The Blessing

May the Spirit of God bless this Website and all who read it.

May they see the truth that it contains

and may it help all who read it

to be born or grow into a much better life

through the knowledge of God's Will and Word.


Thanks and praise are to God, who sets us free.


This Website is dedicated to:

All who seek after the "Real Truth."

May this help them find Him.

The Outline

The Introduction

I. The Return

Christ's Bodily Return, Not Presence

II. The Offer

Christ Is Offered, The Beast Is Offered, WW III, Christ Will Take All
Governmental Control

III. The Start

A Coming Depression, New Economic Order

IV. The Evil Leaders

The Antichrist, the False Prophet, the Second Best--the Same?

V. The Main Beast

The Beast of the Political World

VI. The Church-State Fornicators

Church-State or the Link to Rev. 13, Today & Now

VII. The Two Visions

Daniel's Broad Vision, John's Narrow Vision, Babylon to Now

VIII. The Revelation

Overview of the Revelation, Demons and Devil Worship, Martyrs and Plagues

IX. The Mark

The Beast's Mark, Followed by Damnation and Eternal Pain, Justice for
the Rebellious

X. The Plan

1000 years of True Peace under Christ and Eternal Bliss


The Introduction

The Great Tribulation


Every day we get a little closer to the "Blessed Hope" that the
Holy Bible gives us, being Jesus Christ will return bodily to take
the reins to the kingdoms of this Earth, but we also get even closer
to the most dreaded of all periods in human history, this being the
Great Tribulation. This will be a period so hideous that if Christ
were not to return, no flesh (five billion people) would be saved,
but for the elects' sake, He will return to take away His Church,
all believers (Christians) who were not martyred. This will happen
"at the last trump" or when the last trumpet sounds or when the
living and "the dead in Christ" will be resurrected, "in the twinkle
of an eye."
(I Thessalonians 4:15-17, and I Corinthians 15:51-52) and it has
also been called the time of preparation for the "marriage supper"
of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9, 20:4-6).

It is estimated through prophecy that 1,500,000,000 people or more
definitely will died during this Great Tribulation period. This
"Blood Bath" has been brought on by man's continuous
(since Adam and Eve) rebellion against God. Man through the worship
of Satan and the rebellion he stands for, will come to be on the
brink of totally destroying himself and all this will happen in a
very short period of time, the endtimes. This period must happen,
for all past prophecies of the Holy Bible have 100 percent of the
time come true, and faith in God's infallible Word assures us that
this future period of tribulation will happen, soon. This period
cannot be stopped or not happen, it will occur! The reason God will
let this kind of hell on Earth happen to man is a complex subject,
but for now let us say, God is Just. He has a plan and lesson for
man to learn from this trial by fire for all. For this test will
mean eternal fire for the disobedient and eternal life for those
who keep the Commandments of God.

I

The Return


The Blessed Return of Christ

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is one of the most misunderstood
parts of the end-times period of this world because so many different
churches try to squeeze their own interpretations into this glorious
day. The Holy Bible says that when He comes back He will be visible,
not invisible or just a presence. Titus 2:13, "Looking for that
blessed hope, and the glorious appearing the great God and our
Saviour Jesus Christ . . . ," Jesus in Zec. 12:10, "and they shall
look (visibly) upon Me whom they have pierced . . . " and 14:4,
"Behold, the day of the Lord cometh . . . I will gather all nations
against Jerusalem to battle . . . Then shall the Lord go forth, and
fight against those nations . . . And His feet shall stand that day
upon the mount of Olives . . . and the Lord my God shall come, and
all the saints with thee . . . : and in more detail Rev. 16:12,

And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river
Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the
kings of the east might be prepared.

And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of
the dragon (Satan), and out of the mouth of the beast (the first
political one), and out of the mouth of the false prophet
(the second beast of Rev. 13).

For they are spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth
unto the kings of the Earth and of the whole world, to gather
them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

Behold, I come as a thief in the night . . .

And He gathered them together into a place called the Hebrew tongue
Armageddon.


Then in Rev. 19:11,

And I saw heaven opened, and behold, white horse; and He that sat
upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness
He doth judge and make war.

His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were 'many crowns'
(not one crown as the political beast--first horseman to be seen later);
and He had a name written that no man knew, but He Himself.

And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood; and His name is
called the Word of God.

And his armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses,
clothed in white linen, white and clean . . .

And I saw the beast, and the kings of the Earth, and their armies,
gather together to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and
against His army.

Christ is Present Now Spiritually


Here we can read the Word of God telling us the exact way and time
that Christ will return. Christ or God has been present (a presence)
on Earth through His Spirit since the Day of Pentecost,
Acts 2. Acts 1:5 shows that after telling the disciples of the new
baptism they were about to receive, the Holy Spirit baptism (immersion)
"as opposed" to the water baptism (immersion) of John, "He was taken up;
and a cloud received Him out of their sight . . . ," then two men
in white apparel said, "this same Jesus, which is taken up from you
into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into
heaven . . . from the mount called Olives.: Here He will return,
and only here.

God's Word tells us that Christ will come and the end will occur
only after the beast and the false prophet get all the armies of the
world to meet in the Valley of Megiddo. Then only after the saintly
army appears and wars, will Christ return to step foot on Earth.
The reason I stress the understanding of this is that a period of
false peace will occur and many will worship Satan and the beast
for finally bringing the world to peace. This is a very short-term
peace, though, and all true Christians will witness to the hideous
side effects of this peace through Satan worship.


Thy Kingdom Come


To feel that "the presence" of Christ is all that we need to create
the kingdom of God on this Earth is also very dangerous to the person
wanting to believe as Christ taught. He taught that His government
is to be set up "after" this world is over. One thousand years or
a millennium of rule by Christ is spoken of in Rev. 20:2,
"The dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan,
(will be) bound . . . for a thousand years . . . and I saw the
souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and
for the Word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast,
neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their
foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ
one thousand years." This is the millennium kingdom of God that so
many churches are joining together now to try and create, without
the "physical" presence of Christ. Any church or group that preaches
this message of hope for the world and its governments without
Jesus Christ as the head, is preaching in opposition to God.

Christ did preach about a spiritual kingdom of God, as Mt. 12:28 states,
"But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of
God has come unto you," and Col. 1:13 says, "(The Father) hath
delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us
into the kingdom of His dear Son." Translated now spiritually,
not physically. And more directly Luke wrote of the spiritual side
of God's kingdom in us (not that we are "God" as Satan said in the
Garden and the New Age preaches through demons and man now).
The verses in Luke that show this are: 10:10, 11,
"the kingdom of God has come nigh (near) unto you . . . ', 11:20,
"But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the
kingdom of God is come until you . . . "; 18:10-17 states that
you must humble yourself before God to become a child or infant
of God, in order to enter God's kingdom; and the most direct
statement of Christ is recorded in 17:21,

When (will) the kingdom of God come, He answered them and said,
"The kingdom of God cometh not with observation; Neither shall
they say, Lo here! Or, Lo there! For behold, the kingdom of God
is within you . . . and they shall say to you, See here; go not
after them, nor follow them.

Read that again if it did not sink in. We are not to follow those
who try or are trying to set up the physical kingdom now, and as
to the spiritual kingdom, it is here and available to all who
seek it. Also along this line, Christ will come back physically
only after all the signs in the Book of the Revelation are finished.
These signs we will discuss later. What is important now is that
World War III is the last and most important sign of His Triumphant
Return. These revelations are our "road signs" to Paradise, but we
must study and heed them if we wish to stay on the "straight and narrow"
road.

II


The Offer

Jesus is Offered


The Book of Luke offers the seeking world a great vision into the
behind the scene workings of this world's governments. Lk. 4 tells
us the story of what happened to Jesus after He received the
Holy Spirit of God. He went into the wilderness for forty days
and afterward the devil appeared to Him to try and tempt Him.
One of the temptations was an offer of all the governmental power
in the world. Satan said that it had been handed over to him.
Christ did not deny that Satan had this right to give this position
away to whomsoever he chose, He only rejected the offer. Lk 4:5 says,
"And the devil, taking Him into a high mountain, shewed unto Him
all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil
said until Him, All of this power I will give thee, and the glory
of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will
give it. If Thou therefore will worship me, all shall be thin.

And Jesus answered and said unto him, "Get thee behind me, Satan:
for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and only
Him shall thou serve."


What Does This Offer Mean:


What are the implications of this temptation to take world
governmental power and become absolute ruler of the political world?
Why didn't He accept? If He was in absolute control or given all power,
wouldn't that mean peace and is not that what most worldly churches
are for, world peace? Does Satan control politics and leaders, or God?
Has God's power been handed over to Satan for the time being as a
lesson to man? What if Satan offered this to another man, and he
accepted, what would happen? Will it happen? Does the world have to
worship Satan in order to get world peace, without Christ being physically here? If so, why does everybody want it so much? All of these questions have answers that can be found in the Word of God.


It Means . . .


The implications are if Christ would have accepted Satan's offer of the highest pinnacle of power, of absolute political power, Christ would have had to submit Himself to Satan's rule and worship him. Christ could have accepted, but He did not. Christ did not want to put the cart before the horse. He knew that He had to go to the Cross so that after that Satan's power over us to rebel or transgress (to act in violation of, to break) God's Law would be nullified, or simply put, Christ knew Satan's power over sin would be defeated by His sacrifice. Therefore, Christ was Victorious at the Cross. Christ did not want it here and now, or there and then, as many in the world want today. They want peace here and now, instead of waiting patiently for Christ to come back and give world peace by His timetable, not ours. The price they will pay we will discuss later. Many of Jesus' early disciples wanted Him to take political power over the Romans then and when He said He would not, or that was not His mission, they left Him. We today would be under bondage still and hopelessly trapped by Satan if Christ had followed what the masses wanted and accepted Satan's offer. The masses were looking for external (social) relief, instead of internal (spiritual) relief. Like many churches today. One reason the Jews were a willing party to the Crucifixion of Christ was because He was not the social activities or radical revolutionary they hoped for. They had let their leaders, the politically-minded Pharisees (these leaders are the same as today's church-state ones), dictate to them that Jesus was not the Messiah or the expected deliverer or liberator. To be King of the Jews, He had to be King then, not later. Thus, they felt they needed liberation from the Romans more than freedom from Satan.

The political movement of all "worldly" churches today will soon give them a political liberator, on a white horse, a horseman of the Apocalypse, a false God, that will rule the whole world at peace, as Rev. 6:2 says, "And I saw, and behold, a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and "a" (not many) crown was given until him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer." Through "might" he will bring their peace. Not being defeated but, conquering, to the point that the world will say, in relief, "Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him? . . . And power was given unto him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

And all that dwell on 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. (Rev. 13:4)

We read earlier that Christ will arrive on a white horse, for World War III, and this beast will come before Christ to achieve what the world is not willing to wait for Christ to do, bring political peace. Quickly I would like to state that Jesus did bring peace, peace between God and man, through the Cross and the shedding of His Blood. Eph 2:13-18 tells how Christ broke down the middle wall to make us one with God. Jesus Himself said, "Suppose ye that I come to give peace on Earth? I tell you, Nay, but rather division." Christ knew world peace had to wait, there was a war between God, Satan, and man that had to be settled first; for this patience of Christ we should give thanks!


All of the World Lieth in Wickedness


From Lk. 4 we can see that the leaders and leadership positions of the governments of this world are in the hands or reigns of Satan. Christ did not deny that Satan had the right to give this absolute position, He only denied the offer. God does speak of the rule of man in government being under God; Saul, David, and Solomon's rule are examples of this. This is a period when God gave the Israelites and the Judeans a chance to rule themselves through His guidance. They had heathen governments surrounding them and it was their duty to keep the people away from idolatry around them, but they failed and kept going into the Babylonian religion. These nations were to keep God's Commandments as a condition to God's union with them, but they failed. A lesson was learned that man cannot rule himself. Jesus "had" to come too because man is hopelessness and cannot rule and be obedient to God.

Some examples of rebellion by kings that God anointed are Saul, who counseled a medium to get hidden (occult) information that God refused to give him. This he did after he had all the wizards and those who had familiar spirits (demons) taken from the land. He was killed for this (I Sm. 28). Also, David yielded to Satan instead of God when he numbered Israel. Israel was almost destroyed for this rebellion (I Chr. 21). Solomon failed and gave in to the Babylonian religion of the zodiac and astrology. An example of this rebellion is found in I King. 11:4, "For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God . . . "

For Solomon went after Ashtoreth (also A "star"te) the goddess. (This should not be taken lightly, for today, well-meaning Christians have been deceived to worship this same Babylonian star goddess. E-AST-E(A)R-TE or Easter is the once pagan day to worship Astarte and it is still observed, even though the day of Easter is not in the Holy Bible associated with Christ, only pagan worship of the Babylonian mystery religion . . . )

And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord . . . then did Solomon build a high place . . . in the hill that is before Jerusalem .

These high places of worship that Israel worshiped all the way up to II Kg. 23:13, are described in II Kg. 17, "And this was a sin against God . . . they built them in high places in all their cities (i.e., towers with zodiacs for astrological prophecies concerning the future, as at Babel, the Tower) . . . and worshiping all the host of heaven and served Baal."

God gave Israel a kingdom under Him and they rebelled and turned to other gods, mainly Satan, for guidance instead. Today the United States "calls" itself under God (without may I say the Word of God to back this bold statement), but the past president uses the same cursed Babylonian astrological religion and no Christian voices go out. Why? The same people that back the political church movement have the loudest say, for now, and they somehow feel anything that happens to America is God's will. This same blind devotion took the kingdom of Israel and Judah (II Kg. 23:27) to exile for its sins. America, like the rest of the world, will one day be captured from within (by Satan possession) and not without like the Babylonians did to Judah when they took them away. Babylon will become a worldwide belief system and instead of a government forcing itself on the rebellious, Satan through his mystery religion will seize control of the rebels through the world leader that adopts his belief system. The cry will then be for "freedom" over Satanic possession or slavery, instead of physical or political freedom, as it is now. Even Old Testament governments had a streak of rebellion; enough rebellion to show us that without God, through Christ physically as the head, the end will be disaster, for Stan's will over am an without God's in-dwelling Spirit through the blood sacrifice, is just too much. Mankind can not run a "perfect" government by himself.

In the New Testament we never see any of Christ's disciples running for any governmental office. Not that you cannot be a part of the governmental system, only obey God's Law first, then man's. A fine line must be drawn. This world's system is corrupt and evil and if we cannot be a part of this system and still be obedient to God, we must come out of it. We must be in the world, but not of it (Jn. 17:16). We must pay taxes (give to Caesar), take government jobs, but none that are against God's Word, and we should not run for an office or take an office that influences the public in general, an example would be lawmakers (knowing or determining what is good and evil, Gen. 3:5, e. g. "you shall be like God"). Man's laws and God's Laws are two separate systems. Man is trying to set up a governmental system without God and if any public or state office is a part of this union, this position must not be taken by a Christian. Any elected office would fall into the do not enter zone. Believe it or not, Satan can influence the minds of the masses to vote the way he wants. He is called the god of this world and the prince of the power of the air or the spirit that now works in "(controls) the minds" of the children of disobedience. The masses may vote, but Satan elects. This is seen in Lk. 4, when Satan says that he and only he is in charge of the kingdoms, the leaders, elected officials, dictators, and world peace or chaos (fear). Man lost his choice to choose between God and Satan to control world and national power. Now it is either world peace through Satan worship or wait for Christ. Rev. 13 tells that the masses will choose Satan.

Even though the New Testament talks of governments, it is a different type of leadership that the Greek word for government (kubernesis) speaks of. I Cor. 12:28 says that God gave some in the church the gift of governments. This word means literally "to steer a ship." It means one at the helm, charting the course, one who knows the destination and is able to keep the ship on course, a director of sorts. This word, kubernesis, also appears in Rev. 18:17. It is called a ship master here. This may not be the translation that the world's churches want to hear, but it is the Truth.

Also, God makes His boldest statement against the churches becoming a part or of in union with governments, in Rev. 17:2. God says here that the kings of the Earth will commit fornication with a woman. Many feel this will be physical or sexual, but a true meaning would be political. A man and a woman are not to join a government, unless the government's head in Christ. This whore (the "woman") or the mother of the other harlot churches that follow her into rebellion, will be a part of the world's governments. Since around three hundred A.D. the "Roman" Catholic Church has been "joined" to this world's governments. This church also relies on pagan Babylonian dates for worship. Tie this all together and you get:

Mystery, Babylon the Great, Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth (Rev. 17:5)

Today this church has ambassadors to all the nations of the Earth by means of the United Nations. This woman or whore is not the political beast as the Catholic Church was not the Roman State, only a part of or in union with it. The beast (political) and his kings will eventually turn on the whore and burn her and her city, Rome (17:9-18). There is a fine line between working and being a part of man's government and being a part of the Kingdom of God (a Holy Nation of the born again, I Pt. 2:9). If we put the kingdom of God first, we will see and be able to walk the line.


The Beast is Offered


Now back to the basic of Luke 4. A good question for today's age is, "When or will peace come? Luke 4 tells us in a roundabout way that Satan is in charge of world peace. Rev. 13:2-7 tells us that peace "will" come and when it does come, it tell the price that the world will have to pay for it. Jer. 6:14 says they will be saying, "Peace, peace, but there is not peace (for the rebellious and God are still at war)." Also God says that just when they are saying, "Peace and safety, destruction shall come." Christ was offered all of the world's governments in Lk. 4 and He denied "the offer." He knew His time was later. But the fact remains that if He had accepted, He would have had to worship Satan, "If thou therefore will worship me, all shall be thine (Christ's)." Satan lets a big secret loose here, being the highest office or world governments, the supreme position, is in the hands of him and if world peace is to be achieved, the main in this position must worship him. Rev. 13 tells us this will happen. A man the Bible calls "the Beast" will accept the offer Christ denied. And the price for this peace is as Lk. 4 said it would be, "And they (the world) worshiped the dragon." (Verse 4). Since the world must do as its supreme leader commands, the world has to do as the beast does, worship Satan. A small price to pay for world peace . . . no way. The world "will" worship Satan. Hard to believe maybe but if God says it will happen, it will.


WWIII . . . Christ Takes All Governmental Control


An order can now be seen from the first chapter till this one. Christ has been offered this world's governments while He was here physically. He denied the offer because He was here to set up His kingdom in a different way, a spiritual way. This is one reason that the Jewish race for the most part denied Him. Through a vision of John we can see or it is "revealed" to us that in the endtimes, Satan will make the same offer to another man called the beast and this man will accept Satan's offer and for the whole world to worship Satan through peace. The churches or the world today have strayed from the simplicity of God's Word and they have "joined" to the governments of this world to try and set up a physical kingdom of God without Christ being physically here. The Bible says that Christ will not just be a "presence" when He returns, but a physical being, coming to destroy the government under Satan, at the Battle of Armageddon. This is WW III, a battle of man's armies, led by the beast, against the saints of God, led by Jesus Christ. Mat. 24:15-51 tells of this event. We also found through this study that man cannot run this world nor its governments without a higher "spiritual" power (as we saw when Israel tried), so Christ will have to come again and be that power. This time, Jesus will "take" what Satan offered before, this being ultimate control over the governments of man. With this knowledge the rest will be easy to understand.


III

The Start


The Trigger


If the Great Tribulation is as close as I have said, by saying it will occur "soon", what today could trigger such a "great" period of distress and chaos? To understand the answer to this, it must be realized that the tribulation period of the Revelation has a lot to do with economics or money and the way it is spent, stored, or used in general. Rev. 13 says that, "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." This is telling us that the way we buy or sell everything will be controlled by a central government and our using of money, as we know it, will be conditional upon our worship of Satan. This is nothing to be taken lightly, for in order to even get our necessities (food, water, and shelter, and possibly transportation--to escape in the future), today we must rely on money. If we had to take a mark to get food or starve to death, would we choose the mark? If we were dying of thirst, would we take the mark? If we needed transportation or gas, would we take the mark? The Bible say the mark will mean damnation and an eternity in a lake of fire. How about now? The number of the beast and his mark is 666. Today, 666 is on every U.P.C. sticker or the Universal Parcel Code (the sticker the check out computers or cashiers use to price what we "buy"); the longest first, middle, and last double lines in computer or binary code stand for the number six. A central computer in Brussels, Belgium has two "billion" names in it and the computer's name . . . the beast. A move is under way today to give everyone in the U.S. a "national identification number"; isn't the Social Security number enough? Money is slowly being eliminated, by phasing out large denominations. I believe they have eliminated down to $100.00 bills. A card instead of money? Why not, with all the credit or debt (debit) cards today, and automatic money transfer (ATM). All of this type of information is common knowledge, seen in newspapers, periodicals, and on products (666 on U.P.C. bar codes), but no one seems to heed the warning signs of the apostle John's Revelation from God about Satan's coming world economic order. Why?


The Bang or Crash


The economy is working too well to change now for a pie-in-the-sky moneyless system, or is it? In October of 1987, we experienced a stock market crash. Today, we are on the brink of a major depression . How? The last market crash in 1929 didn't see the Depression take hold until one year later, 1930. We are in the same boat. They called the period between '29 and '30 the "fool's market", for the people were fools for investing and fools for trusting that the storm had passed, an example being the eye of a hurricane. The hurricane hits, then there is a period of peace, but , you would be a fool to go out and walk around and think it was over, for the rest of the storm is soon to hit. This major coming depression could have been weakened, but the past Reagan administration felt it better politically to postpone the "recession" because it may have fallen in an election year and that would have been disastrous to the elections of the same man, for the people would not vote the same party line if they felt that party was hurting them economically. This is one reason Carter lost, because he and his administration mis-timed their recession and it fell in an election year. The Reagan people had a choice, let some wind out of the storm and cause a recession in an election year, or raise the credit limits or boundaries and cause more debt, but postpone the recession. The problem with this is the alternative to the recession then is a "depression" later on, or as time would place it, soon. We will not just have "inflation" but hyper-inflation."

Past Firings and the Accuracy


This is the same feared system that Hitler rose to power on. Germany had a great national World War I debt, as we have now. Germany then, will be repeated soon. We will not get a European Hitler though, but a world-ruling Beast. (Worse than Hitler. Does not seem possible, does it?) People in Germany then were burning money to keep warm. That is how "worthless" it was. This could be 1,000% inflation. The same type the "debtor" nations of Latin America are seeing "now" because of their national debt. If a dozen eggs cost $1.00 at the start of a year, at the end of the year, they will cost $1,000. Worry even more though, a system to stop this chaos is in the wings and Satan is ready to use it.


The Deadly Bullet


To eliminate the confusion in all the world's markets between the values of currencies or money, one central system will be set up with one head controller. If you do not agree with the way the system is run, you will not be able to buy or sell it, and in effect be left without the basic necessities that money does provide. You may say, well, if I cannot buy, then I will take or steal. You could, of course, but you would be breaking God's Law and therefore defeating your purpose for not taking the mark, the purpose being that you did not want to disobey God. The alternative is, trust in God that His Will shall be done in your life and that He will provide.


Duck or Hit the Deck!


This is not to say that you should do nothing, for preparation is what the Book of the Revelation is partly about. God tells us in advance so that we may prepare for the worst. Learn how to "survive" without money. Impossible in a way, but barter was a system before money. You must have the necessities to barter, though. This means storage and preparation for a basic life without luxuries, as the ancients did in the wilderness. A start would be to deflate a high standard of living if it exists. Christ told the rich man to give up all and live basically, but he could not in time to receive Christ. Can you in the time you have? God sent His Gospel to the poor, both in a spiritual and a physical sense. God never intended us to follow "a name it, claim it" Gospel. True God blessed those in "the Old Testament" with success and prosperity for following Him, but the Christ of the New Testament brought a change to this blessing. Christ showed this with the rich man and Lazarus. The poor man was closer to God than the rich. The rich man was punished and the poor rewarded. Also James tells of the rich in the last days in James 5:1,

Ye rich men, weep and howl for the miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped your treasures together for the last days.

Also, Lk. 12:21-32, God tells of a rich man who stored more than he needed and he became greedy. He felt he had it made until he lost his life and then he found he was rich in the world, but not rich toward God. Then 12:33 says,

Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in heaven that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

God says that in the end, the very end of the Tribulation, we should not turn around to take anything, just what we have (ready). Remember Lot's wife. Are you prepared to pick up and just leave civilization if need be and then survive, or will you be dependent on the marking system of man? One way to prepare is to observe the "Feast of Tabernacles" or booths. Two commanded Sabbaths are during this period (Lev. 23:33-35). (Even when the Kingdom of God is set up, this feast will still be kept, Zech. 14:16-19). All Christians are to keep this day as Christ says to. It is not done away with, no matter what the worldly churches say. This is a picture of when Israel dwelled in the wilderness in tents or booths. God provided for Israel without money or civilization; He will provide for His spiritual Israel. Time and means of transportation, temporary shelters, and survival gear have changed, but God's promise to His Children has not; He will provide, but I feel we must prepare as He guides us.


Do Not Be a Target Again

The question that should be raised here is how far should we go in order to survive? God says, "In the day that the Son of Man is revealed (not when the tribulation starts or when the branding or mark period starts or when the war [martyr] period against the saints starts, Rev. 13:7), he that is upon the house top, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away . . . whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.: But it also says here to those in the field (who leave the holocaust), not to return. If we do flee, as Lot did in the Sodom holocaust), not to return. Do not flee to save your life either, flee so that you may tell of the Kingdom of God before it is all over. Flee to be witnesses.

As for preparation for this time, the most important thing you "need" is to be cleansed in the blood of Christ, see I do believe in the promise "seek ye the kingdom of God, and all these things (your salvation and your needs) shall be added unto you." (Lk. 12:31). But, even God's lower creatures, as squirrels, store their needs and prepare for the harshness of winter, as we should for the harshness of the coming Tribulation. God does say in Matthew 24 that if we endure to the end, we shall be saved before the total destruction. Also we are told that many shall be killed for the Gospel and hated by the world; and we are told that the end shall come when the Gospel goes throughout the world. After this, He tells of the "abomination of Desolation" and those who are in Judea, today the Jews or the tribe of Judah, are told to "flee" to the mountains when the end comes.

Incidentally, this land is called Judea by God or Christ and not Israel. Who are we to believe, Him or the world? The world is deceived to believe that tribes Israel or the children of Israel are in Judea today, but the children of Israel are scattered throughout the world and joined by the Spirit of God, and the "tribe of Judah" is returning. The Jews have returned to land they returned too after the Babylonian exile (Dan. 3:8, 12; Ez. 4:12, 23; Neh. 1"2, 2"16, 5:1, Est. 3:4). They are Jewish and the land Judah as Zec. 12:212 says about World War III, also 14:21. A "New Spiritual Israel" is now in existence. The New Testament through the Blood of Christ created this nation of born again believers. I Pt. Tells the born again believer, "Ye are a chosen generation . . . a holy nation." And Gal. 3:28-29 tells them they are now a seed of Abraham and heirs to the promise delivered unto him. Eph. 2:11-22 tells of the Christian Israel.

A parable that Jesus used to show what we will be expected as Christians to do in the end is found in Matthew 22, when he tells of a king who had a marriage supper (see Rev. 19:7-9, "blessed are they that are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb") for his son (Jesus) and he sent his servants (the Prophets and disciples of Christ) to invite those who had the rightful place at the supper (the Jews, then the world) but they refused and killed the servants (martyrs). The king got angry and sent forth his army (as God will do at the end, an army of saints from heaven, Rev. 19:14) to destroy those who rejected and killed his servants, and "burned" their cities. Brimstone or burning earth is seen as a punishment in the end and the only thing that man has that can burn earth is a nuclear explosion. These bombs are aimed not at the country sides, but at the world's cities. The servants or "remnants" of the parable that were left after this punishment are told to go into the countryside and gather "anyone" and ask them to come (this will be through the Gospel's call to Heaven). But, only those with a wedding garment (a white robe washed and cleansed in the forgiving blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, Rev. 7:14) will be accepted. The rest will be cast into outer darkness or hell where "there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" and then to the lake of fire eventually. Only a few will be chosen. This is an important endtimes lesson that Christ taught us.

So, we are not told to sit around and wait to be tortured to get branded or to starve, only not to take the mark or steal to survive. Do not disobey God to "save" your life. God says he will provide and through our faith (trust) in Him we believe in Him. God says faith without works is dead, therefore, we must not sit on our hands and trust everything will work without us doing anything, it will not. Any savings in the banks should be "invested" in necessities, for as in the Depression, accounts will be frozen. It is said that for every $100.00 invested in banks, only $1.00 of it is there at any one time, or only one out of every one hundred people would get their money during a run on the banks. Be the one now and store up the things that you will have to take a mark to get later (not treasures or luxuries, but necessities). You may say that the government backs the bank, true, but, "Who backs the government that is a few trillion dollars in debt?" (If this Depression period has already started when you read this, beware, more tribulation will soon follow.) God has warned us of a Great Tribulation and the end of this world, through prophecies, but we must not be like the world of Noah's day and not heed the warning. God warned Noah "and he heard the Word of God and believed, then he built and stored," so shall we: "hear (or read), believe, prepare, and watch," the signs for the end (Lk. 12:36-40). All of those who believe in the prophecy about the flood were saved. Do you believe?

IV

The Evil Leaders


The End-Times Leaders


The world has been led astray by a serious delusion concerning the "leaders" at the end of this world. They say a man called the "Antichrist" is going to lead the world's people and governments against God and His kingdom. Now the problem I see, through the Word of God is this, the word "Antichrist" is never defined to any particular person. "An Antichrist" is used in II Jn. 7, but it is not referring to a single particular person but a type of person. If I Jn. 2:18 had wanted to refer to a single man, the words "an antichrist" could have been used and then we could almost say John was referring to the beast here. It would then have said, "and as ye have heard that "an Antichrist" shall come," but John did not intend this verse to mean this. This is where "Bible scholars" derive the words "the Antichrist." If you read the verse after this one, it will become clearer that John was referring to a group of people. And Verse 222 uses the world "antichrist" to mean a type of person. This verse makes a good case for the idea that the though here is not of a single man, but a type or group of false Christians, so-called Christians. To further prove all of this, John is the only writer in the Bible to use the word "antichrist". He did this in I Jn. 2:18, 22, 4:3, and II Jn. 7, and again the words "the Antichrist" are not found. The word "the" may be in parentheses in some interpretations, but it is not in the original Greek.

Therefore, to use the words "the Antichrist" is anti-Christian or against the Word of God, for the word preceding the word "Antichrist", being "the", is never associated with "Antichrist". The word "antichrist" without the "the" would, as we just said, make the word mean a group of people where the Scriptures use this word; or, "as ye have heard that antichrist shall come," and this makes for a totally different meaning. If we read Revelation 22:18, we find God to say that He is against anyone adding even "one" single word to that prophecy, or face severe plagues or punishment, and this hatred of addition or subtraction of God's word can also be applied to all Scriptures. If God's word is to remain pure and holy, no outside words or doctrine can be added. If you add a pinch of color to pure white, it is no longer pure. The world "the" here is that pinch. How many people refer to the end-times political world leader as "the Antichrist" because of this little bit of darkness being added to God's pure Word? The Bible gives him names and these we can use, but not anything else. Daniel 7:8-25 describes him as "the little horn" who will make "war with the saints at the end times." Dan. 8:23 says he will be "a king of fierce countenance" or "the prince" of the end times (9:26), or the "best (that) all the world shall wonder after . . . and worship" (Rev. 13). We can "safely" call this leader by any of these titles or any other one that God chooses to call him, but we should not go out on a very thin limb and call him "the Antichrist".

Now, "As ye have heard" used in Verse 18 could refer to the Old Testament, as scholars say about Daniel, or to the prophecies of Jesus in Mt. 24:5, 23, 24 or Mk. 13:21, 22, which refers to Christian deceivers, and I believe the latter. It does not "definitely" have to refer to Dan. 7:3, 8, 19-25 which refers to Rev. 13:1-8, speaking of the political beast of Dan. 8:9-11, 23-25: 11:28, 30, 36-39, which refers directly to Rev. 13's political beast. Therefore, this "past referring" still does not link John's antichrist to a single man.

An example of how to classify the beast or name him is found where Paul in II Thes. 2:6 says,

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he as God, sits in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God . . . Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.

Two Leaders?

Now there are two leaders (or two beasts, see Rev. 13) of Satan in the end times, a political one or religious. Now as we said, the Bible does not claim one is the Antichrist, only, "As ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists (religious ones) . . . " and "that antichrist shall come" very possibly means that "a group of antichrist" in general shall come. So a group of false Christians are said to exist in the end-times, "They went out from us (they said they were Christian), but they were not of us (Spirit filled): (I Jn. 2:18-19). How true this is of today's age. This group will have a leader, a religious one or the second leader or the beast (Rev. 13:11).

If we can leave behind for a minute the quest to tie the antichrist to a political world ruling man and go to Rev. 13:11, we can see how some say the Antichrist is a religious man who shall rise out of Rome. I will try and show how they have been deceived by Satan (I was once on both of these sides, being a political or religious Antichrist) and I will show the Satanic doctrine of this second beast church. "And I beheld another beast, (again, another beast) coming up out of the Earth; and he had two horns like a 'lamb', and he spake as a dragon (Satan)." Why two horns like a lamb and not a bull with two horns or goat, which symbolizes Satan? A point is being made. Jesus is the "Lamb of God", for he was crucified on the "Passover", not Good Friday, for the sins of the world (Jn. 1:29, I Cor. 5:6-8). (Incidentally, we must observe the Passover as Christ did, I Jn. 2:6; this is we must if we do not want to be an antichrist.) This beast is like a Lamb (Christ) but speaks like Satan. Satan's gospel is sin or rebellion. This mixture of gospels may seem impossible but John even said that if you claim to be Christian and you sin (willfully), you are of the devil and an antichrist. How many Christians have you heard say, "Well, everyone sins?" It was not the Apostle John, for he writes,

Whosoever commiteth sin transgresseth (breaks) the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

And ye know that He (Jesus) was manifested (not created, He is the Creator, Jn. 1:1-3) to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin.

Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not; whosoever sinneth has not seen Him, neither know Him .

He that commiteth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the words of the devil.

Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin. (I Jn. 3)


Antichrist and the Religious Falling Away


This is to say that the Apostle knew why Christ came and the power He sent to believers. They even talked about those who in the last days: "shall depart from the faith ("they went out," I Jn. 2:10), giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (I Tm. 4). Also II Tm 3:5, "having a form of godliness, but denying the power (over sin) thereof: From such turn away."

Here we have those who say they are Christian and they are hypocrites or into the occult (the Babylonian religion); anti-Christians in the sense of John's term. The leader of this religion could be the Antichrist (to satisfy their doctrine) in the religious sense of the word, for this person is anti or against God's truth, as an antichrist is. This false gospel exists in the world today as it did in the days of the apostles, but today this religion centers around the "doctrines" that come from one particular church. These doctrines are called the doctrines of man and all who worship God through these "commandments of men" are "worshipping in vain" (Mt. 15:9). This endtimes false religion will teach false commandments. Satan wants mankind to break the commandments of God and therefore sin or rebel against God. Even if we are unknowing of the transgression, we are still playing into Satan's hand, for we are deceived. So because of this deceptive nature of Stan, we must read God's Word so that we may not be deceived, for if we find we are at fault against God, we can call on Christ to win victory over this fault. This is one reason I feel many will not read God's word, though, they do not want to know they are wrong and rebellious and they do not want a conscience. If the Bible says one thing and we "believe" another thing in opposition to what the Bible says, who is right? An example being:

If the Bible says that we are to keep a seventh day Sabbath and Christ kept a seventh day Sabbath, but the Roman Catholic Church started a first day Sabbath in 300 A.D., who should be follow? This is the different between keeping the Commandment of God (the fourth) or commandment of man. I say "commandment" of man because around 300 A.D., the Catholic Church "forced" (by death) or commanded that all Christians keep the Roman Empire's first day Sabbath. The Sabbath that was kept by the Romans was a pagan one before Constantine's, the Roman Emperor's, so-called conversion to Christianity. (He claimed Christ led him into war, to "murder" his enemies.) The Catholic Church also "joined" the Roman Catholic Empire here to create the un-Holy Roman Empire. The old Sabbath was a day to worship the sun (-day) god, by bowing down to the rising and setting sun. His worship dates back to "Babylon" and their religion. Should you worship as the Babylonians did or as God said and did? Past Christians were killed by the Catholic Church for choosing God. The Catholic Church made it against the world law to "Judaize" or keep the seventh day Sabbath. Not the Sabbath of the Jews, but of God (see Genesis 2). If you kept it God's way, you were killed. How would you have chosen? Which way will you keep now that you know the truth? Will you be an antichrist or choose the way of the early martyrs.


The Whore and Religious Deception


Many of today's churches have followed this Whore church as Rev. 17:1 calls her. This is the church that started the rebellion or forced Commandment (Law) breaking on the Sabbath. Jesus says about this subject,

Think not that I am come to destroy the Law . . . I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. (The law is not done away with and it cannot be changed.)

For verily I say unto you, 'til heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in nose wise pass form the law, 'til all be fulfilled.

Most world churches follow this Whore and "not God' and they are called Harlot Churches and children of the Whore because they follow the doctrine that you can "dictate" to God what His laws should be. Also the Catholic Church started the "revolving door forgiveness confessionals", which by the way are anti-Christian. An example of the Truth is when Jesus "forgave" a woman and then told her to go and I quote "sin no more (I Jn. 8:31-36). Another anti-Christian doctrine of this Whore and its Harlots is that there is no "damnation" once you are saved. Christ said differently!

Jesus Tells of Those Who Fall Away

. . . for it is impossible for those who were once enlightened (saved) and have tasted the heavenly gift and were partakers of the Holy Spirit,

And have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance, seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame . . . those who end is to be burned. (Heb. 4)

II Pt. 2:20-22 speaks of a greater punishment to those who except and walk in righteousness and then go back to sin and are overcome. Now for those who feel that God is giving you an impossible task, read I Cor. 15:54-57. It tells here of the victory that Christ has given us over sin, death, hell, Satan and his demons, and the temptation of evil. And I Cor. 10:13 says, "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; But will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.: But you still have free will. II Pt. 2:9 states, "The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust until the day of judgment to be punished." So to sum it all up, "Awake to righteousness and sin not.: (I Cor. 15:34)!

Will You Help Spread the Truth?

This Truth that I gave you from God, will soon be against the world law, for all those who witness to the truth of Jesus will be killed. That is because this Truth is a death blow to the power that Satan holds over "anybody". Satan will be in control of the physical world and He will not let those who are warring against His Kingdom on Earth live. This is a hated testimony of obedience. "The saints shall be killed and hated of all nations for Jesus' sake: (Mt. 24:9), and Mt. 10:17-22 says that the saints shall be delivered before rulers, but the Spirit of God shall defend us. Do not think that the Romans' throwing Christians to the lions days are all over in spirit, or the days when false churches have us killed. Rev. 6:9 states, "And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held: . . . and white robes were given to ever one of them; and it was said until them that they should rest a little season, until their fellow brethren, that should be killed as they were , should be fulfilled." Now this verse tells us that there will be a martyrdom after the Great Tribulation starts or at least this fifth seal shows a future killing of Christians . I say Christians, for these past martyrs or brethren were Christians, who held Jesus' testimony. (Many people have been misled to believe that only the Jewish race will be killed in the Great Tribulation. This through a doctrine of pre-tribulation rapture. This is one Scripture that disproves it.) Rev. 7:9-14 also shows this "Great Multitude" in white robes washed "in the blood of the Lamb." This verse is after the verse on the 144,000 from the "tribes of Israel and Judah (the Jews)", who are "supposed" to be the martyrs. These Christians will be killed for their "obedience" to the Commandments of God and their "outspokenness" about obedience vs. Rebellion, until death.

To further prove a Christian martyrdom for testifying, Rev. 12:17 reveals, "And the dragon was wroth with the woman (the Truth Church), and went to make war with the remnants of her seed, which kept (did not break as the world teachers) the Commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Rev. 13:7, "And it was given until him (the beast) to make war with the saints (Christians, as in the past), and to overcome them." Dan. 7:21 states that the "little horn" of the endtimes king will "war with the saints." Now when we go to war, our protection and weapons will not be guns and bullets, if we want to be safe and protected, we must take the armor of God,

That ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood (the social gospel), but against principalities, against powers, against rules of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places . . . (Please read of this special armor in Eph. 6.)

Will you still testify, and if so, are you prepared?

And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth. And I saw the woman, drunken with the blood of saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. (Rev. 17:5, 6)

Remember the forced Sabbath martyrdom here.


Conclusively, There Are Two End-Times Leaders for Satan

Thus, the world is looking for two different people called "the Antichrist". One they claim is a religious leader (backing anti-Christian doctrines or spirits), by with likely (if from Old Testament Scriptural prophecy) political power. Scripturally, though, the religious leader is called by God the "false prophet" or the second "beast" of Rev. 13. This man appears in Rev. 16:13, 19:20, and 20:10. It is easy to see how this man will use sorcery or false miracles (imitating Christ) by the power of Satan to deceive (lead) the world into following the "first" beast (or leader) whom the world calls the other Antichrist, and to worship the first best and Satan. Rev. 18:23, 24, "For by thy great sorceries were all nations deceived. And in her was found the blood of the prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the Earth", 16:13-16, "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast (political), and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the Earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the great battle day of God Almighty . . . And he gathered them together in a place called in Hebrew tongue Armageddon." So it is easy to see how he will be used by Satan to "lead" the world's armies to the battle of Armageddon. The time is ripe for all of this for the world is ready and waiting for "anybody to lead" and if through the "supernatural", all the better. Here at this battle the religious beast and the political beast will be defeated and sent to the Lake of Fire. Therefore, the other world leader "uses" this false prophet's sorcery to gain worldwide favor, praise or worship, and Satan used them both for his goal, being worldwide Satan worship, but both of their ends shall be the same (Rev. 19:20), a lake of fire.

So, in conclusion, if we use the quotes of John to define what Antichrist stands for, it could not be the second beast or false prophet, nor should we imply it to mean it is the king of the world spoken of in Daniel. I Jn. 2:22 tells of a type of antichrist, "He . . . that denieth (to refuse to: recognize, acknowledge, or grant; to declare untrue or to contradict) the Father and the Son." The world says that a single man who does this is the Antichrist. This could be religiously or politically. On the political side, they say it is true because Christ has the right to the kingdoms of this world (but He will not and would not worship Satan to get them, instead, He will wait out God's plan and order for things to come), so a single world leader would be anti or in opposition to Jesus' political throne. On the religious side of the Antichrist coin, the Roman Catholic Church has set up a man as God in more than one way. The Pope's other title is the "Holy Father", so he has already set himself up as God, for this is the title of God in Heaven. Also the pastors call themselves Fathers, a name that Christ said only the Father in Heaven should be called "spiritually" (Mt. 23:9). Even Rabbi or Master is not to be used. Is this blasphemy? I believe so. If we call these men by this title we are also sinning. Rome has supposedly taken over Jerusalem as the City of God or Peace, the center to where millions of Christians worship. Also, Rev. 17:9 says that the Whore Woman is located on seven mountains and Rome is called the City of Seven Hills (proof). So, because this man seems to be "setting himself up as God, or in place of God, therefore he is anti or against God", some jump to the conclusion the Antichrist will rise out of Rome and be the Pope. Also, they claim this one beast (the Pope/Antichrist) will be in charge of the ten kings, which many say are from the reuniting Common Market nations of Europe. (Rev. 17:12-13). This prophecy is being fulfilled here but not in this way. The problem with this is that these kings and their leader, the first beast, will hate the Whore (led by the second beast (a political one) and the Pope are two separate people. This Pope may "anoint the king or the beast", as past popes have done with the past un-Holy Roman Empire, but he will not be its king, or the first beast. Thus, this Pope seem to be Rev. 13's second beast.

To go along with this idea of an evil leader being able to rise out of Christianity, the Catholic Church claims to have the right from God to set up a man to be successor to St. Peter, the pope, even if the pope is into the occult, immoral, or is just generally anti-Christian, as past popes have been. The present Pope, John Paul II, even played the role of the astrological (Babylonian) Bull in his acting (deceiving) days (thus he is "trained" to deceive). This is the same bull the Israelites worshiped in the wilderness! The present Pope also knows, I believe, one-hundred-forty different dialects and languages. That is a lot of "Babel".

Thus, these are the two sides, overviews, of the political and/or religious Antichrist. As this study progresses, I will look at the two endtimes leaders, the political and religious beast, and their evil reigns, and not call one by the title the Antichrist, for as far as the Word of God is concerned, both sides of this question, "Is the Antichrist political or religious?" are on a counterfeit coin.

V

The Main Beast

Political Blaspheme

We have just talked about the two beasts of Rev.13 and now we will look at the first beast of the same chapter. Also to outline this "man," we must examine his description and his political stance toward the kingdoms of this earth. Also his gospel or blasphemous lies towards God's Word must also be described. This lie exists in one of the two main ideologies today. The other ideology runs a close second on false doctrine, but the second ideology does not claim to be doing God's will or be under God, so it is not "as evil," or blasphemous. (For even God that those who say the do His will and are hypocrites, as this ideology and the false Christian church do, will be punished more severely than the other.) The second idea is that all of world's goods and people should be one or a shared system, and a classless system, a "community" or Commun-ism. This system of government sprang from the Bible ideals, but the originator of the system, Marx, turned against God (anti), and he tried to create a government where the people worshipped or were totally obedient to the government, instead of God. The government was supposed to, in turn, supply the needs of the people. Sort of the father-child relationship God has with his children, but instead God is replaced by the government. Marx studied the Word but he grew to hate God and so he eliminated religion from his system, for he felt it was like a drug that was destructive to order. How can a system be more evil? Well, the Bible is more dead set against a hypocrite, than an unbelieving sinner. We see this in the strong rebukes of Pharisees from Jesus.

Blasphemy II

The United States of America has form its start stated that God was on their governmental side. With the "re"-introduction of democracy to the world, the U.S. decided that this must be the way God wants a government and for that fact, a world to function. The people dictate to the leaders what they are to do and the decide who will rule. Is this God's way? No. The kingdom rule of Israel is an example of a theocracy or a government under God. A prophet speaks for God and tells the people who is to be "anointed" king. (Christ is the Anointed One, Acts 10:38.) This is similar to what the false prophet (the second beast) will do for the political beast. Democracy is a system invented by the ancient Greeks (who had many gods, see mythology) and not by God. In reality it is the wishful system of Satan. I just made a lot of enemies, didn't I ? Well, Satan does not feel the universe (a governmental in the micro-democracy doctrine) should have an eternal (life-long) head. He feels the creatures or those God created (the people) should be able to dictate who is on the throne (supreme). More on Satan and his beliefs later; for now let's say that democracy is closer to Satan's kingdom or way than Communism has, but the ideas are very twisted to deceive all but those God guides. Many or the majority feel that democracy and Christianity go hand in hand, many of these in the world's churches, so Satan already has deceived even some of the future elect.

Now the head of this democracy doctrine in the end-times will be the beast. This man (beast) has been a part of prophecy since Daniel 7:8, " . . . behold in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things . . . (Verse 21) I beheld, and same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them." This speaks of a man, not a government, and it compares directly to Rev. 13. ( I say a man, for many religions interpret this beast to be a government system.) Then in 8:23, "And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king' of fierce countenance, and understanding of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the 'beast' was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame." Daniel's beast is the king of the end-times. This beast will be worshipped, as Rev.13:4 states, but only power, and his ability to bring peace through Satan's power will be worshipped; Satan will be the main worshipped being. The beast will be under Satan's power and the world will know and accept this union. So Daniel's king or beast corresponds to the first beast of Revelation 13.

The Beast Is:

One thing that God has done for us concerning the political beast is to tell His children, and only us, those who obey His Word and those who are written in the Book of Life, how to tell who this man will be, so that we can prepare. God says that those of the world will worship this man so they therefore will not "understand" how evil the following of this man really is or if they do, they will feel they are on the winning side; we will be called fools, crazy, even insane for our belief. It will be up to the true Christians to go against the world and its labels, and tell the world the Truth. Now if you think you will not be punished for this act of proclamation, you are mistaken. Rev.13 says the beast will have power to overcome the saints and will kill them. Already if is against the law of the United States to threaten the "spiritual" soul of the President of the United States.

This is to say if a broad interpretation of this law was enacted, and President had the Biblical number of the Beast in his name, 666, it would be an act against the state to call the President the beast and proclaim that his soul is destined for hell fire. Not just the body is protected, but the soul. Many have said that this political beast, as they call him, the Antichrist, will appear as the head of the Jewish race or the Russians, but as said before, democracy will be his religion, so this law is there fore a reason, as many more will be. The Romans used the excuse that by telling the Truth, Christians in a sense "disturbed the peace," and if this type of law were reinstated it could read "world peace."

Here Is Wisdom . . . Count

The Holy Bible (KJV) in Rev. 13 says that if you have an understanding, not intelligence as some "false" Bibles say, you will see the true (the Truth) identity of the political beast. Intelligence is worldly knowledge and is for those of "higher learning." Wisdom or understanding comes from God through His Spirit and is given unto His children who have humbled themselves to God." You can "count," not multiply, sum, add, or anything else, the number of the beast. Counting means 1-2-3-4-5-6 letters and adding means 1+2+3+4+5+6, sum= 21. Believe me, God is not trying to confuse us, just as the Gospel is simple, so is the wisdom. It is the number of a man, not a government, and his number is 666. Rev. 15.2 tells us that this 666 is "the number of his name." Therefore you can "count 666 in the number of his name." What else do you "count" in a name but "letters"? This is simple to understand, but complex or impossible to take in for some who intellectualize it. If you do not understand, obey and pray and this truth will become visible.

VI

Church-State Fornicators

Church-State Fornication

After spending some time discussing the two beasts and the so-called Antichrist, we still have to make up our own minds as to who this man actually is. I personally prefer to call each man for what he defined conclusively as, the political beast or the religious one; for this solves all arguments and it does not lead some people astray to believe that there will be only one world leader . . . the Antichrist. Many have given the name Antichrist the dual power position of religious and political leader, when the Bible gives these two positions to two separate people and to two separate systems, not a dual system. With this fact established in past chapters, let us look at the church-state union spoken of in the Book of Revelation. As we spoke of earlier, Rev.13 speaks of two beasts, one political and one religious. The religious beast use sorcery to make the unbelieving world worship Satan and first political beast. We can see the second beast's church or the woman behind Babylon in Rev. 14:8 and here she is spoken of as having made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication (union). (Yes, even the U.S.A. to all those who believe it is under God.) Then in 16:12 Satan, the beast (political), and the false prophet (second beast) are seen deceiving the armies of the world to meet at Armageddon to war against Christ. Chapter 17 tell how plagues shall devour the whore and her nation or city (they are one and the same). The woman is seen riding another beast or at the reigns or in control of the beast (the governmental, time-spanning beast, see Dan. 7:7, 23, 24, not the man, Satan government through man). Chapter 17:12 tells of the political beast giving the ten kings all one hour (could be a year Biblical time) as kings. Still they all are led and are under the political beast, Verse 13. These are the same kings that shall war with the Lamb, Verse 14. Verses 16, 17 tell us for sure that this main or first beast is not the religious one for they destroy the Whore or the church of the religious beast. In Verse 18 we see that the woman did "reign" over the kings, for she sat on top of the beast that they were a part of, Verse 3.

The False Woman and Babylon

Rev. 18 tells how the woman got so powerful. She gave herself to devil worship and demon possession, "For by thy sorcery wee all nations deceived" (Verse 23). Her sorcery led the world's governments into Satan worship and destruction. We saw earlier how today the Roman Catholic church uses pagan or Babylonian mystery religion dates in worship, Easter being one of them. Christmas is also one of these days, for it was once the day to worship or observe the birth-day of the "sun". The timing of Easter is based on the horoscope and a "full moon," a direct descent from Babylon. We also get Halloween from Roman Catholic Church. All-Hallows-Eve is the most high Sabbath in the Church of Satan. Today and now the doctrine of Babylon exists. This is the religious beast's side.

The False Christian-Judeo State Doctrine

On the political beast's side, the way that his Satanic or blasphemous politio-Christian doctrine has been hidden is in seemingly harmless "humanitarian" doctrine. The "One Nation under God" cult is what I am referring to. The basic doctrine of democracy is freedom or also as it is called liberty. "Freedom fighter" or soldiers of the U.S. and I guess supposedly God, are fighting in all corners of the globe, against the "evil" Communists, who are denying the God-given right of "freedom," even though the people "seem" to be crumbling this empire from within, with their own "quest for the mythical freedom beast." This word, freedom, on the "worldly" side has a totally different meaning than what the New Testament says. The "if your are not for Me, you are against Me" doctrine should be seen by today's churches; but it is not. What I mean is, this "freedom doctrine" is against God, so the churches should be against it. Instead the churches "preach" national pride or "Christian patriotism" because of this doctrine. The churches try to join political parties to "create by themselves Christian value" among the people of the nations. God's law should be set into and preached to the people by Christians through the Spirit of God, not the law books and senates of man . An example being abortion. God tells us that people, "are borne by Me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: even till your old age I Am He . . . I have made , and I will bear" (Is. 46:3-4). This is to say that if we teach or preach to world that this act of murder (destruction of what God has made) is against God, for He talks of being made by God, then we are born, we will work through the Spirit of God to get God's message out more forcefully than if we rely on the "freedom seeking" governments of men.

Freedom to man's government means 'free-will-dom." Freedom to worship, Communism is lacking on this, but the satanic bible now out sells the Christian one by a ten-to-one ratio, this is in freewill nations. Also the I.R.S. has to give the Church of Wicca (witchcraft) tax exempt status, as the other churches. The church of Satan in the U.S. receives the same "freedom" as the other churches. The ancient nation under God, Israel, would never have accepted this "freedom," for witches were put to death or exiled. Even drug addiction or the Biblical "sorcery" (Rev. 9:21) is becoming legal (some religions are allowed to use drugs in religious rituals). The government "supports" the birth of illegitimate children (through welfare policies) and the U.S. has one of the highest unwed birth rates in the world, and the highest abortion rate. It is financially easier to live together and have babies than to marry. Many more today are taking the easy way of the world than God's way of marriage. Also the divorces of the world are easier than God's so the U.S. has about a one-out of two divorce rate. Also homosexuality is more acceptable, so the U.S. has the highest AIDS rate in the world. (AIDS, a punishment of misery from God? Sure. God's Biblical punishment was death, by the hand of His state. Rm. 1:27-32, "and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the women, burning in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet . . . who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death" thus AIDS. Lev. 18:22, "Men shall not lie with men: it is abomination," and 20:13, "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of have committed abomination: they shall be put to death , their blood (AIDS) shall be upon them." So God is enforcing His Law, but on a Divine basis.) The immorality or freedom of the U.S. has brought it to the brink of God's judgments by its doctrine of freedom or liberty. Remember Sodom and Gomorrah and plagues of the end-times.

True Biblical Freedom

Biblical freedom is defined as, first, "The Truth shall make you Free," in Jn. 8:32. Second,

For he that is dead is "freed-om" of sin.

Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we also live with Him.

Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death has no dominion over him.

For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin . . . for sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

. . . being made "free" from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

This freedom is not without a price, though. I Cor. 7:20-24 says,

For he that is called unto the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

Ye are bought with a price.

What a Price to Pay

Bought, how could we be bought, and bought from what or whom? When Christ died on the Cross he cried out, "Tetelestai!" Some Bibles translate this, "It is finished," but it should be translated "Paid in Full." This is what was written on the Roman criminal's "Certificate of Debt" When he had completed his sentence. His penalty had been paid and was "free" at last. Christ cried this because anyone who believed in His Gospel and had faith in God had been set free at that moment form jail of misery and bondage of Satan. Your debt has been "Paid in Full" by Jesus. I Pt. 1:18-19 tells the price that was paid for our redemption.

For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed (Greek: lutroo-to set free from slavery by the payment of ransom) with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

But with the precious Blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot. (See Passover.)

Bought from what or whom, the slave market and master Satan. The Greek word agorazo means to be set free from the slave market by paying a ransom. This word is purchased or redeemed in Rev. 5:9, "thou (Christ) are worthy . . . for thou wast slain, and has "redeemed" us to God by thy Blood." So with slavery there must be a master and he is Satan in this case. Acts 26:18 states that we were in "the power of Satan" before we were redeemed.

Are you free?

(Even if you are free, just as a criminal who does the same criminal who does the same crime again can go back to jail or bondage, so can you. It is only a finished work if you obey the Spirit .)

The world teaches a different so-called Christian freedom, doesn't it? Freedom to sin. Also along this line is the word "liberty." The meaning the world gives it and the meaning the Word of God gives it are different, but the world and its churches want to cloud the meaning so they call it liberty over tyranny of kings or dictators and liberty to choose your own destiny or to be your own master. The main example being "liberty and justice for all." This is supposed to be a God-given right, liberty that is. God never said that we were to be free of tyranny or world dictators in this world, for He preached how to accept the world for what it is. The Apostles were even prisoners or without liberty of movement. John was on an island and early martyrs were imprisoned in Rome and fed to lions, but they always had their true "Christian liberty" and this was their strength unto death; this will also be the Great Tribulation period saint's strength, "I saw under the altar the souls of those that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony that they held . . . And white robes were given unto them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were should be fulfilled, . . . and it was given unto him (the political beast) to war with the saints, and to overcome them . . . and caused as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed" (Rev. 6:11, 13:7, 15). I highlight these words of God for as I said before, they destroy the church coming out before the Great Tribulation theory. The saints are the church and they will be in or go into the Tribulation. Anyone who teaches or believes differently is in for a rude awakening when they must be at the point or be prepared to die for Christ instead of being raptured by Christ, they will need to know their true liberty. The Bible does say He will come for his bride or church, but only before all flesh was on the verge of being destroyed. If anyone feels that the saints and the bride are tow different groups, Rev. 19:6 says,

For the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready.

And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.

This is to say that the saints are the bride and marriage supper of the Lamb is "after" the Great Tribulation has started and Babylon has been made desolate and right "before or at the time of' Christ's "second coming" (see Verses 11-21). I cannot overemphasize the need to understand that many of us today will be in the Great Tribulation; for this reason I will again go into this subject after I quote God's Word about liberty. The Lord Himself when quoting the prophets, said He came to "preach deliverance to the captives . . . (and) to set at liberty them that are bruised," but what kind of liberty? Deliverance "from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God"(Rm. 8:21). And "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (Cor. 3:17). This is liberty over sin and the penalty thereof. But not liberty to sin, as many churches preach through a doctrine of grace over sin. This false doctrine will only lead to death and has no strength over sin in it. Therefore, it will be worthless to those who face martyrdom in the end-times. God says this of their doctrine, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty where with Christ hath made us 'free', and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage . . . for brethren, you have been "called unto liberty"; only use not your liberty for an occasion to the flesh , but with love serve on another," (Gal. 5:1, 13) or, do not use your liberty as a mask to sin, as hypocrites do. I Pt. 2:16 describes this, "As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God." I Pt. 2:19-22 sums this all up by saying of the false teachers of this doctrine,

While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought to bondage.

For if after he has escaped the pollutions of this world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

For it would have been better for them not to have known the way to righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed (as we are in the Living Water) to her wallowing in the mire

Two or Three Comings?

So with so many churches preaching that we will be taken form this earth before the tribulation starts, I am surprised at this doctrine of 'it is OK to go back to willful sinning after you are immersed or cleansed or baptized." Christ will only rapture people that are "holy and with out blame" (Eph. 1:4; Col. 1:22) or to a Church that is "without spot and blameless," as Christ was. II Pt. 3:13-14 states,

We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwell righteousness.

Wherefore beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

We should be trying to relieve ourselves of imperfection, not accept them, e.g. Satan's old adage, "No one is perfect." II Pt. 2:13 speaks of hypocrites by saying, " Spots they are and blemishes ." To sum what we should do in this age, Jude put it this way, "save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." As followers of Christ, Christians, we should strive to be like Him, "A Lamb without blemish and without spot " (I Pt. 1:190, in effect, sinless. If these churches are ready to be taken in a rapture that they say will take place any day, why aren't they preaching this doctrine of "spotlessness as condition for being raptured"?

The churches today preach to a flock that has itching ears! They preach what the flock "wants" to hear, not what the flock "needs" to hear! Be it the doctrine of being able to sin or that we will not have to go "into" the Great Tribulation, and be martyred. As said earlier, many churches of the world preach a pre-tribulation rapture when they say Christ will return (come) to quicken or take up the church and then later after the Tribulation, " come again " or a third coming of Christ" to war at Armageddon. This is not found in Scriptures! The Bible does say that, "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye . . . the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we (the church) shall be changed." The time that this happens is not "before" the tribulation, for if it was it would not say this event will occur, " at the last trumpet ," or when, "there was a great voice in heaven, saying, 'the Kingdoms of this world are become (not becoming) the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever . . . O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because Thou has 'taken ' to Thee Thy great power, and has reigned . . . "(Rev. 11:15-19). This scripture is easily compared to the "second coming" of Rev. 19,s Supper of the Lamb, and Christ taking control of the world's kingdoms at Armageddon. Also Rev. 16:28-21 directly talking about Armageddon is a carbon copy of 11:19, e.g.:

And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. (Rev. 16:16)

Proof of Duality

Lightning-Voices-Thundering-An Earthquake-Great Hail-in both scriptures, not two separate times or events (raptures).

One or Two Raptures?

I compare all this because some believe in rapture at Rev. 12, after the trumpet judgment is described in Rev. 11. (Chapter 12 seems to be a brief vision of the churches' past and future persecution.) They believe the wings of the eagle in 12:14 tells of the saints or the remnants of the women or God's church ( for they keep the commandments ), being quickened up, Verse 17; these are the same saints of Rev. 14:12, " That keep the commandments of God ." Also 15:12 talks of these saints, who "do not take the mark of the beast" during the Tribulation. The saints or Church or the women will be here whether your prepared, believe, or are ready or not. We see the saints or the True Church again in Rev. 20:4. Here they are rewarded for their obedience to God. They were obedient "during" the Great Tribulation and did not take the mark or worship the image of or the (political) beast. They lived and reigned with Christ for 1000 years of true peace.

We should work toward being part of this peace, not world peace. We should work to perfect the spiritual kingdom of God and not the temporal kingdoms of mankind. We must preach the falseness of as church-state union. This union, once called "imperialistic union is supposed to rise or be born again in the end-times as the prophecies have said (Rev. 13). Today many countries of the world call America an imperialistic nation for it goal of spreading democracy throughout the world and its theory that God is behind its every move. In a sense they are right, but this does not make any other man-made nation or kingdom or doctrine any more righteous than America and democracy, only the lesser of two evils. If we are Christians, we must support and proclaim God's future government over man and nothing else politically.

False Church socialism through Man's Laws

Also we must awaken the world to the false doctrines that have clouded the true Gospel, a "social" Christian gospel must be denounced. God's Word and Law should not be enacted or enforced in the governmental system of man, if so homosexuals and witches would be put to death, through man's law. It is the Spirit of God that enacts and enforces god's word and law, in the hearts and bodies of man. God does not use the governments of man to get His message out, no matter how "powerful and prideful" it may make the worldly governmental-church man feel. They feel they are setting up god's kingdom in a "physical" sense and in reality Christ, through the Spirit of god (One man, one force), is creating a new spirit in man, to help them or strengthen them in obeying God's Law and by setting up a "spiritual" kingdom on earth to be "transferred" soon.

To reinforce my spiritual kingdom stance, I call on this Old Testament passage, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you will keep and you will keep (and you will keep) My judgments and do them, " Ez. 36:26-27. This is the same Spirit that the early disciples (Acts2:4). You are filled with a substance or force, not a man. Acts 2:17 tells of the Spirit being "poured" out. You cannot pour out a person. The spirit can walk with you and be around you, as the disciples experienced with Christ, and finally it can come and "dwell within you,"and you are then a part of the spiritual kingdom . Jesus said that the Spirit came because he promised not to leave us "comfortless." He tells of those who keep the Commandments and Word of God having the Spirit, in Jn. 14:5-31. The Greek word for Spirit also means, "wind, breath or air blast." This immateriality of the Spirit also agrees with Jn. 3:34. It says here that the Spirit can be measured out like a priceless, precious commodity, but it is not speaking of a body. And Phil. 1:19 refers to a supply of the Spirit, like a force, not a person. Jn. 7:37-39 even describes the Spirit, sorry, not as a man or person, though. The Spirit is like, "rivers of living water." Sound familiar? It should. This is the "Baptism of Jesus." The baptism of John is with "material water." John even says this, but the ears of the world's churches are deaf to this truth, "I (John) indeed baptize you with water (material) unto repentance: but He (Jesus) that cometh after me is greater than I . . . He shall "Baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire" (Mt. 3:11, Jn. 1:19-36). The vision of Acts 11 divides the two different baptisms. In Acts 19:2-6, the early water baptism disciples were baptized a "second time" with the final or Spirit baptism.

So we see that after Christ was glorified, the "living water" was sent to the Church (Jn. 7:37-39). Eph. 5:26 tells of the way the Church is cleansed and washed by the water of the Word. The Spirit does not do the baptizing, Jesus does(Mk. 1:7-8; Lk. 3:16; Jn. 1:33, 34; Acts 2:32, 33). It is not the baptism "of ' the Holy Spirit but "with." The object of the Baptism is the spirit . The Greek word for baptism, baptizo, means-a spiritual immersing, to immerse into the body of Christ. You are then in anew union with Christ, spiritually, a new person, you have a new oneness with God," a part of His kingdom on earth. If the world churches taught the true Sabbaths, as they should, the observance at the "Feast of Tabernacles" would be in "remembrance" to all of us. A priest would in the past "pour" a pitcher of water on the floor and quote Is. 12:3, "therefore, with joy shall you draw water out of the Wells of Salvation." It was probably at this ceremony that Christ said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink. . . . He that believeth on Me, as the Scriptures hath said, out of his heart shall flow rivers of water." See Jesus observed this day, as we should (Jn. 7:37-38). "Walk, even as He (Christ) walked." (Ijn.2:6)

We also can find Christ talking of the "Living Waters" of baptism at the well with the women. Jn. 4:21-42 tells of Jesus' description of the living water,

Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again (material water).

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into Everlasting Life .

This is the spiritual, water less we all have to travel to Jordan to be given the baptism of John the "same exact" way Jesus was. One last thought is in I Cor. 12:13, here we are told that we are baptized (immersed) into (not water) the body of Christ and we have been made to drink into Spirit.

Fundamentalism and False Church

And for the die-hard "Trinity" followers, this word, trinity, or the concept of it, is never found in the Bible so we must "assume" its definition and truth. The doctrine itself was established for the world's churches by the Roman Catholic Church in 363 A.D. Its start probably came from the fact that the word "comforter" or helper in the Greek form, "parakletos," is in the masculine or male gender. (Jn. 14, 15, 16) The pronoun "he" is used with the masculine form. A pronoun is he, she, it, they, him, her, etc. . . . An example is our English word "rooster." If we wrote about a rooster and we did not want to keep saying rooster, we might say "he" or "him" or "himself," instead of rooster, because a rooster is associated with a male chicken. A hen would be called she. If we read this story we would not jump to the conclusion that the Holy Spirit is a "man" (as the Catholic Church has done and others have followed) because the word "he" is used. This is not conclusive evidence of a man-Spirit. (That does not even sound right, does it?)

Another possible starting point of this doctrine is "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." This is not evidence of a person, though, because if a policeman says, "Stop in the name of the law!" he is not saying to stop in the name of an enforcing system.

The danger of the man-Spirit doctrine is first that it clouds the Word of God and lessens the force of the truth behind an indwelling Spirit. To call it a man takes away some of the power behind the Spirit, that can be in all and anywhere. A man is mor place or not as omnipresent, as a force or the Spirit. Lk. 1;35 says that, :The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and 'the power' of the Most High will overshadow (a presence) you." Gen. 1:2 says, "The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters," and Jer. 32:17 says, "Ah, the Lord God! Behold You have made the heavens and the earth by Your 'great power (The Spirit)' and outstretched arm." When you are baptized through the spiritual "living water," not H2O, this power of God or this Spirit dwells in you to make you a child of God and "links" you directly to the Throne of God and you now have access to the Father and Son through this indwelling Spirit, that makes your body the Temple of God (I Cor. 3:16-17) and you His child. (Our body is the material Tabernacle, but we should be clothed with the Spirit, so that if our material Tabernacle is taken, we are not naked or so that we shall be judged righteous.) You are a "part" or member of "the body of Christ." But first remember you must present your body as a sacrifice, then do the work of god's will, righteousness (Rom. 12). Christ is the head of the body, or "church" (meaning belonging to the body of Christ, or literally in the original Greek-ekklesia or "the called out ones," from ek [out] and klesia [ones], our bodies are in the Church or in Christ (Col. 1:18, 24). Therefore the Church "goes to" a building to seek fellowship or meet. This Church in the New Testament is called "the Church of God" (Acts 20:28; I Cor. 1:2, 10:32, 11:16, 22; 15:9; II Cor. 1:1; I Tm. 3:5, 15; Gal. 1:13; I Thes. 2:14; II Thes. 1:4). So Christ did build a Church and the "foundation" is Him, along with the apostles and prophets (Eph. 2:19-22). In Mat. 7:24-27 we are told by Christ to build our house (spiritual) on a "Rock," and I Cor. 10:4 tells us that Rock is Christ. No longer are you separated by the spiritual death that Adam brought between man and God. Christ paid the price of our freedom, with His Blood at the Cross. We are now citizens of a new kingdom or government and aliens in this world (Eph. 2:19) "and its governments." Thus, no longer shall we fornicate (spiritually, church to state) or partake of the world's evil ways, or else face perdition (loss of one's soul), forever.

VII

THE TWO VISIONS

Prophecy

We spoke earlier of the "fact" that much of the Holy Bible is about "prophecy" and it has been said more than two-thirds of the Bible is about the future in one point in time or another. I do not know the exact figure but it can be said for fact that the bible is a book that surpasses the knowledge of ordinary man and it uses the supernatural, as opposed to man's natural, power of God to "reveal" (to let be seen) God's will toward the present and future of man. Not only God has this power to make things "happen," Satan also has "limited" powers to say something will happen in the future, then make it happen. An example would be the story of the New Age queen Shirley MacLaine. She tells of a spirit (demon) telling of the outcome of the New York City elections before it started, even before the "baldheaded" candidate had decided to run. Mayor Koch won, as the spirit guide had foretold. If we use the knowledge that we just acquired about who is behind governments, we can see that Satan placed Koch in office, for he foreknew that he was going to win or be placed there. Satan used this knowledge of things forbiddenly hidden (occult) to hook Miss MacLaine, and eventually draw her into his religion. Not only her, but all who saw her prime time show, and believed. This practice of fortune or future telling is against God and was once punishable by "physical" death, and now "spiritual" death is the sentence, Is. 47:12-15; Num. 22:7; II Kg. 18:10-14; Jer. 29:8-9; Jsh. 13:22; Mic. 5:12-15; Acts 16:16-24, also foretelling by astrology, from Babylon: Is. 27:12; Jer. 10:2; Dan. 1:18-20; 2:1-49; 4:1-37; 5:7-15. The king of Israel, Saul, consulted a medium when God would not reveal His knowledge of the future. One of the ways Saul used was Lot's, from where we get the word Lot-to or Lot-tery today. People still try to foretell what number will come in the future and they are rewarded if they are right. This practice, besides being gambling, is a mockery of God and sponsored by the state. Saul was killed in battle for this and other sins. Incidentally, for those who think that God brought the prophet back from the dead for this seance from Saul, the Bible says the form was "like" the prophet, not him definitely.

Satan is always in the wings for forbidden future knowledge, as king Nebuchadnezzar knew. He used Satan's people or false prophets to get knowledge about the future. The king asked Daniel, "Art thou able to make known unto me the dream (about the future) which I have seen, and the interpretation there of?"

Daniel answered and said,

The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers (the Zodiac fore tellers of Babylon), the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;

But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king . . . what shall be in the latter days.

God Knows and Reveals the Distant Future for It Is His Plan

Here in Daniel we see that God knows the future of the world on a "grand" scale and He and only He is the ultimate control. Satan may be in control of governments now, but he can only do what is in God's will to do. Satan is like a horse in a corral, he can go and do whatever he wants, as long as he does not go beyond the fence or boundaries. The fence representing God's will. Satan is now allowed to show man what it is like to live under his governmental control. Satan's will is death and destruction, and just recently we are starting to see what it would be like in a world under Satan, for God is giving him greater power or a greater boundary. God allows this disorder and world destruction to happen for a reason. We will soon see why God's way of rule is the only way.

Also in this vision of the future we see God's grand plan for mankind's governments. All governments have been ordered by God but led by Satan, since this vision. The four governments of this vision correspond directly to Daniel 7. Here Daniel interpreted by God, four beasts and last beast having "10 horns," as John's vision in Revelation has (Rev. 13). All of the horns have appeared in man's government, except the last or tenth one. God's prophecy has come true up to this point and there is no reason to feel that the end of this prophecy will not come, because it (is God's) Will. Daniel's vision was a broad vision spanning almost 3000 years, as opposed to John's relatively shorter spanning vision of 2000 years. Both speak of the end-times, though, and both speak of the same thing, the beastly government that rules mankind. Daniel 7:20-27 is "a brief summary" of the Great Tribulation period that will soon be upon the Earth. Here we see the beast with the three sixes of Rev. 13 speaking blaspheme against God and overcoming the saints (on earth) with war, and we hear of the kingdom that the saints shall rule with Christ or the physical Kingdom of God. Also Daniel 8:23-27 tell of the latter or end-times and the great king (the beast) that shall come when the world is in full rebellion against God and here we see that the (witch) craft will prosper, as Rev. 13 says sorcery or Satan worship will. We also see the false "peace" destroying Daniel Foretold people and then the Prince of princes coming to put down this rebellion.

Daniel Foretold the Truth

The book of Daniel is full of prophecies that have come true and none that have been false. For this is the way that God says to judge a "true Prophet" as opposed to a "false Prophet"; if all that he prophecies in the name of God comes true, he is from god. If just one thing that he says in the name of God does not come true, he is false. An example of a past false prophet is Nostrodomas and a recent one is Jeane Dixon. Anyone sho uses astrology is against God, for we should only use God's true Spirit of prophecy, as Daniel and John have shown us. Dan 12:1-13 tells also of the end and of those who will understand and those who will not, the prophecies, "Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried (tribulation in the Great Tribulation, a good case against pre, or before the tribulation, rapture), but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand ." (Do you understand or do you have something blocking the way to understanding? Judge your ways and the word of God.)

The Book of Revelation is basically covering only a short period of time, the Great Tribulation. It covers almost all that will happen, so that we are not fearful or taken by surprise as the world will be. It also goes deeper in the world after Satan is jailed and then cast into the lake of lava. The 1000 years under Christ is explained as it is in Is. 66. It is basically the best Book of understanding for the end-times period people (us) to study and understand. I say this because this is the only Book of the Bible that God promises us a "blessing" for just reading (Rev. 1:3). You must also keep or obey what this Book says, though. If obedience means deliverance from Satan and misery, why not. To any Christian disciple, new or old, this is a highly (by God) recommended Book. To understand this Book, your research may take you into other books or references but, the answers to our future originate here.

PART II

Babylon Still Haunts Us Today

We have just seen the progression of prophecy from Daniel's Babylon to John's vision of today. Just as this prophecy of the end-times survives to today, so does the religion of Babylon survive. The religion of the end-times false church or image of the beast is called the Babylonian Mystery Religion, for its Babylonian roots. The roots go even deeper than Daniel's Babylonian government, though. The roots go back to the first civilization after the Great Flood and Noah. Babylon goes back almost 5000 years and so does its religion. Man did not learn his lesson in wickedness and false worship after this flood because soon after he went into full rebellion and built a tower called "Babel." This infamous tower is thought by many to a tower that was to reach to God. This is supposed to be equal to Satan's sin of wanting to get above God and so they were cursed. (Babylon had mountains surrounding it and the tower was built below them and on them. If they wanted to get higher they would have built on them.) This is supposed to be the same way man is following Babylon today by setting himself in spirit above God in the New Age religion and humanism. This is false though, not that the New Age movement is a part of the Babylonian religion, only not in this sense.

The Tower of Babel, Magic, and the Zodiac

The "Tower of Babel" is said by historians and archeologists to be a tower in the shape of a "Pyramid" (Egypt was not the first to use this shape in worship). It is from this tower that "religion" of Babylon originated (Rev. 17). Ziggurats or observatories to the heavens (being the moon, stars, and planets) were a part of this building. The building's design and religion were both copied by the Egyptians. The tower became a whorehouse and a religious cult grew out of the heavenly observations. A chart of the heavens was made and heavens divided into parts called houses. It was said that by studying the movement of these houses, the future could be predicted and by drawing on the energy of the heavens, a "magical" (occult) power could be achieved. The use of the heavens and not God for these revelations and powers was a form of idolatry, and was condemned by God. This form of condemnation will be shown later. God's chosen nation was eventually taken captive by Babylon, and it is said that at this point is where astrology, or zodiac ( the twelve heavenly houses) worship, took its most sinister or deceptive turn. The history of God's plan for man in Bible prophecy made its way into the Babylonian religion and was adopted by its priest to form a "false gospel in the stars."

The signs of the zodiac became a story of God's plan for the redemption of the world. Virgo became the Virgin May, Is. 7:14, "behold, A virgin shall conceive and bring forth a son." Then Libra, the Scales, symbolizes redemption or, "Thou art weighed in the balances (scales), and art found wanting" (Dan. 5:27). The scale is supposed to represent the buying or purchasing of Christ of mankind's sins. Scorpio, the Scorpion in Greek, is supposed to denote the war between God's seed and Satan (the Scorpion). Sagittarius, the Archer, is told to be part man, part horse or a centaur. This is supposed to be Christ coming Victorious and Conquering King, for the word archer in Greek means the Prince of the Earth. Capricornis, the Goat, or half goat and half fish. This is supposed to symbolize a half goat in the dying position, as Christ half died and then the fish tail symbolizes life or Jesus' resurrection. Aquarius, the Water Pourer, is supposed to be the symbol of the water or Holy Spirit being poured upon the earth. " This also the New Age of Aquarius" that we are in and the "age of Pisces" is supposed to be going out, and it is supposed to have lasted 2000 years or since Christ was here. The "Christian" age is supposed to be going out for a new "Occult Age." The latter is probably true. Aries, the Ram or Lamb, is supposed to be Jesus as, "Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world." Taurus the Bull is supposed to be Christ coming rampaging to the earth to bring destruction to the rebellious on Judgment Day, Is., 34:2, "The indignation of the of the Lord is upon all nations, and His fury upon all their armies: He shall utterly destroy them." Gemini, the Twins, or in Greek, Apollo and Hercules, the twin sons of Jupiter. (This alone should turn us from this "false" doctrine.) This is supposed to be dual nature, Savior and Sufferer. Here we see Christ compared to pagan mythological figures Apollo and Hercules . . . this is blasphemy. Cancer, the Crab, is supposed to the completed work of Christ toward His people through the promise. The cluster of stars of Cancer, the name of them, means the Multitude, the Offspring, the Innumerable Seed, or as the promise that Abraham was given. The Roman word for Cancer means the Traveler's Resting Place. Leo, the Lion, is supposed to be He that rends, that tears asunder. Rev.5:5, "Weep not: behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book." This is supposed to be the prophecy of the Lion that shall come at World War III. The Egyptian Sphinx represented the astrological beginning and end or Virgo and Leo. True Christians know that the true Gospel is not in the star but in the Word of God. The once heavenly gods n the stars became God's Word in the stars at Babylon.

God Hates This Religion

God's wrath or punishment was sent on this evil tower and people. The punishment was mass confusion. The people who had once all spoken the same language, now all spoke different ones. This is where we get today's word "babble," e.g. as baby babbles. This is not the only place that God condemns this heavens worship, which originates from the zodiac. The golden calf that Aaron fashioned in the wilderness was the Egyptian astrological god taurus, the Bull (Ex. 32:1-35; Due. 9:16-21; Neh. 9:18; Ps. 105:19-21; Acts 7:39-43), for which they were punished and almost forsaken. God's people also worshiped astrology in I Kg. 12:26-29. Two golden bull gods placed at Bethel and Dan were worshiped by Israel. In the Great Tribulation, the tribes of Ephraim and Dan are not listed with the other tribes of Israel that are to be sealed (Rev. &:1-8). One reason might be this past idol worship, for Bethel is the land of Ephraim. II Kg. 17:16, 17, 20 states God's anger this way, "They forsook all the Commandments of the Lord their god and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves and an Asherah (Astarte worship) pole. They bowed down to all the starry host, ant they worship Baal. They sacrifice their sons and daughters in fire. They practice divination and sorcery and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, provoking Him to anger.

"Therefore the Lord rejected all the people of Israel; He afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunders, until He thrust them from His presence." (Does it seem possible that people could be so hardened by a religion? No wonder God despises it.) Also Aries, the Goat was worshiped (Lev. 18:21, 20:1-6). Warnings to stay away from the zodiac are also found in Jer. 10:2, " Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed by the "signs of heaven," shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them." This religion belief is definitely not for true Christians and to say it s in any way, as some are doing, is blaspheme.

Babylon Revised

The Book of the Revelation says that the end-times religion will be Babylonian or astrological, and it also says its main church or the Whore or Mother of Harlots, will have a form of Christianity (the Christian gospel mixed in the stars is a part of this), but will speak for and like Satan, the Dragon (Rev. 13:11). How has the thread between these two churches surpassed or survived 5000 years? Reason one, it is the stepping stone for the worship of Satan and he has fueled t, and two, man is still willfully rebellious and needs to fill "the freewill spirit void." Many infamous world leaders have embraced a type of this religion. This century's most devious being Adolf Hitler. He had his armies' campaigns guided by astrologers and he had five full time astrologers (also he had Hindu gurus or holy men, for the swastika is a Hindu holy symbol). Hitler went into full rebellion by worshiping Satan, too. The "unknown masters" to whom he communicated in the spirit world were demons. It is said that when he disobeyed Satan, and went against his plan, then his empire fell. (Ronald Wilson Reagan also uses the religion Hitler used or started with, astrology.) Hitler it is said died on one of the high Sabbat of Satanism.

Another evil empire was the Roman Empire, with its heavens worship. It went as far as to set a weekly date aside to bow down to the sun, in the morning and in the evening. When the Roman Catholic Church joined or fornicated (Rev. 18:9) with it to become the unHoly Roman Empire, the church was given power to created a new worldwide calendar. They tried to change the Commandments and make Sunday or the Roman sun-god's day a Sabbath day for Christian. The Sabbath became worldwide a forbidden Christian worship day at the "Council of Laodicea in 365 A.D." The Roman Catholic Church then, "Forbade Christians from Judaizing and resting on the Sabbath day, preferring the Lord's day." This new sun (son) day was rejected by "true Christians" because they would not disobey God's Biblical seventh day Sabbath. They were killed or martyred for "Judaizing" (Rev. 17:6, "drunken with the blood of saints"). This is not the "Jewish" Sabbath, even though the Jews followed it; for Christ also followed this day, making it Christ-ian or a day the followers of Christ should keep (Lk. 4:16; the apostles also kept this day, Acts 15:1-2; 16:12-15; 17:2; 18:111; Heb. 4:4-16). This Commandment, even though given in Old Testament times, is still binding today, "binding forever," Ex. 31:12-17. The Bible does not contradict itself or in a sense lie.

Many have said we no longer have to keep the Law or the Commandments of God and they twist many Scriptures to condone their rebellion or sins-transgression of God's Law. One set of Scriptures they use is in Gal. 3:13-27 for it does talk of being graduated so to speak from our "schoolmaster," the Law, or the fourth Commandment in this case. But we must remember that there were two law systems then, for a ritual or sacrificial law "added" because Israel and Judah could not obey the commandments, or they sinned or transgressed God's written Law. A temporal (till Christ) system was installed ("added" about two years after the other Law, see Lev. And Heb. 10:3), added to the Commandments because they could not keep the original Law completely (for only through Christ can salvation or obedience come), being yearly and daily sacrifices to remind them of their sinning nature. This last system of Law was done away with, of course. We do not need the second Law of sacrifices to impress the need for forgiveness upon us or to remind us of our guilt because the Spirit of God is our guide and conscience. As for being "under a curse" (Gal. 3:10) because of following the Law, this not true. The curse is if you "do not follow it." In fact the opposite is true, "Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing if you obey the Commandments of the Lord your God . . . And a curse if you will not obey." (Due. 11:26-28) Rev. 22:14, "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter into the gates of the city." The curse therefore is for disobedience and not obedience. As for Gal. 3:23, which talks of in the past being "under the law" (Verse 23), many say this is grounds not to obey the Law (in anther words . . . sin) for we are not "under it." This is not what stated though. If we look at 5:19-21 we can see that we cannot disobey the Law (the Commandments) if we wish to inherit the Kingdom of God, so they must be in effect. If we place the outside Scriptures together here, or 5:18, 22, 23, this need for obedience, or a great Truth, will be seen. "But if ye be led by the Spirit, ye are not under the Law . . . But the fruit of the Spirit is Love, joy , peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no Law." Or if we disobey we are not a part of God's Kingdom and if we obey and "go beyond the Law" (the fruits of obedience), we are "above the Law," not "under it." If we try to get salvation and God's favor by keeping the law, we are "under a curse" for it is impossible to get God's salvation without believing in the free gift of Christ's blood sacrifice. The Law was given or, "It was added because of transgression, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made," 3:19. The Law was not made to be the way to salvation (for the "Only Way" is through is through Jesus). So do not try to put the cart before the horse and try to get salvation by works or by obedience to the Law, for it is a free gift by faith, or justification by with God is only through faith, Verse 8, for this is why this part of the Galatian's epistle was added, "For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the Law to do them." (3:10) . . . "no man is justified by the Law" (Verse 11). You are justified by the Blood of Christ! Chapter 2:21 says this very clearly, "For if righteousness come by the Law, then Christ is dead in vain."

To conclude this whole idea, the Law could not be completely followed because of Adam's first sin or the Fall. The chain of sin (or chain of rebellion to God's Law) was upon all until Christ came and became the second Adam or the start of a new creation of man's spirit, or eternal life does not come by way of the Law (it does show us the way to Christ or the need for a Savior from sin, 3:24," the law was our schoolmaster"), but by Christ, and obedience to the Law is the way to keep eternal life. Obedience to god's Law is the only way to be un-rebellious, for to be rebellious or to break God's Law makes you a child of Satan (we are never told that we can break God's Law-sin). Finally, once you get Salvation, you must be obedient or righteous. To have God's Spirit guiding you makes you free of your rebellious nature to the Law as you will not be breaking it (unless you want to be a hypocrite). The old ceremonial or sacrificial system that we are no longer under, "taught" us what the new system is about, or for, and made us "highly" respect the Creator of the new system, (for we can now obey what we could not obey before) and "highly" respect the Sacrifice He made to bring us out of the old ceremonial Law system (for we now have forgiveness through our Passover Lamb, Christ Jesus, and not guilt), this new system being called the New Covenant or Testament. Now instead of dwelling on the things that we cannot do (un-right-eousness), we should dwell on the things that we can now do, without the powers of Satan in us, or right-eousness. We should be on the other side of goo-evil coin. Instead of being used for the evil purpose of Satan, you should be used for the good purpose of God.

The "Thou shall do" Law

Instead of the God saying what you "cannot do," God tells us what we are "to do."

-To love God

-To love one another

-To do righteousness

-To do unto others as you have them do unto you

Or basically:

-To do all the Commandments

Once this law takes over your soul, You will be "above the Law," for you will no longer be in rebellion and will be no need of another sacrificial Law system. The schoolmaster parable is closely knit with the modern day saying about riding a bike. Once you learn (by accepting Jesus' way), you do not have to relearn ("there remaineth no mor sacrifices for sins," Heb. 10:26). You always know.

I will put My (Holy) Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep (repeat . . . and you will keep, not disregard) My judgments and do them. (Ez. 36:26-27).

We should not keep the Commandments because we "have to," but because we "want to"and now have "power to." This want should "spring" (flow as water, from the wells of salvation, Is. 12:3; Jn. 4:14, "but whosoever drinketh of . . . the water that I [Jesus] shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting Life.") out of the Love (thy God) you should have towards God and through the Power the Holy Spirit gives you. In opposition to this idea of obedience are hypocrites, "these are wells without water (they claim they have the Spirit, but they cannot if they are still transgressing God's Law wilfully), clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever," II Pt.2:17.

And if we are "baptized into Christ," not physical water, we are stronger and able to obey the Spiritual Law once of stone in our hearts. Ez.36: "a new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit I will put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh." The old Law was to show us that we are all sinners unless we have the help of God (Salvation) to stop being rebellious. The Law or teacher taught us "Humility" and the need for a "Savior" and the way to salvation. The way the Pharisees thought, being "they were better than all," I classify as "self-righteousness." We are not of this spirit but the Spirit of God or "Christ-righteous." The New Testament never says it is OK to sin or be rebellious and it never says that Jesus sacrificed His life so that we can sin and get away with it. The New Testament does say, "sin is the transgression of God's Law and sin if os the devil" (Jn. 3:4-). An important example that the world has forgotten is on the Sabbath we should rest and not "buy or sell" (Rev.13) or shop or even trave distances beyond the city limits, as Mt. 24:20 states. This is in effect until the end of the world, "Pray that your flight (travel) be not on the 'Sabbath day' or in the winter." If this restriction or statute was not in effect, why would it be listed for end-times? Even women disciples could not travel to see Christ burial site on the Sabbath (they were obedient, for they must have really wanted to visit where their Christ was). For the tomb was outside the city of Jerusalem and farther than a Sabbath day journey, so they had to wait until "the first day of the week" (Mt. 28:1; Lk. 23:56; 24:1; Jn. 20:1), Sunday. This also helps prove that Jesus did not rise on Sunday, but on the Sabbath, for when the women got there, on Sunday, it was still dark, and "He had already risen." They could not go to the tomb on the Sabbath day or Saturday, so this does away with the "conclusiveness" of a first day, Sunday, resurrection. This is why many falsely call Sunday the "Lord's Day." If you research this point and find that Christ was to be in the earth "three nights and three days" and He was buried around sunset, He was to rise at the same time, or at sunset. (This also does totally away with the "false" Good Friday to Easter Sunday theory or "The 1 1/2 Day Resurrection Theory.")

The Pharisees Made Sabbath Keeping Too Hard

We also cannot be like the Pharisees who observed sixty-five regulations of "do's and don'ts" that the Rabbi's had instituted to make the Sabbath observance a "yoke and bondage." Jesus did away with these. On one Sabbath, He and His disciples were going through a cornfield and picking food to eat (they were not buying or stealing because those with no money, the poor [Jesus also was poor], had legal rights to spare food). To the Pharisees this was unlawful or work. But Jesus rebuked them, showing it was OK to do minor work to gather and prepare food to eat on the Sabbath. This is when He said that, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." Also Jesus healed the sick on the Sabbath. This was not labor for a fee (servile work, which is still against the fourth commandment), but rather a labor of love. Jesus said it was all right to do good on the Sabbath. Nowhere does it say that Jesus did His trade, carpentry, for fee on the Sabbath, though. The Law is nowhere stated to be changed by Jesus. Jesus said He came not to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it (Mt. 5:17-48). Ex. 31:12-18 gives us as a full description of how we should follow this day a "sign" between Him and us. If we did not have street "signs," we could not find houses. Maybe if we do not have this sign on Judgement Day, God will not find you.

Two More Laws

We find that there are two mor laws, one carnal (of the flesh) or the law of sin and one spiritual or the Law of God. In Rm. 6-8 we see how the old carnal law had a hold or bondage over Paul until he accepted the Word of Christ and he then was born into the Power of Christ and therefore was able to rise "above" the old law of stone and he was given a new law on life. He says, "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid!"

-this is all to say that if we follow the Commandments or ways of man or Babylon, then we shall surely perish (Col.2:22).

-Also, "in the latter-times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits (demons or fallen angels), and doctrines of devils." (Tm. 4:1)

-Jesus says, "In vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the "commandments of men." (Mt. 15:9)

-"For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men . . . ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition" (Mk. 7:7-9). The Catholic Church started the false or man-made Sabbath, following Babylon's lead, therefore it is a doctrine of man and devils (for it makes you disobey or break the true Fourth Commandment) and cannot be a part of a true Spirit-filled born again Christian . . .

Catholic Perversion

Also along the lines of what the Catholic Church has done to pervert the true Word of God and bring in a religion of their own, called Babylon, is to set other false dates into the calendar and call them Christian. An example of this is the day Christ was born. The Holy Bible does not give a date. If one is given, it has to be "false" doctrine of man." The day the romans felt the "Sun" was to be born, because this day, Christmas. Therefore Christmas is then "based" on a Babylonian sun worship day.

No More Condemnation to Babylon by the Worldly Churches

More on the occult side or not as deceptive is the Babylonian tie with Egypt. Today the religion of the e(GYT)t(SIES). The pyramid was said earlier to be in the shape of the Tower of Babel and it was shown how Israel came out of Egypt with Babylonian-Egyptian worship ceremonies. Gypsy fortunetellers are today a dime a dozen and horoscopes are an exploding "fad" among all walks of life, from Wall Street to lotteries (mainly played by the poor striving for riches). Yes, Babylon has survived and its revival is in part due to false Christianity, for no longer do we hear it condemned, for it is a part of all religions that follow Sunday, Easter, Christ-mas(s), and all who look to the heavens for advice.

God Still Condemns

To all the unrepentant, heed God's warning,

You are wearied by many counsel; let now the astrologer, those who prophesy by the stars, who predict by new moons, stand up and save you from what will come upon you. Behold, they have become like stubble, fire burn them, they cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame . . . there is none to save you (Except the Gospel of Christ). (Is. 47:13-15)

Beware of the New Age (of Aquarius-from the zodiac)

Another new western religion but old eastern religion, that has recently emerged, is called the New Age Movement. It has adopted the religious beliefs of Hinduism and developed them into a Babylonian union religion. This eastern religion openly uses spirit guides (fallen angels or demons) as messengers and these "Unknown Masters" are the same contacts Hitler used for his occult worship, son in its extreme form it is a religion of violence, hatred, and death. This religion is closely tied into astrology and heavens worship. They are openly hostile to "true Christianity" and call for a "blood purification" (martyrdom) of the earth of all "negative (opposite) forces," being any form of Christianity that they feel they have "the only way" to paradise. All Christian groups should right? Wrong. A movement "started by the Roman Catholic Church " is under way to "unite" all religion in the name of "world peace." They feel "all ways" and religions are bonded as long as they strive for peace. So false Christianity and the New Age groups have "blended" together. The worship of the Sun god is the ultimate point in their religion. Lucifer (no Satan to them) is said to have been sent from the Sun god, the "Solar Father," to bring man "the truths" of the New Age "of Aquarius" (and the zodiac and Babylon). Lucifer is said to be the "Solar (sun) Logos (word)" (this is reversed or anti Christianity), a god spirit sent by the divine living Solar Father, to usher in a new age through the "Luciferic Initiation" of humanity. They are not weak in power either, for many in the hierarchy of world governments believe their deception. The United nations executive, and many others, are calling for a one-world government and one world leader to rule supreme. Sound familiar, "And the dragon (Satan) gave him (the political beast0 his power. And seat, and great authority (Lk.4) . . . over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And them that dwell upon the earth shall worship him (or die)." The foundation to end-times false religious (Babylon) house (of cards) was laid 5000 years ago at the Tower of Babel and today the walls are up again. Different religions are creating the Tower again. Spiritually, the Whore (being the pinnacle of the pyramid), is joining to all Babylonian type churches to bring the zodiac type worship to a centralized point, e.g. the worship of Satan. When the cement of the final deception has mixed (with all the worldly churches) and hardened (hearts) a little longer, their union will be permanently bounded in hell. God will allow them to pour out their lies in full force and those who love not the Truth will believe them and be damned for their disobedience to their Creator and God. A line between true and false religion will soon be drawn and there will be no neutral ground. The worship of God or Satan will mean the difference between dying or living, Eternal Life or eternal death (the second Death or separation from God forever), joy or torment. Time "soon" will tell.

VIII

THE REVELATION

Jesus, through John, Foretells Us the Future and the Present

In this chapter we will briefly skim through the Book of The Revelation. The Book itself should be exhaustively studied though, for we are at the point when its wisdom and understanding will be needed:

Chapter 1: Visibility and God

This is a "revelation" of Jesus Christ, not John, as most titles say (Verse 1). This first chapter tells us of the end when Christ shall return and "every eye shall see Him," visible, the second time. John gets this vision on the Lord's day, not the Sabbath or the Catholic's Sunday, but the end of this world when the Lord Jesus returns. John then gets a vision of the glorified Christ. Also we see here that it is Jesus giving the Revelation and he calls Himself "I Am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last," God. John is to write of the things which are seen then of the present (then) and the future (now).

Chapter 2: Learn from the Past

Christ speaks to the past "churches of God" here. To the first church He tells them they are about to lose their place with Him unless they repent and go back to their first love. They had not "completely fallen away," but were about to . We are told of Paradise restored for those who overcome (and are not again entangled). And physical poverty is equaled to the spiritual riches of God. We can also see our time period through these words for as they had tribulation unto death, so shall we. They who were faithful unto death were given a "Crown of Life," as we shall be. Also he that overcometh shall not be hurt in the second death or eternal separation from God in the Lake of Fire. And to the next church he tells them to repent of following false doctrines (for some today, too), and of the reward for overcoming, hidden manna or bread and a new name on a white stone. Then to the next church they were straying away and God told them to not follow the "Whore" Jezebel, which claimed to be a prophetess, but she taught or seduced them to commit fornication and eat things sacrifice to idols (as some spiritually do today, with the Babylonian Whore). Go gave her "space to repent," as all are given, and if this space is used unwisely, punishment will follow, as we will see happen to this type in the Great Tribulation. A reward to those who overcome is seen here to be power over nations in the kingdom of God. Punishments or rewards are the two sides of God's justice.

Chapter 3: "Behold I Stand at the Door and Knock"

God warns this church that its works are ready to die, and they need strengthening to become "perfect." God tells them to repent. Some of the church had remained pure and it is said they shall walk with Him in white: for they were worthy. Also others in the future will receive this same reward and their names will not be blotted out (they can be removed) of the Book of Life. And to the next church God says they have done His will so they will not be in "the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world and try them that dwell upon the earth." Some say this means the church to will not go through the Tribulation. If you feel that this is "conclusive" enough evidence, a letter to a church that did exist almost 2000 years ago, believe it. I do not. I do believe Christ will give us power "over" temptation, as He promised. The reward spoken of her is to become a pillar in the temple of God, forever in the New Jerusalem. The next church was in real trouble because they were doing nothing for God and it seems all for themselves. They have become rich in the world but to God they were spiritually poor and wretched, miserable, blind, and naked. They are told to repent and get gold tried in fire, or righteousness tried in tribulation. A good way to pray for them (as for us) would have been: do not pray for an easy life, but rather pray to be a strong person. One or the other, ease or tribulation. God tells here that the reason He rebukes and chastens us is because He loves us. Love is not letting people do as they will, for this would mean chaos and misery. One of the most popular of Christ's sayings is her:

Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear may voice , and open the door, I will come in with him, and sup with him, and he with Me.

Then the reward here for overcoming is the right to "sit" with Christ on His Throne." Can you even imagine that? Two thrones are spoken of here. One that Christ sat beside His Father at and the one we may sit beside Christ at.

Chapter 4: The Throne of God

Now in this chapter we see the future after John's life or today. A throne is seen and a description of it.

Chapter 5: Christ Is Worthy

In the right hand of He who was on the Throne was a book sealed with seven seals. A strong angel called out for someone "worthy" to open the book and only Jesus was worthy for He had prevailed. Jesus came from the midst of the throne to take the book from His Father. We also see the great honor that Christ has in Heaven.

Chapter 6: War, Peace, Bloodshed, Famine, Death, and Hell

We see here the four horsemen, often called the "four horsemen of the Apocalypse." The first one had a bow and a (one, not many as Christ will have) crown. And he went forth conquering and to conquer (not losing, but winning, conquering). We will see him again in Rev. 13:4 as the political beast who stopped war and brought peace (white). For everyone will be afraid to war with him because he is empowered by Satan. Then a second horseman (red for bloodshed) is sent out to "take peace" from the earth. The first horseman brought peace and the second one took it away. Then there will be a great famine and centralized control of food. Maybe if a mark is not taken, no food will be given, meaning starvation. If you do work it may take a day's wages to earn "one" loaf of bread. The third black horseman is rationing and famine. Then the last horseman brings "Death and Hell" and total chaos or tribulation. When the fifth seal is open, the martyrs or saints of God are seen wanting revenge. They are given white robes and told to wait until the next wave of martyrs are killed for God in the Tribulation, e.g. the Christians who are on the earth for they were not raptured before the tribulation. The sixth seal showed a great earthquake and signs in the heavens. Then the heavens opened and mountains and islands moved. People hid from God in this hour for fear of their rebelliousness against God.

Chapter 7: The Seal and the Reward

Then an angel came and sealed the servants of God in their foreheads, as the 666 will counterfeit. The tribes Israel are given, minus two and plus two (as explained earlier). And right after this John saw a great multitude, which no man could number, those which gave their lives for God. They are in the temple of God or the New Jerusalem, before the Throne, receiving their reward (Rev. 21:1-7).

Chapter 8: Great Natural Chaos and Super-natural Demon Attacks

Now the seventh seal is opened after a half hour silence. Then seven angels were given seven trumpets. Then another angel caused thunder and lightning and an earthquake on earth. Then one of the other angels sounded its trumpet and hail and fire mingled blood was cast to the earth and caused destruction. The second angel then sounded and a mountain (meteor?) was cast into the sea to cause blood and destruction. The third angel causes one-third of the waters to become bitter and deadly. The fourth angel caused signs in the heavens. The last three angels are to really bring destruction, so says the warning. A star (angel) fell from heaven to open the bottomless pit (the abode of demons) and things like locusts (demons) were released upon the earth. The spiritual and the physical dimensions collide here. These demons will be able to hurt anyone but God's sealed children. If one stings someone it will sting for five months and be so painful that they shall wish to die or commit suicide, but not be able to, death will flee from them. Their king is Satan or the Destroyer (Apollyon). The sixth angel lets man start its destruction of himself. One-third of man is destroyed by these things that issue brimstone. Brimstone means burning earth and the only thing man possesses today than can do this is nuclear weapons. Man will be worshiping the devil here and also he will be abusing drugs for magical means (Sorcery-see original Greek word for sorcery, it means drug abuse). Also all vices seem to be practiced. God warns to repent, but even after all of this punishment, their hearts are hardened, as the Pharaoh's in Egypt was.

Chapter 10: Some Things Remain Hidden

Here "another mighty angel" comes down from heaven. Some religions call this Jesus, but he is not an angel. He spoke seven thunders or thunder voices. Mankind will know and hear what is happening and not be ignorant of the cause. Imagine the magnitude of his voice and the fear that will engulf the Earth as this voice is heard. John finishes the book here and is told to eat it.

Chapter 11: The Two Witnesses and the End

The main part of this chapter talks of two witnesses for God who have great power. Power as Moses had in Egypt. They will tell the world God's will and the world will hate them for they will plague the earth for its sins. The beast (political) shall make war with them and kill them. The world will be so happy that they will send each other gifts. God will surprise the world by bringing the prophets back to life and by taking them up to heaven. There are still prophets to come, then. Then the third woe, the climax or worst one, brought lightning, voices, thunderings, and an earthquake and great hail. We saw earlier that this corresponds to Rev. 16:17 and the Battle of Armageddon. Before this we hear a voice in heaven saying, "The kingdoms of this world are becoming the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever." Then the nations were angry and then as Chapter 16 says, World War III.

Chapter 12: An overview of the Church's Persecutions

Now we see a vision that the Roman Catholic Church claims is Mary or "the Mother of God." This woman is the Church of the Chosen Ones, Israel. Twelve for the twelve tribes. Satan is visualized with his control over man's governments and his one-third of the (fallen) angels. Christ is the child. We see Satan cast down to the earth and we see he is really mad or insanely violent. Satan is seen persecuting the Church of God. Satan ends up making war with the seed women (spiritual Israel), that keep the Commandment of God and who testify to the world for God, in the end-times.

Chapter 13: Soon to Be Seen

This chapter has been discussed extensively and I feel no need discussing it further. Just remember that this Book is not in order and it is like a jigsaw puzzle. Some chapters later on in the Book occur before earlier ones and vice-versa. I feel we are witnessing the lead into this chapter today.

Chapter 14: The Gospel Sent throughout the World

Now we see the 144,000 who were sealed in a past chapter, with Christ on Mount Sion. They sing a new song before God in praise. These are totally holy people. We now see one of the signs of the end that Christ predicted. The Gospel being preached to all the world (no one now can claim ignorance before the Throne). Many church groups claim their Gospel is the one to be preached world-wide through "print." Here we see an angel in heaven do this. This angel says "Fear God." Many churches say God is not to be feared or God is not fear, but Love. Here we see He is both and for now let's call fear of punishment "Justice." Another angel comes and tells of Babylon's fall for making the governments of man join to her. Another angel comes and tells of the damnation or eternal punishment that will be pain and torment in a lake of brimstone (burning earth, lava) forever, that will happen to those who worship the beast and/or receives the mark of his "name." God is serious about this, are you? The saints (Christians) that "keep" His Commandments are talked of again and also is their reward for martyrdom. Then we see the harvest with the sickle of the world with blood five feet high for two hundred miles, in the Valley of Megiddon. This is the time when sin (or rebellion) has run its course and is ripe, to the point of rotting.

Chapter 15: The Saints Who Overcame

Here we are nearing the end of the end or the seven last plagues or wraths of God. A vision of the saints who overcame the beastly system is seen. Seven angels are given the seven last plagues in vials. The Temple was closed to man until seven angels were done.

Chapter 16: More and Final Plagues Sent Out

A great voice out of the Temple tells the angel to go and pour out the vials and:

First-Noisome and grievous sores fell on those who had the mark or worshiped the image of the beast. (It will be the saints' duty to stop people from taking this mark and doing this type of worshiping, to save people from this punishment and eternal punishment. For this they will probably be hated and killed.)

Second-The sea becomes as blood and life in it dies. (Does this remind you of Egypt's plagues?)

Third-Rivers and fountains of water (springs) become as blood.

Fourth-The sun gave off great heat and burnt men. This is not too hard to believe seeing the state of our ozone layer today. Repentance is still possible for some, but they do not.

Fifth-The kingdom seat of the beast receives punishment and darkness, as Egypt did.

Sixth-The Euphrates river was dried up (as with Moses) and the kings of the East (China, etc. . . . ) had a way to Armageddon. Also we see three demons or unclean spirits coming out of the mouths of Satan, the political, and religious beast. These demons help to gather the world's armies at Armageddon. Christ warns us here that it will bot be long before His return for His Church (they were not raptured) and to have on clothes of righteousness and do not be naked (as Adam and Eve found themselves after the rebellion).

Seventh-The last angel pours out its vial in the air and a voice from the Temple says, "It is done." A plague of hail is given.

Chapter 17: Rome Destroyed

One of the angels with the vials shows John the judgments on Babylon. We see the kings and the beast destroying Babylon or the Woman (Whore) for God. The woman is in the "Great City" also seen in Verse 9, or the seven hills or mountains that Rome is known by.

Chapter 18: Satan, Sorcery, Demons, and the Roman Catholic Church

And another angel now tells us the power behind Babylon. The spirits of Satan dwell in and empower this religion. God sends an angel to give a last warning to come out of her before her plagues are received. Her sins reached unto Heaven. In one day she will be destroyed and judged. It says that by her "sorceries," all nations were deceived.

Chapter 19: Vengeance Relief, More Vengeance at W.W.III

A great joy is seen in heaven because of her judgment. This is the vengeance God promised. This is when the marriage will take place, after the Tribulation, not before (e.g. a pre-tribulation rapture). Christ is also seen and described, with many crowns, not one as the horsemen had before. This is similar to John's vision in 1:13-17. Now will be World War III. After Christ is Victorious, the beast and the false prophet are thrown into the Lake of Fire.

Chapter 20: Satan Bound, 1000 Years of True Peace, Judgment, and Justice

Now an angel, not Christ, comes down from heaven and chains Satan in the bottomless pit for one thousand years. He then could not deceive the nations anymore, until the end of the thousand years. The souls of those who were killed for Christ and those who had not followed the beastly system, lived and reigned with Christ for one thousand years and the rest of dead had to wait till the end of this period for resurrection. After the thousand years are over Satan is loosed again to deceive those of the nations that had a chance at open rebellion before (e.g. everyone will have a chance to express their free will, even those who knew no evil, or the Evil One, in the millennium). They go to war with Christ and the saints are defeated with fire. The devil is cast into the lake of fire where the beast and false prophet are still in agony. You are not annihilated as soon as you are thrown here, as many churches would have you believe, for they are there 1000 years and they will continue to be there for ever and ever. This will be the fate of all the unrepentant rebels.

Now we see the "Great White Throne Judgment." At this Judgment Day the "Book of Life" is used to recall lives. Death and Hell and all not in the Book were cast into the lake of fire.

Chapter 21: Inherited Rewards

A new Heaven and a New Earth is seen here. Also, no more sea. The New Jerusalem "comes down" from heaven. God now shall dwell physically forever with man. His vision is similar to the vision of 7:9-17, when the great multitude is seen. Also those who will not be a part of this Paradise are recalled. We also see saved or righteous nations inhabiting the New Earth.

Chapter 22: The Throne, the Living Water, and False Bibles

The "River of Pure Water of Life" is seen flowing from the Throne. This is for the healing of nations. One of the last things Christ says to us in this Book is to "do" His Commandment, so that you may enter into the City of God. The last thing is, do not add or subtract from this revelation, e.g. Rev. 13:18, some false Bibles "substitute" other words for "wisdom" and "count." If you open your Bible and these words are changed, throw your Bible out for this is a warning to us who read "false Bibles" as well as those who print and "re-interpret" God's Word. There are many Bibles but only one I believe trustworthy. The King James Version, even though not "modern" or "up to date" in term of new English, is the version King James had interpreted. A man who was "unbiased" to God's Word, and he was not trying to start a cult following of his "re-interpreted" word or Greek or Latin rendition. This version used all known "true" text and what I call the least "polluted," not that God's Word is polluted, only its translations have been. Some could have had better forms or interpretations but, the test of the Spirit works to it. It does not try to redefine Christ as "a god" or Satan as Jesus' brother (as the Mormon's does), and it does not take away anything (also Rev. 13 states count, as it should, for many versions have changed this word for Satan). Some small errors have "sneaked" in, as Easter (Acts 12:4, for the Roman Catholic Church started the Christian observance of Easter around 300 A.D. and not in Peter's time) and Trinity, but it is up to each individual to research all controversy, exhaustively. We must use all research channels as: Concordances, Bible Dictionaries, and books, but oc course the most important research tools, the Spirit of Truth from God, and prayer.

IX

THE MARK

The Beast's Mark

In order to understand why "the mark" of the beast should not be taken, the mark itself must be explained. God says He will reveal this message of the mark itself must be explained. God says He will reveal this message of the mark so that true Christians can understand. In Rev. 13:16 it is revealed that the whole world will have to receive a mark in their right hand or forehead. No one will be able to buy or sell without this mark. This is an economic mark for purchasing or selling goods. When the cashless system finally arrives, soon, the reality of this mark will be easier to see. The mark is the number of letter that is in the beast name, 666. The Bible does not lie or deceive, if it says the mark will be three sixes branded on our bodies, it will be just that. The system is already in place to receive this mark. A "central" computer in Brussels, Belgium, has 2,000,000,000 names and histories in it. The name of the computer is the beast. Three sixes on almost everything that is bought and sold. A new cashless system is already in place through credit cards and ATM cards. The October, 20, 1988, issue of USA Today stated this, "a 'cashless' economy is on the way." This article went on to tell of the mushrooming trend toward the use of the placement of numbers through computers, instead of through paper money, since money is based on numbers. The scenario that I can foresee through the lines of the Revelation of Christ is:

First-a great Stock Market Crash (expected).

Second-a Great Depression or hyper-inflationary period, as the Reagan Administration foresaw (expected).

Third-with the loss of monetary value of paper money, a new system installed, a paperless or cashless one (expected).

Fourth-with the success of this system, especially after the dark period of Depression, the leader of this system "highly praised" and "followed" (highly possible, as seen with Hitler's recovery plan, and as we will see) for showing a guiding light in the dark and dismal tunnel-the worshiped political beast.

Fifth-the beast number, 666, "forced" on the head or forehand so that anyone can buy or sell "freely." (Martyrdom will eventually be forced on anyone who does not participate in the worship or allegiance (Rev. 13), a great tribulation; this mark will also be used for spiritual power, as seen on a witch in Salem, Massachusetts.)

It Worked for Hitler

This scenario is not as far-fetched as you might believe and in fact it is extremely probable and extremely dangerous. Just this century almost the same thing happened in post World War I Germany. In extreme national debt (sound familiar) the Germans suffered a Depression of the hyper-inflationary type. Money was so worthless that it was used as wallpaper and burned to keep warm. The Germans were in such a dark period that a little known man, low on the political ladder on anti-establishment or revolutionary, rose to "great power" and almost conquered a whole continent, by showing a false light to the Germans at the end of the tunnel. They followed Hitler "devoutly" unto death. Hitler fueled his rise with religious hatred and with the violence of a military machine or army. Hitler was a cruel dictator, but the people were so passive because of their depression, they were easily manipulated to accept him (and anything he did) and praise him highly, because they wanted anyone to control their bodies and souls (he had a religious doctrine), and bring them outward economic and political peace, or superiority, as the case was. As the people before the rise of the beast will be. Hitler only controlled most of Europe, but the beast will control the whole world. Hitler used the hatred of Jews to fuel his rise and the beast will use Christians. It can happen and it did happen this century.

Astrology Led to Satan Worship for Hitler

Hitler practiced the occult and was said to worship Satan. His SS troopers were actually an order of black magic sorcerers. He used astrology and Hinduism (the Swastika-a Hindu Sun-worship symbol). Hitler also had spirit guides or demons who communicated with him. The Nazi's spent more money on occult research than the U.S. did on the atomic bomb project. Hitler was said to have transformed into a demonic creature at times. Myth or not, even world leaders saw the devil as the force who was behind him. A stronger form of Hitler will soon be here, believe it or not. This is really is possible, it happened on a (I hate to say it) small scale before, and will happen on a grand scale or a world-wide stage soon. The actors are in place and this play, written down in the Book of the Revelation, Chapter 13, soon will begin.

The Penalties for the Mark and Worship of the Beast

As for the penalty for this end-times mark taking and false worshiping, God has documented the penalties. It will be a penalty or torment (by demons) so great that you shall wish to die, but death will flee from you (Rev.9:5,6). This torment will be temporary though, and this judgment shall not come to God's children (9:4). (After Judgment Day, though, this rebellious group shall be punished with torment forever [14:9-11], "and they shall have no rest, day or night.") Chapter 16:1 shows the severity of the plagues that God shall send on those who take the mark or worship this image. And then to "all" those who did not heed the first warning, after the plague and the others are through, the still rebellious will gather to war against God (16:14-17). Then when this war is over and God has been Victorious, the beast and the false prophet will be cast into a lake of fire burning with brimstone (19:20). They will be there for 1000 years until Satan joins them "to be tormented day or night for ever and ever" (20:10). Also after the rest are cast here, only the righteous shall be with God to enjoy their inheritance, in the presence of the Lord, forevermore.

The rebellious therefore will suffer withe punishment warned of throughout the Holy Bible:

II Thes. 1:7-9, "when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out of retribution to those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. And these will pay the penalty of Eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the Glory of His Power." This destruction will be the separation from God forever of the second body and soul death. Through Christ they could have been saved from this, for He said, "For the Son of Man came not to destroy lives, but to save them." Christ died the first death when He was separated from the Father by taking on the sins of the world. Thank God He is Risen to Forgiveness. Now only god can destroy body and soul, for He is the Judgment to the resurrection of Life or to the resurrection of damnation. But through Christ, we may pass from death into life and then shall not come into condemnation (Jn. 5:24-29).

Some last warnings:

-Hell, the fire that never shall be quenched. (Mk. 9:43-48)

-And it shall come to pass, that form one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the Lord.

And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed (sinned, rebelled) against Me: for their worms shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring (disgust) unto all flesh." (Is. 66:24)

In this way God will destroy or cast out all those who rebelled against Him (Ps.5:10). They will "perish from the way" of God (Ps.2:12). "God shall . . . destroy thee forever, take thee away, out of the land (inherited) of the living." (Ps.52:5) "Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate righteousness shall be desolate." (Ps.34:21) so we see, in the "very" end, the wicked shall be: cast down to destruction, brought to desolation, and consumed with terrors. Just as Psalms 73:1-16, 17-28 says. Evil then shall never again reign on Earth, (as it will soon) forevermore.

An Eternal conscious Punishment

Now since we are studying hell fire and damnation, the punishment for mark taking and rebellion, this study would not be complete without the "controversial" subject of the reality of an "eternal, conscious" punishment or an "instantaneous" total destruction (annihilation) of body and soul in the lake of fire. Some feel that God is too much of a loving being to punish the rebellious in a lake of fire, so they simply will not believe what the Word of God says. An example of God's punishment side is seen in a parent-child relationship. In order that a child may learn right and wrong, as good and evil, punishment must be applied to wrong so that right will be followed. This is because of the child's nature and human nature. If a parent punishes or whips a child so that he does not platy with fire, he punishes out of love for the child. The parent does not want to see the child get burned so the child is given the "command" not to play with matches or fire and if the child does, the child will have to be punished. Even after the parent does all he can, if a child burns himself, "it is not the parent's fault," it is the rebellious child. The Father went as far as to send His only Son to die for our rebellion, and if still we do not listen, we deserve punishment. This is Justice.

We have seen the "let the child correct himself" philosophy used in child behaviorist theories as Dr. Spock's, fail. We see the rebelliousness of the children, or the parents today, raised under this theory of no punishment or self-punishment. When I talked with Dr. Spock at a Planned Parenthood meeting, he publicly declared the folly of a world trying to get right without the Eternal Parent, God. He said the mess we are in is because God is no longer used (feared). I was escorted out of the meeting quickly and the papers never printed this part of the discussion but, I feel if he could see the need for God's way, so can the others who used this failed method, and some repentance is near. If only the world could see the folly of love without fear of punishment, for this is not true love, but "misguided love," which leads to misery and destruction.

The Final Judgment to the Wicked Is:

The original Greek wording of the Bible clearly decides this controversy over the most important Final Judgment (for Jehovah's Witness, Seventh-Day Adventist, and others who believe falsely). First we see some tenses of the word "destroy" that could have been used if nonexistence is the punishment. To disappear-aphanizo or aphanismos, is not used for judgment. To do away with-katargeo, is not used. To abolish-luo, kataluo, akatalytos, is not used. All these forms of destruction, are not used.

The forms that are used are, to ruin, olethros and zemioo. The first meaning perdition or destruction and the latter, to lose. Also in this sense of destroy (apollymi) is apolluo, which means to perish, as in a flood. This also is the original sense. If these meanings are set into Scriptures, they will be better understood.

First, II Pt. 3:6, "the world at that time was destroyed (appolluo) by being flooded by water. But . . . the present sky and earth . . . are being reserved until Judgment Day so that all sinners may be destroyed (apoleia)"(The world was not totally "destroyed" though, for it is still here). I Tm. 6:9, "ambition will eventually plunge them into ruin (olethros) and destruction (aploeia)." I Col., 5:5, "so that his sensual body may be destroyed (olethros)," here we have destruction with the natural body, not utter. II Thes. 1:9, "It will be their punishment to be lost (or be ruined, olethros) eternally." Jn. 3:16, "so that everyone who believes in Him may not be lost (lit. perish, apollymi)." Nowhere does the Bible state "total" destruction for the wicked, but in fact the opposite.

Other words for punishment. Hell-fire or Greek per Mt. 25:41, "Go away from Me, with your curse upon you, to Eternal Fire." Mk. 9:48 and Is. 66:24, (hell) where their worm does not die nor their fire go out." And the Greek words for agony, pain, or torment-basanizo, basanismos, basanos. Lk. 16:23, "In his torment in Hades looked up and saw Abraham," Verse 28, "give warning so that they do no come to this place of torment, too." Rev. 14:10, "(those who worship the beast) will be tortured in the presence of holy angels," Verse 11, "the smoke of their torture will go up for ever and ever," 20:10, "their torture will not stop, day or night, for ever and ever." This is defined as "conscious" torture or agony.

Ever and Ever

The whole Bible is full of the statement that "for every action, there will be or has to be an equal and opposite reaction." This is also true of God's Law of Justice. God will avenge His saint's death (an action). Old Testament Israel had and eye (reaction) for and eye (action) law. For Adam and Eve's sin (action) the reaction of God was banishment from the Garden and spiritual death of all men till Christ. For every sin we do, a misery (punishment) will be put upon us. This is Divine Justice. To keep us away from misery and destruction, He punishes us or holds the fear of punishment over us. This is called "Salvation through fear of the fire" (Jd. 1:23). Acts 13:26 says to, "whomsoever among you that feareth God, to you is the Word of this salvation (the Gospel) sent." Rev. 19:5 says that those who serve God, fear and worship Him, need not worry about this fate, for they are acting the way God demands. We should only fear God though and not man. For the Lord has the keys to Heaven and Hell and to where the body and soul (they are different) shall spend eternity (Lk. 12:4, 5; Mt. 10:28). Some in the end-times will "fear" for their lives (bodies) and take the mark instead of martyrdom. Christians will know differently and be at peace at this point of choice and accept dying, not death (separation from God) through the beast, for they know and fear God and they have been spared the fiery judgment by believing and obeying the Lord. We know how to be above this Judgment by turning ourselves over to Christ. So even at Judgment Day we see this opposite reaction law in the Eternal Reward and Punishment system. If some will live in peace for ever and ever, some will be in torment for ever and ever. Equal and opposite.