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“Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer,” (Revelation 6:1-2).

When the apostle John is caught up to heaven, he witnesses Jesus breaking the seals of the large scroll. It is a time of immense solemnity. Up until now, the fullness of evil’s manifestation had been restrained under the seals. But with the cup of man’s iniquity reaching its fullness, God now allows for the breaking of the seals. The breaking of the first seal releases the earliest events of Daniel’s 70th week, also known as “the end times.”

There comes times in history when God allows the unleashing of evil, even against His own people. His ultimate purpose is to turn the hearts of people back to Him in humility and repentance, in order that He may have mercy upon them and save them. In the end times, our hope will only rest in the return of Jesus Christ!

As John witnesses the first seal being broken, the spirit of a world conqueror is released upon earth. This release is announced by one of the four living creatures who stand guard around the throne of God. The announcement is made with a voice like thunder. Thunder speaks of approaching judgment upon earth.

The breaking of the first seal releases the earliest events of end times, as documented in the book of Revelation. Revelation reveals a conqueror riding on a white horse, the ancient sign of a victorious leader. This leader carries a large bow, an instrument of war. The absence of arrows denotes his coming in peace. Yet, the large bow would imply a powerful military strength backing him.

“And a crown was given to him.” In the New Testament, the Greek uses two different words for “crown”: “diadema” and “stephanos.” Greek is a very specific language, even more so than English. It can tell us a lot, if we are willing and submitted to “rightly dividing the word of truth.”

A “diadema” (Strong’s #1238) is a fillet (usually of gold) that is a symbol of royalty. When Queen Elizabeth ascended to the throne, a diadem was placed upon her. A diadem is also the crown worn by the 7 heads and 10 horns of the dragon, Satan (Revelation 12:3 & 13:1). It denotes ascension to a royal position of rulership. It is also used in Revelation 19:12 for the royal crowns worn by Jesus.

On the other hand, a “stephanos” (Strong’s 4735) is what we would picture as a laurel wreath or garland. It was typically placed upon the head of a victorious athlete. It is used in the sense of triumph over struggle. Paul cites a stephanos in 1 Corinthians 9:25 as the “crown” of an overcomer in Christ. He also uses it in 2 Timothy 4:8 as the “crown” of righteousness that every faithful believer will receive. And Revelation 2:10 urges us to be faithful unto death, in order that we might receive the “crown” (stephanos) of life.

The use of “stephanos” indicates victory over a competitor or competition, struggle, or other trying circumstance. It is a symbol of one who emerges on top as victor!

In Revelation 6:1, one of the earliest signs of Antichrist is in conjunction with a “stephanos” crown that is given to him. This presents us with an intriguing glimpse of how Antichrist rises to world conqueror. He goes about in the name of peace, backed up with great military strength. Yet, there is a great competition, struggle, or other trying circumstance early in his career from which he emerges, victorious. The crown or stephanos of a victorious competitor will be awarded to him.

Following his emergence as victor from his great struggle or competition, this world leader will be unstoppable. He will go about “conquering and to conquer.”

It is more than interesting that Adolph Hitler also experienced a great struggle early in his rise to leader of Germany. Rebelling against the corruption of the German government, Hitler was early on arrested and spent a year in prison. It was during his confinement that he wrote the book, “Mein Kampf”; simply translated, “My Struggle.” Hitler would emerge from his great struggle, empowered by Satan to become the 7th head of the dragon, Satan. His overt goal was the takeover of Europe and beyond. But, his personal demon was to destroy the Jews and all those who supported them. For Satan— who empowered Hitler— was desperate to stop the Biblically-prophesied resurrection of the nation of Israel. Satan influenced Hitler to target the largest concentration of Jews in the world at that time, the Jews of Europe. Had it succeeded, Hitler had further plans of moving onto the Jews of the Middle East.

Satan knows his end is coming. His last ditch effort to try and prevent Bible prophecy from reaching its ultimate fulfillment will be to try and destroy both “the woman” (Israel) & “the seed of the woman” (Christians— Galatians 3:29 & Revelation 12:17) off the face of the earth. But he will come deceptively— his plan of destruction will start under the guise of a peace plan. Satan comes as “an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).

People have asked me who the coming Antichrist is. I will tell you. He will be the man who fulfills Bible prophecy. His ancestry is Roman (northern European), Daniel 9:26. He will face a great struggle early on, yet emerge victorious, Revelation 6:2. He will be renowned for a great international treaty of peace between Israel & “many” nations, Daniel 9:27. His personality will be marked by arrogant speech, Daniel 7:8, 7:11; 7:20, 7:25. The nation from which he hails will overthrow three other nations, Daniel 7:8. These are just a few of the signs the Bible gives.

The Word of God is sure. What God has prophesied on the pages of Scripture WILL be fulfilled. Before God’s people can be totally annihilated, an interruption of the great tribulation of Antichrist will take place: the startling return of none other than Jesus Christ (see Seal 6 & Matthew 24:31). The “elect” will then be removed, spared from the wrath of God which surely follows. At the breaking of Seal 7, a series of seven trumpet, followed by seven bowl judgments begin, which are administered by God’s holy angels. Events then culminate at Armageddon with the defeat & sentencing of Antichrist, his False Prophet, and Satan himself by the TRUE KING, Jesus Christ. It is written, and it will be done.

If you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, be certain that He— and He alone— is the prophesied Messiah/Savior of this world. The salvation of this world will NOT come by the hand of man. That privilege is only kept for the true Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ!

It is time for Christians to stand on the Word of God. Finding peace in the midst of all the turmoil, chaos, and dangers of this present world will only come when our feet are established in truth. It is time the church faces what is ahead for her. And fully understands that our ultimate end, our ultimate victory… will only come in Christ Jesus! Jesus is the WORD OF GOD made flesh. He is our sure foundation. If our house is built on Him and His written WORD, it will not be shaken when the strong storms come. Halleluia!

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

“Therefore, whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same,” (Romans 13:1-3).

Right now, Donald Trump is the president of the United States. Therefore, he is our governing authority. The election results deciding the next president are currently being legally challenged in court. This is the time for Christians to pray as never before! To intercede before God that the man who has shown himself supportive of conservative, Christian values will emerge the clear winner.

However, should this legal challenge fail, and Biden go on to assume the presidency, Christians are obligated to submit themselves to and pray for the new president. If you find that appalling, just remember this. The early church was birthed and its numbers grew under the governance of a cruel & idolatrous Rome.

How far must we submit? To the point where submission to a government would force a crossing of the line into sin. During Israel’s Babylonian captivity, the three Hebrew young men (Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego) were submitted to and serving the pagan king, Nebuchadnezzar. However, there came a day when submission to the king clearly crossed the line into sin. Nebuchadnezzar ordered everyone to fall down in worship to an idol. The three young men refused, because to do so is a clear violation of the first and second commandments. For their stand, they were thrown into a fiery furnace. But, God delivered them so completely that not a hair was singed, not even the smell of smoke was upon them.

Donald Trump has been gifted with an iron will and a steely determination to win. Another man would not be going to the lengths he is to challenge the election. I am thankful for all he has done for our country. And I pray fervently & am supportive of his legal efforts. Who knows? God may use this to help stamp out the famous election corruptions that are in some of our states!

But, what IF he is successful in his challenge? It would be naive of us to think that the opposition would take their upset easily. I can guarantee more riots, protests, and violence taking place. And I would not be at all surprised if military crackdown and mass arrests— martial law, in fact— would ensue.

We find ourselves in the uncomfortable position of being caught between a rock and a hard place. A Biden presidency will mean a progressive agenda that is flirting with socialism. A Trump presidency will mean almost certain violent unrest, necessitating a more authoritarian rule.

God is going to make the call on who our commander-in-chief will be. He will decide this because He is the One who shapes history by setting up one king and putting down another. God has bigger fish to fry than just safeguarding our American freedoms. He has the kingdom of His Son to usher in.

The bandaid that is holding this present world together, will one day be removed. With Trump, it may get ripped off a little faster because of his efforts to bring about a Middle East peace treaty— thus, triggering end times. A Biden presidency might remove the bandaid a little slower, as the socialists are not keen on Israel, a peace plan, or a temple on the Temple Mount.

Either way this turns out, the church is headed for some tough times. We are called to submit to— and pray for— whatever governing authority God sets over us. But, never to the point of violating God’s commandments.

There may come a day when we have to take a stand for God even against our own president.

In 1 Kings 1:5-53 is the Biblical story of how an ambitious son of King David’s seized the kingship before the rightful heir, Solomon, could ascend to the throne. An aging and frail King David had done nothing to stop Adonijah’s illegal ambitions. So, some of David’s closest advisors & prophets went before David to address their concerns. Nathan asked David reproachfully: “Has this thing been done by my lord the king, and you have not told your servant who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?” (1 Kings 1:27).

Tantamount in Nathan’s rebuke of David was the fact that David’s own men had not been told about any change in the succession to the throne. They had not been told, because there really wasn’t any change!

The present election results make it appear that most Christians were not told about the change in who is to become the next president. Has there been a change in God’s plan?

In this election, at least 50% of Americans cast their vote for a candidate upholding conservative, Christian values. So, has God turned a deaf ear to all the prayers & supplications for President Trump’s re-election? The results for Joe “Adonijah” Biden would make you think so.

In Genesis 18, there is the story of Abraham interceding before God to spare Sodom for the sake of 10 righteous people. The Lord’s answer? “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten,” (Genesis 18:32). If God promised to spare Sodom for the sake of just 10 decent people, will He not pull the USA back from the brink of socialism for the sake of many, many more Christians?

Trump has been specially gifted with an iron will, steely determination, and a never-say-never attitude. For the past 4 years, we have seen him come back from attack after attack against his tenure, his character, his competency, and his booming economy. Is he now finished off? Will God allow this nation to be turned over to liberals for the utter destruction of its conservative foundation? I don’t think we can say that just yet. Legal challenges against the election results have been filed. Things are not yet final. It’s not over til the fat lady sings. God delights in catching His enemies in the same snare that they set for others.

So, what IF Trump is able to pull this election out? Will it be a time for the church to celebrate? Here is where this message goes deeper.

This election is basically a choice of how you want your bandaid pulled off. Some Christians want it yanked off really fast. Others want to take it slow and steady. If President Trump gets re-instated for another 4 years, we are on a fast track to a Middle East peace treaty and the possible PROPHETIC launch of end times (Daniel 9:27). If Joe Biden remains as winner, things in the Middle East will go sour— especially for Israel, for a while. Any proposed peace plan affecting “many” nations & Israel will almost certainly be scuttled. Not to mention Israel’s ability to build her Third Temple.

After decades of studying prophecy, I am assured of this one thing: Bible prophecy is 100% guaranteed to come to pass. There is no question about it. Sooner or later, Daniel 9:27 and the prophecies of Matthew 24, Revelation, Ezekiel, etc. will take place.

Donald Trump set a Middle East peace plan as the main international goal of his presidency. Our president is determined, willful, and doesn’t like to lose at anything…ever. So, don’t count him out just yet.

Only the One who sits on the throne of the universe can and will decide this election. Pray, intercede like Abraham for our country. But, the timing of prophetic events is in the hands of God. How will our bandaid be ripped off? Fast or slowly? Will it be launched into high gear or be stalled for a while? Stay tuned. In the meantime, stay calm and carry on the work of evangelizing this world while we still can.

Shalom!

“All these are but the beginning of the birth pains,” (Matthew 24:8 ESV).

Birth pangs display a cyclical character. Although the pangs intensify as the actual birth approaches, interspersed throughout the process are periods of relative rest when the contractions ease.

Nineteen years ago today on 9/11, God fired a warning shot across the bow of America to wake up her people and the world. The day had begun in beauty & peace. But, then sudden destruction fell. Televised images of boats in New York harbor were pictured among a backdrop of smoke, fire, and destruction. It was an ominous preview of Revelation 18:17-19:

“For in one hour such great riches came to nothing. Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?’ They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.’”

Since the time of the 9/11 birth pangs, America has enjoyed relative peace & prosperity. But now, birth pangs have returned to our country!

Bible prophecy is not a suggestion of how things may turn out. It is a REVELATION of how things will turn out. The omniscient God— who sits outside of time in an eternal state— sees the end from the beginning. In His Word, God delivered to His people a blueprint of history, laid out in the prophetic writings of both the Old & New Testaments.

The Bible declares that the end of this age begins with a strong treaty of peace among Israel and many nations of the world. The rebuilding of the Jewish temple will be associated with this treaty.

What are we seeing playing out in our world right now? There is an unprecedented air of peace negotiations going on between Israel and many Arab nations. The major peace treaty (the Trump peace deal)— sits quietly, awaiting final confirmation. The likelihood of its success is being strengthened in no small measure by the historic Abrahamic Accord which will be signed next week by Israel, the U.A.E., and Bahrain. “Many” other nations have also signaled their willingness to enter into full diplomatic relationship with Israel in the near future.

The dike holding back peace in the Middle East is beginning to break as more nations are choosing to move their embassies to Jerusalem. In no small thanks to President Trump, Jerusalem is becoming the peace capital of the world!

The Trump deal also recognizes that the Temple Mount has great significance to the three major monotheistic religions of the world: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. And so, it declares that the Temple Mount should be open to all the faiths, in order that they can worship there as their religions dictate. For the Jews, that will be the building of their long-awaited Third Temple!

The atmosphere on the Temple Mount itself is also changing. Formerly hostile to Jews, the governing authorities of the Mount are now softening. Jews are now allowed to ascend, pray, & blow a shofar there. This was unheard of just a few years ago. And the Jewish practice of animal sacrifice is also inching closer. Until recently, these sacrifices had to be performed outside the walls of the city. Now, they are being done within a stone’s throw of the Temple Mount platform.

WHAT’S THE POINT OF ALL THIS? God loves His people. He doesn’t want us to be caught off guard. The very signs spoken of in the Bible regarding end times are starting to emerge out of the mists and into reality here in our world.

Donald Trump seems to be the one chosen to drive the process of peace in the Middle East and the world. So, how does that fit in with the upcoming elections? Will he be removed from office, or will he be allowed to stay and complete his stated goal of bringing a Mideast peace deal to fruition?

Personally, I expect him to stay in office. Things are lining up so close to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy that I would expect them to finish out, rather than be upended by the election of a Democratic regime, hostile both to Israel & Trump’s peace progress. Moreover, the cup of man’s iniquities has been full for some time and cries out for Divine intervention.

How are we as Christians to handle all that is happening around us? First, seek the Lord in both prayer & meditation in His revealed Word. Then, go vote. Just remember this: in the Bible there is something called the “fullness of time.” God puts men in power to accomplish His purposes. This can include a time of tribulation. Tribulation purifies the saints.

If Trump wins, we may experience a time of easing of our present birth pangs. A time where people and prophets exalt in “peace and safety.” But, stay sober. If it is time for the unfolding of end times— for the birth of Christ’s return— nothing can stop it. Not prayer rallies, fastings; neither prophet nor apostle.

Somewhere along the way, Jesus’ own church has fallen so in love with this present world that she’s become all about saving it. And so she prays for a Trump win, in order to ensure peace, safety, and continued prosperity.

However, God works all things together for His end, for His purposes. It may be that the peace & safety we are hoping to usher in, is just the calm before the storm.

Throughout history, Satan has used world leaders and world empires to war against the kingdom of God and His people. We are seeing that war play out once again in a new guise, known as the New World Order (NWO). But it has its deep roots in the previous empire of the 20th century.

During the 1900’s Satan was forced to go to his “A-game”, when he saw that Bible prophecy was making great strides towards historical fulfillment. In 1917, the land of Palestine had been given back to the Jews for the re-establishment of a Jewish nation. Since Satan’s demise is tied prophetically to the end time reappearance of the nation of Israel, this was cause for alarm on Satan’s part. Something had to be done and fast.

Satan’s answer was to empower a man and his empire to try & wipe out every Jew in Europe, in an effort to prevent Israel’s nationhood from becoming a reality.

Adolph Hitler rose to power in a nation that had been thrown into economic, political, and social chaos following its defeat during WWI. Despite opposition, Hitler’s Nazi party rose in power as the solution to Germany’s national crisis. Adolph Hitler reestablished national pride, redeemed the economy, and restored order. The German people loved him. Church leaders bowed to him.

Empowered by Satan himself, Adolph Hitler proved to be incredibly successful on the political and military fronts. Sweeping across Europe in a few short years, Hitler turned a defeated German nation into the empire of the Third Reich. And wherever his power extended, Hitler would round up the Jews for slaughter and anyone sympathizing with them.

Adolph Hitler was allied with some powerful Middle Eastern Muslim leaders. Together with these nations, Hitler hoped to extend his decimation of the Jews to the land called “Palestine,” once the European front was under control.

But despite being empowered and guided by Satan himself, Adolph Hitler was defeated. In the end, the German empire lay in smoking ruins, with its leader dead from a gunshot wound to his head.

How was Hitler’s empire defeated? God used the predominantly God-fearing armies of the United States, England, and other nations to vanquish the Third Reich. But, it took all of the Allies— strengthened by God— to defeat this beast empire & its leader.

Satan will not make that same mistake again. As the beast is released from the Abyss to enter back on the world’s stage once more, Satan will have a strategy in place for what beat him the last time.

Why are we experiencing so much turmoil and chaos throughout the world today? First, Satan creates the problem. Then, he offers up the solution. Satan is hard at work in our world today.

Why are things amping up at such a frenzied intensity? It is “because he knows that he has a short time,” (Revelation 12:12). Prophetically, a treaty and a temple are waiting in the wings of history, waiting to become realities in Israel very soon. If there was ever a time for Satan to begin to move, it is now.

But Satan has to deal with the problem of what defeated him the last time around: God-fearing nations of people. How does he do that?

To start, he introduces gross sin, including idolatry into the nations. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people,” (Proverbs 14:34).

As the Bible puts it, “And they are insane with their idols,” (Jeremiah 50:38).

But what is Satan to do about the stubborn, God-fearers who hold fast to the teachings of Christ? What if they don’t fall into iniquity?

For them, Satan’s tool of choice is deception. Jesus said: “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am Christ’; and shall deceive many,” (Matthew 24:4-5). A carnal church will put its trust in man. But, spirit cries out to Spirit.

Today not only our nation, but our world are being thrown into turmoil and chaos. This “pan-demon-ium” (pandemonium), in turn, cries out for a strong response, a strong hand to restore order in the world. And Satan will have his man waiting in the wings to satisfy the need for law & order or “peace and safety.” Just like pre-WWII Germany.

Can we duped into accepting this man? Not if we love, honor, and obey God! “For the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.,” (Proverbs 9:10).

The lesson should not be lost on us that Hitler himself used the established churches and a pretense of Christianity for a time, in order to further his goals. But eventually the gloves came off, and Germany was stuck with a monster.

That monster or beast is rising back up from the abyss. He came very close to annihilating the Jews the first go around. This next time will be worse. “Jacob’s time of trouble” is yet ahead for Israel.

Satan is using chaos and deception for accomplishing his purposes. Like Hitler, his strategy is brilliant, but flawed. In the end, the beast…and eventually Satan himself, wind up in the eternal Lake of Fire.

Evil is ultimately self-destructive. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Knowledge (intelligence) that is not founded on the worship of God is ultimately flawed, and therefore, headed for destruction.

The most intelligent being in the universe outside of the Godhead is not George Soros, Bill Gates, or Vladimir Putin. It is Satan who used to be “the anointed cherub that covered” the very throne of God Himself. But Satan’s knowledge is a fallen knowledge, not based upon submission to God. So, it is flawed and defeatable.

Evil is inherently destructive to its own self. It is self-annihilating; its own worst enemy. Remind yourself of that the next time Satan tries to get you into fear. If you are a child of God, submitted to the Lamb, victory over Satan— and all the chaos, destruction, and tyranny this world can throw at us— is a foregone conclusion. Rejoice!  Your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of (Eternal) Life!  Hallelujah!

In the excellent, recently released series entitled, “The Chosen,” Jesus assembles a motley group of disciples, one of whom is Simon (Peter). A natural born leader used to taking matters into his own hands, Simon is gradually introduced to a new perspective by Jesus. When Matthew, a hated tax-collector with autistic tendencies, is taken into the group, Simon struggles. Jesus’ reply to Simon? “Get used to different.”

Today, as a result of the corona pandemic, the world has turned a corner and life will never fully return back to the way it was. Social distancing and restrictions on liberties have been readily accepted out of fear. Soon to come may be mandatory vaccinations, digital tracking of people, more censorship of free speech, & further enslavement of the church under government. God’s word to the church is this, “Get used to different.”

We really shouldn’t be surprised at the troubling changes happening to our world. “And, behold, I come quickly,” (Revelation 22:12). The Bible has been prophesying a coming end to this present age for the past 6,000 years. In truth, Christians should be the most progressive, forward-thinking people in the world— having prayed “Thy kingdom come” for the past 2,000 years! We should understand better than anyone that this present age with all its inherent corruption must “pass away” before the Messianic kingdom can come in all its fullness.

In “The Chosen,” Simon is presented as a pugnacious leader who is used to fighting for what he wants. He engages in brawls, gambling, and evading the Roman authorities on a matter of unpaid taxes. Jesus has to set Simon straight about acting in the flesh: “I did not come to fight the Romans. My kingdom is for the hearts of men.” Simon had to get used to different.

In this present time, God is calling His people to get used to different. How different? To die to self. To not respond in the flesh under provocation. To transfer our sights from ambition for worldly success, to hunger for the souls of men.

“Love not the world; neither the things of this world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

The Bible portrays the end of the end times as the shaking of everything that can be shaken. The fall of all worldly kingdoms, and the burning up of all its stuff. In the end times, men will be seen throwing gold & silver into the streets, finally realizing that salvation is not something that can be purchased by wealth and power. But, only by the precious blood of the Lamb.

God is calling His church to get used to different. In place of timidity to opposition, boldness in our testimony. In place of “peace & safety,” persecution, even laying down our life. In place of worldly ambitions, humility, an emptying of oneself. In place of carnality, a place in the kingdom.

Whether you cooperate or not with God’s plan for this world, His plan will be accomplished. God has started shaking, the birth pangs have begun. Signs of the times are already upon us; others rapidly approach. The power of this world is being quickly consolidated into one final evil empire. It will be given over to one man to wield as he sees fit. Divine restraint of evil is being lifted, as the world seeks to become its own god.

Separation from the trends of this present evil age is being forced upon the true church of Jesus Christ. Little by little stress cracks are appearing between those who love God and those who hate Him. Gulfs are enlarging. The true church of Jesus Christ recognizes the signs of Christ’s return. It will not come upon them “like a thief in the night.”

A gathering storm is approaching the nation of Israel. Despite assurances of peace & safety, the world wants the Jews destroyed. And with them, the Christians. The world sees both faiths as major roadblocks to global ambition, to their own progressive thought. “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you,” (John 15:19).

As believers in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob— who is Yeshua, Jesus Christ— we will be hated by the world for His name’s sake. That is a promise. That is our robe of glory, our crown of righteousness. To be hated & rejected as He was, for the servant is not greater than his master. “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you,” (John 15:20).

This may be too strong for some of you to accept right now. As a loving, gentle people, we find it hard not to be liked and accepted by everyone. As sheep, we want to follow, not cause a stir. We seek after peace, not dissent.

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword,” (Matthew 10:34). Jesus ultimately returns to crush the head of the serpent, Satan, and set up His own glorious, eternal kingdom. The doing away of the present world’s kingdom for the kingdom of God is violent; but be not dismayed. The war may begin by evil men, but it will be finished off by the angels of God. Make no mistake about that. Jesus comes to destroy evil and truly set mankind free. And we may be the generation to see it all play out.

So saints, get used to different.

Ω The final words of Jesus to His closest disciples are recorded In Acts 1:7-8. His parting instructions laid out the great commission to the founding members of the church: “…and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

When Jesus finished speaking, His disciples watched as He began to ascend toward heaven, eventually taken away in a cloud. As the disciples gazed heavenward, an angel standing nearby said to them, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven,” (Acts 1:11).

There is a lot of debate about the return of Christ. But, if we are to take the Bible simply at its word, Jesus will return to His church the same way as He left the church. There are many scriptures to substantiate this. All of them mention that His return will be in the clouds of heaven. Both the Old Testament (Daniel 7:13) and the New Testament (Matthew 24:29-30; Luke 21:25-28; I Thessalonians 4:15-17; and Revelation 1:7) all testify to the return of Jesus in the clouds of heaven. Jesus will come “in like manner” as His church saw Him leave…in the clouds.

However, there is something else that is also noted: “and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him,” (Revelation 1:7).

The return of Jesus in the clouds of heaven will be highly visible. It will be the most public spectacle of His glory ever witnessed on earth. His coming will be anything but secret, private, or open to only a select few.

Jesus Himself described His return in no uncertain terms: “For as lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be,” (Matthew 24:27).

God had no trouble plainly describing His return to earth in the clouds. And nowhere in scripture is there described a separate, or secret coming of Himself.

Those who teach that there must be a separate “pre-trib” return of Christ for His church— apart from His Second Coming in the clouds— do so because they have designated the entire 7-year period of end times as the “tribulation” or wrath of God! They reason that since the church is not appointed unto God’s wrath, we must of necessity be removed before the final 7-years of end times begins. But their hypothesis falls apart under the strong light of scripture! According to scripture:

– The day of God’s wrath will not come unless there has first occurred the great apostasy & the revealing of Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). God’s wrath will not precede the crime!
– Malachi 4:5 states that Elijah the Prophet must also first appear on the scene to warn people before wrath falls!
– Joel 2:31 states that there will be cosmic signs before God’s wrath starts.
– There must also be the sealing/salvation of the 144,000 Jews before wrath can commence (Revelation 7:1-3).

Reading the full account in Revelation of the events of end times, it becomes plain that God’s wrath only unfolds well into the breaking of the Seals:

– At the 5th seal, the martyrs are heard asking God, “When will You judge and avenge our blood?”
– At the 6th seal, the people on earth recognize that “His wrath has come” after witnessing the cosmic darkening of the sun, moon, & stars and the sight of Jesus coming in the clouds of heaven (see Revelation 6:16-17 together with Matthew 24:29-31 for a full description)
– At the breaking of the 7th seal, scripture documents the start of God’s wrath, with a silence so profound & unusual that the prophet, Zephaniah, made note of it: “Be silent in the presence of the Lord God; for the day of the Lord is at hand. For the Lord has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests,” (Zephaniah 1:7).

God’s wrath begins at the 7th seal, which releases the FIERY 7 trumpet judgments, followed by 7 bowl judgments. God’s wrath will be administered by His angels, just as Jesus had indicated while on earth:

“So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of FIRE. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth,” (Matthew 13:49-50).

God’s wrath is His unique trial or testing of people on earth. The word for “testing” is also “assay,” as in testing by fire. The saints who have stood faithful are not appointed unto this wrath or testing: “Because you have kept My command to endure, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is going to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth,” (Revelation 3:10).

So, when do the saints get removed? Jesus taught that we would be removed immediately PRE-WRATH, just like Noah & Lot:

The wrath of God begins at Seal 7. WE ARE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY PRE-WRATH DURING SEAL 6 with the cosmic signs & Second Coming of Christ in the clouds.

– We are “caught up in the CLOUDS to meet the Lord in the air,” (I Thessalonians 4:17). Or as Mark 13 puts it: “And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven,” (Mark 13:27).

– This great harvest or collection of souls is seen in Revelation chapter 7 as the great multitude in heaven.

We have not been given the day or hour of Jesus’ return. Only the season— sometime well into the end time period. That puts Christians in the crosshairs of Antichrist’s persecutions (along with Israel).

Many people have been conditioned to believe that the glorious appearing of Christ in the clouds of heaven takes place at the end of the 7-year period. But, it doesn’t. In fact, Jesus said that His return (at Seal 6) would cut short the great tribulation that His people will be undergoing: “But, for the elect’s sake, those days will be shortened,” (Matthew 24:22b).

We do not know the day or hour of our deliverance. Only that God is never early; He is never late; He is always right on time.

Following Jesus’ return (& rapture of the saints) at Seal 6, God’s day of wrath begins (Seal 7). The trumpet judgments then occupy the remaining portion of the 7-year period. It takes time for all the trumpets to play out! The effect of the 5th trumpet judgment alone lasts 5 months!

With the blowing of the 7th trumpet, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ!” (Revelation 11:15). The 7th trumpet ends the 7-year period. Antichrist’s reign lasts exactly 3 1/2 years. By the end of the 7 years, his power is broken, & his forces are on the run. They will be “finished off” by the bowl judgments and the final showdown at Armageddon. This takes place during a scripturally-documented 75-day transition period following the end of the 7-year period. Daniel 12:11-12 says:

“And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be 1290 days. Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the 1335th days.”

At the ascension, an angel told the founding members of the church that Jesus would return as He left, in the clouds of heaven. This is not hard to grasp. But, because some have left off the love of the truth, and substituted, instead, a gospel that tickles many ears, people are being deceived.

Does it make sense that God would give the highly detailed “Revelation of Jesus Christ …to show His servants— things which must shortly take place” if we weren’t going to be present for any of it? Does it seem right that the Bride of Christ would be whisked away before the end times, at the time in history when she is needed most? Should Laodicea be taken to heaven on beds of relative ease when her beloved Groom is undergoing the greatest attack on His character in history?! Should the church leave the final harvesting of the entire world to only 144,000 Jews in Israel? Would Jesus Himself be enjoying a 7-year “honeymoon” with His bride, while His own nation & people are undergoing the greatest threat to their existence in history?

The persistence of a pretrib rapture lies in the fact that we naturally want to escape suffering. But, it is not because the theory is on well-grounded scriptural footing.

The American church has gotten its patriotism mixed up with its Christianity. We see ourselves as the greatest nation on earth, bowing to no one. So our religion must follow suit. Our hope is in our leaders, our enemies will be trounced, our way of life will be preserved. And then we will be taken out of here.

But, the example of the martyred apostles and the persecuted first and second-century church stands before us in the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings:

“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also,” (John 15:20).

We are to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. The writings of the early church fathers spoke plainly that the church would both see and undergo the persecution of the end time Antichrist. Yet, Laodicea refuses to see or hear.

What was Jesus’ remedy for Laodicea? “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve that you may see,” (Revelation 3:18).

The cure for any lukewarmness or half-hearted devotion is evident. We must undergo greater testings of our faith, before we can emerge spotless, white, a Bride worthy of her Groom. Our flesh may shrink back. Yet, if we allow our spirits to rise to the occasion, it will become the church’s finest hour! Halleluia!

From the earliest chapters of the Bible, God laid out His plan for a Redeemer for fallen mankind. Messiah’s coming would unfold in two phases: as a suffering Servant, whose “heel would be bruised” by Satan…and as a victorious King, who would one day “crush the head” of Satan, (Genesis 3:15).

The promise of the coming Messiah was kept alive & passed down through the line of Seth, the younger brother of Abel. But by the 10th generation, corruption of the human race had increased to the point that— except for Noah & his family— God was forced to destroy mankind by water.

After the flood, the original promise of a Redeemer was re-affirmed to a descendant of Noah’s, named Abram or Abraham. God promised Abraham that “in your seed, all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,” (Genesis 22:18). The promised Messiah was to come through the descendants of Abraham, but not just for the benefit of the Jews. His salvation was meant for all people!

Throughout the Old Testament, God added to His picture of the coming Messiah. It was two revelations of the same Man: a suffering Servant and a victorious King. Of the two portraits, the vast majority of prophecy described His coming kingship— destroying the enemies of God’s people and bringing about a kingdom of peace on earth. Some Bible scholars estimate that there are three times as much prophecy about Jesus as the coming King, as compared to Jesus the Suffering Servant. Quite humanly, the Jews focused their attention upon Messiah’s kingship, rather than His sufferings.

God gave Israel a foretaste of the Messianic kingdom during the reign of King David, when Israel arose to prominence and power among all the kingdoms of the world. However, after the death of King David, the nation began a descent into sin. This resulted in a split of the nation into two kingdoms. Sadly, both kingdoms eventually went into captivity for their idolatry.

It was during the captivity in Babylon that a man of God named Daniel, began praying for the restoration of his people back to their own land of Israel.

God answered Daniel with a prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27) that 490 years were determined upon Israel before the fullness of the promised Messianic kingdom would come. However, Messiah’s public revelation to Israel would occur at the 483-year mark! This was fulfilled in 30 A.D. when Jesus was publicly hailed as “Son of David” (a messianic title) by the Jews on Palm Sunday.

After His public reveal, the prophecy went on to say that Messiah would be “cut off.” At the end of the same week as Palm Sunday, Messiah was crucified as the Suffering Servant for the sins of the whole world. The prophetic clock stopped when the very Essence of Israel’s temple was killed!

Forty years after the crucifixion in 70 A.D., the Roman government would annihilate the nation of Israel by destroying Jerusalem, tearing down her temple building, and killing, enslaving, or scattering the Jews to all parts of the world. In every respect, Daniel’s prophecy— “determined upon” Israel— was dead without the final 7 years having been fulfilled.

But God’s word never fails.

Abraham’s Seed had originally been promised as a blessing for “all the nations of the earth.” Israel had carried the promise of Messiah/Savior for 1800 years. But now it was time to spread to the Gentile nations. For approximately 1800 years following the crucifixion, the gospel went out to the “uttermost parts of the earth.”

Today, the gospel is returning full circle to Israel as the end of the age approaches. The final 7 years of Daniel’s prophecy must play out around the nation of Israel!

The final 7 years of Daniel’s prophecy can only begin when the Jews are back in their land as a people (fulfilled, 1948); with Jerusalem as their capital (fulfilled in 1967 & affirmed by the nations in 2017-18); and with a rebuilt temple (awaiting its official launch at any time). This is because the original prophecy was “determined upon thy people and thy holy city.”

The final portion of Daniel’s prophecy will begin with the confirmation or signing of a treaty between Israel & other nations (Daniel 9:27). Permission to erect a temple will be associated with the agreement. The fact that Israel will build a temple should not be taken as God’s approval of it, but as a SIGN of prophetic significance, heralding the launch of the final 7 years of this age!

The final 7 years of this age will unfold with increasing birth pangs. Satan will endeavor to present a world leader– an antichrist– as mankind’s expected savior. But, the elect of God will hold fast to the word of God– awaiting the true King– as the universe labors to give birth to Jesus/Yeshua’s return and the establishment of His long-awaited Messianic kingdom! God’s revelation of King Jesus, Messiah of the world, will come at Revelation’s 6th Seal when the very cosmos bows down to its Creator. There will be a great earthquake, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give her light, the stars will fall from heaven, and the sky will roll up like a scroll! This will be followed by a flash of lightning from the east to the west as Deity returns on the clouds of heaven to gather His elect to Himself, pour out judgment & wage war on the kingdom of Antichrist, and finally establish His Millennial reign on earth!

The present coronavirus crisis is nothing that should significantly disturb the peace or joy of any of God’s elect. It is a blip, a mere pang compared to the glory that awaits us. We may be the generation privileged enough to witness the return of Christ! The magnitude of that should overshadow everything else!

Halleluia & Rejoice!

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh.  Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams,” (Acts 2:17).

At Pentecost, God sent an outpouring of His Holy Spirit like an early rain, leading to a great harvest of souls— both Jew & Gentile— in the early church.  Every age of the church since then has experienced a degree of spiritual watering out of God’s own Spirit.

But, the latter rains are quite bountiful.  They began to fall on the church in the early 20th century and have not stopped.  In gatherings all over the world, men & women are still experiencing the transformational power of the Holy Spirit as they seek after God with their whole hearts.

Yet at the same time, tares are being sowed among the wheat.  A counterfeit Pentecost is also playing out.

Satan was once Lucifer, “the anointed cherub” who covered the throne of God Himself.  Satan knows what the presence of God looks and feels like.  To a large extent, he knows how to mimic it.  He produces a counterfeit of the true and genuine article.

In 2 Timothy 3:1, we are strongly warned “that in the last days perilous times will come.”  One of the hallmarks of the end times is that there will arise “evil men and imposters” who “will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived,” (2 Timothy 3:13).  The more accurate translation of “imposters” from the original Greek is “magicians.”  Evil men and magicians will arise in the end times, deceiving many, while being deceived themselves.  These are the false prophets, producing false signs & wonders…and who will point to a false messiah, Antichrist, as the great hope for the world.

What is the antidote for such deception?  Paul immediately declared:  “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD, AND IS PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, FOR REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION, FOR INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, that the man of God may be be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work,” (2 Timothy 3:14-17).

Jesus Himself was tested by the connivery of Satan.  Christ Jesus— being full of the Holy Spirit —was led into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. How did Jesus stand against the wiles of Satan? Through the WORD OF GOD!  Jesus is our Example.  In order to face the onslaught of the great deception ahead, we must as Spirit-filled believers also hold fast to the word of God.  “IT IS WRITTEN…”

We are not seeing clearly if we are getting all our information from outside sources.  And judging something spiritual as being from God, when it runs contrary to what is written in the Bible, is dangerous. Satan has and will use his own version of the Holy Spirit and Scripture through false prophets, signs, and lying wonders:

“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and LYING WONDERS, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because THEY DID NOT RECEIVE THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH, that they might be saved.  And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie…” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-11).

In 1 John 2:18-19, the example of the early church is set before us, where antichrist spirits were already arising from within the church itself:

“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.”

How bad will deception get in end times?

In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Paul tells us that the revealing of Antichrist in all his awful wickedness, is first PRECEDED BY “the falling away” or apostasy.  What is the apostasy?  It is a deliberate rejection of revealed truth (the word of God) by people.

In the end times, there will be a departure from Biblical faith concerning Christ, the Anointed One or Messiah.  People will be yearning for a messiah to save them & preserve this world.  When such a man arises, he will garner the approval of the religious, even appearing as a friend to Israel.  Israel will be able to build her temple & do sacrifice.  But, the mask comes off when this world leader enters into the Jewish temple, declaring himself to be God— the anticipated savior of the world.

In the end times, when love of the truth is exchanged for a lie, the Divine restraint that has been in place since the early days of the church, will cease.  “And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.  For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.  And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming,”  (2 Thessalonians 2:6-8).

The church’s adherence to foundational Scriptural truths concerning Jesus has functioned— throughout the centuries— as the barrier preventing the spirit of antichrist from breaking forth into its fullness as THE Antichrist.

Today, both Catholic & Protestant churches are uniting with other religions which openly avow that “God has no Son.”  Others are espousing a man (who is not Christ) as their great hope of bringing peace & prosperity to the world.

Maybe it’s time to refresh ourselves with the Holy Scriptures, which “are able to make us wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”  With birth pangs increasing in our world, Jesus’ warning about deception in the last days (fostered by impressive signs & wonders) and exaltation of a leader (promoted by a False Prophet in Christian disguise) is one we cannot afford to ignore!  “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

In Isaiah 8:12-13, the Lord instructed Isaiah that he was not to engage in all the conspiracy talk that the people of his day were engaging in.  All I can say is “Guilty!”

“Do not say, ‘A conspiracy,’ concerning all that this people call a conspiracy, nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.  The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow.  Let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.’”

Satan is a master of deception.  He was once the highest ranking angel in the throne room of God.  He knows how to appear not just religious, but spiritual.  His musical talent is phenomenal, his intelligence keener than  ours.  And he has been around for a long, long time.  Satan understands mankind better than we know ourselves.  He knows how to manipulate, entice, enslave, and deceive.

Satan is a master of mixing truth with error so adroitly that many fall for it.

And so it goes during this Coronavirus pandemic. There is a mixture of truth and error going on out there.

The coronavirus is a highly contagious threat that needs to be taken seriously.  The guidelines to limit the spread & contagion to others are based upon Biblical guidelines:  frequent cleansing of one’s own person & isolation of the sick from the healthy.  Those with underlying conditions are particularly vulnerable to this virus, while those in good health generally weather it & return to good health without difficulty.  This truth is generally not under debate.

However, there is a great deal of sensationalism, even exaggeration that is being pumped from the airwaves right now.  This is contributing to fear, even panic & despondency among the general population.

Corona is a definite birthpang, sent by God to warn mankind to turn from sin, before a greater judgment falls.  It is a plague in the Biblical sense; mankind’s reaping some of what it has earned through sin.  Idolatry & murder  (abortion) are serious enough transgressions to bring on a retribution of plague (death) & economic catastrophe.

Corona is also being used by politicians to further their own ends and agendas— no big surprise here.  I have heard on both tv & videos certain world leaders promoting their idea of a universal vaccination record being required, utilizing microinjected semiconductor crystals that can be read as a mark under one’s skin (using infrared light).  Can anyone say, ‘THE mark’?  This required vaccination record would be tied into a digital ID program that could be linked to many other things— banking, for example.

The Jewish Sanhedrin is also seizing upon this crisis as an incentive to reinstitute a real sacrificial offering up on the Temple Mount itself, as an atonement for the sin that has led to this worldwide crisis.  (They have not yet received Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice on Calvary.)  If the Jewish sacrifice is allowed, watch out.  The building of the tribulation temple will be a foregone conclusion.

God has called us to lead peaceable lives, submitting to those in authority for our own good.  The only time we are to draw the line is when there is a clear & direct conflict between choosing God or choosing sin.  We must always choose faithfulness to God, even to death if necessary.

What does God want for His people?  He doesn’t want us to get so caught up in conspiracy theories and panic & fear over pandemics that we lose sight of who & where we are.  We are children of God, in a covenantal relationship with Him.  Thereby are given to us exceedingly great & precious promises— not the least of which is protection during times of plague!

BUT, we are also living in the latter days, the generation which has seen the miraculous rebirth of the nation of Israel, which the Bible points to as a great SIGN that the end of this age approaches!  So, should we be surprised, panicked, or fearful of all the very strange & rapid developments unfolding before us?

If we keep our eyes upon Jesus and judge things— not after the seeing of our eyes, nor the hearing of our ears—but, according to the word of God, we will go through all of this in perfect peace.  “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You,” (Isaiah 26:3).

We MUST keep our eyes upon the Lord and His word.  It is the only way to get through victoriously what is happening now, and what will certainly happen in the future.