Prophecy Update Newsletter
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
The Rise of the Anti-Christ and the False Prophet Shown to John - by Pastor Mike Taylor - https://pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com/2020/12/the-rise-of-anti-christ-and-false.html
“ And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 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 seat, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.” (Revelation 13:1-3) As we continue with our study of the chapters of Revelation, we have seen and read many things that have been revealed to us, through the Words of Jesus and what He had John write down what he saw. In our last part of “woman and the dragon” we were introduced to the two main players in this spiritual drama that is played on this physical earth. Those who have been revealed are the nation of Israel and the dragon which the nations are possessed by the king of demons, Satan the deceiver, that causes all men to sin. They are the Gentile nations that have had more pleasure in their unrighteousness than to follow after God and believe on His only begotten Son. Now beginning in Chapter 13 we see the start of the Great Tribulation, as Satan through the Anti-Christ, seeks to destroy those who bear the mark of God on their foreheads, and the Jewish people Satan has hated even more than the Christians down through the ages. In the opening verses of this chapter we see a beast rise out of the sea, with a crown upon seven heads that is interpreting as a secular government that will overtake this entire world. Many people today love the sea, but as a whole the Jewish people in Biblical times regarded the sea as a wild, untamed, frightening place. While even in ancient Israel under Solomon had a navy, Hiram the King of Tyre supplied the sailors (1 Kings 9:26-27). Hence the symbolism is a wild, chaotic world ruled by the coming Anti-Christ. The sea is interpreting as the world with its sin and those who are wicked that dwell on the earth. Several verses can be brought to bear what the sea in this first few verses mean. “For God is my King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. You divided the sea by Your strength; You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the waters.” (Psalm 74:12-13) “O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You. You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, You still them.” (Psalm 89:8-9) 'But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.” (Isaiah 57:20) In verse 3 above opening this message, we see that this beast receives a head wound that it recovers from. There have been two interpretations of what this verse means. One is that the Roman Empire received a deadly wound and imploded upon itself and was taken over effectively by the so called “holy Roman Empire” with it's popes and bishops. The rise of the Roman Empire is prophesied to happen again. Another interpretation is that this is speaking of this “holy Roman Empire” that received a wound from Napolean and was basically stripped of all its power. Historically speaking, our history books tell this story: In 1796, French Republican troops under the command of Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Italy, defeated the papal troops and occupied Ancona and Loreto. Pope Pius VI, sued for peace, which was granted at Tolentino on February 19, 1797; but on December 28 of that year, in a riot blamed by papal forces on some Italian and French revolutionists, the popular brigadier-general Mathurin-Leonard Duphot, who had gone to Rome with Joseph Bonaparte as part of the French embassy, was killed and a new pretext was furnished for invasion. General Berthier marched to Rome, entered it unopposed on February 10, 1798, and, proclaiming a Roman Republic, demanded of the Pope the renunciation of his temporal power. Upon his refusal he was taken prisoner, and on February 20 was escorted from the Vatican to Siena, and thence to the Certosa near Florence. The French declaration of war against Tuscany led to his removal (he was escorted by the Spaniard Pedro Gómez Labrador, Marquis of Labrador) by way of Parma, Piacenza, Turin and Grenoble to the citadel of Valence, the chief town of Drôme where he died six weeks after his arrival, on August 29, 1799, having then reigned longer than any Pope. This imprisonment of the Pope Pius VI who was left out in the cold for a day and a night at the gates of his prison, was finally allowed inside, but his temporal reign was demolished. In 1870, the Pope lost Lazio and Rome and had no physical territory at all, not even the Vatican. Italian Fascist leader Benito Mussolini ended the crisis between unified Italy and the Holy "See"by signing the Lateran Treaty in 1929, thus granting the state of Vatican City sovereignty. . Thus the deadly wound that was inflicted upon the Catholic Church by Napolean Bonaparte and his generals was effectively healed. But she has since attempted to change her ways, and instead of a ferocious beast, she has taken on the exercise of trying to change her leopard spots and becoming like a lamb when dealing with the political world. How long will the facade last? But now we see John proclaiming that this beast, whoever it ends up being, either a secular Roman Empire rising from the ashes, or Papal Rome returning to her ferocious past, so John sees a beast rising out of the chaos that is symbolized by the sea, and this beast arises that is parallel to the past ancient ruling civilizations that followed one another, even as Daniel saw them in Daniel chapter 7: 3 “And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. 4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it. 5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. 6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. 7 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 brake 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.” (Daniel 7:3-7) As we know from history, this was the successive empires after King Nebuchadnezzer and his Babylonian rule followed by the Medo-Persian Empire, then the Greeks, and finally Rome. Here this shows us the evil empires that ruled in ancient times, have now become the final empire that will be ruled by one man, the Anti-Christ. John notes him as a beast, which in ancient Greece the word translated beast here has the idea of a wild, dangerous animal. Because John calls him a beast and not a dragon, this creature represents someone distinct from Satan who was represented by the dragon as was depicted in the last chapter of Revelation chapter 12. Although the beast is not the dragon known as Satan, but is closely identified with him, as the dragon has 7 heads and 7 crowns upon his head. As any beast with 7 heads would be hard to kill. Destroy one head, and you have 6 more to contend with. It denotes power, just a Mexican fighting bull with two horns and is extremely dangerous and powerful, a beast with 10 horns is even more powerful, as denoted by his horns, just as the dragon also had these numerous horns. QUICK INDENTIFICATION OF THE ANTI-CHRIST Many people have the belief that the Anti-Christ will be the “opposite” of Jesus, that he will exhibit bad and evil works, even as Jesus did good all the days of His life. That his persona (AC) will be ugly and his image repulsive, which is the exact opposite of what Jesus displayed while here on earth. The Antichrist will instead be more of an “instead of Jesus.” He will look wonderful, be charming and successful. He will be the ultimate winner, and appear as an angel of light. In this sense the Antichrist will be a satanic messiah, “instead of” the true Messiah Jesus Christ. This man when he appears will deceive many even as was spoken of in his appearance in the beginning of Chapter 6. The man rides on a white horse, so he must be good. He has a stephanos crown, so he is a winner. He has a bow with no arrows, but he conquers with lies and deceit of his mouth and people will follow this man who looks to be the “savior” of the world. Even the Jewish people will think that they have finally found their “political messiah” who will restore to them “peace and safety” but it will be built upon lies of the devil. 4 “And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.” (Revelation 13:4-6) Those who accept the rule of the Anti-Christ will give him worship, maybe much like it was in the days of Imperial Rome when once a year, men and women had to appear before a statue of the Emperor Caesar to burn incense and proclaim allegiance to him and proclaim him a god on earth in worship. But here, why do they worship him? We just saw that the Anti-Christ came against two powerful men standing at the temple and no one was able to kill them, that is, until the Anti-Christ was given the power from God to overtake them and kill them. So all the ungodly world rejoiced and gave glory to the “Anti-Christ” as he was the only one able to rid them of the torment that these two men caused them that dwell upon the earth. Most likely at the same time, the AC is the supreme commander of the world's armies who engages in multiple wars that break out all over the earth and destroys anyone who dares come against his rule. Thus begins the forty and two months of the supreme rule of the Anti-Christ, as the Bible says this would be mid-point of the 7 years Tribulation and the next 3.5 years would be even more of “hell on earth” even greater than what it has been. 7 “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.” (Revelation 13:7-9) Some will point to this set of verses, and say “see, the anti-Christ overcomes the saints, so the church must still be here”. What they fail to realize that saints are all saints both sides of the rapture of the church, as these are called Tribulation saints or those who have come to a belief in Jesus Christ during this time of Jacob's trouble. But if this was the church, then as I have spoken of in past messages, then Jesus lied to us. Jesus told us while He was still on earth : “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.' (John 15:26) ”And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” (John 14:16-17) But wait, Paul the Apostle told us that when the Anti-Christ is revealed, God's Holy Spirit will be pulled back to allow untold, and unhindered evil to reign upon this earth. Then and only then will the Anti-Christ be revealed. 7 “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 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: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” (2nd Thessalonians 2:7-10) Since we know that our Lord cannot lie, He sent us the Comforter to be with us forever, so if the Holy Spirit is drawn back to allow the AC to come upon the scene of the final 7 years of man's rule upon earth, then the true Church of the Living God is not here on earth. And if we are, then Jesus has left us defenseless and without the Comforter to be with us forever, when we need Him the most. To re-emphasize, Jesus did not lie, but men misinterpret that the church is still here, as Satan indwelling the Anti-Christ cannot overcome the saints who have God's Holy Spirit dwelling within. Those of the tribulation who come to a saving knowledge will not be sealed as the Church was with an earnest deposit of future glory. So these verse noted above in Revelation 13 of the AC overcoming the saints of God, are those who are NOT the Church, but still saved through faith in Jesus, and are overcome. The overcoming is not in the spiritual sense, but in the physical sense, as everyone who has the mark of the Living God on their forehead, will also be marked for death because Satan desires their destruction and the Anti-Christ is his point man to attempt to make that happen. But notice the curious verse that leaves one wondering what Paul means in verse 1o of this chapter noted above. This appears to be a simple statement setting forth the trust which the saints must maintain in God’s sovereign appointment of their role in history. If it is a saint’s God-appointed role to serve as a martyr, so be it! A similar theme is found in a passage concerning God’s judgment of Israel: And it shall be, if they say to you, ‘Where should we go?’ then you shall tell them, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.” ’ (Jeremiah 15:2) Depending upon which text we follow, this passage may describe retribution by God’s sure justice (Revelation 14:9-12) or the need to cling to His sovereignty in the midst of affliction (Romans 8:28). Both are taught by Scripture. RISE OF THE FALSE PROPHET 11 “And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14 And deceiveth 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. 15 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.” (Revelation 13:11-15) Now we see another beast, a wild, dangerous, and untamed creature that rises out of the earth, not the sea where chaos dwells and the government of a one World rule comes about, but this beast comes from the earth. He also is a beast, as is the beast from the sea, but is subordinate to the first beast and “causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.”. We will see in future studies, that this beast that speaks as a dragon but tries to pull off that they are docile as a lamb and will fool the whole world, if it were possible, to worship this beast that rises out of the sea. She is described in future verses as a Harlot Woman who will ride the beast and control its movements to a point and directing all to worship the beast. The sign of a woman is always in scripture a religious system, or denomination, or a church. Here the woman is an idolater and preaches another gospel, to the point that she commands all to worship the leader of a One World Government, and herself a One World Religion that all who do not worship the image of the beast would be killed. What is this image? In John's day, there was no way that an idol made with men's hands was able to speak, but with technology that we have today, the ability to make the image speak is within science's grasp. The introduction of Artificial Intelligence or (AI) an idol can be programmed to speak and move. I have a brother who believes that this will be a televised broadcast that on your TV that the worship of the Anti-Christ will be monitored on every home on the planet and will see who does actually pay worship to the image of this beast. Whichever way it turns out to be, technology will be the proof in the pudding, so to speak and its ability to speak and move the idol is easily accomplished in our time. 16 “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 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. 18 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.” (Revelation 13:16-18) There have been all kinds of theories of what this mark will be. Will it be the technology of the RFID chip? Will it be a literal mark on the forehead and the right hand much like a tattoo, or some other identifier that says that this person is a participant in the religious system, the economic system, and the governmental system that now rules the world. Now we see the making of vaccine that requires a tatoo on your right hand. Is this the precursor to the “mark of the beast”....or is is designed as a de-population tool to rid the planet of millions of people, in the name of save the planet??? What will the mark of the beast involve? We are fast moving to that type of mark, as new introductions of technology keeps springing up to end what they worry about “Bank Fraud”. Those who do not have this mark will not be able to buy, sell, or trade within the Beast Power's economy. Some ask, will it be something that I can take unawares, or something that I can take then denounce when I get past a threat. The answer is NO. The Mark will be taken in full knowledge of the ramifications of taking this satanic mark. It is a satanic impersonation of the Mark of God on those who believe on the Name of Jesus. It will be a pledge of allegiance to follow, worship, and obey the One World Authorities that now govern this planet in its final death throes of man's ability to rule himself. As it was in ancient Rome when you worship Caesar, those in this Great Tribulation will be keenly aware of what they are doing. They are worshiping a god on earth in their unrighteousness and their desire to continue in their sinful ways. In verse 18, what are we to make of the number of his name, 666? Just as seven is the sign of completion and attributed to God, then the number 6 is the sign of mankind, being created on the sixth day and does not quite make the sign of God which is seven or completion. Here is is tripled into a unholy trinity of the Dragon or Satan, the Anti-Christ, and the False Prophet...a counterfeit God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Satan cannot create anything, but he can mimic God and have counterfeit images of the Holy, that accomplishes the unholy. But instead of obsessing with fear and interest about the imitation – the Antichrist – how much more appropriate is it for Christians to be interested in the genuine: Jesus Christ. CHAPTER 14, A VISION ON THE MOUNT OF GOD “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.” (Revelation 14:1-5) This is the same number we read in earlier chapters of the 12,000 Jewish Evangelist that came each from the 12 tribes of Israel to make up the 144,000 mentioned here. They have received victory and sing a new song, which only they can sing. Were they martyred during their preaching the Gospel on earth? Some would say yes, but the point is they have received rewards for their service and God is pleased with them, to the point where Jesus speaks of them “Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of they Lord” as He spoke of in Matthew...They have overcome and they have not loved their life even to the death. These men will preach to the entire world and will win millions to the cause of Jesus Christ, but they will be hunted down for extermination by the beast power that has the ability to overcome those saints on earth. I think C.H. Spurgeon had a good take on this number standing on Mt. Sion: “And who were these people, ‘having his Father’s name written in their foreheads?’ Not Bs for ‘Baptists,’ not Ws for ‘Wesleyens’ not Es for ‘Established Church.’ They had their Father’s name and nobody else’s. What a deal of fuss is made on earth about our distinctions! We think such a deal about belonging to this denomination, and the other. Why, if you were to go to heaven’s gates, and ask if they had any Baptists there, the angel would only look at you, and not answer you, if you were to ask if they had any Wesleyans, or members of the Established Church, he would say, ‘Nothing of the sort;’ but if you were to ask him whether they had any Christians there, ‘Ay,’ he would say, ‘an abundance of them: they are all one now – all called by one name; the old brand has been obliterated, and now they have not the name of this man or the other, they have the name of God, even their Father, stamped on their brow.’ ” (Spurgeon) AN ANGELIC WARNING 6 “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” (Revelation 14:6-7) Even in the middle of this heinous time for the destruction of mankind, God is still giving men a chance to turn around from their sinful way and repent, follow Jesus Christ. But my question is, “why is an angel preaching the Gospel?” Is that not the Church of the Living God's mission and the call of Jesus to spread the Gospel to all nations? Then why an angel doing our job? Simple answer to that question. The church is not here to preach anything. Our job is been completed. We are now with the Lord, and He has left the job to the Jewish evangelist, the two witnesses, and even a Holy Angel flying in the heavens proclaiming the Good News to “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.”...but sadly, God in His all knowing mind knows that they will not, but God is fair and just and gives mankind every chance to repent. 8” And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” (Revelation 14:9-11) Babylon is fallen: More on Babylon will come in Revelation 17. For now, it is enough to see it representing mankind in organized rebellion against God. Prophetically, ‘Babylon’ sometimes refers to a literal city, sometimes to a religious system, sometimes to a political system, all stemming from the evil character of historic Babylon. But note the next few verses. This gives a support of a literal hell fire, that will be absorbed by the Lake of Fire, where those who take the mark of the Beast, or worship his image will be cast into a lake burning with fire, brimstone and sulfur and will tormented forever and the smoke will rise up eternally. Those who don't believe in a literal place of damnation to be tormented for all eternity, this verse crushes the idea that the fire will annihilate or destroy those who are sent to this place. They as immortal spirit beings that we will discover are changed at the Great White Throne, but instead of glory, they receive damnation and being immortal, they cannot be destroyed, but are tormented without end. It is beyond my finite mind to grasp the implications and the ability of the spirit being to be tormented forever. But being cast away from God for all eternity where there is no light, no joy, no peace, no rest, no love and definitely no hope of escape in itself is torment beyond what our minds can comprehend. For my mind, God said it, it is done. 12 “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. 14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. 17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.” (Revelation 14:12_20) The imagery is very graphic, as those who are found in Christ will continue to be martyred. Here is the patience of the saints . . . Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on . . . that they may rest from their labors: We see the strong contrast between the rest of the saints and the continual torment of the wicked (Revelation 14:11). The rest comes through patient endurance and faithfulness to God and His Word (here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus). God is likened unto a reaper Who gathers clusters of grapes, which is a symbol of rebellious mankind, and throws them into the winepress of His fury. The passage can only be speaking of our Savior, Jesus Christ who gathers grapes into the winepress. This is what could be speaking of the coming battle of Armegeddon....The valley of Megiddo or Jezreel is approximately 30 miles long and the blood spilt here will rise to the horse bridles, or approximately 6 feet deep or 380 square kilometers or 150 square miles, so the valley is approximately 5 mile wide. This ancient Greek word for ripe has a negative sense, “to become dry or withered.” The idea is of something that is over-ripe. This means that God will judge the earth only when it is over-ripe for judgment. He doesn’t rush into judgment. It must be remembered that evil has its harvest as well as good. There is a harvest of misery and woe, – a harvest for the gathering, binding, and burning of the tares, – as well as for the gathering of the wheat into the garner of heaven.” I pray that those who read this message, can comprehend the complete desolation that is coming for those who take the mark of the beast, or pledge allegiance to the Beast Power. Conversely, the misery that will be experienced by those who put their faith in Jesus, is beyond my comprehension, as I have nothing to compare it to, save what I read about the terror group ISIS and what they have done to Christians in our modern world. Only thing, this will be world wide. How do you miss such a horrific time? Believe on Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved!!!. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18) and again...confess the Lord Jesus......... 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” (Romans 10:9-11) Next time, we will go further into the judgment that falls on this earth, and as Jesus said, unless the time be shortened, no flesh would be saved...but for the elects sake, it will be shortened....can you see that God will wipe this planet clean of all rebellion by those who reject His payment in His own blood on Calvary's cross?...Look to Jesus and be those who are saved now, and to those who accept Jesus in the tribulation, but with much suffering and pain... This is Pastor Mike Taylor praying God will bring you to faith in Jesus Christ and avoid the coming Tribulation that is right around the corner of our time. If you need prayer, counseling, or just a listening ear, drop me an email at [email protected], or visit me online at www.pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com ...God bless you all. TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET.............SOON. Iran's Plan to Topple Arab Leaders - by Khaled Abu Toameh - https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/16859/iran-topple-arab-leaders Iran's Islamist proxies in the Arab world have resurfaced to condemn last week's normalization agreement between Israel and Morocco just as they did with similar accords reached in the past few months with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan. As usual, the Islamists and their patrons in Tehran, who seek the elimination of Israel, are using texts from the Koran and sayings attributed to the prophet Mohammed to justify their opposition to the normalization of relations between Arabs and Israel. After the Israel-Morocco deal, however, the Islamists have stepped up their campaign of incitement against Arabs who want to make peace with Israel. Now, the Islamists are calling on the Moroccan people to revolt against their government and King Mohammed VI. This call shows that the Islamists have shifted from rhetorical attacks on Arabs who establish relations with Israel to calls to violence against the Arab rulers and governments. By urging the Moroccans to "resist" the normalization agreement, Iran's proxies are sending a message to the people of Morocco to topple their "treacherous" regime by using all available methods, including terrorism. The Iranians were among the first Muslims to condemn the Israel-Morocco agreement, paving the way for their proxies to follow suit by urging Moroccans to rise against their regime. Morocco's normalization of relations with Israel was a "betrayal" and a "stab in the back" of the Palestinians, said Hossein Amir-Abdollahanian, an adviser to Iran's parliamentary speaker. Shortly after the Iranian announcement, Hamas, the Iran-backed Palestinian Islamist movement that rules over the Gaza Strip, released a statement, condemning the Israel-Morocco agreement: "Normalization with the Zionist entity is a deplorable step that is not worthy of Morocco and does not reflect the positions of the brotherly Moroccan people who have stood with Palestine, Jerusalem and the al Aqsa Mosque in all circumstances and stations." In an indirect appeal to Moroccans to revolt against their government and monarch, Hamas called on "the authentic Moroccan people and all the free peoples to reject this agreement and all the cheap normalization agreements and to continue boycotting the Zionist occupation and not accepting it at all, notwithstanding the circumstances and temptations." Hamas's call on Moroccans to revolt against their leaders contradicts its own declared policy that it does not intervene in the internal affairs of the Arab countries. "Hamas does not meddle in the internal affairs of Arab and Muslim countries," said senior Hamas official Salah Bardaweel. If true, why is Hamas denouncing Morocco's decision to establish relations with Israel? Moreover, why is Hamas calling on the Moroccan people to "reject" an agreement reached by the Moroccan monarch? What is this call but a blatant intervention in the internal affairs of an Arab country? Showing Hamas's hypocrisy out in the sunlight, Hamas maintains continuous communication with Egypt, the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel. Just last week, Egyptian intelligence officials again visited the Gaza Strip for talks with Hamas leaders about maintaining security and stability in the Hamas-ruled coastal territory. In the past few years, Hamas officials have been regularly visiting Cairo for talks with Egyptian security officials on the situation in the Gaza Strip. Hamas is terrified of uttering a word against Egypt because it is afraid that the Egyptians might retaliate by closing their shared border with the Gaza Strip or imposing sanctions, including travel restrictions, on Hamas leaders. It is one thing to condemn the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco, which do not have shared borders with the Gaza Strip, and a totally different thing to lash out at your powerful neighbor, Egypt. Hamas leaders know that the moment they criticize Egypt, the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt will be slammed shut. The Egyptian authorities will close the Rafah border crossing to all Palestinian travelers and goods. Hamas leaders also know that the moment they call upon the Egyptian people to revolt against the Sisi regime, thousands of Hamas supporters in Egypt would find themselves behind bars. Even when the Egyptians do sometimes close the Rafah border crossing, Hamas would not dare to fire one rocket or bullet toward Egypt. Evidently, Hamas leaders know that the moment they attack Egypt, they and the entire Gaza Strip would pay a heavy price, most likely by having a huge military offensive launched against the Islamist movement. The Egyptians have frequently sent warnings to Hamas not to meddle in Egypt's internal affairs or threaten its national security. "If Hamas thinks about entering one inch of Egyptian territory, it will be their (Hamas's) last day of existence," an Egyptian military source cautioned. The warning, made in 2014, came in response to reports that Hamas was amassing its forces along the border with Egypt in preparation for launching terrorist attacks against Egyptians. Notably, the Egyptians display patience with Hamas, an offshoot of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood terrorist organization, in spite of the Brotherhood's ongoing meddling in Egyptian internal affairs and threats to Egypt's national security. Last month, in fact, the Egyptians did close the Rafah border crossing to vehicles and commodities because of "transgressions" by Hamas. Egypt did not provide details about what those might have been, but the Egyptian newspaper Egypt Today cryptically pointed out that Hamas "has a history of working against Egypt." The newspaper did list some of past "transgressions" of Hamas: 1) Hamas profits from food and commodities subsidized by Egypt for low-income Palestinians, trafficking them through illegal tunnels; 2) Hamas was involved in the murder of 16 Egyptian soldiers in Rafah in August 2010; 3) Trading in the Egyptian pound in exchange for the US dollar, which damages the Egyptian economy; 4) Hamas stormed the Egyptian border in 2008 and committed various crimes; 5) Hamas also stormed Egyptian prisons in 2011 and set convicted terrorists on the loose; 6) Hamas is accused of killing protesters in Tahrir Square (in Cairo) in 2011; 7) Hamas bombed gas lines in Sinai several times and was involved in targeting military sites there. It is because of such allegations that Hamas treads very carefully in its dealings with Egypt. The last thing Hamas wants is for the Egyptians to wipe the Islamist movement off the face of the earth. That is presumably why in recent years Hamas has been behaving itself with regards to Egypt. This behavior, of course, does not apply to Morocco, whose king has never threatened to eliminate Hamas or attack the Gaza Strip. Last week, Zahar called on the Moroccans to "confront the policy of normalization" with Israel. He also urged the Moroccan parliament to criminalize normalization with Israel and to enact necessary laws to combat peace with Israel. Not only is the Hamas leader inciting violence and unrest in an Arab country, he is also advising that country's parliament what laws it needs to pass. One can only imagine Zahar's response if a Moroccan official called on the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to rise up against their Hamas rulers. In "keeping" with Hamas's policy of not intervening in the internal affairs of the Arab countries, Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar also incited the Moroccan people to revolt against their monarchy. Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), the second largest Iran-backed terrorist group in the Gaza Strip, has joined Hamas in inciting the Moroccans to revolt against their leaders. "We are fully confident that the Moroccan people strongly reject normalization with the Zionist occupation, and the land of the Kingdom of Morocco will not be a hotbed for the Zionists, as the Moroccan people and their political forces will reject normalization and confront it," PIJ said in a statement. "The Arab regimes and their leaders who are rushing toward the Zionist entity will be cursed." Similarly, Lebanon's Hezbollah terrorist group, another Iranian proxy, said it was "betting on the free Moroccan people" to thwart the normalization agreement with Israel. The threats against Morocco and other Arab countries by Iran's proxies -- Hamas, PIJ and Hezbollah -- are worrying many Arabs in the Middle East. The Arabs, especially those who want to make peace with Israel, are fully aware that Iran and its Palestinian and Lebanese militias continuously seek to stir up trouble in the region and replace Arab leaders who want peace with Israel with Muslim extremists who report to the mullahs in Tehran. These Arabs say that they hope to see the new US administration endorse a tough policy toward Iran and not send a message of weakness to the mullahs. Any attempt to appease Iran or ease the sanctions on it will only embolden the mullahs and increase their appetite to instigate coups to overthrow various Arab countries. Will Vaccine Refusal Result In A Two-Tier Society? – Janet Phelan - https://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=4464 In the wake of reports from the UK that those who refuse to be vaccinated will be denied access to certain otherwise normal activities, concerns are ramping up that refusing the jab will result in being relegated to the societal trash heap. As reported recently in Reuters regarding Great Britain, "People who refuse a vaccine for COVID-19 could find normal life curtailed as restaurants, bars, cinemas and sports venues could block entry to those who don't have proof they are inoculated..." As reported here the vaccine may become mandatory to go to work and as well as to travel in and from the UK. A number of dystopian sci-fi novels predicted the eventual establishment of a two-tier society, the "acceptables" and the "unacceptables." In Yevgeny Zamyatin's classic WE, the "unacceptables" live outside the city limits, behind what is called the "Green Wall." Those living outside the wall have, in fact, grown fur, a further demarcation of their social distance from their walled-in brethren. In Eric Gonzalez-Payne's as yet unpublished and eerily current dystopian science fiction manuscript, Ola Credit, we see an invocation of a social credit system, very much akin to what has been rolled out in China and is being covertly rolled out in the US, which is resulting in certain people being blocked from financial and medical services. The revocation of services by PayPal for numerous independent media websites, including this one, is also redolent of the creation of tiers--the fully vested and those who are not. So let's take a look at the US situation vis-à-vis the vaccination and see where we stand. Trump's Executive Order, signed on December 8, 2020, clearly makes the shots optional. However, recent reports from the Pentagon indicate that there may be an impetus at some point in time to make them mandatory. According to Defense Department spokesman Jonathan Hoffman, the voluntary nature of the immunizations could change as time goes on. Once the FDA fully licenses a vaccine, "at that point voluntariness may change to mandatory," Hoffman said. "That's a possibility in the future." The fact is that certain Americans are already being denied - well, what would you call sending and receiving money via Western Union or PayPal? What would you call being refused medical services which you are positioned to pay for? Are these rights or privileges? And does the invocation of denial of services point to the creation of a two-tier society, the entitled and the disenfranchised? In China, which has a publicly acknowledged social credit system, a low social credit score can impact your employment prospects as well as those of your children. As US whistleblowers and others are now being hit with denial of services, it does appear that a two-tier system is in the process of a roll out here, as well. According to polls, approximately half of the US population is reluctant to take the Covid vaccine, an mRNA vaccine which is entirely new and has no track record. Some of these folks are most likely "on the fence" and will be swayed by the threat of loss of work and the concomitant ugly realities of homelessness and hunger. As reported recently in The Washington Post, the Executive Vice-President of the Kaiser Family Foundation, Larry Levitt, stated that "The success of Biden's presidency likely rests in large part on tamping down the pandemic and having a successful vaccine rollout....The Biden administration is going to need to bring red America and blue America together. If the vaccine is a repeat of masks, our efforts to end the pandemic will be stymied." While President-elect Joseph Biden has declared that he will not make vaccinations mandatory, some of his other comments indicate that he believes there are other ways to "get people on board" to be vaccinated. "The Public's Role in COVID-19 Vaccination", a July 2020 report from Johns Hopkins Center For Health Security and Texas State University suggested that public health agencies "bundle vaccination with other safety-net services" like food stamps. This report sparked a wave of concern that food stamps and other safety-net services would be tied to receiving the vaccine. "I will do everything in my power as president to encourage people to do the right thing and when they do it, demonstrate that it matters," Biden has said. If Biden has been subtly equivocating on vaccine mandates, he has come down firmly in support of mandating masks, saying that for his first hundred days in office, "Every American to wear a mask when they are around people outside their household." He has also called upon Governors to mandate mask wearing in their states and for "Local authorities to also make it mandatory to buttress their state orders." What that means, folks, is arrests, jail time and/or fines for those defying the mandate. Americans are already feeling the devastating financial effects of lockdowns. The stick has been wielded. Now it is time for the carrot to appear. If the trend in the UK to make second class citizens of vaccine refuseniks is exported to America, expect to see the finances of the vaccinated improve while those refusing to take the shot end up on the streets, fighting over a bowl of soup or a cot in a homeless shelter. Something Wondrous This Way Comes - By Terry James - https://www.raptureready.com/2020/12/15/something-wondrous-this-way-comes-by-terry-james/ We know about Shakespeare’s line, “Something wicked this way comes.” As a matter of fact, I think most of us who are concerned with all the political and election doings for the past four or five years agree that we’ve lived Shakespeare’s famous warning to the fictional generation he addressed in his play Macbeth. The witch in the play warned of a political entity that had been created—a monster—and that it was on its way. So, “Something wicked this way comes” is a heads-up that there is a monster on the loose, and is coming for you. I heard an audio of a Democrat congresswoman threatening all who were “Trumpsters.” She put out the message to all who were “soldiers.” She said they would know how to punish those who had anything to do with Donald Trump and his time in the presidency. To me it sounded like she was advocating physical death to all of us who disagreed with the evil she and the anti-God forces we oppose taking over in America forever. Her threat was so direct, calling on the minions to kill us, as I heard it, that even the leftist Democrat majority in the House of Representatives had her censured by taking her off the committees she had been assigned to. Don’t be fooled, however; this was for public consumption leading up to an anticipated Biden presidency. She’ll almost certainly be reinstated once the dust settles on the kerfuffle she caused. The “dark winter” the Democrat presumptive president-elect forewarned is certainly part of the planning for America and the world, although Mr. Biden might have meant it only to apply to the coronavirus. Something indeed “wicked this way comes.” That wickedness goes much deeper into the dark regions of evil than the mere, radical leftist, political ideology that threatens to deconstruct America as founded. The architects are inheritors of the same, ancient evil that brought all of humanity together to build that tower on Shinar all those millennia ago. It’s an attempted return to Babel, and instead of a single, demonically inspired leader as was the giant Nimrod, there are multiple minions in high places that are, through immense wealth, thus power, the architects of the global neo-tower project. The news that even the Supreme Court justices, whom many of us had hopes would put America as founded above finding ways to appease the powers that be, have apparently succumbed to this electoral thievery, is, of course, quite disheartening. It’s even frightening in some respects, especially considering the words of the congresswoman mentioned above, knowing that there are many more just like her who would treat her opposition like Hitler and henchmen treated the Jews after 1939 and Kristallnacht. However, I think we can, as believers, sense something truly profound developing within this strange, troubling mixture of human politics and spiritual warfare. One friend who emailed following the Supreme Court decision to reject hearing the Texas case against the fraud perpetrated by the four or five states wrote the following: I was “discussing” things with our Lord today in regards to this election and the horrible things that will happen if Biden gets in. I received a very distinct immediate (for lack of a better term) “response,” of “You think I can’t handle this situation without Trump?” I stopped. My prayer was answered. I heard that same still, small voice myself at a later time. The Lord is not fretting. Neither should we. We’ve certainly registered our, no doubt, millions of prayers within Heaven’s throne room. Now let us, as Moses exhorted the children of Israel when faced with the seemingly impossible-to-breach obstacle that was the Red Sea, “Behold the power of the Lord!” We’re promised by the Creator of the universe—who just happens to be our Heavenly Father— that something this way “wondrous” comes! But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9) Daily Jot: Bring them to justice – Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com The 2020 election cycle is a culmination of events that began with false accusations against a president about Russian collusion and ended with a yet-to-be determined result due to election integrity allegations that remain unreported by the mainstream media. All the while, the Democratic Party leadership were colluding with not only the Russians, but also the Chinese. Unfortunately, the news media also refused to implicate losing presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and her campaign chairman John Podesta with millions in Russian pay to play schemes, or Joe Biden as the crime boss behind his son’s nefarious dealings with Russia and China involving millions of dollars. This is our sad truth. Congressional democrats spent millions of tax dollars and ignored real national challenges impeaching President Trump on totally false claims that he conspired with the Russians to influence 2016 presidential election. However, the Clinton’s ties with Russia were far more damaging to the country. The short list includes: unsecured emails containing national secrets that fell in Russian hands; uranium sales to Russia resulting in $145 million contributed to the Clinton Foundation; Bill Clinton’s $500,000 speech in Moscow; Clinton campaign manager John Podesta’s $35 million haul from an energy deal with Russia; and the FBI report that Clinton and Russian officials were involved in a bribery kickback scheme. Leading up to the 2020 election, the news media and deep state were caught red-handed suppressing information that democrat Joe Biden was totally compromised by communist China and Russia through his dealings to enrich his family with son Hunter as a conduit. The facts surrounding this corruption come from at least four sources: 1) Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee and the Senate Committee on Finance investigation; 2) Hunter Biden’s laptop; 3) Hunter Biden’s former business partner Bevan Cooney, who is serving time for the very business dealings Hunter and he did; and 4) Former business partner Tony Bobulinski’s emails and eyewitness accounts. And more is revealed each day. Those who accused Trump of being a compromised candidate for Russian influence actually received tens of millions of dollars from Russia and China. It’s not allegations. It’s proven fact. Those who accused Trump of tampering with the 2016 election are themselves buried under an avalanche of evidence that they systematically compromised the election. And the mainstream news media, the “guardian” of truth refuses to cover any of this. The accusers have done exactly what they accused others of doing. Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” It’s a sad state of affairs we are experiencing. May the Lord, in all his goodness and wisdom and power, expose them and bring them to justice! Daily Devotion: The Greatest Gift Ever - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. —Romans 6:23 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-greatest-gift-ever/ - Listen This is the time of year when we focus so much on giving gifts. But the gift God has for you is the ultimate gift. It’s the only gift that really keeps on giving. It will never wear out and will never grow old. In fact, it will become more precious to you with the passing of time. As you get older, you’ll begin to discover all this gift is because the greatest blessing of it is the hope of life beyond the grave—not just purpose and meaning in this life we’re living right now. Think of what God has done. He has given everything that He possibly could to give us the gift of Jesus Christ. Imagine how hard it was for the Father to send His Son to this earth and watch how they mistreated Him, how they wouldn’t even find a proper place for Him to be born, and the treatment He received throughout His life. We as parents know how hard it is to watch our kids suffer. We know if ever there were an opportunity, we would gladly trade places with our kids when they are sick or going through hardship. We love the picture of Jesus in the manger as a sweet baby. But that Jesus came to die. The shadow of the cross was over that cradle. From the moment He came to this earth, He was headed for a certain goal. He went to the cross and died for us and then rose from the grave three days later. Jesus wouldn’t let anyone or anything keep Him from that goal. And because He reached it, we have forgiveness today. The greatest gift ever isn’t under your tree at home. It’s the ultimate gift that God sent to show His love for us—the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
FROM THE HEART
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