Thursday, February 14, 2019

Prophecy Series - End-Time Babylon

The Tower of Babel of ancient Babylon by Pieter Brueghel superimposed with the European Union building in Strasbourg, France.

by: Michael C. Garrett


End-Time Babylon

You know, we get ridiculed for our holy days and the way they sound, by relatives, friends, neighbors. But you think about it, they keep a celebration in the middle of winter where they have a fat man in a red suit coming down chimney’s, flying around with flying reindeers!? And we’re odd!? They celebrate something in the spring where they go around collecting colored Easter eggs that came from “bunny rabbits.” And we’re odd!? They teach their children to extort people in the fall, “Give me something, or I’m gonna mess up your house!”? And we’re odd!? And I just want to say, “No! We’re not odd!” Because, I’ve said over and over, “You show me where your holy days are. You can’t. But I can show you where our holy days are! In the Word of God!” Bold and plain!

And here comes Ishtar. Millions of households will be boiling chicken-eggs and attempting to dye them. They’ll be out buying their pig meat so that they can serve an Ishtar dinner! They’ll be thinking about buying Hot-Cross buns. Going to bed early, so they can get up before the Sun for Easter Sunrise service and face east, and “worship” the rising Sun. And all the time they sit around chewing the ear’s off of chocolate bunny-rabbits. Bite by bite. I remember as a child getting those. The body of the rabbit was so solid you almost needed a hack-saw to get through! But those ears, I could manage to munch on a few of those ears!

Well they do all of this in the name of religion! They do it in the name of churchianity! They do it in the name of family tradition! They do it – “O’ we’re doing it for the children!” “We’ve got to teach our children falsehoods, but we’re doing it for them!” It’s strange, and yet, why do they do it!? Why do they believe these ideas, and in truth, where does these ideas come from!?

Where does these customs and traditions and practices flow!? And make no mistake, it doesn’t come from the true God, and it doesn’t come from His Holy Book! It doesn’t come from there.

Ishtar – the Pagan Goddess

Statue at Westminster Abbey in London,
England actually representing Semiramis
(a.k.a. "Queen of Heaven") and son/husband
Nimrod.
And I think as most all of you know, Easter, comes to us from the Roman Church, and they acquired it from pagan practices and belief’s that go all the way back to ancient Babylon and Assyria. And, as civilization was developing in Mesopotamia following the Noachian deluge, the people of Assyria, Chaldea, Babylon, developed a religion that deified and worshiped Nimrod and his mother/wife (that’s quite a combination)! The original Madonna and Child. The original mother goddess and deified son. And, throughout history and different cultures Nimrod has been given different names and titles. He’s often gone by the title Ninus, from which Nineveh comes from, back in ancient Assyria and Babylon. And, Nineveh means the “habitation of Ninus.” We have the word, BAAL which applies to Nimrod. We have Horus and Osiris from Egypt, which apply to Nimrod. We have Tammuz, we have Saturn, Jupiter, Bacchus, Apollo, Adonis. All these names, and we hear them, and they are a part of our culture! We have right there in Owensboro, Kentucky - we have a high school called Apollo High School. They ought to put up the constellation Orion on their marquee and honor him completely! Well, his titles go on and on and on! The world doesn’t understand it, and doesn’t think about it.

And his mother/wife Semiramis. Well, she’s been immortalized and worshiped as Ish-tahr (I say it that way), but in truth, in ancient Babylon and ancient Nineveh, in all probability, said it just the way  we say it, ‘ēstƏr. She was known as Isis in Egypt and Aphrodite in Greece, and Venus and Fortuna in Rome. Diana in Ephesus, of which the Book of Acts refers to, in Acts chapter 19. Astarte, which was a Phoenician goddess of fertility. Asherah, which is mentioned in the Bible – Queen of Heaven. And, this practice of worshiping the mother – the Mother and the Child – goes all the way back to other civilizations. India, China, Japan, ancient Germany, ancient Scandinavia, and many other countries. This worship of this deified mother goddess and child.



What God says about all of this

Well, let’s quickly read a couple of things that the Bible says about all of this!

Turn to Jeremiah chapter 7 – and again, you could make a whole sermon out of Jeremiah 7, 8, 9, 10. And the sermon could go on for five-hours! But it is amazing just what Jeremiah did say! Verse 1 – “The Word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2) ‘Stand in the gate of the LORD’s house, and proclaim there this Word, and say, ‘Hear the Word of the LORD, all you of Judah who enter in at these gates to worship the LORD!’ 3) Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.’” – and down in Verse 8 – “’Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. 9) Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to BAAL,’” – remember, one of the names of Nimrod! “…’and walk after other gods whom you do not know, 10) and then come and stand before Me in this house …’” – ‘you call it your church, your tabernacle, your temple!’ “…’which is called by My name, …’” Verse 12 – “…’and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of My people Israel.’” – and He mentions Shiloh, and what happened there. Also, in Jeremiah chapter 8, very quickly verse 1 – and we’re just hitting a few highlights. “’At that time,’ says the LORD, ‘they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of its princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves. 2) They shall spread them before the Sun and the Moon and all the host of heaven, which they have loved and which they have served and after which they have walked, which they have sought and which they have worshiped. They shall not be gathered nor buried; they shall be like [dung] on the face of the earth.’” – and this idea of worshiping the Sun and the Moon, and the host of heaven – very quick, I don’t know if you’ve ever thought about the names of our planets!? We know about Sun worship, we know about the constellation Orion, and how people have made a big deal over that! I even read some things about people worshiping the “Man in the Moon,” thinking it was the face of Apollo, or as it were, Nimrod. And, you think about some of the planets – ‘the host of heaven.’

1. Mercury. Actually is related to the idea of Cush, who was the father of Nimrod. 
2. Venus. Is Ishtar (Semiramis). 
3. Mars. Another name for Nimrod. 
4. Jupiter. Is another name for Nimrod. 
5. Saturn. Another name for Nimrod. 
6. Uranus. Actually means in the original Latin, Venus Urania, which means ‘the heavenly Venus.’ And they just shortened it down to Uranus. 
7. Pluto. Also associated with Nimrod.

Over and over, Semiramis and Nimrod. And they have inculcated this into our culture! Verse 7 – “’Even the stork in the heavens knows her appointed times; And the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow Observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment of the LORD. 8) How can you say, ‘We are wise, And the law of the LORD is with us’? Look, the false pen of the scribe certainly works falsehood. 9) The wise men are ashamed, They are dismayed and taken. Behold, they have rejected the Word of the LORD; …’” Verse 10 – ‘”Therefore I will give their wives to others, And their fields to those who will inherit them; Because from the least even to the greatest Everyone is given to covetousness; From the prophet even to the priest …’” – I wonder what church uses the title ‘priest’ today!? “…’Everyone deals falsely.’”

Over in Jeremiah chapter 10 – many of you recognize that. Verse 1 – “Hear the Word which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. 2) Thus says the LORD: ‘Do not learn the way of the [heathens]; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the [heathens] are dismayed at them. 3) For the customs of the peoples are futile; …’” – now, what does this next part sound like!? “…’For one cuts a tree from the forest, The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. 4) They decorate it with silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will not topple. 5) They are upright, like a palm tree, And they cannot speak; They must be carried, Because they cannot go by themselves. Do not be afraid of them, For they cannot do evil, Nor can they do any good.’” – and I wonder what that custom of putting tree’s in your house is all about!? Right there in Jeremiah 10! The world doesn’t like to be told that verse! They get very agitated if you do.

Jeremiah chapter 11, verse 4 – again, we’re just going over the hot-spots. “’which I commanded your fathers in the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and do according to all that I command you; so shall you be My people and I will be your God.’” – one great Covenant God has always wished to establish with human beings. Then in Verse 7, He says, “’For I earnestly [protested unto] your fathers in the day I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, until this day, rising early and [protesting], saying, ‘Obey My voice.’ 8) Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but everyone followed the dictates of his evil heart; therefore I will bring upon them all the Words of this Covenant, which I commanded them to do, but which they have not done.’” Verse 10 – “They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers who refused to hear My Words, and they have gone after other gods to serve them; …’” Verse 11 – “Therefore thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will surely bring calamity on them which they will not be able to escape; and though they cry out to Me, I will not listen to them. 12) Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they offer incense, but they will not save them at all IN THE TIME OF THEIR TROUBLE.’” – and that trouble is yet to come! Verse 13, near the end there – “…’the streets of Jerusalem you have set up altars to that shameful thing, altars to burn incense to BAAL.

14) Therefore do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry out to Me because of their trouble.’” And, Verse 17 – ‘For the LORD of hosts, who planted you, has pronounced doom against you for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke Me to anger in offering incense to BAAL.’” – another name for Nimrod.

Jeremiah chapter 14, verse 10 – “…’Thus they have loved to wander; They have not restrained their feet. Therefore the LORD does not accept them; He will remember their iniquity now, And punish their sins.’” Verse 11 – “Then the LORD said to me, ‘Do not pray for this people, for their good. 12) When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer [oblations], I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.’ 13) Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, the prophets say to them, ‘You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place.’ 14) And the LORD said to me, ‘The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart. 15) Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in My name, whom I did not send, and who say, ‘Sword and famine shall not be in this land’ – ‘By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed!’” – powerful Words from the Word of God!

Marriage of Inanna (Semiramis) and
Dumuzid (Nimrod)
Ezekiel chapter 8, again, we’re just going over the hot-spots. You have in Verse 6 – “Furthermore He said to me, ‘Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel commits here, …’” – and He talks about even greater abominations toward the end of the verse. Verse 9 – “And He said to me, ‘Go in, and see the wicked abominations which they are doing there.’ 10) So I went in and saw, and there – every sort of creeping thing, abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed all around on the walls.” Verse 12 – “Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, have you seen what the [ancients] of the house of Israel do in the dark,  every man in the room of his idols? For they say, ‘The LORD does not see us, the LORD has forsaken the land.’ 13) And He said to me, ‘Turn again, and you will see greater abominations that they are doing.’ 14) So He brought me to the door of the north gate of the LORD’s house; and to my dismay, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz.” – another name for Nimrod. 15) Then He said to me, ‘Have you seen this, O son of man? Turn again, you will see greater abominations than these.’ 16) So He brought me into the inner court of the LORD’s house; and there, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east, and they were worshiping the Sun toward the east.” – and to great misfortune, April, many of our friends and neighbors will enact the very same act! So sad. He says in Verse 18 – “Therefore I also will act in fury. My eye will not spare nor will I have pity; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.’” – powerful Words from the Word of God! All associated with the worship of this great mother goddess and her deified son.

And again, where does these customs and traditions and practices flow!? Where did they originate!?

The worship of the mother goddess Ishtar and her deified son BAAL (Nimrod) originated in ancient Assyria and Babylon. and these practices have been authenticated, they’ve been confirmed and legitimized, and validated, and passed on to our Western world by a great universal Mother Church, headquartered in Rome, and by her many protesting daughters.

Babylon Mother of Harlots

Turn to Revelation chapter 17 – in the first part of this series I spoke about Revelation 13, so, let’s take a look at Revelation 17. And, it doesn’t get anymore plain and blunt than this. God, speaking to a great universal church that has had an influence upon the entire earth! Verse 1 – “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, ‘Come, I will show you the judgment of the great [whore] who sits on many waters, …’” – universal, around the world. Verse 2 – “’with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.’ 3) So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.” – the seven resurrections of the “Holy” Roman Empire, the final resurrection consisting of ten kings or kingdoms. Verse 4 – “The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, …” – and what does those colors remind you of!? Both harlotry and the colors of that great universal church! “…and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. 5) And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS [the Mother of protesting daughters] AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6) I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.” – and that phrase there, ‘the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints.’ And interestingly, the scarlet colored biretta (a four-sided hat with three distinct ridges on its upper side) worn by Roman Catholic clergy, traditionally signify, their willingness to shed blood for their church! Have you ever thought about that!? THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SHED BLOOD! Who’s blood!? It doesn’t say shed their own blood! And then you read Verse 6 again – “I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.” – Folks, this should send chills up your spin understanding this truth! If you know the symbolism – how blatant it is!! Verse 7 – “But the angel said to me, ‘Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.” – the seven resurrections of the “Holy” Roman Empire, the final installment. Ten kings or kingdoms. Verse 8 – “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, …” – now, the member’s of Christ’s Body is not supposed to stand in awe of it, and yet the world does and the world will even more! “…when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. 9) ‘Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.’” – double meaning. Seven hills of Rome, and also the seven resurrections of the “Holy” Roman Empire, which has given that great universal church its hold on history. Verse 10 – “’There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, …’” – you know, even now, there are remnants of Adolf Hitler’s Germany, that are still alive and breathing!? Even now. “…’and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. 11) The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, …’” – meaning, if you start with the Roman Empire, and you have seven resurrections – you have eight installments of the Roman Empire. “…’and is of the seven, and is going to perdition [or doom]. 12) The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast [a very short span]. 13) These are of one mind, …’” – Mr. Ted Armstrong always used to talk about them being united in their policies, their outlook, their idea of self-defense. “…’and they will give their power and authority to the beast. 14) These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; …’”

View of Rome from Dome of St. Peter's Basilica on fire!
And I love this next part – “…’and those [that will be] with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.’” – hopefully people like you and me will be with Jesus in that great moment of redemption!

Well, the rest of this chapter talks about a time when the military power, the civic leaders, will turn on the Roman Church, and actually, it says, “these will hate the [whore], make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire.” And, notice at the beginning of chapter 18. Verse 1 – “After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. 2) And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, ‘Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, …’” – and I know in the past some people have said, “That means ancient Babylon and then the future Babylon.” And, it probably means that. However, I have another take on it. That in that final end-span where they take on Jesus Christ, BABYLON – the final installment of the “Holy” Roman Empire will be destroyed, and, BABYLON – the great false church will be destroyed! “’Babylon is fallen, is fallen!’” All of it! “…’and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!’” – now, just my own personal take, the question is – you know you read over in Revelation chapter 20 that Satan the devil is placed into a great Abyss – as it were a spiritual prison. And you say, “Where will that be located!?” And my own personal take – wouldn’t it be amazing, because we’re told here a little later, notice Verse 21 – “…’Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore.’” Folks, do not buy a condo in Rome! Bad investment! Or, if you do, know when to sale and get out! That city will become dust! And, it’s just my own personal thought, what if the place of Satan’s Abyss, is under the ocean, under the ruins of Rome! Right down with all the dead bones of all the dead popes down through all the ages! Maybe it’s a perfect place to put ‘em! And all of his demonic beings! Verse 3 – “For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornications, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.’” And then the GREAT WARNING which all of us needs to heed! Verse 4 – “And I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.’” – and folks, the holidays (the “holy” days) of the world, that celebrate Nimrod and Semiramis, and all their glorified mother goddess and deified son – WE ARE TO STAY AWAY FROM! And, we know that!

Well, as people who are the beneficiaries of God’s grace, love, and understanding, the called and chosen of God – we watch, we wait, for that final installment of the “Holy” Roman Empire. And we understand from the teaching’s of the Bible that this final empire will coalesque and unite around the leadership of two powerful personalities. What the Bible calls 1) ‘the beast’ - a civil leader. 2) and a great religious leader - ‘the false prophet.’ And it appears to me, just my personal study, from what I read in the Bible, that of these two leaders, the false prophet will be the more dynamic, the more energetic, the more charismatic, mystical, magical, powerful of the two.

The "Two-horned Beast"

And, notice some of the descriptions that is given of the false prophet in the Word of God – let us hit a few highlights. I mentioned a few of these in the first part of this series.

Revelation chapter 13, verse 11 – another beast, it talks about having two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon. As literally Satan’s representative.

Daniel chapter 7, verse 8 – talked about another little horn, and that “there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.” And we find out later, in the writings of Paul, he claims to be God.

A scarlet colored biretta, worn by a
Catholic Cardinal.
Daniel chapter 7, verse 20 – that horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke pompous words, “whose appearance was greater than his fellows.” And in Verse 21 – that same horn made war against the saints. Remember that scarlet colored biretta!? Red biretta, the Cardinals, willingness to shed blood for their church! And it’s not their blood they’re gonna shed! Verse 24 – “…And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, And shall subdue three kings.” – I think it means he’s going to end-up actually controlling three of these kings or kingdoms. Verse 25 – “He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, …” – think about that! This willingness to shed blood! And then there are some others I spoke about before.

Also, in Daniel chapter 12, verse 7 – “…that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.” – there will come a time when this work will no longer be able to operate. Because the conditions in this country will have so faltered, and our lives, as we understand them, will be so different, this won’t be able to continue. And literally, to ‘scatter the power of the holy people.’

Then, turn to 2nd Thessalonians – many of you have read this, but, for those who haven’t, it is galling to realize what this human being is actually going to say and do. 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2. And chapter 2 begins with “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ …” – it’s an end-time prophecy. He says in Verse 2 near the end, “…that the Day of Christ is at hand” (KJV). The Day of the Lord is at hand, of His Return and His punishment upon the earth. Verse 3 – “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, …” Verse 4 – “who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself [or proclaiming himself] that he is God.” – And that, my friends, is the ‘abomination that makes desolate.’ And then, notice Verse 8 – “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 [Jesus Christ] coming. 9) The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders.” – Again, we’re describing the description of this end-time false prophet.

Revelation chapter 13 – this theme continues in the writings of John as he wrote down the Message from God’s angel. Verse 13 – “He [this false prophet] performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven [the sky] on the earth in the sight of men.” – the power to apparently pull down lightning from the sky!? What an awesome thing to see that! Verse 14 – “And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those [“miracles”] which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, …”

Revelation chapter 16 – another description of him. Verse 13 – “And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14) For they are spirits of demons, performing [“miracles”], which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great Day of God Almighty.”

Revelation chapter 19 – another description of this end-time false prophet. Verse 17 – “Then I saw an angel standing in the Sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, ‘Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18) that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free, and [bond], both small and great.’ 19) And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him [Jesus Christ] who sat on the horse and against His army. 20) Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked [who brought about, made, produced, created] [“miracles”] in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.” 1 And then, finally, those two are thrown into the ‘lake of fire’ at the direct order of Jesus!

Well, Jesus said more about this – Matthew chapter 24. This great endtime false prophet. Verse 24 – “’For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders [the power to create “miracles”] to deceive, if possible, even the elect.’” 2 Verse 25 – “’See, I have told you beforehand.’” – ‘I’ve WARNED you!’ So we shouldn’t be seduced by that!

Mark chapter 13 – another version of the “Olivet Prophecy.” Verse 22 – “’For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23) But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.’” – so the people of God be aware that this is going to happen!

When will the end come!? 

Well the question we often ask among ourselves and one another, we think about, we ponder on a regular basis – how much time is left!? I’m sure all of you have thought about that. I’m sure you who are young parents, you think about that when you look at your children. Or you who are grandparents, when you look at your grandchildren. How much time!? Well, I don’t know. I don’t know how much time they’ll be between now and the end of the age. I could guess, but I don’t know.

However, I do believe that I can show you – from the Words of Jesus Christ – the signal that He gave to us for which all of us should be watching. And when we see this happen, then we know we are ‘knocking on the door’ and it’s so very close.

 If you would, turn once again to Luke chapter 21 – another version of the “Olivet Prophecy.” I think over the years you have sort-of read over this and didn’t appreciate the significants of what Jesus was telling us, or we didn’t understand it – it didn’t click. Verse 7 – “So they asked Him, saying, ‘[Master], but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?’ – or as Matthew said, ‘the end of the age.’ Verse 8 – “And He said: ‘Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am [Christ],’ …’” – they will come and say, ‘Jesus is the Lord.’ ‘Do you know the Lord!?’ All of that, we’ve heard it all of our lives! We have fought to get away from that! “…’saying, ‘I am [Christ],’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ …’” – He says, “…’do not go after them.’” – like we read in the Book of Revelation, chapter 18 – ‘Come out of her.’ ‘Don’t be a part of her plagues and her sins.’ And then, Verse 9 – “’But when you hear of wars and commotions [rumors of wars], do not be terrified; …’” – and my whole life I have heard of wars and rumors of wars, and commotions. I was born during the Korean conflict. And up to even now, we hear about every day, wars, commotions, bombs, planes smashing into buildings. And what did Jesus say!? “’…do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.’”

And I think that’s where we are right now. We’re watching this, and yet Jesus says, ‘don’t be terrified.’ Verse 10 – “Then He said to them, ‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.’” – and my own personal take on that is it’s a very good possibility that Jesus was warning us about the uprising between the king of the North (Catholic Europe) vs the king of the South (the Islamic Middle East). I have a feeling that’s what He was referring to – I can’t prove it. But Daniel 11 sure does talk about it! Verse 11 – “’And there will be great earthquakes in various places,’ – and then some more serious things, “’and famines and pestilences; …’” – we read about some of that back in the Book of Jeremiah. “…’and there will be fearful sights and great signs from [the sky].’” And then, Verse 12 – and this is the one we just sort-of zoomed over, maybe not appreciated enough. “’But before all these things,…’” – BEFORE nation against nation, earthquakes, famines, pestilences – BEFORE ALL OF THESE … and that Greek word “before” is best I can figure out means “before or first in significants, and first in time.” It has multiple meanings. “…’they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues [churches] and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. 13) But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. 14) Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; 15) for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. 16) You will be betrayed even by parents and [brethren] …’” – and I use to think that meant biological parents and brethren. I’m now willing to expand my definition! “’You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17) And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.’” – and the question – who’s He talking about!? To whom is He speaking!? To whom is He addressing this!? And I think the real key is back in Matthew chapter 10, where Jesus, I think, pretty well gives us a clue to just what He means. And I must tell you, that when I was at Ambassador College, Matthew 10 was taught as a history class. This happened way back in 29-30 AD. But in truth, it’s a prophecy. And I’ll go through it quickly, but notice verse 1, chapter 10 – “And when He [Jesus Christ] had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.” – and it does start out sort-of like a history lesson. But then notice verse 5 – “…’Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6) But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7) And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom [from] Heaven is at hand.’” And what were these people supposed to do!? I love this verse, verse 8 – “’Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely [as you have been given spiritual power, so freely give it].’” – to whom is Jesus speaking!? I believe He’s speaking to what I call – my own terminology – a group that He calls, and that I call, the endtime prophets. Notice verse 16 – “’Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.’” – now on to verse 17, does this sound familiar – “’But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues [churches].’” – we read the same thing in Luke 21. Verse 18 – “’You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony [as a witness] to them and to the Gentiles. 19) But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; …’” – the same thing Luke 21 says, about an end-time prophecy. And then, verse 20 – “’for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.’” – and verse 21 speaks of that betrayal again. Verse 22 – “’And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end [the end of the age; this is an end-time prophecy folks] will be saved. 23) When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of man comes.’” – this is end-time folks! This group of individuals, who will be give great spiritual power, is told, ‘you won’t get to all the places you want to go, before it all ends!’ Verse 24 – “’A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25) It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. … And He says in Verse 26 – ‘fear them not’ when they take you to that stage, or before Congress, or before the State Capitol, or whoever it is. He says, “’Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. 27) Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.’” – these individuals will not be freelancing, they will be doing this on direct orders from Jesus Christ, just like the ancient disciples knew Jesus, like Paul spoke with Him. These individuals will get their marching orders directly from God! And then He goes on to say that many of you will die for the service. Does that mean the entire church is going to die!? No. Psalm 91 and the Book of Revelation says many people will be protected. But this is a very specific group. These are, what I call, the end-time prophets. And you can ask the question, how many!? I don’t know. Could it be four-hundred!? Could it be one-hundred and twenty!? Could it be seventy!? Forty!? Or, might it be as it was in the beginning, twelve!? I don’t know. I suspect it will be fewer than more. And, the two that live – because most of them are gonna die in service to God – will be the Two Witnesses. Folks, you don’t put in your applications, God chooses them. Jesus Christ picks them! And people ask, “Well, who are they!?” I don’t know. People ask, “Are they alive!?” Depends upon how long Jesus Christ returns. If the return of Jesus Christ is a hundred years from now, I don’t think they’re alive. If the return of Jesus Christ is fifty years from now, I think they’re small children or teenagers. If the return of Jesus Christ is ten or twenty years away, I think they’re alive right now. Just like the ‘beast’ and the ‘false prophet’ would be alive – right now. And, this is part of the analogy I hope to set up here.

Conclusion 

Satan has created in the churches of the world, in the religions of the world, counterfeits to God’s true doctrines and true ideas and true prophecies. We’ve spoke of this before, nothing new! Instead of the Sabbath, the world keeps Sunday or Friday. Instead of the Feast of Tabernacles, they keep the ‘Mass-of-Christ’ – that’s how I like to say it. It get’s back to the roots of where it came from! Instead of Passover and Unleavened Bread, they keep ‘Ishtar.’ As they will this coming April. They teach that they’re going off to Heaven, but in truth, the Kingdom of Heaven is coming to the Earth! They say that GOD is a Trinity, but the Bible says that GOD is a Family. And so on and so on, many counterfeits.

Well, guess what folks. I believe that the ‘beast’ and the ‘false prophet’ – that has the ability through Satan to create “miracles,” ‘lying wonders’ pulling down fire from the sky, they will be Satan’s counterfeits to God’s end-time servants. And, ultimately, to God’s Two Witnesses.

Well, we are rapidly moving towards the most momentous dramatic events in the history of human-kind. And as member’s of God’s Church we must have knowledge and understanding about these not so far off future events! Which are probably much closer than we really appreciate. So, let’s remember once again the Words of Jesus Christ –

Matthew chapter 24 – Verse 24 – “’For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25) See, I have told you beforehand.’”

Mark chapter 13 – Verse 22 – “’For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23) But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.’”

John chapter 16 – another great promise from Jesus. “’These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble.’” And then He says in Verse 4 – “’But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.’”

Folks, understand, the ‘beast’ and the ‘false prophet’ are simply Satan’s counterfeit to what God is gonna do on this Earth! He will work and endtime work! The most spectacular event in the history of human-kind! I envision servant’s of God walking into a major metropolitan hospital – starting at the top floor and working their way down to the basement, the morgue, and cleaning it out! And when these men are given that power from God – servants of Jesus – they’re going to walk out and every radio and television van in the land is gonna be parked in the parking lot! All their satellite dishes and their microphones, and they’re gonna run up and say – just like they said to Peter and John way back at the original Pentecost – “By what power have you done this!?” And these servants of God are gonna say, “Why do you look upon us as though we somehow did this!? We didn’t do this, the great eternal Creator God and Jesus Christ – the Jesus Christ that you have NEVER known; you’ve NEVER been told about!”

And they’ll probably point a finger at some guys over in a corner wearing funny robes, acting very pious, swishing their way out to the parking lot, and these end-time prophets are gonna say, “And the Jesus Christ that these people have NEVER told you about!” Folks, I guarantee you, they will end up dying for their service. Because the world is not going to want to hear it. And yet, we know that this truth is coming!

You remember Al Michaels, the Olympics, about 1980!? The hockey team!? The U.S. hockey team beat a Russians!? And a major upset. At the end of that hockey game Al Michaels said, “Do you believe in miracles!?” Well folks, I hope you do! Because the Bible says you will live to see those miracles. The end-time prophets of God - doing the end-time work of God. And who will their chief rivals be!? The ‘beast’ and the ‘false prophet.’ And, before it’s all over, they even face them down! That’s what we look forward to. These future events, are scary in one sense, but O’ my, can you imagine what it would be like to be in a crowd, somebody lose a small child, a little boy, a little girl, lying on the side of the road, maybe struck by a car, and the end-time prophets of God walk up and say, “Why are you crying?” “Our child is dead!” “No they’re not! They’re just sleeping!” Just like Jesus, walking over and saying, “Rise! Go back to your parents!” Or, seeing a man walk out of a morgue, just like when Jesus was resurrected! “Go back to your home! You’re alive again! You have one last chance. Understand the power of God!”

Yes indeed, that song which I sang at the beginning, “Mary Did You Know?” talk about raising people from the dead! The dead will live again! I love those promises! That’s what I look forward to! That’s why I want to get up every day and breathe air, just hoping that maybe I can live long enough to see it or to hear about it! And when it happens we will all thrill in knowing we knew about it. He warned us, and we will NEVER be deceived by some guy in a robe doing funny little “miracles” that mean absolutely nothing! What if you do pull down lightning from the sky!? What good will it do!? Start a forest fire – at best!? But God’s prophets, God’s servants, will raise the dead and heal the sick, and cast out demons, and bring that glory to God!

That’s what I look forward to seeing – do you believe in miracles!? I do.

Third part of the series - the Final Empire

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


1) Mr. Garrett boldly proclaims the true meaning of the “Mark of the Beast” in the first part of this series – Prophecy Series – The Final Empire. pg. 21.

2) Mr. Garrett mentions the meaning – from his own personal take on studying the Bible – of the word ‘elect’ in The Fall Holy Days Series – Notes Concerning the Day of Atonement Prophetically the Day of the Lord. pg. 4.

To watch click HERE!

4 comments:

  1. Thank you Leonard Your doing such a great job with all the work your doing for the Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ

    ReplyDelete
  2. Brother Don, thank you for all you do too! It is my pleasure to help God's begotten children along with the people of this world better understand the living Word of God - the Bible!

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is a powerful document that any serious believer who loves and studies Bible Prophecies should not miss to study! Thanks to God for this piece of writing!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so very much!!! We hope that you will continue to visit us and continue to learn and grow in God's grace and knowledge. Pastor Leonard.

      Delete

Be sure to leave a comment and tell us what you think.