by Michael C. Garrett
Now, you can listen to this article. To listen, click on the orange play button below.
Well, the last time that I was here was back in September 19th during the
Feast of Trumpets. And, on that occasion along with other numerous occasions I
tempted to point out that understanding prophecy is NOT THE KEY to eternal life
and admission into the Kingdom of God. In 1st Corinthians chapter 13
where Paul said, ‘Well, we know in part, we prophesy in part.’ Said, ‘Now we
see through a glass darkly.’ And he spoke about the importance of godly love.
Overcoming everything. And, there are some other fundamental’s – and I
just want to remind us, most of the people reading this will well know these.
I’m sort-of preaching to the choir, but, there may be some people out there who
haven’t heard the Owensboro Church of Jesus
Christ that long. I just want to point out the things that we need
to keep in mind, always, when we talk about prophecy.
The Words of Jesus Christ in Matthew 4:4 – ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by
every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ And Paul in 2nd
Timothy the third chapter said, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine.” And also in 2nd Timothy the second
chapter Paul said, “Study …” obviously study the Bible, the Scriptures, “to
show yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the Word of truth.”
And, in verse 16 of
that same chapter he said, “But shun
profane and idle babblings.” Also, Jesus Christ referred to the concept of
‘profane babblings,’ I think, when He talked about ‘the
traditions of men.’ In Mark
chapter 7, He talked about, ‘you keep the traditions of men – the
commandments of men – and you forget the Law of God.’ And He WARNED how that
was such a terrible mistake!
Paul, in the Book of Titus
was very blunt in the first chapter. He said, ‘not giving heed to JEWISH fables
and the commandments [or the traditions] of men.’ And you just gotta keep it in
mind. In order to understand prophecy, we need to look at the WORD OF GOD!
I was thinking the other
day – on the south wall of Ambassador Hall, out at Ambassador College
in Pasadena, California - the old Merritt Mansion,
in which was the very building I was baptized way back in 1969 – inscribed into
the wall “The Word of God is the
foundation of all knowledge.” How many remember seeing that!? And every so
often my mind goes back to that and
stopping at that, and looking up at that, and sort-of pondering that.
Well, Peter, in 2nd Peter chapter 1, verse 20
said, “knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private
interpretation.” And yet we have people out there on the highways and byways
of the United States and around the
world who want to get into “private interpretations” of prophecy. And it’s a
mistake! And unfortunately it can be a DEADLY mistake! And they want to get
into traditions, and JEWISH FABLES, and things in which they really should not
be doing! Well, the real KEY to understanding the Bible and understanding Bible
prophecy is given to us in the Book of Isaiah.
Isaiah
chapter 28, verse 9 – “’Whom will He teach knowledge? And whom will
He make to understand [doctrine]?’” And then it says in Verse 10 – I think this is such an important concept in the idea of
understanding what the Bible really says and understanding doctrine – “For
precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon
line, Here a little, there a little.’” -
and then just to repeat it, down in Verse
13, he said, “But the Word of the LORD was to them, ’Precept upon precept,
precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a
little.’” And so, nowhere in the Bible
do you just open it up and It gives up points 1, 2, 3, 4, or points A, B, C, D
– all nicely outlined. You have to do a little research and you have to sort-of
piece together, as it were, a jigsaw puzzle. The Bible was compiled – inspired
by God – in such a fashion and in such a manner that Its deep spiritual truths
and meanings, and mysteries, could not be understood by the natural carnal
mind. Mind’s which are not being led, taught, and guided, and inspired by God’s
Holy Spirit. Unless led by God, the Bible is a giant multi-layered puzzle.
Mystery. Enigma. Conundrum. And this was
arranged and ordered by God as an act of mercy. The people of the world – the
people who are devoid of God’s truth – past and present, people who have not
been called and chosen, they are not
facing eternal judgment and the prospect of the second death. They are safe in
their state of Biblical and spiritual ignorance, waiting for a future era of
time, when they too will receive the blessings of understanding the truth of
God, and eventually being admitted into the Kingdom of God! And Jesus Christ
talked about this back in Matthew chapter 13.
I’ve told the story before, how my good friend, Michael
Partridge, who lives back in Evansville – when I had moved back from Arizona
and I was now living in Kentucky. One evening I went over to see Mike and Annie
in Evansville, and we went to a very nice Mexican food restaurant. As we
finished eating Annie says, “O’ Washington Square Mall is right across the
street, let’s go over there and walk and get some exercise!” And I thought,
“Well, alright, I’m not against that.” So we drove over to Washington Square
Mall, at which point Mike and I sat down and Annie took off walking. And about
forty-five minutes later or an hour later, Annie came back with three or four
shopping bags on her arms. And I thought, “Aha! Now I know what it means when
we walk for exercise! I understand the lingo now!” And she gets irritated every
time I tell that story, but I love the story! Anyway, as she was wandering off
to the stores and shops, Michael became very frustrated and he said, “Why don’t
more people believe God!?” And he added, “Why do we have a society which says,
‘In God We Trust,’ and yet most of the people around us just seemingly don’t
care what the Bible says or God says!? Or, they don’t do what He says!?” And,
Michael was really quite upset over that idea. And I said, “Mike, you gotta
keep something in mind.” And we all, ever so often, we have to stop and go,
“Mmmm, alright, alright, I get it!” I said, “Mike, let’s go back and talk about
what Jesus said.” And I went back to the concept of Matthew 13. Verse 10 –
“And the disciples came and said to Him, …” – not the general public, but the
disciples, the “called-out ones.” “and said to Him, ‘Why do You speak to them
in parables [or puzzles]?’” You know, most people think that Jesus spoke
parables to make difficult concepts easy to understand. I remember being taught
that in my little Sunday school class. “Parables, you know, makes it easy for
even the lowly people to understand.” And yet, the Bible says something totally
different! Jesus, in His own Words, says, “…‘Because
it has been given to you …’” – it is given unto people who have been
called by God, and that’s not everyone in this age. And I know that the people
outside of our organization don’t understand that. I know that my Baptist
friends and my Catholic friends and my Methodist friends probably presume,
“Well, I’ve been called,” although I actually don’t think they think about that
idea. But they don’t know the truth of God. And people struggle with the idea
that Jesus Christ came to the Earth to ‘save all of humanity’! At His first
coming!? No, He did not! He came to call out a few people, and He has
throughout the ages. Most of those people will be saved – as it were. Taught the truth of God, granted God’s Spirit.
In later eras of time – and we talked about that
during the Feast of Trumpets and the Days of Unleavened Bread and the Last
Great Day, and that’s a topic for another sermon. But to the mass majority
right now they were not meant to understand the truth. He says in Verse 13 – “’Therefore
I speak to them in parables, because
seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
14) And
in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will
see and not perceive; 15)
For the
hearts of this people have grown dull [or
hardened].
Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they
should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should
understand with their hearts and [should be converted], So that I
should heal them.’” – and some day He will break off those bonds of
not being able to ‘hear’ or ‘see.’ He says in Verse 16 – “’But blessed are your eyes
for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17) for assuredly, I say to you that
many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not [or
were not allowed to] see it, and to hear what you
hear, and did not hear it.’” – so, we are a very fortune people, and
that’s one of the reasons why on this season of Thanksgiving we should have a
special sense of thanksgiving to God.
The
End-Time Events
Well, today I’d like to continue our exploration in discussing
what I like to call ‘the end-time events’ or ‘the end-time trauma.’ Or what the
Bible seems to indicate, simply called ‘the Day of the LORD.’ If you would,
turn to Matthew 24.
It says in Matthew
chapter 24 – and you know, the key question here is Verse 3, “’Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the
sign of Your coming [of Your Return], and of the end of the world?’” – and again, that’s not the end
of the world, that means the end of the age – it’s the end of a period of time.
The end of man’s rulership upon the Earth. And He went through, ‘take heed that no one deceives you. 5) For many
will come in My name, saying. ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.’ And
sure enough there are! How many hundreds and hundreds of different versions of
“Christianity” do we have in the world today!? And how many times they are so
very far apart! Almost irreconcilable. And then you think about all the other
religions that have popped up, that hold people in their grips. Then He said in
Verse 6 – “’And
you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.’” – and since my birth in
1950, when the Korean War was
heating up, my life has been filled with the knowledge of war. My television
set has been filled with nightly reports of war. You think about the Korean War
(1950-1953), that saga of the Vietnam War
(1955-1975), it captured most of my youth, and preoccupied the thoughts of many
of my buddies. I can remember sitting in locker rooms discussing with my
friends Denny Luise, Dennis Waters, other guys that I played sports with. And
we actually said, “Well, I wonder, when we get out of high school, will we be
drafted and end-up in the rice patties of Vietnam!?” And we pondered that, and
it was a bit of an oppressive time. He goes on to say, “…’See that you are not troubled; for all these things must
come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7) For nation will rise against nation,
and kingdom against kingdom.’” – and you know there are people in this
nation and around the world who would love to see a “ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT.”
Whatever that monstrosity would be! And yet, Bible prophecy doesn’t indicate
that it will actually get here – although people will be trying to make it
happen. But you more see the idea of blocs of nations, group of nations – the
European combine and the Islamic confederation, or, caliphate, however you
wanna call it – yet to fully develop! You know you have the king’s of the east
mentioned in the Bible – so you have sort-of big groupings of nations. And here
we see, ‘nation will rise against nation, and
kingdom against kingdom.’ And, I’m willing to accept the possibility
that this is Jesus Christ suggesting about the prophecy of Daniel 11. The king
of the North vs the king of the South. The European combine and the Islamic
confederation – whatever they will call themselves in the future. I think this
is an indication of that growing tension between these two groups of people. “…’And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes
in various places. 8) All these are the beginning of sorrows.’” So in
all of this, it’s a step by step progress – over here something happens, over
there something happens. And as you read the Bible and you sort-of get the
feeling that it grows in intensity! As time goes by. There are other Scriptures
there in Matthew 24 – notice Verse 15
– “’Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet,
standing in the holy place’ (whoever reads, let him understand), 16) ‘then let those who are in JUDEA flee to the mountains.’”
– and unfortunately a few decades ago, some church people, took that to mean if
you live in the United States, you go pack your bags and go scramble off to a
little place in the middle of nowhere called Petra. And that really
was a bizarre concept! I don’t really know how that really took hold, but it
did. And people, even to this day, are staking their physical future, their spiritual
future, on this concept of fleeing to Petra. And in fact, if they ever got
there, they probably would be machine gunned by the local soldiers – the
Jordanian soldiers. Verse 21 – “’For then there will be great tribulation, such as has
not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall
be.’” – and the Worldwide Church of God took a little liberty with this
phrase and put the word “the” in there, and they came up with a phrase – the great tribulation. How many of
you can remember that expression!? Heard it all the time back in the old days.
The Bible doesn’t exactly say that!
It says they’ll be ‘great troubles.’
Well, if you turn to Mark
chapter 13 – which is Mark’s version of the “Olivet Prophecy.” He says in Verse 8 – “…’These
are the beginnings of sorrows.’” He uses that phrase again. And he also,
Verse 14, talks about the ‘abomination of
desolation.’ And then, in Verse 19, he refers to it as ‘tribulation.’ He doesn’t say “great tribulation”
– he says in the King James English, ‘days of
affliction’ or ‘trouble.’
And then in Luke
chapter 21, Luke’s version of the “Oliver Prophecy.” In Verse 9 we hear the phrase ‘wars and commotions,’ instead of ‘wars and rumors of wars.’ And think about all the
commotions that we hear about on a daily basis – and worldwide events! And then
in Verse 20 there’s an interesting
little addition to this prophetic scenario. “’But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then
know that its desolation is near.’” – and that’s a little key I
think we have to put in back of our mind! And then in Verse 22 of Luke’s version, he talks about the ‘days of vengeance.’ Doesn’t say, “great
tribulation” and he doesn’t say ‘days of
affliction’ – he says, the ‘days of
vengeance.’ And the question is – who’s vengeance!? And I contend that it’s
probably talking about GOD’S VENGENCE! God’s justice! A progression of events
that lead to the Day of the LORD!
Now, let’s quickly go back and look at chapter 21, verse 20 – we
have read this for a long time, and I must confess I’ve read it - just sort-of
passed over it and maybe lumped two ideas together that maybe I should not have
lumped together. “’But when you see Jerusalem
surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.’” If you
would, turn back to the Book of Daniel. And we all just sort-of presumed,
“Well, that’s the European army surrounding Jerusalem” – because we know Daniel
11 says they’re gonna be there. But, not necessarily so! Notice that all of Daniel 11 is a constant flow of
conflict between the king of the North and the king of the South! And I think
that we understand those Scriptures to mean the king of the North (a future
European combine; Catholic Europe) – which is taking shape right now! And yet,
receiving very little notice on the world stage. And, the king of the South (a
yet future Islamic confederation). One of the keys is to look at Verse 9 – “’Also the king of the North shall come to the kingdom of the king of the
South, but shall return to his own land. 10)
However his sons shall stir up
strife, …’” – talking about multiple nations that make up this Islamic
confederation. Not just Arabic people, but now we know that Islam stretches far
to the east of the traditionally Arabic
people. 1
1. See: The Prophecy
Series – The Last Crusade also speaks of this possible connection
between Luke 21:20 and Daniel 11, involving the prophetic ‘king of the North’
and the ‘king of the South.’ pgs. 11, 12, 15.
Now, sometimes you hear people say, “Well, Jerusalem,
encompassed with armies!” Maybe those are Arab armies!? And there may well be a
continuance of Arab armies surrounding
Jerusalem!? There always seemed to be. But the actual people who seem to go in
and set-up the ‘abomination of desolation’ appear to be the European people.
The European army. And to just help understand this, turn to 2nd
Thessalonians. And again, for you old timers – I say that respectfully – we’ve
read these before. 2nd
Thessalonians chapter 2 – but there may be people who have never heard
these ideas,
talked
about, or explained. Paul says the following, “Now, brethren, concerning the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ …” – so, again, the time setting on this passage
is the time of the end! The Return of Jesus Christ! And of all the things that
Paul was, evangelist, minister, writer of the Bible, he was also – and we don’t
think about this too often – a prophet! A prophet of God used to explain about
future events. Verse 2 – “not to be
soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as
if from us, as though the day of Christ [the Day of the LORD!] [is at hand]. 3) Let no one deceive you by any means;
…” – and that even means people who get into their own private interpretations
of prophecy. Do not let them get inside your head and confuse you and deceive
you and mislead you. He said, “…unless the falling away comes first, and the
man of sin is revealed, the
son of perdition, …” – this is talking about, I believe, a future
religious leader from the homeland of Europe, practicing the historic religion
of Europe, who claims – and notice… THIS IS THE ABOMINATION THAT MAKES
DESOLATE! 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 that he is God.” –
and that is just an absolute outrage in the eyes of God! And this is what
Daniel chapter 11, verse 36 is talking about!
Daniel chapter 11, verse 40 – “’At the time of the end the king of the South
shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a
whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; …’” – notice that,
‘with many ships.’
Now, we have a PDF booklet online entitled Prophecy
Series – The Last Crusade, in which I discuss the Crusades. And most
of the crusades of the Middle Ages went over the land – like over Greece into
Turkey – a few came by ship. But it seems to indicate to me here that most of the invasion into the
Middle East will be across the Mediterranean Sea. “…and he shall enter the
countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. 41) He shall also enter the Glorious Land [meaning Jerusalem], and
many countries shall be overthrown; but these [and I’ll add the word – initially] shall escape from his hand.”
- it specifically says that Edom (which
we believe to be Turkey), Moab (which we believe is sort-of Syria and Iraq),
and the chief of the children of Ammon (or Jordan). It says these people will
not first incur the wrath of Europe! Verse
42 - “’He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of
Egypt shall not escape.’” – seems like it’s almost a focal point of the
invasion. 43) He shall have power
over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of
Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall [be at his sides].” Now notice Verse 44. It’s almost we go forward a
few weeks, months, and we read, “’But news from the east and the north shall
trouble him; …’” – and so let’s set the scene – this vast armada crosses the
ocean, lands on Egypt, comes up from the south, enters into the Palestinian
area of Jerusalem (Judea), and then it says, ‘news from the east and the north
shall trouble him.’ Well, to the north you have countries like Syria, Turkey.
And to the east you have like Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. What if Europe comes in,
sets up control in Jerusalem, and then those other Islamic states counter
attack!? “… he [this European combine] shall go out with great fury to destroy
and annihilate many.” – to just ‘sweep them away’ as my margin says! So I
believe they come in over the ocean and they set-up in Israel, they set-up the
‘abomination of desolation’ – these northern and eastern Arab countries say,
“We’re not gonna put up with that!”
They try and force an invasion and cause trouble, and they’re wiped out! And as
it says here, they’re just simply ‘annihilated.’
Well, as we’ve already mentioned, statements in the “Olivet
Prophecy,” the Book of Daniel, and the flow of the Book of Revelation, seem to
indicate that the end-time traumatic events occur in a series of steps! Or, in
a progression of events!
And I can remember being back in Ambassador College at the
Worldwide Church of God and it seemed like they always talked about everything
happening at once. And I don’t see it
quite that way. It seems to me like it happens a little here, and then it moves
to another location to another group of people, and before its over it
encompasses the whole world!
I want to give you a quick overview of how I think this
progression will go.
1) I think the first
people to take it on the chin, who are seriously afflicted, are what we
would called Israel (Ephraim and Manasseh), and I think we understand who those
nations are. And, Judah. In the Book of Jeremiah, chapter 37, calls it ‘Jacob’s
trouble.’ So, it seems like Israel (Ephraim, Manasseh) and Judah are really the
first people to be overcome!
2) And then, I think the
next people to be badly afflicted are the Western portions of the Islamic
confederation. We just read about this in Daniel 11. The nations of Egypt, Edom
(Turkey), Moab (Syria/Iraq), Ammon (Jordan). And you know, we’re told in the Book of Obadiah, that these people are
simply wiped out! Verse 8 – “’Will I
not in that day,’ says the LORD, ‘Even destroy the wise men from Edom [Edom,
Esau, Turkey, they all mean the same], And understanding from the mountains of
Esau?’” – and the reason that God
seems to single out Turkey 1) He looks upon them as Jacob’s brother. Remember
Esau and Jacob were brothers. And, at the time of the end, notice Verse 10 – “‘For violence against your
brother Jacob, Shame shall cover you, And you shall be cut off forever. 11) In the day that you stood on the
other side – In the day that strangers [the people of Europe] carried captive
his forces, When foreigners entered his gates And cast lots for Jerusalem –
Even you were as one of them.’” Verse 12 – “’But you should not have
gazed on the day of your brother In the day of his captivity; Nor should you
have rejoiced over the children of Judah [modern-day Israel] In the day of
their destruction; Nor should you have spoken proudly In the day of distress. 13) You should not have entered the
gate of My people In the day of their calamity. Indeed, you should not have
gazed on their affliction In the day of their calamity, Nor laid hands on their
substance In the day of their calamity. 14)
You should not have stood at the crossroads To cut off those among them who
escaped; …’” – and it seems as though the people of modern-day Israel (Judah)
as they see this trouble coming, some of them try to escape, they go north,
they want to escape over into Europe. And it seems that Turkey stands ‘at the
crossroads’ at that sea gate and says, “No, we’re not gonna let ya!” And they
even take them captive! And for this cruelty and betrayal God really takes it
out on Turkey! Verse 15 – “’For the
Day of the LORD upon all nations is near; As you have done, it shall be done to
you; …’” – and He talks about wiping out the entire country! A very severe
penalty! But, that’s the second part of this progression of events.
3) Notice the next part
is that the Eastern portions of the Islamic confederation seem to have a
counter-attack. And I think we read about this in Revelation chapter 9, verse 13 -
“Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns
of the golden altar which is before God, 14)
saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, ‘Release the four angels who are
bound at the great river Euphrates.’” – remember, we know from the Book of
Daniel that many times angelic beings are in charge, as it were, of different
nations. And he seems to say, ‘let these four nation groups loose,’ Verse 15 - “…prepared for the hour and
day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind.’” – a
terrible bloody battle! And this army end up being comprised of 200 million
men! And it seems to me that maybe we have Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the
Muslim people of India on a counter-attack! They want to get in on this fight!
And in the end, they are absorbed by much of this – they are simply destroyed!
4) Also, turn to Revelation chapter 16, verse 12 – “…the
sixth angel …” – this is the SEVEN LAST PLAGUES. “…poured out his bowl on the
great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings
from the east might be prepared.” – so now we have another bloc of nations –
another group. And I believe those kings of the east might be, logically,
China, countries like Korea, Japan, maybe Indonesia – it has a huge Muslim
population. But they decide to get in on this climatic battle! Verse 14 – “For they are spirits of
demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the
whole world, …” – so now this progression has spread to include all of the
nations of the world! And this prepares, in Verse 16, for the battle which takes place in Armageddon. Or,
Megiddo.
6) And then there’s one more group of people. Very small in
number, but very significant! Which gets their day of vengeance at the
end-time. Notice Revelation chapter 19,
verse 19 – “And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies,
gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.’” – the resurrected saints of
Almighty God! Verse 20 – “Then the
beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his
presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and
those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire
burning with brimstone.” And then, chapter 20, the first three verses gives us
the last part of this – total and complete wiping out of evil. When Satan
himself and his demons are bound in a great spiritual prison for one-thousand
years!
And so this progression, bit by bit. The Book of Revelation
gives you the same concept – when it has three seven layer steps.
1. Seven
Seals.
2. Seven
Trumpets.
3. Seven
Last Plagues.
And we know that, prior to the
final 3½ years,
that the Bible specifically talks about, conditions on the earth becomes
increasingly grim and chaotic. We read about that in the “Olivet Prophecy” when
Jesus said, ‘the end is not yet.’ And then
He said, ‘all these are the beginnings of sorrows.’
And this specter of ever-growing calamity, disaster, tragedy, will
motivate and galvanize various parts of the world – people throughout the world
in various places – to return to their religious roots, their religious
heritage, and cause an intensification of religious fervor, passion, zeal and
dedication. And over the past several decades we have already seen, and
witnessed, a sharp increase in radical jihadist Islam. And here, just recently even
at Fort Hood not far away we saw it! And this is only going to grow
in scope and intensity!
Biblical
prophecy is very clear that the people of Europe return to their historic
religion, and even elevate their human leader – the leader of their church – to
a god-like status. And we know from the Book of Daniel that the Jewish people
of Jerusalem reinstitute the daily sacrifices. And we know that when those
sacrifices are set up and after a while they’re taken away – that that’s the
time of the ‘abomination of desolation.’ So, I believe this rise in religious
zeal and dedication, and the rise of religiously motivated militancy and
aggression is indeed the meaning of the FIRST SEAL of Revelation 6. Which says,
Verse 2 – “And I looked, and beheld, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow;
and a crown was given to him, …” – sort-of a religious aura.
“…and he went out conquering and to conquer.”
And
we know that following this first horse, we have the red horse of WAR! The
black horse of FAMINE. And the pale horse of DEATH. And these calamities are
mentioned in many prophecies! Jeremiah
chapter 14, verse 12 – “…’But I will consume them by the sword, by the
famine, and by the pestilence.’” And Verse
15 He talks about “…’By sword and famine those [false] prophets shall be
consumed!’” Ezekiel chapter 14, verse 21
He talks about ‘My four severe judgments … the sword and famine and wild beasts
and pestilence.’” And there are so many more!
And,
we have long believed and taught that the recipients or the objects of this
first wave of these ‘days of vengeance’ –
the days of God’s vengeance – will be Israel (meaning Ephraim and Manasseh) and
Judah.
But,
this begs a question. The only description that we can find in the Bible, in
the end times, of physical Israel
(Ephraim and Manasseh) is of a people who are falling victim to war, famine,
pestilence, death and captivity! What happens to us between now and then!? Right now in the year 2019, we
collectively have the strongest, deadliest, most potent military forces in the
history of the world! And yet in the end-time prophetic scenarios we seemingly
are helpless, defenseless, unprotected, powerless, impotent. How can this be!?
What happens to us!? And I think a
clue is given to us in the writings of Moses. He says in Leviticus chapter 1, verses 1 & 2 – “Now the LORD called to
Moses, and spoke to him from the tabernacle of meeting, saying, 2) ‘Speak
to the children of Israel, …’” – I want you to know who these prophecies
are talking about. Moses was also a prophet. In Leviticus chapter 26 – we can go through a lot here, but let’s just
focus on Verse 19 – a phrase which
has haunted me since I first heard it back in my days at Ambassador College.
“’I will break the pride of your power; …’” Well, here in the United States of
America, what historically has been the pride of our power!? I have a list of
twelve things. You might have one or two different. But you’ll get the general
idea.
1. One of the great cornerstones of the pride of
our power has been our
system of government. Based upon the principles of the Constitution.
And yet TODAY we have esteemed leaders in Washington, D.C., they would just
soon rip that book and throw it away, or put it in the library as a museum
piece. It is not a road map for them to follow, it is simply an obstacle that
they try and figure how they can wiggle around and squash!
2. The desire of our people to be free of governmental
interference. That’s why we became a nation! To get away from King George
III and the central state. And yet now, we have people who want to
just totally be encompassed by the Federal
Government. “Run every part of my life! Tell me what I can eat, what
I can wear, what I can drive, what type of lightbulb I can put in my house!”
Talking about just being overcome by government!
3. The desire of our people to
apply their intelligence, their personal initiative, and their effort and hard
work to improve their lives and their fortunes, and to provide for themselves
and their families. This personal initiative. And yet, we now have
whole groups of people with their hands out saying, “Help me! Help me!” “Give
me! Give me!” The famous interview, I think that Sean Hannity has
played before, this woman wanting, and she’s all happy, because the new
president Obama, “Well, where’s all this money gonna come from!?” She says,
“Well, it’s just gonna come from his stash!” Have you heard that interview!?
You just wanna hold your head and go, “How ignorant are you woman!?”
4. Well another thing that I think has been a
great part of our pride and power – economic activity based upon private ownership, capitalism, and free market principles.
And yet now half of our major corporations seem to be owned or partly owned by
the Federal Government. I’ve heard leading economists say that we are no longer
truly a capitalistic society. That we’re slowly trending toward a State
oriented or ordered society! Much like Moscow wanted for all of those years.
And what did it do for the Soviet Union!? They collapsed in utter disarray! And
yet we have people who wanna do away with free market and go to just government
run.
5. Another
idea. Our industrial
base and the ability to produce our own goods and products. And yet
over the three of four decades we’ve seen so many of our industries shut down,
or sent overseas, to the point where we don’t make much of our own stuff
anymore. What is going to become of us if we actually need it. I don’t look
upon China as a friend. Maybe you do. I don’t look upon some of those far
eastern nations as dedicated allies. And in a time of trouble, we’re not gonna
have the ability to make things.
6. We had an agricultural base that had the ability to feed and
clothe ourselves. And yet, most of the textile mills have shut down, or sent
overseas. And even a lot of our food is being regulated by the Federal
Government. People in California can’t even grow their crops in places because
they’re worried about some little minnow in some little drainage ditch. And
therefore all water supply is shut off. And, there’s story after story like
that.
7. The American dream of owning your own home and passing
assets down to the next generation. And yet I heard just this morning some
commentators say that with the size of the growing government debt, that the
people who are now children today, when they’re young adults, will be paying
50% in income tax! Just to pay for the debt and the great give away society
that we are developing.
8. Also, a sound banking industry. And yet now we hear
more and more about government interference and regulation, and government
taking over banks. Ordering banks what they can pay their employees. The pay
czar.
9. The strength and vitality of our economy and the U.S. Dollar.
And folks I’m not an economist, but, when you just start printing money whole
hog to pay your debts the value of each dollar starts to shrink. It’s called
deflation. And you know, that five-hundred thousand dollars you might have
stuffed under your mattress, well in a couple of years it’ll probably be worth
about two-thousand dollars! Just because the value of the dollar. And every
time the value of the dollar goes down the price of your gasoline goes up. And
everything else you buy overseas. And again, I’m not an economist, but, I know
we’re going the wrong way! And it’s all gonna catch up with us in a year or
two. Big time!
10. Energy independence. There was a time, when I was a child,
that we in America provided our own energy! But now, they say we can’t build nuclear
reactors – we can fund them over in Iran, but we can’t build them here! We can’t mine our coal –
when we have vast, hundreds of years’
worth supply of coal. But we can’t use that, because that produces carbon
dioxide. Now, I don’t want to shock any of you – but every time you exhale,
according to them, you’re destroying the Earth! Because that’s what we exhale!
It’s a part of life, and the trees take it in and change it back to oxygen! God
made it that way, but we have these “scientist’s” who are trying to make the
world believe that somehow exhaling is detrimental to the environment! And, we
have people going around thinking that windmills and compact
fluorescent energy saving lightbulbs are going to save all of our
problems!? That’s just complete naiveté.
11. We, historically, have had the best healthcare system
in the world! And yet, now, our mental little people of Washington, D.C. are
plotting for the Federal Government to take over 1/6 of the American economy!?
They can’t even run the post office! And yet, they think they can run
healthcare! And we are stepping headlong into Socialism!
12. And we have had a very strong and effective decisive military!
And the people serving in there, still are! And yet we have leaders who can’t
make decisions about Afghanistan, or Iraq, or Iran, or North Korea, or Russia –
they didn’t even know how to deal with Hugo Chávez – that
little runt! Over the past several years we have witnessed leaders of our
nation traveling around the world and apologizing for our past, and seemingly
for our very existence! And yet if it weren’t for us they would now be speaking German or Japanese! And yet we’re
supposed to apologize!?
We have seen leaders in the
executive branch, and the legislative branch of our federal government attempt
to ram through the legislative process and down the throats of the American
people - A series of proposals which are more reflective of the liberal
socialistic ideals of Western Europe. And observing all that has happened, and
all that is proposed, and all that’s being said, one has to wonder – if
our present-day American leaders would desire someday to secede American
sovereignty back over to Mother Europe! It truly makes one wonder!
If the United States was amalgamated or assimilated – as it were – into the
king of the North (the European combine) it might help to explain some things.
Especially when you talk about Biblical prophecy.
Remember, we were told by the man
from Chicago, that his goal was to “fundamentally change America.”
Well, was that change something you
could believe in!? It was not! And some people reading this right now, would
say, “Mike, I don’t like what you’re saying, you’re talking politics! And I
don’t like it when preachers talk about politics!” Well, in my opinion I’m not
talking politics, I’m talking reality! And I’m talking Biblical prophecy! Our
nation is going down! And there’s a
reason that it is! And, I think, we’re beginning to see how it is happening!
Well, whatever and however the politicians say and do, it is always incumbent
upon the people of God to remember the Words of Jesus Christ when He says in Matthew chapter 6, verse 33 – “’Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.’”
And in Mark chapter 13 – which is one of the very bases of this
organization and of our work. He says in verse
28 – “’Now learn this parable from the fig
tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you
know that summer is near. 29)
So you also, when you see these things happening,
know that it is near – at the doors! 30) Assuredly, I say to you, THIS GENERATION
…’” – there was actually going to be a generation that would qualify to
be singled out as ‘that generation’! I do believe that we are that generation! “…’will by no
means pass away till all these things take place. 31) Heaven and earth will pass away,
but My Words will by no means pass away. 32) But of that day and hour no one
knows, not even the angels in Heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33) Take
HEED, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34) It is
like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his
servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. 35) Watch
therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming – in the
evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning – 36) lest,
coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37) And what I say to you, I say to
all: Watch!’” And, the same vein over in Luke chapter 21, verse 36, Jesus said, “’Watch
therefore, and pray always that [1)] you may
be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass [physical
salvation], [2)] and
to stand before the Son of man [spiritual salvation].’”
Our beloved nation is at a
crossroads! Ultimately, however, there is nothing the few of us can do to
change it. You and I are powerless, other than prayer. We already know the
ending, because we have access to the understanding of the Book – the Bible. And,
as member’s of the Church, we are also at a crossroads – as Paul wrote in the
Book of Romans, chapter 13, verse 11
– “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to AWAKE out of
sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed 12) The night is far spent, the day …”
– and I believe he’s talking about the Day of the LORD! – “…is at hand.
Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of
light. 13) Let us walk [honestly] as
in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in
strife and envy.” – and I still believe that all too often there is strife and
envying in the Church of God, and there shouldn’t be! And then Paul ends this
little section by saying the following – “But put on Jesus Christ!” Because in
the end the only hope you have to understand the events which are happening and
to have a way of escape is that you are very close to your Savior Jesus Christ!
Be thankful to Him and God the Father, because everything you have comes from
Them! Your very life, the food you eat, every breath you take, every beating of
your heart is at His permission! The knowledge that you have, the calling that
you’ve been given! The fact that you are able to understand the truth of God
and the Word of God comes from Them! The fact that you were granted the gift of
repentance, and the gift of baptism, and the gift of receiving God’s Spirit,
and that someday, you too will receive the gift of eternal life! You know, that
song, “with his power, with his
blood, He has saved me, and with His power He will raise me!”
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