What’s Coming After Coronavirus?

phipps

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This Internet meme sums things up: “What a year this week has been!”

During the past week, we’ve seen the United States go from a bustling society to one on a near-total lockdown.

By order of their governors, Maryland and Washington, an epicenter of the virus, are two of the latest of several states to close their restaurants and bars. In New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, dining establishments are restricted to takeout service only. The tri-state area has also recently enforced the closing of recreational locations, such as movie theaters, casinos, and gyms.

This move on the part of the government to decree what can and cannot be open hasn’t been this widespread since September 11, 2001, when terrorism struck at the heart of America’s war and economic institutions and its largest city.

In addition, more than half of the states have shut their schools. Many have also followed the newest CDC recommendation to restrict gatherings of more than 50 people, while President Donald Trump recently narrowed that number to 10. Now, seven counties in Northern California have issued a collective “shelter-in-place” directive, in which residents are ordered to remain in their homes except in cases of necessity.

The Public Reaction

Across the world, people are responding in waves of mass panic, emptying shelves of dried goods, bottled water, and toilet paper. The subsequent shortage of supplies has led to multiple altercations, thefts, and violent threats. Racist acts, from unprovoked assault to work-related discrimination, have made Asians global pariahs.

All of these unsettling reactions have caused another product to skyrocket: guns. In just two weeks, Ammo.com, an online ammunitions dealer, reported a 68-percent increase in sales.

“People are panicking because they don’t feel secure,” comments Southern California gun dealer David Liu. “They worry about a riot or maybe that people will start to target the Chinese.”


Preparation Before the Storm


Reporters all around the world have deemed the domino effect of this pandemic unprecedented, from the stock market to the lockdowns. Jesus said that at the end of time, “there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21).

Just prior to that, He warned that different kinds of disasters were “the beginning of sorrows” (verse 8). In the original Greek, the word “sorrows” is equivalent to labor pains. During childbirth, the contractions, the “sorrows,” gradually occur closer and closer together. Are we seeing this in our world today? It is not only the novel coronavirus; it is the locust plagues in Africa, the tornadoes in Tennessee, the missile launches from North Korea and in Iraq. In a single chapter,
Jesus appears to have predicted the exact state of our world today.

In that same chapter, He also described the state of society: “Then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another” (verse 10). Is this happening now, when fear has turned to procuring weaponry over a lack of toilet paper? Are we beginning to see “the love of many … grow cold”? (verse 12).

Jesus also clearly stated the reason for all of these predictions: so that we could be ready for His soon return (verse 44). Now that the signs of Matthew 24 are appearing, we can know it is time to prepare for what is coming next.

"Jesus also clearly stated the reason for all of these predictions: so that we could be ready for His soon return."

In an extreme response to the coronavirus emergency, Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen of Champaign, Illinois, enacted an executive order, which includes allowing the city to ban the sale of alcohol, firearms, and gasoline and “take possession of private property.”

To soothe the public outcry over this order, city attorney Frank Stavins’ reassured the local newspaper: “To be extremely clear, only provisions that are necessary to protect the public health in this situation will be enacted. The city council would never take an action to violate anyone’s civil liberties.” But then why do these infringements exist in the first place? Is this a harbinger of future mandates?

Ironically, it was another Illinois politician, Rahm Emanuel, who offered a telling illustration on November 18, 2008, days after then-Senator Barack Obama was elected President of the United States amid a global financial panic: “You never let a serious crisis go to waste,” Emanuel said. “What I mean by that [is] it’s an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.” What kind of “opportunity” will this current pandemic create?

Our merciful God instructs us how to prepare for these earth-shaking events. Get a solid understanding of what Scripture says is coming. We have to study end time prophecy especially and see how the events occurring right now could usher in the prophecy of Revelation 13, in which a beast, the symbol for a kingdom, compels people by economic mandate to worship (verses 16, 17) and more.


 

phipps

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Revelation 13 part one.

The first beast
:

Verses 1-10, And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.

10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Verses 1-2. This beast arises out of the sea. Revelation 17:15 tells us that the sea represents “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” Therefore the first beast arose from nations (inhabited territory).

This beast resembles Babylon the lion (mouth), Medo Persia the bear (feet), Greece the leopard (skin) and Rome, the ten horned beast just like the terrible fourth beast in Daniel 7. But it also resembles the dragon, Satan.

The beast is the papacy. The papacy took idolatry from Babylon, infallibility from Medo-Persia, immortality of the soul from Greece, while pagan Rome provided its seat and authority.

Verse 5. This beast was permitted to persecute God's people for 42 months or 1260 years. Time, times and half a time, 42 months, 1260 days and three and a half years are all the same time period written in different forms in the Bible. Every time the Bible mentions this prophetic period it refers to the papacy. As prophetic days symbolize actual years (Ezekiel 4:6, Numbers 14:34), this 1260-year period began in 538 AD when the papacy established itself as the ruling religious power, and ended in 1798. During its period of supremacy, the papacy wielded more power than even the emperors of Rome. Kings laid their crowns at the feet of the pope, and had him crown them. The pope was supreme over all nations and peoples.

Verse 6. The beast was blasphemous towards God. John 10:33 tells us that blasphemy is when a man claims to be God. The popes claim to be God on earth and have been so hailed at their coronations. Christ was entitled to make this claim but the pope has no such right. The pope and his priests also claim to forgive sins, which the Bible also describes as blasphemy since only God can do this (Luke 5:21). There is a third blasphemy. Christ said the Holy Spirit would take His place after He went away (John 14:16-17, 25-26, 15:26, 16:7, 13-14). But the pope's most prized title is the "Vicar of Christ" (a vicar is a deputy or representative). The pope's official Latin title is "Vicarius Filii Dei" (Vicar of the Son of God) which appears on one of the pope's crowns and has numerical value. The pope also blasphemes against the sanctuary in heaven by offering his alternative priesthood, rather than pointing people to Christ, our great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Verse 7. The beast persecutes true Christians who refuse to worship God according to its dictates but according to God's Word. This period is the dark ages when the Catholic church killed about 50 million and upwards. The characteristics of this beast parallel very closely the ones in Daniel 7:20-21, 25 and 8:10-12.

Verse 3 (first part). The beast seemed to be fatally wounded. This was the capture of the pope in 1798 by Napoleon's general Berthier at the end of the 1260 years, and his death in a French prison.

Verse10 (the first part). This prediction was fulfilled when the pope was taken into captivity and this persecuting power received its deadly wound.

Verse 3 (last part). The setback was not permanent. The wound was healed. Gradually the papacy has been regaining its position. The pope has has been growing more influential until he is today once more able to exercise worldwide power and influence.

Verses 3-4. In 1929 Mussolini signed a concordat with the pope, restoring him to his power and property. From the on the pope is once again a king with the Vatican state as his kingdom. Since then the pope has regained his world-wide prestige. The deadly wound is healing fast.

Verses 13:8-9. In the last days, nearly the whole world, those “whose names are not written in the book of life,” will “worship” this beast. The day is coming soon when the majority of humankind will obey a few supporting the authority of the papacy above the commands of God, and will thus worship the beast. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s “Book of Life will stay true to God. This book records the names of all the saved from every generation of Earth’s history (Revelation 20:12, 15).

Verse 2 (last part). If we accept the power and authority of the papacy, we are worshipping the dragon which is Satan. There are many sincere people who do not realise the origins and the aims of this first beast. As the papacy regains its former position, it will exercise all the powers it had in the days of its supremacy. Once again God's true Church will be threatened with persecution.
 
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phipps

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Can someone give me a clear description of blasphemy and how it is an unforgivable since.
According to the Bible blasphemy is when someone claims to be God and forgive sins like only He can.

In Mark 2:6-11 and Luke 5:18-26, we read the story of the paralytic man who came to Jesus through a hole in the roof to be healed. The first thing Jesus said to Him was "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee." Jesus must have known that that was the man's deepest desire. Obviously Jesus was claiming to be God and had the power to forgive sins.

When the scribes and Pharisees sitting around heard Jesus forgive the man's sins, they reasoned in their hearts, "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Jesus knew their thoughts and answered them, declaring His power to forgive sins, "...that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” (Mark 2:10-11). The Jews did not believe Jesus had the power to forgive sins, but Jesus was not blaspheming because He really did have power to forgive sins.This is the first definition of blasphemy in the Bible.

In John 5:18, we read about another reason the Jews wanted to kill Jesus for blasphemy. "Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God." John 8:58-59 says, "Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by."

Later in John 10:30, Jesus declared, "I and my Father are one." In verse 31-33, we read that the Jews "took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?” The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”

This is the second definition of blasphemy in the Bible—claiming to be God. Jesus again had not blasphemed when He said He was one with the Father, for Jesus is God. But the Jews certainly thought Christ was blaspheming, and took violent action. While thinking they were protecting God the Father's honour, they were rejecting His own Son who is God too.

There is the unpardonable sin of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. That means that someone has not been listening to the pleadings of the Holy Spirit for a while until they become completely deaf to Its promptings. That is when the person has gone too far and committed the unpardonable sin. There is the no coming back from that.
 
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phipps

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The second beast: The Final Persecution of God's People.

Revelation 13:11-18:


11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.


15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Most of the events under the first beast have already occurred. The first and second beast are going to work hand in hand to bring on the final persecution of God's true Church/Israel.

Verse 11. The apostle John sees a beast coming out of the earth and having two horns like a lamb and spake as a dragon. The first beast arose out of the sea and according to the Bible the sea represents “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” In contrast, the second beast arises out of the earth, which represents the opposite of nations, multitudes, and kingdoms. Therefore, the second beast arises in areas of the world where nations, multitudes, and kings were not established (uninhabited territory). All the other beasts or powers arose by conquest. This beast doesn't. This beast represents the United States of America.

This beast (USA) has lamb like qualities. In the Bible Jesus is represented as the lamb (John 1:29). But then it would speak as a dragon. Biblically the dragon is Satan. So this power will seem to be Christian but will change and become Satan's mouthpiece.

Verse 12 (last part and verse 14). This beast will cause or command people to make an image to the first beast (the papacy) and worship it. Political powers should not make religious laws. An image is a likeness. The papacy, the first beast, is a church that used political power to make religious legislation to persecute God's people during the 1260 years. The second beast will create something similar, a political power controlled by religious leaders in collusion with the papacy and will enforce laws that go against God's eternal law.

Verses 13-14. How will the second beast persuade people to worship the first beast and its image? Signs, wonders and miracles, like fire from heaven will be used to deceive people into worshipping the image to the beast. In Revelation 19:20 this beast is called “the false prophet,” and in Revelation 16:13-14 he is said to work these miracles through “the spirits of devils.” Matthew 14:23-27 indicates that false Christ will add such strength to those deceptions as to make them very nearly overpowering; 2 Corinthians 11:14 adds that Satan himself is capable of masquerading as “an angel of light.”

Verse 12.
This beast will exercise all the power of the first beast (papacy) before him. In the dark ages, the papacy used its power to make religious laws which led to the imprisonment, torture and killing in Europe and elsewhere of between 50-100 million people, of those, true Christians who refused to conform to its will. All this power to persecute will again be used when religious liberty, guaranteed when US constitution is removed. (The United States is the only nation on earth that guaranteed religious liberty as a constitutional right.) There are so many unreasonable interpretations of this provision in the American courts at present that people will eventually demand its abolition. Some of the Supreme Court judges already want this part of the Constitution changed. Christians are now publishing books demanding laws to enforce religious customs, particularly Sunday observance. The persecution will spread from there to the rest of the world according to verse 12.

Verse 16. The second beast requires everyone to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads as a sign of their obedience. Christians have wondered what the mark in the forehead or in the right hand might mean. Some thought its bar codes, invisible laser tattoos, microchips injected into the hand etc. If we compare Revelation 7:1-3, which describes a parallel work by heaven for God's people, we see God's faithful ones are only sealed in the forehead. The forehead stands for the mind, while the right hand suggests action. While God's people must be settled into the truth intellectually and spiritually, Satan merely requires people to submit. It doesn't matter to him whether it comes from conviction or fear he will accept the mark in either the forehead or in the right hand. In Revelation 14:12 those who resist the mark of the beast are those who “keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

Verse 17.
A threat will be made to force people to receive the mark. Those without the mark won't be able to buy or sell. The ban will be very hard on everyone and nearly everyone will submit and obey such laws. The common things of life like food, water, power, shelter, clothing, means of transport and communication will be affected because most people have to buy them, certainly in developed countries. If we are not willing to obey God's Word now when times are easy, we will certainly not be willing to obey Him then.

Verse 15. The final threat will be to cause those who don't obey to be killed. All the former "beasts" used the threat of death to enforce false worship. Nebuchadnezzar threatened death in a furnace, Darius of Medo-Persia in a lion's den. The Greeks under Antiochus Epiphanes killed those who refused to worship the idol set up in God's temple. Imperial Rome burned Christians or threw them to the lions. Papal Rome set up the inquisition and tens of millions died refusing to obey the will of the papacy. There hasn't been a lot of religious persecution (apart from the Jews) in the last two centuries and this may lull us into a sense of false security. But nothing has changed: yes the same threat will be used again.

Verse 18. The number of the beast is the number of a man. His number is 666. What is the significance of the number 666? We know that the beast, whose number this is, symbolizes the papacy, and that it’s “the number of a man.” One of the pope’s titles is said to be Vicarius Filii Dei, “Vicar of the Son of God.” In Latin, the language of Catholicism, some of the letters double as numbers, and the numerical value of Vicarius Filii Dei adds up to 666, and a great many Bible scholars believe that this is how 666 is to be interpreted.
 
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phipps

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Why the Second beast cannot be any other country or power other than the United States.

There is only one nation that qualifies to be the second beast, based on the criteria mentioned in Revelation 13:11-18. The power described would have to become a mighty nation in order to exercise authority over all the nations of the world. It had to have arisen out of an unoccupied territory, because it was "coming up out of the earth," or the opposite of the sea, which symbolizes occupation of many nations and languages.

As mentioned above, the power would have lamb-like qualities, but would speak like a dragon. This means that the nation must have attributes of Christ, but that it would relinquish these in favour of attributes of the dragon.

Only America Qualifies

The United States of America is a global power that was established in a sparsely populated area of the world. During the 1260 years of persecution against the Protestant Church, God was preparing a place of escape for His persecuted saints. At the right time, as the Reformation was gaining power and the Catholic Church was weakening, Protestant Christians came across the Atlantic to escape the reach of Rome’s oppressive arm.

In Revelation 12:15-16 we are told this, "So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth."

In this passage, the earth represents the uninhabited New World to which the woman (the persecuted Church, see Jeremiah 6:2 and 2 Corinthians 11:2) fled to escape papal persecution. By 1776 the War of Independence had ended. The American Constitution came into effect in 1789. Just around the time of the end of the 1260-year prophecy, the USA was rising as an independent nation—exactly in the time frame predicted by the Bible.

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Protestantism

America was founded on lofty Christian principles of freedom and equality. It represented everything Rome hated. America's two greatest documents, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, are filled with Protestant declarations that are absolutely intolerable to Rome. America was the bastion of Protestantism, a free world with no monarch that could be controlled by Rome as the many monarchs of Europe had been for centuries.

America had a republican form of government. It spelled a massive threat to the rebuilding of Rome's control in the aftermath of the Protestant Reformation. Not surprisingly, we find the Vatican opposed to the founding documents of the United States, as Avro Manhattan, British broadcasting journalist and author of over 20 books on the Vatican tells us:

"The Vatican condemned the Declaration of Independence as wickedness and called the Constitution of the United States a Satanic Document." Avro Manhattan, The Dollar and the Vatican (Ozark Book Publishers, 1988): 26.

Plans had been laid at the Council of Trent (1545-1563) and subsequent Councils to regain the power lost during the Reformation. This Counter Reformation that began during the Council of Trent had to ensure that the new nation of America did not get strong enough to oppose Rome's plans. The early founders of America recognized the threat their new country posed to the Old World power. Many founding leaders wrote of this threat and did what they could to prevent it.

Charles Chiniquy, an ex-Catholic priest and author of the book Fifty Years in the Church of Rome, lived during the early part of America's history. In his book, he writes, "Rome saw at once that the very existence of the United States was a formidable menace to her own life." Charles Chiniquy, Fifty Years in the "Church" of Rome (California: Chick Publications, 1985): 291. He also wrote, "Liberty of conscience is proclaimed by the United States a most sacred principle, which every citizen must uphold...But liberty of conscience is declared by all the popes and councils of Rome, a most godless, unholy, and diabolical thing, which every good Catholic must abhor and destroy at any cost."

It was in 1854 that Pope Pius IX wrote, "The absurd and erroneous doctrines or ravings in defense of liberty of conscience are a most pestilential error—a pest, of all others, most to be dreaded in a state." Pope Pius IX, Encyclical Letter (August 15, 1854).

The Papacy thoroughly detests liberty of conscience. In 1864, in his encyclical Quanta Cura, Pius IX condemned to hell "those who assert liberty of conscience and of religious worship." Pope Pius IX, Quanta Cura (December 8, 1864). The United States of America's founding principles were obviously a serious threat to Rome, and not to be tolerated. Many saw Rome making silent subtle advances into America's inner workings through Rome's secret police, the Jesuits.

As the years progressed, through the subtlety of these enemies and America's diminished faithfulness to its Protestant roots, the nation was slowly changed and infiltrated. It no longer resembles the lofty ideal it once stood for.

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phipps

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So to recap (with extra information), what specifically will the second beast (the USA) do that will cause it to speak as a dragon?

1. “Exercises all the authority of the first beast”
(Revelation 13:12). The United States will become a persecuting power that will force people to go against their conscience, as did papal Rome.

2. “Cause the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed” (Revelation 13:12). The United States will lead the nations of the world in forcing allegiance to the papal antichrist. The issue is always worship. Who will you worship and obey? Will it be Christ, your Creator and Redeemer, or antichrist? Every soul on earth will finally worship one or the other. Satan’s approach will appear to be deeply spiritual, and incredible miracles will be seen which will deceive billions (Revelation 13:3). Those who refuse to join this movement will be considered divisive, stubborn, radical, and unpatriotic. Jesus labelled Protestant America of the end time a “false prophet” (Revelation 19:20; 20:10), because it will appear spiritual and trustworthy but instead will be satanic in its conduct. All this may seem impossible, but Jesus’ words are always reliable and true (Titus 1:2). He foretold the rise and fall of the four world empires and the antichrist (Daniel chapters 2 and 7) at a time when such predictions seemed outlandish and incredible. But all came to pass precisely as predicted. His warning to us today regarding prophecy is, “I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe” (John 14:29).

3. “Tell those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived” (Revelation 13:14). The United States will make an image to the beast by legislating religious practice. It will pass laws requiring worship and force people to either obey them or face death. This action is a copy—or “image”—of the church-state form of government the papacy ruled with at the height of her power during the Middle Ages, when millions were slain for their faith. The United States will combine civil government and apostate Protestantism in a “marriage” that will support the papacy. It will then influence all the nations of the world to follow her example. Thus, the papacy will gain worldwide support.

4. “And cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed” (Revelation 13:15). The United States, as head of this international movement, will next influence the nations of the world to impose a death sentence upon all who refuse to worship the beast or his image. Another name for this worldwide coalition is “Babylon the Great.” This worldwide alliance will, in the name of Christ, substitute the policeman’s power for the Holy Spirit’s gentle persuasion—and it will force worship.
 
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phipps

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How strong and influential is the papacy today?

It is arguably the strongest religio-political power in the world. Virtually every leading country has an official ambassador or state representative at the Vatican. Notice the following facts:

A. Pope Francis’ visit to the United States in 2015 carried both pastoral and political implications. Cardinal Timothy Dolan said, “The more he tries to de-emphasize the prestige and the power of the papacy, the more people pay attention to him.”CBS This Morning, September 22, 2015

B. The aim of the pope is to unify the Christian world. In January 2014, Francis presided over an ecumenical worship service at the Basilica of St. Paul with Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, and other Christian representatives and emphasized the need for Christian unity. Francis said, “It is unacceptable to consider ‘divisions in the Church as something natural, inevitable,’ because ‘divisions wound Christ’s body [and] impair the witness that we are called to give to him before the world.’ ”Catholic Herald, January 27, 2014

C. The worldwide response has been overwhelming as leaders turn to him for peace. Francis hosted a prayer summit at the Vatican with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Then, the pope, who as a Latin American had a lot of credibility in Havana, helped pave the way to the U.S.-Cuba thaw. —Sylvia Poggioli, National Public Radio, April 14, 2016

D. Francis’ 2015 visit to America elicited an unprecedented response from American officials: President Obama personally greeted Pope Francis as he arrived at a U.S. airbase, a decision the White House said was a symbol of the high level of respect Americans have for the Pontiff. Francis’ visit also included the first address by any pope to a joint session of the Congress in American history. —Irish Daily Mail, September 23, 2015

How strong and influential is the United States today?

The United States is regarded as the world’s most powerful military force and the world’s centre of influence. Note the following:

A. “In the key categories of power, the U.S. will remain dominant for the foreseeable future.” —Ian Bremmer, Time magazine, May 28, 2015

B. “What ultimately makes the difference between war and peace ... is not good intentions, or strong words, or a grand coalition. It is the capability, credibility, and global reach of American hard power.” Senator John McCain, November 15, 2014

C. “The United States is and remains the one indispensable nation. That has been true for the century passed and it will be true for the century to come.” President Barack Obama, May 28, 2014

D. France’s then-foreign minister, Hubert Vérdine, told a Paris audience that he defined “the United States as a ‘hyperpower’ ... a country that is dominant or predominant in all categories.” The New York Times, February 5, 1999

Though certainly facing challenges to its power from nations such as China and Russia, America’s overwhelming ability to stand down aggressors and rapidly deploy when needed continue to dominate the world. A future president of the United States might not hesitate to use the country’s influence to enforce new global standards, especially if promoted in the guise of world peace and stability after a difficult global event.

What other factors could help set the stage for a worldwide law to execute those who refuse to violate conscience?

We cannot name them with certainty, but a few looming possibilities include:

A. The activity of terrorists

B. Riots and escalating crime and evil

C. Drug wars

D. A major economic crash

E. Epidemics

F. Nuclear threats from radical nations

G. Political corruption

H. Gross miscarriage of justice by the courts

I. Social and political issues

J. Increasing taxes

K. Pornography and other immorality

L. Global disasters

M. Radical “special interest” groups

A backlash against terrorism, lawlessness, immorality, permissiveness, injustice, poverty, ineffective political leaders, and many similar woes could easily precipitate a demand for strong, specific laws to be rigidly enforced.

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phipps

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Three important messages to the world in Revelation 14.

John’s vision here is not symbolic of three literal angels who will come and proclaim these messages to the world. Rather, it refers to God’s people—His ambassadors—who proclaim these truths.

The Three Angels’ Messages are the final messages of warning to the world. These messages ensure that everyone has had a chance to choose between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Earth—Satan's kingdom. When the messages have reached everyone, the time of probation will close and Christ will return to free His people.

The great war between Christ and Satan reaches its climax as these messages are preached, and the people of the world will be split into two groups: the followers of Christ and the followers of Satan. The contest will be fierce and there will be a time of the worst trouble to ever happen (Daniel 12:1).

Throughout the book of Revelation, the two great camps are contrasted. Satan tries his best to counterfeit the plan of salvation, in order to deceive God’s chosen people (Matthew 24:24). Revelation tells of a beast power, which we see to be Roman Catholicism, that Satan uses to counterfeit the ministry of Christ. He even sets up a false trinity to lead the world astray.

Only the true Prince of this world, Jesus Christ, can save us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness:

"and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood" (Revelation 1:5).

When Christ returns, the false prince—Satan—will be judged and cast out (John 16:11).

The battle and stark differences between the two sides is a theme in the book of Revelation.

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The First Angel's Message.

The First Angel’s Message is not only a message of judgment, but also a message of the “restoration of all things.” It is the Elijah message, the final reformation that would separate the remnant of spiritual Israel from the world, and prepare a people for the coming of the Lord.

"Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water” (Revelation 14:6-7).

The angel spreads the everlasting Gospel to every nation. We see this as God using His people to be co-workers together with Him in the spreading of the Gospel around the world.

What four distinctive points does the first angel’s message cover?

A. Fear God.
This means we should revere God and look upon Him with love, trust, and respect—eager to do His bidding. This keeps us from evil. “By the fear of the Lord one departs from evil” (Proverbs 16:6). Solomon, the wise man, also said, “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all [whole duty]” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

B. Give glory to God. We fulfil this command when we praise, thank, and obey God for His goodness to us. One of the major sins of the last days is unthankfulness (2 Timothy 3:1-2).

C. The hour of His judgment is come. This indicates that everyone is accountable to God, and it is a clear statement that the judgment is now in session. A number of translations say “has” come instead of “is” come.

D. Worship the Creator. This command rejects idolatry of all kinds—including self-worship—and repudiates the theory of evolution, which denies that God is Creator and Redeemer. (Many books and talk shows stress self-esteem, which can lead to self-worship. Christians find their value in Christ, who makes us sons and daughters of God.)

The gospel includes the creation and redemption of the world by the Lord God. Worshipping the Creator includes worshipping Him on the day He set aside as a memorial of Creation (the seventh-day Sabbath). That Revelation 14:7 refers to the seventh-day Sabbath is made clear by the fact that the words “made heaven and earth, the sea” were lifted right out of the Sabbath commandment (Exodus 20:11) and used here. Our roots are found in God alone, who made us in His image in the beginning. Those who do not worship God as Creator—no matter what else they might worship—will never discover their roots.


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The Second Angel's Message.

"And another angel followed, saying, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication"
(Revelation 14:8).

Ancient Babylon was opposed to Israel. Babylon enticed Jerusalem into paganism and idolatry. Babylon eventually took the whole nation of Israel captive, and only a small remnant returned to rebuild the ancient ruins.

God pronounced judgment on ancient Babylon:

"Babylon was a golden cup in the LORD’s hand, That made all the earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; Therefore the nations are deranged. Babylon has suddenly fallen and been destroyed. Wail for her! Take balm for her pain; Perhaps she may be healed. We would have healed Babylon, But she is not healed. Forsake her, and let us go everyone to his own country; For her judgment reaches to heaven and is lifted up to the skies" (Jeremiah 51:7-9).

In similar fashion, antitypical Babylon—the confederacy of religious powers (the dragon, beast and false prophet) that opposes God at the end of time—will lead people astray and take them captive through her numerous false doctrines. The same judgment pronounced in Jeremiah 51:8 on ancient Babylon is given to end-time Babylon in Revelation 14:8. And, the same call given in Jeremiah 51:6 and 9 to come out of Babylon is given in Revelation 18:1-5:

"After these things, I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury." And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities."

The Second Angel announces the fall of Babylon (Revelation 14), but the loud call to "come out of her my people" (Revelation 18) is made later. God’s people are thus still in Babylon. It is Babylon's system of religious structures aligned against God that is condemned—not the individuals.

There are two calls out of Babylon. Just as Jesus began and ended His ministry on Earth by cleansing the temple, so there are two calls to the churches at the end of time.


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The Third Angel's Message.

The Third Angel’s Message is the most fearful message ever given to the world.

"Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name." Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus" (Revelation 14:9-12).

The Third Angel’s Message is the final message of warning to the world. It is filled with power and deep spiritual truths. As its significance came to be understood, the symbolism of the entire book of Revelation was unfolded.

The Message warns against the worship of the beast or its image.

Accepting the authority of the counterfeit religious system instead of God's authority is the same as worshipping the beast system rather than God. Accepting the first-day sabbath means accepting of the authority of the beast in the place of the authority of God. As the beast obtains his authority from the dragon (Revelation 13:2), acknowledgment of that authority is worship of the dragon—Satan himself. Revelation 13:4 explains:

"So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"

To worship the counterfeit system, one must not only accept its authority but follow its principles. For example, end-time Babylon teaches that in Christ all are free to do as they please.

"For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be" (Matthew 24:38-39).

"Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them" (Ezekiel 22:26).

Those that are in Christ, on the other hand, will align themselves with the principles of Christ (Romans 12:1-2). They will strive for holiness and stay away from things that separate them from Christ:

"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?"

"Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.” Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God"
(2 Corinthians 6:14-15, 17-18; 7:1).

The whole lifestyle of believers in Christ must reflect this relationship. Babylon is in enmity with God, and teaches a doctrine of compromise, but compromise with sin is impossible.

It is a Message of separation from Babylon and its principles.


The Third Angel's Message puts our relationship with Christ in its right perspective. It is a message that brings about lifestyle changes necessary for those who want to stand in the presence of a holy God.

Separating from the world does not mean retiring to solitary confinement. We are to labour in the world as Christ laboured, but we are not to be trapped by the ways of the world. It will take courage for us to stand for truth, but we know that Christ has overcome the world. The Bible tells us the consequences of following Babylon:

"The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb" (Revelation 14:10).

When Revelation says "poured out without mixture" it means not watered down. This wrath of God will contain no mercy or grace:

"Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:28-31).

In ancient Israel, the enemies of God were to be totally destroyed (Deuteronomy 7:2; 20:16-18). The false prophets that led Israel astray were to be executed without mercy (Deuteronomy 13:7-10). This typology is applicable also to the enemy of God in the last days.

"But to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God" (Romans 2:8-11).

We can see the Third Angel's Message coming to fruition today. Spiritualism is making inroads into the Christian Church, the papacy is making stealthy but rapid progress towards global control, and the observances of the Catholic Church are being enforced by civil authority. It is crucial that God's people cling to the truth and do not become overtaken by these happenings.

God’s people need not fear the judgment in this Message.

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us"
(1 John 4:18-19).

We are heading for perilous times, a time such as never was. But be encouraged:

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:35-37).

In Scripture, those who accept the mark of the beast are set in sharp contrast with those that receive the seal of God. In Revelation 7, John sees the 144,000 who receive the seal of God. These 144,000 have a number of identifying characteristics, given in Revelation 14:

1. They have the name of the Lamb and His Father written on their foreheads (Revelation 14:1). The name stands for their character. They have a share in the nature and character of God.

2. They are redeemed from the earth (Revelation 14:3). They stand in sharp contrast to those who receive the mark of the Beast—they are a called out people.

3. They have not defiled themselves with women, and they are chaste virgins (Revelation 14:4). They refuse to be defiled by women, which means that they refuse to become involved with idolatrous practices.

4. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes (Revelation 14:4). They remain faithful to Jesus.

5. There is no lie found in their mouths and they are blameless (Revelation 14:5). Their character has been investigated, and they have been found justified.

We should be holy and without blame before Him (Ephesians 1:4, Philippians 2:15, Colossians 1:22, 2 Peter 3:11). This is not a message of legalism or perfectionism, since without Jesus we can do nothing. It is a recognition of the power of Christ.

Christ depicts His bride dressed in spotless white, covered with the righteousness of Christ. We should never dare to utter “I am sinless,” but Christ can write that very truth in His book, because His forgiveness not only removes the stain of sin, but also the record of sin.

In the book of Leviticus we read that priests were only permitted to marry virgins, a type of Christ and His bride. The priests were not even permitted to marry chaste widows, because they had previous relationships. Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, all of us fall into the category of having had previous relationships with evil. To fulfil the requirements of the typology, the forgiveness of God has to be so complete that not even the record of the previous unfaithfulness of God’s people will remain. Only then can they qualify as the chaste virgin, pure and undefiled.

All the honour and glory belong to God. This leaves no room for legalism or salvation by works. There is nothing we can do to earn forgiveness.

We cannot receive a more emphatic warning than the one we find in the Third Angel’s Message. God wants everyone to know the result of following the deceiver’s rationale. God wants everyone to choose Him and His grace.

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Here are facts about about Revelation 14.


1.
Human beings are helped by angels to proclaim the message. Three literal angels will not streak across the heavens shouting out their messages in a loud voice to the world.

Revelation1:1-4: God has a chain of command: God to Jesus to the Holy Spirit [2:1], to the angel, to John, to the churches, to the world:

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne."

The Greek word for angel means "messenger".

In the New Testament human beings are called angels/messengers because they were sent by God to deliver a message:

· Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25)

· John the Baptist (Matthew 11:10)

· Messengers sent to John (Luke 7:24)

· Spies who visited Jericho (James 2:25)

· Apostle Paul (Galatians 4:14)

· Stephen (Acts 6:15)

The preaching of the gospel has not been committed to angels but to human beings.

Matthew 28:18-20 says, "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen."

Acts 1:8, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
But the angels help in the task of preaching.

In Acts 8:26 an angel puts Phillip in contact with the Ethiopian eunuch. Also in Acts 10:3 the angel put Cornelius in touch with Peter even though he could have imparted the message himself.


2. The angels flying in the midst of heaven means that their messages are of heavenly origin. In contrast, Satan is the king of the abyss (Revelation 9:11) and his representatives come from the sea (Revelation 13:1) and the earth (Revelation 13:11). James 3:15-17 contrasts the wisdom that comes from above and the wisdom that comes from below.

"This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy."

Revelation 18:1
says that the angel comes down from heaven.

"After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory."

The North is up and the South is down.


3. The Loud voice represents the power and authority with which the message is announced:

The message is to be announced with unmitigated power. The word is MEGAPHONE (Revelation 14:7, 9; 18:1).

There is no word parsing, no political correctness. This is not some ambivalent doublespeak. There is no mute on the trumpet. It is to be shouted out from the rooftops no matter what the consequences.


4.
The angels flying means that the messages are to be announced with the utmost velocity (Revelation 14:6).

Ezekiel 1:13-14 speaks of the angels moving with the speed of lightning.

"As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and out of the fire went lightning. And the living creatures ran back and forth, in appearance like a flash of lightning."


Daniel 9 records a prayer where Daniel asked God for wisdom to understand the 2300 day prophecy. When he began his prayer Gabriel was sent to answer it. Gabriel arrived before Daniel ended his prayer.


5. The messages are world-wide in scope (Revelation 14:6).

They are to go to every corner of the earth and to every people and language group.

They are for the entire human race. A global proclamation of the messages requires a global people to proclaim them Matthew 24:14; Mark 16:15-16 to every creature.

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world, as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."

"And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."


The purpose of the three messages is to counteract the messages of three counterfeit angels (Revelation 16:13) that are also attempting to gather the world on Satan’s side.

Notice that the harlot also controls people from every nation, kindred, tongue and people but she gives the nations her wine. In other words, there are two contrasting messages of 3 angels and the purpose is to gather the world on either side.


6. The messages must be proclaimed in their proper order (Revelation 14:6, 8, 9). They are sequential and cumulative. It is risky to change their order.

First angel’s message is a positive imperative command.

The second angel’s message is an announcement and a call.

The third angel’s message is a warning to those who choose not to come out.

If you do not accept the first, you will reject the second and the third.

Babylon falls because she rejected the first angel’s message. You will not accept the call to come out of Babylon unless you know why you should come out.


7. The messages are God’s final appeal and message to the world before the close of human probation and the second coming of Christ (Revelation 14:14; Matthew24:14).

“Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.”

If you believe that we are living near the end of time, then this is the message you should understand and proclaim.


8. The proclamation of the three angels messages are accompanied by the power of the latter rain: The message accompanied by the latter rain will divide the world into two groups: The harvest and the grapes.

Pentecost brought the early rain which has been falling ever since. At the end the latter rain will ripen the crop for the harvest

The whole world will take sides. The messages will polarize the world. No one will remain neutral. You will either have the seal of God or the mark of the beast.

The messages will ripen your character and prepare it for the heavenly harvest (Revelation 14:14-17). As in the days of Pharaoh, God’s message will soon either soften or harden men’s hearts


9. The three messages are linked with the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary.

We know this for several reasons:

· The command to fear God is linked in the Bible with keeping His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

· Giving glory to God reminds us of the glorious Shekinah which shone in the Most Holy Place.

· Worshipping the Creator entails the observance of the Sabbath which was found at the centre of the law in the Most Holy Place.

· The idea of God’s judgment connects with the Day of Atonement when all Israel was divided into two categories. The central apartment was the Most Holy Place where the law was. And the judgment begins before the second coming of Jesus.

· Revelation 11:19 introduces chapters 12-14 and the temple is opened. After the three angels have given their messages, the temple is closed (Revelation 15:5-8).


10. The acceptance or rejection of the messages is not a trivial matter. In fact it is a matter of life or death.

Those who receive the messages will receive the seal of God and be saved. Those who reject the messages will receive the mark of the beast and suffer the wrath of God. There will be no middle ground. The saved will be inside the city and the lost will be outside.


11.
God will have a people who will accept, proclaim and obey the three angel’s messages (Revelation 15:2-4). They will be victorious over the powers mentioned in the third angel’s message.


12.
The central issue which will divide the world into the two camps will be worship and obedience (Revelation 14:6-7, 9-12)
 

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God's people must, do, and will warn the the whole world not to be deceived into worshipping the beast and his image. Gradually many people will come to hate them and some of God's people will be killed for being loyal to God. Revelation 14 :13 says, " 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” God's blessings rest on those who lay down their lives rather than be untrue to Him. They will rest from their work and God will not forget what they have done for Him.

The future looks bleak for true Christians who will refuse to compromise with God's law. Satan through his human agents is going to try everything to get them to abandon their faith and obedience to God by persecuting them. But they will patiently endure the persecution and continue keeping all the commandments of God and having the faith of Jesus till He returns. The Bible has wonderful promises of how God is going to protect His people and/or give them the strength to go through those very difficult times just before He returns.
 
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The Second Coming.

There is good news after the final persecution of God's people, after they have endured so much for Jesus' sake, Jesus will come back to earth in the clouds for them. He is coming back to save them, just as He promised, and to take them to the beautiful home He has prepared for them.

Revelation 22:12,
“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.”

John 14:3, “I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Acts 3:20-21, “That He may send Jesus Christ … whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things.”

Those who accepted Christ during their lives but died will be raised from their graves, given perfect and immortal bodies, and will be caught up into the clouds to meet the Lord. The saved who will be living will also be given new bodies and will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Jesus will then take all the saved to heaven.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17,
“The Lord Himself will descend from heaven … and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 15:51–53, “We shall all be changed … and the dead will be raised incorruptible. For … this mortal must put on immortality.”

Philippians 3:20, 21, “We also eagerly wait for… the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body.”

Note: that Jesus does not touch the earth at His second coming. The saints meet Him “in the air.” So God’s people won’t be fooled by any report that says Christ is in, for instance, London, New York, Moscow, or anywhere else on the earth. False christs will appear on the earth and do miracles (Matthew 24:23–27), but Jesus will remain in the clouds above the earth at His second coming.

We have to know (so we are not deceived) in what manner Jesus will return the second time.

Acts 1:9-11,
“When He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven’.”

The Scriptures promise that Jesus will return to this earth in the same manner that He left—in a visible, literal, bodily, personal manner. Matthew 24:30 says, “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” He will come in the clouds literally, as a personal being with a body of flesh and bones (Luke 24:36–43, 50, 51). His coming will be visible; Scripture is clear on these facts!

Will the second coming of Christ be visible to everyone or only to a select group?

Revelation 1:7,
“Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him.”

Matthew 24:27, “As the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”

1 Thessalonians 4:16, “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.”

Every man, woman, and child living in the world when Jesus returns will see Him at His second coming. The staggering brightness of His appearance will stretch from horizon to horizon, and the atmosphere will be charged with brilliant glory like lightning. No one will be able to hide from it. This will be a loud, dramatic event in which even the dead are raised.

Note: Every person will know the second coming is occurring! Some use 1 Thessalonians 4:16 to suggest a “secret rapture,” where the saved disappear from the earth quietly, but it’s actually one of the noisiest verses in the Bible: The Lord shouts, a trumpet blasts, and the dead are raised! The second coming is not a quiet event, nor is it only a spiritual coming into the heart. It does not take place at a person’s death, nor is it figurative. All these theories are human inventions, but the Bible plainly states that the second coming will be a literal, worldwide, visible, personal appearance of Christ in the clouds.

Who will come with Jesus at His second coming, and why?

Matthew 25:31,
“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.”

All the angels of heaven will come with Jesus at His second coming. As the bright cloud nears the earth, Jesus will send forth His angels, and they will quickly gather together all of the righteous people in preparation for the trip back to heaven (Matthew 24:31).

What will happen to the wicked people when Jesus comes again?

Isaiah 11:4,
“With the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.”

Jeremiah 25:33, “At that day the slain of the Lord shall be from one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth.”

Those who are rebelliously clinging to sin when Jesus comes will perish from His radiant glory.

How will Christ’s second coming affect the earth itself?

Revelation 16:18, 20,
“There was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. … Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.”

Jeremiah 4:26, “I beheld, and indeed the fruitful land was a wilderness, and all its cities were broken down at the presence of the Lord.”

Isaiah 24:1, 3, “The Lord makes the earth empty and makes it waste. … The land shall be entirely emptied.”

The earth will be seized by a great earthquake at the coming of the Lord. This earthquake will be so devastating that it will leave the world in a state of total destruction.
 
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Just how near is the Lord’s second coming?

Matthew 24:32-34,
“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.”

The Bible is very specific and plain on this point. Almost all the signs have been fulfilled. We cannot know the day and hour of Christ’s return (Matthew 24:36), but we can know that His coming is near. God has promised to finish things very quickly now (Romans 9:28). Christ is coming back to this earth for His people soon. Are you ready?

Satan is telling many falsehoods regarding the second coming of Christ and, with lying wonders and miracles, will deceive millions. How can we be certain we will not be deceived?

Revelation 16:14,
“They are spirits of demons, performing signs [miracles].”

Matthew 24:24, “False christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”

Isaiah 8:20, “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”

Satan has invented many false teachings about the second coming and is deceiving millions into believing that Christ has already come or that He will come in a manner not consistent with the Bible’s teachings. But Christ has warned us of Satan’s strategy, saying, “Take heed that no one deceives you” (Matthew 24:4). He has exposed Satan’s falsehoods so we can be forewarned, and He reminds us, “See, I have told you beforehand” (Matthew 24:25). For example, Jesus stated specifically that He will not appear in the desert or come to a séance chamber (verse 26). There is no reason to be deceived if we learn what God teaches about Christ’s second coming. People who know what the Bible says about the second coming will not be led astray by Satan. All others will be deceived.
 

Sharon

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Dec 24, 2018
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Thanks for the good information.

Revelation 17 discusses the beast the woman and the whore that sits upon many waters. Could the second beast be the United Nations, not the United States?

Revelation 17:7-11

7And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.

8The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

9And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

10And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.

11And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

The woman riding on the beast is the Catholic Church or the Holy See. The Catholic church is “drunken with the blood of the saints, and the martyrs of Jesus” because she has persecuted and beheaded many of the true disciples of Jesus since her creation during the Inquisition, Crusades, up to the time Christ returns. The beast she rides has seven heads and ten horns and comes out of the earth, meaning it must encompass the whole world and gives power to the woman riding the beast.

The United Nations is the beast the Catholic church rides. In 1964, the Holy See became the permanent observer of the UN, giving them rights to sit in on any meeting. Although not an actual member, the Catholic Church and the United Nations collaborate often together handling important worldwide matters.

At the time John wrote Revelation, five major kingdoms that ruled the world had fallen and the sixth existing during John’s time, the king that “is”, was the Roman empire/Catholic church. The sixth head was wounded (Revelation 13), but its deadly wound was healed in 1929 with the Lateran Concordant Treaty. The seventh king is the next major kingdom or superpower to rise and the most important detail is that it must continue a short space. The existence of the United States compared to the five kingdoms that fell and the Roman empire is short (only 243 years) and the United States, through colonization, its several military bases across the world, and involvement in other countries affairs, makes it the seventh king because each king needs to or has to wield considerable influence across the earth. The eighth king is part of the seven kings and is the United Nations because through the UN, the five kingdoms that fell regain their power through a united worldwide organization. The ten kings of the United Nations will be given power one hour with the beast to control the world. Outlined here, the UN divided the world into ten regions. Revelation mentions how these ten kings have not received their power yet but will receive power in the future for one hour with the beast and burn the whore. At the time of the destruction of Babylon in Revelation 18, the ten kings through the UN will burn the whore (Daughter of Babylon). The United Nations is also the second beast that comes out of the earth in Revelation 13. The Pope in September 2015, the same year he visited the United States, also visited the United Nations, and gave a speech concerning the future, wanting all countries to focus on global issues and the future for the next generations. Before the outbreak, the Pope was scheduled to meet with world leaders for a “Global Compact on Education” to discuss climate change and other issues the future generations will encounter and to reeducate them so they can effectively deal with the coming problems. The United Nations is also the leader in ushering the elites’ NWO through Agenda 21/Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.



Pope’s UN Speech September 2015:

Global Compact on Education (rescheduled from May 2020 to October 2020 due to the outbreak): https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-02/pope-francis-the-power-of-education-for-a-more-fraternal-humani.html

United Nations Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld



The United States role in prophecy is important. All countries, including the USA, are working to fulfill the wish of the woman and the beast, but a snare will be put in place that will lead to the United States’ destruction. She is the whore the ten kings will burn with fire in Revelation 18 and the Daughter of Babylon mentioned in Jeremiah 50 and 51. The woman and the whore are different. The woman sits on the beast that comes out of the earth, and the whore sits upon many waters. To sit on many waters means to rule over kingdoms and peoples, but to come out of the earth means to rise above all kingdoms, peoples and control the world which is why the seven heads of the beast the woman (Holy See) rides is the UN, because the mind that has wisdom will understand the seven heads represent the seven pillars of the earth and the UN is the only organization now that can fulfill this role to give the image of the beast, who is the Pope, power to control the world before Jesus returns to set up His kingdom for a thousand years.



Revelation 17:9

9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

Proverbs 9:1

1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:



Revelation 13:11-15

11And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

12And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

13And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

14And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

15And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.



Satan also mimics God because his wish is to exalt himself above the stars of heaven and be god.

Isaiah 14:12-14

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

The UN plans on having their version of the millennium here on earth outlined in their “Millennium Development Goals and Beyond 2015” here. They will fight Jesus when He returns thinking they can win, but the Lamb will overcome them and cast the beast and false prophet into the Lake of Fire.
 

Vixy

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Mar 16, 2017
Messages
3,907
What an interesting thread!

I made my own a long way back about the end times where we follow the signs. I believe this will happen

1. Food shortage thus starvation
2. Financial collapse
3. A polititian that says the answer to all of this chaos is the vaccine and a certificate thus the RFID chip which is the end goal.
 
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