Prophecy Update Newsletter
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
In the Midst Part 3: Last "Week" of the Antichrist - By Randy Nettles - https://www.raptureready.com/2020/05/05/in-the-midst-part-3-last-week-of-the-antichrist-by-randy-nettles/
In the first year of Belshazzar, king of Babylon (approximately 553 BC), the prophet Daniel had an apocalyptic dream from the Lord, which he recorded in the 7th chapter of the book of Daniel. This is the first time the Antichrist is referenced in the Bible, although not by this name. Daniel called him the "beast." "Daniel spoke, saying, 'I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea (Gentile nations). And four great beasts (kings/kingdoms) came up from the sea, each different from the other'" (Daniel 7:2-3). The first world empire to arise out of the Gentile nations is Babylon itself, and is depicted in Daniel 7:4 as a lion with eagle's wings. The other three world empires to appear on the world scene are Medo-Persia (the bear), Greece (the leopard), and Rome (the dreadful, terrible, and strong beast) according to Daniel 7:5-7. The last world empire, Rome, would re-emerge in a different form during the end times. "After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things" (Daniel 7:7-8). Daniel is prophesying about the end-time Gentile world empire to come before Jesus returns to establish his Millennium Kingdom. It will consist of ten horns or kings (kingdoms, regions) that will rule the entire world. Another horn or ruler will emerge who will subdue three of the kings. Eventually, the remaining seven kings will abdicate their authority to the Antichrist, and he will become king (dictator) over the entire earth. "The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; he shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings. He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time (3.5 years or 1,260 days)" (Daniel 7:24-25). The little horn/beast Daniel is referring to is later known as the Antichrist. The Antichrist will have absolute power over the nations of the earth for only 3.5 years and then judgment will consume him. "But the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever. Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him" (Daniel 7:26-27). In Daniel's night vision, he also saw God, the Father, at the Great White Throne Judgment which is to come at the end of time where the Antichrist, false prophet, and many other anti-Christ people will be judged. "I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened. I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame" (Daniel 7:9-11). This is the eternal fate of the Antichrist and his followers. In the time of Moses, God required the children of Israel to always have at least two or more witnesses before judging a matter, as per Deuteronomy 19:15. Daniel's prophetic vision is expounded upon by the New Testament prophet John (a disciple of Jesus) who had a similar vision in Revelation 13:1-8. "Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon (Satan) gave him his power, his throne, and great authority" (Revelation 13:1-2). John is saying the beast (Antichrist) and his kingdom will have all the attributes of the first three world empires mentioned by Daniel. However, he will be even more evil and powerful than the previous kings because Satan is the true power behind the throne and gives him supernatural skills and abilities. "And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him? And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months" (Revelation 13:3-5). John agrees with Daniel as to the length of time the beast will have absolute power over the inhabitants of the earth... 42 months or 3.5 years. "Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:6-8). In the Bible, the number 13 represents rebellion and apostasy. For instance, look at Genesis 13:13: "But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly." Is it any wonder that the Antichrist is introduced in the 13th chapter of Revelation? The Antichrist will have demonic help from another "beast" who is a religious authoritarian. "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon. And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and causes the earth and them which dwell within to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power 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, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. "And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six (666)" (Revelation 13:11-18). Most Bible scholars believe the number 666 in the preceding verse is referring to the gematria of the Antichrist's name. "Gematria" is an alphanumeric code of assigning a numeric value to a name, word, or phrase based on its letters. The Antichrist's name in Hebrew or Greek will add up to 666. Here are a few other examples of gematria: Jesus' name adds up to 888. The oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, Damascus, has a value of 444. The value for the name Sodom is 999, the divine number for judgment. The number 7 represents spiritual perfection and completeness. The number three signifies divine perfection. The number 777 represents our Triune God, Elohim. The number 6 represents man, who was created on the 6th day of creation. Man is incomplete without God. It is the number of human imperfection and is destitute of God or Christ. "If 6 is the number of secular or human perfection, then 66 is a more emphatic expression of the same fact, and 666 is the concentrated expression of it. 666 is therefore the trinity of human perfection; the perfection of imperfection; the culmination of human pride in independence of God and opposition to His Christ" {1} The number 666 will be man's attempt to become God. The Antichrist and the false prophet will do the will of their god, Satan. The three will mimic the Holy Trinity, with Satan as the Father God, the Antichrist as the Son of God, and the false prophet as the Holy Spirit. They will be the Unholy Trinity of the Tribulation and will raise hell (figuratively and literally) upon the earth for 1,260 days. When the Antichrist comes upon the world scene, he will initially be a great friend to Israel. He will become their protector and benefactor like President Trump was before him. The A.C. will confirm (strengthen) an existing seven-year peace treaty (military alliance) or covenant with Israel, guaranteeing their safety. Of course, Israel will most likely have to give up some land in return, possibly even some parts of Jerusalem. This treaty will be even stronger than the original one given by the ten kings. This act will greatly anger the Lord and bring on the Tribulation. Millennia ago, the Lord made a covenant with Abraham (and his descendants), giving him all the land of Canaan for an everlasting inheritance, as per Genesis 15:17-21. The Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, gave this prophecy from the Lord to the Jewish people regarding this future covenant. "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation (Jesus); whoever believes will not act hastily. Also I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plummet; the hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place. Your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand; when the overflowing scourge passes through, then you will be trampled down by it. As often as it goes out it will take you; for morning by morning it will pass over, and by day and by night; it will be a terror just to understand the report" (Isaiah 28:16-19). Another reason for the Tribulation that is to come upon the earth (as described in Revelation 6-19) is apostasy. The majority of earth's citizens will put their faith in the Antichrist as their savior and not the Lord Jesus Christ. This covenant that is confirmed by the Antichrist and the nation of Israel will be the official start of the 7-year Tribulation. "Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week (7 years); but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. and on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate" (Daniel 9:27). The "in the midst" event of Daniel 9:27 is known as the Abomination of Desolation, and is described in Daniel 12:11 and Revelation 13:14-15. It will occur near the mid-point of the 7-year Tribulation. The Antichrist will stop the sacrifices in the newly built 3rd temple of Jerusalem. The false prophet will have a statue or image of the beast erected in the temple and demand all citizens of the earth to worship him as God. 1,260 days (3.5 years) will transpire between the Abomination of Desolation and Jesus' return at the Battle of Armageddon. These last 3.5 years are known as the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21). With pandemics such as Covid 19, locust plagues in Africa, major earthquakes, crashing of the world economies, and other pre-Tribulation signs becoming more prevalent and frequent, we know the Tribulation can't be far off. The birth pains Jesus was referring to in Matthew 24:8 are getting closer together, signifying the baby is about to be born. In this case, the Tribulation or the end of the age is the "baby." Who said there's no such thing as an ugly baby? Jesus was once asked by his disciples when would the end of the age occur. He replied: "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near-at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away" (Matthew 24:32-35). When Jesus told his disciples "this generation shall not pass away," he was saying that all the end-time signs would be fulfilled within the lifetime of the people being born when the end-time signs began. The beginning sign was when Israel became a nation again on May, 14, 1948. According to Moses in Psalm 90:10, a generation is 70 to 80 years in duration. In the first two parts of this article, In the Midst, I gave several hypothetical examples of possible dates for the start, middle, and end of the Tribulation. These dates are all determined on one hypothesis - Jesus will return to the earth on a future Feast of Trumpets date. Most eschatologists believe since Jesus fulfilled the first four Feasts of the Lord at his 1st Coming, he will fulfill the last three Feasts (Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles) during his 2nd Coming. The dates in these examples are not predictions, but are merely used as a possible timeline for the 7- year Tribulation, and are based upon certain events aligning with certain Feasts of the Lord. The Abomination of Desolation will align with the time of Passover, and Jesus' 2nd Coming will align with Trumpets. These examples are used to show how close we are to this time of tribulation known as Jacob's Trouble or the Day of the Lord. If this is the case, it means we are even closer to the Rapture. With the Rapture being immanent, our priorities should change and we should focus on heavenly matters and not fading earthly ones. With this in mind, let's look at one last possible example of hypothetical dates for the Tribulation. Israel will turn 74 years old in the year 2022. If the Antichrist confirms the covenant with the many (govt. of Israel) in this year, it will start the Tribulation. So, let's speculate that the fall of 2022 is the start of the Tribulation. The spring of 2026 is the mid-point (in the midst) of the Tribulation, and the fall of 2029 is the end of the 7-year Tribulation. Why is the number 74 significant? I believe it is relevant in the fact that the Antichrist's name is equivalent to the number 666. Remember, the Antichrist starts the Tribulation when he confirms the covenant with Israel. The Antichrist's number, 666, is the product of two relevant numbers, 74 and 9. In this example, the number 74 represents Israel. The number 9 is the number of judgment in the Bible, especially for Israel. For more information on this subject, go to: https://www.raptureready.com/2019/07/14/dog-days-summer-randy-nettles/. The date on the Jewish calendar we base our hypothetical examples on is Tishri 1. This is always the date for the 5th Feast of the Lord, known as Trumpets. In 2029, Trumpets occurs on September 9th. So Jesus will return to the earth on 9-9-2029 with judgment for all those still alive on planet Earth. Is it ironic that He will return on this date with the number 9 being so prevalent? Perhaps it's ironic with humans, but not with God; for God knows the beginning from the end of all things. The next date we are looking for is the "in the midst" event of the Abomination of Desolation. To determine this date, we must deduct 1,260 days from September 9, 2029. This will take us to March 29, 2026 on the Gregorian calendar and Nisan 12 on the Jewish calendar. This is the date the A.C. will commit the evil act known as the Abomination of Desolation. When you deduct 1,260 days from Tishri 1 (Trumpets), you nearly always get Nisan 10 or Nisan 12 on the Jewish calendar. This time, in the year 2026, the date is Nisan 12. This is perfectly normal, but what's a little unusual is that the year 2026 matches up exactly with the year 33 on both the Gregorian and Jewish calendars. AD 33 was the year Jesus died. He was crucified on Nisan 14, 33. Four days earlier on Nisan 10, he had ridden into Jerusalem on a donkey as the king of the Jews, yet was rejected as such by the ruling elites. Nisan 12 is in the midst of these two historic dates. If the Gregorian calendar had been in effect in the year A.D. 33, the date Nisan 12 would have occurred on March 29, 33. For proof, go to: https://www.360calendar.com/360-days-Calendar-Converter.html . The future year of 2026 will also have the same date (on the Gregorian calendar) for Nisan 12... March 29. This is sort of unusual, as the Jewish and Gregorian calendars only align sporadically throughout the decades. Satan will direct his main man, the Antichrist, to mimic Jesus' last week (seven days) before his death and resurrection. He will ride into Jerusalem on a white horse as king of the Jews on Nisan 10, emulating Jesus' triumphant entry (on a donkey) into Jerusalem exactly 1,993 years, to the day, earlier. The Jews rejected Jesus as their king but will accept the Antichrist as their king. Jesus said: "I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name (666), him you will receive" (John 5:43). Two days later on Nisan 12, the Antichrist will reveal his true intent with the Jews (and the rest of the world) and commit the atrocious Abomination of Desolation. I believe he will be killed on the 14th day of Nisan, the same day Jesus died. It's even possible he might be raised from the dead, or at least appear so with Satan's supernatural assistance. "And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast" (Revelation 13:3). It's even possible this resurrection-like event could happen three days later on Nisan 17, the same day Jesus was resurrected by God's power. The starting date for the Tribulation, in this example, would occur on Heshvan 22 or November 15, 2022; when Israel is 74 years old. The Abomination of Desolation will occur 1,230 days later (in the midst) on Nisan 12 or March 29, 2026. Jesus' 2nd Coming will occur on September 9, 2029 (9-9-2029), or Tishri 1 (Feast of Trumpets) on the Jewish calendar. This is the day Jesus renders His judgment on the nations of the earth at the Battle of Armageddon and defeats all the evil forces (both human and demonic) that are aligned against him. The actual end of Daniel's 70 Weeks/Sevens prophecy will occur thirty days later on October 9, 2029 - Heshvan 1. The next day on 10-10-2029, the reign of Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords will begin. It will last for 1,000 (10 x 10 x 10) years and into eternity. Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus...in the twinkling of an eye! Randy Nettles [email protected] Endnotes: {1} Number in Scripture by E.W. Bullinger - Kregal Publications pg. 282 The Mark, the Name and the Number (666) of the Beast - Bill Salus - http://www.prophecydepotministries.net/ This article is taken from 1 of the 3 chapters in my upcoming book that deals with the MARK of the BEAST. The final title is yet to be determined, but for now it's entitled, "The END Prophecies." "And that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666." (Revelation 13:17-18) This passage points out that there are three important elements related to becoming a participant in the global economy of the Antichrist. These are the mark, the name, and the number of the beast. Rev. 13:15-16 informs that everyone alive at that future time will be required to take the mark or else be killed, but what are the purposes behind the name and number of the beast? Is this related to a status or rewards-based system? In other words, if you become an exemplary devotee of the Antichrist, do you get upgraded to some sort of a platinum package within the global economy? Is that how someone adds the name or number of the beast onto their resume? Or, what about this possibility, which may make more sense in light of today's technologies? What if the name, mark and number of the Beast represent interchangeable concepts that stand for the same thing, rather than three separate alternatives? Rev. 13:17 quoted above talks about, "the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." The Greek word for or is "é." In the English language the word "or" is commonly used to link together two alternatives. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word "or" as, "used as a function word to indicate an alternative," or, it can be "the equivalent or substitutive character of two words or phrases." Thus, the word can actually have a "substitutive" application, which means it can take the place of something and serve as a suitable substitute. According to Thayer's Greek Lexicon the definition of "or" under (STRONGS NT 2228. é), translates that it can be used to "distinguish things or thoughts which either mutually exclude each other, or one of which can take the place of the other." This latter meaning, "can take the place of the other," implies that it can serve as a suitable substitute. So with that said, Revelation 13:17 could possibly be interpreted to read this way: "so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark - (which is) the name of the beast (also known as) the number of his name."[i] Prophecy expert Hal Lindsey, translating from the applicable Greek words of Rev. 13:17, interprets the verse to read, "no one should be able to buy or sell except the one who has the mark, WHICH IS THE NAME OF THE BEAST." This interpretation makes the Mark of the Beast synonymous with the name of the Beast. Thus, the mark and name are one and the same thing, rather than two separate ideas. However, what about the number of the Beast? Does it remain distinct and independent from the mark that, according to Hal Lindsey, is also the name of the Beast? The Common English Version of the Bible translates the subject verse as follows, "They all had to have this mark, or else they could not buy or sell anything. This mark stood for the name of the beast and for the number of its name." (Rev. 13:17, CEV) This paraphrasing takes it a step further than the Hal Lindsey quote above, by combining the mark and the name of the Beast, with the number of the Beast. The CEV interprets the verse to mean, everyone "had to have this mark," which not only "stood for the name," but also stood for the number of the Antichrist. In other words, it could be an all-inclusive package, rather than a separate threefold concept. Thus, somehow the name and number of the Beast gets integrated into the design and detail of the mark, which in turn becomes incorporated into the global economic system of the Antichrist. The CEV version enjoins the mark, number and name together. Thus, the number and / or the name of the Beast, could serve as suitable substitutes for the mark of the Beast. This could possibly be accomplished through the following sequence of procedural events: 1. Someone takes the Mark of the Beast, which enrolls them into the global economic system of the Beast. 2. At the time of enrollment a unique electronic identifier is automatically generated for the registrant. This might come in the form of a Digital ID. This identifier includes a personalized number. 3. The marked registrant is now an official member of the global system that is exclusively identified by the Name of the Beast. For the purposes of this scenario, we will call the Name of the Beast, "LUDWIG." 4. The implementation of the LUDWIG global system overrides all other existing blockchain type systems and renders them obsolete. Moreover, it forces the newly marked registrant to transfer their entire financial portfolio over to the LUDWIG system. This process probably includes the reallocation of all personal, criminal and medical records at the same time. This is probable because by then all fiat currencies and personal paper records will likely have become a thing of the past, having been replaced by more efficient technologies. Thus far, this scenario has automatically integrated the Mark of the Beast into the Name of the Beast system, which makes them intertwined, rather than two separate concepts. The next step explains how the Number "666" of the Beast becomes incorporated into the LUDWIG system. 5. Every unique identifier that gets electronically generated within the LUDWIG system contains the number "666," possibly within the prefix of the registrants ID mark. A mock example could look like, 666-1234567. Using a uniform prefix number is a common practice of credit card companies. Presently, it is the use of unique prefix numbers that separates Visa, Master Card, and American Express from each other. The requirement of putting "666" in the prefix of a marked registrants ID is to clearly identify the mark with the LUDWIG system. Attaching the Number of the Beast, (666), to the Mark of the Beast, (unique identification number), and tagging it into the system with the Name of the Beast, (LUDWIG for example), incorporates the three elements required for a person to buy and sell in the global economy. In this five-step fictitious scenario above, the mark, name and number of the Beast all work together in tandem. If this is what is entailed, then why is the verse below singled out as being critically important to understand? "Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666." (Rev. 13:18) This isn't likely a clue to help someone pin the tail on the true identity of the Antichrist, because by the time the Mark of the Beast gets introduced, it should be clear who he is. He will have already: * Confirmed the covenant of Daniel 9:27, * Aligned with the Harlot world religion as per Rev. 17:3-7, * Coalesced with the Ten Kings of Rev. 17:12-13, * Will have killed the Two Witnesses in Rev. 11:7, * Set up the Abomination of Desolation in the Temple as per Daniel 12:11. If it is not concerning the identity of the Beast, is the emphasis of Rev. 13:18 possibly intended to solidify the warning to a person, that if they willingly partake in a global system that places a mark on their right hand or forehead, which has a number 666 integrated into it, that they have just sealed their fate? Does this verse serve to disqualify them from saying something like, "I didn't really know what I was doing, I only took the mark to feed my hungry children and get medicine for my family?" Rev. 13:18 says, "Here is wisdom," which is the exact opposite of ignorance. In other words, "Here is wisdom" so that you are not ignorant of what taking the Mark of the Beast means. "Ignorantia juris non excusat" is Latin for ignorance of the law excuses not. At the very least, this verse eliminates any potential argument against why a person should not be sent to the Lake of Fire. ________________________________________ [i] The Greek word study for the word or "é" was provided by Karol Bankston. ___________________________________ For more information about the yet to be fulfilled Bible prophecies, you can purchase the Bill Salus end times book series. This series includes The NOW Prophecies (#1), The NEXT Prophecies (#2) and The LAST Prophecies (#3). All three books also come with teaching DVDs of the same names. (CLICK HERE) One Minute After The Pretribulation Rapture Of The Church, The Bible Becomes A Closed Book For Those Left Behind - Geoffrey Grider - https://www.nowtheendbegins.com/one-minute-after-pretribulation-rapture-church-bible-closed-book-left-behind/ One minute after the Pretribulation Rapture takes place, a worldwide famine will instantly transpire. It won't be a famine of food, it will be a famine of not being able to have the word of God. The Bible doctrine of the Pretribulation Rapture is so entrenched in Scripture that it's not only in the New Testament, it's also in the Old Testament as well. Enoch, living before both the Flood of Noah and before the Law of Moses is a type of a Christian who never sees death and is translated directly to Heaven in his own private rapture. In Song of Solomon 2:8-10 (KJV), we read the glorious story of the Bride, a type of the Church, being called "up and away" by her Beloved, who is "looking down" through the lattice work from up above. "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst." Amos 8:11-13 (KJV) But one minute after this amazing event takes place, a worldwide famine will instantly transpire. It won't be a famine of food, it will be a famine of not being able to have the word of God. Those are the verses we quoted at the very top of this article. Go back and read them again, and let it sink it. Amos is one of my favorite OT prophets, God gives him an amazing set of revelations and visions. Historically, Amos was a peer with Hosea, and he came after Joel. He prophesied judgment on Israel at the hands of the Assyrian army, which absolutely came to pass. But if all Amos has to say was simply an accounting of God judging Israel, it would have limited application for us today. But the prophecy of Amos, like most prophecy, has a double application. It applied to the Israel then, and it will apply to Israel in the time of Jacob's trouble, after the Rapture of the Church. Back in March, we did an article entitled "The Book Of Amos Reveals Amazing Insight Into The Time Of Jacob's Trouble And The Battle Of Armageddon", and it would behoove you to take a moment and read it now if you have not already done so. Today, I want to bring to your attention another aspect of what life in the time of Jacob's trouble will be like. And it's not a pretty picture. One minute after the Rapture of the Church takes place, the entire Body of Christ is removed from off the Earth and taken to meet Jesus in the clouds, as we see here: "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 (KJV) Comforting words indeed, for us, but what about for those left behind? After the Church is removed, the Bible becomes a closed Book. I say this because even though the world will still be filled with Bibles, physically, there will not remain even one person anywhere on the globe who can understand it. No one. The unsaved or "natural man" is not capable of understanding God's word because they don't have the Holy Spirit in them. "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:14 (KJV) IF YOU'RE LEFT BEHIND AFTER THE PRETRIBULATION RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH, YOU MAY NEVER GET ANOTHER CHANCE TO GET SAVED The God-approved method of unsaved sinners getting saved and learning the Bible has always been through the ministry of already saved Christians who know the Bible. We see this illustrated beautifully in Acts 8 with the salvation of the Ethiopian eunuch. "And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:...Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus." Acts 8:30-32,35 (KJV) The eunuch has Phillip sent to him by God for Bible study, but one minute after the Pretribulation Rapture of the Church, all the 'Phillips' will be gone. Movies like Left Behind and others like to show people who, after realizing thier loved ones were taken in the Rapture, picking up theirs Bibles to read them and get saved. But how can they do that if there are no more saved Christians in the world to teach them the Bible? Not only that, Paul says that people who reject the gospel of the grace of God in the days before the Rapture of the Church get tagged with the "strong delusion" so they believe the lie of Antichrist instead of the truth. Don't believe me? Read it: "And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 (KJV) See that? The people left behind are boxed in on all sides. They can't understand the Bible, there are no Christians to witness to them, and God sends them a strong delusion to guarantee they will fall for a lie. "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst." Amos 8:11-13 (KJV) This is the famine for hearing the word of God that Amos saw, and it is truly terrifying. My soul thrills whenever I think about the coming Pretribulation Rapture of the Church, and what a glorious moment that shall be. But when I think about what life will be like for those left behind, it becomes heartbreaking to contemplate. Imagine people's very souls drying up because there won't be any nourishment from the Bible to feed them, and worse, there won't even be the chance that they will somehow "figure it out". God in His mercy sends the 144,000 Witnesses to teach and preach the Bible one last time, and to open people's eyes to the truth one last time. But oh, at what a price does it finally come. You have to successfully resist taking the Mark, resist worshipping the image or name of the Antichrist, and if you are found with a Bible you are put to death immediately. Whew! No thank you, please have me excused from that mess. Job, a type of the Jews in the time of Jacob's trouble, said that the word of God was more than his "necessary food" in Job 23:12 (KJV). Feast on it while you still can. Is It Too Late? - By Pete Garcia - https://www.rev310.com/2020/05/is-it-too-late Part I: Symbolism Opening questions: · Why does God use symbolism in Daniel and Revelation? · Why does God give King Nebuchadnezzar a dream of a multi-metallic statue? · Why does God give Daniel the same vision, yet uses different symbolism? · What is progressive revelation? · What is progressive illumination? · Which is true? For centuries, both the books of Daniel and Revelation have presented a seemingly insurmountable obstacle for many to understand. While both books use excessive symbolism at times to both conceal and reveal their deeper meanings, many (especially clergy) remain uncomfortable in either attempting to understand it or teach it. Astonishingly, this usage of symbolism has also seemingly given free license to many within (and without) theological circles to abuse the text and insert (eisegete) in their own theories. For example, the eschatological view of Idealism is entirely predicated on giving each of their interpreters the freedom to theorize as to what the books mean. Historicism often uses the boogeymen of their present-day (the Pope, Hitler, Obama, etc.) as the prime suspect for the last day's supervillain. Preterism concludes that most (if not all) of Revelation has already happened. Amillennialism uses variations of both Historicism and Preterism, to conclude that Christ is never returning to earth. Post-Millennialism purports that it is the Church's responsibility to reclaim the earth or to set up the conditions so Christ can return. Premillennialism, however, stands apart from these other views to state that most of Revelation is still future. Yet, even within the premillennial (or futurist) camp, there is still much dissension over the specifics of what the Church's role is during the 70th Week of Daniel (Dan. 9:24-27), and when Christ returns. However, with so many people seemingly interested in the book, or at least, interested in having opinions about it, why does God resort to using cryptic symbolism? Why not just come out and say what it is, if it is destined to happen anyway? While it is difficult at times to make sense of all the animals, horns, crowns, and so forth that is presented in a book like Revelation, thankfully, we have the book of Daniel to serve as its Old Testament foundation. In fact, the book of Daniel serves as an answer key for the book of Revelation, in that, it gives context to the symbolism. For example, the multi-metallic statue in Daniel chapter two represents kingdoms, which would rule in successive order. These same kingdoms are shown symbolically as chimeras in Daniel 7-8. These monstrosities represent kingdoms. Their crowned heads represent seats of power or authority. The horns represent human rulers. [This gets a little confusing as you wade into Revelation 17, which provides more context to the heads, horns, and mountains]. Aside from having the answer-key (Daniel) already in play, I believe God chooses to encrypt His prophetic messages for a legitimate reason. This was not designed to keep information from His believers unnecessarily; Rather, He decided to reveal the right information at the right time, to the right people. Revealing only the necessary information ahead of time so as not to give ammunition to our adversary in attempting to frustrate those plans. For example, after the flood, God promised Noah that He would never destroy the world again with water. To make certain of this, God gave Noah the rainbow as a symbol of that promise (Genesis 9). However, just because God promised never to flood the world again, did not mean, He would never destroy the world in the future as the next time, He will destroy it with fire (2 Peter 3:7, 12). Was the information God left out, unnecessarily left out to all those who came before the Apostle Peter wrote this in 66AD? I do not think so. It just was not necessary information for those previous generations. However, it was necessary to be included in the Scripture before the canon was closed. As for God's choice to encrypt His messages, consider these two points: In Jesus's teachings, many struggled (including His disciples) with the messages embedded into the kingdom parables. When confronted about this seemingly unnecessary difficulty, Jesus simply replied to them quoting Isaiah 6. From Matthew 13:14-16, Jesus says- And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: 'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.' But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; Because of this necessary difficulty, it would take the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to reveal the deeper meaning of God's truth He chose to conceal from the world. This same charge was given to each of the seven churches in Revelation 2-3. The second point leans towards the principle of interpretative consistency. The book of Daniel was sealed and would remain so until the time of the end. We know the last days began when Christ came to the earth in His incarnation (Hebrews 1:1-4). Some 60 years later, the Apostle John was given the Revelation six-hundred years after Daniel, and it was meant to be the unsealing (in part) of the book of Daniel. Since Revelation closed and sealed the canon of Scripture, what we have seen is not more revelation (such as in the case of Joseph Smith's Mormonism), but more illumination. As time moved onward from the first century, particularly from the 18th-century going forward, we have seen what is known as progressive illumination really exploding. This is where God's prophetic word meets the unfolding reality. Those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, begin to understand. It is my opinion that God used symbolism in Daniel (revealing the sequential kingdoms, which would come after Babylon) as evidence to provide irrefutable credibility to the prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah. Furthermore, since the nations involved in both the Old Testament era, as well as in the last days, would be the same, or very similar, the symbolism remains consistent and familiar. In other words, Daniel would be the key to understanding Revelation. To use a poker analogy, God never shows all the cards in His hand. However, by understanding His tells (in this case, symbolism), God is able to convey His plans to those who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. We just need to be sensitive to the Spirit's prompting and revelation to accept it. Two points to this are essential in proper interpretation: 1) God's revelation will never contradict itself or other portions of Scripture 2) God is not revealing new information that is not already contained in the closed canon of Scripture. He is illuminating our understanding of what the text already says. Author's note: If anyone says to you, God told me such and such in a dream, vision, audibly, etc., and that message is not already in the Bible, it is tantamount to him or her saying, thus sayeth the Lord. Thus, their supposed revelation would be adding to the canon of Scripture that was already closed. These are false prophets and teachers. This is the same way Joseph Smith began his Latter-Day Saints movement. This is how Jim Jones began his People's Temple. This is how David Koresh and all these other false teachers began to stray from God's word...and it did not end up well for them or their followers. While God does not expect every believer to be an expert in Bible prophecy (i.e., we all have different gifts), He does expect us to be good stewards of what gifts we have been given. For those of us who do have a passion for Bible prophecy, our understanding of prophetic things should not supersede our faith in trusting that God's plan will happen just as Scripture foretells. We do not have to read anything into the text that is not there. That is where the aforementioned false teachers began to err. Either they began reading things into the text that were not there, or they took things away (usually through allegorization) as to misconstrue its true meaning. Regardless of whether our understanding is at the surface level, or we have attempted to plumb the depths of the prophetic scripture, we are too be good stewards of God's word. "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him. Daniel 2:20-22 Daily Jot: Soft Tyranny and COVID-19 - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com The political left is using the COVID-19 crisis to take away your rights and to secure themselves power for decades to come. Mail in voting is just one step. People would mail in their votes, and that is fine-just like absentee voting. However, the political parties will have lists of who has voted, and that's when the chicanery begins-all those dead people who still are on the voting rolls, all those who haven't yet voted-are subject to voting fraudulently. This is how elections are stolen. That's just the start of it. What happens if the government (local, state or federal) says no COVID-19 vaccine, no public service, no flying, no working, no buying food? They are already monitoring you with cameras and drones. Alexis de Tocqueville defines soft tyranny in his book Democracy in America, Volume II (1840): "It [the government] covers the surface of society with a network of small, complicated rules, minute and uniform, through which the most original minds and the most energetic characters cannot penetrate, to rise above the crowd. The will of man is not shattered, but softened, bent, and guided; men are seldom forced by it to act, but they are constantly restrained from acting. Such a power does not destroy, but it prevents existence: it does not tyrannize, but it compresses, enervates, extinguishes, and stupefies a people, till each is reduced to nothing better than a flock of timid and industrious animals, of which the government is the shepherd." We have to be careful that the cure is not worse than the disease. Minimum guaranteed income, vote by mail, mandatory vaccinations all would be the beginning. Then comes your free speech. Then comes your religious freedom-No, it is here now. On April 29, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas announced plans for reopening the city. One of the requirements: "Religious gatherings like weddings, church services and funerals can resume with 10 people inside a location and 50 people outside, as long as social distancing is maintained and names and contact information of attendees is kept." Open businesses must also record names, contact info and times customers frequent. Sounds benign enough, but what do you think those names and contact information will lead to? Softy tyranny, that's a given. Shut your mouth. Do as you are told. This is a new standard of tyranny because it creates a concern that you are being watched just in case you step out of line or speak your mind that it may invite some government investigation or ruination. We are becoming victims of soft tyranny. Galatians 5:1 says, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." A free people can only exist by adhering to the precepts of God. Bondage is bondage, whether it is sin or tyranny. We live in a society where a sinister minority is using fear to remove your Constitutional rights. Let's not be victims of tyranny of any form. Speak your mind. Wake up your family, friends, neighbors about this threat. We need to stand. Daily Devotion: Be Honest with Yourself - by Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. -Romans 12:3 Some people love to talk about how well-educated they are or how successful they are or how wealthy they are. If you are having a discussion, whatever your story is, they will top your story. They know more than you do, and on and on it goes. They think they're God's gift to humanity. But, as someone has pointed out, cemeteries are full of indispensable people. We're not as great as we think we are. The apostle Paul cautions us about this in Romans 12. He says, "Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us" (verse 3 NLT). In other words, think clearly. Start with an honest self-evaluation. Have a balanced, realistic view of yourself. The problem is that we sometimes envy the spiritual gifts that God gives to someone else. Maybe God has called you to preach, but you really want to be a musician and a worship leader. Or maybe you're a worship leader and really want to be a preacher. Perhaps you're working behind the scenes, but you really want to lead the class. Or you're leading the class but really want to be working behind the scenes. If God gave you a gift, then develop and use your gift. It's disobedient not to use it. Don't think you're better than you are. On the other hand, don't think you're worse than you are. Instead, see yourself honestly. He has given you a spiritual gift. So, receive the gift, thank God for the gift, and start developing the gift. And be content and thankful with the spiritual gift that God has given to you. 
FROM THE HEART
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