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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