Personal From... Greed for our time

Leonard V. Johnson    About

COJCOM · Personal - Greed For Our Time - Audio Article

The other night I watched on television again a great movie “Darkest Hour,” the 2017 war drama featuring the legendary Sir Winston Churchill─ one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century─ and his unwavering belief that Adolf Hitler was indeed an evil, vile, despicable genocidal psychopath! And the fact that no peace could be achieved for our time! Even though Mr. Churchill may not have been aware of it, the LORD God was using him to lead the island of Great Britain to conquer tyranny with its tyrannical leaders!

While watching this film I asked again the question─ where are the great leaders of this world!? Why are they gone!? It’s sad to me to know that this generation is calling Mr. Churchill a warmonger! This world is certainly not like it was in my youth─ from the age of 12 to 20 the United States of America had a great blessing from our LORD God to be led by a great leader, President Ronald Reagan─ who had a profound sharp eye for the dangers that we were facing at that time. Personally, to me, the next to the last great leader since President Donald Trump!

Before I was born we had many great leaders in the USA! And to name but a few ─ John F. Kennedy, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Franklin D. Roosevelt along with his cousin Theodore Roosevelt, and of course, Abraham Lincoln. Yet sadly, those great leaders have come and gone.

As I’ve stated before─ the calm before the storm is over! We are now facing the brunt of the storm! Where is our great civic leader to help lead us through this tremendous storm we are facing!?

As I sit here early morning writing at my desk here in Florida, our news headlines are all pointing to one terrible outcome! The utter collapse and destruction of life as we have come to know it!

● “Why prosecutors might get Trump─ and not Biden─ for classified documents!” ● “Russia Threatens To Nuke United Kingdom, Launch ‘Unstoppable’ Torpedo To Create 500–Meter Radioactive Tsunami”

● “North Korea issues chilling warning to US about escalating tensions” ● “U.S. General’s Prediction of War With China ‘in 2025’ Risks Turning Worst Fears Into Reality” ● “Doomsday clock advances to 90 seconds to midnight — the closest to apocalypse it's ever been” And the list goes on and on.

Is all but saber-rattling!?

News headlines in other nations read similarly –

● “Chinese video shows fighter jets tracking foreign warplanes over disputed waters” ● “Australia domestic violence: Over 600 charged in four-day police operation” ● “Australia targets Myanmar, Iran with economic sanctions” ● “Taliban beat up, detain professor who spoke out on women's school ban on live TV”

Again I ask ─ Why can’t we all just get along, as Rodney King stated after his beating by four police officers after initially evading being pulled over for driving while intoxicated. No matter what an individual does – no one deserves to be beaten to an inch of their life ─ or murdered, by a self-appointed judge, jury, and executioner! NO PERSON!

Let us take a REAL CLOSE LOOK at the STATE OF THIS WORLD, TODAY!

Is it, as my wife is famous for saying, that there is no more violence in the world than there always has been!? That there are only more news sources and greater technology to cover it!? Strangely enough, this appears to be the sentiment of others. I found a 2017 article entitled “Why human society isn't more—or less—violent than in the past.” According to their controversial new study: People who lived in small bands in the past had no more proclivity toward violence than we do today.

I think we can all agree, however, that a great many of our cities in this world have become a cauldron of evil with buckets of blood flowing through our streets the likes of which we have never seen! Yes!?

Just WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN!?

Sadly, so many of our peoples around the world are like Emperor Nero who fiddled while Rome burned. At least that is what my generation was taught in our history books.

According to Global Conflict Tracker ─ there is great civil unrest around the world! Massive criminal gang violence in Mexico, Instability in Venezuela, Mali, Libya, Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, conflicts in Nigeria, in Somalia, civil war in South Sudan, and war in Ethiopia and Yemen. A grave territorial dispute raging in the South China Sea, and a North Korea crisis! Just to name a few. And one which I didn’t see on their list ─ a US border crisis getting worse by the day!

Sadly, this WORLD IS NOT PAYING ATTENTION AS A WHOLE! As that article speaks about, this world takes this violence globally as a matter of course. “The past had no more proclivity toward violence than we do today”! They suppose it to be just a natural state of affairs.

IT IS NOT!

In 1923, an American Western drama, Helen Mirren as Cara Dutton utters, “Greed will be the thing that kills us all!”

In this Personal, let’s discuss greed.

At the very beginning of this great downfall, Lucifer himself ─ filled with greed ─ said to himself, “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; … I will be like the Most High” – Isaiah 14:13, 14. Greed and pride was at the forefront of his thinking.

Our 40th President of the United States of America made a dire PREDICTION! Here is what he warned –

I can't believe that this world can go on beyond our generation and on down to succeeding generations with this kind of weapon on both sides poised at each other without someday some fool or some maniac or some accident triggering the kind of war that is the end of the line for all of us.

He made this comment on May 16th, 1983, to the National Association of Home Builders, but it was certainly a comment made for more than just to them!

STILL TODAY – nuclear proliferation!

Eight sovereign states have publicly announced successful detonation of nuclear weapons. And according to World Population Review, it includes the five major countries that occupy the five permanent slots on the United Nations Security Council. In reality─ including the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moving the ‘Doomsday Clock’ but 90 seconds to midnight─ this world’s final world war fuse shortens!

Why is greed one of the main reason for war!? Greed causes an unfair taking away or destruction of another’s property. This can occur at all levels, from an individual to an entire nation. Why in the nearly 6,000 years of mankind’s history, that mankind has NEVER been able to stop warring!? To have “lasting peace”!?

Why war in the first place!?

There are certainly a number of reasons why kingdoms war against one another, and why war exists.

WAR IS A BUSINESS. There are some in a few circles that are saying that the U.S. could use a war to get the economy back up and running. Mike Moffatt, writing for ThoughtCo. says, no. He says─ This faulty belief stems from a misunderstanding of the economic way of thinking. 1 Irregardless, the manufacturing, producing, and selling of military hardware brings BIG MONEY! There are entire industries that flourish for this very reason! Thousands of jobs hinge on WEAPONS─ like the U.S.’s newest fighter jet, the F-15 EX!

Compared to the Great War (1914-1918), in which, according to some estimates 8,500,000 soldiers were killed and an unknown number of civilian casualties! ─ Today, with our modern, sophisticated, technologically superior military weapons, such as the F-15 EX, which is advertised as “Enhanced Survivability” ─ lethal and reliable, with a price tag of $87.7 million each─ our modern militaries have the ability to annihilate every man, woman, and child from the face of the earth!

Thoughts & Attitudes

It’s all in attitude of mind. Let us notice what our Lord Jesus Christ says –

“’ For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22) thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23) All these evil things come from within and defile a man’” – Mark 7:21-23.

These evil thoughts from within the heart of man, uncontrolled, are what produces civil unrest, instabilities, territorial disputes, crises, and war! For when these evil things from within the heart of man has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death! - cf. James 1:14-15.

Nearly every nation and kingdom claim they want peace, but they want peace through their means ─ not the LORD God’s!

The LORD God’s Way of peace is based upon the love for others – cf. John 13:34. Yet love ─ true love ─ has been left out of human teaching throughout the ages. True unadulterated love is not even a part of the thinking of such groups as Antifa, the Black Lives Matter group, or the Bilderberg Group!

Greed, lust, and utter foolishness have been prevailing worldwide! Taking, instead of giving. Hating, instead of loving. And war is the final result. Civil unrest, among families, neighbors, kingdoms, and nations.

God’s living word lays it out before us!

A brother to our Lord Jesus, the apostle James writes –

“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2) You lust [you covet] and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3) You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” – James 4:1-3.

In other words, individuals, kingdoms, and nations fight and kill ─ and in many cases, murder. Desiring to have. Is it any wonder why we do not have “lasting peace”!? And if God is sought─ surely the very God many know of as “THE UNKNOWN GOD,” the One in whom they claim to worship, though they know Him not (Acts 17:23), or even, sadly, a great many pray to or through Mary the mother of our Lord Jesus, or even to angels; which is forbidden ─ they ask for their own selfish interests.

Where does this attitude of selfishness and greed actually come from!?

Let us acknowledge a vital TRUTH! Satan the Devil is real! And he is a great military tactician! He influences human behavior for the worst! And this cunning evil “serpent of old” deceives all peoples, kingdoms, and nations.

“ … that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; …” – Revelation 12:9.

Again, it is his spiritual influence that causes civil unrest, instabilities, territorial disputes, crises, and war! Just how this “anointed cherub” became Satan the Adversary is explained in our sermon “Lucifer - Became Satan The Adversary.”

Mankind’s first parents, under the very influence of Satan the Devil, outright rejected the LORD God (the great family of God; at this time consisting of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ) and Their Way. And mankind has reaped the consequence. Filled with hate, greed, and jealousy, Adam’s firstborn son, Cain, MURDERED his brother Abel!

“Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; [under the guise of brotherly familiarity, he concealed his PREMEDITATED PURPOSE] and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and [MURDERED; 1 John 3:12] him” – Genesis 4:8.

And sadly, mankind has been killing and murdering ever since!

‘Repent, and believe in the gospel’!

The time is at hand─ national and individual repentance unto our great God Most High and our Sovereign Lord, along with the acknowledgment of Their ultimate power will protect all those who trust in the LORD God!

I watched again last night on television “We Were Soldiers,” starring Mel Gibson, in which he played the real Lieutenant General (Ret.) Hal Moore, which dramatizes the Battle of Ia Drang on November 14th, 1965. And while watching I couldn’t help but mourn for the loss of life on both sides─ 234 US soldiers dead with 242 wounded, and over 1,500 North Vietnamese soldiers having been killed!

Our beloved apostle Paul – under the divine inspiration of God’s Spirit says –

“Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. 20) Therefore ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’ 21) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” – Romans 12:19-21.

Our great and awesome LORD God has all power. Even if one nation were to turn to the Lord God─ the very One who made the world and everything in it─ He would protect that nation against its enemies.

“When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” – Proverbs 16:7.

What nation or individual is willing to heed the Lord God’s message, TODAY!?

But even if our nations are not willing to heed His voice, His mercy comes─ “lasting peace” will be imposed upon a rebellious mankind for their own good.

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ overcame our archenemy Satan the Devil! He qualified to become this earth’s RULER! He has PROMISED to return to earth –

“Now I saw heaven [the atmosphere] opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12) His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13) He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called THE WORD OF GOD [see John 1:1-14]. 14) And the armies in heaven [the atmosphere], clothed in fine linen, white and clean [representing righteousness], followed Him on white horses. 15) Now out of His mouth goes a sharp [two-edged] sword, that with it [His very living word; see Hebrews 4:12] He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16) And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” – Revelation 19:11-16.

When our Sovereign Lord returns He will put down any opposition against the kingdom of God! But WOE to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea!

“Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, [the atmosphere] ‘Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God [God the Father], and the power of His Christ [our Lord Jesus Christ] have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down” – Revelation 12:10.

Notice chapter 6 of the Book of Revelation as well –

“And the stars of heaven [the atmosphere] fell to earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.” - speaking of Satan the Devil and his minions.

Eventually, Satan the Devil along with his minions will be bound for a thousand years so that he cannot continue to deceive the whole world –

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven [again, the atmosphere], having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2) He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3) and cast him into the bottomless pit [the abyss; prison], and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. …” – Revelation 20:1-3.

Major violence and hate will subside. Military weaponry will be a thing of the past. Military weapons will be converted into peaceful and productive implements –

“He [the Lord our God] shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore” – Isaiah 2:4.

Instead, the LORD God’s Way of “lasting peace” will be taught from childhood. Knowledge about the LORD God and Their Way of life will prevail─

“Now it shall come to pass IN THE LATTER DAYS That the mountain of the LORD’s house [the headquarters of the kingdom of God; New Jerusalem] Shall be established on the top of the mountains [human ran kingdoms or governments], And shall be exalted above the hills [smaller nations]; and all nations shall flow to it” – Isaiah 2:2.

This is part of the glorious message from Father God that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ brought almost 2,000 years ago. Yet, this present evil world as a whole has rejected this message.

We and our affiliated churches ANNOUNCE THIS MESSAGE! □

1) Moffatt, M., Are Wars Good for the Economy? ThoughtCo. 7, 9, 2018; Retrieved 4 Feb. 2023.

Personal From... A Daily Reminder

The other evening I was watching a documentary about the International Space Station (ISS) which maintains an orbit around the Earth of 250 miles travelling at 17,100 miles per hour, and circling the Earth in roughly 93 minutes! About how the astronauts, throughout the 22 years that the ISS has been operational, has been witness to an ever-changing Earth. One not for the better, but for the worse. The growing demand for water combined with drought has caused lakes and rivers around the world to dry up. Such as Iran’s Lake Urmia, the Aral Sea – which borders Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. And, the list appears to be never-ending. Also, they have noticed that Mount Kilimanjaro – the highest peak in all of Africa, which is a dormant volcano in Tanzania with a height of 19,341 feet above sea level – has a diminishing ice cap. Nearly 85% of the ice which covers Kilimanjaro has disappeared between 1912 to 2011! Reason!? Deforestation from around the mountain! The astronauts have noticed - with the ever-growing world population – mysterious green circles throughout the Al Khufrah Oasis in southeastern Libya! What are they!? One of Libya’s largest agricultural projects - tracts of agriculture supported by centre-pivot irrigation. They are growing food in the desert! These observers from space are seeing humanity’s ever-growing footprint – cities! City lights at night present the space observer spectacular evidence of our population growth, of our destruction, of our modernization, and the fact that we are changing our environment for the worse.

Now, I said all that to say this – On December 14th, 2020 I had written of a prophetic dream which I had back in 2015. And, I truly didn’t want that message to end with just doom and gloom, but rather I wanted that dire WARNING to end with hope – hope for all humanity. Because at the end of that article I implored EVERYONE to “repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” In that article “Blow the Trumpet!” I warned of the soon-coming attack on the tiny nation in the Middle East called Israel from Iran (the number-one terrorist nation in the world) along with Syria! Yet, humanity as a whole is facing a far greater crisis! For the first time since humans inhabited the earth, on August 6th, 1945, weapons of mass destruction now exist that can annihilate every man, woman, and child from this planet! TODAY there now exists nuclear weapons which can produce an insane 50-megaton blast – about 3,333 times more powerful than the Little Boy bomb which leveled an entire city!

Now, I see – ever-so-often – people posting on Facebook reminders of the September 11 attacks on the United States of America. And indeed we should be reminded of this always, but why are there no WARNINGS or REMINDERS of the very crisis of human survival!? Are we forgetting friends around the world – just completely placing out of our minds – that the 7.8 Billion of us are in grave danger!? Do we think that just by keeping our minds off this fact, the threat will somehow just go away!? Is it too frightening to think about!? Is this world playing ostrich having their heads buried in the sand!?

This tiny voice in the wilderness is here to remind you – that there is a cause for every effect. Let us not deceive ourselves! Let us not be so naïve to believe that nuclear, electromagnetic pulse weapons (EMPs), and other mass-destruction weapons are so frightening that no nation would ever dare unleash them! No weapon ever produced has not been used! Remember the 50-megaton blast I mentioned earlier? Well, the Tsar Bomba – a hydrogen aerial bomb, the most powerful nuclear weapon yet produced was detonated for testing on October 30th, 1961! This world’s nuclear family includes:

• Russia (6,375 nuclear warheads).
• The United States of America (5,800 nuclear warheads).
• France (290 nuclear warheads).
• China (320 nuclear warheads).
• The United Kingdom (215 nuclear warheads).
• Pakistan (160 nuclear warheads).
• India (135 nuclear warheads).
• Israel (90 warheads).
• North Korea (30-40 nuclear warheads). 1

Now, the Industrial Revolution within Europe and the United States from about 1760 to about 1840 greatly increased mankind’s awesome progress!

Indeed, there seems to be no limit to human accomplishment – physical and material. But our ever-growing troubles are spiritual in nature.

There is an invisible spiritual Law that governs every one of our lives. It is a Law as sure as there is the first law of thermodynamics. And, this universal Law is as inexorable as the law of gravity. You break it, it breaks you. Well, the whole world has been breaking this universal Law since the beginning of mankind! Friends, true world peace, true happiness, and true well-being were taken from us!

But it isn’t too late – even now – for a deceived and misled world (2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 12:9), to awaken to its soon bankruptcy – morally and spiritually. But, sadly, if this self-willed and vain humanity will not heed – the ‘strong right hand of the LORD’ will intervene very soon in this world’s chaotic troubles – and will forestall a death blow to all humanity (cf. Matthew 24:21-22) From the time of creation it tells us in the Book of Mark until that time this will be the worst time out of all of them! THE WORST TIME OF TROUBLE!

Isaiah 58.

“’ Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins’” – Isaiah 58:1.

Friends, in spite of humanity the wonderful WORLD TOMORROW will arrive!

Our Lord Jesus Christ enters and gets involved directly with human beings at the END of the Day of the LORD. However, the saints have ALREADY been resurrected. And we know from the Wedding Supper of the Lamb that the saints – the resurrected saints – and Jesus Christ, and God the Father, and the holy angels have ALREADY spent some time in New Jerusalem – the throne of GOD – in low earth orbit. And it’s hard to say HOW LONG that will occur. cf. Revelation 19, Jesus Christ directly engages in the battle. Now, Zechariah 14:1 – “Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, …”

NOTICE Zechariah 14:5b – “…Thus the LORD my God will come AND ALL THE SAINTS WITH YOU.” All the resurrected saints. This is AFTER the resurrection! So, friends, IF you understand that the RESURRECTION is on the SEVENTH TRUMP the LAST TRUMP, and then you’ve got the SEVEN LAST PLAGUES (which is another name for the Day of the Lord), now you understand that during the Day of the Lord the resurrected saints are ALREADY in the Kingdom of God. Already members of the Family of GOD.

Friends, it’s as sure as the rising of the sun tomorrow!

King David in Psalm 34 reminds us that we should praise Almighty God through the good times and the bad. Praise unto Him should fill our hearts every single day, no matter our circumstances – especially when we are walking through seasons of trials. Praise His glorious name in storms, in battles, and when life itself gets difficult. Let us fill our hearts with words of praise for the LORD our God with thanksgiving. Turn our eyes toward Him and allow Him to surround us with His love, with His strength, with His Spirit. □

1) World Population Review, “Countries With Nuclear Weapons 2021” https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/countries-with-nuclear-weapons. Retrieved 6 May 2021.

Feast of Trumpets - 2020

Greetings dearest friends around the world. I welcome you to the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries, and I’m your host Leonard V. Johnson. Welcome to the holy Feast of Trumpets – 2020!

If you would turn with me in your Bible to the Book of Leviticus, the 23rd chapter. And, verse 23 –

“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 24) ‘Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation [a holy gathering].’”

So, friends, this is the first day of the seventh month (Tishri) – a New Moon. And, together we are having a holy convocation – via the Internet – here.

Verse 25 – “’ You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD.’”

So, friends, here we are. And, if you indeed find it within your heart to give an offering unto the LORD our God to help proclaim this glorious message around the world, we certainly would be glad to accept an offering. We have a PayPal account set up for this located on our website – www. owensborocojc.com. Even though the offering may not be made ‘by fire’ our Lord Jesus Christ tells us through the apostle Paul that we should, ‘by the mercies of God, present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God’ – cf. Romans 12:1 NKJV. And, He says that to obey is better than sacrifice – so that is what we should indeed do. We are obeying by gathering together with our scattered brethren from around the world and giving an offering.

‘A memorial of blowing trumpets.’

Let’s turn now to the Book of Numbers, the 10th chapter.

Verse 8 – “The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and these shall be to you as an ordinance forever throughout your generations.”

So then, down through history, it is the responsibility of the sons of Aaron to decide when the holy days are – which is why we go by the Hebrew calendar.

Observed At Sunset The Day Before

Verse 10 – “’ Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I AM the LORD your God.’”

So then, again, this is the beginning of a new month and a holy feast day – the Feast of Trumpets.

Now, chapter 6 of the Book of Joshua is like the Day of the LORD – in a nutshell. As an analogy. Turn with me over to the Book of Joshua, chapter 6 – there are a lot of similarities.

Verse 1 – “Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. 2) And the LORD said to Joshua: ‘See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. 3) You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. 4) And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.”

Verse 5 – “It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the rams’ horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him.”

Verse 6 – “Then Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said to them, ‘Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD.’ 7) And he said to the people, ‘Proceed, and march around the city, and let him who is armed advance before the ark of the LORD.’”

Verse 8 – “So it was, when Joshua had spoken to the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the LORD advanced and blew the trumpets, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. 9) The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets. 10) Now Joshua had commanded the people, saying, ‘You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I say to you, ‘Shout!’ Then you shall shout.’”

Verse 11 – So he had the ark of the LORD circle the city, going around it once. Then they came into the camp and lodged in the camp. 12) And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. 13) Then seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually and blew with the trumpets. And the armed men went before them. But the rear guard came after the ark of the LORD, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets.”

Verse 14 – “And the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. So they did six days.”

Verse 15 – “But it came to pass on the SEVENTH DAY that they rose early, about the dawning of the day, and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. On that day only they marched around the city seven times. 16) And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: ‘Shout, for the LORD has given you the city!’”

Now, friends, Jericho represents - the earth.

The seven priests with trumpets represent – the seven angels with trumpets that we read about in the Book of Revelation. Each day the trumpets sounded for six days – just like the six trumpet plagues, we read about in the Book of Revelation. They ‘returned to the camp’ each day giving time for the people to repent – to change.

The ark of the LORD represents – the throne of God.

Now, God told the priests – through Joshua – to ‘take up the ark of the covenant.’ Many people may ask – why was Uzzah, the son of Abinadab, struck down when he touched the Ark of the Covenant? The reason being is because the ark represents the throne of Almighty God, and they were carrying it incorrectly. Four priests were to carry the ark with long poles that went through rings. ‘A wheel in the middle of a wheel’ as it is described in Ezekiel, chapter 10. The four living creatures – the four cherubim – are represented by the four priests who were to carry the Ark of the Covenant. This is how the ark was to be transported, but they for some reason placed the Ark of the Covenant on an ox cart and Uzzah, trying to steady the ark, was struck down – so that the people would remember what God had told them.

So, the seventh time they went around the city circling seven times, and Joshua told the people to shout.

Verse 17 – “Now the city shall be doomed by the LORD to destruction, it and all who are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.”

Verse 20 – “So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.”

So, the SEVENTH DAY represents – the seventh trumpet!

The ‘great shout’ – the voice of an archangel with the trumpet of God and we all are resurrected and meet Christ in the atmosphere. And as Jericho fell – ‘the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord [God the Father] and of His Christ [Jesus Christ], and He shall reign forever and ever!’

So, this story of Jericho in chapter 6 of the Book of Joshua is but a small condensed version of what the terrible Day of the LORD will be like.

Matthew, chapter 24 and verse 29 – and I know that I’ve covered this in the articles “A ‘Secret Rapture’?” as well as “One God One Mediator II.” But, of course, it’s very relevant to this holy day – the Feast of Trumpets. Mr. Garrett covers this passage in “Feast of Trumpets – ‘Thy Kingdom Come’.”

Jesus says, “’ Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; [the atmosphere will be thick with volcanic ash towers or even radioactive dust and ash!] the stars will fall from heaven [Satan and his demons will be thrown down to the earth from the atmosphere], and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30) Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, …’”

And, as I have mentioned before - 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 really will – an invading alien force.

“ … ‘and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.’”

Verse 31 – and here’s the verse I want to focus on here – “’ And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.’” – He will be gathering them from all around the world.

So, much of the confusion among many is the prophetic order of events. It’s the end-time trauma. What Jesus calls an end-time ‘tribulation.’ – v. 21. Then because of the tremendous ash and smoke in our atmosphere the sun and the moon will be darkened, the “stars” will fall from heaven (Satan and his demons will be thrown to the earth) – v. 29. Then the sign of the Son of Man appearing in heaven [which in this case is outer space] – v. 30. He’s not going to be a “near miss.” This is not going to be a “secret rapture,” skipping off the atmosphere, grab the saints and then leave in “secret.” Indeed, Jesus says, “’ For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.’” And as the Book of Revelation says, “every eye will see Him. … And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him” – Revelation 1:7 NKJV. In that order.

And, at the LAST TRUMP the saints of Almighty God and our Lord Jesus Christ are resurrected – and as Jesus says, ‘the angels are going to gather us from one end of heaven [the atmosphere] to the other end of heaven [the atmosphere].’

Friends, there are people in this world which have different ideas of what our Lord Jesus Christ said here – they say, “Well, this can’t be done until we’ve got men on Mars and other distant planets.” But, as He very plainly said, ‘from the four winds’ and the wind is where clouds are. As the apostle Paul wrote – under the divine inspiration of God’s Spirit – “we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” – 1 Thessalonians 4:17 NKJV.

Let’s turn now in our Bible to the Book of Revelation, chapter 1. And, as taught by secular Christianity as in the Jamieson Fausset and Brown Commentary of the Whole Bible – as well as many other commentaries – they teach, “JUSTIN MARTYR, Apology, 2. 98, etc., ‘On Sunday we all hold our joint meeting; for the first day is that on which God, having removed darkness and chaos, made the world, and Jesus Christ our Saviour rose from the dead. On the day before Saturday they crucified Him, and on the day after Saturday, which is Sunday, having appeared to His apostles and disciples, He taught these things.’” 1 Just to note: While Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and many Protestants consider this Justin Martyr to be a saint (and an important one I might add), we in the Church of God do not see him that way. The greater majority of this world’s churches teach that the ‘Day of the Lord’ is the first day of the week – Sunday.

Verse 10 – “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet.” – the FEAST OF TRUMPET’S (plural) represents ‘the Day of the LORD.’ The apostle John was not in the Spirit for only the seventh trump, but with all seven. So, you see the connection between the Day of the LORD and a trumpet.

Let’s turn now in our Bibles to chapter 6 of the Book of Revelation.

Verse 9 – “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.”

Verse 10 – “And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’” – now, this is allegorical language. And, in the very near future, it continues –

Verse 11 – ““Then a white robe [will be] given to each of them; …” – meaning signs of immortality and eternal life. “ … and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, …” – to wait, be quiet, be easy for a little season. “ … until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.” – and I think it’s talking about the end-time prophets.

Friends, as I mentioned earlier, a great many do not properly understand the timing of these prophetic events. They improperly teach that the resurrection of the saints would NOT occur until the SEVEN SEALS were over, and the SEVEN TRUMPETS were over, and the SEVEN PLAGUES were over, and sometime – they aren’t really sure - but sometime in there, the resurrection of the saints would occur. But we contend, friends, a revealed truth from Almighty God - THE SEVENTH TRUMP IS THE MOMENT OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE SAINTS! The FIRST resurrection!

Verse 12 – “I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.” - the atmosphere will be thick with volcanic ash towers from a great number of volcanoes erupting around the globe, possibly caused by the massive ‘great earthquake.’

Verse 13 – “And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.” – now, many often use a phrase from the prophet Jo-El - “’ And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth.” Yet, by the grace and glory of Almighty God and our Lord Jesus Christ, a revealed truth - it’s speaking of the removal of Satan and his demons from the atmosphere. It’s the same thing talked about in Revelation 12, where Michael the archangel is to – as it says, “And war broke out in heaven.” And Satan and his demons were cast out of the atmosphere onto the earth. What’s happening here is the atmosphere of the earth is being prepared for the soon arrival of Jesus Christ and God the Father and the portable throne of God! And this is going to be quite a light show.

Verse 14 – “Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.” - the earth will be covered in a large amount of pollution from the earthquakes, the volcanoes, the fires. This damaging smoke and pollution must be cleared from the atmosphere before the arrival of our King of kings and LORD of lords!

Verse 15 – “And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every [bond man] and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, …” – think of the many mountain complexes throughout the nations in which ‘rich men,’ ‘commanders,’ and ‘mighty men’ will hide from the threat of nuclear attack, massive volcanoes, and earthquakes – as well as an “unidentified object” heading for the earth!

Verse 16 – “and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17) For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

So, the Day of the LORD here is upon the earth!

Now, we go over to Revelation 8 – and it picks up this outline again.

“When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2) And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.”

So the seventh seal is equivalent to the beginning of the SEVEN TRUMPETS.

Verse 3 – “Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4) And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.” – so again, allegorical language. It’s almost as if prayers are smoke.

Verse 5 – “Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.” – so again earthquake activity. Thunderstorms, lightnings – a lot of disturbance going on! Very terrorizing and intimidating!

Verse 6 – “So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.” – so, the ‘silence in heaven for about half an hour’ is the burning of incense. And that was at the time of the daily sacrifice – which is also the hour of prayer. So, all these things happened at the same time, if you’re familiar with Exodus 29 and 30.

Going back to Revelation, chapter 8 – 

Verse 7 – “The first angel [or rather, messenger] sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.” – this could indeed be speaking of meteors striking the earth.



Verse 8 – “Then the second angel [or rather, messenger] sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9) And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.” – and, this could indeed be speaking of a large asteroid striking the earth, surely causing volcanoes to spew forth their lava into the oceans.




Verse 10 – “Then the third angel [ or rather, messenger] sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11) The name of the star is Wormwood [meaning bitter]. A third of the waters became wormwood [bitter], and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.” – again, this sounds like a massive asteroid that strikes the earth causing the waters to turn bitter.




Verse 12 – “Then the fourth angel [or rather, messenger] sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, …” – I would imagine that it means that a third of the time when the sun would be normally shining it isn’t. “ … so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.” – a lot of smoke and pollution.




Now, I can’t prove it; but you can’t disprove it – I believe the Two Witnesses (See Revelation 11) may have a direct hand in some of these early trumpet problems.

Verse 13 – “And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, ‘Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!’”

Now, everything up to there has been horrible! But now this angelic being announces, “Well, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!” The last three are going to shake the world even more!

Chapter 9, verse 1 – “Then the fifth angel [or rather, messenger] sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven [the sky] to the earth [Satan and his demons are being thrown into the bottomless pit just before the return of Jesus Christ! cf. Rev. 20:1-2]. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit, 2) And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit.” – just as our Lord Jesus said, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven’ – Luke 10:18 NKJV. Now, in Revelation, chapter 1, Jesus has told us that stars represent angels. And, in Isaiah chapter 14 it says, “’ How you are fallen from heaven, [Hebrew Helel ben Shachar for “shining one” or “in or of the morning.”] How you are cut down to the ground, …’” So, this is past tense verbiage. ‘Fallen’ which means it had already happened.

Verse 3 – “Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. …” – again, as I’ve covered in “’ Wake Up, Sleeper, Rise From The Dead’” this is a great army of Islamic soldiers 200 million strong ( cf. Revelation 9:16) which will go forth swarming like locusts and as ferocious as lions. But they don’t ‘harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree’

Verse 4 – “They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” - they destroy men with different types of weapons which destroy not the buildings, trees, or grass. It’s interesting in knowing that many nations have this technology and what damage these types of weapons can indeed do – like an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) and chemical weapons.

Do you recall the Tokyo subway train sarin religious terrorist attack of 1995!? Thank Almighty God that demented and satanic group had a lack of normal precursors for production, and as a result, the deadly chemical was of lower quality – the death toll could have been up into the thousands! According to Dr. Anne Marie Helmenstine, “Exposure to even a small amount of Sarin may be fatal, yet treatments are available that may prevent permanent neurological damage and death.” 2 Hence –

Verse 5 – “And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man.” – friends, could this be the effects of sarin gas which like the sting of scorpions effects the human nervous system!?

Verse 6 – “In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.”

Now, in verse 11 these 200 million strong Islamic soldiers will have over them as king “the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon [Destroyer; Satan the devil], but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.”

And, surely, as an example – the evil one behind the terrorist attacks on America September 11th, 2001 was indeed Satan the devil, as they cried aloud “Allahu Akbar!”

Verse 12 – “One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.”

Verse 13 - “Then the sixth angel [or rather, messenger] sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, [ – remember you have the seven seals, the seventh seal being seven trumpets!]. 14) saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, ‘Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.’ 15) So the four angels [or, FOUR COUNTRIES - Back in the Book of Daniel we read about that - these angelic beings or demonic beings were in charge of certain states], who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16) Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; …” – now personally, I believe that this and the ‘kings of the east’ is referring to a collection of Islamic people from those eastern countries – including Indonesia, which is the most populist Islamic country in the world. There are millions upon millions of Muslims in India, Pakistan – all of those countries of the east. 3

So, here we see that Almighty God and our Lord Jesus Christ has been restraining and holding back this massing – this assembling into one body – of a radical Islamic confederation of armies that could have caused worldwide devastation long ago (with the very real possibility of obtaining nuclear and or biological weapons) – but here God releases the four angels (and these may be indeed demons in charge of FOUR COUNTRIES) who are bound at the great river Euphrates. I personally am thinking that there’s a good chance – I don’t know for sure – that this ‘200 million man army’ is attempting to attack the European forces which have wiped out their Islamic brothers and cousins.

Verse 20 – “But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols …” – now, this may come as a shock to you, but Christians and Muslims do not worship the same God! To Note: as proof that I speak the truth, we need only turn to their Koran itself –

“The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was no more than God’s apostle and His Word which He cast to Mary: a spirit from Him. … God forbid that He should have a son! His is all that the heavens and the earth contain.” – Women, 4.171.

Clearly, the Koran (written about 600 AD) DENIES the Son of God, Jesus Christ!

“ … of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. 21) And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.”

Almighty God, so full of grace and mercy, gives them a chance to repent after each trumpet blast – to change.

And, 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!

Verse 7 – “but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.” - and friends, in a nutshell, this great mystery, of which the great majority of this world doesn't know or understand, and would most likely deny, is that upon the blowing of the SEVENTH TRUMP, we who have been and are begotten children of God and followers of Christ Jesus - our LORD, our Creator, our Elder Brother, our Savior - will be resurrected! “For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” - 1 Corinthians 15:52 NKJV. And we shall become a member of the God family!

Now, turn in your Bibles to the Book of Revelation, chapter 11, verse 15. This ‘last trumpet’ in 1st Corinthians is the SEVENTH TRUMPET of Revelation 11:15:

“Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven [the sky], saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord [God the Father] and of His Christ [Jesus Christ], and He shall reign forever and ever!’”

Verse 16 – “And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17) saying:

“’ We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. 18) The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets And the saints, And those who fear [respect] Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.’”

Verse 19 – “Then the temple of God was opened in heaven [in the atmosphere], and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.”

Now, the real Ark of the Covenant is in Almighty God’s temple – as we just read here. Because the prophet Moses was told by God ‘see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain’ – Exodus 25:40; NKJV. And he was also told to place the ten commandments inside the Ark of the Covenant – so, do you think there are the original ten commandments inside the original Ark of the Covenant!?

Well, a large part of understanding the Book of Revelation is knowing the prophetic events are not in chronological order as you read them chapter by chapter and verse by verse.

Now turn in your Bibles to chapter 19 of the Book of Revelation.

Verse 11 – “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12) His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written than no one knew except Himself. 13) He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14) And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15) Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”

Verse 16 – “And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

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

Verse 21 – “And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.”

And chapter 20, verse 6 of the Book of Revelation –

“Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God [God the Father] and of Christ [Jesus Christ], and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”

So, friends, together with this – let’s turn to the Book of 1st Corinthians, chapter 15.

Verse 51 – “Behold, I tell you a mystery: ….” – the great mystery of God which has been revealed to only a small handful of people. “ … We shall not all sleep, …” – ‘not everyone will be dead’ he’s saying.

“ … but we shall all be changed – 52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. …” – the FEAST OF TRUMPETS! “ … For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54) So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’” – a phrase from the Book of Isaiah.

The Book of 1st Thessalonians, chapter 4 –

Verse 16 – “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven [the atmosphere] with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. …” – again, FEAST OF TRUMPETS, the trump of God! “ … And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds …” – the atmosphere! Not going off to far-away Heaven! No – “’ Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit THE EARTH.’” That’s what Jesus said! So we, dear saints of God, go up into low-earth orbit.

Verse 18 – “Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

So again, the apostle Paul tells us here and makes it plain, that we are going to be caught up and meet in the clouds – in the atmosphere.

Friends, keep in mind: The SEVEN SEALS of the Book of Revelation are the symbolic, prophetically, of the early ‘troubles’ which will befall this world, and in particular, the House of Judah and the House of Israel. And the FIRST SIX of the SEVEN TRUMPETS are a progression of those ‘troubles.’

And the SEVENTH TRUMP of the seven trumps is indeed, directly related to the concept of the resurrection of the saints. The blowing of the SEVENTH TRUMP! The saints of God are gone from the earth. They are in “low-earth orbit.” And following that, in the Book of Revelation – Chapters 15 & 16 – you read about the SEVEN LAST PLAGUES.

Conclusion

So, where are we, dear friends!? Another year has gone by – here we are in the year 2020. Now, I never imagined that when I first began attending God’s Church that I would still be learning – and now teaching – this.

Well, as far as end-time events – the end-time trauma – and as far as within the Book of Revelation we are still in chapter 5. Our glorious Savior and Master Jesus Christ prevailed to open the sealed scroll and to loose its seven seals. And He has taken out of the right hand of His Father the sealed scroll.

Now I believe the main events which we are looking for are these –

As we ‘watch and pray’ – as Jesus told us to – we are beginning to witness the sorrows spoken of in this end-time! Sadly, most people do not grasp HOW FAST THINGS ARE CHANGING!

But what about the world in this 11:58 Hour!?

Turkey is threatening to free ISIS fighters and send them to Europe – so says Erdoğan. This – alone - may trigger a seventh-resurrection of the “Holy” Roman Empire in the form of a UNITED STATES OF EUROPE (or a FEDERATION OF EUROPE). A new, stronger, leader of a ‘united’ Europe will indeed want a political-military UNION. The grave influx of radicalized Islamic immigrants into Europe is gravely adding to this biblical prophecy.

The religion of Islam is the dominant religion in the Maldives, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. And, India has the largest Muslim population outside any other Muslim-majority country with over 200 million people! And as we proclaim and WARN – the coming final ‘king of the South,’ the end-time federation of Islamic countries – will indeed counterattack with an estimated 200 million man army! So says, biblical prophecy (Daniel 11:40; Revelation 9:13-16).

Friends, in one way or another I personally for some thirty-eight-years have been very aware of the troubled state of this world!

And the state of this world is rapidly becoming more and more troubled! You will do well to notice – and heed – some of the numerous biblical prophecies which foretell this very end of the age.

When this world’s Savior walked on this earth, His disciples – soon to be apostles – asked Him privately when the end of this present age would end and what would be the true sign of His coming. And in answer He first warned them - as well as all of us - of false gospels and false prophets, ministers, and teachers proclaiming that Jesus Christ is the Christ and yet deceiving many. Even during the end of the first century AD, the true Gospel Message – which is Heaven – the throne of God, the Kingdom of God – is coming to the Earth! The Kingdom of God will be established, and Jesus Christ is your Savior and is your great High Priest! was highjacked – and the world at large turned to another gospel (Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Corinthians 11:4). Jesus says, ‘you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.’ But then, the final end-time begins “… ‘nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.’” – a direct reference to the final holy-war between the end-time ‘king of the South’ and the ‘king of the North’ (cf. Daniel 11:40; Revelation 9:13-16). “... ‘there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.’ And even all this is but ‘the beginning of sorrows.’ EVEN MORE, IS TO COME!

It is at or around this time period that the end-time prophets appear on the scene. As Jesus says, ‘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.’ And they – possibly twelve end-time prophets – will be given power from God Almighty and Jesus Christ to begin prophesying – testifying - to kings, to world rulers, to the captured 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! Having the power from GOD to heal, to ‘shut up the atmosphere from rain, to turn waters to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues as often as they desire (see: Revelation 8:7-12).

And this ‘gospel’ is the announcement of the coming Kingdom of God! The Kingdom of God is the GOVERNMENT OF GOD – of which Christ was born to be the KING (Luke 1:30-33; Isaiah 9:6-7; Revelation 11:15).

So in all of this, it’s a step by step progress – over here something happens, over there something happens. And as you read the Bible you sort-of get the feeling that it grows in intensity!

And, as these end-time prophets – under the direct inspiration of God’s Spirit - are proclaiming this soon-coming WORLDWIDE GOVERNMENT, ‘the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet,’ will be set up ‘standing in the holy place’ – talking about a newly built temple – in Jerusalem. And this will come about when European forces invade the Middle East to put down Islamic resistance – to crush it militarily.

’For then …’ – when you see this great military force enter Jerusalem from the North – Europe – and take over the temple, and a great holy man claims that he is now God – and that is the ‘abomination that makes desolate’ – Jesus says, ’there will be great tribulation, …’ – many, many horrible globe-girdling problems! …’ such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.’

’And unless those days were shortened, …’ – except this end-time trauma be shortened, …‘no flesh would be saved; …’ – and as some translations say, ‘saved alive; but for the elect’s sake …’ – a certain group of people who are very near and dear the hearts of God the Father and Jesus Christ – referring to the physical people of the House of Israel. Once named Jacob.

The Book of Daniel talks about the “king of the North,” being EUROPE, and the “king of the South,” the Islamic Middle East, including North Africa. And there will be a World War III – and it will plunge the world into a day that the Bible calls ‘great tribulation.’ GREAT TROUBLES! The worst period of time in the history of mankind!

We are rapidly heading into this time of ‘great tribulation’!

Everything has repercussions and everything leads to another. And, this is the world we’re in. So, until then, let us continue to watch and pray that we all might be accounted worthy to escape what is coming upon our nations – and what is already occurring – and to stand before Jesus Christ. □

Bibliography and Notes:

1 Jamieson, R., Fausset, A.R., Brown, D., Jamieson Fausset and Brown Commentary of the Whole Bible, Zondervan Publishing House, 1982, pp. 1529.
2 Helmenstine, M.A., Ph.D., How Sarin Nerve Gas Works (And What to Do If Exposed), ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/how-sarin-gas-works-609278. Retrieved 27 August 2020.

3 “Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world by population, with over 200 million (88.2% of total population) …” Praying For Indonesia. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
“around 201 million Muslims (2018 estimate), India's Muslim population is about the world's second-largest and the world's largest Muslim-minority population. Wikipedia, Retrieved 25 August 2020.
“There are about 175,376,000 Muslims in Pakistan …” Islam in Pakistan. Wikipedia.org.25 August 2020.