Who or What Is the Beast That Rises Up Out of the Bottomless Pit?

WHO or WHAT is this “beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition”? – Revelation 13 and 17.

The LORD God is speaking concerning a great universal church that has greatly influenced this world.

Revelation 17:1 – “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, ‘Come, I will show you the judgment of the great [whore] who sits on many waters, ...’”

This ‘great whore’ is universal. Around the world.

Verse 2 – “’ with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.’ 3) So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.”

The seven resurrections of the “Holy” Roman Empire. The final resurrection of ten kings or kingdoms (kingdoms as the LORD God sees kingdoms).

Verse 4 – “The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, ...”

What do the colors purple and scarlet remind you of? Harlotry and the colors of the great universal church ── the Roman Catholic Church.

“...and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. 5) And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS [the Mother of prostrating daughters], AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6) I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.”

And this phrase here, “the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints.” The Catholic Church’s willingness to shed blood.

A Book About the Kingdom of Israel

God’s living word──the Holy Bible──is primarily an inspired Book about one man’s family – that of Abraham. But, it’s also a Book about the chosen nation of Israel and the nations that come into direct contact with the nation of Israel.

Before the great Flood, we do not know if there were “nations,” “kingdoms,” or “city-states.” However, not long after the great Flood, Nimrod (a mighty hunter against the LORD) founded the city-states of Babylon – see: Genesis 10:8-12.

As early as 4000 B.C. – the most ancient civilization which began in the Tigris-Euphrates valley was formerly called the Babylonian-Assyrian civilization. And by about 605 B.C. King Nebuchadnezzar II had founded the first world empire or Union of Nations.

Incredibly, God’s living word reveals to us the history and prophecy of the gentile world empires──beginning with King Nebuchadnezzar II and onto the glorious and powerful Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ──as well as the history and future prophecy concerning Israel.

Again, Who or What is this mysterious “beast” of Revelation 13 and 17? Because, if you have this “mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” you will ‘share in her sins, and will receive of her plagues.’ Is this “beast” a mysterious ruler that is yet to appear on the world scene? Is this “beast” an antichrist, or a church?

Its Image and Its Mark

A MOST IMPORTANT question for this 11:59 Hour is, What, or Who, is the ‘beast,’ the ‘image,’ and the ‘mark’ of this “beast”? You need to know.

It is those in this present ‘generation’ who shall be worshiping this “beast” or its image, and who have this “mark of the beast” who will suffer unspeakable tribulation!

And ignorance will not suffice. The LORD God says, “’ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. …’” – Hosea 4:6.

We, as watchmen, who see the “sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.” – Ezekiel 33:6. The LORD God expects us to be His “watchman” (Ezekiel 33:7) and to WARN HIS PEOPLE!

On November 6th, 2016, while I lay in my bed at night I had a dream, and behold: I was looking up at the clearest night sky I had ever seen before, filled with crystal clear bright shining stars. I watched the glistening of the stars until I heard a loud booming voice. It appeared to be the end of a conversation. The voice spoke, “They only have 10 years left.” The time is at hand! The wrath of God will soon be poured out upon a Godless, God-defying world, and a careless, lukewarm, indifferent false Christianity!

The apostle John──under the divine inspiration of the Spirit of God──describes for us a grave warning from the third angel: “’ If ANYONE worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his FOREHEAD or on his HAND, 10) he himself shall also drink of the wine of the WRATH OF GOD, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. …” – Revelation 14:9-10.

“...telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast ...” - Revelation 13:14.

So, the beast is the construct of the “Holy” Roman Empire. And the different manifestations of the Empire down through history. The Roman Catholic Church which has its roots in central Europe has always been organized just as the Roman Empire. And so when you read ‘the image to the beast,’ it’s referring to a spiritual or religious organization led by a so-called “holy” man constructed and designed in the very image of the Roman Empire.

Verse 15 – “He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, ...” – meaning, this great so-called holy man becomes such a rock star. And you can think about even now, many places in Europe – I’m told, I’ve never been there – these great cathedrals have very few people who attend their services. Because the people right now aren’t very interested in it. But with this religious leader coming onto the scene with all of this ‘power to make lightning fall from the sky,” and other signs and wonders, that organization will become highly relevant. And this religious leader will become a rock star! And he will bring back celebrity status and power to that organization. That’s why it says, ‘He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast.’ “...that the image of the beast should both speak [which means papal announcements] and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.” – so, there will become a requirement in Europe (keep this in mind)! This part of the prophecy is talking about what goes on inside of Europe! – primarily. Now, I’m sure there will be other people in other countries and other lands who will be sort of caught up in all of this enthusiasm. But, primarily these passages here are talking about what happens in a future Europe.

Verse 16 – “He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and [bond], to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17) and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”

There are quite a few places - Revelation 13:16- 17; Revelation 14:9-11; Revelation 15:2; Revelation 16:2; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:4 that speak concerning the ‘mark of the beast.’

Now, the term ‘the mark’ – if you look up in your concordance or your lexicon under your Bible study helps – it describes an actual something. An actual thing – a symbol. It’s not a concept or an idea.

The identifying sign of the churches of false Christianity is the cross - from the time of the Roman Empire down to today. Back in the 1930s and 1940s Adolf Hitler had his swastika, or his “broken cross” or“ crooked cross.” But the “Holy” Roman Empire, and from the days of Emperor Constantine the Great, they have used the cross as the symbol of their religion.

But the people of Europe and the people of Western Christianity of the Western world use that mark to identify their religion! It’s an actual mark ── it’s an actual symbol. So, keep in mind–“to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads.”

And those same people–every time they have a prayer–they have to take their right hand, and they have to start at their forehead and they make a cross. And sometimes they’ll just make a cross on their forehead with their finger. THAT’S WHAT THE MARK OF THE BEAST IS!

Again, listen. The apostle John carried these horrible visions on into the terrible “Day of the Lord”! “And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands. … So the FIRST went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men WHO HAD THE MARK OF THE BEAST and those who worshiped his image.” – Revelation 15:6; 16:2.

Truly, those who will suffer the full strength of the wrath of God are described as those who worship the “beast” or his “image,” and those who have his “mark.”

There is only one Way to learn the truth. And that is to study God’s living word carefully, methodically, prayerfully, with a mind led by the glorious Holy Spirit, along with all the testimonies and Scriptures that bear on this IMPORTANT SUBJECT.

Who is the Beast?

The “beast,” the “image,” and the “mark” are all primarily described for us in the 13th chapter of the Book of Revelation.

The apostle John was being given this message for you and me for this ‘generation.’ In these series of visions, he saw, this “beast rising up out of the sea, having SEVEN HEADS and TEN HORNS, and on his horns TEN CROWNS, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2) Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.” – Revelation 13:1-2. 

Truly, this description IDENTIFIES the “beast.”

All of these, of course, are symbols. The very word “beast” is symbolic. When we come to know what the heads, the horns, the feet of a bear, the mouth like a lion, and the likeness of a leopard are ──then we will come to know what, or who, the “beast” is.

Let us always understand this truth ──the living word of God always interprets itself. It interprets its own symbols. To properly understand GOD’S TRUTH on any subject, we must allow God’s living word to interpret itself and its own symbols!

Notice: God’s living word sets down for us a basic historical background ── a brief outline of FOUR GREAT CIVILIZATIONS:

1. Babylon – under King Nebuchadnezzar II and then King Belshazzar.
2. Medo/Persian Empire under King Darius I and King Cyrus II.
3. Greco/Macedonian Empire under King Alexander the Great.
4. The Roman Empire.

True to form, you can’t properly understand biblical prophecy unless you understand the significance of the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire controlled the known world for centuries! And, Rome itself had a profound effect on the life and times of our Lord Jesus Christ. As well as the New Testament Church of God, the life of the apostle Paul, and all the other disciples. Also, upon the destruction of the 2nd Jewish temple in Jerusalem and the dispersion of the Jewish people to many parts of the world in 70 A.D., it became the birthplace and the breeding ground of a great Mother Church ──that to this day is still headquartered in Rome.

In the seventh chapter of the Book of Daniel, we find exactly these same symbols described. Verse 1 – “In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head while on his bed. …”

Verse 3 – “And FOUR great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. 4) The first was like a lion, …” – a reference to Babylon.

“ … and had eagle’s wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.”

Verse 5 – “And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. …” – a reference to the Medo/Persian Empire.

“ … It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’”

Verse 6 – “After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, …” – a reference to the Greco/Macedonian Empire under King Alexander the Great.

“ … which had on its back FOUR WINGS of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it.”

When King Alexander the Great died, his kingdom was divided between four leading generals.

Verse 7 – “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. …” – a reference to the Roman Empire.

“ … It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it and it had TEN HORNS.”

Those ‘ten horns’ are the final installment of the “Holy” Roman Empire! We see this symbolism of the ten in both the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation.

Notice verse 16 – the latter part. “So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things.”

Will you accept the LORD God’s answer to these things? Will you accept God’s living word of what the seven heads are, what the tens horns are, the lion, the bear, the leopard, and what is the great and dreadful beast?

Verse 17 – “Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth.”

The word “kingdom” is used to explain the beasts in verses 18, 22, 24, and 27.

What do the ‘TEN HORNS’ represent?

We are told in verse 24 – “The ten horns are ten kings Who shall arise from this kingdom. …”

So, ten succeeding “kingdoms” come OUT OF A KINGDOM. This alone makes it plain to us that this “beast” is not some church that is yet to come.

And since the word “king” in these prophecies stands for a kingdom, it follows that these ten horns are ten succeeding kingdoms (as the LORD God sees kingdoms) growing out of this fourth kingdom, which was to rule the world.

A Dream of Kingdoms

In Daniel chapter 2 we read of an amazing dream. A dream dreamed by King Nebuchadnezzar II. A very troubling dream.

Again, these same four world-ruling Gentile empires are described for us in the second chapter of Daniel. King Nebuchadnezzar II of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, who had taken into captivity the kingdom of Judah, had a troubling dream, and the interpretation of which the LORD God gave unto the prophet Daniel.

The dream is described for us in verses 31-35. The king saw in his dream a great image. “This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.”

Eventually, a “stone” ── cut out without hands ── struck the image upon its feet and toes. Breaking into “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.” Then, the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

“’ This is the dream,’” the prophet Daniel was told, “’ Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king. 37) You, O king, are a king of kings. … 38) … you are this head of gold. 39) But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40) And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others.’” – Daniel 2:36-40.

Then, notice verse 44 – “And IN THE DAYS OF THESE KINGS the God of heaven will set up a kingdom 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.”

This stone is our Lord Jesus Christ and His world-ruling kingdom. The proper understanding of this stone is spoken in many different places throughout His living word. As an example ── “let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, … This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’” – Acts 4:10, 11.

So, this great and troubling dream, symbolically, is FOUR WORLD-RULING EMPIRES. It begins with King Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom ── the Neo-Babylonian Empire, which took the Jews captured to Babylon (597 BC). And as the LORD God revealed to the prophet Daniel, it was God who had allowed this world-ruling empire to become a succession of Gentile empires to come. And these carry to the glorious and powerful Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and the establishment of the kingdom of God──that will fill the whole earth.

The Fourth Beast As Strong As Iron

So, Daniel 2 describes for us the same FOUR WORLD-RULING EMPIRES that are described by the prophet Daniel’s dream of four beasts. Again, this dream begins with King Nebuchadnezzar II's kingdom ── the Neo-Babylonian Empire called “Babylon” after the name of its capital city (606-538 BC).

The second empire, that followed, and we know this from world history, was the great Medo/Persian Empire (538 – 331 BC). It was composed of Medes and Persians.

The third empire was the Greco/Macedonian Empire under King Alexander the Great (331 – 63 BC), he conquered the Persian Empire (334 BC). However, King Alexander only lived a few short years after his blitzkrieg conquest, and his FOUR GENERALS divided the empire into four separate regions──Macedonia and Greece, Thrace and Western Asia, Syria and the territory east to the Indus River, and Egypt. So, symbolically, this represents the FOUR HEADS of the third beast of the prophet Daniel’s dream of Daniel 7.

Then, the fourth empire, which developed into what is known as the Roman Empire (27 BC – 1453 AD), spread out and eventually absorbed one after another these four separate regions ── “dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong.” The ROMAN EMPIRE!

So, this fourth beast was truly unlike anything else that had come along on the earth. It was stronger, greater, and more terrible than any other kingdom before.

This is why the apostle John, in Revelation 13, in vision sees one mighty beast.

So, these ten horns are Ten kingdoms (again, as God sees kingdoms) that shall arise out of the fourth beast (the fourth kingdom) ── the Roman Empire. These kingdoms continue from A.D. 476 until the glorious and powerful Return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Revelation 13:1 – “And I [John] stood on the sand of the sea.” Now, he’s seeing a vision also, much like Daniel. “And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.”

Now, these “seven heads” represent the seven resurrections of the “Holy” Roman Empire. And those ‘ten horns’ are the ten kings or the ten kingdoms that make up the final installment of the “Holy” Roman Empire. The same thing as we saw back in Daniel – the ‘ten horns.’

Seven Resurrections of the “Holy” Roman Empire

1. King Charlemagne – or Charles the Great of France. Pope Leo III – He had been driven from Rome by his enemies. He appealed to Charlemagne for help. Charlemagne reinstated the pope, stayed on in Rome to protect Leo III, and on Christmas day 800 AD, the pope placed the imperial crown on Charlemagne’s head, and hailed him as “Augustus.” And once again, the West had an emperor.

2. Otto the Great – a German of 962 AD. He was the great leader of – what the history books call – a German Roman Empire. He was crowned emperor in 962 by the pope, and Otto as successor to Charlemagne, thought of himself as the leader of the Christian West and the protector of the papacy.

3. Frederick Barbarossa of about 1152 AD – or Frederick I of Germany. He became the first – of what history calls – the Hohenstaufen emperors. And they were Germans. And this very Frederick Barbarossa drowned while on a crusade in Asia Minor in 1190. Then King Henry VI – Frederick Barbarossa’s son. Then Frederick II. He was made emperor by Pope Innocent III.

What an ironic name, Pope Innocent III. This man was responsible for the persecution of the Waldensians. Followers of Peter Waldo. We believe that the Waldensians were members of the Church of God who were hiding up in the mountains. Also, another group, the Albigensians in southern France. And this vile Pope Innocent III persecuted them until they were literally annihilated. He developed a new court called ‘the Inquisition.’ You’ve all heard about that. And this Inquisition accepted neighborhood rumor as a basis for accusation and it used torture to secure confessions. And when we read Revelation 18, where the apostle John wrote, “ ...’ for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. 24) And in her ...’” – which chapter 17 of the Book of Revelation calls ‘the great whore’ – and “... ‘in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.’” A powerful legacy. And, that court of ‘the Inquisition’ – you know who the most recent holder of this office was? Pope Benedict XVI. He held the office of ‘the Inquisition.’ They changed the title because that old title had a pretty bad name. But that theme has continued throughout history.

4. The House of Hapsburg. It actually had two branches. One which controlled Austria and Hungary – actually had influence there for five- hundred years, beginning in 1438. And also another branch of the Hapsburg family controlled Spain from 1516 until 1698. Now, most of that is considered ‘Spain’s golden age.’ Where their main desire was to export the Catholic faith to the New World. This is why if you go to Mexico, the predominant church is the Catholic Church.

5. Napoléon Bonaparte. A man who was on the scene a very short time, but really had a massive effect on European history. Born on the island of Corsica, and by the age of 9, he was at a military school. By age 24 he became a brigadier general. In 1801 he concluded an agreement with Pope Pius VII which recognized that the majority of French were to be Roman Catholic. And then from 1805 to 1807 he had a series of victories, gained control over the whole continent, and he was the master of Europe. And he was looked upon as the emperor. Rumor says he crowned himself “Holy” Roman Emperor. Just grabbed the crown from the pope, put it on his own head, and said, “I am the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire!”

6. Adolf Hitler from Germany and Benito Mussolini of Italy. Mussolini seized power in 1922. Hitler came to power in 1933, and immediately he began the persecution of the Jews, and with help from Germany and Italy, General Francisco Franco gained control of Spain. And then, we know about World War II.

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 Socialist in their tendencies, and 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.

A Deadly Wound

Notice again the description of the beast in Revelation 13.

“And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4) So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, … 5) And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.” – Revelation 13:3-4, 5.

This mighty beast symbolizes the royal splendor and kingly power of the mouth of the lion (Babylon); the great strength of the feet of the bear (Medo/Persia), the blitzkrieg speed and cunning cruelty of the leopard (the Greco/Macedonian Empire).

One of its “heads” was “mortally wounded.” This was the SEVENTH HEAD of the Roman Empire ── the head out of which grew ten horns (A.D. 476). This deadly wound was the one administered to the Roman Empire, during its last decaying stages, when the last Roman emperor, Romulus Augustus, was deposed by the Germanic king Odoacer. Ending, officially, the Roman Empire.

Notice that a dragon “who gave authority” to this beast. Who is this dragon? A great many believe that it's “pagan Rome.” But again, let us be led by God’s Spirit, the Holy Bible interprets its own symbols. The dragon represents Satan the Devil.

“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old [speaking of Genesis 3:1; the enchanting whisperer], called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; …” – Revelation 12: 9. Also notice vs. 13.

“So they worshiped the beast; …” – Revelation 13:4. Sadly, a great many conclude that the beast must be the Roman Catholic Church. Yet, don’t forget that the people worshiped the emperors of the Roman Empire!

Now, when the seventh head of this great and powerful beast received its deadly wound in AD 476, was that the final end?

No. Notice that God’s living word says, “and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. … and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.” – vs. 3, 5.

Again, the Ten Horns represent 10 successive kingdoms to come out of this fourth kingdom ── the Roman Kingdom (27 BC – 476 AD).

One of his heads was “mortally wounded.” The Roman Empire in Northern Africa was overcome by the Vandals. The Vandals were a Germanic people was sacked Rome and founded a kingdom in North Africa that flourished for about a century.

In 476 AD, the barbarian soldier and statesman from the Middle Danube, Odoacer, set up his government in Rome. And, although Jordanes writes of Odoacer as invading Italy “as leader of the Sciri, the Heruli, and allies of various races”, modern writers describe him as being part of the Roman military establishment, based on John of Antioch's statement that Odoacer was on the side of Ricimer at the beginning of his battle with the emperor Anthemius in 472. 1

But this did not heal the deadly wound ── this was only an established government set up in Rome.

Then there was the kingdom of the Ostrogoths. A Roman-era Germanic people. In the 5th century, they followed the Visigoths in creating one of the two great Gothic kingdoms within the Western Roman Empire. But they were eventually driven out of Italy and were lost to history.

Three successive kingdoms.

The prophet Daniel also saw in vision “another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom THREE of the horns were plucked out by the roots.” – Daniel 7:8.

So, this “little horn” of Daniel 7, “coming up among the other horns” ── that “in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words” is the Roman Catholic Church which dominated completely all the horns that follow.

That leaves seven horns.

In 527 AD, Justinian I, emperor of the East, from Constantinople, set up his government. His reign was marked by the ambitious but only partly realized renovatio imperii, or “Restoration of the Empire.” It was this fourth kingdom, succeeding the fall of the Empire in 476 that HEALED the deadly wound. Justinian the Great, was the Roman emperor from 527 to 565 AD.

This healed beast was to continue for 1,260 years – cf. Ezekiel 4:4-6; Numbers 14:34. Each day represents a year.

In succession came Charles the Great of France, a German Roman Empire, the Hohenstaufen emperors, the House of Hapsburg, and Napoléon Bonaparte. But when Napoleon was defeated in 1815, and then subsequently died in exile in 1825 on the island of St. Helena ── the healed beast continued no longer.

Note that from 556 to 1825 AD., the duration of the “healed wound,” was roughly 1, 260 years!

Then, at that moment in time ── eight of the horns having appeared, then gone, the mighty and powerful beast went into the “bottomless pit.” – cf. Revelation 17:8.

But then, in July 1870, Giuseppe Maria Garibaldi, an Italian general, revolutionary and republican. On 7 September 1870, within three days of the revolution in Paris that ended the Empire, he wrote to the Movimento of Genoa, “Yesterday I said to you: war to the death to Bonaparte. Today I say to you: rescue the French Republic by every means.” It would culminate in the Fascist rule of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

At the time the apostle John saw the beast, “five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come” – Revelation 17:10.

The five that have fallen are the five that were during the roughly 1,260 years in which power was given by the dragon ── by the Roman Catholic Church ── for the healed beast to continue.

The one that “is,” is the kingdom that extended from Garibaldi on down to the fall of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

The SEVENTH HEAD, with its Ten Horns ── in the 17th chapter of Revelation ── will be the resurrected “Holy” Roman Empire, “out of the bottomless pit” by a ‘United States of Europe,’ a confederation of ten European nations (as God sees kingdoms) centered within the bounds of the old Roman Empire – Revelation 17:12-18.

We’re still waiting for this seventh revival. □

1 Jordanes (1915). The Gothic History of Jordanes. Translated by Charles C. Mierow. London: Oxford University Press

Krampus ── Not For True Christians!

a horned anthropomorphic figure called Krampus

There is a satanic worldly holiday that a great many people have never heard of──it's called Krampus. Yet, there have been a growing number of movies focused on this creature.

This Krampus holiday is mostly celebrated in parts of Europe, and it usually runs from December 5th through to December 8th.

Here is a little about this──certainly Satan-influenced──holiday:

“The Krampus – is a horned anthropomorphic figure who, in the Central and Eastern Alpine folkloric tradition, is said to accompany Saint Nicholas on visits to children during the night of 5 December (Krampusnacht; “Krampus Night”), immediately before the Feast of St. Nicholas on 6 December. In this tradition, Saint Nicholas rewards well-behaved children with small gifts, while Krampus punishes badly behaved ones with birch rods.” 1

Here is a little of what the National Geographic reported about this holiday –

Who Is Krampus? Explaining the Horrific Christmas Devil

Krampus, whose name is derived from the German word krampen, meaning claw, is said to be the son of Hel in Norse mythology. The legendary beast also shares characteristics with other scary, demonic creatures in Greek mythology, including satyrs and fauns.

The legend is part of a centuries-old Christmas tradition in Germany, where Christmas celebrations begin in early December.

Krampus was created as a counterpart to kindly St. Nicholas, who rewarded children with sweets. Krampus, in contrast, would swat “wicked” children and take them away to his lair.

According to folklore, Krampus purportedly shows up in towns the night before December 6, known as Krampusnacht, or Krampus Night. December 6 also happens to be Nikolaustag, or St. Nicholas Day, when German children look outside their door to see if the shoe or boot they’d left out the night before contains either presents (a reward for good behavior) or a rod (bad behavior).

A more modern take on the tradition in Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic involves drunken men dressed as devils, who take over the streets for a Krampuslauf—a Krampus Run of sorts, when people are chased through the streets by the “devils.” …

Krampus is making a comeback now, thanks partly to a “bah, humbug” attitude in pop culture, with people searching for ways to celebrate the yuletide season in non-traditional ways. National Geographic has even published a book in German about the devilish Christmas beast.

(https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/131217-krampuschristmas-santa-devil).

This Krampus is certainly some type of Satanic celebration!

The apostle Paul──under divine inspiration──says that true Christians are NOT supposed to celebrate or support the darkness of revelries –

“The night is far spent, the Day 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 properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.” – Romans 13:12-13.

Any of these pagan-originating Satan-inspired celebrations of revelry and drunkenness (and this Krampus is clearly NOT FOR TRUE CHRISTIANS) are “holidays” that true Christians are not to celebrate or support.

Notice the living commands from the LORD God –

“’ When the LORD your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to DISPOSSES, and you displace them and dwell in their land, …”

Because──and He gets to this──those nations were doing evil in the sight of the LORD God! And we can think of a great many civilizations that the LORD God allowed to be destroyed. The antediluvian, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, the Amalekites. And surely, even the ancient Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans!?

“ … ‘take heed to yourself that you are NOT ENSNARED to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’

31) YOU SHALL NOT worship the LORD your God IN THAT WAY; …’”

And, we can certainly think of CHRISTMAS. We are not to celebrate, support, or worship the LORD God in that way. It was originally derived from paganism!

“ … ‘for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. 32) Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.’” – Deuteronomy 12:29-32.

“Listen, ISRAEL, to this word that the LORD has spoken against you: ‘Do not fall into the ways of the nations, do not be awed by signs in the heavens; it is the nations who go in awe of these.’” – Jeremiah 10:2, NEB. □

Bibliography:

1 Magazine, Smithsonian; Billock, Jennifer. "The Origin of Krampus, Europe's Evil Twist on Santa". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 4 December 2024.

"Krampus | Definition, History, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 20 October 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2024.

Some other items of possible interest –

ChristMas… Its Origin This is a free online PDF booklet explaining where Christmas originated.

True Christians SHOULD NOT Celebrate "St. Patrick's Day"! The majority of people view it as a Roman Catholic holiday, while many others look at it as an Irish holiday. But for most, it has become a major drinking holiday!

Holy Day Information & Calendar (Lev. 23, Deut. 16) God's sacred calendar goes back to the very first chapter of the living word of God - the Holy Bible - in which the sun and the moon were appointed to be for signs, seasons, days, and years - Genesis 1:14. This is the very calendar that the children of Israel used when the LORD God (which is the family of God; at this time consisting of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ) led the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

Personal From... Christmas Challenges Brethren, do you know how to properly face this pagan holiday? Here are some hints in this month’s Personal to help you avoid any Christmas chaos or confusion.

Where Are We Headed? Sermon Well, there truly is only ONE source that can give you a genuine understanding of this world’s events – and that is God’s living word!

Letter to our Friends - March 3, 2020, Friends, I humbly come before you as a servant of Jesus Christ, empowered by God’s Spirit, to warn you this day of growing idolatry within Jesus Christ’s Church! Many may ostracize me – even many brethren – but Almighty God and our Lord Jesus Christ are sending a message to you via an often despised man, often a foolish man, a weak man – nothing more than a conduit of the good news for all of you.

Our Governments Are In Crisis! This world is in a crisis! Albeit democracies, communism, dictatorships, autocracies, monarchies, or majority rule─ whatever human government, a crisis is looming; threatening, and governments will topple! Never in mankind’s history have so many governments been in so much difficulty. And overriding EVERY governmental crisis throughout history there was a vital and important WORLDWIDE importance that was missing─ an Authority that would bring this world ‘peace and justice.’ And it’s the LORD God!

Over 2 million Suspected TERRORISTS Illegal in the United States of America?

Reports are going around claiming that over 2,000,000 TERRORISTS have illegally entered the United States of America's southern border – because it is WIDE OPEN! Here are a couple of reports:

One from The Center Square (formerly Watchdog.org) – a conservative online news organization.

(The Center Square) – Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd says the biggest problem with illegal border crossers is they’re coming “across the border specifically to commit crime.”

“They're coming across the border hand over fist as a result of very organized systems and processes [created] by the criminal cartels out of Mexico. They're bringing with them methamphetamine. They're bringing with them fentanyl,” the Florida sheriff said in a discussion with Citizens Defending Freedom founder Steve Maxwell.

“We're not just dealing with migrants coming here to better themselves,” he added. “That's not the issue that's creating the biggest problem. The biggest problem is that these folks are coming across the border … from all kinds of terrorist nations. … Cartels are flooding the U.S. with drugs and killing thousands of people a year and we don't even know yet the end game of the terrorists who are sneaking across. That's still oblivious to us.

Retired FBI counterintelligence officials warned Congress last month that a terrorist attack was likely imminent and preventable. They said, “It would be difficult to overstate the danger represented by the presence inside our borders of what is comparatively a multi-division army of young single adult males from hostile nations and regions whose background, intent, or allegiance is completely unknown. They include individuals encountered by border officials and then possibly released into the country, along with the shockingly high estimate of 'getaways,' meaning those who have entered and evaded apprehension.”

An estimated two million getaways illegally entered since January 2021, The Center Square has reported.

(https://www.thecentersquare.com/florida/article_f406cdba-caa8-11ee-95e5-bf759c2a75b8.html).

Here’s another report from WorldNetDaily – a very far-right conservative news source. Indeed, it can be very “reliable” to most conservatives.

Sheriff’s Source: 2 million terrorists have entered U.S. - Coming through Biden's open border

There's a new report that charges there might be two million terrorists who have gained access to the United States, and are inside the borders now, as a result of Joe Biden's open borders policies for the nation's security.

That some have entered is without doubt, as border security teams have confirmed they've stopped even those on terror watch lists at the border, and those experts really have no way of monitoring those they miss. …

That information explains two million suspected terrorists may have crossed the border already into the U.S. …

Border experts have confirmed that many of those entering the U.S. across Biden's open border are men, of military age, and often traveling without family.

(https://www.wnd.com/2024/02/sheriffs-source-2-million-terrorists-enteredu-s/).

Now, I liken reading these two news sources as one would read the Star (magazine) or the National Enquirer. Let us take it with a grain of salt.

However… the latter report stated, “That some have entered is without doubt.” Indeed! Two Million!? While the true number of illegal immigrants that desire to harm U.S. legal citizens is actually unknown, as far as illegal aliens and the end-time descendants of the house of Israel – God’s living word WARNS –

“’ The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. 44) He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail.

45) MOREOVER all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, BECAUSE YOU DID NOT OBEY THE VOICE OF THE LORD YOUR GOD, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you.

46) And they [these curses] shall be upon you FOR A SIGN and A WONDER, and on your descendants forever. 47) Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, 48) therefore you shall serve YOUR ENEMIES, whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck UNTIL HE HAS DESTROYED YOU.

49) The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand, 50) a nation of fierce countenance, WHICH DOES NOT RESPECT THE ELDERLY NOR SHOW FAVOR TO THE YOUNG.

51) And they [these illegal aliens] shall eat the increase of your livestock and the produce of your land, until you are destroyed; they shall not leave you grain or new wine or oil, or the increase of your cattle or the offspring of your flocks, until they have destroyed you” – Deuteronomy 28:43-51.

When our U.S. President Donald Trump placed a ban on illegal immigrants from many Muslim nations back in 2017, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed them into his nation with open arms! Sadly, CANADA is expected to suffer the same fate as the USA within biblical prophecy – cf. Daniel 11:39 –

“Thus he [a reorganized United States of Europe; a revised and resurrected “Holy” Roman Empire] shall act against the STRONGEST FORTRESSES with a foreign god [Certainly, in this end time, the ‘strongest fortresses’ are the United States of America and her Anglo-descended allies], which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory [a ‘foreign god’ – speaking of superior military weaponry]; and he shall cause them to rule over many, AND DIVIDE THE LAND FOR GAIN.”

It is extremely dangerous to have radical Muslims inside Western “Christian” nations! - or for that matter, a Jewish nation!

Notice this important two-fold prophecy from the prophet Isaiah –

“The Lord sent a word against Jacob, And it has fallen on Israel. …”

Again, in this two-fold prophecy, speaking concerning the end-time descendants of the house of Israel and the house of Judah respectively.

“ 9) All the people will know─ Ephraim [modern-day United Kingdom and her Commonwealth Nations] and the inhabitants of Samaria─ [modern-day United States of America and her territories; a great number of Scriptures indicate that Manasseh being referred to as Samaria] …

11) Therefore the LORD shall set up The adversaries of Rezin against him, And spur his enemies on, 12) The Syrians before and the Philistines [Palestinians] behind; And they shall devour Israel with an open mouth.” – Isaiah 9:8-9, 11-12.

“Make a chain, For the land is filled with crimes of blood, And the city is full of violence. 24) Therefore I will bring the worst of the Gentiles, And they will possess their houses; I will cause the pomp of the strong to cease, And their holy places [this world’s churches, synagogues, and mosques] shall be defiled. 25) Destruction comes; They will seek peace, but there shall be none” – Ezekiel 7:23-25.

Now, as far as the Syrian connection from the prophet Isaiah, does this mean that all or most of the Syrian refugees are terrorists!? Of course not. Yet, as we posted back in February 2021, there has been an egregious amount of ‘pestilences’ and TERRORISM since September 1, 2001!

The United States of America and our British brethren should expect even more deadly terrorist attacks from Syrians – and others! All around the world, there has been a grave uptick in massive earthquakes as well as volcanic activity.

Indeed, our Lord Jesus Christ WARNED for this end-time, “’ there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows’” – Mark 13:8.

TODAY─ in this end-time, nearly every Western “Christian” nation has radical Muslims inside their borders! And, we are not anti-Muslim, we are anti-terrorist!! And there is a growing of Islamic extremism throughout the world! As the Muslim population increases in the United States, so too will the number of Islamic terror attacks.

Consider some biblical prophecies related to TERRORISM:

“’ But IF you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, 15) and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant, 16) I also will do this to you: I will even appoint TERROR over you, wasting disease and fever which shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. 17) I will set My face against you, and you shall be defeated by your enemies. THOSE WHO HATE YOU shall reign over you, and you shall flee when no one pursues you’” – Leviticus 26:16-17.

“’ The sword shall destroy outside; There shall be TERROR within For the young man and virgin, The nursing child with the man of gray hairs’” – Deuteronomy 32:25.

So, what is Islam’s role!? A person from lands that are currently dominated by Islam is prophesied to be involved with deals with a final European ‘king of the North’ – Daniel 11:27; along with Psalm 83:3-8.

God’s living Word specifically WARNS of grave problems from the Arabic peoples in this end-time (which nearly all are Muslim).

Friends, bringing in Muslim immigrants into North America will very likely result in some of them fulfilling terroristic prophecies (be sure to read ‘How Democrats are using multiculturalism and immigration to destroy America’).

Without national repentance, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and even Bermuda are doomed. Notice that lack of repentance is indeed listed as a reason that the ‘king of Assyria’ – the final ‘king of the North’ – will become Ephraim’s king:

“’ I taught Ephraim to walk, … 5) But the Assyrian shall be his king, Because they refused to repent. 6) And the sword shall slash in his cities, Devour his districts, And consume them, Because of their own counsels. 7) My people are bent on backsliding from Me. Though they call to the Most High, None at all exalt Him’” – Hosea 11:3, 5-7. □

Personal... American dominance is coming to an end.

Leonard V. Johnson     About

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In this 21st century, just what is prophesied─ within the pages of God’s living word─ for the nations of China, Russia, North Korea, Japan, and India?

We’ve been seeing and hearing our conservative news media’s proclaiming that China is going to attack the United States of America─ to the extent that a great many people are very frightened. Let us, in this Personal, look into God’s living word for the truth. These news media’s could know. Our leaders could know. This world as a whole could know. And, with God’s living word, you can know.

We currently are seeing nearly all of Asia expanding her influence, with this region─ on the world stage─ becoming one of the world’s largest and leading manufacturers! Also, with her Belt and Road Initiative (BRI, or B&R), known within China as the One Belt One Road global infrastructure development strategy adopted by the Chinese government in 2013 to invest in more than 150 countries and international organizations, CHINA is greatly increasing her influence globally.

This alone is leading to a wealthier Asia that is able to finance a military strength unheard of in history. Russia and India are making greater inroads as well.

Yet, not everything is coming up roses. China herself, as an example, is also becoming gravely polluted. A 2021 report by the BBC writes China's emissions exceed all developed nations combined. It goes on to say: “China emits more greenhouse gas than the entire developed world combined, a new report has claimed. The research by Rhodium Group says China emitted 27% of the world's greenhouse gases in 2019. … China's emissions more than tripled over the previous three decades, the report from the US-based Rhodium Group added. The Asian giant has the world's largest population, so its per person emissions are still far behind the US, but the research said those emissions have increased too, tripling over the course of two decades.”

India’s air pollution is greater than ever. A Boston College news article in 2023 writes, “Air pollution in India resulted in 1.67 million deaths in 2019— the largest pollution-related death toll in any country in the world—and also accounted for $36.8 billion in economic losses, according to a new study led by researchers from the Global Observatory on Pollution and Health at Boston College, the Indian Council of Medical Research, and the Public Health Foundation of India.”

But despite this, China and India─ along with Russia, Japan, and North Korea─ are increasing and strengthening their military power.

As far as our ally Japan, notice this 2013 article by Michael Fitzpatrick of Fortune:

“Shinzo Abe, Japan’s prime minister, has started a process to reinterpret a critical part of the country’s constitution. The result of this reinterpretation is that it will allow the Japanese military to help friendly countries under attack, a development that has caused anxiety in East Asian countries that were once at the receiving end of Japan’s armed aggression. Not all reactions have been negative. The reinterpretation has been welcomed by Japan’s most important ally, the US…

“Japan enjoyed an isolationist status until now,” says Narushige Michishita, a past adviser to Tokyo on defense and now director of the security and international program at Tokyo’s National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies. “It was very convenient; we didn’t have to get involved in conflicts. But now the U.S. wants Japan to be more proactive,” he says. Japan’s ruling party, the LDP, acknowledges this.

“They know we have to be commensurate with our stature as an economic superpower,” he adds. “The U.S. is asking us to be more proactive in, not rearming, but making use of those arms.” 1

Asia is becoming wealthier! China has secured various sea gates, including heavy involvement in the Panama Canal. As well as taking other steps that will increase her influence─ interestingly, in 2018, Panama was ranked the seventh-most competitive economy in Latin America, according to the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Index. The Heritage Foundation reports, “The BRI is a top priority of Chinese Communist Party Secretary-General Xi Jinping, who designed it to extend Chinese influence around the world. The Oxford Business Group reports BRI projects are currently underway in 18 Latin American and Caribbean countries. And Panama has been a focal point of that activity. In 2018, Panama became the first Latin American country to sign a BRI compact.” 2

China herself appears to be doing exactly what the late Deng Xiaoping expressed─ a Chinese revolutionary leader, military commander, and statesman who served as the paramount leader of the People's Republic of China from December 1978 to November 1989: “hide brightness, nourish obscurity.” According to China Daily, the former leader meant, “to describe China's strategic diplomatic thinking in the early 1990s, he was asking Chinese diplomats to be calm, to attentively observe the global changes and be prepared to seize any opportunities that might arise.” 3

Well, China is no longer obscure and is no longer hiding her brightness. And she is seizing every opportunity─ because of America's utter weakness─ that she can!

As most nations are coming to realize, because of America’s shown weakness ─ shown to all upon the world stage ─ it is better economically to diversify their markets and not be dependent upon a single one, the United States of America’s.

Tougher trade talks with the Trump Administration brought this further to the forefront of their minds, which pushed China more towards de-dollarization than ever before.

My friends, God’s living word─ the LORD God’s eternal word─ shows us that immediately after the re-emergence of a final United States of Europe, it will be increasingly more prosperous for many nations. And, at this very moment, many within Asia are looking to the consumers in the European Union to replace those in the US as purchasers of its many manufactured products. The greater majority of Asian nations are bonding together for economic growth.

Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) are moving ever forward to reduce and break this world’s dependence upon the US dollar. Notice this Leftist article by The Business Standard, a Bangladeshi daily newspaper: A BRICS threat to the dollar? My friends, this rubbish popped up right away and was at the top of the list when I typed in on my keyboard “China and the dollar”! Good ‘Ol Google! It actually has the ignorance and the audacity to say, “The eclipse of the dollar would not necessarily be a bad thing for the US.” Tell that to the US citizens who would become─ overnight, I might add ─ unable to access their bank accounts! Truly, a scary thought: America could become the next Greece! An end to the United States of America dominating this world’s economy is coming to an end. And so is Pax Americana!

Regarding China and Asia

For the last three years via our website ─ www.owensborocojc.com ─ Asia and Southeast Asia have been witnessed to! Our website, thanks to Google Translator can be translated into nearly 130 languages! Including Chinese (simplified and traditional), Japanese, and Korean. This is GOOD NEWS to our brethren and friends in Asia who have not normally received much of God’s living truth ─ the gospel message!

Including, for the last three years, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Egypt, Singapore, etc. 0.5% in India, which includes Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Indonesia. Also, Iran, Japan, and Russia.

Asia also includes many other peoples. Many of them, in one way or another, have come across the website ─ www.owensborocojc.com. These include for the last three years, according to Statcounter.com: Nepal, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Thailand.

God’s living word mentions their ancestors in Genesis 10 –

“The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras” – Genesis 10:2. 

“GOMER (the firstborn of JAPHETH) was the first to settle central Europe, but at the End of the Age, we find his descendants in Asia — in the Far East. In Ezekiel 38:1–6, we find GOMER associated with MAGOG, MESHECH, TUBAL, PERSIA, ETHIOPIA (eastern CUSH, of the Hindu KUSH), PHUT in India and Ceylon (not as the KJV states as Libya). This means that GOMER and all his bands long ago became Asiatic powers, and they are still Asiatic powers at the End-Time.” 

(Martin, E.L. Dr., Prophetic Geography and the Time of the End, 1992. Internet Edition. Retrieved 22 Feb. 2022).

Any biblical map will show that the descendants of Japheth migrated north and northeast into the territories occupied today by Russia and the Oriental races.

In this 21st century, the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries and our affiliated churches have been reaching our peoples throughout the Asian lands, through the Internet – www.owensborocojc.com and www.owensborochurchofjesuschrist.com and other means, such as our YouTube channels, which has been able to reach our peoples in Egypt (7.3%) and India (0.11%).

Notice what Minister Michael C. Garrett teaches about Asia and Russia, in regards to Revelation 20:7-8 which will take place during the time of the Millennium:

“Concerning WHY Satan the devil and his horde is released for a short season Revelation 20:3b … because immediately he goes out to the four corners of the world – And will be DESTROYED. And dead bodies will be piled high when the “Great White Throne” resurrection occurs. ... Revelation 20 ... Verse 7-8 – to Gog and Magog (Siberia, China, Russia area) to gather them together to battle against the beloved city of God and of the saints. A THOUSAND YEARS OF PEACE WILL BE INSTANTLY SHATTERED WHEN SATAN IS LOOSED! It will demonstrate… people AFTER a thousand years, multiple generations (possibly 25 generations), may hear people like you and I resurrected, many hundreds of years before, they may hear us say, “Well, you know when Satan lived upon this Earth, it was very difficult for people to obey God because he caused so many troubles.” And after a while, some of those people are going to say, “O’ come on! That’s like saying Grandpa said he had to walk 6 miles to school through the snow. I don’t believe he had to walk 6 miles through the snow. It wasn’t that tough. It really wasn’t that bad!” Well, people will have become a little immune, or thick-headed in their skulls about that Message. And then at the end of the Millennium, when this horrible monster called Satan and his associates called demons are let loose, they INSTANTLY plunge the world into crisis again!” 4

Thus, it is our understanding at this present time, that Gog basically represents the land of Russia (plus some peripheral lands), while Magog is mainly the land and peoples of Asia, at least partially, from Japheth.

Notice what our Lord Jesus Christ has commissioned –

“’ Go therefore and make disciples [meaning, TEACH] of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, TEACHING them to observe all things that I have commanded you; …’” – Matthew 28:19, 20.

We also, keep the command given to the original twelve –

“’ But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel’” – Matthew 10:6.

And, www.owensborocojc.com goes over in the article “Freedom ─ A True Blessing From God,” many of the modern-day nations of the physical lost sheep of the house of Israel.

▪ Reuben is FRANCE.          ▪ Zebulun being HOLLAND.

▪ Issachar is FINLAND.       ▪ Dan being IRELAND.

▪ Gad being SWITZERLAND.      ▪ Asher being BELGIUM.

▪ Naphtali being SWEDEN.          

▪ Joseph is Ephraim and Manasseh - United Kingdom and her Commonwealth of Nations and the United States of America.

▪ Benjamin being NORWAY.        ▪ Simeon, Levi, and Judah – ISRAEL.

Minister Michael C. Garrett, with his online book “God’s Promises To Abraham” brings a clearer understanding of just who the progenitors are TODAY of the house of Israel and the house of Judah – respectively.

The Worship of the Beast

Historically, Asia has prided itself on being distant from the religions of the Western world. But things are changing in Asia, and indeed have been for quite some time. Notice: A Pew Research Center publication, as an example, for a change of religions in India contributes it to: Fertility rates, Religious switching (or conversion), and Migration. 5 Asia Society writes, “Historically, Koreans lived under the influences of shamanism, Buddhism, Daoism or Confucianism and in modern times, the Christian faith [speaking of Catholicism] has made strong inroads into the country. 6 The article goes on and states, “During and after the Korean War (1950-53), the number of Catholic belief organizations and missionaries increased. The Korean Catholic Church grew quickly and its hierarchy was established in 1962. … The ever-growing vitality of the Protestant Churches in Korea saw the inauguration of large-scale Bible study conferences in 1905. Four years later, "A Million Souls for Christ" campaign was kicked off to encourage massive new conversions to the Protestant faith. Protestantism was warmly received not only as a religious credo but also for its political, social, educational, and cultural aspects.”

A 2017 report by Al Jazeera, a state-owned Arabic-language international news network of Qatar, and a news source of which congressman Jack Bergman wrote in the Washington Examiner that “Al Jazeera's record of radical anti-American, anti-Semitic, and anti-Israel broadcasts warrants scrutiny”─ and in which we concur, wrote, “Putin and the ‘triumph of Christianity’ in Russia. ‘After the fall of communism, there was a great abyss …, a void, because everything began to fall down into the black hole. All the certainties, all the truths, all the things that were taken for granted in one moment disappeared,’ says [Alexander Dugin, editor-in-chief of Russia’s most ultra-conservative Orthodox channel]. With Putin’s help, Dugin explained, the Russian Orthodox Church is filling this void.” 7

God’s living word shows us that there will be a global acceptance (though temporary) of a powerful European civic leader that shall arise with flattery (cf. Daniel 11:29-39; Revelation 13:1-4). Throughout many generations, apparitions claiming to be Mary have been recorded. This powerful final Catholic European civic leader along with a powerful final Catholic religious leader will be in accordance “to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders.” And, as I was witness to in 1996 when hundreds of thousands were drawn to the Seminole Finance Corporation building in Clearwater, Florida because they claimed the “Virgin Mary” appeared in the rainbow swirls which formed on the glass outside the building. Thousands appeared with candles, kneeling and worshipping.

Again, Minister Michael C. Garrett:

“This great church that has its roots in central Europe has always been organized just as the Roman Empire. And so when you read ‘the image to the beast,’ it’s referring to a spiritual or religious organization led by a great so-called holy man and is constructed – designed – after the concept of the Roman Empire. … it’s a church organization.” 8

Truly, when our peoples in Asia and elsewhere see the power, the signs, and the lying wonders of this final ‘beast’ power─ they will marvel –

“ … those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is” – Revelation 17:8.

They will marvel because of this final powerful Catholic European civic leader’s great wealth. Also because its powerful religious leader will literally claim himself to be God “or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God [in Jerusalem], showing himself that he is God” – 2 Thessalonians 2:4. For “He [will] exercise all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound [will have been] healed. He [this final powerful Catholic religious leader] performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven [the atmosphere] on the earth in the sight of men” – cf. Revelation 13:11-13.

The people of the earth may also marvel because supporting this final ‘beast’ power may give them additional wealth and land.

God’s living words WARNS us of a time─ after the USA has lost her sovereignty─ when certain lands will be divided –

“Thus he [speaking of this final powerful Catholic European civic leader] shall act against the strongest fortresses [and in this end-time ‘the strongest fortresses’ would be the United States of America and the United Kingdom] with a foreign god [a god of fortresses], which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; …”

In 2019, I had spoke of ‘dark matter.’ The Europeans have been working hard on aspects of dark matter on their Large Hadron Collider (LHC). They also want something even larger than their current LHC (See: ‘CERN Wants to Build a Bigger, Badder Particle Collider’). Could this scientific technology be used – eventually – for military purposes in ‘honoring a god of fortresses’!? (cf. Daniel 11:38).

“ … and he shall cause them to rule over many and divide the land for gain” – Daniel 11:39.

Again, the “he” spoken of here in this duel end time prophecy is a final European ‘king of the North.’ Certainly, in this end time, the ‘strongest fortresses’ are the United States of America and her Anglo-descended allies. With China and Russia affirming their economic cooperation─ at least for the next several years, Asia will certainly assist the final ‘king of the North’ and receive some divided lands for payment.

Note: there are also a few verses in the Book of Lamentations that strongly supports this understanding that verse 39 of Daniel chapter 11 is speaking of the fact that the Anglo-nations’ lands will be divided for gain.

“The anger of the LORD hath divided them; He will no more regard them …” – Lamentations 4:16, KJV.

This word “divided” in Hebrew is ḥālaq, meaning, “to divide, apportion, assign.” It is the same word used in Daniel 11:39. Also, it is the same word used in Ezekiel 5:1 – “ … divide the hair.” – representing these ‘strongest fortresses’ in the time of the end; the USA, UK, and Canada, Australia, and New Zealand – respectively.

End Time Witnesses

During and immediately after the subjugation of these end time ‘strongest fortresses,’ the LORD God will provide strong witnesses to the nations of the house of Israel, as well as to the god of this world and his servants─ the final European civic leader and the final Catholic religious leader, and to all ‘both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond’ who DOES HAVE A MARK on their right hand or on their forehead. Notice:

“And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth [which represents humility]. These TWO OLIVE TREES and the TWO LAMPSTANDS standing before the god of the earth. … When they finish their TESTIMONY, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit [speaking of Satan the Devil] will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them” – Revelation 11:3-4, 7.

Again, Minister Michael C. Garrett:

“Now, see all the context, all the things that are going to happen… and now… we read about something that is spectacular! “’ And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.’” – meaning very simple affair, they won’t be all dressed up in fancy robes and headdresses. They won’t be dressed up in tuxedos. They’ll be very simple clothes. Who knows maybe it will be sweatpants and a sweatshirt!? … “’ These are the two olive trees …’” – meaning they are filled with God’s Spirit. “…’ And the two lampstands …’” – meaning, from them shines the light and the truth of God. “…’ standing before the [g]od of the earth.’” – Now, this is not the Almighty Creator God, the god of the earth is Satan! And they’re not bowing before Satan, they’re standing against him! This ‘god of the earth’ is indeed Satan the devil! …

“’ When they finish their testimony, …’” – probably about 3½ years, “…’ the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit …’” – meaning Satan the devil. Remember, it talked about the holy city. Verse 8-9 – “’ And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt …’” – Jerusalem. Verse 10 - “…’ the earth will rejoice over them, …’” – they’ll have a huge celebration because these two men, they think which has tormented them – but what they don’t get is that these two men represent God – “…’ because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.’” Verse 11 – “’ Now after three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.’” – And in that time - satellite, television, everyone on the face of the earth who has access to a computer or to television will see this! And I think Verse 12 is remarkable! I do believe verse 12 is saying – and maybe I’ve got it wrong; maybe someday I’ll figure it out differently, but, until I’m shown by God differently – I believe that these two witnesses, these two candlesticks, will be allowed to be resurrected and be before the throne of God before anybody else is resurrected! Probably not by a whole lot, but that’s the honor that God shows them for the Work that they do. And Notice Verse 15 talks about the SEVENTH ANGEL, THE SEVENTH TRUMP – the resurrection of all the other saints. That’s why I believe just the way that it is written and the sequence, that very possibly, the two witnesses will be the first two people resurrected from their death into eternal life in the Kingdom of God, and most likely, will have an opportunity to meet Jesus Christ and God the Father.”

(Garrett, M.C., “The Two Witnesses” 2019).

“Now, I can’t say one way or the other – but let’s just say there are twelve. Six groups of two – apparently working in tandem. Because that’s what Jesus did earlier in the “gospel” accounts. He sent them out two by two. And five of these groups will be martyred. Ten people – probably. Two will be left alive until the very end – and they will be called the Two Witnesses. They will end up in Jerusalem – directly opposing the great false leader of Europe and the great false religious leader of Europe. Just like Moses and Aaron did as they went into the court of a pharaoh. And they will curse the world with different plagues. And eventually, these two people will be martyred. But three-and-a-half days later they will rise again.”

(Garrett, M.C., “Day of Atonement = End-Time Trauma” 2019).

Our Lord Jesus Christ also speaks of this same era of time:

“’ Then they will deliver you up to tribulations [speaking here mostly of the end-time prophets; the end-time witnesses] and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. ... 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 24:9, 14. □

Sources:

1) Fitzpatrick, M., Inside Japan’s Invisible Army, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2023.

2) Roberts, J.M., Chinese Challenge in Panama, The Heritage Foundation, 21 Aug 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2023.

3) Wenchang, Y., Diplomatic words of wisdom, China Daily, 29 Oct. 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2023.

4) Garrett, M.C., Notes Concerning the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day, 2019, pgs. 13, 26-27.

5) Kramer, S., Causes of religious change, Pew Research Center, 21 Sept. 2021.

6) Asia Society, Education, Historical and Modern Religions of Korea, Retrieved 14 April 2023.

7) Ellis, G., Kolchyna, V., Putin and the ‘triumph of Christianity’ in Russia, Al Jazeera, 19 Oct. 2017.