Revelation - A Book of the Past and the Future (Part 3)

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Greetings friends around the world! Our friends in Pakistan, Sweden, India, Kenya, Ireland, as well as Live Oak, Florida! Welcome to the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries, this is Leonard V. Johnson.

Now, I had mentioned this in a ‘Letter to our Friends,’ which you can find all of our letters on our webpage – www.owensborocojc.com – that I have been advertising our YouTube channel in order to get more subscribers. Well, I’ve received several negative comments on Facebook. Not only that, but we’ve been attacked by Facebook – they banned two of our videos on our page, “The Truth Concerning the Trinity – Explained” and a gospel song called “Amazing Grace” sang by Minister Michael C. Garrett. Their reasoning, “Copyright Issues.”

Friends, this glorious message of the gospel of the kingdom of God is going out to the Gentile nations, WARNING them. Yet, we don’t expect them – the majority – to receive this message gracefully. Surely, the Muslims will not accept God’s glorious message. And, if one does – it’s extremely rare.

Our Lord Jesus Christ commissioned:

“’ Go therefore and make disciples [which includes teaching] of ALL THE NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20) TEACHING THEM to observe all things that I have commanded you; …’” – Matthew 28:19-20, NKJV throughout unless otherwise noted.

The Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries and our affiliated churches follow the admonition of Jesus when He said, “’ But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’” (Matthew 10:6), and of course to the potential sheep of Christ. Our mission is to teach the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the ultimate Plan of God to the ‘lost sheep of Israel’ and to testify of Jesus Christ, of His forgiveness, of His atoning sacrifice, of the opportunity for all of us to have Jesus Christ as our great High Priest and to live under the promises of the New Covenant, and to someday be a part of the glorious Kingdom of God!

Now we believe that phrase, ‘lost sheep,’ has a much deeper, spiritual, and heightened meaning. Our Lord Jesus might very well have said, ‘Go to the lost Church members.’ ‘Go to those people who thought they were in a good organization, they didn’t realize their leaders were corrupt and their doctrines were impure – or highly compromised.’ ‘Go to those lost sheep!’ I think it has a double meaning! And, I personally have tried showing some people who believe that they are in a good organization of their leaders’ true spirit, but only received bruises. In fact, those leaders were going to deliver me up before their council and “scourge” me in their church. It can be humbling at times the feeling of loneliness in the faith – but if one mustard seed will take root, then I have done my job.

Although it shouldn't come as a surprise, our Lord God has warned us repeatedly that these things would happen! –

“’ We must work the works of Him who sent Me, as long as it is day; night is coming, when no man can work.’” - John 9:4, NASB.

“’ See, I have told you beforehand.’” - Matthew 24:25.

But, getting on into the message of today. I’d like to continue into the Book of Revelation. 

In your Bible turn with me if you will to chapter 4 of the Book of Revelation –

Now, as we are aware, the Book of Revelation was written by the apostle John, which was written roughly A.D. 95, placing the apostle John up into his 90’s when he was given this amazing vision which was revealed, as he wrote in the first chapter – that it is a revelation of Jesus Christ. Just what He would reveal to the apostle John. And, He tells John, “’ Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.’” So, Jesus Christ was showing him – not only the spiritual condition of those seven churches in Asia Minor during their time but, ‘the things which will take place after this.’

So, in vision, verse 1 – “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven [here, the region where God dwells and the other heavenly beings – cf. 2 Corinthians 12:2]. …”

Certainly the apostle John saw some strange things – like the weird creatures he saw – like seeing frogs coming out of the mouth of a dragon. He actually saw these visions, as strange as they may seem to many. Can you imagine him, never having seen many of our modern equipment, seeing in vision huge military helicopters, and armaments which are used today!? – of nuclear explosions!? Certainly, it was horrifying to him. We read of many prophets of God in the Old Testament – of the prophet Ezekiel, of the prophet Daniel – who saw in vision things which truly astounded them and in which their strength left them.

So, we know that the apostle John was able to write this vision down – which lasted for some time over a course of several days or weeks, or even months – recording everything He saw in vision.

“ … And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet …”

Now, friends, we keep the LORD God’s Feast of Trumpets. ‘A memorial of blowing trumpets.’ 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].’ “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! So, the trumpet was used as a WARNING, and also to gather people together. Trumpets – as well as shofars – can create a very loud noise.

“ … speaking with me, saying, ‘Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.’” – things in the future.

Verse 2 – “Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.”

Now, in my library, I have a Life Application Study Bible of the New Living Translation. And in its explanatory notes section at the bottom of the page for this verse says, “Four times in the Book of Revelation John says he was ‘in the Spirit.’ … This expression means that the Holy Spirit was giving him a vision – showing him situations and events he could not have seen with mere human eyesight.” Indeed, a key in helping us to understand the Book of Revelation is understanding Revelation 1:10 and Revelation 4:2. The apostle John was transported in time unto the Day of the LORD  - which certainly places a time element upon the majority of the prophecies within the Book of Revelation. During this time which is called the Day of the LORD.

Verse 3 – “And He who sat there was like a jasper [reddish brown] and a sardius [reddish brown] stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald [green in color].”

Now, if you’ll hold your place here – let’s turn back to the Book of Ezekiel.

The prophet Ezekiel had a similar vision. The Book of Ezekiel chapter 1 –

Verse 24 – “When they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of many waters, …” – these great four beings which were transporting the LORD God.

“ … like the voice of the Almighty, a tumult like the noise of an army; and when they stood still, they let down their wings. 25) A voice came from above the firmament that was over their heads; …”

So, a voice came from above their heads – these four living creatures (see: Revelation 4:6) – like the sound of Angel Falls in Venezuela. A most deafening sound if you’re standing near the bottom of the falls I’m sure.

“ … whenever they stood, they let down their wings. 26) And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone [most commonly blue shades]; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it.”

In the Book of Exodus chapter 24, when prophet Moses “went up into the mountain, and a cloud covered the mountain …And on the seventh day He [the LORD] called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. The sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain …” And then in chapters 33 and 34, “And he said [to the LORD], ‘Please show me Your glory.” And the LORD said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” Nowhere in these chapters does it say that the LORD God looks like a man – does it!? It just simply says, “and they saw the God of Israel.” Surely, prophet Moses saw the figure – the outline – of a man.

Verse 27 – “Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around.” – much like looking into a furnace.

Verse 28 – “Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.”

What a most tremendous thing to happen to you!

So, turning again to the Book of Revelation –

Verse 4 – “Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting clothed in white robes; …”

Now, last year I had a conversation with a dear sister concerning – just who are the twenty-four elders mentioned here sitting on the thrones; “and they had crowns of gold on their heads”!? And I had stated, “Nowhere in God’s living word are angels referred to as ‘elders.’” Nor are angels ever depicted sitting upon thrones or wearing crowns. In addition, the Greek word presbyteros, meaning “ancients,” is the same word used in Hebrews 11:2 – “For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.” Referring to the elders, or rather “the fathers.” In Wycliffe’s Bible Dictionary it says – and I tend to agree – “As elders, they represent God’s people; their thrones and crowns symbolize a kingly role, while their acts of worship and the bowls of incense suggest a priestly function. Thus they seem to be the chief representatives of the redeemed as a kingdom of priests.” 1 – cf. Revelation 1:6. And, as I had said to my sister - I believe these twenty-four elders represent twenty-four representatives of the saints which are resurrected at the last trump – the seventh trump – extremely important individuals.

Now here, I’d also like to add a quote from a Star Trek movie asked by Captain Kirk, “What does God need with a starship?” So, I ask, what does God need with twenty-four elders, or rather twenty-four priests over the kingdom of God!? Does He need them there to give Him advise!? Will they be there to keep records!? Why Does God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ need these twenty-four elders – these priests!? Well, friends, I love the answer which Minister Michael C. Garrett gives. Now, he gave the answer for the 144,000 from each of the tribes of Israel – minus Dan, however, it certainly can be applied to the twenty-four elders – the twenty-four priests. And I think these twenty-four elders are advisers. What we would call, part of a “Cabinet.” Advisors to the president. When you think about the president – when he takes trips, he’s got all these people that are on the trip with him. Some protect him, some advise him, some are his spokesmen. And, I, like the 144,000, these twenty-four elders – though they will have a priestly duty – are similar to this.

For in truth, it truly goes back to even why we were born! – because the very purpose of life itself is that in us God is recreating His own kind – reproducing Himself after His own kind – for we are, upon true conversion, actually begotten children (yet unborn) of God.

It tells us over in the 5th chapter of the Book of Revelation –

Verse 8 – Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”

So, they indeed have a priestly duty. Friends, this is in the future – it is not in the present – let us not forget what we just read, “’ Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place AFTER THIS.’” In the future. Yet, you want to talk about importance! Sitting on thrones before the very Creator of all things! How important of a position is this!? Think about this great importance!

Revelation chapter 4 again –

Verse 5 – “And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. SEVEN LAMPS of fire were burning before the throne, which are the SEVEN SPIRITS [recall, seven churches – Revelation 2 & 3] of God.”

Now, let me pause here a moment and mention – in the Book of Zechariah it talks about a vision which the prophet Zechariah had.

Chapter 3, verse 1 – “Then he showed me Joshua [Yehoshua] the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.” – and, of course, later this prophecy describes our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Jesus’ name in Hebrew is Yehoshua).

But, later in chapter 4, the angel asks the prophet Zechariah, “’ What do you see?’” And in vision, he sees – “a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand SEVEN LAMPS …” – which represent the seven churches of God with seven angels of the LORD watching over them. “ … with SEVEN PIPES [CANDLESTICKS – the seven churches of God] to the seven lamps.” – so, these seven Spirits are seven angels watching over the seven churches of God.

Verse 6 – “Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. …”

In Revelation chapter 15 it’s described as “ … something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, …” And the resurrected saints of God will eventually be standing upon this sea of glass – “ … and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark, and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.”

“ … And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.”

Now, in God’s living word, cherubim is referenced some 69 separate times. They are uniquely different from angels and seraphim. The Bible mentions three distinctly different types of cherubim. The four Living Creatures mentioned here as well as in the Book of Ezekiel are a very different kind of cherubim. They are usually in pairs except when they are physically with Almighty God. Cherubim (plural for cherub), as the prophet Ezekiel wrote, “appear to have the form of a man’s hand under their wings” – Ezekiel 10:8. Cherubim sometimes have two, four, or six wings. Seraphim have six wings. Angels (messengers) do not have wings, yet they can fly. They can appear and disappear very suddenly. They are all part of God’s heavenly hosts and all stand before the LORD God – the Creator of the universe! Within biblical texts, angels always appear as men and never as women or children. Angels can appear as strangers – cf. Hebrews 13:2.

Verse 7 – “The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.”

So, this description describes four unique cherubim.

Verse 8 – “The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was, and is and is to come!’”

Verse 9 – “Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10) the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11) ‘You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.’”

Let us turn over to the Book of Acts, the 17th chapter. The apostle Paul often spoke of this, as did many of the other apostles. Let us read about the very statement that ‘He was, and is and is to come.’ And, that He created all things and they were made for Him. We also, of course, read this in the Book of John. But look here. The apostle Paul was in Athens, Greece here and he had come upon a sign on an altar which read: ‘TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.’ These Greeks had so many different false gods and goddesses, supposedly they ran out of names and they titled this particular altar to the ‘unknown god.’ He says to them –

Verse 23 – “ … Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24) God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands, 25) nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, …”

One does not need to give the sign of the mark of the beast, or place your hands like a steeple!

Now friends, in my library, I have a book entitled “Cosmos,” by the late renowned astronomer, planetary scientist, and astrophysicist Carl Sagan.

And it has one section which mentions experiments that were performed in the early ‘50s by a graduate student – who had argued that the early atmosphere of the Earth was hydrogen-rich. And that the origin of life occurred before the hydrogen was lost and that such gases sparked, creating life. That life began in the ocean with temperatures which began to fall, and the amino-acids, and the proteins and the nucleotides – and how these different chemicals and the different aspects of this old earth – which condensed out of interstellar gas and dust some 4.6 billion years ago – and how they came together to form the earliest stages of life – a kind of organic soup. And how over time these different molecules that evolved would put away the characteristics that were not working for them and rather inherit characteristics that were better. Like he gives an example in the book – the invention of sex. With the invention of sex, two organisms could exchange whole paragraphs of their DNA code, producing new varieties ready for the sieve of selection. And, of course, I have read through this book, writing notes, reading it objectively, yet listening to what Mr. Sagan had to say. Yet, in the back of my mind truly saying – all of this is foolishness. Because God created all of these things that they see in their greatest of powerful microscopes. But what they don’t realize is that what they are looking at – such as when they look at the skulls and bones of Neanderthals or ancient dinosaurs – is that this earth was turned upside down at one point in time! And if they would only read and believe the living word of God, especially what the apostle Peter says, “But this fact is hidden from them – they themselves choosing to ignore it – that by the Word of God the heavens existed of old, and the earth came forth out of water and amid water” – 2 Peter 3:5, NET. The E A R T H had become “without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep” – very likely when Satan the devil and his demons were cast down unto tartaroo, this earth.

Now, we certainly know that some 65 million years ago utter destruction, how this earth was struck by a massive asteroid which carved out the Chicxulub crater and greatly aided in the death of all these creatures – some instantaneously with food still within their mouth. An instant destructive force that destroyed the dinosaurs, and legendary flying pterosaurs, called pterodactyls. And the largest species of the Late Cretaceous, Pteranodon, attained wingspans of up to 30 feet, much larger than any flying birds alive today. Just amazing creatures that were inhabiting the face of this earth.

And continuing in the Book of Acts –

Verse 26 – “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and had determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings.”

Indeed, and as I have said before - God had never designed any nation to be a great “melting-pot.”

Verse 27 – “so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.”

Friends, God says to us – through the prophet Isaiah – “’ Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near’” – Isaiah 55:6. This certainly indicates that there is soon coming a time when He WON’T be found!! He won’t be assessable – because as we read in the likes of Amos chapter 8, “’ Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘That I will send a famine on the land’ of hearing the words of the LORD. He says also there is coming a time when He will turn His ear away from this earth because of our abominations – of our sins. He says for this end-time – this end-time trauma – “’ do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry out to Me because of their trouble” – Jeremiah 11:14. And He’s speaking of the modern-day nations of Israel – the United States of America in the Western Hemisphere (but also includes to an extent the Midway Atoll, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands of the United States, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, and Guam), the United Kingdom and her Commonwealth of Nations (which respectfully includes Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, Britain, including Canada), the Commonwealth of Australia, and New Zealand. So, God is saying here – your holidays and your sins are an abomination unto Me! ‘Away with your sacrifices!’

Verse 28 – “for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, …”

And, he began quoting a few of their own Greek poets who had written praises to Zeus – applying them here to the very Creator of all things.

“ … ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 29) Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. 30) Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men EVERYWHERE to repent.”

In just that little statement here, the apostle Paul turned their own poets topsy-turvy – Paul applying them to the Creator God Himself! And what was the very first thing he tells them concerning God!? He created all things! And this is what we are reading here in the Book of Revelation.

Now, going on into chapter 5 of the Book of Revelation –

I believe this is a keyhole glimpse (of which I do not believe has taken place yet) of that glorious moment when Jesus Christ – the Firstfruits from the earth – will be presented before God the Father.

God the Father will sit Him down at His right hand and give Him all of His dominion and glory, power, strength, and might, which He is going to exercise once His enemies are destroyed.

Verse 1 – “And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.”

Now biblical scholars and sincere students of the living word of God certainly know that the Book of Revelation is divided into numbers of seven. Seven seals that seal this scroll. Now, what I’m about to say has probably never been taught – and was never taught – in the churches of God. The Day of Atonement is prophetically linked with an event that God’s living word calls the Day of the Lord. You were probably taught as doctrine that there are ¹) SEVEN SEALS, and then the ²) SEVEN TRUMPETS, and then the ³) SEVEN LAST PLAGUES, and then JESUS CHRIST RETURNS! Then the RESURRECTION TRUMP, then, we’re in the kingdom of God! Well, this is not an accurate rendition of events according to the living word of God!

THE SEVENTH TRUMP IS THE MOMENT OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE SAINTS! The FIRST resurrection! The Seven Seals – are roughly equivalent to the EARLY part of what some people call the GREAT TRIBULATION, the end-time ‘troubles,’ Ezekiel 30 refers to it as ‘Jacob’s trouble.’ Many of the churches of God misunderstand these seven seals and continue to propagate this grave misunderstanding.

Truly, the number seven to Almighty God means completion.

Verse 2 – “Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals? 3) And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.”

So, this scroll was so holy, so sealed and private, that no one was allowed to look upon the scroll – much less open it. In the Book of Romans we are told, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

And, the apostle John continued – verse 4 – “So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.”

There’s another description back in the Book of Ezekiel – when the prophet Ezekiel was called to go out and to preach to the nation of Israel, and he saw in vision a scroll also. And there was also “writing on the inside and on the outside, and written on it were lamentations and mourning and woe.” – cf. Ezekiel 2:9-10 NKJV. And he was to take this message and – as it were – to “eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” And, of course, we know why – because of the message of men like Moses, who just before his death spoke to the nation of Israel – cf. Deuteronomy 31:27-29.

These seals are meant to be broken as in chapter 22 of the Book of Revelation, “And he said to me, ‘Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.’” And truly, our Lord Jesus Christ revealed these seals to His disciples, and we can read of this beginning in the Book of Matthew the 24th chapter. Which we will certainly cover when we come to chapter 6. He reveals and helps them to understand just what these seals mean.

Verse 5 – “But one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.’”

Recall back in the Book of Genesis when the elderly Jacob is blessing his sons, and he says to his son Judah – “’ Judah is a lion’s whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?’” – cf. Genesis 49:9 NKJV. “’ The scepter shall not depart from Judah.” Here, this elder is talking about the same thing, ‘the Lion of the tribe of Judah.’ ‘The Root of David,’ a description is given back in the Book of Isaiah which says, “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of its roots.” A lineage of King David would be there down through the generations. In the Book of Ezekiel, it says that this kingdom was going to be overturned three times – “’ Overthrown, overthrown, I will make it overthrown! It shall be no longer, Until He comes whose right it is, And I will give it to Him.’” We know, of course, this is speaking of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Verse 6 – “And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb …”

And we know exactly who this is speaking about! John the Baptist said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” The apostle Peter wrote, “ … with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

“ … as though it had been slain, …”

And the apostle John uses the Greek word sphazō, which truly means much more than just slain. It means MURDERED! He was beaten, rejected, scoffed, denied, ridiculed, mocked, scourged, spat upon, nailed to a cross, lifted up, and bled to death in the sun. He was truly MURDERED!

“ … having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.”

Recall we just read of the seven churches of God “sent out into all the earth”!? Revelation 4:5; 8:2. Seven angels over the seven churches.

Verse 7 – “Then He [Jesus Christ] came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him [God the Father] who sat on the throne.”

So, here, imagine this awesome vision which the apostle John is having! Jesus Christ having earned that honor! That He was worthy to take this scroll and to open its seals!

Verse 8 – Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9) And they sang a new song, saying:

‘You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain [again, the Greek word sphazō], And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.’”

Obviously speaking of the saints of God here. Because we’re the ones which are ‘redeemed’ of every nation, language, and people.

Verse 10 – “’ And [He will make us] kings [or rather, a kingdom] and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.’”

Now, a great many professing Christians completely misunderstand this very passage. They continue to teach and propagate – that this verse is speaking about ‘those who believe are a kingdom and that believers are also considered priests in that they are interceding on behalf of people that they might believe in the Lord.’ This is, of course, not correct. Then, there are also others who argue that since the King James Version does not say ‘kingdom’ but rather ‘kings,’ then teaching “And [He will make us] kings [or rather, a kingdom] …” is inappropriate. Yet, note – the fourth-century Codex Sinaiticus, which contain the earliest complete copy of the New Testament renders this verse –

“and didst make them a kingdom and priests, and they shall reign on the earth.”

Also – and it should be noted – the Jamieson Fausset and Brown Commentary writes – “’ They reign,’ still it is the prophetical present FOR THE FUTURE: the seer being transported into the future when the full number of the redeemed … shall be complete and the visible kingdom begins.” 2

God’s holy and righteous saints are to be a kingdom! The kingdom of God! We know for certain just where God the Father’s kingdom is going to be and just who will rule!

Verse 11 – “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand [some 100 million], and thousands of thousands, 12) saying with a loud voice:

‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain [same Greek word sphazō, meaning MURDERED] To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!’”

Literally millions upon millions of angels singing to God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ in praise and worship! SEVEN glorious things which our soon-coming King of kings and Lord of lords is going to receive!

Verse 13 – “And EVERY CREATURE which is in heaven [the atmosphere] and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, all that are in them, …”

Understand – this phrase, ‘under the earth’ is speaking of people who are under the earth, that is, those who have died and have been buried – cf. Matthew 12:40; Philippians 2:10.

“ … I heard saying:

‘Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!’”

Truly, EVERY CREATURE praising God the Father and the Lamb forever and ever!

Truly EVERY CREATURE will know their CREATOR!!! For He is the Creator God in the heaven above!

Verse 14 – “Then the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.” □

To be continued

Bibliography

1) Pfeiffer, C.F., Vos, H.F., Rea, J., Wycliffe Bible Dictionary, Hendrickson Publishers, Nov. 1999, pp. 509.

2) Jamieson, R., Fausset, A.R., Brown, D., Jamieson Fausset and Brown Commentary of the Whole Bible, Zondervan Publishing House, 1982, pp. 1545.

Do They Have God's Spirit?

OUR Lord Jesus Christ said –

“’ MOREOVER if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16) But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17) And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.’” – Matthew 18:15-17, NKJV.

With a heathen person or a tax collector, you sure don’t want to be around them.

In almost ALL cases – by confronting these people within the church, you will find that they are very nasty in their response when presented with your issues concerning them.

They get all PUFFED-UP and offended!

Vanity shows up.

Do you realize why!?

Well, because you’re NOT confronting a brother or sister in Christ – in the FAITH! Instead, you’re dealing with a very carnal person who is using the church as a social outlet. There are some who use the church as a boardroom to work against each other! Or, they work to get others on board with their own ideologies and philosophies.

BEWARE!

Ask yourself – do they have God’s Spirit!?

Do they display God’s Spirit!?

Do they show godly love!?

Are they a joy to be around!?

Are they a peaceful person!?

Do they exhibit long-suffering towards others!?

Are they kind!?

Do they display goodness towards others!?

Are they committed to the faith!? – which is shown by how they live in accordance with the WORD OF GOD!

Are they meek and humble!? – or, do they display vanity and self-absorption!?

Do they have self-control!?

If they do – then THEY ARE your brother or sister in Christ!

If not – you’re dealing with a regular everyday person who is proclaiming to be a Christian – a carnal-minded person – who does not have CHRIST in them. They are NOT a true Christian. Thus, they are not your brother or sister in the faith.

So, in that case, you do NOT have to apply to the instructions given by our Lord Jesus Christ. You're dealing with just a carnal-minded person, and you know the results will be bad.

Why!?

Because our Lord Jesus Christ said – you (being a TRUE HOLY SPIRIT LED CHRISTIAN) will know them by their fruits.

They will display what they are all about.

YOU (as a TRUE CHRISTIAN) must know who is who by testing the spirits – or rather, identifying the spirits of God’s Spirit, as opposed to the spirits of Satan the devil.

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2) By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3) and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

4) You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than [Satan] who is in the world.” – 1 John 4:1-4, NKJV.

IF you see a spirit in them that you know is NOT of God’s Holy Spirit, then you must NOT address them as Jesus Christ instructed us to address a fellow servant of Christ’s.

You would only be addressing a servant of Satan the devil.

They are a plant of Satan the devil of whom is their god. And, yet, they will deny this. But that doesn’t change the fact that this is what they truly are.

Personally, I have witnessed this often in “church” settings. Rarely there do you actually find true Christians.

I have gone to people in the past that I believed had gone against God and addressed it with them, only to find them puffing themselves up against me in vigorous rebellion!

Those that follow Satan the devil believe they are smart, but only come off as fools to a true Holy Spirit-led servant of Christ Jesus.

A person with God’s Holy Spirit may appear naïve or unintelligent to the world, but they are far superior when it comes to having God’s living TRUTH abiding within them.

So, before you go to someone within a church setting that you feel is offending in a Christian Way – test the spirit. Because you may be dealing with a disciple of Satan the devil who has crept in unaware into God’s Church. It has happened many times.

My personal manner in dealing with Satan the devil’s disciples is to simply disconnect from them.

To cast them from my life.

To have no more to do with them.

To fully reject them.

Thus comes PEACE!

PRAISE JESUS FOR THIS GUIDANCE! □

Additional things to think about

A Soon-Coming Kingdom - Personally, I firmly believe the following [...]

A New Sodom and Gomorrah - A guy that is involved with the University of North Alabama (UNA) posted something [...]

Debt Forgiveness - When people do good deeds for others and expect something in return for those good deeds, then that person is [...]

Letter to our Friends - July 2, 2021

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST ONLINE MINISTRIES

P.O. Box 6458

SPRING HILL, FLORIDA 34606

Leonard V. Johnson

Founder/Pastor

Dear Friends:

Greetings from Spring Hill, Florida.

Hell or No Hell!?

I had mentioned in this last sermon Matthew 25:46 – “’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’” In this ‘Letter to our Friends’ I would like to briefly go over this – just what did our Lord Jesus Christ mean!?

Now, this world’s fundamentalist Christians believe and teach that He was speaking of an eternal hell-fire, as in the 14th-century poem by Dante Alighieri, Inferno (which is truly where this concept of a hell-fire actually derived). Professing Christians believe and teach falsely, “Those who go into eternity without Christ will be confirmed in their wickedness. The hardhearted will be eternally hard-hearted. There will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth” in hell (Matthew 25:30), but no repentance. Sinners in hell will be given over to their own nature; they will be sin-infected, evil, immoral, and depraved beings for all of eternity, forever unredeemed and unregenerate. The lake of fire will be a place of eternal rebellion against God.” 1 This world’s Protestant Christendom teaches, “The fact of the reality of Hell is taught throughout the Bible in innumerable passages. … we find in Mark chapter nine as He affirms the fact and reality of Hell.” 2

So, just what is hell!? Is it, as the majority of people are taught, a boiling caldron of eternal fire never quenched!? Or is it something completely different!? Like – “sinners in hell will be given over to their own nature; sin-infected, evil, for all eternity,” which truly teaches the false concept of an “immortal soul.”

Sadly, Satan the devil has completely blinded the majority of humanity on this subject of hell – and for a particular reason.

This world’s Christian religion pictures hell as a place of never-ending torture and torment. Now, I had referenced two sources – but all the sources would pretty much all teach the same. That an eternal inferno of eternal torture where Satan the devil and his demons gleefully roast your unsaved loved ones for all eternity. And, I am aware of how many times I just said “eternal,” they do indeed stress that point – eternal.

But, contrary to this Dr. J. Carl Laney of ChristianAnswers.net – along with all the rest – these views of a hell DO NOT come from the living word of God – the Holy Bible! This damnable concept has been foisted upon all of humanity by the living, real, Satan the devil – “that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world” – Revelation 12:9.

Truly, his sadistic portrayal of Almighty God as an unmerciful monster, who delights in seeing your loved ones suffer unimaginable torture – is NOT what God’s living word teaches at all. Now, Satan has a special reason why he has blinded all mankind with this particular lie.

Multiple billions of people have lived and died believing this satanic concept of a hell-fire – truly horrified by the thought of being flung into a boiling cauldron of fire unquenched to burn eternally.

Our Lord Jesus Christ revealed that this living and very real Satan the devil was “’ a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it’” – John 8:44.

The King James Version of 1611

Another major problem with proper understanding is the 1611 version of God’s living word  – commissioned by King James I. The English word “hell” is translated from three different Greek words. These words are tartaroo, hades, and gehenna. And they all have different meanings. So, it’s virtually impossible to properly understand this concept of hell without truly understanding these Greek words given in the New Testament which was originally written in Greek.

Let us take this first Greek word – tartaroo.

“For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell [here the Greek word is tartaroo, meaning “hold captive in Tartarus; a derivative of the Greek noun ‘Tartarus’] and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment” – 2 Peter 2:4.

This anointed cherub who covers – the archangel Hêlēl, which is improperly translated in the King James Version as Lucifer – from the base meaning “shining one,” mounted a rebellion against Jesus Christ, and apparently eventually convinced one-third of God’s angels to support this attempted coup against ‘the Most High’ – against God the Father Himself! – Isaiah 14:12-14; Revelation 12:4.

However, God – the great Elohim – put down this attempted coup and cast Satan the devil along with his angels (now called demons) out of the Third Heaven. As our Lord Jesus Christ said, “’ I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven’” – Luke 10:18. So, this tartaroo – metaphorically – is earth. And Satan the devil along with his demons are, as the apostle Peter says here, on this earth in “chains of darkness reserved for judgment.” In a sense, they are being constrained to this earth and its atmosphere until their judgment. The apostle Jude also speaks of this –

“And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness [which basically means “He has kept them in His purpose; that is their sure doom; moreover, as yet, Satan and his demons roam at large on the earth” 3] for the judgment of the great day” – Jude 1:6.

Another misunderstanding – and one in which a good friend of mine had actually believed took place just after our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified – is where the apostle Peter writes –

“[B]y whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison” – 1 Peter 3:19.

Yet, all one needs to do is read the very next verse to properly understand when He came down to “prison” – which for these evil spirits was the earth itself.

“who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, …” – v. 20.

So, these passages of Scripture show us that tartaroo is – that earth is a “prison” in which disobedient and evil angels are kept to await the judgment of the resurrected and immortal saints of God – cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.

The apostle Paul asks –

“Do you not know that we shall judge angels?” – 1 Corinthians 6:3.

The angels who sinned were cast down to earth which is their prison – metaphorically. But, nowhere does God’s living word teach that mankind will ever be put into this type of “everlasting chains under darkness.”

This is the only place in the New Testament where this Greek word is used.

Let’s take a look at the second Greek word – hades.

Now, this word occurs 10 times in the New Testament, and is always rendered as “hell” – except in 1 Corinthians 15:55 (KJV) where it is properly translated as “grave.” God’s living word shows us that this Greek word hades has the same meaning as the Hebrew word sheol – which means grave. As in –

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, …” – Hebrews 9:27.

“All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust” – Ecclesiastes 3:20.

Notice this in the Book of Acts –

“’ For You will not leave my soul in Hades [the English word used is hell], …’” – Acts 2:27.

The apostle Peter was quoting this from Psalm 16:10, where the Hebrew word sheol was used for hell.

The patriarch Jacob – later named Israel by God – certainly knew that when he died he would “go down into the grave” – Genesis 37:35.

Nowhere does God’s living word refer to tartaroo or hades as a burning inferno of punishment for dead people who somehow really aren’t actually dead, but yet can feel pain.

What about the next word – gehenna!?

Well, God’s living word truly tells us that He does have plans for unrepentant humans –

“His [Jesus Christ's] winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” – Matthew 3:12.

Speaking of a real “lake of fire.” Speaking of two different groups of people here. Those that accept Jesus Christ and are obedient to Him and give themselves to Him, and the chaff – Jesus said, ‘every tree that bringeth forth not good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.’

Our Lord Jesus WARNS us to not ‘fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul [here the Greek word psychē, meaning “life, the immaterial part – hence the “spirit in man” – Job 32:8]. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.’ He also says that it would be better to actually lose your own physical life than to be cast into this fire! – see Matthew 5:29-30.

The word for hell in these passages is gehenna. And, our Lord Jesus Christ reveals to us the very sobering meaning of this word in His parable of the tares –

“’ Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth’” – Matthew 13:40-42.

Now, this “furnace of fire” will be so hot that it will burn unrepentant humans to a crisp – and they will simply cease to exist forever.

He also says in chapter 25 of the Book of Matthew –

“’ Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels … And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life’” – Matthew 25:41, 46.

Now, something to be aware of – notice that He DID NOT say the punishment will last forever. And, He DID NOT say “punishing” but “punishment.” Those put in this ‘lake of fire’ will not be tortured forever, but will be burned up instantly. Thus this punishment will be everlasting.

This Greek word gehenna is a translation of the Hebrew word Gai Hinnom, which means valley of Hinnom. During the time of Jesus Christ and His apostles, the valley of Hinnom had become a city dump where garbage, dead bodies, and dead animals were thrown and burned. The fires there constantly smoldered. Yet, this garbage and dead bodies that were burned there did not continually burn. Jesus Christ used this valley of Hinnom as an example of the coming gehenna – the ‘lake of fire’ – into which Jesus Christ will throw the incorrigibly wicked.

As He tells us in the Book of Revelation –

“Then the beast [who will be a human being] was captured, and with him the false prophet [who will be a human being] who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone” – Revelation 19:20.

Why This Satanic Lie!?

Now, will God’s “lake of fire burning with brimstone” cease at the close of His Millennial reign!? 

No.

“Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison” – Revelation 20:7.

This freed and very angry rampaging Satan will then “go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth” and will incite them to war against God’s holy city – New Jerusalem. But, fire will come down from God out of heaven [the atmosphere] and will devour his followers – vs. 8-9.

Then what!?

“The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet [were cast]. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” – v. 10.

Literally, ‘tormented eternally from ages to ages.’

Now, there are those who believe and teach that angels are not immortal and can be destroyed, and they will often quote 1 Timothy 6:16 in their defense. What one needs to understand is that, unlike other immortal beings who enjoy immortality through the will of the Creator. He derives immortality from His own essence.

Friends, it will be Satan the devil and his wicked angels who shall suffer mental torment ‘from ages to ages’ – forever and ever.

It is Jesus Christ’s clear words that tell us that angels do not die –

“’ But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are [children] of God, …’” – Luke 20:35, 36.

Satan and his demons know full well their ultimate fate – not mankind’s – of being tormented (mentally) after the Millennium.

In conclusion – here are some of this world’s religious concepts of this “hell-fire” -

The World At Large – “HELL as generally understood is the abode of evil spirits; the infernal regions, where the devil rules supreme, and whither lost or condemned souls to go after death to suffer indescribable torments and eternal punishment either for wickedness inherited from the sin of Adam, …” 4

Buddhism – “The hells are places in which souls are purged, or punished for evil-doing and violating the laws of the Buddha, to fit them for rebirth in one or other of the six states of existence... After a longer or shorter period (with a minimum of 500 years) every being must leave the hells and pass through other states until it reaches Nirvana, the final extinction of personal existence” 5

Roman Catholic Christianity – “Hell is deemed to be a state of unending punishment for the unrepentant who die without the grace of God as transmitted through the sacraments. … The Roman Catholic concept of purgatory, defined by the councils of Florence (1439) and Trent (1545–1563), envisions an intermediate state after death during which there is an opportunity for the expiation of venial sins and compensatory punishment for mortal sins, thus providing for the ultimate restoration of fellowship with God. This teaching, likely informed by the Jewish notion of Gehenna and the Greek notion of the realm of Hades, is correlative with rituals for the dead (prayers, oblations) intended to assure their full expiation.” 6

Eastern Orthodox Christianity – “Eastern Orthodox Christianity, in sharing the teaching that hell is a destiny of eternal fire and punishment awaiting the cursed and unredeemed following the Last Judgment.” 7

Islam – “We have in store for them heavy fetters and a blazing fire, …” (73:12). “They shall burn in Hell, an evil resting-place.” (38:44). “Garments of fire have been prepared for the unbelievers. Scalding water shall be poured upon their heads, …” (22:19). 8

Hinduism – “Hell in Hindu mythology is divided into seven regions collectively called Naraka ... for sins of deep turpitude, the torture is severe. The victims ... are given extra acute sensibilities so that they might suffer every refinement of agony to the full.” 9

Sadly, as you can see, a grave delusion is over the eyes of the many in this world!

Bibliography

1) Moudmann, S.M., How is an eternity in hell a just punishment for only a human lifetime of sin? https://www.gotquestions.org/eternity-hell-just.html.

2) Laney, J.C., Hell: Fact or Fiction – Is it an actual place? https://christiananswers.net/q-grace/hell.html.

3) Jamieson, R., Fausset, A.R., Brown, D., Jamieson Fausset and Brown Commentary of the Whole Bible, Zondervan Publishing House, 1982, pp 1518.

4) The Encyclopedia Americana Vol XIV, Hell, New York, Chicago, The Encyclopedia American corporation, 1918, pg. 81.

5) A Dictionary of Chinese Mythology, by E.T.C. Werner, Longwood Press, Portland, Maine, 1977.

6) https://www.encyclopedia.com/philosophy-and-religion/ancient-religions/ancient-religion/heaven-and-hell. Heaven and Hell, Retrieved 2 July 2021.

7) Ibid.

8) Mohammad, The Koran, Penguin Classics Books, 1999, pp. 410, 320, 236.

9) Walker, B., Frederick, A., The Hindu World, Praeger Publishers, New York, 1968).

Suggested Sabbath Day Services

Here is our suggested Sabbath day service for our scattered brethren and friends around the world:

● 2 hymns. (a free printable “Old Time Gospel” hymn site is “The Old Time Gospel”).

● Opening prayer.

● Announcements (if any – a great video for announcements is Deacon Robbie Lamb’s Watchman brief insights of world news in relation to biblical prophecies!).

● Suggested Sermon: “Law and Grace” by Leonard V. Johnson.

Additional sermons are available at:

http://www.owensborochurchofjesuschrist.com/.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwFd99BM0EXyAdM7MWtKcjw.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9S0DU4XpzdeYeOLf3Ydk9w.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCIhmqdkH1mJ5iDLUh4qBQg.

● Final hymn.

● Closing prayer.

IN CASE YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED A ‘LETTER TO OUR FRIENDS’ FOR ANY WEEK, REMEMBER WE HAVE OUR CHURCH LETTERS ON OUR WEBSITE.

World News Items

The EU indicated that it does not miss the UK, while Russia is getting ever-closer to the EU (See: ‘The Guardian - Moving on: why the EU is not missing Britain that much’) Including ‘President of Russia – Article by Vladimir Putin “Being Open, Despite the Past”’). Also, the UK’s navy encountered Russia’s military warning for sailing too close to Crimea (See: ‘Fox News - Russian Defense Ministry summons British Defense Attache over Black Sea 'warning shots' dispute’). According to Russia’s President Putin, the US reconnaissance aircraft was also involved (See: ‘AP - Putin says US and UK were behind Black Sea ‘provocation’). Neither Brexit nor poking at the bear will end well for the United Kingdom, or the US for that matter.

The United States of America struck out across the Syrian border after a US military installation was bombed – allegedly from Iranian supporters (See: ‘VOA – US Strikes Back After Rocket Attack In Syria’). As most are aware, we teach and warn that there is soon to come a regional war in the Middle East which is prophesied by God.

Also in Europe, it is continuing to take steps to have its banks hold more physical gold (See: ‘Market Watch - Why Basel III regulations are poised to shake up the gold market’). God’s living word shows us that this final European ‘king of the North’ will indeed accumulate gold (cf. Daniel 11:43), that looks to be expected to back a European pushed currency, that is expected to replace the US dollar as this world’s premier reserve currency.

Concluding Comments

Here are some Scriptures of praise, joy, and thanksgiving to Almighty God and our Lord Jesus Christ:

“When I remember these things, I pour out my soul [my life] within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With the multitude that kept a pilgrim feast” – Psalm 42:14.

“For the LORD will comfort Zion [New Jerusalem], He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, And her desert like the garden of the LORD; Joy and gladness will be found in it, Thanksgiving and the voice of melody” – Isaiah 51:3.

“The voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who will say:

‘Praise the LORD of hosts, For the LORD is good, For His mercy endures forever’

And of those who will bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause the captives of the land to return as at the first,’ says the LORD” – Jeremiah 33:11.

Let us, friends, be thankful for our calling! We all should be!

In deep gratitude and love, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior,

Leonard V. Johnson

A Soon-Coming Kingdom

Think About This…

Personally, I firmly believe the following – and it surely makes a lot of wonderful sense. It certainly beats believing – and having never been shown God’s truth – and thinking that at death you’re going off to a never-ending torture and torment caldron of fire, or floating off upon clouds to endlessly play the harp and maybe, just maybe, God might pet you on the head.

Sounds like an unjust God and a double dose of misery.

But, the Bible doesn’t back this twisted and satanic ideology of your future.

God’s living word shows us a far more wonderful picture of our future.

Let us break down events that are soon-coming and see – according to biblical prophecy – just what is scheduled to occur –

In the United States of America – it will soon fall.

The nation will become so weak that a greater foreign power will come in and completely take over – the nations could easily be a United Europe or China.

Our peoples will be under subjugation – a type of slavery.

A prophesied end-time final United States of Europe will have finally risen, with its mouthpiece the Roman Catholic Church.

The United States of America’s sovereignty as a nation will be gone.

The majority of our people in America will be living off the electric grid in rural areas just to survive.

The land will be as it once was – a harsh environment.

There will be race and cultural wars.

There will be a civil war like never before.

There will be communist/socialist government takeovers that will cause people to come into extreme poverty, where starvation will occur in great masses.

Also, seeing and hearing the word of God – the true gospel – will be limited.

Only the extreme few who have God’s living words set in their hearts and minds will be the only source of hearing God’s living truth - cf.

“'Behold, the days are coming,' says the Lord GOD, 'That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD'" - Amos 8:11

Because of the utter chaos and destruction which will occur there may not be very many physical Bibles around.

The majority of people will blame God for this utter chaos and destruction.

The greater majority of physical worldly churches, synagogues, and mosques will be destroyed.

Abuse and disrespect of our elders will be the norm.

There will be massive deaths, and blood will flow in the streets.

The land will become a land of great lawlessness.

There will come a great third world war.

Jerusalem will become the world’s focus.

The third temple will be built. Animal sacrifices will begin at the temple once again.

There will be a great religious leader to come into the temple and set himself up – calling himself “God.” This will be a pope of the Roman Catholic Church – possibly and most likely a pope with a Jewish background.

The Islamic religion will be the dominant religion of the greater part of the Middle East.

Massive Islamic armies will surround Jerusalem for a great attack.

There will be massive amounts of death and mayhem.

The population of the earth will dwindle down to 10% of the previous world population.

The prophesied Two Witnesses (possibly starting with twelve end-time prophets) will come on the scene and will be hated by the followers of Satan the devil.

After 3 ½ years of witnessing and warning the Two Witnesses will be murdered in the streets of Jerusalem and will lay dead in the street for three-and-a-half days.

After three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God enters them, and they are resurrected.

This will be during a period of time called the ‘great tribulation’ by Jesus Christ.

THEN THINGS REALLY BEGIN TO HAPPEN!

All those who are left alive will see ‘the sign of the Son of Man in heaven’ and all nations of the earth will mourn seeing the Son of Man coming with power and great glory.

And, on the Day of Pentecost (also known as the FEAST OF THE FIRSTFRUITS), He will send His angels with the sound of a trumpet to gather together His chosen elect from the four winds – the resurrection of His saints will begin. Those that are dead in Christ will rise first then we who are alive - will rise and meet Jesus Christ in the atmosphere. 

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the LAST TRUMPET (the SEVENTH TRUMP). For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” – 1 Corinthians 15:52.

His holy and incorruptible saints will be brought up to the SEA OF GLASS – cf. Revelation 15:2 – which will be in low earth orbit. Every saint will be judged according to their deeds while they were in the flesh, to account for their assignment they will be given, and by where to place them within the kingdom of God. Going by the way in which their judgment is based.

The saints will be trained for their position in office. Some may be rulers of nations, or provinces, or cities. Some may be mayors or governors. And some – the 144,000 – may be the executive office and staff of Jesus Christ Himself, ‘the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.’

Some saints might be school teachers – maybe a teacher assigned to teach one-on-one with a particular student!?

Each saint of God will have a particular job to do within the kingdom of God – based upon their capabilities and by how they were judged by Jesus Christ – the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He knows just what position He has for each of His saints.

Each saint will be given their new name.

They, with God the Father and Jesus Christ, will have the bridle supper.

Many of His saints will be issued a white horse for battle.

This will certainly take some time – possibly months.

In the meantime the people of the earth, who do not have this understanding, nor the faith of God, will look upon the object they see in the night's sky (the SEA OF GLASS; the New Jerusalem), and because of the state of the world, will not have rockets capable of reaching low earth orbit to try and attack it. Besides, they won’t know what it is – to most it will appear as a gigantic pyramid-shaped UFO – cf. Revelation 21:10-16.

“’ Men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth’” – Luke 21:26.

The armies of the nations will prepare for attack out of great fear and apprehension. They will be an entire population of godless people.

Every single abomination that the most perverted mind can think up will be occurring in this wicked and godless world. 

“’ And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man’” – Luke 17:26.

Then, on the Day of Trumpets – the great trumpet of WAR will be sounded!

That great and terrible Day of the Lord comes!

The saints of God, led by JESUS CHRIST, will come down from the Sea of Glass (also known as New Jerusalem) on their assigned white horses of battle and with the seventh angel sounding and with voices in the atmosphere shouting, “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!” 

The KINGDOM OF GOD is established upon the EARTH!

GREAT CHANGE BEGINS TO HAPPEN UPON EARTH!

FOR A MELLINNEUM THERE IS PEACE – cf. Isaiah 2:4 – 

“ … out of Zion [New Jerusalem] shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He 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.”

Then, at the time of the second resurrection, every person that has ever lived will be resurrected and taught the WORD OF GOD, the TRUTH OF GOD, and the PLAN OF GOD!

All people will be guided by the saints of God.

They will begin to walk in the light of the LORD!

Those that were sexually immoral will no longer want to be sexually immoral.

Those that were evil-minded will be lovingly guided and taught and shown the glorious Way of God and how to live according to His will.

The millions upon millions of aborted babies will be resurrected and now have a chance to live and know life with God’s glory.

Each saint of God will be assigned to oversee positions of training for these resurrected potential children of God.

After the full establishment of the Kingdom of God, the E A R T H will become the headquarters of the universes – where the very throne of God the Father is established in New Jerusalem and where Jesus Christ and His saints will reside –

“’ In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. …’” – John 14:2.

Truly, truly, the large majority of those some 21.6 sextillion planets in the known observable universe will become like the planet earth.

The greater majority of planets (because there will still be a need for large gas giant planets; which act as giant vacuums) will be terraformed for additional humans.

* God gives us the example of our future by what He has done and what He is doing even now.

There is a position for everyone in the coming establishment of God’s Kingdom!

Now, as for those extremely rebellious knuckleheads who refuse to repent and change –

Well, their ultimate fate awaits them being cast into a huge pit where a superheated fire will completely and instantly consume them and they will perish and be no more – eternally blotted out as if they never were. The righteous shall walk upon their ashes – cf.

“’ You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this,’ Says the LORD of hosts.” – Malachi 4:3.

As for Satan the devil and his demons!?

They will ultimately be cast into the Abyss – and will be eternally tortured and tormented (mentally). This torture and torment will surely cause them to eternally blame each other, working against each other for all eternity – cf.

“ … raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.” – Jude 1:13.

Thus, NEVER AGAIN with that evil be around to influence others.

Friends, this is your great potential! It’s the greatest good news anyone could ever hear!

Almighty God’s plan is PERFECT!

Personally, I believe this with every fiber of my being! These things will come to pass and in the ultimate plan which God has set it up!

This is our belief. If someone doesn’t believe this, that’s alright. You are free to believe whatever makes you happy.

But as for us, we are ‘earnestly contending with the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints’ from our Lord Jesus Christ!

Love to all! □

Additional things to think about

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Angels - in the Bible -  are SUPERNATURAL messengers or protectors used by GOD to dwell among human beings. [...]

"Under Law" or "Under Grace"? - A GREAT many in this world completely misunderstand [...]