By the way, what are you becoming?

Great Question.

I am becoming a watcher.

Looking for,  and waiting for my King to return.

 

Mat 25:13 ASV Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour.

2Co 4:18 ASV while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Phi 3:20-21 ASV For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (21) who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working whereby he is able even to subject all things unto himself.

Tit 2:11-14 ASV For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men, (12) instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world; (13) looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (14) who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works.

 

 

Luk 21:28-36 MKJV And when these things begin to happen, then look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near. (29) And He spoke a parable to them: Behold the fig-tree and all the trees. (30) Now when they sprout leaves, seeing it you will know that summer is now near. (31) So also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. (32) Truly I say to you, This generation shall not pass away until all these things are fulfilled. (33) The heaven and the earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass away. (34) And take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts are weighed down with headaches and drinking and anxieties of this life; and that day should suddenly come on you; (35) for it shall come as a snare on all those sitting on the face of the whole earth. (36) Watch therefore, praying in every season that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things which shall occur, and to stand before the Son of Man.

Heb 10:23-25 MKJV Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (for He is faithful who promised), (24) and let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works, (25) not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

So, I ask you.

Are you "looking", "watching", "waiting"? Will you notice that the Lord's return is near, or will you be too busy with the things of this world to notice the signs? Can "you see the Day approaching"?

Matthew 24:32 KJV: Now from the fig tree learn her parable: when her branch is now become tender, and putteth forth its leaves, ye know that the summer is nigh;

HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO THE END-TIMES 7 YEAR PERIOD

 HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO THE END-TIMES 7 YEAR PERIOD?
by Roy A. Reinhold, 1998

If I were to tell you that the 7 year period were to begin in 1997, or 2008, or 2025, what effect would that have on your life decisions with regards to marriage, children, college, a career, or work? Many, in times past, have seriously erred by selling possessions and heading off to some mountaintop to await God's coming; and they were all in error. In the 1970's, I knew a number of people who put off college, a family, or training because they were totally convinced that the second coming of Jesus was near. I don't know what happened to most of them, but I know that they were wrong and had wrong attitudes. Knowledge of prophecy should propel us to live a godly life without fear, not seek to avoid the circumstances of life out of selfish desires. I believe that God has not told us the exact year of the beginning of the end-times period in order that there wouldn't be so many crazy people doing crazy things. However, the hundreds of prophetic passages in the Bible give us clear signs to know the times that would precede the 7 year period.

A short review of past predictions might be helpful. Around the year 1000 AD, many became convinced that they were in the end-times and gave their possessions to the poor and awaited the second coming. 1878 AD was a big year in end-times beliefs, since it was 2520 prophetic years (of 360 day years) after the Babylonian captivity of Judah in 606 BC. The Jehovah's Witnesses trumpeted 1914 and later 1929 as the end the world, and those days passed without any prophetic significance, as have all the other predicted dates by this cult. In the 1970's, fine Christians like Hal Lindsey hinted at 1988 as the year of the second coming, which means that the 7 year period would begin in 1981. We all remember Edgar Whisenant who wrote, 88 Reasons Why Christ Is Coming In 1988, and when it passed published another book called, 89 Reasons Why Christ Is Coming In 1989. In 1992, a Korean group took out newspaper ads all over the world and said that the rapture was on the Feast of Trumpets in 1992, as did one group in the US. In 1993, a group called the Great White Brotherhood in Russia and the Ukraine, headed by Maria Christos a self-styled messiah, said that the kingdom of God would begin in the fall of 1993. Harold Camping, a radio preacher on the Open Forum program of the Family Radio network, published a book titled, 1994, teaching that Jesus was coming in 1994 based mainly on studies of numerology in the Bible.

Many other teachers have predicted the 7 year period around the year 2000 AD. A fine Christian named Gordon Lindsay wrote, God's Plan Of the Ages, in the 1970's, in which he presented very interesting studies of cycles to arrive at the conclusion that the 7 year period runs from 1994- 2001 AD. Similar work in the studies of cycles by Grant Jeffrey and presented in his fine work, Armageddon: Appointment With Destiny, predicted 2000 AD as the year of the second coming. Finally, a sincere Christian and long-time television teacher on Bible prophecy, Dr. Jack Van Impe, taught that the 7 year period will end about 2000 to 2003 AD, leading to the beginning of the 7 year period in 1993 to 1996. Dr. Van Impe also relates that Pope John Paul II has taught that Jesus is coming in the year 2000 AD, and that the Pope expects to be alive at His return.

Do any of these teachers have specific inside knowledge from God that they are correct? No they don't, and neither do I know the exact year that the 7 year period will begin, nor do I know the exact year for the second coming! The one thing I know for sure, is that the second coming will not happen in the year 2000 AD, because the peace treaty of prophecy did not occur in 1993 on 30 September/1 October. Therefore, the year 2000 AD prediction can conclusively be proven to be wrong already!

One methodology explored by Grant Jeffrey in his book was extremely interesting, where he arrived at the end of the 69 weeks of years of Daniel 9:25-27, on April 6, 32 AD. I agree with this conclusion. He then added four 490 year cycles for Israel to arrive at 1993, which led to the second coming in the year 2000 AD. Another proof Mr. Jeffrey explored was the Jubilee in 28 AD, to which he added 2000 prophetic years to arrive at the year 2000 AD (2000 years times 360 days divided by 365.25 = 1971.25 years, then 1971.25 years plus 28.8 AD = 2000 AD). The thought process here is excellent, since he used the following texts to arrive at his theory:

Hosea 6:1-3 ... after two days he will revive us: in the third day he will raise us up ...
Psalm 90:4 ...For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past ...
2 Peter 3:8 ...with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day
Revelation 20:6 ...reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
the thought process was excellent by Mr. Jeffrey, the conclusion was and is wrong.

All of these verses indicate that God sees things on a different scale than we do. There were 2000 years where mankind was governed by conscience, 2000 years under the law of Moses, 2000 years under grace in the church age, and a Sabbath rest for the earth under the reign of the Messiah for a thousand years. So the idea that one thousand years is as a day has much merit in the scripture. Some have attempted to add 2000 years to the year of Jesus' birth in the year 4 BC, and arrive at 1996 AD. However, they don't realize that the church didn't start at Jesus' birth, but on Pentecost after His death and resurrection. That would mean 32 AD plus 2000 years equals 2032 AD, with the second coming in either 2033, 2034, or 2035 AD. This is based on the church age ending at the catching away of the church, which I have proven takes place at the end of the Great Tribulation and before the Day of the Lord, and accounts for all 3 possibilities for the prophetic fulfillment of Rosh Hashana. Also, this leads to the predicted beginning of the 7 year period in 2026, 2027, or 2028 AD. However, if we use 2000 prophetic years of 360 days each, then 32 AD plus 1971.25 years equals 2003 AD, with a corresponding second coming in 2004, 2005, or 2006 AD. This calculation leads to the beginning of the 7 year period in 1997, 1998, or 1999 AD.

So if we were facing one another and talking about this subject, I would tell you that my guess based on my knowledge of Bible prophecy would be the 7 year period beginning in 2026-2028 AD or 1997-1999 AD. It would only be a guess based on the thousand years as a day in God's viewpoint and the millennium being presented as a Sabbath day for the earth and lasting a thousand years. It would also be based on the teaching of Jesus that the generation alive at the time Israel becomes a nation would not pass away before all these things would be fulfilled (and this uses either 1948 or 1967 when they captured Jerusalem and the West Bank). If we use 70 years as a life span of a generation (Psalm 90:10), then 70 plus 1948 equals 2018 AD, and 70 plus 1967 equals 2037 AD. This I firmly believe, that the second coming will occur on or before the year 2037 AD. I also know that those teaching a second coming in 1999 or the year 2000 AD are wrong!

Rather than looking for a specific year for the beginning of the 7 year period, the believer ought to be cognizant of specific signs that Jesus told the disciples, that would be present as birth pangs prior to the Tribulation period. Matthew 24:4-8, relates these birth pangs signs as false teachers within Christianity, ethnic warfare, famines in various places, and earthquakes (also Mark 13:5-8). The Luke 21:8-11, version of the Olivet Discourse speaks of false teachers within Christianity, ethnic warfare, and famines, while adding plagues, great earthquakes, terrors, and great signs from heaven.

* Quote from: http://ad2004.com/prophecytruths/Articles/Prophecy/proph.html

Before All Time, and NOW, and For Evermore

Now unto him that is able to guard you from stumbling, and to set you before the presence of his glory without blemish in exceeding joy, to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and power, before all time, and now, and for evermore. Amen.

(Jud 1:24-25)

Instructions for the Church - Each Part Needed

Instructions for the Church - Each part must be allowed to operate and interact with the rest of the Body

 

But there are differences of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are differences of workings, but it is the same God working all things in all. But to each one is given the showing forth of the Spirit to our profit. For through the Spirit is given to one a word of wisdom; and to another a word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; and to another faith by the same Spirit; and to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; and to another workings of powers, to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; and to another kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues. But the one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing separately to each one as He desires. For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For also by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free, even all were made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If all the body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If all hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body as it has pleased Him. And if they were all one member, where would be the body? But now indeed many are the members, yet only one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. But much rather the members of the body seeming to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we put more abundant honor around them. And our unpresentable members have more abundant propriety. For our presentable members have no need, but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to the member having need; that there not be division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is glorified, all the members rejoice with it. And you are the body of Christ, and members in part. And God set some in the church, firstly, apostles; secondly, prophets; thirdly, teachers, then works of power, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, kinds of languages. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of power? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak languages? Do all interpret? But zealously strive after the better gifts. And yet I show to you a more excellent way.

(1Co 12:4-31)

Then how is it, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be for building up. If one speaks in a language, let it be by two, or at the most three, and in succession. And let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him be silent in a church; and let him speak to himself and to God. And if there are two or three prophets, let them speak, and let the others judge. If a revelation is revealed to another sitting by, let the first be silent. For you may all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. Let your women be silent in the churches; for it is not permitted to them to speak, but to be in subjection, as the Law also says. And if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home; for it is a shame for a woman to speak in a church. Or did the Word of God go out from you? Or did it reach only to you? If anyone thinks to be a prophet, or a spiritual one, let him recognize the things I write to you, that they are a commandment of the Lord. But if any is ignorant, let him be ignorant. So then, brothers, seek to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in languages. Let all things be done decently and in order.

(1Co 14:26-40)

And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you also are called in one body, and be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And everything, whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.

(Col 3:14-17)

1Pe 4:7-11 MKJV But the end of all things has drawn near. Therefore be of sound mind, and be sensible to prayers. (8) And above all things have fervent love to yourselves, for love will cover a multitude of sins. (9) Be hospitable to one another, without grudging; (10) each one as he received a gift, ministering it to yourselves as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (11) If anyone speaks, let it be as the words of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as of the ability which God gives, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ, to whom is the glory, and the might forever and ever. Amen.

Quote from Don Miller's book, Blue Like Jazz

I found this thought provoking:

Page 111:

"A friend of mine, a young pastor who recently started a church, talks to me from time to time about the new face of church in America - about the postmodern church. He says the new church will be different from the old one, that we will be relevant to culture and the human struggle. I don't think any church has ever been relevant to culture, to the human struggle, unless it believed in Jesus and the power of His gospel. If the supposed new church believes in trendy music and cool Web pages, then it is not relevant to culture either. It is just another tool of Satan to get people to be passionate about nothing."

From "Blue Like Jazz, Nonreligious thoughts on Christian Spirituality", by Don Miller

Return of Jesus Christ and Believers meeting Him in the Air, according to the Bible

After much Bible study, and reading what the bible "scholars" have to say on the subject, I've narrowed down the main verses that speak of the return of Jesus Christ, and the "translation" of living believers who will be changed in a "twinkle of an eye". Read them carefully. Feel free to read in context before and after each passage. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom to understand them clearly. And it should be noted you will not find the word "rapture" in any of these verses, because the word is not used in the Bible anywhere. And while the following verses are not ALL that touch on the subject, they are the clearest and most widely quoted to teach about the return of Jesus Christ, and what the believer should expect to happen at that time ( or shortly before that time ). There are many whole chapters of the Bible that reveal details about the "time of trouble", the "beast", and the "wrath of God", and therefore I have not attempted to include them.

Dan 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Dan 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Mat 24:3 And as he sat on the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man lead you astray.
Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and shall lead many astray.
Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled: for these things must needs come to pass; but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines and earthquakes in divers places.
Mat 24:8 But all these things are the beginning of travail.
Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up unto tribulation, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all the nations for my name's sake.
Mat 24:10 And then shall many stumble, and shall deliver up one another, and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall arise, and shall lead many astray.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall be multiplied, the love of the many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13 But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come.
Mat 24:15 When therefore ye see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let him that readeth understand),
Mat 24:16 then let them that are in Judaea flee unto the mountains:
Mat 24:17 let him that is on the housetop not go down to take out things that are in his house:
Mat 24:18 and let him that is in the field not return back to take his cloak.
Mat 24:19 But woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days!
Mat 24:20 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on a sabbath:
Mat 24:21 for then shall be great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be.
Mat 24:22 And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

Mat 24:27 For as the lightning cometh forth from the east, and is seen even unto the west; so shall be the coming of the Son of man.
Mat 24:28 Wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
Mat 24:29 But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mat 24:30 and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Mat 24:31 And he shall send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Mat 24:40 Then shall two men be in the field; one is taken, and one is left:
Mat 24:41 two women shall be grinding at the mill; one is taken, and one is left.
Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not on what day your Lord cometh.

Act 1:9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Act 1:10 And while they were looking stedfastly into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Act 1:11 who also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven? this Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye beheld him going into heaven.
Act 1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is nigh unto Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey off.

Zec 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east; and the mount of Olives shall be cleft in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

Zec 12:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they shall look unto me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born.

Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they that pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over him. Even so, Amen.

Tit 2:13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

1Th 4:13 But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope.
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first;
1Th 4:17 then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

1Co 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54 But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

Phi 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Phi 3:21 who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working whereby he is able even to subject all things unto himself.

1Th 5:1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you.
1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1Th 5:3 When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape.
1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief:
1Th 5:5 for ye are all sons of light, and sons of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness;
1Th 5:6 so then let us not sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober.
1Th 5:7 For they that sleep sleep in the night: and they that are drunken are drunken in the night.
1Th 5:8 But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
1Th 5:9 For God appointed us not into wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Th 5:10 who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, touching the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him;
2Th 2:2 to the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of the Lord is just at hand;
2Th 2:3 let no man beguile you in any wise: for it will not be, except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition,
2Th 2:4 he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God.
2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6 And now ye know that which restraineth, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season.
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only there is one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8 And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of his coming;
2Th 2:9 even he, whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10 and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2Th 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
2Th 2:14 whereunto he called you through our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rev 19:11 And I saw the heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon called Faithful and True; and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Rev 19:12 And his eyes are a flame of fire, and upon his head are many diadems; and he hath a name written which no one knoweth but he himself.
Rev 19:13 And he is arrayed in a garment sprinkled with blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Rev 19:14 And the armies which are in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and pure.
Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty.
Rev 19:16 And he hath on his garment and on his thigh a name written, KINGS OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Rev 19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid heaven, Come and be gathered together unto the great supper of God;
Rev 19:18 that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of them that sit thereon, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, and small and great.
Rev 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat upon the horse, and against his army.
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped his image: they two were cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone:
Rev 19:21 and the rest were killed with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, even the sword which came forth out of his mouth: and all the birds were filled with their flesh.

What to do when the end is upon us.

Isaiah 26:20, 21

 

"Come, my people, enter into your rooms,

And close your doors behind you;

Hide for a little while.

Until indignation runs it's course.

For behold, the LORD is about to come out from His place

To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity;

And the earth will reveal her bloodshed

And will no longer cover her slain."

 

* Some will speak out, take action, and may be martyred.

 

Daniel 11:31-35

 

Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up  the abomination of desolation.

By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action.

Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many; yet they will fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder for many days.

Now when they fall they will be granted a little help and may will join with them in hypocrisy.

Some of those who have insight will fall in order to refine, purge and make them pure until the end time; because it is still to come at the appointed time.

 

NASB translation

 

The 360 Question

Why do we see years that equal 360 days in the Bible ( and not just in future prophecies of Daniel and Revelation ).

Why did early civilizations in Mesopotamia ( "the land between the rivers" ) and Egypt, divide a circle into 360 degrees?

Perhaps because the "circle" of the sky changed 360 times over the course of one year.

 

Or maybe the question should be, how come the "year" is now 365.2425 ( mean solar ) days long?

Has it always been this long?

 

Current length of each day is about 24 hours and 30 seconds.

In order for the year to have only 360 days, it would only require that the length of each day to be increased to 24.347 hours per day ( or about 20 minutes longer ). Another thing to "ponder" is that a 12 lunar cycle year is 354.37 days. So, if one increases the length of a "day" enough to make the year 5.2425 days "shorter" than it is today, what would it take to  also make the lunar "month" a little longer.

The current "average" lunar ( synodic ) month is 29.530589 days ( or 29 days 12.7 hours ). So, just a slight change in the forces that effect the rotation speed of the Earth and the orbit of the Moon, could have caused the 360 days ( 12 months x 30 days lunar cycle ) to increase to the current speeds and orbits. 

 

The book of Genesis shows a 360-day year. A detailed time frame for the year of the great flood is as follows:

 

Reference	Year	Noah's Age YY-MM-DD
Gen. 7:1-4	Noah told to enter Ark	600-02-10
7:11	Flood begins	600-02-17
7:17	Rain ends	600-03-27
8:3-4	Ark sets on Mount Ararat	600-07-17
8:5	Top of Mountain seen	600-10-01
8:6	Birds sent out	600-11-10
8:10	Dove sent out again	600-11-17
8:12	Dove sent out last time	600-11-24
8:13	Covering the Ark removed	601-01-01
8:14	Noah leaves Ark	601-02-27

The table shows that the flood year composed of 12 months of 30 days each or 360 days. The first five months of the Flood equaled exactly 150 days.

Isa 38:7 And this shall be the sign unto thee from Jehovah, that Jehovah will do this thing that he hath spoken:
Isa 38:8 behold, I will cause the shadow on the steps, which is gone down on the dial of Ahaz with the sun, to return backward ten steps. So the sun returned ten steps on the dial whereon it was gone down.

This "event" recorded in Isaiah happened at the time the world started using the 360 plus 5 days calendars. And in the book, "The Ancient 360 Day Year: What it was...And how it changed", by Dale Wong, an excellent case is made to support this change in the solar and lunar cycles.

I'll need to do a lot more research on this, before I am able to draw any hard conclusions of the significance of the 360 day year.

Having Children is bad for the Planet ? Says who?

 Planting the Seeds of a Demographic Winter
If a two-person household is that bad, what does that make families with children?

Environmental criminals, at the least, and maybe earth wreckers. 

By Robert Knight
Culture and Media Institute
May 9, 2008

https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/business/robert-knight/2008/05/09/planting-seeds-demographic-winter

 

Do rock layers show evidence of the Flood?

What evidence do we have that the Genesis Flood, as described in Genesis 7 and 8, really occurred? Genesis 7 explains that water covered all the high hills and the mountains, and that all air-breathing life on the land was swept away and perished. As part of the evidence of the Flood, we would expect to find rock layers all over the earth filled with billions of dead animals and plants that were rapidly buried and fossilized in sand, mud, and lime. And that's exactly what we find.

On every continent are found layers of sedimentary rocks over vast areas. Many of these sediment layers can be traced all the way across continents, and even between continents. Furthermore, when geologists look closely at these rocks, they find evidence that the sediments were deposited rapidly.

Consider the sedimentary rock layers exposed in the walls of the Grand Canyon in northern Arizona. This sequence of layers is not unique to that region of the USA. For more than 50 years geologists have recognized that these strata belong to six megasequences (very thick, distinctive sequences of sedimentary rock layers) that can be traced right across North America.

The lowermost sedimentary layers in Grand Canyon are the Tapeats Sandstone, belonging to the Sauk Megasequence. It and its equivalents (those layers comprised of the same materials) cover much of the USA. We can hardly imagine what forces were necessary to deposit such a vast, continent-wide series of deposits. Yet at the base of this sequence are huge boulders and sand beds deposited by storms. Both are evidence that massive forces deposited these sediment layers rapidly and violently right across the entire USA. Slow-and-gradual (present-day uniformitarian) processes cannot account for this evidence, but the global catastrophic Genesis Flood surely can.

* This article is from Anwers in Genesis ( http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/flood.asp ).

Who is the Anti-Christ according to the Bible?

Much has been written over the centuries about "who" the Anti-Christ might be.
People have often pointed at a leader and said, "look" this must be the one.
Let's take a look at what the Bible actually has to say about this person.
You may be surprised.

* Claims to be deity, and he will sit in the temple of God, and use signs and lying wonders

2 Thessalonians 2:1 - 10:
2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, touching the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him;
2Th 2:2 to the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of the Lord is just at hand;
2Th 2:3 let no man beguile you in any wise: for it will not be, except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition,
2Th 2:4 he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God.
2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6 And now ye know that which restraineth, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season.
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only there is one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8 And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of his coming;
2Th 2:9 even he, whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10 and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

* He comes after and from a group of other leaders.

Dan. 7:7 -8 :
Dan 7:7 After this I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, a fourth beast, terrible and powerful, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
Dan 7:8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.

* His kingdom is different than any others, and will devour the whole earth

* He will put down 3 of the 10 kings that helped him gain power

* He shall think to "change the times and the law"

 Daniel 7:19-27:
Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was diverse from all of them, exceeding terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet;
Dan 7:20 and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows.
Dan 7:21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
Dan 7:22 until the ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
Dan 7:23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
Dan 7:24 And as for the ten horns, out of this kingdom shall ten kings arise: and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the former, and he shall put down three kings.
Dan 7:25 And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time.
Dan 7:26 But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
Dan 7:27 And the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High: his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

* Power base will move through countries in the Middle East

* He will be mighty, but not by his own power.

* Reference to the stopping of the "burnt-offering" is made in 8:11,12,13,14, 9:27, and 11:31.

Daniel Chapter 8, and specifically v. 9 - 27:
Dan 8:9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the glorious land.
Dan 8:10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and some of the host and of the stars it cast down to the ground, and trampled upon them.
Dan 8:11 Yea, it magnified itself, even to the prince of the host; and it took away from him the continual burnt-offering, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
Dan 8:12 And the host was given over to it together with the continual burnt-offering through transgression; and it cast down truth to the ground, and it did its pleasure and prospered.
Dan 8:13 Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said unto that certain one who spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the continual burnt-offering, and the transgression that maketh desolate, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
Dan 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
Dan 8:15 And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, that I sought to understand it; and, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.
Dan 8:16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.
Dan 8:17 So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was affrighted, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man; for the vision belongeth to the time of the end.
Dan 8:18 Now as he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face toward the ground; but he touched me, and set me upright.
Dan 8:19 And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the latter time of the indignation; for it belongeth to the appointed time of the end.
Dan 8:20 The ram which thou sawest, that had the two horns, they are the kings of Media and Persia.
Dan 8:21 And the rough he-goat is the king of Greece: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
Dan 8:22 And as for that which was broken, in the place whereof four stood up, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not with his power.
Dan 8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
Dan 8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper and do his pleasure; and he shall destroy the mighty ones and the holy people.
Dan 8:25 And through his policy he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and in their security shall he destroy many: he shall also stand up against the prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
Dan 8:26 And the vision of the evenings and mornings which hath been told is true: but shut thou up the vision; for it belongeth to many days to come.
Dan 8:27 And I, Daniel, fainted, and was sick certain days; then I rose up, and did the king's business: and I wondered at the vision, but none understood it.

* Daniel 9:24 - 12:13 Explains Daniel's vision of the end times and the "one who makes desolate". Reveals the 70 weeks and promise of Messiah the Prince.
 It includes details and sequence of events, duration of time, and promise of resurrection and reward at the "end of the days".

Key Verses describing the his character are 11:36 and 37.

NOTE: He will not regard any other gods, nor God ( Elohim ) of his fathers. This means he will not be preaching Allah or Muslim Faith ( unless of course he is claiming To Be Allah? ).

Some have suggested he would be a Hebrew by blood, but has no regard for his heritage. He will be exalting himself as a god to be worshipped.

He is said to have "no desire for women" ( does this mean he desires men ? ).

Dan 9:27 And he shall make a firm covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease; and upon the wing of abominations shall come one that maketh desolate; and even unto the full end, and that determined, shall wrath be poured out upon the desolate.

Dan 11:19 Then he shall turn his face toward the fortresses of his own land; but he shall stumble and fall, and shall not be found.
Dan 11:20 Then shall stand up in his place one that shall cause an exactor to pass through the glory of the kingdom; but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.
Dan 11:21 And in his place shall stand up a contemptible person, to whom they had not given the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in time of security, and shall obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
Dan 11:22 And the overwhelming forces shall be overwhelmed from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.
Dan 11:23 And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully; for he shall come up, and shall become strong, with a small people.
Dan 11:24 In time of security shall he come even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them prey, and spoil, and substance: yea, he shall devise his devices against the strongholds, even for a time.
Dan 11:25 And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall war in battle with an exceeding great and mighty army; but he shall not stand; for they shall devise devices against him.
Dan 11:26 Yea, they that eat of his dainties shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow; and many shall fall down slain.
Dan 11:27 And as for both these kings, their hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table: but it shall not prosper; for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.
Dan 11:28 Then shall he return into his land with great substance; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do his pleasure, and return to his own land.
Dan 11:29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come into the south; but it shall not be in the latter time as it was in the former.
Dan 11:30 For ships of Kittim shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and shall return, and have indignation against the holy covenant, and shall do his pleasure: he shall even return, and have regard unto them that forsake the holy covenant.
Dan 11:31 And forces shall stand on his part, and they shall profane the sanctuary, even the fortress, and shall take away the continual burnt-offering, and they shall set up the abomination that maketh desolate.
Dan 11:32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he pervert by flatteries; but the people that know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
Dan 11:33 And they that are wise among the people shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by the sword and by flame, by captivity and by spoil, many days.
Dan 11:34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help; but many shall join themselves unto them with flatteries.
Dan 11:35 And some of them that are wise shall fall, to refine them, and to purify, and to make them white, even to the time of the end; because it is yet for the time appointed.
Dan 11:36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods; and he shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done.
Dan 11:37 Neither shall he regard the gods of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall magnify himself above all.
Dan 11:38 But in his place shall he honor the god of fortresses; and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.
Dan 11:39 And he shall deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign god: whosoever acknowledgeth him he will increase with glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for a price.
Dan 11:40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south contend with him; and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass through.
Dan 11:41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
Dan 11:42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries; and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
Dan 11:43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.
Dan 11:44 But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him; and he shall go forth with great fury to destroy and utterly to sweep away many.
Dan 11:45 And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the sea and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

 

***  There shall be "A time of Trouble"

** TIME: v. 11, "1,290 days", v. 12 Wait until the 1,335th day!!!

 

Dan 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Dan 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Dan 12:3 And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Dan 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Dan 12:5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on the brink of the river on this side, and the other on the brink of the river on that side.
Dan 12:6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
Dan 12:7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
Dan 12:8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my lord, what shall be the issue of these things?
Dan 12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed till the time of the end.
Dan 12:10 Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but they that are wise shall understand.
Dan 12:11 And from the time that the continual burnt-offering shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand and two hundred and ninety days.
Dan 12:12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
Dan 12:13 But go thou thy way till the end be; for thou shalt rest, and shalt stand in thy lot, at the end of the days.

And in the Revelation of John, we learn:
Rev 10:7 but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then is finished the mystery of God, according to the good tidings which he declared to his servants the prophets.

* And the first mention of "the beast" is at the death of the "two witnesses" who will prophesy for 1260 days, clothed in sackcloth.
Rev 11:7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that cometh up out of the abyss shall make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them.

* A war in Heaven is mentioned that seems to refer to Satan being cast out of heaven, and the angels that choose to follow him.
Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels going forth to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels;
Rev 12:8 And they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven.
Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.
Rev 12:10 And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuseth them before our God day and night.
Rev 12:11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death.
Rev 12:12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe for the earth and for the sea: because the devil is gone down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time.

* Then the "dragon" seems to set into motion and give power to various "ten horns" the is slain and then healed ( to the amazement of the whole world ).
 Chapter 13 is all about "the beast" ( or what we like to call the Anti-Christ ).
Rev 13:1 And he stood upon the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns, and seven heads, and on his horns ten diadems, and upon his heads names of blasphemy.
Rev 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his throne, and great authority.
Rev 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as though it had been smitten unto death; and his death-stroke was healed: and the whole earth wondered after the beast;
Rev 13:4 and they worshipped the dragon, because he gave his authority unto the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? And who is able to war with him?
Rev 13:5 and there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and there was given to him authority to continue forty and two months.
* A clear Time Limit is mentioned, and parallels Daniel ( 42 months = 1260 days = 3.5 years ).
Rev 13:6 And he opened his mouth for blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, even them that dwell in the heaven.
Rev 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.
Rev 13:8 And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, every one whose name hath not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that hath been slain.
Rev 13:9 If any man hath an ear, let him hear.
Rev 13:10 If any man is for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
Rev 13:11 And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like unto a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

* ANOTHER BEAST that does miracles and tells everyone to worship the FIRST BEAST.
Rev 13:12 And he exerciseth all the authority of the first beast in his sight. And he maketh the earth and them dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose death-stroke was healed.
Rev 13:13 And he doeth great signs, that he should even make fire to come down out of heaven upon the earth in the sight of men.
Rev 13:14 And he deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by reason of the signs which it was given him to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who hath the stroke of the sword and lived.
Rev 13:15 And it was given unto him to give breath to it, even to the image to the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as should not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

* And once he has gained enough power over the world, everyone will be required to take an identification MARK.
Rev 13:16 And he causeth all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bond, that there be given them a mark on their right hand, or upon their forehead;
Rev 13:17 and that no man should be able to buy or to sell, save he that hath the mark, even the name of the beast or the number of his name.
Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man: and his number is Six hundred and sixty and six.
* Again we see that those with understanding will be able to figure out the truth about this person and what is really happening. The majority of the world's population will be deceived.

* And here is a tricky riddle...John is told, "the beast you saw was, and is not, and is about to come".
Rev 17:7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou wonder? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and the ten horns.
Rev 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss, and to go into perdition. And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, they whose name hath not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast, how that he was, and is not, and shall come.
Rev 17:9 Here is the mind that hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth:
Rev 17:10 and they are seven kings; the five are fallen, the one is, the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a little while.
Rev 17:11 And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goeth into perdition.
Rev 17:12 And the ten horns that thou sawest are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet; but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour.
Rev 17:13 These have one mind, and they give their power and authority unto the beast.
Rev 17:14 These shall war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they also shall overcome that are with him, called and chosen and faithful.
Rev 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
Rev 17:16 And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her utterly with fire.
Rev 17:17 For God did put in their hearts to do his mind, and to come to one mind, and to give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished.
Rev 17:18 And the woman whom thou sawest is the great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

* THE END of the Beast is already written for us,
Rev 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat upon the horse, and against his army.
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped his image: they two were cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone:
Rev 19:21 and the rest were killed with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, even the sword which came forth out of his mouth: and all the birds were filled with their flesh.
AND
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where are also the beast and the false prophet; and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

* And there are a couple of verses in I John, were the term "anti-christ" is mentioned. It seems there are those who are spreading a message that opposes Jesus being THE CHRIST, and the Father and Son being equal, and they would undermine the "promise" we have of life eternal ( by faith in the name of Jesus, "God Who Saves" ).
1Jo 2:18 Little children, it is the last hour: and as ye heard that antichrist cometh, even now have there arisen many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last hour.
1Jo 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they all are not of us.
1Jo 2:20 And ye have an anointing from the Holy One, and ye know all the things.
1Jo 2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
1Jo 2:22 Who is the liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, even he that denieth the Father and the Son.
1Jo 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that confesseth the Son hath the Father also.
1Jo 2:24 As for you, let that abide in you which ye heard from the beginning. If that which ye heard from the beginning abide in you, ye also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father.
1Jo 2:25 And this is the promise which he promised us, even the life eternal.
1Jo 2:26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that would lead you astray.
1Jo 2:27 And as for you, the anointing which ye received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any one teach you; but as his anointing teacheth you; concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, ye abide in him.
AND in reference to "testing the spirits", John makes this comment about the anti-christ,
1Jo 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jo 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jo 4:3 and every spirit that confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is the spirit of the antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now it is in the world already.
1Jo 4:4 Ye are of God, my little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.
1Jo 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they as of the world, and the world heareth them.
1Jo 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he who is not of God heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

AND finally ending on a positive note:
1Jo 5:11 And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1Jo 5:12 He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life.
1Jo 5:13 These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, even unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God.

Does God Hear? Does God Speak?

When you read the Bible, you will find countless times through out the history of the world where God responses to the prayers of man. And countless times and in various ways God has spoken or communicated with man. So, what each of us may wonder today is, Does God really hear me? Can I hear from God? I believe the answer is yes to both. God is the same today, yesterday, and tomorrow. The "failure to communicate" is on our part. The correct questions to ask are: Do you talk to God? Do you listen to God?

 

Each believer has the Holy Spirit of God. So, we are not alone. Again, the verses in the Bible are very plan and clear that we are to be communicating with God, and He is listening. And if we draw near, and acknowledge Him, He will be near to us, and direct our path.

 

I have one ( two part ) personal example I'd like to share. When I was 18 years old I heard from God and did not listen ( I had a strong feeling that I should NOT go to the place I had in mind alone ). I  ignored this strong feeling that included clear thoughts of what I should do instead, and proceeded on the path I had chosen. I was riding my bicycle across town through a very "ruff" part of a large city to look for a cheap car at a large Swap Meet held every weekend. Along the way I stopped to witness to some children. Telling them about the Free Gift of Salvation available to all who will trust in Jesus Christ as their Saviour. In the middle of telling them, a "big" kid ( actually another 18 year old such as myself ) came to see what I was doing. He asked me questions like "why was I there?". I told him I was going to buy a car. He asked me if I had the money to buy a car right now. I naively told him yes ( and I did about $ 500 cash with me ). He was nice enough to tell he had a friend who had a car for sale, and he could show me. After showing me a car, you took me to a near by apartment complex. And when I knocked on the door where the owner of the car was suppose to live, my helpful new friend proceeded to put an arm around my neck and start to choke me. He asked where was the money. I was totally shocked. I could not believe I was being mugged. As I was not willing to turn over my entire life savings to this mugger, he continued to question me, and then started searching me. I found myself very much "in the flesh", and my attitude and speech was ungodly. He found some money in my wallet. He found some more in my little note pad. He had me take my shoes off to search them. This went on forever ( maybe 5 - 10 minutes ). He never found the bulk of my money ( $ 400 I had hid in my Bible ).

 

And then.... I remembered to pray. It was pretty simple. Something like "God I need help". Now this is the cool part....

Within seconds a small boy comes around the corner and to see what is going on with me and my new friend. I ask to please go tell his mother to call the police because I am being robbed. The mugger pleads with the boy to do nothing, since he knows him. The boys runs off screaming for his mom. The mugger is now afraid, and I am able to get free from him.

 

I could see after these series of events, how God had clearly tried to prevent me from being there. And I could see how He came to my rescue when I remembered to rely upon. Prior to this incident, I had an attitude that I was "untouchable" or "bullet proof". That no harm could be fall me, since I was a child of God, and a Disciple doing His "work". I did not understand the "relationship" that God wanted with me as an individual. See, I thought I was in God's Army, and thereby protected by the rest of the troops ( which includes Angel's... that is another story I can tell later ). I guess I thought God was the leader, and He was always off in some important meeting dealing with  "more important" issues. Now I know God is capable and desirous of a one on one relationship with each and everyone of us.

 

Let me finish this story with a time years later, where I remembered to pray as my first response to a situation of danger.

 

I was 31 years old. Living in a small town now. Small towns don't have too many "ruff" places, but they do have "ruff" people. You could run into your "enemies" just about anywhere or anytime. I had one such enemy. He had been told things about me that were not true, but he believed them. And one day he "caught" me at a convenience store buying a few things ( milk, soda, bread, etc ). He confronted me, and asked me to "step outside" because he wanted to "talk" to me. I offered to talk right where we were ( I knew he would be talking with his fist, if we went outside ). He did not like my response. He pushed me hard enough to make me drop some of the groceries I was holding. It was at this moment I realized I was in a dangerous situation and I needed help. I did not seek anyone in the store, I "called upon the name of Lord", and He helped me ( I think I say, "Jesus please help me, I need You" ). Immediately it thundered ( I'm not making this up, it was one of those afternoon thunderstorms in the area ), and the lights went out for about one second. This flustered my aggressor ( his name is Danny Payne, and I have prayed for him over 100 times over the years ), and then a woman clerk yelled at him to get out of the store. I was "saved". And I kept asking the Lord to protect me every time I'd see that guy's truck somewhere in this small town. He never came near me again.

 

Moral of the story. Listen if you feel God is trying to direction your path, and most importantly: always, and all the time, seek Him. He is near, and He is big, and He loves you. He is waiting to hear from you. That's right YOU!

 

 

Focus on God

Seek ye first the Kingdom of heaven, and all these things will be added to you.

Your Father knows all the things you need.

He feeds the birds of the air , and you are worth much more to Him.

 

Joy and Peace are a result of your faith and focus.

Are you looking at your problems or your God?

Are you complaining or are you giving thanks in all things?

Did Paul and Silas complain or worship when they were thrown into the Philippian Jail ( after being beaten )?

Were they happy or feeling sorry for themselves.

If you are not sure, then read Acts 16:11-40.

 

See how the attitude of worship ( believing and thanking God that He is always in control ) transformed their feelings and those around them.

Their joy in the midst of what appeared to be a negative situation, was a shining light to those around them.

And God shook the jail open. And the jailer and his family came to saving faith.

 

Feeling low?

Where is your focus?

 

Afraid of something?

How big is your God?

 

"Rejoice in the Lord always ( not just when "things" are going smoothly ), again I will say rejoice.

Let your gentle spirit be known to all men, The Lord is Near ( near to return, but also near to you NOW )!

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything ( everything???? )  by prayer and supplication ( serious, I mean it, heart felt talking to God ) with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God ( but it's not like He does not already know, but you need to be looking to Him for the supply or answers ).

( Result = ) And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension ( the kind that will make you SING in prison after being beaten ), will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

 

Philippians 4:4-7 with commentary added.

 

 

Quality, Not Quantity - Frequency, Not Duration

When I was about 10 years old, the Gideon's gave out New Testaments to the 5th graders at the public elementary school I attended.

One of the first passages of scripture to make an impression on me was what Jesus said just before what is now known as "The Lord's Prayer", or "Our Father".

Jesus says in Matthew 6:7-8

 "And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."

 

* This is what I call Quality, and Not Quantity.

Or another way;

It's what you say to God, not how many times or how many words you use that matters.

 

And later as a young Christian I read where we are to "pray without ceasing". Does this mean my every thought and every word all day long is to be a prayer? It is more like keeping the "channel" tuned to God. That "in all things" and "at all times", we are to be communicating and relating to an Omni-present ( "trans-dimensional" ) loving Creator????

 

* This is what I call Frequency, and Not Duration.

Or another way;

It's not how Long you pray, but how often ( frequently, all the time, about everything, big or small ).

 

Why start at the beginning? By Ken Ham

Why start at the beginning?

Mission organizations like New Tribes Mission, for instance, found a problem when presenting the gospel to many pagan cultures.

At first, they thought they were reaching these people by telling them about Jesus and the message of the Cross. But after some time, they started to realize that these people did not understand the message at all. Commitments they thought they had did not turn out to be real.

To deal with this, New Tribes developed an approach called Chronological Teaching. It was obvious that these pagan cultures had no Christian basis. They had no knowledge of the foundations of the gospel in Genesis. How could they understand what Christ did on the Cross if they didn't know about the Fall—and sin—in the Garden?

Once they started from the beginning of Genesis and taught through the Old Testament—and then presented the message of Christ—what a change they saw! Many were truly converted now that they really understood the message.

This same approach needs to be used in our own society. The reason many don't understand the gospel today is because they've been indoctrinated in evolution and humanism. They need to start at the beginning, too.

 

Live Like an Alien

 

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself."

Philippians 3:20,21

 

"We reside here, but we are restless.

 

We are foreigners with a faraway passion.

 

We are resident aliens with treasures in heaven."

 

p.205, Lessons I Learned in the Light, by Jennifer Rothschild

What Religion Are You?

 If I'm not being too snoopy and out of curiosity, may I ask you what religion you are; for instance, Baptist, Pentecostal, Lutheran, Catholic, Evangelical Free, Christian Reform, New Age or what ever...   

* Raised Catholic, became Agnostic & New Age, was born again at age 16, learned to accept the Bible as being the true and accurate revealed Word of God. I learned a lot from a small Bible Study group ( The Forum ) in Fort Lauderdale that was taught by a former student ( Linda Fontaine ) of Florida Bible College. I currently attend a very contemporary non-denominational church ( www.the360church.org ), and I would call myself a "Fundamental Bible Believing Conservative Christian". I share a lot of doctrinal beliefs with mainstream Baptist, and Evangelical Free.

 

Your "clouds on the horizon"  blog hits the nail right on the head.  I've been in the church since I was confirmed.  My wife was a Catholic and she changed to Lutheran (ELCA) and went through an extensive bible study.  She can ever put Pastors in their place with the knowledge she gained including myself...    The program is called the "Bethel Series"  and is now an International bible study..   So, this was not news to me but certainly something not to be taken lightly.  Sometimes I get the feeling our society is slowly going  down the tube, and our church included.   I think of the prophecy where it talks about the falling away of the very elect, and I can see signs of that happening along with the greed which is also happening with our corporate executives !!

* I sense and sometimes feel despair knowing the fact we live in a fallen evil world that will get worse before it gets better ( and only then because the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords will make it better by His return to rule and reign ).