Sunday, May 30, 2021

Choosing to Refuse

 

“He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 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.”   Revelation 13:16-17  NKJV

As most of us know, the freedoms we enjoy by living in a country where those same rights are guaranteed is something most of us understand should not be taken for granted.  There are many places in the world today where people do not have the choice as to what they can do or not do according to the powers that be.  Lately the overriding conversation in this country has been whether or not to take the “shot”, and the consequences some believe should be meted out to those who choose to refuse the vaccination.

While for the time, at least, we have the option to refuse what many believe to be a violation of our freedom to choose, the Word of God tells us of a coming time where refusing to take a mark will have dire consequences. A subject I have spoken of often in the past concerns those believers who, at this point in time, are reluctant to embrace the life God has chosen for them. These are those who wish to believe, but remain anonymous to the world by choosing to live as the world lives and not let their "light" shine as God desires. While that is an unfortunate privilege of living in the Church age, after the rapture God has said that there will be nowhere to hide for those who truly believe.

Many are familiar with what is known as the "Mark of the Beast", often identified as the number "666". We are introduced to this mark in the book of Revelation where we are given a description of the beast, told of some of his powers, and also shown the plan he has for the world. What we are told in the passage above is that at the mid-point of the 7 year tribulation period, the man of sin, or the anti-christ if you prefer, will institute a law which says that no one will be able to buy or sell without having this mark on their hand or forehead. Now at first glance, this may not seem to be all that "intrusive" considering what the world will be like at that time. There is, however, much more to it than that.

The Greek word for "mark" here is "charagma" which literally means a brand or a seal (of ownership). You see, people are forced to choose to be "owned" in a way by taking the name of the anti-christ (666) on their bodies. In a sense, those who choose to take the mark will be pledging their allegiance to the anti-christ. This obviously is no small decision because although some believers might be tempted to take the mark just to survive, and not really "believe" in him, that decision is not, I repeat not an option. Take a moment to look at another passage from the book of Revelation.

“Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, “he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. “And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”   Revelation 14:9-11  NKJV

I don't believe it can be made any clearer than that. Anyone who chooses to receive that mark is condemned by God for eternity. So you see, although right now many believers think they can get by with going to church once in awhile, and never really changing the way they live their lives, a time is coming when no believer on earth will be able to hide. They will be forced into making the choice to be open about what they believe, and either taking or refusing the mark. How difficult a choice will it be? Look at the following passage which reveals the penalty for NOT taking the mark.

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”   Revelation 20:4  NKJV

So this then is the choice that soon will come to those on this earth who are left behind after the rapture of the Church. If they decide to believe in Jesus Christ, their choice will be to publicly declare that they worship God and be beheaded or worship the anti-christ and receive his mark which then will condemn them to Hell for all eternity. There will be nowhere to hide, no way to camouflage what they really are, and no way to escape declaring what they truly believe. At that time, the consequence for choosing to refuse will be death by beheading.

While we have the freedom to make choices at this time without penalty, there is a coming time where that will certainly not be the case.  At this point in time, anyone can choose to escape what is going to come by making the choice to accept the gift of eternal life provided for us by the death and resurrection of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. If you have never made the decision to accept that free gift I encourage you to do so today.  Simply ask God to forgive you of your sin based on your belief that Jesus died to pay the price for your sin, and turn over control of your life to Him.  You can do that right now by praying a prayer just like this one;

"Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me. Amen."

 

Keep watching.

Sunday, May 23, 2021

Hope for the Weary

 

“I am weary with my crying; My throat is dry; My eyes fail while I wait for my God.”     Psalm 69:3  NKJV

 

A question I have always had in regards to living in the end times is just how much discomfort are believers going to be subjected to as we get closer and closer to the return of Christ for His church? Lately it would appear that the answer to that may be uncomfortable as more and more I am hearing about situations where dedicated, committed believers being subjected to trials they never suspected would occur. Many are a direct result of the situation brought about this past year as I hear of Christians losing their jobs, having trouble paying their bills, and even struggling to put food on the table. Of course, it should come as no surprise that the natural question which results from these situations is simply "why"? As a believer, shouldn't we be able to expect God to spare us from these troubles?


The reality is, that question is not a new one. How many times in the Old Testament can you recall someone asking God "why"? By now most are aware of the conflict this past week between Israel and Hamas, and I believe it is safe to say there are many in Israel asking the same question.  With so many in the world experiencing difficulties at this present time, it seems perfectly natural to wonder at times if God is aware of our struggles. With that in mind, I want to share something that Isaiah wrote about the subject of wondering if God is really paying attention.

“Why do you say, O Jacob, And speak, O Israel: "My way is hidden from the LORD, And my just claim is passed over by my God"? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to [those who have] no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew [their] strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:27-31 NKJV


Obviously from this passage, we can see that Israel was complaining to God that He was obviously unaware of their suffering because He had not done anything about it. They were feeling as if God had abandoned them, and was either unaware or unwilling to do anything to alleviate their suffering. Especially interesting is the idea we see that the people felt that God was obliged to deliver them! Do you notice the words "just claim"? They felt as God's chosen people, they should somehow be immune to struggles. I am sure many today are experiencing those same feelings as they experience the hardships that seem so prevalent as a result of the events of the past year. Yet Isaiah goes on to answer those feelings by telling us three things we need to remember when we experience trials in our lives.

First of all, Isaiah reminds us that God is never asleep, or too tired to listen to our cries for help. He doesn't "faint" or get "weary", and believe it or not, He has a plan that we as humans may not "understand". His ways are not our ways, but Isaiah assures us that even though we may not understand, or agree, God's ways are not our ways.

Secondly, Isaiah assures us that God will give us the "power" and the "strength" we need to endure. It seems here as if we are being told that within the body of Christ there are three levels of maturity. The "youth" would refer to those who are new and relatively immature believers who would struggle the most when experiencing these kinds of difficulties. The "young men" would be those who have grown enough to endure a bit longer, but still struggle with circumstances they could not control. Those who are able to "wait", however, are those believers mature enough in their faith to understand that God is always faithful to provide the strength we need to endure.

Third, Isaiah uses a beautiful example of an eagle to picture what life as a mature believer can be. Can anyone imagine running and never getting tired, or walking forever without running out of gas? Fortunately for me, I live in an area where all I have to do to watch eagles is drive a mile to the river that runs through a canyon south of town and I can spend hours watching bald eagles fish and hunt for their food. If you have never had the opportunity to do something like that, I want to share a few observations about eagles.

One of the first things you notice when you get up close and personal with an eagle is just how big their wings are. I don't understand how they can fold them up so small, but when they unfold their wings to take off they are impressive. It is common to see eagles with a wingspan of 6-7 feet, and when they fly by 20 feet or so away you usually feel like ducking. Of course, with wings that big it is amazing to see the size of fish they can take off with. It’s not uncommon to see them catch salmon bigger than they are! The strength they possess is just amazing to watch, and to see them dive on the river and come up with a fish that size just takes your breath away. Then of course, we come to the hunt. As you observe them in flight, you get the feeling that eagles can soar forever. They simply sit over the river riding the air currents and never appear to move their wings. They often soar for hours without seeming to expend any effort at all until they spot dinner swimming below.

Is it any wonder God chooses to use the eagle as an illustration of His care and concern for His own? The power and strength and endurance is there for us when we need it, but what is required of us most is to wait. We are an impatient people who want answers and action right now, but our God is a God of patience and deliberation.

"Many [are] the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all."  Psalms 34:19 NKJV

While the struggles many are facing may be diverse, I believe a constant that most all of us are experiencing is weariness.  I know of so many who are tired, both physically and mentally after all we have been through this past year.  Yet God tells us that as faithful, righteous believers we will suffer afflictions. However the proper response is to wait upon the Lord who is not only able, but promises to give us the strength we need to soar like eagles. Note in the passage from Isaiah that God does not promise to take away the suffering, but rather to give us "strength and endurance" so we can be delivered through it. When believers suffer, rather than growing tired or fainting, we need to ask for strength and wait for the promises of God as a witness to those around us that God indeed will provide what we need.

Please join me in praying for those who are struggling as we approach the end of this age. Never forget, God is faithful.

Keep watching.

Sunday, May 16, 2021

The Wrath to Come

 

“For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The LORD will judge His people.”  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”  Hebrews 10:30-31  NKJV

Although I have said it it before, I think I should mention again how satisfying it is to me as a watcher to hear so many people beginning to express their belief that the rapture is close at hand.  The signs are there for all to see and it appears that many are recognizing them for what they are and being bold enough to share their feelings with the body.  While that knowledge naturally produces excitement and anticipation for believers, the truth be told it should produce horror and fear to those who are not part of the body of Christ and will be left behind to endure the judgments of an angry God.

I want to share with you today a wonderfully written article on that coming period of time written by Pete Garcia of Rev310.net.  I have been following and reading his work for years, starting back when he wrote for the Omega Letter and I have to say that he is one of my favorite teachers of the Word.  This article is one of the best I have read concerning that coming time of judgment which certainly appears to be on the immediate horizon.

 

Modern War: Apocalypse Edition, Vol.IV- The Judgments

by Pete Garcia

When considering all the Seals, Trumpet, and Vial judgments we see played out in the pages of Revelation, we often only look at it one-dimensionally. What I mean by that is we read it, but we often fail to ask why something is, rather than what it is. Why does 100 lb. hail stones pummel the earth? Why do the seas turn to blood? Why does one-third of the vegetation on earth burn up? Is it just for the shock factor? Or are their more pragmatic reasons these particular types of judgments happen. Today, we will try and look at it from a strategic perspective. The judgments found in Revelation are often only viewed in terms of their effects on a civilian population; these judgments also serve a more practical purpose by reducing Satanʼs arsenal and ability to fight and maneuver. In other words, God is channeling the antichrist into a certain course of action by reducing his options. However, none of this will happen until the greatest crisis in earthʼs recent history occurs, the Rapture of the Church. Once the Church (the multimember, singular body of Christ on the earth) is removed, the restraining influence she held (by the Holy Spirit) is also removed. For clarification, the Holy Spirit is not removed (He is omnipresent), but the Holy Spirit filled and sealed body of Christ (the Church) is removed off the earth. This introduces the greatest period of darkness and unrestraint mankind has ever known (Matt. 24:21-22).

Seal Judgment 1: Rider on the white horse (the political arrival of the antichrist)o He is a master politician and tactician. He is unassuming in his initial rise to power in that final gentile kingdom, which is the revived Roman Empire

He capitalizes on the crisis left by the Rapture, by using the tools athand; Global Internet, Quantum technology, 5G Wi-Fi, the Internet of things, global satellites and surveillance systems, artificial intelligence, holography, and digital currency, etc..

Seal Judgment 2: Rider on the red horse (the military arrival of the antichrist)

The antichrist uses war and crisis to consolidate his control when nations refuse to yield to his authority economically or politically

This necessitates access to a powerful military, which may be possible after the Rapture of the Church decimates the United States governmental system

NATO is converted into the European Defence Force and uses our collapse to assume the role of the new world superpower.

Seal Judgment 3: Rider on the black horse (the economic arrival of the antichrist)

The antichrist uses economic means initially to assume control. That introduces his political authority. That political authority causes instability, which leads to world war. World war leads to the economic (which wars usually do) to which he uses this crisis to consolidate his financial and commercial control over the worldʼs systems much the same way Hitlerʼs four-year economic plan.

He implements a fail-safe form of both identity protection, and commerce via this new technology. This mark (presumably a type of biomedical device) serves as identification, credit, and loyalty to this final kingdom.

This mark also serves as a form of worship into this new system, because by taking it one swears allegiance to the Beast. This allegiance makes the bearer unredeemable (Rev. 14:9-10), which means this mark seemingly alters or corrupts the bearerʼs genetically

Those who refuse to take this mark, are increasingly shut out of the system and face starvation.

Seal Judgment 4: Rider on the pale horse (death for 1/4th the earth)

By this time, war, famine, and pestilence have killed a quarter of the earthʼs population. If we were using 2018ʼs population of 7.6B, this would be equivalent to the deaths of 1,750,000,000 people

He uses this crisis to further consolidate his religious control. The False Prophet (the Antichristʼs campaigner), begins to turn worship away from Mystery-Babylon (Rev. 17) and towards the antichrist himself.

Seal Judgment 5: Cry of the Martyrs

The False Prophet (the Antichristʼs right hand man) also takes advantage of emerging technology with artificial intelligence, augmented reality and holography, to broadcast the Antichristʼs image everywhere and his seemingly supernatural power

This religious fervor causes his followers to mercilessly persecute anyone who does not worship the beast or take his mark of loyalty. It will make what we see today with ISIS and other Islamic jihadi movements, seem tame in comparison.

Seal Judgment 6: Cosmic disturbances (Wrath of the Lamb)

God pushes back in a warning, the earth dwellers hide in fear. Note the mention of military leaders and great men hiding in caves and bunkers at the celestial turbulence. See also Luke 21(25-26.

Transition-Seal Judgment 7: Silence in heaven

 Scripture (Rev. 4) tells us that heaven is always filled with the unceasing praise by the living creatures, the elders, and angels who continually praise God and His holiness. At the Seventh Seal, there is silence, which indicates the intensifying sense of foreboding about those things which are coming upon the earth.

Trumpet Judgment 1: Vegetation Struck (1/3rd of trees, all grass burned up)

 As indicated in a previous brief, the Americas (North, Central, and South) make up approximately one-third of all the trees and vegetation on the planet.

Trumpet Judgment 2: Seas struck (1/3rd of sea turned to blood, 1/3rdsea creatures and ships destroyed).

The Atlantic Ocean makes up one-third of the earth’s water. (Do you see a pattern here?).

Trumpet Judgment 3: Waters Struck (Wormwood-1/3rd of freshwaters poisoned

 “Over 68 percent of the fresh water on Earth is found in icecaps and glaciers, and just over 30 percent is found in ground water. Only about 0.3 percent of our fresh water is found in the surface water of lakes, rivers, and swamps. Of all the water on Earth, more than 99 percent of Earthʼs water is unusable by humans and many other living things!” (Source).

Trumpet Judgment 4: Heavens Struck (1/3rd of the sun, moon, stars darkened)

Trumpets 1-4 may indicate God confining mankind to one geographic location on the earth, by making up to a third or a fourth of the planet uninhabitable. One-fourth of the earthʼs landmass is found in the Americaʼs (North, Central, South, and Greenland).

If a third of the celestial bodies are darkened, then it must be from darkened from earth by smoke, dust, or some other form of obscuration that blocks our view of the sky. Super volcano?

If this is the case, then the Antichrist will have a short period of time between the Rapture, and the first Trumpet Judgment, to get the people, equipment, and weapons he needs from the Americaʼs over to Europe to consolidate his power. If this is the case, then it will become the worldʼs greatest migratory movement of people, as well as its greatest wealth transfer, ever.

Trumpet Judgment 5: (First Woe) Locusts from the Bottomless Pit (not normal locusts, pain for five months from stings, death flees fromt hose afflicted)

Although we are giving a great physical visualization of what these demonic locust look like, we are not told that the people they inflict can see them. The late Clarence Larkin believed them to be disembodied demonic spirits who possess and torment those men who do not have the seal of God on them.

Joel 2:1-9 seems to fit their actions very closely. Joel also distinguishes between normal locusts, and what these demon-locusts are in 2:25.

Although it seems illogical that Satan would allow these demons to torment the same people he is using to thwart Godʼs plan, John was told these demon-locust answer to another master, Abaddon (or Apollyon), and not to Satan. Here, it seems, God is using these fallen angels to disrupt Satanʼs plans.

Trumpet Judgment 6: (Second Woe) Angels from the Euphrates (1/3rd of mankind killed)

Certainly these are fallen angels of some type, because holy angels are not bound, and because their sole purpose is to kill a third of mankind. Their loosening sends forth an army of 200,000,000 horsemen bent on war.

Whether this is a supernatural army, or human military force, we cannot be certain. Regardless, by adding the previous fourth of the population killed (by the 4th Seal Judgment) with this third, equal half the worldʼs population to date, has died. Seven Thunders uttered then sealed up. Since we are not told what these are, we can only speculate that they are some type of transition judgments between the Trumpets and the Bowl judgments that further decimate the Antichristʼs kingdom..

Transition-Trumpet Judgment 7: The Kingdom Proclaimed by angel

The angel takes up the task of proclaiming the everlasting gospel in the air since the Church has gone (at the Rapture), and the 144K are missing, and the two witnesses have been killed (Rev. 11).

Much akin to Babe Ruthʼs famed called shot in Game 3 of the 1932 World Series, here, the angels proclaim what will happen as already having happened with 100% certainty.

Bowl Judgment 1: Loathsome Sores (afflicts those with mark of the beast)

The mark of the beast, which required mankind to insert some form of bio-tech into their bodies as a form of worship which allowed them to buy and sell, has now become an abhorrent reminder of their fateful choice.

Bowl Judgment 2: Sea turns to blood (the rest of the sea turns to blood)

If the Atlantic was the first third that turned to blood, then it would seem this judgment poisons the rest of the worldʼs oceans. This absolutely cripples the shipping industry as well as killing every living thing in the ocean. Boats do not sail well through blood, and the worldʼs commercial and military ocean might come to a complete halt.

Desalinization would no longer be an option for drinking water

For those peoples who are still in the Americaʼs, they would largely be trapped there.

Bowl Judgment 3: Fresh water turns to blood (the rest of fresh water turns to blood)

With the seas turned to blood, and now the fresh water, manʼs options are extremely limited.

Bowl Judgment 4: Men are scorched by the sun

Although scientist say that our sun does not have enough mass to supernova, our God is the God of the impossible. The Sun experiences what appears to be a supernova-like event and superheats the planet.

 Bowl Judgment 5: Darkness and pain

In a traditional supernova, the sun superheats and expands, then explodes and dies, which would mean total darkness. We are not told that the sun completely dies, but that the ‘throne of the beast, and his kingdomʼ is engulfed in darkness. So it seems that either the sun partially dies (as if a percentage of the sun darkens).

Bowl Judgment 6: Euphrates dries up (unclean spirits gather world army for Armageddon)

Three unclean spirits that appear froglike, stir or possess the worldʼs leaders to gather their armies at the valley of Megiddo (Armageddon) for one final battle. With all that has transpired, it appears that Satan is rallying mankind to both destroy Israel so Christ cannot return, or fight Christ as He returns.

Transition-Bowl Judgment 7: Worldʼs greatest earthquake (Islands and mountains disappear, all cities leveled, 100 lb. hail stones)

Not only would 100 lb. hail stones decimate civilian structures, but It would do devastating damage to any exposed military equipment and facilities such as missiles, tanks, planes, radars, and runways. This may in fact limit manʼs only option for moving to Armageddon, by land.

Since (if my theory is correct) the Americaʼs are no longer in play, armies are moving primarily from the south, the north, and the east towards Israel. Note that Daniel 11 excludes the west (as a cardinal direction) from the armies listed in how they move against Israel.

By this point, the militaries of the world cannot utilize the oceans for a water-borne assault since they were turned to blood. Neither could men use the air for an aviation assault on Israel. The supernatural heat wave, darkness, and 100lb hailstones make airborne operations untenable.

The Second Coming of Christ (Rev. 19)

 As all the armies of the world converge on the plains of Har Megiddo(Armageddon), the sky is literally peeled back, and Christ returns with His own armies in tow.

The worldʼs armies then begin to fire their weapons and wage a ground to air assault on Christ, but are stopped when Christ singlehandedly defeats them simply by His speaking their destruction. Now, it may seem that I am insinuating that God allows the varying judgments to happen to weaken Satanʼs defenses on the earth. Absolutely not. If God wanted too, He could simply think the thought or say the word and our entire existence could blink into nothingness. The judgments were for signs so that the Jewish people (all that are supposed to be saved) are saved (Romans 11:26-27, 1 Corinthians 1:22).Furthermore, the judgments were not only signs, but are pattern, patternʼs the Jewish people would be familiar with. The locusts, the darkness, the hailstones, and so forth, are reminiscent of the Ten Plagues and their exodus from bondage in Egypt. By the time Christ finally appears in the sky with His armies at the Second Coming, they will see that He is the Christ, the Messiah, and they will mourn at this for not having believed sooner. And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. Zechariah 12:10. Nevertheless, their faith will be confirmed because of the judgments, the signs, the patterns, and finally the deliverance as all the armies (not just the Romans as in the first century) are gathered against them. Their deliverance will be mind-blowing. It will be Christ and his armies moving through the air slaying the greatest military assembly the world has ever seen. Then the Lord will go forth And fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south. Zech. 14:3-4.

https://www.rev310.net/post/modern-war-apocalypse-edition-vol-iv-the-judgments

 

Everyone is afforded a choice as to where they will spend eternity.  Unfortunately, there will be those who choose to fall under the judgment of an angry God. If your desire is to spend eternity in Heaven with our Father, Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans exactly how to do that.

 

“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”    Romans 10:9-10  NKJV

 

I pray you have, or will, make the choice to accept the gift of eternal life offered to us all by the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the result being your guarantee of escape from the wrath to come, and the chance to experience the rapture which seems to so many to be close at hand.

 

Keep watching.