Brothers and sisters, I apologize for the length of this post. If you wish to focus only on the timing, please skip ahead to the section titled “Time is Short.” Still, several urgent concerns compel me to write as I do. Foremost, is that many professing Christians I know are fearful, uninformed, lukewarm, and dangerously unprepared for the Lord’s soon return. This urgency becomes all the more serious when we remember that history is moving toward its appointed end.

Just as there was an ultimate beginning, there will soon be a grand consummation. Then God’s plan will be realized: His purposes secured, His redeemed perfected, and all made ready for everlasting life in a new heaven and a new earth. Everything and everyone deemed unfit will be purged and confined to an existence of regret, anguish, and torment—an eternal void without hope or reprieve. Scripture and history also reveal many lesser beginnings and endings in the recurring rise and fall of civilizations and nations, peace and war, and life and death. These patterns contain urgent truths humanity must learn before the coming wrath.

Ecclesiastics 12:13,14 – Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God, and keep His commandments. For this is the whole duty of man.  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it is good, or whether evil.

Romans 2:4-6 – Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, and the forbearance and long-suffering, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But according to your hardness and your impenitent heart, you do treasure up wrath for yourself in a day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God who will render to each according to his works. (see 1-16)

We see the first scriptural beginning in Genesis, concerning the present earth’s creation, or perhaps its environmental restoration, since it says, “the earth WAS [though] without form, and void, with darkness upon the face of the deep.” Not long afterward, everything created, born, or built was destroyed in the flood, except Noah, his family, the ark, and the animals within it, as recorded in chapters 6 through 8.

Noah and his sons marked another “beginning.” Yet only three generations after the flood, sin again gained a strong foothold when Nimrod built “Babel, Erich, Akkad, and Calneh in the land of Shinar.” The pattern repeated: God renewed the earth and commanded humanity to be fruitful—implying faith, righteousness, and holiness—and to replenish it. Instead, the people decided rather to build cities, to establish power, and make names for themselves. Thus Nimrod thus followed Cain’s sinful example; when after rejecting God’s warning about sin, killing Abel, and leaving the Lord’s presence, Cain also built a city and established a lineage and name for himself.

Genesis 4:16, 17 – And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bared Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son, [the city of] Enoch.

Such is the nature of carnal man…

Responsibilities precede Rights

Genesis 2:15-17 – And the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die.

Brothers and sisters, from the beginning God joined human privilege to human duty. He gave humanity the blessings of knowing Him, enjoying His creation, and being fruitful across the earth, but He first charged Adam to tend and keep the garden and to obey His command. Even after sin brought expulsion from Eden, God continued to provide the earth for humanity’s sustenance and enjoyment while requiring wise stewardship rather than abuse. Scripture therefore presents rights not as independent entitlements, but as blessings rightly enjoyed within faithful responsibility: when people submit to God’s will, love one another, and serve as He directs, they receive His provision of due rain and abundant harvest. The same principle of responsibility preceding rights continue into the coming reign of Christ on earth to come.

Revelation 22:14 – Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Yet, because of sin and rebellion, people seek to establish their own centers of power and dominance. They ignore God and define their own laws and boundaries, then use them to control and subjugate others. This is the nature of a carnally minded society that rejects God’s way of life in favor of its own will. The result is always death, war, and division. For this reason, history is marked by many endings – the end of a culture, a people, a lineage, a society, or nation.

We must not lose sight of what God intended for humanity: that we would become part of His family as godly children. Yet, in His wisdom, the law of the Spirit of life, the law of faith, and the nature of holiness also required the existence of the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:2 – For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

God desires all people to be free. He intended the earth to be their inheritance, where each person could own land and live free from oppression as a member of His family and Kingdom.

Psalm 24:1-2 – The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the floods. (See whole Psalm)

Isaiah 65:21-24 – And they shall build houses and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat for as the days of a tree are the days of My people, and Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

Yet because of sin, people hardened their hearts and became dull of hearing, and no longer responsive to what the Spirit was saying. For example, Israel worshiped the golden calf at Sinai despite witnessing God’s deliverance from Egypt. Therefore, God gave His Law in writing, first on tablets of stone and then more fully through the writings of Moses and the prophets so His will could be available and plainly known.

Galatian 3:19 – What purpose does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.

Romans 7:13 – Has then that which is good [the Law] become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.

The truth is that both this world and our flesh have been corrupted and sentenced to death “because of sin.” Both therefore have a determined end, while all creation awaits a new heaven and a new earth in which only righteousness, holiness, and the love of God will dwell.

Recognizing that holiness must be perfected in the fear of God if one is to be made fit for the new heaven and earth, the Apostle Paul wrote soberly to the Corinthians: “If any man does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha,” meaning, “Let him be cursed and forever removed; even so, come quickly, Lord” (Romans 8:10; 1st Corinthians 16:22). Paul gives this solemn warning because genuine faith, the faith that saves and sanctifies, “works through love” (Galatians 5:6).

What, then, is the purpose of each person’s life between its beginning and end? It is to seek the Lord while He may be found and to draw near to Him while He still offers the grace and strength needed to enter the narrow gate and follow the difficult path that leads to life. Remember, we are urged to *strive—as if in *agony—to enter and to run the race with the determination of one seeking to win. Those who love the Lord Jesus Christ will receive an ever-expanding eternity, while the wicked will ultimately face a confined and unending end.

* (Same Greek word used for Jesus, Who “being in agony, sweated as it were great drops of blood” in His accepting the cup the Father gave Him to drink.)

Therefore, as stated at the beginning of this post, “there have been many new beginnings in particular times and places, each followed by an ending.” Biblical history records the world before the flood and its destruction, as well as the rise and fall of Babel, Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Media and Persia, Greece, and Rome. Even before Rome fell, Scripture also recounts how God’s people sought to become like the surrounding nations by demanding their own king, thereby rejecting God and suffering the consequences.

From its birth as a nation during the Exodus from Egypt, Israel failed to remain in the “old paths” of righteousness and justice. The people became corrupted by the idols and false gods of the surrounding nations, with whom they often intermarried. After barely surviving the period of the judges, they demanded a king. Although warned of the cost of human rule, they insisted. Having rejected God as their King, they received Saul, who likewise refused to obey or heed the word of the Lord.

Yet even during Saul’s reign, God raised up David, a humble shepherd, as a prophetic example of the only kind of man fit to rule others. Still, David’s own sins cost his people dearly in both their lives and resources. This helps explain why Jesus taught us not only how to pray in what is commonly called the Lord’s Prayer, but also to affirm, “For Yours is the kingdom and the power forever and ever.”

Against this historical backdrop, less than three decades after Jesus’s crucifixion—and after Israel and Judah had endured two captivities, lost their sovereign independence, and presently stood only a decade from their end as a geographically defined nation with physical boundaries and civil laws—the author of Hebrews reminds God’s people what it truly means to be a child of God and how God’s children ought to live in this world:

Hebrews 11:8-16 – By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude–innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

Jeremiah 35 further shows that God intended His people to live as strangers and pilgrims in this fallen world. Before the Babylonian captivity brought the full devastation of Jerusalem and the temple, God commended the Rechabites for faithfully obeying their forefather Jonadab. He therefore promised, “Because you (Rechabites) have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts and done according to all that he commanded you,” therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not lack a man to stand before Me forever.” That means Jonadab the son of Rechab lineage shall not have an end – are you striving for the same blessing upon your own lineage? I strongly encourage you to prayerfully study this chapter and seek a clear understanding of its meaning for us today.

Sadly to many professing Christians are seeking their best life, here and now…

Time is Short

To address the central burden of this message, I will begin with a statement that I wholeheartedly believe to be true. However, because I am not presenting it as a “Thus says the Lord” declaration, I frame it conditionally with the word “If.”

If President Trump is both the “Little Horn,” and the fulfillment of the second beast of Revelation 13 which has “two horns like a lamb” and “spoke as a dragon,” the time is much shorter than many are discerning.”

Therefore, I will present the scriptural basis for my conviction and fulfill my responsibility as a watchman by warning people of the sword that is sure to come upon the America. If people then fail to discern the approaching time and season and die in their sins, I know the Lord being just will not require their blood at my hand.

Ezekiel 33:2-7 – “Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. But he which heard the trumpet but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life. But if the watchman sees [discerns] the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand. So, son of man, have I have made a watchman for the house of Israel, [those who are called to prevail with God and men]; you shall therefore hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me.

It is my conviction that scripture makes the assertion that “that day” will not overtake a Christians unawares; that is if their names are truly written in the Lambs book of life. Since we are expected to be “looking for and hastening the coming of the Lord, I am persuaded we ought to know the time and season of these things by what has been written.

Luke 19:41-44 – And when He came near, He beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, at least in this your day, the things which belong unto your peace! but now they are hid from your eyes.  For the days shall come upon you that your enemies shall cast a trench about and compass you round about, and shall keep you in on every side, and lay you even with the ground, and your children within you; and they shall not leave in you one stone upon another; because you knew not the time of your visitation.

1 Thessalonians 5:3-6 – For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober…

Revelation 17:8 – “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. All those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

(Note that underlined phrase, it is important and we’ll address it later.)

The Little Horn

Now to address my concern concerning President Trump as his being the realization of both first little “horn… coming up” out of the preceding ten horns mentioned in Daniel 7:8, and the ultimate fulfillment of the other “beast” with “two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon” of Revelation13:7, I intend to answer the questions outlined below the following two verses for context

Daniel 7:8 – As I was considering the [ten] horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.

Revelation 13:11 – Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.

Questions for my presentation covered –

  • What is the time of the ten little horns appearing, and where do they come from?
  • Where does the little horn come from?
  • When does he appear on the scene?
  • Who is the second beast? Time of his appearing?
  • Why are both synonymous with an endtime empire and its last leader?
  • What do they have in common? Behaviour and fate
  • What accomplishments do scripture attribute to the little horn and the second beast?
  • What final duration is expressly spoken for the little horn?

What is the time of the ten little horns appearing, and where do they come from?

The ten horns first appear after the fall of Rome-

Daniel 7:2 – Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. 4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings [Babylon]: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. And behold another beast, a second, like a bear [Medo-Persia], and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. 6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard [Greece], which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast [Rome], dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teethit devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

Notice that the vision portrays Rome as an iron power that breaks nations into pieces and, as Daniel says, “stamped the residue with the feet of it.” Rome did this to Israel: the nation lost its sovereignty and territorial boundaries, and the remaining Jews were scattered among the nations. In this sense, Israel that “was, was not… and yet is” today.

The beast representing Greece, the leopard, had four heads, while the fourth beast—described as “dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly”—had ten horns. After Alexander the Great died, the Greek Empire was divided among four successors, represented by the leopard’s four heads. Likewise, after the Roman Empire fell, its territory was divided into smaller kingdoms which are commonly identified as those listed below. Some Protestant interpreters, however, have applied the ten horns to a succession of popes in their critiques of Roman Catholicism.

  1. The Roman senate. 
  2. The Greeks, in Ravenna. 
  3. The Lombards in Lombardy.
  4. The Huns in Hungary. 
  5. The Alemans in Germany.
  6. The Franks in France.
  7. The Burgundians in Burgundy.
  8. The Saracens in Africa and part of Spain. 
  9. The Goths in other parts of Spain. 
  10. The Saxons in Britain.

Thus, these ten kingdoms directly emerged as independent powers during the decline and aftermath of the Western Roman Empire, whose conventional end is dated to 476, when the last Western emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed. Although their precise identities of the ten do vary among interpreters, they are all generally understood within this historicist framework as peoples or political powers associated with territories formerly under Roman rule.

Where does the little horn come from?

Daniel 7:8 tells us three things about the little horn. First, it “came up among” the ten horns. Because those horns belonged to the fourth beast, the image suggests that the little horn arose later from within their shared political and geographic sphere, perhaps Europe and the Middle East. If Daniel’s “little horn” and Revelation 13’s “other beast” represent the same prophetic power, Revelation should therefore provide additional information about its identity and activity.

Second, we are told that “three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots.” Although this botanical image may suggest death or destruction to the three, that meaning does not apply here. In verses 11 and 12, “the beast” (the little horn) “was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.” By contrast, “the rest of the beasts” (all ten horns) “had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.” This time element will be examined later.

The fact that the horns are now being reference as “beasts,” just like the previous four empires were, signifies the ten horns not only represent ten kings, but their empires as well. However, it must also be noted that the little horn is never referred to as a king or kingdom, which may be why the angel tells Daniel that “he shall be diverse from the first (ten horns), and he shall subdue three kings.”

  Thirdly, we see in Daniel 7:8 that “…in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.” This shows the fulfillment of this prophecy is likely shared between both a nation and its leader which are yet to arise after the Roman Empire fell.

When does the little horn appear on the scene?

The little horn “comes up” after the other ten kings and kingdoms become established. However, the we are also told it well be just before “the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him,” (verse 27).

However, we also see that “the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them,” that is “until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom,” (verses 21,22). This places the little horn in the end times, before the Lord’s second coming.

Who is the second beast, and what is the time of his appearing?

This question takes into Revelation13, where we see the rise of the first beast out of the sea, and the second beast comes up out of the earth.

Revelation 13:1 – Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.

Revelation 13:11, 12a – Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence…

The first beast that rises from the sea represents not a single person, but an empire composed of many peoples, nations, and languages, as the angel later explains to John. I examine this interpretation more fully, with supporting Scriptures, in Chapters 5 and 7 of my book “The Eighth Beast.” Significantly, “the woman” is absent when the beast first appears in Revelation 13:1, but she is later shown in Revelation 17:3 seated upon the scarlet beast. Together they suggests that the first vision portrays the historical succession of empires, while the later vision reveals the eighth and final form of that beastly power.

The fact that this woman wasn’t mentioned in 13:1, when the first beast rises up from the sea, and is later revealed to be riding the beast and “drunken with the blood of the saints and… the martyrs of Jesus,” signifies an obvious transformation occurs in the evolution of the Eighth Beast’s empire.

Historically, the relationship between the civil and religious aspects of a society is very much like a marriage, each ministering accordingly to the needs and aspects of the community. Such is why we have the books of Nehemiah and Ezra in the Holy Scriptures, presenting the respective responsibilities of both the civil and religious leaders during the time of the Jews return to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity. Therefore, it is plausible this transformation is the result of an eventual departure within the Eighth Beast from its original religious foundation to the embracement of another.

When the Apostle John states, “I saw a beast coming up out of the sea,” we would do well to allow scripture to interpret scripture once again. For John’s vision, just like Daniel’s, was apocalyptic and therefore every part of it has significance. Fortunately, as with Daniel, God once again sent His holy messengers to provide a clear interpretation to the various aspects of John’s vision, like the “sea” and its prophetic implications.

Revelation 17:7 – The angel said unto me, Wherefore did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns… 15 And he said to me, “The waters which you saw where the whore sits, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

This passage in Revelation 17:15 is not the only place in scripture where the imagery of water has been so used. Below are several other passages where the Holy Spirit utilized the word “waters” to represent nations or people. 

Isaiah 8:7 – Now therefore, behold, the Lord brings up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:

Isaiah 17:12 – Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! 13 The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. 

Jeremiah 47:2 – Thus says the LORD; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl.

Therefore, when the Apostle John states, “I saw a beast coming up out of the sea,” we can conclude with reasonable certainty that this first beast possesses historical heritages from many “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.”

However, the second beast that comes “up out of the earth” is, in fact, a man, or a unique position held by a succession of men and ultimately fulfilled by the last of them. Just as Adam came from the dust of “the earth,” rather than from the sea, so this language distinguish this beast as an individual.

Now some studious bible readers may know that Daniel 7:17 states that the four beast-nations “arise out of the earth,” and therefore might be inclined to object. However, a careful examination will reveal that it is in fact the kings, not their empires, that arise up out of from the earth.

Daniel 7:3 – And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

Daniel 7:17 – These great beasts, which are four [kingdoms or empires], are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.

Verse 17 repeats the number “four,” indicating four distinct kingdoms ruled by four kings. This distinction shows that the kings—not the beasts—rise from the earth, even though the terms are used interchangeably.

Scripture states that the second beast “exercises all the power of the first beast before him,” identifying him as a leader or ruler within the first beast’s empire. Revelation’s “second beast that comes up from the earth” may therefore represent either an individual or an office held by a succession of men, similar to the high priesthood. In this interpretation, the second beast could symbolize the presidency from the first beast’s rise, through its supremacy, and ultimately to its perdition. Although those who hold this office may appear lamb-like and continually speak of peace, history will reveal that they spoke with the voice of a dragon and promoted his agenda. The lamb-like symbolism suggests that, beneath the peaceful appearance, a concealed agenda seeks advantage and opportunities to wage war against God’s saints—the true spiritual “Israel.”

Revelation 13:2b – …and the dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.

Galatians 6:14-16 – God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the [true] Israel of God.

Therefore, if the first beast “from the sea” can be shown to be America, then this second beast from “the earth,” can be none other than the office of the Presidency. Though seeming to be for peace, is really promoting the dragon’s agenda, especially when “…he does great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,” (verses 13:11-13)

Why I call America “The Eighth Beast”

The angel in Revelation 17 explains to John that this beast “that was, and is not, even he,” is a prophetic and historical representation of seven various empires in Israel’s past and present, and future. However, in context of John’s whole vision and the prophecy, the overall seven-headed beast first seen in chapter 13:1 ultimately represents that last and final empire that goes into destruction; whereby I refer to it as “The Eighth Beast.” This seven-headed beast represents a succession of spiritual Babylons from the birth of Israel all the way up to the rise of “the eighth” prior to the Lord’s return. So, once more, it is important to stress concerning this eighth and final manifestation of the beast system, that it is “the dragon [that] gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority,” (Revelation 13:2).

The beast’s seven heads were simply intended to represent a historic succession of “seven mountains” which are prophetic of these kingdoms, four of which Daniel’s vision additionally confirms are “four great beasts [that] come up from the sea.”

Daniel 7:3 – And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

Revelation 17:9 – And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. 10 And there are seven kings: five [of which] are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. 11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

It must be noted here that the angel does not refer to this “eighth” as a king, just like the little horn was not so referenced in contrast to the others. Therefore, readers will find it helpful to keep this final “eighth beast” in mind while reading through Revelation chapters 13-18.

 Why the seven heads on the first beast?

The beast’s seven heads provide prophetic imagery for “the mind which has wisdom” (Revelation 17:9). The angel identifies them as “seven mountains” and “seven kings,” inviting prayerful, watchful readers to discern them through both scripture and history. Because scripture is God’s “sure word of prophecy,” often given centuries or even millennia before its fulfillment, its witness is trustworthy. The first five empires identified in Scripture correspond chronologically with the nation of Israel. They are listed below.

  1. Egypt 
  2. Assyria 
  3. Babylon 
  4. Medes /Persia 
  5. Greece

The sixth head, which the angel calls the “one is,” represents Rome, the fourth beast in Daniel’s vision. Egypt and Assyria are not included because they had already passed and were no longer relevant to Daniel and his people. The angel prophesied that this fourth beast would “be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.” Rome fulfilled this prophecy against Israel in A.D. 70, when Jerusalem was again destroyed, as Jesus had foretold.

Matthew 24:2 – And Jesus said unto them, “See you not all these things? truly I say to you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. “

Luke 19:43,44 – For the days shall come upon you, that your enemies shall cast a trench about you, and compass you around, and keep you in on every side, And they shall lay you even with the ground, and your children within you; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because you knew not the time of your visitation. 

Because many Jews had already dispersed among surrounding nations before Jerusalem’s destruction, they survived as a people. Israel, however, ceased to function as a sovereign kingdom in its inherited land. When Roman forces under Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, the nation of Israel and the practice of Judaism under the Levitical Law effectively ceased to exist and “was not.” 

Afterward, lawful sacrifices were no longer possible because the priests had been killed or dispersed, the genealogical records of the priesthood were lost, and the sanctuary, including the altar, the Holy of Holies, and its furnishings, had been destroyed or lost. Chapter 16 examines these matters further. Following the destruction in A.D. 70 and the Jewish dispersion, the Covenant Land did not return to Jewish sovereign control or receive recognition as a Jewish nation until after World War II.

Who controlled the land after Israel ceased to exist as a sovereign nation, and, more importantly, immediately before its reestablishment in 1948? The British Empire controlled the territory. By then, Britain had become history’s largest empire and had remained the foremost global power for more than a century, inspiring the saying, “The sun never sets on the British Empire.” In 1948, by God’s wisdom and providence, Israel was “born again” as a geographically defined nation on land that had been under British control. Therefore, in this interpretation, England is the most likely candidate for the beast’s seventh head.

Revelation 17:9-11 – And here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he comes, he must continue a short space.  And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

Some may ask how a global power dominant for more than a century could fulfill the prophecy, “and when he comes, he must continue a short space?” To interpret the passage properly, one must consider the whole prophecy: the short duration applies not to the existence of the mountain or empire, but to its king once the prophecy of Israel’s being born-again is fulfilled. George VI, King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, lived only four years after Israel’s rebirth before his elder daughter, Elizabeth, succeeded him.

Because England controlled the land when Israel was reborn as a nation, both it and King George VI alone can qualify as fulfilment of this prophetic seventh head; of which the prophecy accurately predicted, “when he comes, he must continue a short space.” That is, only four short years after Israel which “was, is not, and yet is” as a nation born again.

As a result, we can see how, just like the beast, Israel too went through the prophetic stages defined by the angel and “was, is not, and yet is” a nation today. We must not ignore Israel’s importance here if we are to rightly divide these prophecies in both Daniel and Revelation; and John’s visions, since Gabriel told Daniel that all these things pertained to “your people and… your holy city.”

So, the complete list of those seven nations or empires which have had a direct relationship with Israel, either by taking her into captivity or having dominion over them and their land, it would be as follows:

  1. Egypt 
  2. Assyria 
  3. Babylon 
  4. Mede/Persia 
  5. Greece
  6. Rome (Which destroyed Israel, causing both the beast and Israel to answer to the prophetic expression of “was not”)
  7. England

But once more look at what the scriptures says:

Revelation 17:11 – And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into perdition.

Because the passage says the eighth “is of the seven,” the eighth must either descend directly from the seventh or combine elements of all seven empires. In the latter case, it would be an end-time blending of peoples, languages, and nationalities—a cultural melting pot shaped by immigration. Either way, America alone seems to be able to comfortably wear this prophetic Cinderella slipper.

It is also worth recalling that England was a major reason President Roosevelt sought greater American involvement in World War II. The war then accelerated the British Empire’s decline, helped make Israel’s rebirth possible, and created the conditions for America’s rise to global supremacy. Therefore, it is because of this succession of nations in Israel’s history, and events around Israel today’s re-emergence into prophetic light, that I am persuaded that America is indeed “the eighth” and is destined to soon, very soon, “go into perdition,” and to suffer under the wrath of God its absolute annihilation.

Revelation 18:8,19 – Therefore her plagues will come in one day, death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her. …Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.

Why are both “the little horn” and the “second beast” used synonymous with an endtime empire and its last leader?

Scripture and history often identify a ruler so closely with the nation or empire he represents that the two are described as one. Familiar examples include Caesar and Rome, Babylon and Chaldea, David and Jerusalem—the City of David—and national capitals such as New York City in the early United States and Washington, D.C., today.

Daniel 2 illustrates this principle. In interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s dream about the succession of kingdoms, Daniel told him, “You are this head of gold.” Nebuchadnezzar personally represented Babylon, the kingdom symbolized by the head of gold.

We also see it with the first beast from the sea, the nation empire, speaking to the world as a man, “He was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven,” (Revelation 13:5).

This verse above I believe was fulfilled with President Franklin D. Roosevelt who cause America to get involved in World War 2, who unexpectedly died nearly three and a half years after making this famous speech,

“Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan . . . As Commander in Chief of the army and navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victoryWith confidence in our armed forces-with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph – so help us God…”

Considering President Roosevelt’s expressed confidence in “the American people in their righteous might,” that they will surely “win through to absolute victory” due to “our armed forces-with the unbounding determination of our people,” I am compelled to ask just what does the word of God say about one who boasts in the strength of their flesh? Some may wish to immediately object and demand the direction of my attention to President Roosevelt’s inclusion of “so help us God…”

But I must simply point out that nowhere did he express his confidence to be in either God’s righteousness or His might, as if they were the foundation and strength whereby the American people, through their unwavering faith in God, would surely overcome their enemies. No, this short inclusion of “so help us God,” has actually been the last four words attached to many threats of revenge by proud and indignant people.

Those more devoted to their country than to God’s Kingdom or their own godliness may have regarded President Roosevelt’s speech as sufficiently religious because it used phrases such as “righteous might” and “so help us God.” Yet an honest critique suggests that this language merely gave religious cover to a strategic purpose: rallying Americans behind a foreign war and stirring patriotic willingness to send fathers, husbands, and sons into battle.

The pattern appeared again after the 9/11 destruction of the Twin Towers, when the United States went to war in Iraq over alleged weapons of mass destruction, and in the decades-long dispute over Iran’s nuclear program and the present conflict involving Israel. And now, only about one year and ten months after President Trump promised “No new wars,” he is now threatening the annihilation of the Iranian people as a race.

So, just what does the word of God say about such who boasts in the strength of the flesh?

Jeremiah 17:5,6 – So says the LORD, Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from the LORD. For he shall be like a juniper in the desert, and shall not see when good comes. But he shall live in the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land that is not inhabited. 

It is therefore noteworthy that President Franklin D. Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945, nearly three and a half years after his December 8, 1941, address to Congress. He did not live to see the war’s conclusion and, in the language of Jeremiah, did “not see when good comes.” The elapsed period was three years, four months, and four days, excluding the end date. The Hebrew calendar was lunisolar: its months are 29 or 30 days long, averaging about 29.5 days, and an additional month is inserted seven times in each nineteen-year cycle. The 1,221 days between Roosevelt’s speech and his death equal approximately 41.39 lunar months. Although Jewish reckoning with often counts a partial day, month, or year as a whole in certain contexts, extending that principle to round this interval to forty-two months is admittedly an interpretive step rather than a precise calendrical calculation, it still fits their tradition. I also find it interesting that Roosevelt also actually occurred on the New Moon of April 12, 1945. Taken altogether, these correspondences certainly support—but do not by themselves prove—the prophetic connections I am proposing that these events helped prepare the way for Israel as “a nation to be born in a day,” (Isaiah 66:8).

What final duration is expressly spoken for the little horn?

Daniel 7:24-26 – And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.

This time period is commonly understood as three and a half years. Because the passage does not define it more precisely as 1,260, 1,290, or 1,335 days, the duration of forty-two months need not be exact—just as, in this interpretation, the forty-two months in Revelation 13:5 were not.

If this period is applied to President Trump, who, like the beast and Israel, “was, was not, yet is,” the sequence is as follows: he “was” president from January 20, 2017, to January 20, 2021; he “was not” president from January 21, 2021, to January 19, 2025; and he “yet is” president again as of January 20, 2025. If the little horn’s proposed final period begins with his latest inauguration, adding three and a half years leads to July 20, 2028, only sixty-seven days after Israel’s eightieth anniversary as a restored nation.

Another conviction of time remaining comes from Psalm 90. Moses lived to be 120 years old, Aaron 123, Miriam approximately 126 to 130, and Joshua 110. Because these figures exceed the psalm’s span of “threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years,” I believe the passage may have an additional application before time “is soon cut off, and we fly away.”

Psalm 90:7 – For we are burned up by Your anger, and by Your wrath we are troubled. 8 You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your face. 9 For all our days pass away in Your wrath; we finish our years like a murmur. 10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by strength they are fourscore years, yet their pride is labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 11 Who knows the power of Your anger? And as Your fear is, so is Your wrath. 12 So teach us to number our days, so that we may bring a heart of wisdom. 13 Return, O LORD! How long? And give pity to Your servants. 14 Satisfy us early with Your mercy, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad according to the days of our affliction, the years in which we have seen evil. 16 Let Your work appear to Your servants, and Your glory to their sons. 17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be on us; and establish the work of our hands on us; yea, the work of our hands, establish it.

Thus, it is a strong persuasion to me that President Trump is the “Little Horn,” and the fulfillment of the second beast of Revelation 13 which has “two horns like a lamb” and “spoke as a dragon,” the time is much shorter than many are discerning.

Then, after that we would have the following duration before the Lord’s return –

Daniel 7:9-12 – I – watched until the thrones were thrown up, and the Ancient of Days sat, whose robe was white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool. His throne was like flames of fire, and His wheels like burning fire. A stream of fire went out and came out from before Him. A thousand thousands served Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The judgment was set, and the books were opened. Then I was looking because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke. I watched until the beast was slain, and his body was destroyed and given to the burning flame. And the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away. Yet their lives were made longer for a season and time.

A season is roughly three months and a year twelve, totaling approximately fifteen months which will be for the Lord’s gathering of the nations for the day of wrath –

Revelation 16:12 – Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15 “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” 16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.

17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.

Although the preceding text does not clearly separate these events or their timing, chapters 17 and 18 provide the angel’s fuller explanation of John’s visions in revealed to him in 3 thru16.

Revelation 17:1,2 – Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”

Revelation 17:7 – But the angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.

Revelation 17:12 – The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” 15 Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.

 16 “And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”

I have long held the view that this alliance formed between the Eighth Beast and the ten kings is not based on genuine unity nor their intended cooperation, hence the duration of one hour. Although initiated by the beast, the agreement among the kings represents a strategic and intentional tactic on their part; designed to project an appearance of alignment with the beast while concealing their actual motives. Through participation in this alliance, the ten kings secure the opportunity to discreetly organize and position themselves for an unexpected and sudden decisive move against the woman and the beast on which she sits.

The alliance between the ten kings and the Eighth Beast is built upon the outward appearance of shared purpose and unity. In reality, this facade is carefully crafted to mask the true intentions of the ten kings. By projecting an image of solidarity, the ten kings are able to coordinate their plans without arousing suspicion, working together under the pretense of supporting the beast.

The ultimate aim of the ten kings is clear: to bring about the sudden and complete destruction of both the Jezebelian whore and the Eighth Beast. This calculated attack becomes possible because the beast, captivated and deceived by the seductive influence of the whore, unwittingly allows her to overshadow and ultimately undermine its own authority.

I cover this and all these chapter in my commentary of revelation called Three Woes and Four Endings which can be reviewed and downloaded here.

What did the little horn and the beast have in common?

In short, the little horn and the beast share both behavior and fate: each is arrogant and blasphemous, and each ends in fiery destruction. The following verses describe them; my interpretive comments appearing in brackets.

Little Horn –

Daniel 7:8b – …and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. 11 I beheld then because 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.

7:20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

 21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them… 23 And he [the angel] said, …24 The ten horns out of this kingdom [Rome] are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings [Spain, France, and England forfeiting strongholds on America’s contiguous states/land].  25 And he shall speak great words against [another gospel contrary to] the most High, and shall wear out [attempt to deceive and take the crowns of] the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand [Psalm 125:3] until a time and times and the dividing of time.

 26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.

Second Beast with horns like a lamb-

Revelation 13:5 – And there was given unto him [the eighth beast empire] a mouth [a spokesman] 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 [oppress and kill] them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men [the two events that ended WW2- Hiroshima and Nagasaki]. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived [Pearl Harbor – start of WW2]. 15 He was granted power [given technical knowledge – fallen angel technology] to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Revelation 19:19 – And I saw the beast and the [ten] kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered [or, united in a common resistance] together to make war against Him [the Lamb] that sat on the horse, and against His army.  20 And [Greek – “kai” – can be translated “but” or “even so”] the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.  21 And [Greek – “kai” – “yet”] the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

(Note: the Greek word ‘kai” is not always used inclusively, and is often used definitively; “and these” versus “this or that,” and sometimes “so, even so, however, or regardless”)

Lastly, what accomplishments are attributed to the little horn and/or the second beast?

  • three of the first horns plucked up by the roots, power given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
  • beast from the earth [man] exercises all the power of the first beast from the sea [empire] before him
  • causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
  • doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
  • deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast
  • Tells “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.”

Comments welcomed, and for more information on my perspective, here are some other links for consideration and prayer –

Quick sidenotes –

  • I am fully aware of the anxiousness of the Israel to rebuild the temple, and that it has been said it could be rapidly built since much of it and it utensils are already fabricated.  However, I think it is an intention false prophetic mile marker of the adversary to deceive Christians as to the timing of the Lord’s return. Concerning why I have this conviction, I will direct you to a chapter in my book,  “The Destruction of the Temple, Will There Really Be A Third?”
  • I am also aware of the of the Trump-Cyrus-Third Temple coins that have been around since 2018.
  • Also, concerning the “Man of Sin, Son of Perdition, who sits in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God,” spoken of by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, see “Giving Way to the Rise of The Son of Perdition” Btw, I am sorry it’s long, but I felt it necessary to present a thorough explanation in order break the stronghold of the common understanding of the passage. For on such a serious topic, one has to wonder why Paul elected to be so brief in his mentioning it, but rather encouraged them to remember what he spoken to privately face to face.
  • A PowerPoint message on America in Prophecy that I gave at a church 11 years ago prior to moving to Costa Rica.
  • A chapter of my book The Eighth Beast which was actually written in 2002shortly after the Twin Towers fell – “Is America Missing in Prophecy?”
  • A message I gave about America at My People 2012 when I felt the need to literally go to the seat of America and to pray for our country. Feeling that I might not be the only one being so led of the Lord, I sought out any possible prayer events that might be happening in Washington DC, and found that there was indeed an organized prayer event happening in a couple of weeks. However, even more amazingly, without any action on my own part, the Lord amazingly worked things out so as to slip me into the My People Pray 2012 event as the final speaker.
  • A message I shared with some men at a rehab encouraging them to “Laying Hold of Eternal Life”

Other old messages I have shared below

I believe the Lord would have me make my commentary on Revelation available online. The PDF is downloadable.

 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.  But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake.  And it shall turn to you for a testimony. (Luke 21:11-13)

 For years I have frequently been told when reasoning with other “believers” I have met here in America how they don’t worry about the end times, because “We’re not going to be here anyway.” It has become painfully evident that there is this unscriptural confidence within the lukewarm church of America  that they are not going to have to suffer for their faith or go through much “tribulation,” because, as they quickly affirm, “God hasn’t appointed us for wrath.”

Sadly, that quote they use is improperly used out its context. The wrath which we are not appointed to is that which contrasts with the salvation of the Saints, damnation, eternal punishment and alienation from God. It is therefore my desire to stir up and awaken as many as possible who name the Name of Christ that they might be properly prepared and armored for the battle which believers have been forewarn they will have to endure.

 1Thessolonians 5:6 – Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.  7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.  8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.  9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,  10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.  11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Now I would like to stress that this post is not a debate about the rapture or when. It is about what God’s word says, these things will befall those who love the Lord Jesus Christ and are therefore followers of Him. Because of my concern for “believers” in America I have submitted a congested review of most of the New Testament scriptures that address this persecution, tribulation, and trials which Jesus Christ said would befall His people.

Acts 5:40 – And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

May the Holy Spirit speak expressively to you –

 Matthew 5:10 – Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake.  12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Matthew 10:16 – Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.  17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.  19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.  20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.  21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.  22 And ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.  23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.  24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.  25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of His household?  26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.  27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.  28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10:34 – Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.  35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.  36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.  37 He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me.  39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it.

Matthew 23:29 – Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,  30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.  31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.  32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.  33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?  34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:  35 That upon you may come all the righteous bloodshed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

Mark 13:9 – But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.  10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.  11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.  12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.  13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Luke 6:22 – Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.  23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Luke 21:11 – And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.  12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake.  13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.  14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:  15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.  16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.  17 And ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake.  18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.  19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

John 15:18 – If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you.  19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.  20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also.  21 But all these things will they do unto you for My name’s sake, because they know not Him that sent Me.

John 16:33 – These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 17:14 – I have given them Thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  15 I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil.  16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Acts 7:52 – Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers.

Acts 14:22 – Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Acts 28:17 – And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.  18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.  19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.  20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.  21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.  22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.

Romans 5:3 – And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

Romans 8:16 – The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:  17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.  18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

 Romans 8:35 – Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1Corinthians 4:9 – For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.  10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.  11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place;  12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:  13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

1Corinthians 15:30 – And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?  31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.  32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die.  33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.  34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

2Corinthians 1:3 – Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;  4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.  5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.  6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.  7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.  8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:  9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:  10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;  11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

2Corinthians 4:8 – We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;  9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;  10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.  11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.  12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.  13  We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;  14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.  15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.  16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.  17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;  18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2Corinthians 6:4 – But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,  5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;  6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,  7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,  8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;  9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;  10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

2Corinthians 7:4 – Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

2Corinthians 11:23 – Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.  24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.  25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;  26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;  27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.  28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.  29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?  30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

2Corinthians 12:5 – Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

2Corinthians 12:9 – And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Galatians 4:29 – But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

Galatians  5:11 – And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.

Galatians 6:12 – As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

Galatians 6:17 – From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

Ephesians 6:10 – Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:  18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

Philippians 1:29 – For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake;  30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Colossians 1:24 – Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body’s sake, which is the church:

I Thessalonians 1:6 – And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.

I Thessalonians 2:1 – For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:  2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

I Thessalonians 2:14 – For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:  15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:  16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

I Thessalonians 3:3 – That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. 4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.  5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.  6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to  see us, as we also to see you:  7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:  8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 – We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;  4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:  5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:  6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;  7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels. 

2 Timothy 1:8 – Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

2 Timothy 1:12 – For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.

2 Timothy 2:8 – Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:  9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.  10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.  11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him:  12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us.

2 Timothy 3:1 – This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 Timothy 3:10 – But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.  12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Hebrews 10:32 – But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;  33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.  34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

Hebrews 11:25 – Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.  27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible.

Hebrews 11:35 – Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:  36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:  37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;  38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 

Hebrews 12:1 – Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  3 For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Hebrews 13:3 – Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

Hebrews 13:12 – Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.  13 Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach.  14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

James 1:12 – Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.

James 2:6 – But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

James 5:1 – Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.  2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.  3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.  4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.  5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.  6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.  7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

1Peter 1:6 – Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:  7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:  8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:  9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

1Peter 2:19 – For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.  20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.  21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.

1Peter 3:14 – But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;  15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:  16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.  17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

1Peter 4:12 – Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:  13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.  14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.  15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.  16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.  17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?  18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?  19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

1Peter 5:8 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:  9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.  10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

1John 3:10 – In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.  11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.  12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.  13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

Revelation 2:9 – I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.  10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Revelation  6:9 – 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:  10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?  11 And white robes were given unto every one of 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.

Revelation  7:13 – And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?  14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.  16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.  17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Revelation  12:11 – And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Revelation  13:6 – 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.

Revelation  17:6 – And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

Revelation  18:24 – And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Revelation  20:4  -And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: 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 a thousand years.

Having gone through the above verses, I was compelled to add these two from Daniel –

 Daniel 7:21 – I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; 22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

Daniel 11:35 – And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.

I leave you with the Apostle Peter’s exhortation to the church –

 2Peter 3:10 – But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.  11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,  12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?  13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.  14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.  15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;  16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.  17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.  18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.

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Video  —  Posted: April 27, 2026 in Shared Thoughts

John 2:1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2 And both Jesus was called, and His disciples, to the marriage. 3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it. 6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. 9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, 10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. 11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory; and His disciples believed on Him.

Years ago I was reading these verses about Jesus’ first miracle when I came to verse 6 and it just seemed to jump out at me.

“And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.”

For many years I had simply read through the passage, simply retaining how Jesus had turned water into wine, which without a doubt was truly a significant event. But I had failed to take notice of was what water it was that Jesus turned into wine, and the purpose for why it was there. Suddenly, every aspect of the event was suddenly more significant than I had previously appreciated. Everything from the location, the marriage, and all the steps involved in the miracle seemed filled with meaning. Hopefully, I will be able to share these things with you, details that require reflection if one is to truly appreciate all Jesus did with this “beginning of miracles,” when he began to “manifest forth His glory” at the wedding in Cana of Galilee.

This water was there because of the traditions of the Jews. It wasn’t there for consumption, rather for religious purification. See the Jews had taken a prophetic truth and turned it into a vain tradition. It was their opinion that nothing was truly cleansed unless it had been washed in “living water.” What that means is simply that the water needed to be in motion, such as a moving river, spring, or simply the pouring of water over their hands as they washed, thus allowing the impurities to be washed away. For to bathe in a basin would be washing hands in stagnant which would simply hold the impurities, leaving you merely washing in dirty water, consequently it was required to be living, or flowing water.

2 Kings 3:11b . . . Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.

Consider also the imagery of the following verses as well–

Leviticus 14:5 And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water: 6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: 7 And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.

What tremendous prophetic action, one bird being washed in living water and the blood of another and then being set free to live. Another great example would be the design and function of the brazen laver which I hope to have time to write about soon. Now these were true prophetic things which God ordained to symbolize aspects of the Gospel, but they were never to become the object of faith or the confidence of men. Let’s look at an account in Mark –

Mr 7:2 And when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?”

Now it needs to be clarified that the Pharisees were not simply speaking of washing some things for the sake of physical cleanliness, they doing all these things in order to declare their spiritual pureness. Their confidence had drifted so far from what God had originally intended, that they were now actually accusing Jesus and His disciples of sin for they had eating “with unwashen hands.”

Listen to Jesus’ reply to them –

Mark 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And He said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

Jesus turned the accusation around and used it to address their sins in the light of God’s word, then publicly calls them hypocrites. Look at His list of their sins here:

  1. Hypocrites
  2. Lip service only, no true heart worship.
  3. Vain and dead religious worship established only upon men’s tradition.
  4. Rejection of God words by laying (casting) it aside to do their own little religious performance.

Jesus openly exposed how what was once founded upon the oracles of God, they had corrupted and thus reduced to a powerless, man centered religion. In their vain confidence they were now guilty of taking the Lord’s name in vain, by proclaiming to be the holy people of God, yet all the while casting His words away from them. If you really stop and think about it, this is really not too different from many “Christians” nowadays that likewise are professing to be followers of God. Regardless of all their talk about God and being the children of Abraham, God’s chosen people, they were no longer pursuing God or even trying to draw closer to Him. Therefore, Jesus rebukes them as those who’s “hearts are far from Me.”

Scripture warns us how the heart tends to be much like our eyes; it too tends to focus on one thing primarily.

Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

With hearts turned away from the Lord, they were only dedicated to themselves. No longer seeking God’s Kingdom or glory. Forgetting the things afar off, they became nearsighted, their were only concern was serving their own selves, and building each other up in their own eyes. No longer mindful of eternal treasures in heaven, their focus was reduced to whatever they could get now through their religious traditions, and so they caused the light that was within them, of which they boasted great confidence in as elevated teachers of the law, to become nothing more than a great blinding darkness. Such is the end of all prideful and covetous men who think they see clearly.

Matthew 6:10 For Moses said, Honor thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. 12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

They had fallen so far from the righteous precept of true faith working by love, they were now making void the fifth commandment.

Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

For Paul stated, “If any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” For now instead of encouraging men that they ought to be providing for their own family and aging parents, these greedy hypocrites actually created a religious way to excuse their followers from their godly obligations; thus permitting them to selfishly use their wealth for themselves as long as sufficient gifts were being made, and was ultimately going to be left to these blind guides.

But now, as the Apostle John said, the fullness of time has come and Jesus begins His ministry at the celebration of the greatest prophetic sacrament between a man and a woman, a wedding feast in Cana. For through marriage, husbands and wives are given what was denied to the angels, the privilege and responsibility to adorn the Gospel of God our Savor. For marriage is a holy covenant and union design to represent God’s ultimate plan for those who love Him. As husbands take unto themselves their own wives to love, provide for and to protect as weaker vessels, they reflect to the world how Christ so loved His church. Wives likewise by loving and submitting to their own husbands, present what the church should unto Christ, taking the name of thereof unto themselves not in vain. For more on this please read “Why God made us Males and Female.

After their arrival at the wedding Jesus asked for wine and was told by His mother that there was none. Mary then turns and gives directions which have become known as “The Gospel according to Mary” unto the servants, “Whatsoever He says, do.” Jesus has them fill the water pots to the brim and then turns the water unto wine, now there is no ceremonial water whereby others could now wash their hands to partake of the festivities of the wedding. Jesus literally took this Pharisaic vain tradition of purification and brought it to an abrupt prophetic end.

What fabulous prophetic imagery! A wedding, union with Christ, wine, our atonement, a celebration, the marriage supper of the Lamb, all being put forth gloriously at the beginning of Jesus’ miracles and ministry. However, what is also sadly prophetic was the action at Christ’s crucifixion where they took and gave unto Him vinegar on the cross.

John 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

This wasn’t just vinegar, as one might readily think of vinegar off the store shelf. This was soured wine which was permitted to turn into vinegar and was past the stage of being “good wine” such as was served at the wedding of Cana. This was neglected wine. Note the description given in Numbers-

Numbers 6:3 He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.

This giving of the sour wine vinegar to Jesus was a witness against those who demanded His crucifixion, showing they had rejected His Gospel of the Kingdom simply because it threaten their own. They neglecting His gift of prophetic purification, they gave it back to Him soured by their rejection of both Him and His words, choosing rather to cling to their own vain traditions. They were doing just as Jesus said , filling up the measure of their fathers.

Matthew 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. 32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. 33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

Yet this “vinegar” was given to Jesus, “That the scripture might be fulfilled.” That scripture is found in Psalm 69 –

Psalm 69:19 Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee. 20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. 21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Sometimes we fail to dwell upon the severity of God’s righteous judgment, tending to only want to see His mercy and forgiveness. However, we must consider the whole council of God, for only by knowing the terror of the Lord can we hope to successfully labor to persuade men to repent. God is not mocked, each will all reap what they have sown . . . and so therefore the judgment was prophetically pronounced upon those who crucified Him.

Psalm 69:22 Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. 23 Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake. 24 Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them. 25 Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents. 26 For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded. 27 Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness. 28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

Some have taken these following words of Jesus as being directed to the people and the Jewish rulers, as a relieving them of their guilt and not laying their sin to their account.

Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

But these religious hypocrites were not ignorant in their actions, they knew full well what they did and why –

John 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

John 12:42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

We too need to vigilant to guard our own hearts, lest these reproofs of scriptures should ever find application against us–

Ro 2:19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, 20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. 21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? 22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? 23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

No, these religious leaders were not being forgiven, they were being held accountable with their names being “blotted out of the book of the living, and not left written in with the righteous. For one cannot partake of Christ and then go on continuing to willfully sin against Him. That is not to deny we all will have moments of failure due to the violence of sudden temptation, or because we are ignorant of God’s perfect will. But confession and repentence upon understanding our sin assures us God’s mercy of forgiveness if we will so humble ourselves before our Savor. But we must never forget, judgment always begins in the house of the Lord and everything that can be shaken will be shaken.

So then, just who was Jesus praying for? Who was it that didn’t really understand what they were doing when they cast lots for His garments and nailed Him to the cross? Well, listen to the scriptures-

1 Corinthians 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

Blessed are those of us who have come to the same understanding of the Roman centurion who stood by Christ side and so confessed after all he had witnessed –

Mr 15:37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. 38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. 39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

What rich lessons we can learn through the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and His first miracle. The condemnation and discarding of vain traditions contrasted with the witness of of a promised wedding feast to which all have been bidden to come. All made possible through an abounding source of purification in the blood of our atonement which ripped wide open the veil into the Holy of Holies. Now, all the redeemed can come boldly before the Throne of Grace to petition and worship the Savor in spirit and truth.

No, He did not come merely to cleanse the outside of this earthen vessel of ours. He came to purify us from within with the washing of the water of His word and to cleanse us from our sins in His blood. Therefore, it is possible now for our Holy God to come and dwell in us, filling us with His Spirit, and impart the power of His seed of life whereby we are born again, His word.

1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Like Jesus’ disciples, let us too truly “believe on Him” and drink freely of this new wine and rejoice in the God of our salvation. Blessed be the name of our Lord Jesus.

Live for the King.
Trips to the Tomb

For centuries there has been much confusion when people try to reason the different accounts of Jesus’ resurrection as recorded by the apostles. The fact that they all seem to have a different story to tell does not help. Perhaps, a good way to consider their seemingly different reports is to view them like transparent overlays, similar to the one’s we have seen in books showing the skeleton, then the nerves and blood vessels, organs, muscular and finally the skin and hair.

The Gospels, similarly, are each reporting different events which had taken place around a major singular occurrence, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The fact is that these different events are recorded in God’s word and are therefore true. Perhaps the answer to the confusion is to consider that there were multiple trips made to the tomb.

The best way to determine the possible order of these trips to the tomb is to consider the different details that have been given about the time of day and light of the sun. Was the sun going down or coming up? These questions are actually quite easy to answer. However, we must remember that the Sabbath, like all the other biblical days, began and ended with sundown, see Gen. 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31 and Lev. 23:32.

Matthew clearly tells us that when the two Marys where first headed to the tomb it was “IN the end of the Sabbath.” Therefore, according to Matthew this first trip took place Saturday evening prior to sunset, while it was still “IN the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week.”

 

Chart of Days and Events

I have completed my study on Revelation.

The marriage of the Lamb draws near, and it is essential for His bride to make herself ready. The preparation cannot be passive; it must be intentional, a commitment to spiritual growth and obedience.

So ask yourself: Are you truly prepared? Is there oil in your vessel to keep your lamp burning brightly? Are you diligently working out your salvation with fear and trembling? Are you perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord, knowing that without such devotion, no one will see the Lord favorably.

Are you completing the work God has entrusted to you? Have you ran or walked your race? Have you fought the good fight of faith? Do you genuinely try to love your neighbor as yourself? Have you been faithful as a watchman? Do you stand firm in the words He has spoken and abide in the vine of Christ? Are you growing there as you ought to and gladly accept the Father’s pruning? Or do the cares and pleasures of the world choke Him out?

Be honest with yourself before God, are you truly laboring in love to bring forth your fruit unto perfection? Are you keeping your eyes single and focused on Jesus? Do you love Him with all your heart, mind, and strength?

 How are your spiritual disciplines? Do you pray and fast regularly? Do you studied to show yourself approved, as a worker who needs not to be ashamed before God? Do you delight and meditate in His word? Do you labor in true prayer for others? Jesus said My sheep know My voice and they follow Me, so are you hearing and following His lead? Or are you dull of hearing? Do you forgive others? Is there any bitterness in your heart?

Seriously, how is your relationship with God? Is it cold, hot, or lukewarm? Do you truly have fellowship with Him and His Son Jesus Christ? Does your heart cry out to Him as your Father? Do you trust in Him completely? Do you draw near to Him and quietly wait in His presence? Do you practice stillness before Him? Are you quick to repent, and have an open heart to correction? Is Christ truly your life? Are you looking for and hastening His coming? Does your time bear a witness that your treasure is in heaven? Do you seek to redeem it more for His purpose and glory?

Are you keeping your spiritual garments unspotted and white? Have you been a godly and faithful spouse and parent? Have you honored your parents and loved them well? Generosity is a mark of Christ, so have you freely given to others, expecting nothing in return? Do you cultivate a spirit of thankfulness?

Are you striving toward the fullness of the measure of the stature of Christ? Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness, seeking first His Kingdom and glory? Are you meek, willing to go the extra mile without complaint? Do you daily pick up your cross and follow Him? Are you content with godliness, finding your satisfaction in a life devoted to Him?

Are you a bruised reed, or a tree of righteousness? A smoking flax, or on fire for the Lord?

Or have you received God’s grace in vain?

For only those who have made themselves ready for Him will truly “be glad and rejoice and give honor to Him.” For why would you call Him Lord and do not do the things He has said?

“Awake you who sleeps, arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light. Awake to righteousness and sin not. For some of you have not an intimate knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.” (Ephesians 6:14, I Corinthians 15:34)

Those who have followed my blog for any length of time know that I believe that America is the prophetic “eight that goeth into perdition.” But for those who are here for the first time please let me briefly address a few points before we get in where New York City’s destruction may well be foretold in scripture as “the city of the nations fell.”

To Start, this very post was ran back on July 4th in 2015 under the heading “Will New York City be nuked this Fourth of July?” It was written was after Rep. Peter King, member of the Homeland Security Committee expressed to Megyn Kelly that New York City officials were concerned about a dirty bomb attack on the 4th of July. The following is usually my introductory passage  for those who may have never consider the possibility of America in scripture.

Revelation –  17:9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.  10 And 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.  11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into perdition.

It amazes me that I rarely hear anyone else talking about the above passage in regards to the beast that rises out of the sea Revelations chapter 13, let alone connecting it to the rise of America as the eighth and final great empire undeniably connect to Israel and its rebirth. Yet because the angel says to John, “Here is the mind which hath wisdom…” I truly would think more people, if they were  wanting wisdom and understanding of who the beast is, would jump on this verse that they might be given understanding of what it all means. Yet, since the time of the reformation,  the only people who seem to look at the verse and discuss it are people who still think it all applies to the Catholic Church and that it deals with a succession of popes from long ago.

While I am not going to get into The Eighth Beast and America again now, I do want touch on Washington D.C. and New York City real quick again in this post because of late I have been compiling my own commentary on Revelation, and just reached chapter 16. So hopefully, I will be posting that study as a downloadable PDF soon.

But for now, since I’m here now visiting my notes for that reason, let me present a quick outline for those who may want to look into this further on their own about America in scripture before this posts gets into NYC as a subject matter.

My persuasion is Revelation chapters 13-18 are about the rise and fall of this eighth empire which can also be identified by its direct correlation with the nation of Israel. In chapter 13 the seven-headed beast rises up out of the sea which represents multitudes, nation and languages and tongues, meaning it is a nation of multiple ethnic backgrounds and cultures, a land of immigrants.

The eighth beast rises to its height of power the same time the preceding global superpower, England, is waning and declining from its zenith prior to the rebirth of Israel. All this happens because there was a war where one of the heads of the beast received a deadly blow but was able to recover and the second beast of Revelation 13 called down fire from heaven in the sight of the men and the consensus of the whole world was “Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

For the sake of brevity I am simply going to state for now that I believe there is strong scriptural and historical evidence the event of “fire from heaven in the sight of the men” was the world’s introduction to nuclear warfare as President Truman ordered the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which brought an end to the WW2, at which time the British Empire was fading and Israel was about to be born again as a nation. For more information please review The Eighth Beast or America.

Let me be forthcoming in stating that I believe the position of the President Of The United States is that second beast which scripture states had “two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon” and “exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.” For while the succession of POTUS’s have tried to maintain the image of (a lamb) being for peace, history reveals they have actually been promoting the agenda of the dragon and constantly given to meddling in other sovereign nations and promoting self-serving wars.

As Revelation chapter 14-16 continues they speak about the judgment of the beast and John having witnessed everything in a vision becomes so overwhelm that in chapter 17 an angel begins to explain to him “the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.” The angel then continues in chapter 18 expounding on the utter destruction coming to the beast and the apostate religious system riding it.

But back in chapter 16 we see that “the seat,” or capital “of the beast” is going to be destroyed with the outpouring of the 5th vial –

Revelation 16:10 – And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain.

It is worth recalling here how when President George W. Bush was  promoting his father’s “land for peace” agenda on Israel that the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated on its re-entry directly above Palestine Texas and had a very similar appearance to that of a shooting star or meteorite as it was disintegrating upon its re-entry. This tragic event was telecast live and witness worldwide. However, as many already know, shooting stars and comets are often considered bad omens. Therefore I have always considered this event to have been a harbinger and reliable witness to the prophetic verse above that eventually those in “the seat of the beast” would “gnawed their tongues for pain” then the “kingdom was full of darkness.” Such terminology could be an accurate description of the results of a nuclear detonation over a city. But we are talking about the seat of spiritual Babylon, which was actually the seat and capital of the Chaldeans. This makes the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy all the more noteworthy here when we consider that the seat and capital of America is the District of Columbia.

But regarding New York City, I don’t think that destruction comes until the seventh vial is poured out.

Revelation 16:17 – And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.  18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.  19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.  

These verse foretell the beginning of the torrent of devastation that befalls America as God unleashes His anger against America and destroys once again man’s vain attempt to rebuild Babel. But before God’s wrath is fully released I have come to lean toward the persuasion that it must be preceded by the destruction of Washington D.C., an event that will probably be a false flag event by the ruling elite as an attempt to utterly obliterate any trace American heritage and extinguish the legislative structure of America as some of us remember how it used to be.

Yet God is going to let these heathen rage and them imagine a vain thing as they continue to set themselves against the LORD and against His anointed. For “He that sits in the heavens shall laugh, and  the Lord shall have them in derision. For then shall He speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure.”

For I sense that the emptying of the fifth, sixth and seventh vails are not spaced far apart. For in order for the kings of the east to come against Israel, the way must be prepared and the great River Euphrates dried up. Yet as the things move at a steadily accelerating pace, God has already been preparing His armaments against the whore and the beast upon which she rides.

For when these wicked rulers rise up to fulfill their devilishly calculated scheme, they will find that God will simply allow them to fall into the ditch of destruction they have dug for others. For with “a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great,” God will shake the very refuged they have dug for their own safety and preservation, turning their DUMBs (deep underground military bases” into tombs and death traps as the great city will be divided into three parts.

The “great city” speaking of spiritual Babylon which represents the whole nation. For as surely as Babylon was synonymous with the Chaldean Empire so will Washington D.C. be with America, as the very geography of the nation will be ripped into three parts. It will most likely be during this weakened state that the ten kings will strike with nuclear weapons to absolutely destroy America so as to never arise again. And while some might protest that they would not do that because they would want to savage the spoils and great resources of America, I must remind you that they will be mad and drunkened from partaking of America’s cup of iniquity and that God Himself puts this in their heart in order to fulfill His will upon the great whore.

Revelation 17:16 – And the ten horns which you saw upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.  17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil His will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.  18 And the woman which you saw is that great city, which reigns [has dominance] over the kings of the earth.

It is then that God will announce His war upon all the nations of the earth as City of Nations falls into utter ruin by the wrath of God. Now some of you might notice that I said “city” and not “cities” as did the translators. That is because they did not understand how there could be a City of Nations back then. But for years God has persuaded me that it was not the “cities” of the nations, but one city in particular that was going to be focal point of His anger as He began His judgment upon the nations.

That is why God led me years ago to search this out lest I teach an untruth and led me to the Codex Sinaiticus which dates to the middle of the fourth century. According a web site hosting the Codex, “only one other nearly complete manuscript of the Christian Bible – Codex Vaticanus (kept in the Vatican Library in Rome) – is of a similarly early date.” According to the web site “The only manuscripts of Christian scripture that are definitely of an earlier date than Codex Sinaiticus contain small portions of the text of the Bible.”

cordex

“’Codex’ means ‘book’. By the time Codex Sinaiticus was written, works of literature were increasingly written on sheets that were folded and bound together in a format that we still use to this day. This book format was steadily replacing the roll format which was more widespread just a century before when texts were written on one side of a series of sheets glued together to make a roll. These rolls were made of animal skin (like most of the Dead Sea Scrolls) or the papyrus plant (commonly used for Greek and Latin literature).”

It was there that I was able to examine the text in the closest thing to the original and verify that what I had been persuaded of already was in fact true, that there was a prophetic City of Nations that would be destroyed and her location would be within the boundaries of The Eighth Beast that goeth into perdition. Not being a Greek scholar, I first had to verify that there was a visible distinction between the plural and the singular for city/cities and to start I looked up Jude 1:7.

Jude interlinear

Though in this interlinear they have the word “towns” instead of “cities,” you can still see the Greek word above it having six letters. Here it is in the actual handwritten Codex Sinaiticus-

Jude 7 Then I looked up Revelation 16: 19- 16-9 interlinear

As you notice, even those who compiled the interlinear were compelled to correct what was written originally as they inserted the plural Greek word for “cities” which has an extra letter compare to the first Greek word for the singular “city.” But look at it handwritten in the Codex Sinaiticus-

16-9 cordex

 The great city and the city of nations are the same singular Greek word even though the translators and the interlinear author felt it must in its context be plural, for how could there be a “city of nations?” Even those working with the Codex Sinaiticus highlighted it noting what seemed to be a error but to their credit left it nonetheless unchanged.

Yet the word of God is true and there is only one city that can be this City of Nations, New York City. For it is there that the United Nation houses 193 nations, and each having sovereign soil therein. It is here in God’s word that He has spoken that He will be the one that initiates the wrath upon all these nations by destroying the very City of Nations and cause that blasphemous Luciferian United Nations tower of Babel to fall one again never to rise. Regardless how clever the wicked elite think they have been in their scheming against God and His anointed, we must not forget that they have been completely deceived and blinded because they love not the truth and their father Lucifer has lied to them from the beginning and the truth is not in him.

John 8:44 – …He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

However, Christians today are guilty of lending the power of their faith to the powers of darkness by believing their lies and that they will accomplish what God has historically destroyed over and over again as clearly written in His word for our encouragement. Yes we will have tribulation, yes we’ll be persecuted and yes, some of us will be martyrs, but the wise will not accept deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection. But regardless of what victory they might think they have gained over us, our God but laughs for He sees their day coming.

Yes, I believe New York City will one day fall, but I believe seat of the beast, Washington D.C. must fall first. If that is today, then blessed be the name of the Lord. If not, then let us redeem the time and quit believing these devilish lies ourselves and put our faith where it belongs, in the Author of all that was written for our comfort, exhortation and admonition. Never forget, our God is mighty in battle and that the Captain of our Salvation Jesus Christ has already defeat the adversary and put him to open same at the cross. The devil and his minions know their time is short and are terrified of the judgment that awaits them. Be bold saints, put on your armor, stand fast, and weld you sword confidently for the battle is the Lords.

Live for the King!! It’ll make it easier to die for Him...

Thanks for reading, hope to be posting that commentary very soon.
Stay blessable, on fire, and unburnable…

Chapter 18

Posted: November 15, 2025 in Shared Thoughts
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Is America Missing in Prophecy?
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NOTE: This chapter was actually written twenty years ago as a stand-alone article. However, in light of all we have reviewed thus far, it is being included here in hopes it will now serve as a lasso to help pull together much of what we’ve covered to provide a solid answer to the question above and the one below.

We hear it all the time, “Isn’t it amazing that the scriptures are silent about America?” I once thought the same thing myself, but after prayerful re-examination of the history of America and scripture, I don’t believe that is true anymore. Therefore, I submit the following for those open enough to examine for themselves whether or not America is mentioned in scripture. Though, I admit nowadays with the rising flood of endtime theologies, it is getting harder to convince most people that it is. As Mark Twain once said, “It is easier to fool someone than it is to convince them they have been fooled.” Likewise, it has been proven over and over again, that the greatest hindrance to people accepting the truth is a prejudice, or verdict against it before they fully hear a matter.

He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and a shame to him.” (Proverbs 18:13)

I must first start by asking that you please do not hastily jump to the wrong conclusion that I am anti-America for writing this article. I have written it out of conviction and simply because I believe that a holy and righteous God must deal with the sins of America the same way He would with any nation. The supporting information provided in this article is only a fraction of the information available and even this tends to be overwhelming for most people when first considering this concept. So, let’s begin with this verse –

Revelation 17:9 – And here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits. 10 And 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. 11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

Revelation chapters 13-19:4, speak of an end-time’s judgment of the LAST in a succession of seven empires now being summed up in the last days as a final eighth empire. Though these chapters begin with concentrating on a seven-headed “beast rise up out of the sea,” the primary focus of this prophecy is that last empire which the angel eventually clarified as being “The Eighth,” that goes into perdition, or total annihilation. In order to gain understanding of whom or what the eighth spiritual Babylon might be, one must first give heed to the clues given to John by the angel in chapter 17.

One critical clue given to John concerning this succession of empires was when the angel said the “the beast that was, and is not, yet is.” This clue reveals there would be an interruption in this succession of what could be called “spiritual Babylons” represented on this seven-headed beast; a time when this beast “was not” going to be represented in history by a literal country. However, after an unstated duration of time, the beast system would again briefly exist as the seventh head, or seventh empire. Lastly, it would “rise up out of the sea” as that final and last beast, or empire, which would fulfill all these prophecies. Thus, the whole imagery of a “seven-headed beast” is designed specifically to expose that last, eighth, and final empire that “goeth into perdition,” or complete annihilation.

The “sea” from out of which the beast rises up, and upon which the woman sits, we are told in 17:15 represents “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” This is one of the verses in this chapter that leads many to conclude that this beast and/or the woman upon the beast is the Roman Catholic Church since Rome has established itself in every corner of the earth. Regardless, I am persuaded this symbolic beast with the woman is a multifaceted-representation and must be recognized as demonstrating a succession of specific political entities or nations, as well as their particular religious institutions.

I believe this clue given by the angel also reveals to us that having a knowledge of Israel’s history is a critical key required if the door of understanding is going to be unlocked concerning just who this Eighth Beast is, as well as who is the woman shown to later be riding upon it. Only from there can a firm foundation for understanding be built from which we can properly discern the correlation of each of these empires to Israel. For scripture and history corroborates that Israel, like the beast, “was, and was not, and yet is.” That is not in any way to suggest Israel is either the beast or the woman, rather to substantiate the correlation between the seven-headed beast and Israel. Nevertheless, we can see in scripture where Israel is “spiritually called Sodom and Egypt,” (Revelation 11:8).

The majority of the Jews rejected Jesus and the purpose of His crucifixion, which was evident by their continuance in the Mosaic Law. By Jesus having fulfilled the Law, meaning the Ceremonial Law’s official intent was now exhausted, having accomplished its purpose, which was to strongly emphasize and foretell the necessity of a perfect sacrifice, with the shedding of blood, for redemption and forgiveness of sins. The law, with its various actions through its mandatory sacrifices and oblations, altogether served only as a prophetic disclosure of the final and complete sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. Therefore, by rejecting Jesus’ death and atoning blood, the Jews defiantly chose to remain in a now dead and decaying institution, and having completed its purpose, was rapidly waxing old and ready to vanish away, .

Hebrews 8:13 – In that He saith, A new covenant, He has made the first old. Now that which is decaying and waxing old is ready to vanish away. 

For this reason, Israel is now “spiritually called Sodom” to signify how any manner of religion they now practice can be nothing more than a perversion of the truth since they lack both the temple and priesthood which were destroyed for their rejection of their Promised Deliverer, Jesus the Christ. Likewise, Israel is “spiritually called Egypt” to signify that without Jesus’ atonement they remain under the bondage of sin and death.

Another key point to remember is that the subject of Revelation chapters 13-16 is the rise and fall of the final Eighth Beast and the introduction of the woman sitting upon it. When the judgment foretold starts to fall upon them, the beast and the woman become synonymous in chapters 17-19. This is conceivably due to a legal arrangement and thus (though perhaps unwittingly) a spiritual covenant that joins them inseparably, comparable to the covenant of marriage whereby two are made one flesh in the eyes of God. Such is why the angel tells John, “I will show you the judgment of the great whore that sits on many waters” and “I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her.” The angel’s clue to this “mystery” reveals how the woman and the beast consent to unite and thus merge together as one to war against God and His holy people in these last days.

The woman, representing false religions all throughout history, will in the last days be greatly exemplified in the leaders of pseudo-Christianity and their followers. These are those who have prostituted themselves with the Eighth Beast for political and economic reasons, and willfully diluted the teachings of Christ in order to maintain their influence and power over the ignorant.

I know this might be difficult for many to receive, since for many it is just the way it has always been. But Christians need to honestly reconsider how their churches and faith-based organizations in America have willfully agreed to submit to government oversight in exchange for their tax-exempt status. Many have assumed it was mandatory, but it’s not. But people forget that government will always imply, take, and keep all authority you allow it. And so the blind compliance of America’s former religious leaders has set a precedence that now compels others to blindly follow in their tracks. The nearsighted wisdom of these carnally minded church leaders, who thought it was all going to remain profitable and benign, has in reality proven it all to be malignant and powerfully advantageous to Satan. For we are now witnessing the end of his strategy as he begins to try and exercise his authority about what can be “legally” taught from the pulpits and must be performed in church sanctuaries, i.e., sanctioning homosexual marriages. 

Similarly, the beast’s seven heads prophetically represent seven actual empires, each with their particular false religious system which are all but a disguise for Luciferianism, or the worshipping of fallen angels and demons, with each empire having its time of direct interaction with the nation Israel. And another clue the angel gives John is “here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits.” This is where many began to talk about the Seven Hills of Rome and want to apply all this to Catholicism. However, the Holy Spirit saw to it that the word was translated “mountains” and not “hills,” and continued clarifying with “There are seven kings, five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come.”

Both biblically and historically we can accurately verify six of these seven mountains with their seven kings, as six distinct and literal empires that have had a direct impact on the nation Israel, which at the time of John’s vision was still intact as a nation. Mentioning that fact makes this a suitable time to recall the clues given by the angel that the beast “was, and is not, and yet is,” and concerning these kings the angel also clearly told John that at that time “five are fallen, and one is.”

It is actually rather simple to determine who these six empires are. Clearly, the sixth one existing at the time was Rome. As prophesied through Daniel, Rome “had great iron teeth: it devours and breaks into pieces, and stamps the residue with the feet of it and was diverse from all the beasts that were before it.” Thus, it was Rome that fulfilled God’s promise of judgment against Israel, as was forewarned in Deuteronomy 28, for the Jews not cleaving unto Him and obeying His voice. Therefore, in 70 A.D. Israel had ceased to exist as a functioning nation. Just like the beast, Israel which “was,” soon became an “is not” as the Roman General Titus was obliged to execute God’s judgment upon them when he was unable to negotiate peace with the stiff neck and rebellious Jews. 

By recognizing that the seven heads of the beast are intended to represent seven empires which have a direct correlation with the nation Israel, all we have to do to verify their identity is to simply start with the birth of Israel to see who these empires are.

We will start our review with Joseph who was betrayed by his brothers and sold as a slave, only to end up sitting on a throne in Egypt. While out of jealousy his brothers meant it for evil, God meant it for good. For through this brotherly betrayal came the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham; to make his descendants a mighty nation and give them for an inheritance the land of Canaan.

However, after 400 years the Egyptians grew fearful of the multiplication of the Jewish settlers in their land and therefore enslaved them. Through all of this it was God’s intent to show both the Jews and the Egyptians the greatness and the surety of His word, and to date God is still showing it to the entire world. As a result, Egypt is head number one of the beast, for out of it Israel as a nation was born.

Many years later, after the death of King Solomon, his son Rehoboam was confronted by Jeroboam who represented the ten northern tribes. Jeroboam had come to petition Rehoboam to lower the high taxes which his father Solomon had placed upon them. Rehoboam first sought the tried and proven wisdom of “the old men that stood before his father… But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him,” (1 Kings 12). The result of Rehoboam walking in their ungodly counsel was a division of the nation Israel.

Having revolted, the ten northern tribes made Jeroboam their King. However, Jeroboam soon became concern that, “If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of the people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah… Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, it is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.”

Jeroboam’s sin of turning the people to idols brought God’s judgment upon them by His rising up Assyria to take the ten northern tribes of Israel into captivity. Making matters worse, in their captivity they continued rejecting God’s commandments and intermarried with the Assyrians. Losing the purity of their heritage as Hebrews they became the despised Samaritans. Thus, the ten northern tribes were lost, not by misplacement, but rather by forfeit of their pure identity as Hebrews. Consequently, Assyria is the second head of the Beast.

Over two hundred years later we see Judah to the south falling into idolatry and committing whoredoms against God, so she too was carried away captive by Babylon for seventy years. So, Babylon becomes the third head of the beast. In Daniel 8:20-21, we see the two empires to follow Babylon prophesied by the angel Gabriel would be the Medes/Persia Empire and Greece: heads number four and five of the Beast. So, at the time of the Apostle John’s vision the five that had fallen were Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medes/Persia, and Greece, the sixth head being Rome which destroyed Israel as a nation.

From Israel’s destruction in 70 A.D. and prior to 1948, maps did not recognize any land as “Israel,” for Israel “which was, was not.” Yet faithful to His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, God preserved their descendants and gathered them back to the land of their inheritance. Thus, today the whole world beholds Israel “that was, and is not, yet is” today. Therefore, as it has been with Israel, so has it been with the seven-headed beast.

Now what worked to re-establish Israel as a nation (apart from God’s sovereignty) was a near global sympathy for the Jews after their persecution in World War II, whereupon at that time, the land was still recognized as part of the British Empire.

History tells us that while Britain was willing to allot a portion of land for Jewish settlers, they did not want to relinquish control or possession of the land. After the Jews increasing frustration with England and Arabs, on December 1st, 1947, the Arab Higher Committee proclaimed a three-day strike as Arab bands began attacking Jewish settlements. The Jews, initially being placed on the defensive as war broke out against them, quickly moved to the offensive and prevailed, gaining control and occupancy of more land. At which point England conceded and (under international pressure) gave the land to the Jews so they could once again be a people and a nation.

Now this all may seem to be all good and well on England’s part, except God requires that a gift must be given cheerfully and of one’s free will if it is to be acceptable and thus blessed by Him. Otherwise, it is not a true gift of charity. Therefore, England, who did not cheerfully choose to bless the descendants of Abraham with a free will offering, ultimately forfeited the blessing of God. This can be seen in that though Britain and its allies were ultimately victorious in the war, the Empire rapidly began to decline.

India and Pakistan gained their independence in 1947, and in 1948 King George the VI abandoned the title Emperor of India. In 1949 Ireland formally declared it a republic and left the Commonwealth. In 1950 India became a republic and King George adopts the new title of Head of the Commonwealth. Through all this, King George the VI was afflicted with health issue to which he succumbs and died in 1952. Thus, it is historical fact that George VI, King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, lived only four short years after the rebirth of Israel, only to be succeeded by his elder daughter, Elizabeth. England, therefore, governing the land of Israel’s rebirth, is the seventh head of which prophecy predicted, “when he cometh, he must continue a short space,” (Rev. 17:10).

Revelation 17:11 – And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

Rising up out of the sea comes the Eight Beast, which we are told is “of” or from, the seven. Could this mean that the Eight Beast is a mixture “of” the seven heads or empires, a great melting pot of cultures? For in it are “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” Or does “of the seven” refer to it being a direct descendant or offspring “of the seventh” empire? Either way, we find America alone as the Cinderella for this glass slipper, for she is both a land of immigrants as well as the offspring of England. Remember, Revelation 13-16 is about the rise and fall of the Eight Beast that goes into perdition, and in chapter 17 we are given clues to help clarify who is the eighth by giving us a progression of empires.

So I ask, what was it that catapulted America to the place of global supremacy she had held for a long time? Was it not the same thing that set the stage for the decline of the British Empire and the rebirth of Israel, World War II?

Now then, if this Eighth Beast could in fact be America, it obligates us to reconsider a section of scripture that has constantly been applied to an individual. For in Revelation 13:3 where we see the Eighth Beast received a wound to one of its heads “as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.” How then do we connect this to America if verses 1-3 have actually been speaking of an empire and not an individual as many interpret it?

Knowing some are being painfully forced to set aside their long-held beliefs here, I seriously proposed the possibility this wound to the head, from which the beast amazingly recovered, was Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, a historical event which significance keeps resurfacing. It was the attack on Pearl Harbor that rallied the people of America into one mind to go to war, thus we entered WWII. Despite Japan’s fury, speed and might, Pearl Harbor somehow survived the attack and was able to defend itself, though suffering great loss of life and resources.

But recall now how the war ended, with the dropping of The Bomb on Hiroshima and the second bomb on Nagasaki. Such display of power was never before witnessed. It could fittingly be asserted that the posture of the whole world was, “Who is like unto the beast?” and “Who is able to make war with Him?”

How did these things come to pass? In his vision John beheld “another beast coming up out of the earth and he had two horns of a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. And he exercises all the power of the first beast.” This second beast whose appearance is like a lamb (having two horns) and SEEMS to be for peace is that person who, “exercises ALL the authority of the first.” If the first beast “from the sea” is America, then this second beast from “the earth,” would be none other than the office of the Presidency. Though seeming to be for peace, his mouth is really promoting the agenda of the dragon, “… and he does great wonders, so that he makes fire, come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,” (verses 11-13).

Upon having ascended to a position of global supremacy, American presidents soon began asserting their power and meddling in the affairs of other sovereign nations under the guise of peaceful intentions. Regimes fell, and puppet leaders through American backing rose to power to assist an agenda that surpasses the greedy intent of mere men, for it is clear that “The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority”

Since President George H. W. Bush Sr. postured America against Israel by proposing “land for peace,” every president since has continued to assert the right for a Palestine State to exist, and the necessity for Israel to forfeit its covenanted land. As lambs supposedly laboring in the name of peace, these American presidents and statesmen have relentlessly pressured Israel with the threat of losing American support if they fail to comply with imposed mandates against them under the banner of “peace talks.” Now read again the fate of the Eighth Beast from Revelation 13-18, and honestly ask yourself, who fits this better than America?

The Woman on the Beast

At the revelation of the rise of the Eighth Beast in Revelation 13:1, initially we can see there is no mention of a woman sitting upon the beast at the time of its ascension to “his power, and his seat, and great authority.” Chapters 14 and the beginning of 15 speak solely of the iniquities of the beast and the rest of chapter 15 and 16 speak of the judgment that would befall it. This vision so overwhelmed the Apostle John, that in chapter 17 we see the angel comes to him to clarify all he had seen, and then continues to reveal how God’s judgment would surely come upon both the beast and the apostate religious system which would be riding the beast into the end of history. Thus, chapters 18 and 19 speak of the absolute destruction of the beast and woman, while also proclaiming the praise and glory given to God for all His righteous judgments.

When the Eighth Beast rises to its might in Revelation 13 there seems to be a respectful separation between the beast, (the civil system) and the woman, (the religious system) as the woman is not mentioned, perhaps representing a separation between church and state. BUT, in order for the civil government to do what it is prophesied to do in the last days and initiate a new joint identification and economic system, it will need the support of the religious sector, or faith-based organizations, to assure that such a new system is benign and ok with God, hence in chapter 17 the woman now rides the beast.

Foolishly, churches in the mainstream religious system have subjected themselves to be fully regulated by the beast’s system in exchange for their tax-exempt status. Hence these dead religious churches will feel obliged to assure their congregants that the implementation of the new identification mark that the beast says is necessary for the restructured economic system is not the damnable “mark of the beast.” This will not be difficult for the whoring daughters of Babylon to do, for having perpetuated so many false end time doctrines they have only “waxed worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” and now openly celebrate their joyful embracement of clear damnable heresies and moral atrocities.

Our adversary has spewed out of his mouth a flood of false end time messages and lying doctrines that he might cause the true Church to be carried away with the flood of error that is rampant in today’s churches which are seeking to serve men and mammon rather than God; sacrificing God’s truth for increased attendance lest they offend their contributors.

Revelation 12:15 – And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

Now, we know from the scriptures that God has always had His civil and spiritual leaders, so likewise the devil imitates this structural order in his attempt to defeat God’s people; hence the beast and the woman who rides it. Because of their greed for power and filthy mammon in these final days they will selfishly merge and become “one” in heart and purpose.

Remember, no one can serve both God and mammon.

Plays 2nd Part of 3

 

The following is a compilation of interesting quotes and points in history deserving of your attention and consideration:

 An excerpt from President Roosevelt’s speech after the Pearl Harbor attack:

“Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan . . . As Commander in Chief of the army and navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victoryWith confidence in our armed forces-with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph – so help us God…”

Considering President Roosevelt’s expressed confidence in “the American people in their righteous mightthat they will surely “win through to absolute victorydue to “our armed forces-with the unbounding determination of our people,” I am compelled to ask just what does the word of God say about one who boasts in the strength of their flesh? Some may wish to immediately object and demand the direction of my attention to President Roosevelt’s inclusion of “so help us God…”

But I must simply point out that nowhere did he express his confidence to be in either God’s righteousness or His might, as if they were the foundation and strength whereby the American people through their unwavering faith in God would surely overcome their enemies. No, this short inclusion of “so help us God,” has actually been the last four words attached to many threats of revenge by proud and indignant people. Perhaps those who are more patriotic and loyal to their country than they are concerned about the kingdom of God, or even their own personal godliness, to such President Roosevelt’s speech may well have sounded sufficiently religious enough by his employing such phrases as “righteous might” and “so help us God.” But in truth, an honest critique exposes the usage of these phrases for what it was, the white-washing declaration for the successful implementation of a strategic agenda that was designed to rally the citizenry of America to not only support a foreign war effort, but to create a patriotic willingness among them to send their fathers, husbands, and sons into it as well. Can anyone say 9/11?

So, again I am asking, just what does the word of God say about one who boasts in the strength of the flesh?

Jeremiah 17:5 – Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from the LORD. 6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. 

It is interesting, and so I must make note here, that President Franklin D. Roosevelt suddenly died nearly three and a half years after making this famous speech and therefore did “not see when good cometh” at the conclusion of the war. I say nearly, because if we use the Julian calendar, it was only 3 years, 4 months, and 4 days excluding the end date. However, scripture reveals God calculates time differently, using both the solar and the lunar cycles. One solar cycle was an approximate biblical year which was adjusted periodically with an extra month approximately seven times during nineteen solar cycles. The biblical months varied between 29-30 days based upon the lunar cycle which fluctuates and therefore the months average out to approximately 29.5 days. Since it was a total of 1,221 days duration from President Roosevelt’s speech to his death, we can simply divide that time and see it was a duration of 41.39 biblical months, or 42 months according to the Jewish tradition of counting time, that any whole measure of a unit of time with a partial measure of a following, would be counted as two. Such as a period of thirty hours would be counted as two days. Perhaps even more interesting is the timing of President Roosevelt’s death which actually occurred on the New Moon of April 12, 1945.

Revelation 13:5 – 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.

Obviously, my studies have brought me to the conclusion that America is this eighth and final beast. For who cannot see that America “the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” The tsunami of evil deception in America continues to rise with a flood of sorcery, paganism, Wicca, false cults, blatant corruption, wickedness, immorality, disobedience to parents, hate groups, etc., etc.

Also, I do acknowledge that there are many studious believers which earnestly believe the Catholic Church is the beast and harlot system. However, she fails to meet the full criteria of the plurality of “seven kings, five of which have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come, and when he comes, he must continue a short time.” For it is evident that the beast is always referenced in the masculine with its kings.  We simply must recognize both as separate entities, civil and religious, church and state, that join forces in an unholy union for a final ride into perdition. 

Nevertheless, the Catholic Church is undoubtedly part of the spirit of this whorish woman who rides the beast; but it is not the beast itself. Furthermore, the Catholic Church has been a hoarder of wealth, but not a distributor of it. For where, or when, could we apply to the Catholic Church how “the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies?” Or “Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness!?”

How does one apply this to the Vatican? – “Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.”

“Sorceries” implies witchcraft, or the calculated manipulation of men’s wills to consent to sin. “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,” (1 Samuel 15:23). It is evident that America’s leaders have failed to embrace God’s word and have refused to be subject unto Him. Rather they have continually tried to exalt themselves higher and higher while constantly seeking to manipulate both the minds and wills of the people that they might control them, and so further the agenda of the dragon.

There are many other things that have worked together to strongly persuade me that America is the Eighth Beast. There are specific details and events in our founding history that have been suppressed from public awareness but are still openly evident, too many to thoroughly disclosed here. However, there are the Masonic symbols on our currency, government buildings, as well as the curious layout and design of certain parts of District of Columbia which virtually mirrors some aspects of the Vatican in Rome. 

The designation “District of Columbia” can accurately be rephrased the “Realm of the control of the Queen of Heaven,” referencing the goddess Columbia. Columbia has also been worshipped through history and regions of the world under the names, Isis, Semiramis, Ishtar, Diana, Artemis, Ashtoreth, Astarte, and Libertas.  It is not mere coincident that the Statute of Liberty has mimicking aspects to many of these female pagan idols.

Plus, there are specific details that have been made public under the Freedom of Information Act concerning various memorandums, discussions, military exercises, and other various events that have exposed covert efforts of the American government to manipulate situations so as to assure our involvement in WWII, and ultimately those events that led to the ending of the war.

Americans had for the most part become isolationists after World War I,  having virtually no interest for any interference or involvement in foreign wars. According to a pre-war Gallup poll, 88 percent of Americans were solidly opposed to any involvement in the rapidly expanding European war. It was this temperament of Americans that was successfully exploited by President Roosevelt while campaigning, as he promised over and over again, “Your boys are not going to be sent into any foreign wars.” As a result, he won the election.

However, as early as 1940, a code clerk at the U.S. embassy in London had discovered secret communications between President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill revealing a strong determination on Roosevelt’s part to engage America in the war. Unfortunately for the clerk he was caught trying to smuggle some of the documents out of the embassy. Consequently, he was charged with obtaining documents that “might be directly or indirectly useful to an enemy” and in a secret British court was convicted and therefore confined to a British prison until the war ended. The clerk’s name was Tyler Gatewood Kent.

On October 7, 1940, A memorandum from Lieutenant Commander Arthur H. McCollum, head of the Far East desk of the Office of Naval Intelligence, advocated eight specific actions that were deemed suffice to provoke Japan into attacking the United States. In it the Commander wrote, “If by these means Japan could be led to commit an overt act of war, so much the better.” Consequently, President Roosevelt over the following year enacted all eight of McCollum’s recommendations.

Later in January 1941, President Roosevelt’s close advisor, Harry Hopkins, met with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and informed him, “The President is determined that we [the United States and England] shall win the war together. Make no mistake about it. He has sent me here to tell you that at all costs and by all means he will carry you through, no matter what happens to him – there is nothing he will not do so far as he has human power.” 

March 1941, President Roosevelt sold munitions and convoyed them to belligerents in Europe, both acts of war and both violations of international law; specifically, the Lend‑Lease Act.

June 23, 1941, Advisor Harold Ickes wrote in a memo to President Roosevelt the day after Germany invaded the Soviet Union, “There might develop from the embargoing of oil to Japan such a situation as would make it not only possible but easy to get into this war in an effective way. And if we should thus indirectly be brought in, we would avoid the criticism that we had gone in as an ally of communistic Russia.” 

July 25, 1941, President Roosevelt froze all Japanese assets in US cutting off their main supply of oil, forcing them into war with the United States while all intelligence information was withheld from Hawaii from this point forward.

August 14, 1941, At the Atlantic Conference, Prime Minister Churchill noted the “astonishing depth of Roosevelt’s intense desire for war.” Consequently, Churchill cabled his cabinet “(President Roosevelt) obviously was very determined that they should come in.”

October 16, 1941, Secretary of War Henry Stimson wrote in his diary, “We face the delicate question of the diplomatic fencing to be done so as to be sure Japan is put into the wrong and makes the first bad move – overt move.” 

October 18, 1941, Diary entry by Secretary of Interior Harold Ickes: “For a long time I have believed that our best entrance into the war would be by way of Japan.”

November 25, 1941, Secretary of War Henry Stimson wrote in his diary that FDR said an attack was likely within days, and presented the question, “How we should maneuver them into the position of firing the first shot without too much danger to ourselves. In spite of the risk involved, however, in letting the Japanese fire the first shot, we realized that in order to have the full support of the American people it was desirable to make sure that the Japanese be the ones to do this so that there should remain no doubt in anyone’s mind as to who were the aggressors.” Thus, Stimson made another entry that day stating, “The question was how we should maneuver them [the Japanese] into the position of firing the first shot…” 

November 26, 1941, an ultimatum was sent to Japan’s ambassadors demanding as prerequisites to resumed trade a complete withdrawal of all troops from China and Indochina, and in effect abrogate her Tripartite Treaty with Germany and Italy.

Therefore, we can see why in 1944, British Minister of Production, Oliver Lyttleton stated, “Japan was provoked into attacking America at Pearl Harbor. It is a travesty of history to say that America was forced into the war.”  

In his 1948 biography, “Roosevelt and Hopkins: An Intimate History,” Robert Sherwood wrote, “If the isolationists had known the full extent of the secret alliance between the United States and Britain, their demands for the President’s impeachment would have rumbled like thunder through the land.” 

All this being noted is in no way an attempt to deny or excuse Japan’s ferociousness in its war efforts, for there can be no excusing their heinous actions against the people and government of China and Indochina. However, as Christians, we must not allow ourselves to be so blindly patriotic that we willfully shut our eyes to the truth that the American government, as an aggressor, intentionally provoked Japan to blame them and to get involved in the war. For prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Roosevelt administration froze Japan’s assets in America, restricted them from use of the Panama Canal, ceased vital exports which were necessary to Japan’s war efforts, and ultimately joined Britain in an all-out embargo.

So, again I ask, “How did these things come to pass?” True to the Apostle John’s vision, there is “another beast” that came “up out of the earth; and he had two horns of a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon. And he exercises all the power of the first beast.” History proves that though this second beast had the appearance as like a lamb and claimed to be for peace, he was really promoting the agenda of the dragon. For over and over President Roosevelt promised the American people, “I have said this before, but I shall say it again and again and again: Your boys are not going to be sent into any foreign wars.” Nevertheless, it was the President of America who authorized “…great wonders, so that he makes fire [that is, The Atomic Bomb], come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.” 

I admit that initially for years I only casually researched this, but was stunned when I ran across The Frank Report of June 11, 1945. It is a “Memorandum on Political and Social Problems of the Bomb by scientists at the Metallurgical Laboratory of the University of Chicago, Manhattan Project.” This report was written for delivery to President Truman, who inherited the “Project” after President Roosevelt died.

However, President Truman never received this letter before giving the order to drop the bomb on Hiroshima. That is because Secretary of War Mr. Stimson had intercepted it. In regard to bombing decisions on Japan he is documented as stating, “This is one time I’m going to be the final deciding authority. Nobody’s going to tell me what to do on this.”

(http://www.nuclearfiles.org/menu/library/correspondence/grovesleslie/corr_diary_groves.htm)

“The President never received the letter, and all the scientists’ initiatives were frustrated because of the opposition of Byrnes, Groves, Oppenheimer, and other policy makers and scientists in control of the nuclear program.”

(See “A PETITION TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,” 3rd paragraph, @ http://www.dannen.com/decision/45-07-17.html).

The following is “Dwight Eisenhower’s expressed view on using the Atomic Bomb”

“In 1945… Secretary of War Stimson visited my headquarters in Germany, [and] informed me that our government was preparing to drop an atomic bomb on Japan. I was one of those who felt that there were a number of cogent reasons to question the wisdom of such an act . . . During his recitation of the relevant facts, I had been conscious of a feeling of depression and so I voiced to him my grave misgivings, first on the basis of my belief that Japan was already defeated and that dropping the bomb was completely unnecessary, and second because I thought that our country should avoid shocking world opinion by the use of a weapon whose employment was, I thought, no longer mandatory as a measure to save American lives. It was my belief that Japan was, at that very moment, seeking some way to surrender with a minimum loss of ‘face.’ The Secretary was deeply perturbed by my attitude, almost angrily refuting the reasons I gave for my quick conclusions.”

Here is perhaps the most startling excerpt from “The Franck Report” that was signed by the top scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project. 

All of us, familiar with the present state of nucleonics, live with the vision before our eyes of sudden destruction visited on our own country, of a Pearl Harbor disaster repeated in thousand-fold magnification in every one of our major cities.” (See the Franck Report: http://www.nuclearfiles.org/menu/keyissues/ethics/issues/scientific/franck-report.htm)

A thorough reading of the Franck Report will show just how President Truman and other government leaders rejected the counsel of the wise, just like Rehoboam rejected the wisdom of his father’s counsellors when he was asked by Jeroboam to lower the taxes. After the scientists realized their letter had not been delivered, they wrote a second petition to President Truman, from which the following excerpt was taken. 

“The war has to be brought speedily to a successful conclusion and attacks by atomic bombs may very well be an effective method of warfare. We feel, however, that such attacks on Japan could not be justified, at least not unless the terms which will be imposed after the war on Japan were made public in detail and Japan were given an opportunity to surrender.”

“If such public announcement gave assurance to the Japanese that they could look forward to a life devoted to peaceful pursuits in their homeland and if Japan still refused to surrender, our nation might then, in certain circumstances, find itself forced to resort to the use of atomic bombs. Such a step, however, ought not to be made at any time without seriously considering the moral responsibilities which are involved.”

“The development of atomic power will provide the nations with new means of destruction. The atomic bombs at our disposal represent only the first step in this direction, and there is almost no limit to the destructive power which will become available in the course of their future development. Thus, a nation which sets the precedent of using these newly liberated forces of nature for purposes of destruction may have to bear the responsibility of opening the door to an era of devastation on an unimaginable scale.

(http://www.dannen.co…n/45-07-17.html)

To read these solemn warnings that were given to President Truman, and to think he rejected their counsel is horrifying. Even General MacArthur, who was leading the war against Japan, petitioned strongly against the use of the bomb. He didn’t even know there was such a bomb until 48 hours before the first one was dropped. Upon being made aware he bitterly objected to its usage, stating the war was over. It was just a matter of negotiating the surrender, so as to allow the Japanese people to save face because they were a proud (honorable) people.

Still, or perhaps regardless, President Truman was the one who ordered the “fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.” Now listen to the righteous judgment of God, “If any man has an ear, let him hear. He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword [or weapon of war,] must be killed with the sword, [or the same weapon of war].”

Revelation 18:8 – Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. 9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.”

Russia and China are not America’s only threats, but rather sincere concern needs to be given to all the European and Middle East nations. People might laugh, but I will simply remind them what the Bible says, the ten horns . . . shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God has put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.”

Some have argued there isn’t a national army over there big enough, (at least not at the time of the original writing of this in 2002.) However, the initial formation of the European Union Military Staff (EUMS) was headed up by a German General. Didn’t Germany contribute greatly to the start of the two World Wars? And remember the scriptures clearly state, “…the ten horns which thou saw upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God has put in their hearts to fulfil His will…”

And what will be the lure of Satan dragging men to war again? Money and power of course. We in America are rapidly falling headlong into an Electronic Identification and Electronic-Cash-Credit-Debit system. As far back as 1998 an article in Time magazine predicted one could send their daughter in college E-Cash and she “can store the money any way she wants-on her laptop, on a debit card, even (in the not too distant future) on a chip implanted under her skin. And, perhaps best of all, you can program the money to be spent only in specific ways.”  (Time APRIL 27, 1998 VOL. 151 NO. 16)

Also mentioned in this article in Time was how the “smart card” with an RFID for the E-cash system could ALSO keep your medical history. Wasn’t it President Clinton and his wife Hillary who were trying to get all Americans issued such a card so they could all have medical insurance? Is it really about OUR health and well-being? Or is it really about THEIR wealth and control? And now we have Presidential Obamacare, of which it has been rumored  will eventually require all to have an implantable RFID chip.

Back in 2002 when I first wrote this article, I spoke about how the European Union was rapidly printing out their new “Euros” and ready to begin distribution that year. I commented on how the European Union’s common currency would only prove to add to the conflict of global monetary standards. The Bible says, “The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own conceit” (Proverbs 18:11).

Now, with the current global economic crisis, I am persuaded America will eventually attempt to force upon the European Union (and perhaps parts the rest of the world) a new E-cash credit/debit method of economics…  which I presently suspect the European Union and other nations will deceptively consent to. For again, the ten horns which thou saw are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.”

Their deceptive acceptance of America’s proposal (which will most likely be pushed forcefully upon the European Union and other countries with the same arrogance that led to the dropping of the bombs), will only be for the purposes of their buying time to carry out a plan to finally eliminate the competition.

While admittedly I am only speculating as to why and how the ten horns/kings “receive power as kings one hour with the beast,” it nevertheless remains a biblical fact that “God has put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled… these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God has put in their hearts to fulfil His will.” 

Last and Final Part

Further points worthy of prayerful consideration: 

Evidence that the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was a crime against International Law

Title: PROTECTION OF CIVILIAN POPULATIONS AGAINST BOMBING FROM THE AIR IN CSSE OF WAR – Unanimous resolution of the League of Nations Assembly,

Dated: September 30, 1938

To: The Assembly,

Considering that on numerous occasions public opinion has expressed through the most authoritative channels its horror of the bombing of civilian populations;

Considering that this practice, for which there is no military necessity and which, as experience shows, only causes needless suffering, is condemned under the recognized principles of international law;

Considering further that, though this principle ought to be respected by all States and does not require further reaffirmation, it urgently needs to be made the subject of regulations specially adapted to air warfare and taking account of the lessons of experience;

Considering that the solution of this problem, which is of concern to all States, whether Members of the League of Nations or not, calls for technical investigation and thorough consideration;

Considering that the Bureau of the Conference for the Reduction and Limitation of Armaments is to meet in the near future and that it is for the Bureau to consider practical means of undertaking the necessary work under conditions most likely to lead to as general an agreement as possible:

  1. Recognizes the following principles as a necessary basis for any subsequent regulations:
    1. The intentional bombing of civilian populations is illegal;
    2. Objectives aimed at from the air must be legitimate military objectives and must be identifiable;
    3. Any attack on legitimate military objectives must be carried out in such a way that civilian populations in the neighborhood are not bombed through negligence;
  2. Also takes the opportunity to reaffirm that the use of chemical or bacterial methods in the conduct of war is contrary to international law, as recalled more particularly in the resolution of the General Commission of the Conference for the Reduction and Limitation of Armaments of July 23rd, 1932, and the resolution of the Council of May 14th, 1938

(Documents located at: http://www.dannen.com/decision/int-law.html#D & http://www.dannen.com/decision/int-law.html)

NEXT

Appeal of President Franklin D. Roosevelt on Aerial Bombardment of Civilian Populations, September 1, 1939 –

The President of the United States to the Governments of France,

Germany, Italy, Poland and His Britannic Majesty, September 1, 1939

The ruthless bombing from the air of civilians in unfortified centers of population during the course of the hostilities which have raged in various quarters of the earth during the past few years, which has resulted in the maiming and in the death of thousands of defenseless men, women, and children, has sickened the hearts of every civilized man and woman, and has profoundly shocked the conscience of humanity.

If resort is had to this form of inhuman barbarism during the period of the tragic conflagration with which the world is now confronted, hundreds of thousands of innocent human beings who have no responsibility for, and who are not even remotely participating in, the hostilities which have now broken out, will lose their lives. I am therefore addressing this urgent appeal to every government which may be engaged in hostilities publicly to affirm its determination that its armed forces shall in no event, and under no circumstances, undertake the bombardment from the air of civilian populations or of unfortified cities, upon the understanding that these same rules of warfare will be scrupulously observed by all of their opponents. I request an immediate reply.  FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

(Documents located at: http://www.dannen.com/decision/int-law.html#E & http://www.dannen.com/decision/int-law.html)

 NEXT

President Truman’s Speech, August 9, 1945:

In a radio speech to the nation on August 9, 1945, President Truman called Hiroshima “a military base.” It seems likely, considering his July 25 diary entry, that he personally was not aware that Hiroshima was a city. Otherwise, he was being untruthful about the nature of the target. Truman delivered his speech from the White House at 10 P.M. Washington time on August 9, 1945. By this time, the second atomic bomb had already destroyed the city of Nagasaki. Because of the great length of the speech, most of which dealt with Germany, only the relevant paragraph is quoted here.

“The world will note that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, a military base. That was because we wished in this first attack to avoid, insofar as possible, the killing of civilians. But that attack is only a warning of things to come. If Japan does not surrender, bombs will have to be dropped on her war industries and, unfortunately, thousands of civilian lives will be lost. I urge Japanese civilians to leave industrial cities immediately, and save themselves from destruction.”

What does this all mean? It means the bombing of Japan was not only against the counsel of those who developed the bomb; it was also illegal according to international law and contrary to President Roosevelt’s international petition.

U.S. Government and Military Leaders’ Responses To Dropping the Bomb

FIRST QUOTE:

Harry S. Truman, the President of the United States who ordered the Atomic Bombing:

“This is the greatest thing in history.”

(http://www.nuclearfiles.org/menu/library/biographies/bio_truman-harry.htm)

NEXT QUOTE:

General Henry “Hap” Arnold, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Air Forces Under President Truman:

“It always appeared to us that, atomic bomb or no atomic bomb, the Japanese were already on the verge of collapse.”

NEXT QUOTE:

General Dwight D. Eisenhower:

“I had been conscious of depression and so I voiced to (Sec. Of War Stimson) my grave misgivings, first on the basis of my belief that Japan was already defeated and that dropping the bomb was completely unnecessary, and secondly because I thought that our country should avoid shocking world opinion by the use of a weapon whose employment was, I thought, no longer mandatory as a measure to save American lives. It was my belief that Japan was, at this very moment, seeking a way to surrender with a minimum loss of ‘face.’”

 NEXT QUOTE:

General Dwight D. Eisenhower:

“Japan was at the moment seeking some way to surrender with minimum loss of ‘face’… It wasn’t necessary to hit them with that awful thing.”

NEXT QUOTE:

Admiral William D. Leahy, Former Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

 “It is my opinion that the use of this barbarous weapon at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was of no material assistance in our war against Japan. The Japanese were already defeated and ready to surrender… My own feeling was that in being the first to use it, we had adopted an ethical standard common to the barbarians of the Dark Ages. I was taught not to make war in that fashion, and wars cannot be won by destroying women and children.”

NEXT QUOTE:

John McCloy:

 “I am absolutely convinced that had we said they could keep the emperor, together with the threat of an atomic bomb, they would have accepted, and we would never have had to drop the bomb.”

NEXT QUOTE – This one just absolutely stunned me:

From President Harry S. Truman’s diary entered July 18, 1945 – just 17 days before the bombing of Hiroshima:

“P.M. Churchill & I ate alone. Discussed Manhattan [PROJECT] (it is a success). Decided to tell Stalin about it. Stalin had told P.M. of telegram from Japan Emperor asking for peace.”

NEXT QUOTE:

Stewart L. Udall, US Congressman and Author of “Myths of August”

 “Some of my conclusions may invoke anger and even ridicule. For example, I offer my belief that the existence of the first atomic bombs may have prolonged – rather than shortened – World War II, by influencing Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson and President Harry S. Truman to ignore an opportunity to negotiate a surrender that would have ended the killing in the Pacific in May or June of 1945. And I have come to view the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings that August as an American tragedy that should be viewed as a moral atrocity.”

NEXT QUOTE:

From: U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey’s 1946 Study:

 “Certainly prior to 31 December 1945, and in all probability prior to 1 November 1945, Japan would have surrendered even if the atomic bombs had not been dropped, even if Russia had not entered the war, and even if no invasion had been planned or contemplated.”

NEXT QUOTE:

J. Samuel Walker, Chief Historian, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission:

 “Careful scholarly treatment of the records and manuscripts opened over the past few years has greatly enhanced our understanding of why Truman administration used atomic weapons against Japan. Experts continue to disagree on some issues, but critical questions have been answered. The consensus among scholars is the that the bomb was not needed to avoid an invasion of Japan… It is clear that alternatives to the bomb existed and that Truman and his advisers knew it”

NEXT QUOTE:

1995 – Nagasaki Mayor Hitoshi Motoshima:

“It was a matter of course for atomic bombs to have been dropped on Japan, which had launched a war of aggression. Japan does not have the right to criticize the atomic bomb.” for Kyodo News’s interview. He is also quoted as saying, conversely, that the bombing was “one of the two great crimes against humanity in the 20th Century, along with the Holocaust”

NEXT QUOTE:

March 16, 1995 – Los Angeles Times 

Heading: Japanese Mayors Call A-Bomb Attacks a Crime

Underscoring a wide “perception gap” between Japan and the United States, the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Wednesday sharply challenged the prevailing U.S. view that the nuclear attacks on their cities were necessary to end World War II.

Nagasaki Mayor Hitoshi Motoshima called the attacks “one of two great crimes against humanity in the 20th Century, along with the Holocaust.” Although he conceded that the attacks helped hasten the war’s end–a concession Hiroshima Mayor Takashi Hiraoka refused to make–he questioned the price.

“Does avoiding the death of servicemen justify the sacrifice of tens of thousands of guiltless noncombatants?” Motoshima asked, pointing out that the bombs indiscriminately killed men, women and children. “This is tantamount to killing a flea with a sledgehammer. It can hardly be called a justified act, even in wartime.”

The bombs, dropped in August, 1945, killed and injured 130,000 people in Hiroshima–almost half the city’s population–and 74,000 in Nagasaki. Hundreds of thousands of survivors suffered cancer and other radiation aftereffects.

The mayors, in a joint appearance before foreign correspondents, argued that the United States dropped the bombs mainly to intimidate the Soviet Union, verify the weapons’ effectiveness and justify the $2 billion spent to develop them.

LAST QUOTE:

Osama bin Laden, when asked by ABC reporter John Miller-

 “Mister bin Laden, you have issued a fatwah calling on Muslims to kill Americans where they can, when they can. Is that directed at all Americans, [or] just the American military, [or] just the Americans in Saudi Arabia?”

Osama bin Laden’s answer, “…The Americans started it and retaliation and punishment should be carried out following the principle of reciprocity, especially when women and children are involved. Through history, America has not been known to differentiate between the military and the civilians or between men and women or adults and children. Those who threw atomic bombs and used the weapons of mass destruction against Nagasaki and Hiroshima were the Americans. Can the bombs differentiate between military and women and infants and children? America has no religion that can deter her from exterminating whole peoples. …We believe that the worst thieves in the world today and the worst terrorists are the Americans. Nothing could stop you except perhaps retaliation in kind. [Therefore] We do not have to differentiate between military or civilian.”

(http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/binladen/who/interview.html)

Shocking I know, and very uncomfortable to hear and consider these things. Doubtless many are so angry at seeing Osama bin Laden being quoted that they have nearly forgotten all the quotes of the American leaders who likewise were offended by America being the first to make use of The Bomb.

Sin is sin whoever commits it, be they American, Arab, Christian, Jew or Muslim. However, in light of all this, please consider afresh what God has stated in regards to the use of weapons and His judgments –

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

“If any man have an ear, let him hear, He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: he that kills with the sword [or whatever weapon of war] must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints,” (Revelation 13:9).

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man [or nation] soweth, that shall he [or it] also reap,” (Galatians 6:7)

Let us therefore give more earnest heed to Jesus’ admonition, “Watch therefore, praying in every season that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things which shall occur, and to stand before the Son of man,” (Luke 21:26).

Steeples

Temples of God

 
We are the Church
God’s holy people.
We need no doors
Or fancy steeples.
For we are the Temple
Where He wishes to stay,
Which He bought with His blood
And He willingly paid.
So open your hearts
And let Jesus come in
And turn away
From all that is sin.
He’ll fill you with joy
His love and peace
And you as His Bride
He will lovingly keep.
 

America is in scripture…

Posted: March 25, 2025 in Shared Thoughts

America is in prophecy, and prophecy will be fulfilled.

The the following are old posts with audio. The first is a short message given at the My People Pray 2012 event in front of the Washington monument. The other two are messages I gave at Covenant Love Church back in 2015 before I moved to Costa Rica.

  1. My People Pray 2012
  2. First message at Covenant Love
  3. Second message at Covenant Love

I pray you consider them…

Is Donald Trump one Jesus warned us of, which if we are not prayerfully watchful and holding “fast to that which you have that no one takes your crown?”

Historically before God pours out His wrath upon a nation, He exposes its sins first, and what was done in darkness is brought to light, and that which was said in secret is broadcasted abroad. But still, when the time does come, “judgment must begin at the house of God.” Remember that a few truly righteous could have saved Sodom and Gomorrah. 

So seriously, what if Donald Trump is one of those “minister of righteousness” that Satan is cleverly sending forth as a false “messenger of light?” Can it possibly be that he is one of those, who not truly being born again spiritually, is deceived and therefore unwittingly deceiving others?

Are we not to have a singular “affection set on things above, not on things on the earth,” if indeed we are truly “dead, and our life is hidden with Christ in God?” However, what if many professing believers in America today are more like Peter was when the Lord rebuked him, and not rightly focused upon the things of God, but instead are more anxious about the things of men? You know, mostly concerned about their 401k’s, investments, prosperity, possessions, retirement, leisure and personal liberty? 

Wasn’t Peter more concerned about his own position and success in what he thought was about to happen, thinking that Jesus was about to make Israel great again? Was not Peter being guilty of being carnally minded, which is death, and not spiritually minded, which is life?
What if the eyes of these professing believers are not truly single on the Kingdom of God and are not faithfully “looking for and hastening the coming of the Lord?” as the corrected Peter later exhorted? Is not that a sign that their eye is evil, and that they are actually walking in a false light with a false hope? Does not a little leaven end up leavening the whole lump? There is the Gospel, but then again “there be some that will trouble you and pervert the gospel of Christ.” So, what is the prevailing “gospel” in America today?

I believe we would all do well to heed the admonishment of the Apostle Paul to the Church, that “a good soldier of Jesus Christ” does not entangle himself with the affairs [politics] of this life in order that he may please Him who has chosen him to be a soldier”

Also, consider this, that if the prophets and apostles are as “sheep counted for the slaughter,” as was God’s own Son, for the purpose of the fulfillment of His will, do you think Satan will be more sparing of his own in his attempt to accomplish his will?

Do you not think or know that the reason so many in position of power and great wealth are because of Satan himself. Did he not say, “All this is mine to give to whoever I will?” Can it be that now for the accomplishing of his war against the saints, that Satan is readying to sacrifice many of them as his sheep for the slaughter? I believe that is exactly what is happening now in America…

Seriously, with all the insanity in the world with this tsunami of devastating hatred, perversion, chaos, division, and tyranny, the whole world is seemingly waking up and recognizing it all as evil. Even atheists are calling things evil. But are people really waking up? Or is this flood of wickedness merely an intentional choking darkness forced upon humanity for the sole purpose of causing them to accept the light, any light, any ray of hope?

What if all this Satan is doing is merely the same thing a jeweler does, the using a black velvet cloth to sell a diamond to the buyer? What if all this is happening now is simply to make the people demand a king, a deliverer, someone who will give them what they want? The problem is what they want is not of God.

Donald Trump is repeatedly saying that he alone is the only one that can restore the economy, bring peace, and make America great again.  This is not a humble man, and listen people, God always resists the proud without exception. For it matters not if he or other’s talk about God, if they are not humbly serving Him too. But regardless, all over the world other “conservative” leaders are openly stating that Donald Trump is the only hope for world peace.

As a believer it seems both contradictory and highly illogical to me that any nation, supposedly founded as “One nation under God,” could ever prosper with God’s blessings through a president who is not born of God. Can you point to a recent time where it evident in America’s history that God so did?

And yet, though it is true that God did raise up Nebuchadnezzar, Darius and Cyrus, and even Alexander the Great, and their particular nations, they all continued to served idols; and after having served God’s purpose in the judgment of His people, all their nations then failed. You know why? They were all heathen nations who failed to wholly embrace the true living God so as to rightly serve Him.

Meanwhile, we are witnessing Donald Trump is making many first-time records for American presidents, both nationally and internationally. So, what do you think God’s purpose is for allowing this if it isn’t to try the hearts of His people, to see who indeed has taken His name in vain by calling themselves “Christian” and yet not wholeheartedly seeking first His Kingdom and righteousness? You know, those religious people who call Jesus “Lord” and yet fail to do what His commands require…

Many Christians admit they are willing to vote for a godless man simply because you think he’ll make your life better, or as some say, he will “Treat you better.” But I caution you not to be flippant with your words here, for we are in serious times here. It is critical for God’s people to have an open ear to hear what the Spirit is saying to His church. Can you tell me that God is telling you to vote for Donald Trump? Because really all I’m hearing from most Christians is that their justifying voting for him comes across more like a willingness to compromised for the sake of personal gain, and not a godly motive for the glorification of Jesus Christ.

It should be biblically clear that no one could have any power unless it was given to them or permitted by God. For God raises up men for 3 purposes, first, to instruct and lead others into righteousness. Secondly, for the purpose of trying and judging the heart of the people. Thirdly, to punish and destroy the rebellious.

So, do you really think voting for a politician is any different than laying hands on someone and ordaining them into an office of the church? No, for just as surely as you are a partaker of another man’s sin by endorsing him for the church, or even just saying “Godspeed” to him, you will be both held accountable for your motive, as well as a partaker of the man’s sin through your endorsement of him for a public office.

So again, is God is telling you to vote for Donald Trump? Yes, or no?

If indeed Christians are to “do all things for the glory of God,” then please explain to me, and everyone else, the righteousness of your vote for a godless man, and exactly how it honors God and works to promote His Kingdom…

So once again people, are we in perilous times or not, and shouldn’t you now more than ever take heed no man deceives you? Remember, a good tree will not bring forth corrupt fruit, nor a corrupt tree good fruit, and therefore you ought to know them by their fruit.

Therefore, when it comes to favoring with a vote between the lesser of two evil persons to rule over you, why and how could a true Christian participate in such a vote? Now on a mandate or law between actual good and evil laws I can see taking a stand, but not between ungodly men. It just makes no sense to me. Maybe if your carnally minded it makes sense, but how does it work spiritually to the true honor of God? To me it is akin to “Let the dead bury the dead,” for what does it all have to do with the soldier of Christ in following Him?

But people, America’s problems, the whole world’s problems, they’re spiritual, and spiritual problems can only be successfully attended to by a people who will humble themselves before God with fervent petitions. For we are clearly told that “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, even against spiritual wickedness in high places.” And so, because of the spiritual nature of humanity’s adversaries that we have been instructed to “take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day.”

Have you, do you?

For “though we walk in [this world] in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh,” nor are “the weapons of our warfare are carnal.” The believer’s hope can only be in God when it comes to “spiritual wickedness.” Is He your sole confidence? Because you simply cannot vote wickedness out of the land. However, a truly surrendered, humble, and yet still fervent group of Godfearing believers may indeed successfully petition God to the relief of their oppressions. But where are these people? Where are the people weeping over the sins of their nations?

Historically, the correction of a persistently rebellious people has often been their being placed under the oppressing rule of wicked men, and that simply because of a lack of reverence and gratitude to the God who once blessed them with freedom of religion to worship and a liberty to serve Him in Spirit and truth. When men do what is convenient or right in their own eyes, they become blind and go astray, wandering from the truth, and eventually give way for an oppressing government or religion over them, or simply wanting freedom from religion altogether.

Thus, one of the major problems with Christians, especially those who are not by God’s grace endeavoring to pick up their cross and deny themselves daily so as not to be distracted in their faithful service to Him, is their precious empty theologies. For wherever Christ is not exalted and foremost, one’s theology is empty and powerless, even though it might serve well as a temporary sedative for one’s having a rough time.

The written word is indispensable to the victory of life of a believer. But only if the believer has been faithful to ingest it through study it prayerfully, for only then can God write His laws upon our hearts. But still, what good is that if we don’t live it out faithfully?

Faith, that is a saving faith, works to produce faithfulness, but the energy of faith is a love of the Spirit of God who first loved us. For it is that Spirit alone which ought to be in us that is the empowering of God’s people, enabling them to not only to be walking in the Light as Jesus was in the Light, but to be having daily fellowship with Him. Simply read 1 John chapter 1 again. Faith without faithfulness is no faith at all, but merely a believism supported by theology of the letter and not of the Spirit, at least not the Holy Spirit.

Faith comes only by hearing, and that hearing the illuminated word spoken to our hearts by God’s own Spirit. Not everyone hears this way, for Jesus Himself said, “Hearing, they hear not.” As sheep and followers of Christ, we are expected to both know and hear His voice, and having been truly filled with His Spirit able to follow Him wherever He leads us. But how many professors of faith are truly being led by the Spirit?

Is God leading His people to vote for Trump? No, I absolutely do not believe that is so. Rather, as to my OP I believe Trump to be Satan’s trump card, and being so, it is easier for the non-cross carrying “Christians” who boast in the surety of their empty theology, to trust in a carnal wisdom than the wisdom of God.

 The most critical question I believe professing believers must be able to answer is whether they are truly living for Jesus Christ, and seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness? Not the right man to lead them. Is the focus and yearning of your heart looking for and hastening His coming? Or are you still somewhat at home and comfortable here, and hoping Trump will make all things great again?

THE EIGHTH BEAST

Posted: November 9, 2023 in Shared Thoughts
With Downloadable Audio

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Table of Content

Click on Chapter to link to page

  • Chapter 2 – Giving Way to the Rise of The Son of Perdition
  • Chapter 4 – Biblical End Times Players of Revelation
  • Chapter 12– Before the Conclusion of the Seventy Weeks
  • Chapter 15 – The Destruction of the Temple and the Death of the Ceremonial Law
  • Chapter 16– Division of the Seventieth           
  • Chapter 17– He Shall Confirm the Covenant with Many
  • Chapter 19 – I doubt many will believe it, though a man declares it unto you.
  • Chapter 21 -Trips to the Tomb with Chart of Passion Week – Days and Events

About the Author

As a child I was raised a Lutheran, and I can clearly remember one day when the Sunday school teacher was obviously feeling a little evangelistic. Up to then we would mostly spend our time coloring, doing flannel board lessons about bible characters, or just spend the time out on the playground while our parents were in Church. But on this one particular day she shared with us kids that if we had Jesus in our hearts then we would get to go to heaven, but if not, well… we would go to hell. 

Now that was some pretty powerful news for kids between 6-8 years old. So, I raised my hand and asked her, “How do we know Jesus is real?” After all, none of us had ever seen Him hanging around the church and all I had ever seen were drawings or paintings of Him. Now my question really threw her threw a loop, for after looking at me for a bit she honestly replied, “I don’t know, I guess we just better believe in case He is,” Well, that was it for me. If she didn’t have an answer for that one, why would I ask any more questions? 

 However, that night in bed I remembered what she said and my thoughts went to a painting my grandmother had of Jesus standing outside an arched door knocking to come in. As I lay there I knew what she said was true even if she hadn’t been able to answer my question. Her crude little Gospel message was still sharp enough to pierce into my little heart. I was scared, and so I began to cry being frustrated that she wasn’t able to answer my question. For had she given me an answer, I certainly would have asked the one that was agonizing me that night, “How do I get Jesus into my heart?”

So, as I lay on my back in bed I began to repeatedly turn a knob to an imaginary door on my chest and pretended I was opening a door over and over while crying, “Jesus, please come into my heart…” I wish I could say from that point on I have faithfully served the Lord, but that’s not the case. For though I believed in the Lord, there was still no one in my life that could effectively speak the things of God into my life. Oh I believed Jesus was real, but He quickly became only Sunday-go-to-church real. With no real mentor or example to teach me how to “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness,” I eventually found church was no longer able to capture my attention. Church soon became nothing more than another meeting place that parents took their kids to. 

As far as school goes, it was never a real attention grabber for me. The only thing that made any sense to me was math, but oh how I hated English, History, and Science. I just felt it all was completely irrelevant to my life. The worst thing they ever did to me was put me in sight of a window. For the life of me, there was no way I could focus in school knowing the whole world was going on outside. 

Add to that, being a teenager in the sixties it was really easy for me to get caught up in the music and drugs and before long I was staying out all night. There was no vision in my life other than living the moment and doing drugs. I had good parents who loved me and disciplined me, but even though I loved them I just couldn’t keep their rules anymore. So after 9th grade I quit school and ended up running away from home when I was fifteen with a pregnant girlfriend. We eventually got caught across the state and had to go home, but it didn’t take long before I was back on the street. I assure you, a fifteen year old on the streets makes a lot of compromises to get by and crime becomes the norm.  

Eventually I moved into some guy’s back yard toolshed with a couple other guys, each of us paying five dollars a week. Late one night we were all getting high on a construction site in the neighborhood with some other potheads when two of them began to brag about how great and powerful Satan was. I admit I was a bit taken back by them at first. But being stoned and thinking about my own destitute situation in life, I asked them very seriously, “Ok, if Satan is so powerful, then what can he do for me?” To my surprise they looked at me and got extremely upset and started cursing at me and just left. I wasn’t sure what really happened, I just thought they were extremely weird. But over the years I’ve concluded somehow they were given the message “No, leave this one alone.”

Eventually I ended up in a non-denominational house church that started what they called a “Discipleship Program.” I moved in with the pastor and a couple other men and started my discipleship. After years of involvement I was made a deacon, then an elder, and eventually even an assistant pastor. It was in that church that I met a very special woman and we got married. The church eventually started a school and a Christian dinner theater, but things in general didn’t progress very well. Sadly, some of the leaders didn’t really walk the Christian walk and soon alcohol, sex and sin were the hidden norms everywhere. Being consumed by the guilt of my own sins, one Sunday when my turn came to preach, I decided to share my last message from the passage below. 

Galatians 6:1 – Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

The focus of my message was simple, are you fellow leaders even spiritual enough to recognize when a man is overtaken in a fault? Or have you too already yielded to all your temptations. It was my last cry of desperation as I made plans to leave the church. My wife and I moved 300 miles away and within a year I was fallen again headlong into immorality, drug use and alcohol. I found out firsthand what a really big jerk my wife’s first husband was… even though to this day she has only been married once.

A couple of years later, and over a thousand miles away from home, separated and all alone on a blood moon eclipse night, I was so drugged out and intoxicated that my body was having alarming signs threatening me that that night might well be my very last. I cried out again to God, “Lord, all I wanted was to be a man of God. I believe in You, but I don’t believe in anything I was taught anymore. Why can’t I be an overcomer? Why can’t I do the right thing? Lord I just want to go home and start over.” I woke up the next day resolved to do just that, but I had so many things I needed to get right before I could. I tried my best to mend local relationships and wrongs committed and then sold everything I owned but my clothes and van and headed back home. 

Once home I was trying hard to do the right thing and was graciously reunited with my wife. One Sunday we were with some other Christian friends as we all decided to visit a new Church started by a popular Miami Beach performer who supposedly became a Christian. Having been through so much sin myself, who was I to throw stones or to judge?

So, I went and listened to him preach and he hit on all the points that make sinners want a happier and better life. He gave an invitation saying he knew there were many needing deliverance, and if you’ve been struggling with sin then come up and he was going to pray for you. Having struggled all my life with sin I went up. 

There we were all lined up in front from left to right and he started praying. As he walked down the line he was laying hands on the people and they were all falling backwards. I said to the Lord, “Here I am. No games anymore. If this is You Lord I want it all.” I figured God was big enough to knock me down like everyone else, so I kept my eyes open and waited my turn. 

When this man came to me he closed his eyes and laid his hand on my head, but nothing happened. I think he was more surprised than me. Suddenly while I am looking into his eyes he angrily says,” You’re not going to resist me you foul spirit!” And then he stepped into me and literally shoved my head backwards causing me to lose my balance.  I immediately stood up, shook my head in disbelief and went back to my seat. As I walked back to my seat I felt the Lord impressed upon me, “I am your Deliverer, do not look to man.”

I did however have the wisdom to understand God wasn’t telling me to ignore other believers or the gifts He had given them for His glory, but at that point in time He wanted me to seek Him and Him alone. It was there I made a decision to put everything I ever thought about Jesus Christ and Christianity upon God’s altar and to start proving all things afresh in the light of the scriptures. What I discovered shouldn’t surprise anyone, for we all heard it for years; the truth will set you free. For men’s problems are never the truth; it is always their unwillingness to fully surrender to the terms of the Truth.

I wish I could say from that point on everything was better, but the reality for me was like it is for all of us; whether we like it or not there is a war going on and until Jesus Christ returns we are all caught in the middle of it. The adversary has never been content to leave me alone, however he now knows that I know he has truly lost this war and his time is short. Nevertheless, he constantly does what he can out of hatred to God to oppose me, or tries to nudge me a little to the left or right, and when that isn’t working he tries to flatter me. He does anything and everything he can to try and get my eyes off Jesus Christ even for just a moment. Perhaps the closest he ever came to destroying me was using God’s own people as a source of discouragement to me, and with a root of bitterness springing up in me I almost threw in the towel and gave up, but my Jesus didn’t. He saved me.

For the record, I have been a pastor, worked for years volunteering by holding meetings at men’s shelters and Sunday night services at a rehab that was a volunteer/mandatory alternative to jail or prison. I even opened a Christian Coffee shop for a couple of years. Through it all, the heart of my preaching was never that men can escape hell and go to heaven, rather the Gospel message is that through Jesus Christ all men can be what God always intended them to be, a reflection of His glory made fit for the Kingdom of God. For God made us in His image with the desire that we all be His glory in the earth and by the cross, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we can be. 

Honestly, while life has never been easy, it has often been very good. But we have all met those who have had it worse than us. So like I often say, “Life’s not fair, live it none the less.” When people ask what I do for a living every so often I still reply, “I work with wood.” Being a tradesman who has always worked with his hands, I eventually became a building contractor. But while I was fairly proficient at the design and fabrication side of the construction business and ended up doing some pretty high end work, the logistical side never ceased to be a grievance to me with all the red tape and regulations. All that stuff just exasperated a guy who simply loved doing a good job for a fair price. My reputation was built on service and quality, and I thank the Lord for the good work ethic that He worked in me. More than once I sacrificed profit and put money back into the job to get it done right and assure the customer’s satisfaction. I’ve learned the Lord honors the man that keeps his word, even to his own loss or hurt. 

Thanks to the economy, I became a home inspector in the insurance industry. But I must admit at times feeling as if I am a bit outside the calling God had for me… perhaps like a Levite would, who having no earthly inheritance may have felt when they were forced to wander the land looking for a place to provide for their family due to the neglect and poverty God’s house suffered at times. Perhaps that’s part of the consequences of my sins in this life. 

Still, without a doubt one of my greatest pleasures is reasoning the things of God with reasonable people. So please don’t assume the things I share are intended to be dogmatic statements that I am right and everyone else is wrong. Rather I openly share my thoughts simply because I believe them to be true and willingly submit them to the scrutiny of other believers. I can’t stress enough how much I appreciate those who love me enough to tell me, “Brother, you’re wrong.” But not only tell me I am wrong, but will patiently labor with me while respecting my integrity and convictions till they can show me just where and how I was wrong. Lord knows how much I need such men and women of God in my life, we all do. 

All that said, for the record I did manage to get my GED, so I guess that’s the height of my academic credentials as a Christian author. Perhaps that really means I am still just a carpenter, a guy who occasionally works with wood and still loves to read his bible. But I would like to make one last point about myself, while I agree we will all disagree sometimes and somewhere, I refuse to “agree to disagree” as if that’s somehow a noble thing for believers in Christ. Rather we must all learn to respect the integrity of each other’s convictions and humbly labor together to understand each other if we are going to make any headway towards coming to a unity of faith and a knowledge of the Truth. Remember, even at our best, we all only know in part. That’s why we have each other and need charity… 

Ephesians 4:11 – And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:  16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Therefore, until we all meet each other on the other side, live for Jesus Christ the resurrected King of kings!

Stay blessable, on fire, and unburnable,

William Males

NOTE – If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me. My email is wemales@yahoo.com – Please use subject line: “The Eighth Beast”

Awake!

Awake, you sleeper! Awake! Arise and make yourself ready! It’s time to put aside those childish pursuits and your endless musing with vanities.  Awake, I say! Do you not realize the time in which you are privileged to live? Now more than ever can the sound of the bridegroom’s coming be heard! Surely, He draws near. 

The need to purify yourself has grown greater as the time allotted has grown shorter. The dark of night has already conquered the eastern horizon as the sun glow fades in the west. The king had long ago sent out His invitation.  He proclaimed to all, “COME!”

Yes, come, and make haste! Do you not know that if you refuse to comply with the King that His anger will be kindled against you? Yet in His longsuffering He still says, “Come! Come to the greatest of all feasts!  There is food, wine, and much song and dance. Joyful dance to celebrate the wedding of all weddings. Come and attend My wedding.”

The bridegroom has long been ready, yet He has patiently waited. He has waited for you!  Arise therefore you sleeper! So much remains for you to do. TODAY you must prepare. Set aside your complacency and strive to mature!  Strive to increase your knowledge and understanding so you may be completely resolved to live your life solely for the King of kings!  Rise up and cast out reservation and hesitation, these are foes that have hindered and killed countless before you. Arise! Answer His call!! 

It is your only reasonable response . . .

“Awake thou that sleepest, arise from the dead, Christ shall give thee light. Awake to righteousness and sin not. For some [of you] have not the [intimate] knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.”  (Eph. 6:14, I Cor. 15:34)

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