Personal From... There Should Be Delay No Longer

Leonard V. Johnson     About

I was perusing Facebook this early morning, and I noticed that Minister Guy had posted a photo of the front cover of a magazine while it was sitting perched in a magazine rack at Lowe’s – for all the world to see! A blasphemous magazine titled Witches! However, it’s not witches I wish to speak about here – they are just a means to an end that Satan the Devil uses at his disposal. It did, however, make me immediately think of Revelation chapter 10.

     A mighty vision that the apostle John was experiencing while being confined on the Island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea.

     In the 10th chapter of Revelation, down in verse 6 – “and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer, …” – meaning, it’s the end of man’s rule!

     I believe it’s important in this Personal to go over again with all of you God’s living TRUTH in this matter. Not too many ministers have tried to talk about this important subject of this “little book” which is open in the hand of a mighty angel. I do know of one false minister in Edmund, Oklahoma who believes that it was he who wrote this “little book”! Well, this “little book” isn’t written by any human being─ it’s written by the LORD God!

     Let us go through Revelation chapter 10 and like Paul Harvey always said, let us see The Rest of the Story.

     Verse 1 - “I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.”

     This mighty being here is described as an angel. But it is also describing characteristics that we read about of our Lord Jesus Christ! There are some which question as to whether it is our Lord. I, personally, do not believe it is speaking of our Lord Jesus Christ. This mighty angel, certainly an archangel, is a representative of Christ. Let us recall in the Book of Luke when an angel had told the priest Zacharias, ‘Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will also go before Christ in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children.’’ And Zacharias in essence asked the angel, ‘How do you know that I am going to have a son?’ And the angel answered, “’I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God.’” So, we have this description of a mighty angel which has a rainbow about his head, his face shining as it was the sun, his feet as it were like a pillar of fire – or even as it were “like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace.”

     Verse 2 – “He had a little book in his hand. …”

     Again, this “little book” is not written by some human being! This “little book” is written by the LORD God! And here, the apostle John – it surely reminds us of the prophet Ezekiel, in which he saw a vision of God, which said to him, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.’ … 9) Now when I [prophet Ezekiel] looked, there was a hand stretched out to me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10) Then He spread it before me; … 3:1) Moreover He said to me, ‘Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, …” – Ezekiel 2:1, 9-10; 3:1. And when he looked upon the scroll there was writing on the inside and on the outside – covered with lamentations and mourning and woe. Friends, it was not a comforting bedtime story which the prophet Ezekiel was reading!

     What so many of our peoples around the world may not realize is that this “little book” contains some of the prophetic events which are going to immediately take place just before the SEVENTH TRUMP is to be blown! The SEVENTH TRUMP is the RESURRECTION TRUMPET!

     Sadly, the remnant churches of God continue to teach as gospel a little red booklet which was written in 1972 entitled The Key to the Book of Revelation─ and also, sadly, they seem to swear by it. To this very day a great many people continue to be hung up with their early teachings, their training, from a man─ who in many ways, and yet, in all candor, and in all honesty, I’ve come to realize that in many of the things which he taught he just simply didn’t have it down correctly. Of course I love and respect him. As an example which Minister Michael C. Garrett has given us before─ in the early years of the Church of God it was taught (as doctrine) that all aborted babies were lost. They had no chance to ever be resurrected. Because, as they said, “They had not received the breath of life.” Like a large majority of Mr. Armstrong’s doctrines, this too was “borrowed” from Protestant groups. We, of course, do not believe nor teach this. It’s WRONG! It’s not correct! The – according to a 2022 article by Fox News – over 63 MILLION babies aborted since Roe vs Wade will live again! Along with all the untold millions around the world that are aborted for one reason or another.

     The majority of the thousands of remnant churches of God will not, or they will refuse to see Revelation chapter 10 in this way – even including many Protestant church groups. Yet, as the LORD God says – through the prophet Daniel – “Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, ‘My lord, what shall be the end of these things?’” And the great archangel Michael says, “Many shall be purified, made white, and REFINED, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.” So many from the early Church of God continue to say, “I don’t want to learn any more than I did in 1972! ─ don’t confuse me!”

     “ … And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land.”

     This obviously is showing that the LORD God now has all authority over the whole earth – “the sea and the land.”

     Verse 3 – “and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices.”

     These “seven thunders” being – even though this is very poetic figurative language – we have to believe is referring to seven angelic beings.

     Verse 4 – “Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.”

     These “seven thunders” ─ the Greek word translated “thunder” means “to roar” ─ are crying out for the LORD God’s judgment to come upon the sinful nations of the earth. And this thunder represents the very voice of the LORD God –

     “The LORD thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered His voice, Hailstones and coals of fire” – Psalm 18:13.

     Friends, it’s very probable that the reason why the LORD God sealed up the things which the seven thunders uttered is because they are simply too terrifying to record!

     Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself says to us –

     “’ men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken’” – Luke 21:26.

     Surely the majority of our peoples think that means meteorites and comets striking the earth. And this will indeed occur at some point in time. However, we contend that this means that Satan the Devil and his demons will be expunged from the atmosphere of the earth. Recall, once our Lord Jesus says, “’ I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.’”? There will be a great spiritual war we’re told in the Book of Revelation as well as in the Book of Daniel – “At that time Michael shall stand up” – Michael the great archangel, and all of his subordinate angels will directly engage in spiritual warfare with Satan and his demons. And Michael and all the holy angels will be victorious! And Satan and his demons will no longer be allowed in the atmosphere, but will be confined upon the earth. We believe this is what is meant here.

     And speaking of Satan the Devil and his minions being “cast to the earth” ─ when it comes to UFOs─ even though I believe that the majority of UFO sightings are simply mistaken identity, only about 2-5% of all UFO sightings are truly unidentified objects in the sky─ 1 how can any physical object, no matter how old an “advanced race” (which is based wholly on evolution) becomes, defy the laws of physics!? Truly, this is more spiritual than natural.

     Author Gary Bates summarizes –

     “They [UFOs] are already here. Some way and somehow they appear to be emanating from our own planet. They are visible yet do not seem to be real physical objects. In other words, they do not seem to be bound by the same physical laws as the rest of our material/natural world.” 2

     Since the very beginning of the world, Satan the Devil and his followers have been deceiving people into believing there is no true LORD God, becoming the “god of this age” having blinded those “who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them” – 2 Corinthians 4:4.

     And what an ingenious way! Satan and his demons want to confuse people and keep them from having the gospel of Christ to shine upon them. What better way to confuse an advanced technological world ─ than truly an evolutionary humanistic religion, called UFO religion.

This Whole World Has Been Deceived!

Our mortal and spiritual enemy, Satan the Devil, is doing his job very well!

     Soon, the prophesied “end-time prophets” will come on the scene. Throughout our history, many peoples were martyred doing God’s true work – and in the very near future, there will be many more martyred – a group of “end-time prophets” who go out throughout the world as a witness to all nations and preach the living gospel message – the kingdom of God. But first ─

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

     Now, I guess there could be different interpretations. It is possible that this represents a false religion gaining great strength and world prestige again –the Mother Church of Europe – which has plunged this world into numerous world wars!

     Notice –

     “ …’ Take heed that no one deceives you. 5) For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many’” – Matthew 24:4-5.

     “When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, ‘Come and see.’ 4) Another HORSE, FIERY RED, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword” – Revelation 6:3-4.

     This is our Lord Jesus Christ suggesting the prophecy of the prophet Daniel in chapter 11. A direct reference to a final holy war between the end-time Catholic United States of Europe (‘king of the North’) and the Islamic confederation of nations (‘king of the South’) – cf. Daniel 11:40; Revelation 9:13-16.

     Notice –

     “’ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. …’” – Matthew 24:7a.

     Religious motivated militancy and aggression often lead to war. And wars often lead to number three.

     “When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, ‘Come and see.’ So I looked, and behold, a BLACK HORSE, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6) And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, ‘A quart of wheat for a denarius [which was approximately one day’s wage for a worker!], and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.’” – Revelation 6:5-6.

     The black horse of FAMINE. So here the food is very scarce. Your food is being measured out on a scale in very small quantities – like a cup of wheat. Not enough food to sustain one’s family let alone themselves! And, not only the purchase of wheat but also of barley.

     Notice –

     “ … ‘And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places’” – Matthew 24:7b.

     “When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, ‘Come and see.’ 8) So I looked, and behold, a PALE HORSE. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades [the grave] followed him. And power was given to them over A FOURTH OF THE EARTH, to kill with SWORD, with HUNGER, with DEATH, and by the beasts of the earth” – Revelation 6:7-8.

     So, it is as if death and the grave are personified here with this being which is sitting upon this pale horse.

     You take 8 billion people – we’re talking about 2 billion people are going to die as a result of these events here! And I know this is horrible news! Again, when the prophet Ezekiel saw what was written on that scroll, it was lamentations and mourning and woe.” – cf. Ezekiel 2:9-10.

     The majority of the Anglo-Saxon-dominated nations will be affected – which are the end-time descendants of Israel, also prophetically referred to as Israel (cf. Genesis 48).

     Notice –

     “’ All these are the beginning of sorrows’” – Matthew 24:8.

     Friends, a great many of our peoples continue to get wrong the timing of these prophetic events.

     Notice that our Lord Jesus now changes His focus to the “end-time prophets,” He says, “’ Then …’”

     “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held” – Revelation 6:9. This, of course, is allegorical language.

     “’ Then they will deliver you …’” – here pertaining mostly to the final “end-time prophets” – cf. Revelation 11. “ ‘… up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10) And then many will be offended, will betray one another. 11) Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12) And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold’” – Matthew 24:9-12.

     And they – possibly twelve final end-time prophets (though God's living word does not say) – will be given power from God Almighty and Jesus Christ to begin prophesying – testifying - to kings, to world rulers, to the captured and subjugated elect of God, to a great religious leader and political leader – standing before the god of the earth (Satan the devil) – WARNING for 3 ½ years!

     Notice –

     “’ And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world AS A WITNESS to all the nations, AND THEN THE END WILL COME’” – Matthew 24:14.

     His very next word, “’ Therefore …’” is used to clarify the relationship between the previous – verses 9-14 – and smooth His transition from one thought to the next – verses 15-22.

     We end up back with “there should be delay no longer”!

The Great DECEIVER!

This great DECEIVER who has deceived the whole world has sent out his messengers with soft and often charismatic words─ their devious ruse designed to take advantage of desperate people, corrupting the living word of God for filthy lucre. To soothe the people of earth into thinking all is well.

     Of course our Lord Jesus Christ has warned us of these –

     “’ Beware of false prophets [false ministers], who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves’” – Matthew 7:15.

     And in order for Satan the Devil and his followers to deceive the whole world he has used every means available to him. According to a 2023 article by Billboard, Satanism is on the rise! “Whether it's Lil Nas X pole-dancing into hell or Sam Smith sporting devil horns at the Grammys, outrage at queer artists using Satanic imagery has been on the rise as of late.” Also, according to a 2022 US Today Times article: According to census data, Satanism and devil worship are on the rise.

     “One of the most surprising findings of the 2021 census when collecting its data on religion is the rapid rise of Satanism.

     The number of people in England and Wales who identified themselves as Satanists increased by 167 percent between 2011 and 2021. Office for National Statistics (ONS) researchers found that the number of Satanists increased from 1,893 to 5,054 over that ten-year period.”

     Certainly with such seemingly innocuous movies as the Harry Potter franchise, along with a plethora of teenage witch television shows geared towards children, this doesn’t come as any surprise!

     As Minister Guy LaMar stated in his post – “the EVIL one is making a showing big time”!

     Why!?

     Because he knows that his time is growing short – cf. Revelation 12:12. □

1) Gary Bates. Alien Intrusion. Updated and Expanded Edition. (Powder Springs: Creation Book Publishers, 2004). Pg. 16.

2) Ibid. 156.