to issue a mark that is contrary to God's law. How do we know this? Because the little horn which is the first beast of Revelation 13 thinks to change times and the law. The second beast is the one who causes those in the world to receive the mark of the first beast. In Revelation 14:6-12 we see the message of the three angels and the exhortation to fear God and worship Him. Sabbath language is used in this message to the world to call them to repentance. The patience of the saints is evidenced by their keeping the commandments of God (Revelation 14:12). This took patience because Satan war's against the saints was precisely because they keep the commandments of God (Revelation 12:17). The ire of the two beasts raised against the saints is clearly because they refuse the mark and refuse to bow down to the image. This takes patience on the part of the saints becau.se they deny themselves under persecution and refuse to break God's commandments. Revelation 11:15-19 brings us to the end of the war. Jesus Christ is coming to consummate His Kingdom on this earth where He will reign forever just as Jehovah promised his father David (2nd Samuel chapter 7). The destruction of the nations prompts the 24 elders to worship Jehovah God. Jehovah is identified as the one which art, wast and art to come (Revelation 1:4, 8; 4:8). At the time of the second advent of Christ the nations are angry. This denotes a severe animosity that they have against God, His Son and their church. Psalm 1:1-3 where it says the nations rage and imagine vain things. The anger of the nations manifests itself it cutting the chords of divine rulership of God and His Son. The arrival of Christ's Kingdom upon the earth happens at a time when the nations are angry and in great turmoil. They especially are angry with God and His only begotten Son. The west has become post Christian and have largely disavowed the moral principles of the bible. Science and atheism has been taught in the schools with the express purpose of getting children to not believe in God. The natural outflow of this atheistic movement has caused a moral declension in society where hearts are waxing colder and colder resulting in lawlessness as prophesied. Verse 18 says the day of the Kingdom of Christ also brings the day of Judgment when the dead will be judged. The key word is "dead" which shows that no one is in heaven yet and that there has to be a raising of the dead so that they can be judged. This goes directly against the immortal soul doctrine of mainstream Christendom. The arrival of the Kingdom of Christ and then the subsequent raising of the dead is precisely when the servants of God will be given their rewards. Who will be the ones who are given rewards by the Son of God? Those who the name of Jehovah God. Remember, the phrase "fear God" is equated with keeping His commandments. Only those who keep God's commandments will be rewarded on judgment day and enter the Kingdom (Revelation 22:14). Whereas the saints will be given rewards those that destroy the earth will be destroyed. This is not necessarily talking about those who destroy the environment, although we are to be good stewards of it, but rather it is talking about sinners. All throughout scripture we see that it is sin that causes Jehovah God to curse a land and vomit the inhabitants out of it (Leviticus 18). Again, the battle during the new covenant Church age is between Satan with his two beasts (Rev 13) and the remnant church which keeps God's commandments and has the faith and testimony of the Son of God (Rev 12:17; 14:12). Revelation 11:19 is a revealing verse that shows exactly what brings Jehovah's wrath upon the earth, the unbelievers and the false Christians. You won't hear this at Church as they completely ignore this verse: "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail." There is a temple of heaven and John sees it here in the vision. We then are brought into the holy of holies where the ark of the covenant is. Remember, the tabernacle in Moses time was merely a pattern/copy of what was already in heaven (Hebrews 8:1-2). The reason why your Pastor doesn't talk about this verse is because of the obvious implications. The ark of the testimony means that within the ark, the testimony of Jehovah God is contained. What is the testimony? Exodus 31:18 "And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, the two tables of the testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God." The tables of the testimony are the 10 commandments. Exodus 25:16 "And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee." Jehovah told Moses to put the testimony of the 10 commandments in the ark. The 10 commandments are seen and highlighted in connection with the Kingdom of Christ arriving on earth and the day of Judgment along with the distributing of rewards and destruction of the wicked. In connection with the appearance of the ark of the testimony is the sound of lightenings, voices, thunderings as well as hail and a great earthquake. These are plagues there connection with the appearance of the 10 commandments show exactly why Jehovah God is going to pour out His wrath on mankind. Jehovah God is going to punish evildoers for the breaking of His law. We see the connection between the ark of the covenant and Jehovah's Judgments in Revelation 15 as well: Revelation 15:5-6 5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: 6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. Just like in Revelation 11:15-19, the tabernacle of the testimony (ark containing the 10 commandments) is seen in connection with judgment. Here the seven last plagues are about to be poured out on the earth. The implication is obvious, God is going to destroy those who destroy the earth (Rev 11:15-19) and pour out the seven last plagues (Rev 15:5-6) because of the breaking of His commandments. Isaiah 24:1-5 1Behold, Jehovah maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.2And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the creditor, so with the debtor; as with the taker of interest, so with the giver of interest to him.3The earth shall be utterly emptied, and utterly laid waste; for Jehovah hath spoken this word.4The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the lofty people of the earth do languish.5The earth also is polluted under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant. This is a prophecy about the day of Jehovah which we know to be the second advent of the Son of God. It is clear from the prophecy that Jehovah makes the earth empty and tuns it upside down due to the violation of His law. But it won't be just the wicked who get punished but also the religious people "And it shall be, as with the priest". Why are the priests included in Jehovah's judgment on the earth? Because they have polluted the earth due to transgressing the laws, violating the statutes and breaking the everlasting covenant. In the King James it says "they have changed the ordinance". This means there was a change in the law done by the priests (pastors). Whereas the unbelieving world naturally breaks the law of Jehovah God the religious people break it because their priests have attempted to change it. This is the identifying mark of the antichrist, the attempt to change God's times and the law (Daniel 7:25). Leviticus 18 says that Jehovah will vomit the inhabitants out of the land due to abominable sins. Let's go to Revelation 14 to see the last days harvest and the judgment of law breakers: Revelation 14:17-20 17And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.18And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.19And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.20And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. Just before this, Jesus Christ the Son of God reaped the harvest of the righteous. Now it is time for the harvest of the grapes of wrath. Notice again that the temple is seen in connection with the judgment of the law breakers. Verse 18 says the grapes are fully ripe meaning they have filled up the cup of their wickedness to the full and they finally have run out of time to repent. Those alive at the second advent of Christ who are not in His Kingdom will experience the great winepress of Jehovah's wrath unmixed and pure. The winepress of God's wrath will be violent and devastating for the unbelievers as they will be punished for the abominations that have defiled and destroyed the earth. The Kingdom of David will not experience this wrath as the winepress is trodden without the city i.e. the church. It is clear that the battle of the church age is about the commandments of God versus the traditions of man (iniquity).
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Deuteronomy Chapter 13:1-5
1 If there arise in the midst of thee a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and he give thee a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; 3 thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or unto that dreamer of dreams: for Jehovah your God proveth you, to know whether ye love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 Ye shall walk after Jehovah your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. 5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death, because he hath spoken rebellion against Jehovah your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of bondage, to draw thee aside out of the way which Jehovah thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee. This passage in Deuteronomy is life changing and exposes the majority of Christendom's pastors and theologians as false prophets that we should give absolutely no heed to. Verse 1, having dreams or showing signs and wonders is not proof that one is a true prophet. This is where a lot of so called Christians fail in discernment. They get easily swayed by Pastors or well known ministers who claim to have dreams and visions yet they fail to hold them up to the test here in Deuteronomy 13. Verses 2-3, even if their dream comes to pass and their signs and wonders are real, if they cause us to seek after other gods then we are not to hearken unto them. The arrival of a false prophet who dreams dreams and shows signs and wonders is actually a test from Jehovah God to us to prove whether we truly love Him or not. Remember, the love of God is defined by the keeping of His commandments (1 John 5:2-3). Verse 4, we see in verse 4 the confirmation that we love God is in walking (do the works of the law) after Jehovah which manifests itself in keeping His commandments. This fulfills Deuteronomy 6:4-8 which is the commandment to love God with all our heart, mind and strength. Remember, to love God isn't just fulfilling commandment number 1 as those who read this passage will claim that there Pastor doesn't lead them to other gods so this passage isn't about them. However, the love of God is rooted in all His commandments not just the first. So basically, Jehovah sends false prophets our way to test where our loyalty truly lies. Is it with Babylon and her false prophets from the church system or is it with Jehovah God and His law which is a transcript of His character? Will you heed the false prophets or will you obey Jehovah's voice and keep His Royal law? Will you cleave to Christendom and their man made traditions or will you cleave unto Jehovah and His holy word? Verse 5, What is the motivation of the false prophet who dreams dreams and shows signs and wonders? It is to speak rebellion against Jehovah God by drawing you away from keeping His commandments which He commanded us to walk in (doing the works of the law). Important to note, to be a false prophet isn't just to lead one away from worshipping the one true God but a false prophet is also one who may claim to worship Jehovah God but then attempts to draw you away from keeping His law. Jehovah led Israel out of bondage and slavery that they experienced in Egypt to freedom and liberty. James the brother of Jesus Christ referred to God's law as the law of liberty. Jehovah commanded Israel to walk in His law once He redeemed them from slavery. See, Egypt was a sign of slavery and to claim that Jehovah's law is bondage and slavery is an abomination and false accusation against Him. It is falsely accusing Jehovah that He led Israel out of slavery only to bring them into more slavery by giving them a law of bondage. Let's go to something interesting Paul prophesied: 2 Thessalonians 2:3 "let no man beguile you in any wise: for it will not be, except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition" Paul warns the Thessalonians that before the resurrection at the last day that the man of sin would be revealed which would accompany "the falling away". The man of sin refers to the antichrist and just the title "man of sin" gives us the type of doctrine he will bring. Remember, the biblical definition of sin is transgression of the law (1 John 3:4). So the antichrist is going to teach a lawless gospel or a negation of God's law. This brings us to the phrase "falling away". The phrase "falling away" comes from the Greek word "apostasia" which means "defection from truth, falling away, forsake, apostasy". Let's now go back to Deuteronomy 13 verse 5, it says that someone who is a false prophet will try and turn you away i.e. commit rebellion against Jehovah God. In verse 5 the word "rebellion" comes from the Hebrew word "carah" (Strongs 5627) and means "apostasy, crime, turn away, revolt, wrong, defection, negation, turning aside, withdrawal". So the word rebellion" in verse 5 of Deuteronomy 13 is the same as the phrase "falling away" in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and the meaning of those two words/phrases is "apostasy". Apostasy is a falling away from Jehovah God and what is the manifestation of this apostasy? According to both Deuteronomy 13 and 2 Thessalonians 2, it is lawlessness and the breaking of God's commandments. The word "rebellion" means an apostasy i.e. a defection from truth and a negation of Jehovah's law which is truth. Verse 5 of Deuteronomy is clear that the false prophet will seek to turn God's people away (apostasize) from walking (keeping) in the way that He (Jehovah) commanded them. It's not just the turning people to idols that qualify one as a Deuteronomy 13 false prophet but also to turn people away (rebel, apostasy) from obeying Jehovah's voice and keeping His commandments (verse 4 of Deuteronomy 13). Back to 2nd Thessalonians, Paul says the apostasy will be in connection with the arrival of the man of sin (transgression of the law, 1 John 3:4). Verse 7 of 2nd Thessalonians reads: "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way." The word "iniquity" comes from the Greek word "anomia" (Strongs 458) and means "unrighteousness, transgression of the law, the condition of without law, wickedness, iniquity". Both in the old testament and new testament, the breaking of God's commandments is the mark of a false prophet and antichrist. Paul's says this mystery of iniquity was already at work in his time. You be finding all of this hard to fathom because you grew up in the mainstream Church system which has about 2 billion to it's number and the commonality with most of them is the teaching of the negation of God's law. You likely don't want to believe that your whole worldview and Christian experience has been built on a lie. You also may find it hard to believe 2 billion people could be wrong and that for most of church history the majority of the church has been propagating a lie. However, Paul warned us that there would be a strong delusion that would cause people to believe a lie: 2nd Thessalonians 2:9-12 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. The "him" is the man of sin who is inspired by Satan. Now ask yourself this, what's more likely? That satan inspire someone who was preaching that God's commandments need to be kept or that God's law is done away with? Anyone with half a brain would say that satan would inspire the lawless one. Well, as stated above the man of sin is working the mystery of lawlessness (iniquity, sin, transgression of the law). What's interesting here is that just like the Deuteronomy 13 false prophet, the 2nd Thessalonians man of sin is doing signs and wonders. These signs and wonders come to pass and are done with all power. They are called lying wonders because of who is behind them (Satan). Battle of the church age part 2
Who is like unto the beast? The Pope is a unique figure who is both a world religous leader & world poltical leader. Revelation 13:5-6 5And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.6And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. The 42 months are prophetic and span the age of the new covenant church. Since the rise of the Papacy that office has blasphemed God by claiming titles that only belong to the Father and His Son. The Papacy has also claimed their authority. The Papacy has also blasphemed Jehovah's holy tabernacle in heaven by trying to cast Jesus heavenly intercession to the ground by setting up a false priesthood here on earth. The Papacy has made their Church and it's priests the mediators between Jehovah God and man. Also, Mary and the saints have been inserted as co-mediators with Christ. 1 Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" Scripture could not be more clear in that Jesus Christ is the sole mediator between Jehovah God and man. The Papacy's attempt to hide and obscure Jesus Melchizedek priesthood from the people and set up their own system of sanctuary service has been one of the most vile blasphemies against God ever committed. Hebrews 5:5-6 5So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.6As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. The Roman Catholic has glorified herself by attempting to usurp Jesus priesthood and installing their own. Revelation 13:7 "And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations" Throughout much the new covenant Church age the Roman Papacy has had authority over the nations. While they don't have the iron grip over Europe the way they used to the Papacy has more International influence than ever before. The Papacy has historically made war with the churches that kept God's holy Sabbath day. Revelation 13:8 "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" Those who worship the Papacy by honoring him as a man of God or by acknowledging him as holy Father and leader of the church are not saved but rather are fit for the lake of fire. This also includes those who obey Papal laws. Revelation 13:9-10 9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.10He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. The Pope was taken in captivity in 1798 and received His poltical deadly head wound. After the healing of the Papacy's deadly wound, patience of the Saints will also be needed as he (the Pope) will once again be taken into captivity and killed with the sword. This time the Son of God will do the killing of the Pope. The patience will come into play as the saints will not fight this war physically but spiritually so they must patiently endure. The phrase "Here is the patience and the faith of the saints" is also used in Revelation 14:12: "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." The saints in Revelation 13 are patient because they are faithfully keeping the commandments of God in the midst of persecution. They also have the faith of the Son of God meaning they have His same self denying loyalty to the Father by keeping the Father's commandments. Revelation 13:11 "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." We see the arrival of another beast on the scene. The description of this beast shows clearly that it is a Christian organization as it is described as having two horns like a lamb obviously a reference to Christ. However, this beast speaks as a Dragon i.e. Satan. How does the earth beast speak as a Dragon? What is the one doctrine that most Christian denominations teach? They teach that the law of Jehovah God is done away with. Satan hates Jehovah's law and He has decieved the churches of Christendom into hating it as well. While many Christians proclaim they believe in 9 of the 10 commandments they have a problem with the 4th commandment of the Sabbath. Much of the doctrines of the Protestant/Evangelical churches are derived from the first beast i.e. Papal Rome. Therefore they are the harlot daughters of the great whore (the Roman Catholic Church) Revelation 17:5. Revelation 13:12 "And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed." Protestant America eventually became as powerful as the holy Roman empire was in the height of it's power in the dark ages. Many will argue they are even more powerful than Papal Rome was. However, one of the main purposes of the rise of the earth beast will to cause all those who dwell in the earth to worship the Pope. The last several decades have actually proved this to be true as Presidents and Protestant religious leaders have glorified the Pope of Rome as the holy Father or holy man of God. This has led many Protestant and Evangelical churches and Christians to soften their stance against the Papacy and the Catholic church. The Papacy will actually rise to even a greater position of power in the very end of this age than it did during the height of the holy Roman empire. Revelation 13:13-14 13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. The false prophet makes fire come down out of heaven in the sight of man. What is this fire? Remember, we have to let scripture interpret scripture. This fire comes from a false religous system and thereby imitates the real fire of the remnant church. The authentic fire was the gift of tongues in the book of Acts chapter 2 as the tongues appeared as cloven tongues of fire. The gift of tongues in the book of Acts was not gibberish but rather it was the gift in speaking a known language so that the hearer would understand. The language would be unknown by the speaker i.e. a foreign language. In the book of Acts, the apostles spoke in the languages of those who were gathered for the feast of Pentecost as Jews and proselytes from all nations were there. The counterfeit tongues of the false prophet are what we hear from the Pentecostal and charismatic churches. The tongues they speak comes out as gibberish and nonsense. God is not the author of confusion. The word confusion comes from the word Babel which is a shortened form of Babylon. The tongues of today's charismatic churches are babbling whereas the tongues in Acts chapter 2 were actual language. The purpose of the tongues in Acts was to preach the gospel of the Kingdom to those of other tribes, tongues and nations. It wasn't just to show off that they had the holy Spirit but rather so that those who didnt speak the Hebrew language could hear a coherent presentation of the gospel of the Son of God. Ironically the modern speaking in tongues movement has united the charismatic churches of Protestantism with the charismatic wing of the Roman Catholic Church. The false prophet Protestant/Evangelical churches will petition an image of the beast to be formed. The beast is the Papacy. Will this image be a statue or some physical likeness of the Papacy? Remember, we must remember that the book of Revelation was sent to John in codes and symbols. The Papal Church was both Political and Religious in nature i.e. a union of Church and State. The Protestant/Evangelical churches of America have been desperate for a "Christian" President. They continually endorse Republican candidates with the hopes that they will have someone in office who enacts laws that are in accordance with the bible. While on the surface this may seem noble it is a trap that ends up diverting attention away from the Kingdom of God. It also yokes the church up with politics and political parties. Actually it was a union of Church and State that derailed a once thriving church into centuries long apostasy. Truthfully the mainstream Church has never recovered from their yoking up with the Roman empire in the 4th century. Even since the time of the reformation, the Christian Church has sought to rule the land they dwelled in through politics. The Protestant and Evangelical churches do this because they have learned this from their mother from whom they came out of, the Roman Catholic Church. The uneqaully yoking with the State is a Roman Catholic practice that the Protestants and Evangelicals have tried to emulate as they have tried to establish their own Protestant/Evangelical holy empire through America. In certain periods in America's history the church has had tremendous influence in laws and political issues. The seperation of church and state has kept the Protestants and Evangelicals at bay from truly creating a Church-state. However, more than ever there has been a push by the Evangelical churches to assert influence in Washington D.C. and Donald Trump is their new hero. The Evangelicals boldly state that Trump is a modern day King Cyrus. This proclamation by the Evangelicals is borderline idolatry as it basically says that Trump is a messiah figure. One prominent Evangelical even called Trump the second coming of God and the King of Israel. Trump approved of those comments. He himself has referred to himself as the chosen one. Remember, the title "King of Israel" belongs to Jesus Christ alone. The image of the beast is a union of Church and State. It is a replica of what the holy Roman empire was, which was both a political and Religious Kingdom. Even now the Roman Catholic Church is both a political and Religious Kingdom as the Vatican is a sovereign state and it's influence and power is worldwide. Revelation 13:15 "And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." If the image of the beast is a union of Church and State then how does it speak? Through legislative power. The Protestant American beast will be given legislative life to make laws that are in accordance with their doctrinal views. Those who dont worship the image of the beast will be killed. The NAR wing of Evangelicals actually has a doctrine where they will have God given authority to kill Christians that dont go along with this false revival. The rise in power of the image of the beast will look like revival to many American Christians, however it will be a false one because it will not be rooted in truth i.e. God's commandments. The image of the beast will think they are doing God's service by killing Christians as scripture prophesies. Why will they think they are doing God's service? Because they will enforce a mark that they believe is God's will: Revelation 13:16 "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads" Contrary to popular belief the mark of the beast is not a physical one but rather a spiritual one. We must let scripture interpret scripture and if the seal of God is spiritual, which clearly it is, then the mark of the beast is spiritual as it is an opposite to the seal of God. The attempt to identify what the mark of the beast is has been an unneccessarily difficult task for prophecy students throughout the last several decades. Remember the phrase "Here is the patience of the saints"? This patience is needed because of the opposition they face from the sea beast (Papal Rome) & now the arrival of the earth beast (Protestant America) Deuteronomy 6:4-8 4 Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah:5 and thou shalt love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart;7 and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes. If we let scripture interpret scripture then we can easily determine what the mark of the beast is rather than entertain speculations whether reasonable or otherwise. Verse 8 actually gives us the answer to what the mark of the beast is. Verse 8 says that we are to have Jehovah's law bound between the frontlet of our eyes (forehead) and our hand. This is exactly where it is said the mark of the beast will be placed on all who worship the beast and his image. This means that if we are to have Jehovah's law written upon our forehead (mind) and hands (actions) that the mark of the beast would be the exact opposite i.e. the breaking of His law. Deuteronomy 6 shows that the seal of Jehovah is His law as it represents His character. Since the seal of God is a spiritual one then the mark of the beast must also be spiritual. Remember, scripture interprets scripture so we must determine truth from there not news headlines. The seal of God in Revelation 7:1-3 turns out to be the Father's name in Revelation 14:1. The 10 commandments are a transcript of Jehovah's character and someone's name represents their character. The name of the beast represents the character of the beast. The character of the beast is lawlessness i.e iniquity. The mark of the beast is the opposite of God's seal. Again, if the law of God is to be upon our forehead and hand and the mark of the beast is as well then the logical conclusion is that the mark of the beast is the breaking of God's commandments or a specific commandment that is the opposite of one of God's commandments. While one must keep all of the commandments in order to enter into New Jerusalem (Revelation 22:14), it appears that one specific commandment may be at the center of the end times crisis. Daniel 7:25 "And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time." This verse in Daniel is speaking about the little horn which is the biblical antichrist. One of the job qaulifications of the antichrist is that he thinks to change God's times and the law. Obviously this is speaking about Jehovah's law since civil laws change all the time and Jehovah wouldn't have a controversy with that since worldly kingdoms are given authority to rule and make laws. Which laws of God has to do with time? The holy days of Jehovah God are related to time and these precisely were what was changed by the Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Church systematically got rid of the feast days of Jehovah and replaced them with Christmas, New Years day, Valentines day, Good Friday, Easter, Pentecost Sunday as opposed to the biblical Pentecost and All souls day. However, the most notable of the changes was the attempted removal of the seventh day Sabbath and replacing it with Sunday sacredness basically a Sunday Sabbath. While many sincere believers question whether we can keep the feasts in the new covenant due to there being no temple or tabernacle, there is no question regarding the Sabbath and it's applicability to the Christian today. Amazingly, this all goes over the head of your everyday Christian. Why is this? Because they are taught that the law of Jehovah God is done away with. Because they believe the law is done away with they cannot believe that the mark of the beast has to do with the breaking of the law. In fact, if you keep Jehovah's law you are condemned by mainstream Christianity as a heretic. Deuteronomy 11:18-19 18Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul; and ye shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes. Again, this is speaking about the law of Jehovah God and having it on your hand (actions) and between the frontlet of your eyes (forehead-mind). Let's look at Deuteronomy 11:1 "Therefore thou shalt love Jehovah thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his ordinances, and his commandments, alway." Loving Jehovah God is eqauted to keeping His commandments just as the apostle John says in his 1st epistle 1 John 5:2-3 2 Hereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do his commandments.3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. The eqauting of loving God with keeping His commandments is not just an old testament doctrine but it clearly is a new testament one as well. Because of the mainstream Churches doing away of Jehovah's law they have to come up with other scenarios regarding the mark of the beast. This is where the idea of an RFID chip or something similar comes in. Their lawless gospel prevents them from seeing what the seal of God is which then prevents them from identifying the mark of the beast. The law of Jehovah God is to be on our forehead & hand. The mark of the beast is also said to be in the hand & forehead. This clearly tells us that the mark of the beast is the opposite of keeping God's commandments. Below is my study on what bible prophecy really tells us concerning the controversy between Satan and Christ. While many so called prophets and prophecies are filling the land the bible says we have a sure word of prophecy that is a lamp inna dark place. Don't pay attention to the wild speculations of man or someone who says "I have a word from Lord", God's word has already told us what is gonna happen and what the main issue is between Satan and the church.
The battle of the church age part 1 Often lost on most Christians is the heart of what Satan's war against the church is about. When we look at the book of Revelation we see this war being played out throughout the new covenant church age leading up to the second advent Christ. In this study I want to focus on Revelation chapters 11-15 and show what is at the heart of this war. Most Christians because of the man made traditions they love will not like this study because it exposes them as being on the wrong side of the war. Jehovah God is merciful and winks at ignorance but then calls those ignorant ones to repentance once they are exposed to the truth. As we will see in this study, the commandments of God play a central role in the battle that Satan has aged against the church. The eye opening reality is that Satan is not necessarily employing the obvious and overt enemies of the Kingdom in this war but is primarily using those who call themselves Christians against those who keep the commandments. Let's start where this battle began between Satan and the new covenant Israel: Revelation 12:1-3 1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. The woman is Israel and the twelve stars represent the 12 tribes of Israel. Israel throughout it's history was laboring to bring forth the promised Davidic Christ. Israel finally gave birth to the Davidic King fulfilling Isaiah 9:6. The great red dragon is Satan and also the 4th beast of Daniel. The 4th beast is the Roman empire and at the time of Jesus it is in it's Imperial form. The seven heads represent either seven successive empires or seven forms of Roman government and the 10 horns representing the divided Roman empire. Revelation 12:4-5 4And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.5And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. Verse looks back to original fall of Satan and the angels he deceived. Immediately upon the birth of Jesus Satan represented by Imperial Rome sought to kill Jesus as Herod the great mass slaughtered male children two years and under in his search for Jesus. Israel brought forth it's Christ i.e. the man child who was to be enthroned as the King of Israel and come back to dash the nations to pieces like a potters vessel (Psalm 2). Here the reader is being shown that Jesus is the prophesied eschatological Davidic King. In verse 5 we see the ascension of the Son of God into heaven to Jehovah God's throne. It's important to understand that the throne of David was referred to as the throne of Jehovah. Revelation 12:6 "And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days." The woman is the church the new covenant Israel and in connection with the ascension of the Son of God into heaven she flees into the wilderness. The wilderness experience of the church begins right away and it is symbolic of old covenant Israel's experience in the wilderness. The reference to the wilderness has more to do with spiritual circumstances than it does geographical location although there is a literal application as many times throughout history the church has had to find refuge in mountains, hills, the catacombs of Rome and basically go underground. The time period mentioned is a symbolic number representing the length of the new covenant church age. Revelation 12:9 "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. As a result of Christ ascension into heaven, Satan and his angels were permanently cast out of heaven. We will see that this casting out of Satan and his angels will ignite a brutal war against the church by him (Satan). Revelation 12:10 "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." This passage shows that Satan's war against God's church begins right after the ascension of the Son of God to the throne of David in New Jerusalem. Satan is cast down in conjunction with the ascension of Jesus to the throne and this is why the voice in heaven can say that the Kingdom of God has come (present tense) and salvation showing that the new covenant age of salvation runs concurrently with the Kingdom of God. The phrase "power of His Christ" shows that the reign of the Davidic King has also begun. The Father and Son are ruling together presently in the new covenant age just as Jehovah ruled over Israel with the Davidic King as His vice regent in the old covenant age. Revelation 12:13-14 13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. Notice that the Dragon (Satan) starts persecuting the woman (new covenant Israel) right after being cast to the earth showing the time period of a time, times and half a time start right at the ascension of the Son of God into heaven and the subsequent casting to earth of Satan. This is important fact and is it will show us that the responsibility to keep God's commandments is for all Christians and not limited to Jews leading up to AD 70 or Jews after some pre-tribulation rapture. Both of those theories were created to harmonize the mainstream Church's doctrine that the commandments are done away with in the new covenant. Preterism posits the 3 and a half years as being from 66 AD -70 AD and applying this to the persecution of Jews and Jewish Christians therefore they can say Revelation 12:17 only applies to them. However, clearly the 3 and a half years starts right after Satan is cast to the earth so this could in no way apply to 70 AD. Also, the Jews that were persecuted in AD 70 were not Messianics as they had fled Jerusalem by the time the persecution started due to Jesus warning in Matthew 24. Futurism posits the 3 and a half years as right before the coming of Christ and after a pre tribulation secret rapture. This then leaves them free to break God's commandments because the 3 and a half years will be for Jews to be the commandment keepers of Revelation 12:17. Again, the fleeing into the wilderness is not necessarily about geographical location but moreso to do with circumstances of persecution where the saints will find shelter from the persecutors whether in the literal wilderness or right where they are at. Revelation 12:15-16 15And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.16And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. The flood is persecution and again this persecution takes place right when Satan is cast to the earth. The woman is the church. Satan's goal since the ascension of Christ and His enthronement is to destroy the church. The earth helping the woman is analogous to the woman being taken to the wilderness as a place of refuge. The earth and the wilderness are the same thing, places of refuge for the church in order to be safe from severe persecution. We can easily see this has happened throughout church history. The Christians in the Roman empire had the Catacombs, the Waldenses had the Italian alps, the Anabaptists had the forests. Revelation 12:17 "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Satan's war is only against one church and that church is identified as those who keep God's commandments and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Satan is not at war with any other church. The woman is new covenant Israel and her seed is the remnant meaning the little flock who have been given the Kingdom by the Father as Jesus said (Luke 12:32). The offspring of the woman is the church and the only church at that. There are no multiple categories of the church, you are either part of the remnant or you are not. Israel as a nation brought forth the Christ and the remnant of her seed are those Israelites who believed in the Son of God as well as the Gentiles who by faith are grafted in. The Israelites who rejected God's Christ were cut off. Just as in the old testament the remnant of Jehovah God in the new testament keeps His commandments. The remnant church also has the testimony of Jesus which is the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10). This means that the true remnant church will have a proper understanding of bible prophecy as a whole but especially how prophecy looks forward to and is fulfilled in the Son of God Jesus Christ. Much of today's church lacks in this area. When the remnant church preaches about Jesus they root their testimony of Him in what the prophets said about Him in terms of His identity and what He would fulfill. They stay away from the mystical speculations about Jesus and glean their understanding of Him from the prophets, Himself and the new testament writers. Now we will go to Revelation 13 to see this war play out between Satan and God's commandment keeping church. Revelation 13:1-2 1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. This beast is the 4th beast of the book of Daniel which chronologically follows Grecia. This is the Roman empire. In Revelation 12, the dragon had crowns on its heads as the dragon represented Imperial Rome and Satan. Satan used Imperial Rome to persecute the Christ of God. Here in Revelation 13 the crowns have shifted to the 10 horns showing that the Roman empire was now in it's divided phrase having broken off into 10 kingdoms. The blasphemous name on the heads of the beast show that it is a religious power in opposition to God. Notably on Pope's mitre are titles that belong to our holy Father and the holy Spirit. Also, the triquetra is on the Pope's mitre representing the blasphemous trinity doctrine. This beast is a composite of Babylon, media-persia and Greece. This again shows that this is Rome which chronologically followed those three beasts. The Dragon gave this beast his authority and power. As mentioned above, the Dragon of Revelation 12 represents both Satan and Imperial Rome. Imperial Rome gave the Papacy its seat (throne) and authority. In the 4th century, Constantine had moved his Headquarters and throne from the western empire (Rome) to the eastern empire (Byzantine). In doing this, he left the Papacy in charge in the western end of the empire and left the throne of Rome to him (the Pope). We also see in 534-538 AD, Justinian the Roman emperor put together the "Justinian Code" and hand over authority over all the churches in the empire to the Roman papacy. Of course Satan was the one orchestrating this. Revelation 13:3 "And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast." Many modern Christians think a future political antichrist will be shot in the head and then miraculously come back to life. However, we if we understand that the Roman Papacy actually experienced a deadly head wound then we see that this prophecy has been fulfilled. The Papacy suffered a religious wound during the protestant reformation in the 1500's. This resulted in the Roman Catholic Church losing a significant amount of power of Christendom in the west. Many former Catholics became Protestants or Anabaptists and Catholicism's stranglehold over Europe in spiritual matters ended as they now had to compete for souls with the aforementioned groups. Subsequently the Roman Papacy suffered a civil-political head wound from the French army led by General Berthier in 1798 when the Pope was taken captive and eventually died in captivity. This was a severe blow to the Papacy's civil power. The deadly head wound of the Papacy was to be healed which would result in the whole world wondering after the beast. History shows that for the most part this has already taken place. In 1929, the Vatican was given sovereignty by the Italian government and a newspaper article even headlined deadly wound healed". God used a secular newspaper to show the world that bible prophecy had been fulfilled. Increasingly, throughout the 20th century, the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope have gained increasing influence and power over the nations of the earth. In the 1980's the Pope worked with Ronald Regean to bring down the U.S.S.R. and both were featured on Time Magazine's cover with the headline "Holy Alliance". In 2015 Pope Francis came to the United States on a whirlwind tour where he visited the White house, the site of ground zero (911), the world council on Families in Philadelphia and the United Nations headquarters in New York City. During his visit the Pope spoke at the United Nations on climate change and also had ecumenical worship services with Protestants and Pagan religions in attendance. On the religious side, the 500 year anniversary in 2017 of the Protestant reformation officially ended the protest against the Papal Catholic Church as the Protestants, Evangelicals and Seventh Day Adventists reached out to the Roman Catholic Church in unity through a peace accord. This really was the final nail in the coffin of a long drawn out process of the Protestants and Evangelicals reaching their hands across Rome to reunite with their Catholic mother. Moreso than ever, the world is wondering after the Papal beast as Pope Francis is the most popular Pope outside Catholic circles that the world has ever seen. The Pope was given the royal treatment upon his visit to the U.S. in 2015 and received immense positive publicity. Revelation 13:4 "And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?" Both in the time of Papal rule in the days of the holy Roman empire and in the soon future it was/is futile to make war against the beast . During the days of the holy Roman empire the Papacy had the armies of Europe to enforce his decrees and punish so called "heretics". In the time after the Papacy's deadly wound is healed, the United Nations led by the United States will back the Vatican and punish those seemed heretics by the Pope. Pope Francis has already spoken out against those who take the bible literally who he also calls fundamentalists. The war against fundamentalism has also been taken up by the government of the United States who lists them as possible terrorists. Amazingly many Christians and many denominations are also adamantly against fundamentalism and taking the bible literally. This is because they without controversy speaks against Homosexuality and Lesbian and the murdering sin of abortion. These are America's favorite sins so the cowardly churches of America have bowed down to the world because of their desire to be a friend of the world. These churches are scared to be hated by the world so instead they love what the world loves. There is a strange teaching today within and without the church that Jehoshua would be okay with homosexuality and would love them. One of the arguments many followers of the Son of God fail to address is the fact that Jehoshua comes from the line of the Israelite kings. One of the main functions of the Kings of Israel were to uphold the law of Jehovah God. The law of Jehovah God clearly teaches that it is an abomination for man to lie with man and woman with woman.
The idea that Jehoshua accepts homosexuality puts him out of line with Jehovah God His Father and the very royal line that He comes from (the royal seed of David). A look at what the Kings of Israel did that were considered righteous reveal the character of Jehoshua the Son of God who is the righteousness of God. 1 Kings 15:9-12 9 And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Asa to reign over Judah.10 And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.11 And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, as did David his father.12 And he put away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. Asa, who was a Davidic King, was considered righteous in the eyes of Jehovah God for kicking the Sodomites out of the land of Israel. Remember, Jehovah changes not (Malachi 3:6). His character is seen in His law which drops as the dew from heaven (Deuteronomy 32:1-4) and His ways (law) are perfect. Psalm 119:1-2 1 Blessed are they that are perfect in the way, Who walk in the law of Jehovah.2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, That seek him with the whole heart. Asa was enforcing Jehovah's perfect law by ridding the land of the Sodomites. The problem with modern Christianity is that they have largely separated Jehoshua from His Israelite roots. They have made a false image of Jehoshua who is a long haired hippy and a greek demi-god whose morals are more in line with Greek philosophy than Jehovah's Torah. Jehoshua is also a Davidic King like Asa was and as a Davidic King He is charged with teaching and enforcing Jehovah's law. In fact, the very reason Jehoshua was enthroned as the King of Israel was because of His love for righteousness and hatred for iniquity (lawlessness). Today's mainstream Church system has flipped it around and have taught a Jehoshua who excuses lawlessness and condemns those who try and keep the law. Israel was supposed to be a nation governed by Jehovah's law and the King was charged with making sure the nation followed it. Unfortunately, many Davidic kings were not righteous and therefore didn't guard the law of Jehovah God. It was the heathen nations that practiced and glorified lawlessness. 1 Kings 14:24 "and there were also sodomites in the land: they did according to all the abominations of the nations which Jehovah drove out before the children of Israel." Sodomy was not to be named among the children of Israel. It was the pagan nations that practiced it and it was one of the reasons Jehovah drove them out of the land that He gave to Israel. Leviticus 18 shows us that homosexuality is the one of the sins that causes Jehovah to vomit the inhabitants out of a land: Leviticus 18:22 "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." Leviticus 18:24-25 24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out from before you;25 And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land vomiteth out her inhabitants. Verse 18 clearly shows that homosexuality is an abominable sin. Verses 24-25 show that homosexuality was something the heathen nations were known for. Also, the land is defiled by the practice of Sodomy. It is iniquity (lawlessness). The end result is that Jehovah will vomit out the inhabitants of the land that practice Sodomy. Do you know why Asa did what he did? He knew the consequences of this abomination called homosexuality. To posit Jehoshua as being okay with an abominable sin such as homosexuality is to divorce Him from His Israelite and Davidic roots. It is to put Him at odds with Jehovah God Himself. Jehovah's approval of Asa's actions show that it is righteous thing to be against Sodomy and those that practice it. Let's look at another account in 2nd Kings chapter 23: 1 And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem.2 And the king went up to the house of Jehovah, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of Jehovah.3 And the king stood by the pillar, and made a covenant before Jehovah, to walk after Jehovah, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all [his] heart, and all [his] soul, to confirm the words of this covenant that were written in this book: and all the people stood to the covenant.4 And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the threshold, to bring forth out of the temple of Jehovah all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the Asherah, and for all the host of heaven, and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Beth-el.5 And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven.6And he brought out the Asherah from the house of Jehovah, without Jerusalem, unto the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and beat it to dust, and cast the dust thereof upon the graves of the common people.7 And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were in the house of Jehovah, where the women wove hangings for the Asherah. This is a slam dunk text that refutes and idea that Jesus would be okay with homosexuality. Prior to this chapter, King Josiah was given the book of the law by Shaphan the scribe. Once the King heard and/or read what the book of the law said he rent his clothes. This is an example of how a righteous man reacts when he realizes he and those around him haven't been keeping the law. In response to this discovery King Josiah sent Hilkiah the high priest and others to go to the prophets Huldah to enquire about this matter. Josiah was lamenting that the fathers of Israel (prior generations) had not been keeping the law. Josiah knew that Jehovah's wrath was kindled against Israel because they had not been keeping the law. In todays Church you are condemned as a heretic if you keep the law and/or teach that we need to keep it. Yet Jehovah God speaking through the prophets Huldah pronounced a blessing on Josiah for his tender heart in wanting to return back to the law. Josiah had wept and rent his clothes when he realized he and the people were not keeping the law. King Josiah's repentance was called an act of humility by Jehovah God. Josiah was told that he would go to his grave in peace and not are the evil things that would come upon Israel for their disregard for Jehovah's law. Here in chapter 23 we see that Josiah's heart repentance turns into action as he called an assembly and read all the words of the law before the people of Israel. In verse 3 of 2nd Kings 23 Josiah made a covenant before Jehovah God that he and the people of Israel would walk after Jehovah and keep His commandments and His testimonies and statutes with all their heart. Remember, keeping Jehovah's commandments is a heart issue as it requires a removal of the heart of stone and to be given a heart of flesh. Verse 4, the first things Josiah commanded was a removal of the idols from the temple of Jehovah. King Josiah had them burned outside Jerusalem. He then got rid of the idolatrous priests who were teaching and practicing pagan rituals. This reminds me of the false pastors today who are allowing and promoting the wickedness of the world. The acceptance of homosexuality is the biggest Satanic practice that the church is accepting. These Pastors should be removed from their churches as they are idolatrous. In verse 7 of 2nd Kings 23, King Josiah broke down the houses of the Sodomites and got rid of them. This is similar to what Asa did. Both were considered righteous before Jehovah God for breaking the Sodomites houses and kicking them out of the land of Israel. These accounts show that homosexuality is a sin against Jehovah God and that the Kings of Israel who were considered righteous had no tolerance for it. Remember, that Jesus is the new covenant King of Israel and comes from the same line as Asa and Josiah. Jesus also upheld the law of His Father and warned that those who break the least of the commandments and teach others to do the same will be called least in the Kingdom of God (Matthew 5:17-19). Psalm 89:29-32 29 His seed also will I make to endure for ever, And his throne as the days of heaven.30 If his children forsake my law, And walk not in mine ordinances;31 If they break my statutes, And keep not my commandments;32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, And their iniquity with stripes. This text is within the context of the commentary on the Davidic covenant and is about the future Davidic King (Jesus). Jehovah warns the royal seed of David that if they violate the commandments Jehovah God then He will punish them with the rod. In other words, no future Davidic King was given allowance to break God's law nor teach others to do so. The arrival of Jesus on the scene and His preaching of the gospel of the Kingdom was not a new era where all of a sudden we can break God's law but rather it was a gospel that called us to depart from iniquity (lawlessness) and return to the living God. The teaching that somehow Jesus would be okay with homosexuality flies in the face of who He is in identity (the King of Israel and Son of God) and character (the righteousness of God). It also goes against what will happen when He comes back as He will thread the winepress of His Father's wrath (Revelation 19:15). The reason for the wrath of God being poured out is the transgression of His law (Isaiah 24:1-5). Jesus Himself said that only those who do God's commandments will enter into New Jerusalem and eat of the tree of life (Revelation 22:14). In fact, as righteous as some of the Davidic kings were including Asa and Josiah who rod the land of the Sodomites Jesus exceeded them all: Hebrews 1:8-9 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. Jesus hates iniquity, which is lawlessness, therefore to say He would accept homosexuals is absolutely contrary to what the Father says about the Son. Jesus was anointed with the oil of gladness above thy fellows due to His love for righteousness which is defined by Jehovah God's law. This means that Jesus exceeded all of the previous Davidic Kings in terms of righteousness including Asa and Josiah. This clearly shows that Jesus hates homosexuality even more than they did and when He comes back He will do as they did and rid the land of the Sodomites. Isaiah 63 and Revelation 19 show that when Jesus comes back it is gonna be a violent blood bath. Luke 19:27 shows that Jesus is gonna have people killed upon His return because they did not make Him King of their lives. Jesus died on the cross so that sinners can repent & be forgiven of their sins & baptized into His Kingdom. The teaching that Jesus would accept homosexuals into His Kingdom is false & is a wicked lie from Satan. 1 Corinthians 6:9 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind" |
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