Saturday, November 28, 2020

The Love of God

 



Greetings Everyone! Welcome, our friends in Canada, Switzerland, Brazil, the Philippines, and around the world, including, of course, the United States of America. It’s great to be with you once again for the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries located in Spring Hill, Florida. I’m your host Leonard V. Johnson.

Friends, let’s go right into the message today – I want to ask you the question, How great is God’s love for the people of the earth!? Does God truly love us!? Does He truly love you and me!?

Does God love us like we love our spouse or our children or even ourselves!?

Indeed there are times when we begin to wonder whether God really loves us at all. Now, maybe this has happened to you. I think this place of bewilderment is not rare. Surely we all have doubts about the level of God’s love and His concern for each one of us – whether He truly cares about our life, our problems, our worries, our fears, our health, happiness, and perhaps the anxiety we have about our safety, our job, and our future.

Is God just simply angry all the time at us!? Is God judging us – all the time!? Does He only see the bad things in our life – all the time!?

We, as human beings, are indeed guilty of mostly only seeing the negative side of situations in our life – as well as in other people. Is this the way God looks upon us!? Does God see the glass half empty or half full!? And, are we NEVER just quite good enough for God!?

So, turn with me if you will to the beginning of the Holy Bible – Genesis the 1st chapter.

Verse 26 – “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’”

So, notice verse 27 – “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

God created human beings in His image – male and female. So, the very shape of our bodies carries with it some of the glory and persona of God. Do we think about this when we walk around in the “tent” that we live in!?

Also, Genesis chapter 2 and verse 7 tells us that we have God’s breath within us. Because God “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” giving him life. And, because of this, we are connected to God forever.

However, often we are like the reckless child that tells his parents – ‘Oh, you don’t care about me!’ But what are the parents thinking!? They’re thinking all the way back to the conception, the pregnancy, the care that the mother took to get to full term, the anticipation, the preparation, and ultimately the delivery. The dedication, the care, and the coddling. The worry and often sleepless nights – only to have the child stand there and say, ‘You don’t care about me!’?

The parents realize at that point that the child is never going to truly understand the kind of love you have for them until the day that they have a child of their own.

Within my wallet, I have an old faded, and a well-worn picture of my daughter Jessica at six-months-old. She certainly at that age had no idea what was going to happen to her – of the responsibility and how she would feel until she had a child of her own. And we seem to be this way with God and will sometimes look upon Him and say, ‘Oh, do You truly love me!?’ And certainly, He looks upon us and says, ‘Seriously!?’

Friends, I’d like us to turn to the Book of Isaiah. It’s remarkable that this great prophet of God – the messianic prophet – we will often think of as an old wise gray-headed and bearded patriarch. But through his writings, you can find golden nuggets which tells us that this great man had much experience with family – even in his own life.

In Isaiah chapter 41

Verse 8 – “’ But you, Israel, …’” – this is God speaking to Israel. “ … ‘are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend.’” – going all the way back to when He selected Israel.

Verse 9 – “’ You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its farthest regions, And said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away.’”

Verse 10 – “’ Fear not, for I AM with you; Be not dismayed, for I AM your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’”

Here, God is reaching out to Israel and encouraging them and letting them know, ‘I have not abandoned you.’

So, God is appearing to say, ‘asking such a question of Me is truly foolish.’

After bringing us through the birth, He isn’t going to abortus or throw us away.

In Isaiah chapter 43

Verse 1 – “But now, thus says the LORD, who created you O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.’”

God said, ‘your name isn’t going to be called anymore Jacob, but ISRAEL.’ He named them. The name has a shocking meaning – “He will rule as God.”

Indeed it is true that Almighty God knows us by name – each and every one of us. You know how we know that!? In the Book of Psalm, it says that God calls the stars in the heavens all by name – Psalm 147:4. And, in the Book of Luke, our Lord and Savior says, “’ But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore.’” Truly, when a sparrow falls to the ground He knows about it! What about you!? Jesus says, “’ you are of more value than many sparrows.’” He knows our situation and just what is happening in our life. Friends, the proof is before us!

Let’s turn now to Isaiah chapter 44

Verse 1 – “’ Yet hear now, O Jacob My servant, And ISRAEL whom I have chosen. 2) Thus says the LORD who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you: ‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant; And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.’” – again, twice in two verses He said, ‘I chose you!’ Of which I have underlined for emphasis. And He certainly is saying this to each of us – TODAY!

Verse 21 – “’ Remember these, O Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me!’”

And friends – look at this! Verse 22 – “’ I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. RETURN TO ME, for I have redeemed you.’” – it’s like redemption for us, even though God did realize that sometime in our life we would become imprisoned by sin, He is willing to go down to the prison and bail us out! And, as I state in the sermon “One God – One Mediator” - do you truly understand what this means!? It means that your life was forfeited – you were on death row having had the death penalty hanging over your head! And Jesus went down and paid the penalty. He redeems us!

Verse 23 – “Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth; Break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, And glorified Himself in Israel.”

Friends – indeed we can place our own name here and our own lives in this very thought and in these verses here!

Let’s turn now to Isaiah chapter 49

As you’re turning there, I ask – what about all the terrible things that our child(ren) has done!? You know, when we have children, as I spoke of earlier, and they make mistakes – and they oftentimes make huge mistakes – what do we do with our own children!? Do we just cast them aside!? Do we disown them – just because they made a huge mistake!? Well, God is actually willing to overlook, even in our lives, the terrible things that we’ve done and forgiven us of the mistakes we’ve made. And friends, this is extremely important! As a parent does with their own children – God a thousand times over does that for each and every one of us!

Verse 13 – “Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, And will have mercy on His afflicted.”

Verse 14 – “But Zion said, …” – and this is you and me. “ … ‘The LORD has forsaken me, And my Lord has forgotten me.’”

Many will say – ‘O I’ve done so many bad things in my life, God doesn’t care about me anymore!’ Well, look at what Almighty God says –

Verse 15 – “’ Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I WILL NOT FORGET YOU.’”

Sadly, there are mothers who do ‘forget their nursing child.’ But, I’m sure the majority of us truly has, or had, a mother that never forgets, or forgot – and who, even when you were older always looked at you as if you were still a young child. God is comparing Himself to a mother caring for her child – see Psalm 103:13; Matthew 7:11.

Verse 16 – “’ See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; …’”

Friends, what a beautiful thought – our LORD leaning down at the bank of the Euphrates River, scooping up a handful of clay and forming it into a human body, breathing into the nostrils of Adam the breath of life. He looked at that human being and – that human being was unlike any other creature upon the earth of which He had created. God had created and ‘let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind’ – the ‘beast of the earth according to its kind.’ And, God saw that it was good. He had ‘let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let the birds fly above the earth.’ And, God saw that it was good. He had created all the plant life, the mountains, the streams, and rivers – but, even all of this would be subjugated unto this new creation – Adam. This human being who had the ability within himself to someday become a son. Now that truly is something special!

This human being had within his brain the ability to create, to design, and the ability to calculate problems – far above any other beasts of the field. Far above Neanderthals, which are not of the human genome.

And yet, like the great many space science television programs that are replete around the world, they’ll say, “In those early days, lightning and ultraviolet light from the Sun were breaking apart the simple hydrogen-rich molecules of the primitive atmosphere, the fragments spontaneously recombining into more and more complex molecules. The products of this early chemistry were dissolved in the oceans, forming a kind of organic soup of gradually increasing complexity, until one day, QUITE BY ACCIDENT, a molecule arose …” 1 They’ll say, ‘There is no God!’

Well, let’s move on here to – what about all the things which make us afraid!?

Let’s go over to Isaiah chapter 51

And here reading from the New English Bible (NEB), Verse 12 – “’ I, I Myself, Am He that comforts you. Why then fear man, man who must die, man frail as grass? WHY HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THE LORD YOUR MAKER, who stretched out the skies and founded the earth? Why are you continually afraid, all the day long, why dread the fury of oppressors ready to destroy you? …’”

But look at verse 15 – transferring back to the New King James Version (NKJV) – “’ But I AM the LORD your God, Who divided the sea whose waves roared – The LORD of hosts [meaning, an army, divisions of angels] is His name. 16) And I have put My words in your mouth; I have covered you with the shadow of My hand, That I may plant the heavens, …’”

“That I may plant the heavens!” Now, when I read what Almighty God says here – I can’t help but think of the Voyager I spacecraft which was launched in 1977, which encountered the planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, and then in August 2012 becoming officially the first human-made object to reach into interstellar space – and as of 2015, over 12 BILLION miles away from Earth! And, I can’t help but think of the July 14th, 2015 New Horizons launch, which made its historic flight to the Pluto system! The dwarf planet and her five moons being some 3 BILLION miles from the Sun! And friends, God surely tells us just what His plans are for the heavens – for when He says, ‘that I may plant the heavens,’ this is a statement that is looking far out there into the future of His universe. When human beings will explore – with ever greater ability – the extent of outer space itself! Eventually, even reaching our closest galaxy – the Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy – some 25,000 light-years away!

Is this God’s plan, eventually, to populate His universe!? It certainly indicates this, that He is going to ‘plant the heavens!’

“ … ‘Lay the foundations of the earth, And say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’”

Friends, God has an awesome plan for us!

Let’s turn to Isaiah chapter 54

Verse 4 – “’ Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth, And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore.’”

Now, it’s as if God is comparing the relationship we have with Him as to the perfect marriage – as He continues – verse 5 – “’ For your Maker is your husband, The LORD of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; HE IS CALLED THE GOD OF THE WHOLE EARTH.’”

Verse 6 – “’ For the LORD has called you Like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, Like a youthful wife when you were refused,’ Says your God. 7) ‘For a mere moment I have forsaken you, But with great mercies I will gather you.’” – speaking of something yet future.

Verse 8 – “’ With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,’ Says the LORD, your Redeemer.”

So, here we’re seeing Scripture which speaks of Almighty God’s plan to regather and reconnect with His people.

Over in Isaiah the 63rd chapter

Verse 7 – “I will mention the lovingkindness of the LORD And the praises of the LORD, According to ALL THAT THE LORD HAS BESTOWED ON US, …”

Now, think – when you read this verse – what God has done for the nations of the United States of America and the United Kingdom and her Commonwealth of nations! For our people, since her inception – “ … And the great goodness toward the house of Israel, …” – friends, we certainly have a blessed land! We’ve had relative peace, prosperity, and blessings beyond comprehension as a people. A great influx of technology, industry, and wealth – and of course this land, the United States, as well as the United Kingdom – of Britain, which includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part, as well as Ireland and the many smaller islands, Scotland, and Wales – has some of the most beautiful places you will ever lay your eyes upon! God has done all of that for ISRAEL!

“ … Which He has bestowed on them according to His mercies, According to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses.”

We – every one of us – should absolutely marvel at the provision which God has given us as nations. We are so blessed. And, we take for granted the enormity of the blessings which we have – compared to human civilizations down through history – we shine as a beacon upon a hill for all to see!

Friends, let’s turn over into the New Testament, to the Book of Luke the 15th chapter, mentioning something which our Lord Jesus Christ said.

Verse 2 – “And the Pharisees and the scribes complained, saying, ‘This Man receives sinners and eats with them.’”

And Jesus spoke this parable to them – verse 4 – “’ What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?’

Verse 5 – “’ And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6) And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7) I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.’

Now, sadly, as it was with the Pharisees and the scribes of Jesus’ day, a great many – including many within the churches of God – continues to structure their religious system to exalt the self-righteous and exclude anyone who does not live up to their arbitrary standards. Instead, teaching such things like, ‘I can’t imagine what it would have been like having grown up in a Protestant household!’ (See cf. Luke 18:10-12). That remark to me is self-righteous and self-centered. And can easily alienate a person – of which God is calling – who was brought up within a Protestant household. We can certainly glean a proper understanding of this parable from our Lord Jesus Christ’s own brother, the apostle James. It’s in James chapter 5, verses 19 and 20

“Brethren, if anyone among you …” – especially someone who was sent by God to you! “ … wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20) let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul [a life] from death and cover a multitude of sins.”

So, I say to you – if you are indeed serving and following Jesus Christ, and if you indeed believe that someone among your church group has ‘wandered from the truth’ – shouldn’t YOU do everything within your power to help that person!? Especially if you are claiming to be a shepherd!? Or, like what has been done to me – and I sadly say, a few times – just throw that person away into the ocean with a millstone around their neck!? But instead many of you – and many of you from and in the churches of God – continue to think of self instead of others.

But I digress. Well, we do certainly have God’s love!

Let’s now turn to the Book of John the 14th chapter.

Verse 21 –“’ He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.’

Verse 23 – “ … ‘If ANYONE loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.’ – so, God moves into our “tabernacle” which we have – our body.

Let’s look at a very proof of Almighty God’s love – turn with me to the Book of Romans the 5th chapter.

Verse 5 – “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit [which] was given to us.” – God the Father and His Son come into us and make Their abode.

Verse 6 – “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.”

And I’ve seen films in which soldiers in a war would actually help save the life of one of their brothers, in any way possible. Every once in a while there is another human being who will die for another human being –

Verse 8 – “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Indeed, God is the personification of true love. And friends, as it happened to me, it too can happen to you - once while I was meditating Almighty God allowed me to feel just a small portion of the love that He has for me, and in my mind whispered, ‘I cannot let you feel all the love I have for you because your physical body wouldn’t be able to handle it.’ And the very next day being baptized and hands laid upon me. Scripture says, ‘Perfect love casts out fear.’ And, it also says that ‘love covers a multitude of sins.’


Let’s turn now to Romans chapter 8

Verse 28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29) For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

Verse 30 – “Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. 31) What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” – a most wonderful thought, isn’t it!?

Verse 32 – “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us ALL, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? – now, what did God the Father give His Son!? Everything! He gives Him all of the heavens!

Almighty God the Father gave His Son also one of the farthest known galaxies ever spotted – the young galaxy A2744_YD4 some 12.3 BILLION light years away! Is not God going to give us that glory at some point!? If He was willing to give up His Son for us all – is He not willing to give us all things with Jesus Christ!? Cf. Romans 8:17.

Verse 33 – “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34) Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”

Friends, every day when we make a mistake and sin, and we get down upon our knees and repent and say, “O’ dear Father, dear Brother, I am terribly sorry for the sins of which I have committed today! And, it’s possible that I’ll commit the same sins again tomorrow, but will You please forgive me today!?” And, our Mediator is sitting there next to God the Father making intercession for us – our High Priest – saying, ‘I understand what it’s like being within that human “tent,” and the terrible temptations which come along. Please forgive him, Father.’ And God does forgive us.

Verse 35 – “WHO shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation [troubles within our life], or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”

Verse 36 – “As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ 37) Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

Verse 38 – “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39) nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

And with that my friends, I close today.

God be with you always. □


Bibliography:

AP., Neanderthals Not Human Ancestors, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2004. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/neanderthals-not-human-ancestors/. Retrieved 24, Nov. 2020.
1) Sagan, C., Cosmos. Random House, New York, © 1980, pp. 30.

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

One God - One Mediator (Sermon)

 


Greetings friends, the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries is pleased to present our latest sermon via our YouTube channel:


One God - One Mediator

1:33:25

The apostle Paul wrote, "For there is ONE GOD AND ONE MEDIATOR between God [the Father] and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom FOR ALL, ..." - 1st Timothy 2:5-6.
When we consider all Jesus is busy doing for us, it becomes clearer than ever that we are saved not by His death, which justified us, but day in and day out by His LIFE, by His activities as our High Priest. He is your Shepherd, your Redeemer, your Counselor, your Light, your Rock, your salvation and defense, as well as your Healer and MEDIATOR!

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'Be Not Ashamed of the Testimony of our Lord!'What a glorious Morning here in Spring Hill, Florida today! I welcome you to the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries. I’m your host Leonard V. Johnson. Already a year has gone by [...]
Prophecy - According To Jesus ChristGood Morning, or Good Afternoon, or Good Evening dearest friends. I thank you for joining us this day at the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries located here in Spring Hill, Florida, [...]
'ought not the Christ to have suffered?'Friends – where in the world have you been!? Have you not been watching the news!?

Monday, November 16, 2020

A Book of the Past - And the Future

 


You can also listen to this article. Click the orange play button below.

Greetings friends around the world! I welcome you Vienna, Austria, Singapore, Croatia, the Philippines, as well as the United States of America. Welcome to the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries! I’m your servant Leonard V. Johnson.

Now, friends, our view count for our website – www.owensborocojc.com – is a little lower this week. Please be sure to invite your friends or a neighbor to visit our webpage and help share this glorious news of Jesus Christ’s living word – this very Book, the glorious Holy Bible!

Friends, this year’s Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day is just behind us now – I was so very looking forward to it – spending some quality time with my sister as well as having a most joyous time at God’s holy Feast. As I’ve mentioned before - I was persecuted by a so-called leader of a group that claims he is obeying God! But he is far from obeying Him! But, let me move on and focus attention on Jesus Christ and His living Word, His Truth, and His Plan of redemption for all mankind. Almighty God and Jesus Christ will – in Their time – take care of this sycophant as well as his cronies. What he deserves he shall receive.

Friends, if you could know the future would you want to know!? And, what would you do with that information!? Well, most would probably try and exploit that information – much like Marty McFly in Back to the Future Part II was going to do in which he traveled into the future and purchased a sports almanac which contained the results of major sporting events from the year 1950 to the year 2000. Of course, his life became a catastrophe because of this knowledge that he had acquired. Now, there have been those who have claimed to know the future. To palm readers, the reading of tarot cards – which my friend Ron McCartney had tried doing with me once – to mind readers, to those who claim they can see the future with their crystal balls or even chicken bones. Now, these psychics or psychotics, these soothsayers, and even self-proclaimed prophets in the religious circles have tried to predict the future. And, I know of one which claims this very thing! He says that he is a prophet from Grover Beach, California and that his group is the remnant of the Philadelphia Church of God and be sure to send your seed of faith offering – in which he gives you his address. And, of course, we know what happens when you do that – you’ll be blessed and have a multiple of money, I say sarcastically. Or, the leader of the organization gets to live the jet-set lifestyle. And it truly saddens me that there are those out in the world claiming that they are a prophet of God – when indeed they are most definitely not.

Well, where would you go – and who would you believe to tell you the truth about the future!? How would you know if you were being told the truth!?

Friends – what about God’s living Word, the Holy Bible!? The Holy Scriptures as many call them!? What does God have to say about the future!? About your future!? The Bible is the inspired word of the Eternal. It was recorded and written down by men who were under the divine inspiration of Almighty God. And God has preserved His words for all of nearly four-thousand years! Now, you will notice that the four so-called “gospels” all have “Amen” at the end, as well as Romans, 1st and 2nd Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippines, Colossians, 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, 1st and 2nd Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, 1st and 2nd Peter, 1st and 2nd John, Jude, as well as the Book of Revelation – and the very word “Amen” means ‘so be it’ sealed with the very confession of the Amen – Jesus Christ! I believe that in the future there may be more added to the Book of Acts. The story of true Christianity as it went forward down through the generations and the apostle John’s writing at the very end of the first century. God’s living word gives moral and ethical lessons for life, your family, your marriage, your business, and just how to treat others! It also shows us how to love, to forgive, to have compassion, to be faithful and honest, and to live a life of righteousness. The Bible describes the past and gives us a history lesson through the eyes of the nation of Israel. It also deals with the present – this 21st century! The very problems we are facing and the solutions – if we want to listen and see what God’s Spirit has to say and to respond.

The Holy Bible also speaks of the future – much of which is yet to be fulfilled. Now, we know that at least 1/3 of the Bible is prophecy that has not yet been fulfilled.

Now, the Book of Revelation – a book of revealing – is largely about the future. And, it gives us information as to what is about to transpire. And its Author is One in which we can truly trust.

Friends, let’s turn in our Bibles to the Book of Revelation the 1st chapter

Here we read of the origin of this great message – and we know that in many Bibles it reads – as it does in the small King James Version I have had since I was twelve years old – “The Revelation of St. John the divine.” However, when you read the very first verse it says – “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” And we know that is where this revelation – or rather the Apocalypse – came from. The unveiling - Jesus Christ!

Verse 1 – “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants – things which must shortly take place. …”

Let’s turn briefly to the 22nd chapter of the Book of Revelation

Verse 6 – some of the closing comments of the Book of Revelation – “Then he said to me, ‘These words are faithful and true.’ And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place.”

And, look what the very next verse says! Verse 7 – “’ Behold, I AM coming quickly! …’ – on three occasions here in this last chapter He says, ‘I AM coming quickly!’ “ … ‘Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.’”

Verse 8 – “Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.”

Now, he had gotten this revelation from an angel, and he fell down to worship the angel, and the angel said – verse 9 – “Then he said to me, ‘See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.’”

This is why it is blasphemous that within Catholicism they pray to angels. True Christians are to obey God’s holy and righteous Law – including the first commandment: “’ You shall have no other gods before Me” – Exodus 20:3 NKJV. Some people will make the blasphemous excuse, “You could go to Jesus alone, but if you pray to Mary, you and the Virgin Mary can go directly to Jesus!” The apostle Paul addresses this very thing around AD 62 – “Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, …” – Colossians 2:18 NKJV. Jesus Christ alone is our Mediator with God the Father! – “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” – 1 Timothy 2:5 NKJV.

Verse 10 – “And he said to me, ‘Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.’”

So, do you recall that Almighty God had revealed to the prophet Daniel some amazing dreams!?

At the very end of the Book of Daniel he writes, “Although I heard, I did not understand.” And the angel said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” And he told him to seal up the prophecies of this book because they are for the time of the end. They are going to be revealed at the time of the end. There was no way that the prophet Daniel would understand the rise and fall of kingdoms and empires which he recorded in the Book of Daniel. He was living – basically – as a prisoner inside the Babylonian Empire. He would have known nothing of the future Roman Empire – that would be brought together centuries later. Yet, he spoke of events that spoke of this great empire.

Turning back to the 1st chapter of the Book of Revelation

Verse 1 – “ … And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John.  2) who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.”

The apostle John saw this whole Book of Revelation unfold to him in a vision, seeing these events he recorded them. And obviously from these chapters from the Book of Revelation the events didn’t happen exactly in the same order in which he recorded them – because there are flashbacks.

Now, listen up! Verse 3 – “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; FOR THE TIME IS NEAR.”

So it tells us to “read” and to “hear” and to “obey.” This indeed is a great challenge to anyone who opens up the Book of Revelation and to see just what Jesus Christ has to say! And friends, let us always remember what the apostle Peter told us not to forget – “But, beloved, DO NOT FORGET THIS ONE THING, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” – 2 Peter 3:8 NKJV. Meaning, our Lord Jesus Christ has – basically – only been gone almost two-days!

I am reminded of Isaiah the 6th chapter – in which the prophet Isaiah wrote, “’ Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.” Just a few weeks ago now my wife and I had some friends come down from Michigan. And there was one who is a member of a “1% Motorcycle Club”  – the Outlaws – who wore a large silver cross around his neck and every other word from his mouth was profane. Now, he was a nice enough guy, entertaining, and a bit braggadocio – a lot like cherry cheesecake, a little bit goes a long way. Saying, “Don’t mistake me for the way I look.”

But here, one of the seraphim flew to prophet Isaiah, “having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar.” And, he touched his mouth with it, and said – “’ Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.” The seraphim telling him, “’ Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive. Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed.’

Here the LORD of hosts is telling the prophet Isaiah, that the majority of the people are going to reject the message. They are not going to “read” or “hear” or “obey.” It is unfortunate – yet is part of the very Plan of the Eternal One.

So here in chapter 1 of the Book of Revelation, we read the origin of this message, and of why it was written, and how it was received – by an angel to the apostle John – and of who recorded it.

Verse 4 – “John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: …” – so, he’s addressing here the seven churches which he will be instructed to write to. Could he have sat down and made seven different copies of this letter!? “ … Grace to you and peace from Him who is and was and who is to come, …” – referring to God the Father! “ … and from the seven spirits [angels] who are before His throne, 5) and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.” – God the Father who is, and who was even before the universe was created – the Ancient of Days – and who is to come! Another proof that God the Father is coming with Jesus Christ. Indeed, we read in chapter 21 in which there will come down from heaven (the atmosphere) a ‘new heaven and a new earth’ and that ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God (Theos – God the Father) is with men, and He will dwell with them.’ And this is what is being described here!

Now, I had underlined ‘the firstborn from the dead,’ because this is indeed a great challenge to most people who read the Book of Revelation because it says in 1st Corinthians and the 15th chapter

Verse 22 – “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”

Now, as I had told the story in “Does God Have Your Attention?” my sister-in-law had asked me why I didn’t believe in “the rapture.” And I began to slowly explain that God’s living word does not speak of a “rapture” – and I began to slowly discuss the truth about death and what happens after death. And within that short discussion, I told her and her girlfriend about the glorious hope of the gospel – the good news of the potentiality of eternal life, the great hope of the resurrection, and of the family of God. My sister-in-law’s best friend who was visiting with her – and who had indulged in a lifestyle which God finds abominable just rolled her eyes and laughed.

Verse 23 – “But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.”

I’m sure this gospel message was such a shock to her! And, I certainly know that it was a great challenge even for a good friend I had which has recently died – he believed and taught reincarnation. He believed that as soon as he died his spirit was going to be reincarnated back into another body. God’s living word does not teach this! Others believe and they teach that as soon as one of their loved ones dies – just like several I’ve recently read via Facebook’s News Feed – that they are “up in heaven” or “they are in a better place.” And the reason they say this is because they believe and teach – as far as they know – their loved one is up in heaven. But, we read such passages as these that Jesus Christ’s saints are going to become ‘firstfruits’ at His coming.

Now, we know that He is “the ruler over the kings of the earth” because Jesus Christ earned the right to be the King of kings and the Lord of lords over all – when He was victorious over Satan the devil having been led up into the wilderness by the Spirit of God, fasting forty days and forty nights having been tempted by the devil. Having been taken up by the devil to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed all the kingdoms of the world at that time and of their splendor – of the kingdoms of Aksum, the Toltec Empire, of Imperial China, of the Roman Empire, and the Persian Dynasty and all the others. And, it wasn’t unlike what we see in our rebellious societies today where people are trying to turn over someone who is trying to live a righteous life – Satan the devil will be there! As he was there this fall Feast with that sycophant so-called leader which became combative with me! But as our Lord Jesus Christ said towards the apostle Peter, “’ Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.’” – Matthew 16:23 NKJV.

Again back to the Book of Revelation chapter 1

“ … To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, …” – of course referring to the fact that sin does have with it a death penalty as well as “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” – Romans 3:23 NKJV. And, of course, “Whoever commits sin also commits LAWLESSNESS, and sin IS LAWLESSNESS” – 1st John 3:4 NKJV. As I have said before – a great many of these worldly churches are not teaching this – because most people don’t even know what sin is!

Verse 6 – “and [who will make us] kings [or rather, a kingdom] and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” – and, of course, chapter 5 says, “’ And [He will make us] kings [or rather a kingdom; even “He made us to be a kingdom”] and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.’”

Now, many people have a problem with these verses! Of course, this is contradictory to what most people have been taught about when they die, or when they supposedly “go to heaven.” The main problem is – that most people believe that a person has an immortal soul (see: Genesis 3:4) which we do not. King David wrote, “Like sheep they are laid in the grave; Death shall feed on them” – Psalm 49:14 NKJV. Even the prophet Job, in his hypophora question, “’ If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, Till my change comes’” – Job 14:14 NKJV. And, in the previous verse, “’ Oh, that You would hide me in the grave, That You would conceal me until Your wrath [of course speaking here of the great and terrible Day of the LORD] is past, That You would appoint me a set time, and remember me!” “You shall call, and I will answer You.” And, even our Lord and Savior says in the Book of John three separate times, “’ I will raise him up at the last day [on the resurrection day, the LAST TRUMP!].’” “ … For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven [the atmosphere] with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet [the SEVENTH TRUMPET CALL]. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds [in the atmosphere] to meet the Lord in the air.” Friends – of all the funerals that I have been to these past five decades where were these passages!? Instead, the most popular teaching amongst the churches of this world is – “[He/She] has found rest in heaven. [Name of deceased] was a child of God and now [he/she] is enjoying eternity in paradise with [his/her] Savior.”

And, continuing – verse 7 – “Behold, He is coming with clouds, …” – another problem with many people! Jesus Christ is going to descend from ‘low earth orbit’ where there are clouds! “ … and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him [meaning the seventh resurrection of the “Holy” Roman Empire] …” – and in the Book of Zechariah the 14th chapter it says, “And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east.” – v. 4 NKJV. And as we know the Book of Acts the first chapter says, “ …’ This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven [the atmosphere], will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven [the atmosphere].’” Jesus Christ’s very feet are going to stand on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem! “ … And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.” – and we read in Jeremiah chapter 30 – “’ Ask now, and see, Whether a man is ever in labor with child? So why do I see every man with his hands on his loins Like a woman in labor, And all faces turned pale?” – v. 6 NKJV. Because the people just can’t believe what their eyes are seeing – and as we’ve said many times, that when the throne of God, when New Jerusalem, begins to return to this earth, at some point it will be a little small light in the night sky. And the next night it will be a little brighter – like the star Sirius. And then, it becomes more and more obvious – and people will look up and go, “What is that!?” Now, most of the people of the world will think it’s –and they truly will – an invading alien force.

Verse 8 – “’ I AM the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,’ says the Lord, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’

So friends, here we see that this Book – this revelation – is from Almighty God and from our Lord Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ is indeed the Almighty! The awesome prophecy in the Book of Isaiah the 9th chapter says that He would inherit the throne! Let’s turn there to the Book of Isaiah and read this very thing!

The Book of Isaiah the 9th chapter

Verse 6 – “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7) Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even FOREVER. …”

Now, when the angel Gabriel was sent by God to Mary, he told her that she was going to ‘bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great,’ and that Kýrios Theos – meaning the Master God; God the Father – will give Him the throne of His father David.’ Again, there are so many people who take issue with that! Now, of course, we know that King David was from the tribe of JUDAH. God’s living word clearly shows us who He is, who He was, and how He came to be through the promises which God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel – and Jacob’s sons, one of which was Judah. As it says in the Book of Genesis chapter 49 – “The scepter shall not depart from Judah” – v. 10 NKJV. I speak more of this in the article “Prophecy – According to Jesus Christ.” Telling us that there was going to be a line of kings down through the generations and that eventually the Savior would be born.

So, keep in mind that the Book of Revelation indeed speaks of what was, what is, and what will be in the future.

Let’s turn and look at what was – first. In the Book of Daniel the 2nd chapter – and in fact, we have a series of free no-obligation online booklets written by Minister Michael C. Garrett which covers the Book of Daniel in great detail. Be sure to check those three booklets out! But, here, I just want to briefly go over this. I want to cover what an incredible dream that King Nebuchadnezzar II had – and the prophet Daniel was invited to come and interpret it. King Nebuchadnezzar II saw in his dream this great image – with ‘a head of gold, the breast and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.’

Hand-colored engraving, possibly 19th century, after the first excavations in the Assyrian capitals – the Hanging Gardens of Babylon with the Tower of Babel in the background.

Verse 37 – “’ You, O king, are a king of kings. …’” – the prophet Daniel speaking to King Nebuchadnezzar II. “ … ‘For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory.’” – and he was indeed the longest-reigning and most powerful monarch of the Neo-Babylonian Empire!

Verse 38 – “’ and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all – you are this head of gold.’” – so notice that the prophet Daniel tells King Nebuchadnezzar II that it was God that made him ruler over the earth – He allowed him to be a ruler. So, this gold head upon this ‘great image’ represented the great Babylonian Empire or the Babylonian-Assyrian civilization.

Verse 39 – “’ But after you shall arise another kingdom …’”

And we know from our history books that after the fall of the Babylonian Empire in 539 BC the Persians - or rather the Achaemenid Empire - came in and subjugated the Babylonians – and according to the book World Civilizations – “The first of the real conquests of Cyrus was the kingdom of Lydia, which occupied the western half of Asia Minor and was separated from the lands of the Medes only by the Halys River, in what is now northern Turkey. Perceiving the ambitions of the Persians, Croesus, the famous Lydian king, determined to wage a preventive war to preserve his own nation from conquest. He formed alliances with Egypt and Sparta and then consulted the Greek oracle at Delphi as to the advisability of an immediate attack. According to Herodotus, the oracle replied that if he would cross the Halys and assume the offensive he would destroy a great army. He did, but that army was his own. His forces were completely overwhelmed, and his prosperous little kingdom was annexed as a province of the Persian state. Seven years later, in 539 BC, Cyrus took advantage of discontent and conspiracies in the Chaldean empire to capture the city of Babylon.” 1 So, in June of that year the Babylonian army was completely defeated at Opis, and immediately afterward Sippara opened its gates. The governor of Media was sent to Babylon, which surrendered “without fighting.” In October, King Cyrus the Great of Persia arrived. So, the historians understand – it’s a fact of our history – the great kingdom to follow was the Persian Empire. So, within the very pages of God’s living word, we have the history of the Neo-Babylonian Empire and the Medo-Persian Empire.

“ … ‘a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over the earth.’”

Well, what happened to the Medo-Persian Empire!? Again, from history, we know that along came the Greco-Macedonian Empire under King Alexander the Great. He conquered almost all of the known world of his day! In the winter of 330 BC, at the Battle of the Persian Gate – today’s city of Yasuj in Iran – Aribarzanes led a last stand against the forces of King Alexander the Great. He then hurried to Persepolis before its garrison could loot the treasury. Alexander III of Macedon and his kingdom within God’s living word is called a leopard – because the king would attack with blitzkrieg precision.

Verse 40 – “’ And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, …’”

And once again, from our world history, we know that King Alexander the Great died in 323 BC at the age of 32. And after some 40-years of war between “the successors,” the Hellenistic world settled into four separate power blocs: Ptolemaic, Seleucid Mesopotamia and Central Asia, Attalid Anatolia, and Antigonid Macedon (recall – Daniel 7:6; “’ After this I looked and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back FOUR WINGS of a bird. …”). But notice what comes next – “’ the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron.’” – legs of iron. The Roman Empire.

“ … ‘inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything’ …”

Verse 41 – “’ Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; …’”

And again we know that the Roman Empire would come to be ruled by multiple emperors who shared rule over the Western Roman Empire (based in Milan, later Ravenna) and over the Eastern Roman Empire (also called the Byzantine Empire based in Constantinople).

“ … ‘yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay.’”

Verse 42 – “’ And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile.’” - so, this kingdom does stick together, but it’s not very strong.

Verse 43 – “’ As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.’”

Verse 44 – “’ And in the days of these kings …’” – so now we’re being transported into time all the way down to the very last kingdom. “ … ‘the God of heaven will set up a kingdom …’”

This is a prophecy here that spans from roughly c. 562 BC with King Nebuchadnezzar II all the way to the glorious second coming of Jesus Christ! An incredible amount of time is covered in only a few verses.

“ … ‘which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.’”

King Nebuchadnezzar II saw in his dream a ‘stone cut out of the mountain without hands, and broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold’ – smashing this great image on its feet and the whole image came crashing down! “And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth” – Daniel 2:35 NKJV. What was that representing!?

Verse 45 – “’ Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold – the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.’”

Friends, God’s word is pure – cf. Proverbs 30:5. God’s word is truth – cf. John 17:17. And, I had asked: where would you go – and who would you believe to tell you the truth about the future!? This portion of the Book of Daniel is talking about the future! Talking about the second coming of Jesus Christ! Talking about that His kingdom will destroy and consume all of this world’s kingdoms – including the final beast power.

So, if we turn over a few pages to the 7th chapter of the Book of Daniel – this prophecy here concerns the history of mankind and the emergence of a dominant end-time beast power that will be extant at the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Now, friends, it would be remiss for me not to say  – I couldn’t possibly cover everything that needs to be said in this short article. Because what truly needs to be taught would take hours to read – there is a lot of information here. There’s a lot of IMPORTANT information that needs to be told and portrayed. Friends, the whole of our peoples – the United States of America, the United Kingdom and the Common Wealth nations, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa as well as all the Western democracies of Europe! They need to hear this message from Jesus Christ! This is a message of the past, the present, and the future.

Here the prophet Daniel in a dream and in visions saw these four world-ruling empires portrayed as beasts.

Now, contrary to some – the first beast was the great Babylonian Empire which was ‘like a lion, and had eagle’s wings.’ The second beast was the Medo-Persian Empire which was ‘like a bear.’ The third beast was the Greco-Macedonian Empire under King Alexander the Great which was ‘like a leopard.’

And then – verse 7 – “’ After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; …’” – the same description we just read back in the 2nd chapter of Daniel.

Verse 8 – “’ I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, …’”

Now, this ‘little horn’ is a tremendous world power – of which just here recently endorsed same-sex civil “marriage.” Its effect has been upon Europe since roughly AD 500. This is the papacy. The very heart and core of that “MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”

“ … ‘before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.’”

Now, going back to the 7th verse the prophet Daniel says, “’ It was different from all the beasts that were before it and it had ten horns.’”

Well, friends, those ‘ten horns’ – this seventh revival of the “Holy” Roman Empire, which hasn’t occurred yet – it’s on the horizon, it’s near, but it has not yet occurred – would consist of ten kings or ten kingdoms. Kingdoms in which God sees kingdoms.

As Minister Michael C. Garrett writes:

“The next revival has not yet occurred, but folks it’s not too far down the road! And the question comes, What will cause this empire to come about!? What coalesces Europe to become this United Europe!? You think about Europe right now as a secular state, they’re Socialistic in their tendencies, leftist in their policies. They really aren’t that united, they squabble a lot. And yet something is going to happen that will cause all of Europe to gravitate around a great “holy” man and a great religious leader.”

(Garrett, M.C. “Prophecy Series – the Final Empire!” 2019, pp. 20).

Now, I feel that it’s IMPORTANT to point out here – many believe and teach of an end-time “one-world government.” This is not what this is teaching us. That is a part of that Left Behind - Far-Right evangelical conservative garbage! God’s living word DOES NOT DESCRIBE THAT! This is referring to a reorganized and revitalized concept of the “Holy” Roman Empire. Countries in Europe unifying in the end times. The ‘kings from the east’ or rather ‘kingdoms from the east’ also called ‘the king of the South’ (see Daniel 11:9, 11; Rev. 16:12) will be united under a totally different religion. The religion of Islam. And that means North Africa, the Middle East, and over in areas like Iraq and Afghanistan, Iran. There will not be a “one-world government”! Because these two groups of people hate each other so badly they’re trying to kill each other!

So, basically in a nutshell – Revelation the 13th chapter speaks of two great beasts! One is a mighty European military power that will consist of this ten kingdom combine. And it’s going to be ruled over by a second beast that is a tremendous world religious system – which is world-renowned. And God’s living word describes this beast which has two horns like a lamb but speaks as a dragon as a woman arrayed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls sitting upon a scarlet beast. This false religious system will actually hold sway over the greatest European military and economic power in this soon-coming end time!

So, this ‘little horn’ – who will be in charge of this end-time final European 'beast power' – “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 (as this 'little horn' performs “great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men”- see Rev. 13:11-17 NKJV) that he is God” – this 'little lamb' becomes, basically, like a rock star! A little man, very timid in appearance and stature, and even in his physical ability. This end-time final European 'beast power,' with pompous words, speaks “against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven” – see Rev. 13:6 NKJV.

But then friends, the prophet Daniel flashes forward in time.

Verse 9 – “’ I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire.’”

Verse 10 – “’ A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court [the judgment] was seated, And the books were opened.’” –now, this word “books” is biblion. And the word, “Bible” is derived from the Greek word, “biblion”, which means book. Now, at this juncture, I had called Minister Garrett over the phone and spoke with him at length - just to double-check that what I would teach here is correct. Mr. Garrett is not only a great spiritual teacher, but he’s a great mentor.

This great ten thousand times ten thousand (what the apostle John called ‘the dead, small and great, standing before God’ – speaking of a number so great it is impossible to count) which were dead and have now been brought back to life – one of the first things which they will be given are Holy Bibles. And, friends, we’re speaking of a massive group of people – practically everyone who has ever lived – who never knew the TRUTH OF GOD. Or rather, never had enough knowledge or understanding to be responsible. All these people, after living their life and dying – at this time of the conclusion of the millennial reign of Christ – are brought back to life. As human beings. All these people will have a second chance to live, they will have their Holy Bible – and then they will be judged according to their works and how they lived their life. Their humility or their resistance to Almighty God and Jesus Christ.

Then, returning to this ‘little horn.’

Verse 11 – “’ I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast [this end-time European leader] was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame.’”

Now, the apostle John – in the Book of Revelation – says that one of the very first things which Jesus Christ is going to do upon His return is to take the beast and the false prophet and cast them alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone – cf. Revelation 19:20-21.

Verse 13 – “’ I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! …’” – well friends here it is! Just like we just read in our Lord and Savior’s own words – “’ Behold, I AM coming quickly! …’

“ … ‘He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.’”

Now, notice this! Verse 14 – “’ Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. …’”

Now, are there languages and people and nations in the upper heavenly realms – what the Bible calls the ‘third heaven’!? This is talking about – on this very EARTH! He is going to rule this earth ‘with a rod of iron’ it tells us!

The Book of Isaiah tells us – “’ For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I [the LORD God] will make shall remain before Me,’ says the LORD, ‘So shall your descendants and your name remain.’” And our LORD God goes on to say, and you can find this in the Book of Isaiah the 66th chapter – “’ And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another [meaning, from one annual feast season to another feast season], And from one Sabbath to another, ALL FLESH shall come to worship before Me,’ says the LORD.”

Turning back to Isaiah the 11th chapter, beginning in verse 10

“’ And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, [JESUS CHRIST; also a reference to King David], who shall stand as [an ensign] to the people; …’” - A signal to them, a BEACON. “’ For the Gentiles shall seek Him,’” – because, in the end, the Gentiles will want to come to Jerusalem to learn the Truth of God.

Verse 11 – “’ It shall come to pass in that day [meaning, the dreadful and terrible Day of the LORD] That the Lord shall set His hand again the second time To recover the remnant of His people who are left, ….”

The physical people of Israel, AFTER the return of Jesus Christ, will be brought back to their homes, their ancestral home – the land PROMISED to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – and there they will be assembled into a new nation, the new nation of ISRAEL. And there they will have an army, and those physical human beings – all of the tribes of Israel, except the tribe of Dan – guided by their Ensign Jesus Christ, guided by their ensign the resurrected King David, will go forth and will destroy the heathen, which are around them. THIS IS A PART OF THE WORD OF GOD AND THE PLAN OF GOD!

Now, is it possible that this GATHERING begins very near the time of the blowing of the Seventh Trump!?

Turn with me again to the Book of Daniel chapter 12, verse 5

“Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank. 6) And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, ‘How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?’

And the answer – Verse 7 – “ Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, 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”

And something to think about – and I had mentioned this very thing in the article ‘Tell My People Their Sins’ - just before the blowing of the SEVENTH TRUMP very few saints of God will be left. There will come a time when the LORD our God cannot find ten righteous people! As ‘this generation’ continues many of these cities the cup of their iniquity becomes full. And the LORD God has no choice but to exact judgment upon that nation. It is something to ponder.

This final end-time beast power will be at his pinnacle at the time of the Return of Jesus Christ.

In the Book of Daniel the 10th chapter – this kingdom will be holding sway over the nations of the world – especially a United States of Europe and the subjugated Western nations at the Return of Jesus Christ. Let’s read of this here in verse 12

“Then he [this mighty angel of the LORD] said to me, ‘Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before God, your words were heard; … 14) Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people IN THE LATTER DAYS, …’”

And then he proceeds, of course, to tell the prophet Daniel what was going to happen after the Neo-Babylonian Empire, after the Persian Empire, after the Greco-Macedonian Empire along with its division into fourths.

Now, as I had mentioned earlier briefly – when King Alexander the Great died his four generals split the kingdom up into four quarters. One was to the north – Assyria. One was to the east – Iran, and Iraq. Another was to the south – Egypt. And one toward the west – Rome. Now, as history would report, two kings sort of faded away. However, the kings which were in the north and the south became predominate and warred against each other down through the decades – of the Seleucid line and the other a lesser line of pharaohs called the Ptolemies of Egypt. These two fought, and Daniel’s prophecy goes back and forth how they fought with one another – and eventually, the ‘king of the north’ actually went down and attacked Egypt. And if you know – his name was Antiochus IV Epiphanes. He tried invading Egypt, but he failed. The Roman Empire had emerged as a great empire at that time and they encountered him and stopped him from invading Egypt. He returned from Egypt defeated in 168 BC, enraged; he attacked Jerusalem and executed many Jews – something like 40,000 people lost their lives! He also entered the temple and sacrificed a swine – which was a desecration.

Now, we read of this in the Book of Daniel chapter 11

Verse 29 – “’ At the appointed time he [speaking here of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, and later a secondary fulfillment] shall return and go toward the south; but it shall not be like the former or the latter. 30) For ships from Cyprus shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return in rage against the holy covenant, and do damage. … 31) And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, …’” – he, indeed, did do that! “ … ‘and place there the abomination of desolation.’” – which was a monument to this Jupiter Olympus or maybe Zeus.

Verse 32 – “’ Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people [and a secondary fulfillment - the end-time prophets] who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.’”

‘great exploits’ – see Revelation 11:1-12.

Verse 33 – “’ And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; …’”

Now, this indeed happened anciently – approximately 168 or 167 BC. But the Book of Daniel as well as the Book of Revelation also speaks of the future. Recall, the angel of the LORD said, “’ I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people IN THE LATTER DAYS.’” So, there is a secondary fulfillment of this very prophecy. So, this very thing actually did take place – as did the utter destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 led by the future emperor of Rome – Titus. But, there will be a future fulfillment of this prophecy, in which a “man of sin” as the apostle Paul says in 2nd Thessalonians who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God sitting himself in the temple of God, claiming that he is God! He is going to set himself up in a newly built third temple, desecrate the temple, and will call himself God.

Verse 36 – “’ Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath [meaning, the Day of the LORD] has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. 37) He shall regard neither the God of his fathers …’” – he will possibly be an atheist. “ …’ nor the desire of women, …’” – could this be a reference to the fact that he will be a homosexual!? “ …’ nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all.’”

Verse 40 – “’ At the time of the end the king of the South …’” – and as I’ve said, a combination of nations under Islam, such as North Africa, the Middle East, and over in areas like Iraq and Afghanistan, Iran. “ …’ shall attack him; and the king of the North …’” – this reorganized and revitalized concept of the “Holy” Roman Empire. 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. “ …’ shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through.’”

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). Now, friends, we have a free no-obligation online booklet entitled “Prophecy Series – The Last Crusade” in which Minister Michael C. Garrett discusses 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 here that most of the invasion into the Middle East will be across the Mediterranean Sea.

Verse 41 – “’ He shall also enter the Glorious Land [Palestine], and many countries shall be overthrown; …’”

So, we know that this end-time ‘king of the South’ is going to push against the end-time ‘king of the North.’ Now, the question can be asked – what could this end-time ‘king of the South’ do to antagonize this end-time ‘king of the North’ so much that it would cause him to move into the land of Palestine!?

Well, look what it says, verse 41 – “ …’ but [initially] these shall escape from his hand: Edom [Turkey], Moab [Iraq], and the prominent people of Ammon [Jordan].’” – these he will not invade. At least not initially.

Verse 42 – “’ He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape.’” – so that northern/eastern section of Africa.

So, we have this northern European military invading Palestine and he is going to include Egypt. Why!? Well, because of oil. And if those Islamic nations collectively would have a common power, and they decide to control the oil, or the price of oil – which did occur, remember the 1973 Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries!? – would this end-time final ‘king of the South’ try and keep oil from Europe!? Would not this end-time final European ‘beast power’ not invade into those Islamic lands and take over the oil – fulfilling this very prophecy!?

I noticed this today in the news and shared it on our Twitter -

Verse 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 [speaking of North Africa, possible India, and Pakistan] shall follow at his heels.’”

Verse 44 – “’ 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 in Egypt, comes up from the south, enter 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.’ So, 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.’

Verse 45 – “’ And he [the king of the North – the false prophet and the beast power] shall plant the [tabernacle] of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain [Jerusalem]; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.’”

So, if you could read the future – would you want to know it!?

Friends, today, you have looked into the living Word of the Eternal God and read what He has revealed to us about the immediate future.

There is a question which remains – what are you going to do with this valuable information which you now possess!? I pray that you will HEED THIS WARNING, LISTEN, and UNDERSTAND the final outcome of ‘this generation.’ And to know that we do have a glorious Savior – Jesus Christ of Nazareth – that is coming to this E A R T H to rule forever and ever!

And I pray that you will be a part of this great Plan of God! May God be with you always.

Until next time, goodbye. ■


Bibliography:

1) Burns M. E. and Ralph P., World Civilizations Fifth Edition, Vol. I, The Mesopotamian and Persian Civilizations, W.W. Norton & Co., New York, © 1974, pp. 69.