Something to Ponder on the End Times

The Sign Of The Times

There can be little doubt left in anyone’s mind that we are now living in the final ages, the last times, the end of the age. As this century comes to a rapid conclusion many of the prophecy of scripture are taking place before our very eyes. Those who ignore what they see are in danger of losing their lives forever. Those who will heed and act upon the warnings will see the Kingdom of Christ ushered in and will rule for a thousand years along side of the Prince of Peace, The Lord of Lords and King of Kings, His name is Jesus Christ.

Those who have chosen to remain with their heads in the sand as an ostrich will of course miss the last day signs, and therefore place themselves in jeopardy of losing their very lives. All of the end time signs of are given to us in scripture. Many of them Jesus showed us in His instruction given to the disciples found in Matthew 24.

From Matthew 23 we find the disciples, confused and perplexed over the scathing judgement that Jesus had just pronounced upon the Jewish rulers and those of the priesthood. They took Jesus over the brook Kidron to the Mount of Olives to show Jesus the splendour of Jerusalem, the great temple. There Jesus began to tell them of the events and destruction that would soon come upon the city and country. In an attempt to understand greater what Jesus had just explained to them the disciples asked Jesus a three cord question, “When shall these things be, What will be the sign of your coming, and the end of the world”? Then Jesus went into what is now known as the Olivet discourse to answer these three very important questions.

Question 1, When will these things be? Jesus had just told His disciples that Jerusalem would be destroyed and Herod’s great temple would be pulled down with not one of it’s magnificent marble stones remain standing. These stones were so great that it took 1,000 wagons and 10,000 men to work with them. They were 25 cubits long (94 ft), 8 cubits high (10 1/2 ft), and 12 cubits wide (13 ft) of solid marble, see Josephus, (Antiquities of The Jews, book xv, chapter xi, paragraph 3). So to comprehend such a great destruction was certainly difficult,  therefore the question was very fair, although Matthew quotes the question asked he does give the response Jesus gave, for that we must go to Luke.

Luke 21:12-24, The destruction Jesus told of, happened in A.D.70, verse 22 sums it up as the days of vengeance. Had the Jews accepted Jesus and the mercy that He came to give, no vengeance would have been necessary, however they did not, therefore these days would be known as the days of vengeance for the rejection and rebellion against Christ Jesus. From 605 BC (during the days of Nebuchadnezzar) until today Israel has had some kind of Gentile control placed upon it. Today that pressure and control comes via the finances of America and western countries. One example is that Israel had to do as they were instructed to do while under attack from Sadam Hussien during the Gulf war, something that Israel does not usually listen to. This no doubt took place under the threat of an American withdrawal of their wealth. Although it was excused as the Arabians would side with Sadam if the Israelites entered the war and possibly cause an escalation of the war. Time after time God has delivered this nation from their enemies and would have done so as well during that war.

Since Israel became a nation again on May 14 1948 they have been besieged with war. The day after becoming a nation they were attacked by five armies, God delivered them. Yet they have been under attack since, politically or economically or in actual battle, always seeing the delivering hand of God working for them, yet one must ask, Do they recognize it as such?

Although what Luke said here deals with the Roman siege of Jerusalem, much of what Matthew said deals with the second coming of Christ and the days just prior to His return, the days of the great tribulation. (We examine these topic later).

All of what Luke has quoted was fulfilled and the temple destroyed, right down to the stones being removed and the ground ploughed under so even the marking of the foundation would be lost from sight.

Question 2, What shall be the sign of thy coming? This question also had a response that the disciples possibly did not want to hear, for Jesus went on to give many prophecies that would be difficult at best to accept. For those who would have to go through the fulfilment of them just living would become life’s greatest challenge, and to die a blessing.

The debate over this question continues to rage, Were they enquiring to the second coming of Christ or does this refer to the rapture? Having the luxury of hindcite many today believe that what was in discussion here is the second coming of Christ, (a subject we will deal with later).

First we must deal with the signs and the first sign is a warning of great deception.

Duplicity, The Gleaning Away the Believer

From verse 4, 5, 11 & 23-26 we find that Jesus first warns the listener of Duplicity in man. This is chicanery, crafty guile, deception, fraud, or trickery. The Greek word used here is “plano”, which is: to cause another to roam from safety, truth or virtue, it is to seduce one out of the way and to cause one to wander and err. The root word is, “plane”, (plan’ ay) which means: fraudulence, a straying from piety (spirituality), to deceive by deceit, delusion or error. Such a person would have been known as a “plans”, one who is a roving deceiver (a tramp), an imposter, or a misleader, a seducer. In today’s language such a one who be called a con-man, Fagin, deceiver, a swindler, or even a pimp as the church deceived prostitutes itself with the system of the world established by the anti-christ.

The world is full of duplicity, today many false Christs have appeared and lead to their deaths untold thousands of deceived people. David Koresh, Jim Jones, Sun Yung Moon, those of the New Age, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons and many others have deceived much of the world into believing that there are other ways to God rather than going through Jesus Christ His Son, they are dead wrong, He is the only way.

There arises out of California alone one new religion every three days, many of which are leading the masses into final and everlasting destruction. Man has been deceived in many ways, believing that Satan is the brother of Jesus and therefore will obtain eternal salvation, believing that they may contact God through the means nature, finding God in the rocks (ie. New age crystal gazing) or trees, (totem poles) they in reality are just recycling very old and worn out ideas that Satan has used for thousands of years to bring man into his dark realm.

All who trade in duplicity attempt to masquerade it as the seeing of Christ within themselves or that they too are christs and therefore gods. Therefore we see many false christ arise today. They are simply the signal that Jesus had warned us of, beware of those who claim He is here or there. Although they possess the ability to work what appears to be miracles they are living under delusion and are frauds in the sight of God. Such a person is Reveen who filled the Jubilee Auditorium five times . Deceiving thousands of people here and wherever he goes.

But Reveen is but a small trickster in the scheme of things. There is coming one who we will know as anti-christ, for he will stand in opposition to all that Jesus Christ stood for. Scripture gives many warnings of such individuals, 2 Thessalonians 2-3:3-16, here we find the Apostle Paul giving fair warning of who we should follow or not.

Verse 2:3-12 The Anti-christ:

vs.3, He is called the man of sin, because he will embody all that is sinful. He will permit and even influence those who choose to live sinfully. He most likely will be a homosexual as this will be one of the eminent sins of man foretold by Jesus in Matthew 24 and Paul in Romans 1.

vs.3, He is called the son of perdition, the Greek word is “Apoleia” which means damnable, damnation, ruin or loss, destruction or waste. This man possessed by Satan himself will lead all mankind into damnable lifestyles which will result in their destruction. c/f 2 Peter 2:1-12

vs.4, He will be an opposer to God, as such he will make war against the church and cause all of his followers to persecute the church in all ends of the earth. Anti-christian attacks will become equal to anti-semitism, Christian and Jew will be held in equal disgust by the world. Notice that today both are held in ill light and continue under great stress from media and Hollywood, whereas eastern religion and cults are held in high esteem, ie. the Dali Lama paraded through Hollywood as some kind of superstar.

Because the anti-christ is an opposer of God he will think nothing of believing himself to be above God and even god. Therefore he will make man to worship him as god and will even set up an idol of himself in temple of God in Jerusalem. Causing delusion in himself and his worshippers. Fascism will be his instrument of rule.

vs.7, He will be possessed with a spirit of lawlessness, He will be the law into Himself. As God’s laws mean nothing to him and he considers himself above them, mans laws therefore will mean even less. His path and way will be ushered in by those who are possessed of Satan and who believe that the law is only for their benefit. Many practising witches, Occult followers and the like will occupy positions of power in all governments, enabling the anti-christ to take power of all countries. This should of little surprise when we see such parties as The Natural Law Party running for office, a party completely possessed by the influence of Satanic worship through transcendental meditation. Many politicians have had sooth-sayers, seers, and such as advisors on their paid staff. McKenize King of Canada, Ronald Regan of United States are just two examples.

The anti-christ will thrive in realms of lawlessness, for he will show himself as the defender of the law and will come and take possession of lands given freely over to him if he will control the law breakers. Crime will run rampant, weak and meaningless laws such as the Canadian young offenders act will be passed giving lawlessness strong root to grow. If not for the gospel and those who will stand unashamed for it, the anti-christ would have possession of this world today. c/f Romans 1:15-32

Lawlessness will not however have its complete way until He who prevents it is removed out of the way of the anti-christ. Who is he who will be removed, is it the Holy Spirit? No, the Holy Spirits work must continue as the anti-christ is revealed and then right on through his seven year reign. The one that must be removed is the church, before the anti-christ can gain control over the world the church will be taken away in rapture. Then and only then will the anti-christ be able to totally control the governments of this world.

vs.8, He will remain in charge until the return of Christ Jesus, at which time he will be destroyed. This will occur at the battle of Armageddon, we see this in our study of Revelation.

vs.9-12, He will be completely at Satan’s bid and will be Satan’s last attempt of world domination. This will be Satan’s final dictator, fascism is: a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, segmenting all industry, commerce, etc. and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism. (Websters dictionary) Satan will equip him with supernatural powers enabling him to do wonders which enforces the deception and therefore misleads even more people. The 16th century prophet; Nostradamus, predicted a third anti-christ, born in Jerusalem on February 04 1962 of non-Jewish parents. He is scheduled to appear some time in 1995 according to this prophet. His name according to Nostradamus is Mabus, mabush, or maw-boosh, in Hebrew the name means secret parts, the male pudenda, thus a direct reference to his homosexuality lifestyle.

We know that the antichrist rule will be one of fascism because fascism is a twisting of God’s theocratic kingdom or rule. God will rule in theocracy, a theocracy in it’s purest sense is a society where there is complete harmony in church and state. Harmony because it is ruled by God, c/f Isaiah 33:22. No matter who has stewardship over Gods property they are still subject to God and will answer to God, ie. the kings of the old testament although in charge answered to the God inspired prophets. God maintained authority, therefore when something was not as it should be, or an enemy would show their ugly heads, their right was to go to God and expect Him to deliver, heal, or make them prosperous so that they would have any and all needs supplied.

The theocracy of God will be based upon two things, A) His covenant with man and B) Eschatology or what His Word has said the final days will be like. It is the fulfilment of all that Christ Jesus has said that will take place at His second coming. The millennium reign of Christ Jesus will be the perfecting of that theocracy before man is placed into a new heaven and a new earth.

Todays church in its purest sense is the theocracy of God here on earth now (although not the complete theocratic kingdom). It is God who rules the church and therefore it is God who provides all that His covenant promises to the body of Christ today. It is from the theocratic kingdom we rule over Satan and his cohorts. It is because the theocratic kingdom of God in church today that prevents the lawlessness of anti-christ from taking complete control now. As long as the church remains, lawlessness can not overcome and rule, but is suppressed and restricted to do the works of darkness in darkness.

Men will follow the anti-christ because they will possess a passionate hatred for the laws of God. They will reject Christ and His theocratic kingdom by the masses. Fuelled by such groups as the Jesus Seminar, ERA, Gay Liberation, Pro-Abortionist, Feminist and the New World Order of New Age groups they will be convinced through the twisting of scripture that Jesus was at the best a good man and at the worst a deceiver of any reasonable thinking, “enlightened” person. Even the church (the deluded church) will get in line to be part of the antichrist campaign against Jesus and His followers.

Others Who Use Duplicity

Verse 3:6, Withdraw from any brother who is found to be disorderly or rebellious. This is a person who markets in duplicity.

Verse 3:11, Stay away from busybodies, the Greek word is “periergazomai” those who interfere with the domestic affairs of others. Those who are meddlers into what is none of their concern or responsibility. These too, market in duplicity, for they through their constant gossip deceive others into  believing lies. In most churches this is a conspicuous situation as some persons traffic heavily in another’s circumstances.

Verse 3:14-15, Avoid those who rebel against the word of God, those who merchandise in religion instead of offering a relationship with God.

Let them find shame in what they do so that they may learn from it.

Although you may disassociate yourself from such a one continue to give them the word so that they may come to see true brotherly love. 1 John 2:18-19,

Verse 3:16-18, Unlike any other New Testament book Paul finishes  by encouraging us that we must stand against those who trade in duplicity whether it be the great anti-christ or any of the little rebellious ones that come before him.

Although the first sign of the end that Jesus gave was the coming of duplicity that does not mean  we live in fear as we have seen gripping the nations today. We have great assurance that those who belong to the theocratic kingdom of God will ever live with Him and ever be loved by Him. We stay knowledgable to the works of satan through anti-christ type persons avoiding them and remaining in love with all who seek after the Kingdom of God. One day very soon we will be like Him and with Him if we remain in Him. 1 John 2:24-29.

SIGN TWO THE FIGHT IS ON

Matthew 24:6-8

Now Jesus gives the second sign, “the beginning of sorrows”. Jesus says that this will be a time for global pain. The Greek word compares it to great travail or like child birth. There will be affliction, grief and hardship like none has ever seen since the beginning of time.

Verse six tells us of the possibility of wars and of course the extent of the rumours of wars. No other time in history has there been such turmoil, fighting and strife between the nations of world.

Jesus begins by telling us that nation would rise against nation, but upon closer examination we find that the Greek word for nation is “ethnos” which means a race of the same habits, in other words a ethnic group of people. Today we see a continual rise in ethnic groups attacking one another. The disastrous situations of Bosnia and Somalia are both caused through ethnic groups at war with one another. In fact the war in Bosnia has made way for a new term that was perviously unheard of, that term is “ethnic cleansing”. Although the term is new, the cause has been around for many centuries, this of course the driving force behind all Holy wars, middle eastern Jihads, or even the attempt to eradicate entire nationalities as Hitler did with the Jews.

There is hardly a nation of the world that does not some kind of internal fighting, Canada and the Natives, English against French, Whites against Blacks, ethnic against ethnic as foretold by Jesus as one of the end times signs.

Then Jesus says kingdom against kingdom, or those of the international community fighting others of the same community. We in this century alone could not count the amount of wars there have been nor the amount of lives and dollars spent in fighting these wars. During the eight wars that U.S.A. has been involved in they have lost more than 652,769 lives at a cost of 1,406,811,000 (1 trillion, 406 billion, 811 million) dollars in today currency. This is just one country, and does not take in account the other countries involved in the conflict. One was not even listed officially as a war but rather as a policing action. (Korea war).

Canada passed a temporary taxing measure to help pay for the cost of world war 1, today we call it the income tax act of Canada. What happens when they begin to pay for World war 2? Jesus gave us clear warning what will happen, and He just called them the beginning of sorrows.

No other time in recorded history has there been as many wars as the 20th century. Since Jesus gave us His warning wars (not local battles as was the destruction of Jerusalem) have numbered as follows: Year A.D. Amount

167                                                                                            1

406-441                                                                                  2

533                                                                                            1

711-787                                                                                   3

1000-1096                                                                            3

1207 & 1267                                                                          2

1337-1494                                                                              3

1519-1598                                                                              3

1642-1697                                                                              7

1700-1789                                                                             12

1801-1899                                                                             18

In Last 100 years:

World War I
Russian Civil War
Finnish Civil War
Cristero War
Spanish Civil War
Irish Civil War
World War II – Germany vs. Poland
World War II – Germany vs. France
World War II – Germany vs. Russia
World War II – Allies vs. Germany
World War II – Allies vs. Italy
World War II – Allies vs. Germany in Africa
World War II – Allies vs. Italy in Africa
World War II – Japan vs. Korea
World War II – Japan vs. China
World War II – Japan vs. Philippines
World War II – Allies vs. Japan
World War II – Japanese theatre
China Civil War
Greek Civil War
Costa Rican War
1948 War of Independence (Israel)
Sinai War (Israel)
Kasmir War (India/Pakistan)
Chinese Occupation of Tibet (whether this is a war is a contested subject)
Korean Civil War (involving Russian, China and the U.S., too)
Sino-Indian War
Indo-Pakistan War of 1965
Indo-Pakistan War of 1971
Vietnam Civil War (involving France and then the U.S., too)
Cambodian Civil War
Guatamalan Civil War
Six Day War (Israel/Many middle-east countries)
War of Attritian (Israel/Egypt)
Yom Kippur War (Israel/Egypt/Syria)
Nigerian Civil War
Lebanese Civil War
Algerian Civil War
First Sudanese Civil War
First Lebanon War (Israel)
East Timor (Indonesia/East Timor)
Russia-Afghanistan War
Salvador Civil War
Ethiopian Civil War
Falkan War (Britain/Argentina)
Iran-Iraq War
US-Iraq Kuwait Liberation War
Sierra Leone Civil War
Serbian War
Rwandan Civil War
Kargil War
Second Sudanese Civil War
US-Iraq Occupation War
Second Lebanon War (Israel)
US-Afghanistan War

These are just the most major wars, if all the battles were to be listed it would take two 1000 page volumes.

World War 1 was the war to end all wars, or so they said. Yet only two decades later the world was reeling in the next war to end all wars, and since then there has not been a single month in this worlds present history where man was not at war with other men.

Jesus went on to say that man would be plagued by famines, and natural disasters during the time before His return. Famines are listed first for with every natural disaster comes a shortage of food or what is necessary to sustain life. Jesus said this would greatly increase during the last days, and just as we saw with wars during the last century there have been more than any other time in recorded history it is also true with natural disasters.

Look at just the earthquakes recorded in the past 100 years alone beginning with the latest in Japan.

2011 03 11 – East Coast of Honshu, Japan – M 9.0   Fatalities c24,000 (tbc)

2011 01 18 – Balochistan, Pakistan – M 7.2   Fatalities 2
2011 01 13 – New Caledonia – M 7.0
2011 01 02 – Araucania , Chile – M 7.1
2011 01 01 – Santiago del Estero, Argentina – M 7.0
2010 12 25 – New Caledonia Vanuatu – M 7.3
2010 12 21 – Bonin Is , Japan – M 7.4
2010 10 25 – Sumatra – M 7.7   Fatalities 435
2010 09 03 – West of Christchurch, New Zealand – M 7.1
2010 08 13 – Mariano Islands, – M 7.2
2010 07 23 – Moro Gulf, Mindanao, Philippines – M 7.6 (max)
2010 07 18 – New Britain, Papua New Guinea – M 7.3
2010 05 09 – Northern Sumatra, Indonesia – M 7.2
2010 04 04 – Baja California, Mexico – M 7.2   Fatalities 2
2010 02 27 – Offshore Maule, Chile – M 8.8   Fatalities 507
2010 01 12 – Haiti region – M 7.0   Fatalities 222,570
2010 01 03 – Solomon Islands – M 7.1
2009 11 09 – Fiji – M 7.3
2009 10 07 – Santa Cruz Islands and Vanuatu – M 7.8 / M 7.7 / M 7.4
2009 09 30 – Southern Sumatra, Indonesia – M 7.5   Fatalities 1,117
2009 09 29 – Western Samoa – M 8.1
2009 09 02 – Java, Indonesia – M 7.0   Fatalities 72
2009 08 10 – Andaman Islands, India region – M 7.5
2009 08 09 – Near the South Coast of Honshu, Japan – M 7.1
2009 07 15 – Off West Coast of the South Island, New Zealand – M 7.8
2009 05 28 – Offshore Honduras – M 7.3   Fatalities 7
2009 03 19 – Tonga region – M 7.6
2009 02 11 – Kepulauan Talaud, Indonesia – M 7.2
2009 01 15 – East of the Kuril Islands – M 7.4
2009 01 03 – Near the North Coast of Papua, Indonesia – M 7.6   Fatalities 5
2008 11 24 – Sea of Okhotsk – M 7.3
2008 11 16 – Minahasa, Sulawesi, Indonesia – M 7.3   Fatalities 6
2008 09 29 – Kermadec Islands, New Zealand – M 7.0
2008 07 19 – East coast of Honshu, Japan – M 7.0   Fatalities 30
2008 07 05 – Sea of Okhotsk – M 7.7
2008 06 30 – East of the South Sandwich Islands – M 7.0
2008 05 12 – Eastern Sichuan, China – M 7.9   Fatalities 87,000+
2008 04 12 – Macquaried Island region – M 7.1
2008 04 09 – Loyalty Islands – M 7.3
2008 03 20 – Xinjiang-Xizang border region – M 7.2
2008 02 20 – Simeulue, Indonesia – M 7.4   Fatalities 3

2007 12 19 – Andreanof Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska – M 7.2
2007 12 09 – South of the Fiji Islands – M 7.8
2007 11 29 – Martinique Region, Windward Islands – M 7.4   Fatalities 1
2007 11 14 – Antofagasta, Chile – M 7.7   Fatalities 2
2007 10 31 – Pagan Region, Northern Mariana Islands – M 7.2
2007 09 30 – Auckland Islands, New Zealand region – M 7.4
2007 09 28 – Mariana Islands region (Japan) – M 7.4
2007 09 12 – Southern Sumatra, Indonesia – M 8.4   Fatalities 25
2007 09 02 – Santa Cruz Islands – M 7.2
2007 08 15 – Near the Coast of Central Peru – M 8.0   Fatalities 450
2007 08 08 – Java, Indonesia – M 7.5
2007 08 01 – Vanuatu – M 7.2
2007 04 01 – Solomon Islands – M 8.1 Fatalities 40
2007 03 25 – Vanuatu – M 7.1
2007 01 21 – Molucca Sea – M 7.5   Fatalities 4
2007 01 13 – East of the Kuril Islands – M 8.1
2006 12 26 – Taiwan Region – M 7.1
2006 11 15 – Kuril Islands – M 8.3
2006 08 20 – Scotia Sea – M 7.0
2006 07 17 – South of Java, Indonesia – M 7.7
2006 05 16 – Kermadec Islands Region – M 7.4
2006 05 03 – Tonga – M 8.0
2006 04 20 – Koryakia, Russia – M 7.6
2006 02 22 – Mozambique – M 7.0
2006 01 27 – Banda Sea – M 7.6
2006 01 02 – East of South Sandwich Islands – M 7.4
2005 11 14 – Off the East Coast of Honshu, Japan – M 7.0
2005 10 08 – Pakistan – M 7.6 Fatalities 80,361
2005 09 26 – Northern Peru – M 7.5
2005 09 09 – New Ireland Region, Papua New Guinea – M 7.6
2005 08 16 – Near the East Coast of Honshu, Japan – M 7.2
2005 07 24 – Nicobar Islands, India Region – M 7.3
2005 07 13 – Tarapaca, Chile – M 7.8
2005 06 15 – Off the Coast of Northern California – M 7.2
2005 06 13 – Tarapaca, Chile – M 7.8
2005 03 28 – Northern Sumatra, Indonesia – M 8.6 Fatalities 1,313
2005 03 02 – Banda Sea – M 7.1
2004 12 26 – Sumatra-Andaman Islands – M 9.1 Fatalities 283,106
2004 12 23 – North of Macquarie Island – M 8.1
2004 11 28 – Hokkaido, Japan Region – M 7.0
2004 11 26 – Papua, Indonesia – M 7.1
2004 11 22 – Off West Coast of South Island, N.Z. – M 7.1
2004 11 15 – Near the West Coast of Colombia – M 7.2
2004 11 11 – Kepulauan Alor, Indonesia – M 7.5
2004 09 05 – Near the South Coast of Honshu, Japan – M 7.4
2004 07 25 – Southern Sumatra, Indonesia – M 7.3
2004 02 07 – Irian Jaya, Indonesia – M 7.3
2003 12 27 – Southeast of the Loyalty Islands – M 7.3
2003 11 17 – Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska – M 7.8
2003 10 31 – Off the East Coast of Honshu, Japan – M 7.0
2003 09 27 – Russia-Kazakhstan-Xinjiang Border Region – M 7.3
2003 09 25 – Hokkaido, Japan Region – M 8.3
2003 08 21 – South Island of New Zealand – M 7.2
2003 08 04 – Scotia Sea – M 7.5
2003 07 15 – Carlsberg Ridge – M 7.6
2003 06 20 – Amazonas, Brazil – M 7.1
2003 05 26 – Halmahera, Indonesia – M 7.0
2003 05 26 – Near the East Coast of Honshu, Japan – M 7.0
2003 03 17 – Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska – M 7.0
2003 01 22 – Tecoman, Colima, Mexico – M 7.8
2003 01 20 – Solomon Islands – M 7.3
2002 11 16 – Kuril Islands, Russia – M 7.5
2002 11 03 – Denali Fault, Alaska – M 7.9
2002 11 02 – Northern Sumatera, Indonesia – M 7.5
2002 10 10 – Irian Jaya, Indonesia – M 7.6
2002 09 08 – New Guinea, Papua New Guinea – M 7.6
2002 08 19 – Fiji Islands – M 7.7
2002 06 28 – Priamurye-Northeastern China border region – M 7.2
2002 04 26 – Mariana Islands – M 7.1
2002 03 31 – Northern Taiwan – M 7.1
2002 03 05 – Mindanao, Philippines – M 7.5
2002 03 03 – Hindu Kush Region, Afghanistan – M 7.4
2002 01 02 – Vanuatu Islands – M 7.3
2001 07 07 – Near the Coast of Peru – M 7.6
2001 06 23 – Near the Coast of Peru – M 8.4 Fatalities 75
2001 01 26 – Gujarat, India – M 7.7
2001 01 13 – El Salvador – M 7.7 Fatalities 844
2001 01 01 – Mindanao, Philippines – M 7.5
2000 11 16 – New Ireland Region, Papua New Guinea – M 8.0
2000 06 18 – South Indian Ocean – M 7.9
2000 06 04 – Southern Sumatera, Indonesia – M 7.9
1999 11 12 – Duzce, Turkey – M 7.2 Fatalities 894
1999 10 16 – Hector Mine, California – M 7.1
1999 09 30 – Oaxaca, Mexico – M 7.5
1999 09 20 – Taiwan – M 7.6 Fatalities 2,400
1999 08 17 – Izmit, Turkey – M 7.6 Fatalities 17,118
1999 06 15 – Central Mexico – M 7.0
1999 05 16 – New Britain region, Papua New Guinea – M 7.1
1999 02 06 – Santa Cruz Islands – M 7.3
1998 08 04 – Near Coast of Ecuador – M 7.2
1998 07 17 – Near North Coast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea – M 7.0 Fatalities 2,183
1998 05 03 – Southeast of Taiwan – M 7.5
1998 04 25 – Balleny Islands Region – M 8.1
1998 01 30 – Near Coast of Northern Chile – M 7.1
1998 01 04 – Loyalty Islands Region – M 7.5
1997 12 05 – Near East Coast of Kamchatka – M 7.8
1997 10 14 – South of Fiji Islands – M 7.8
1997 07 09 – Near Coast of Venezuela – M 7.0
1997 05 10 – Northern Iran – M 7.3 Fatalities 1,560

1996 06 10 – Andreanof Islands, Alaska – M 7.9
1995 05 27 – Sakhalin Island – M 7.5 Fatalities 1,989
1994 06 09 – Bolivia – M 8.2 Fatalities 5
1993 08 08 – South of the Mariana Islands – M 7.8
1992 12 12 – Flores Region, Indonesia – M 7.5 Fatalities 2,500
1992 09 02 – Nicaragua – M 7.6 Fatalities 116
1992 06 28 – Landers, California – M 7.3 Fatalities 3
1992 04 25 – Cape Mendocino, California – M 7.2
1991 10 19 – Northern India – M 7.0 Fatalities 2,000
1990 07 16 – Luzon, Philippine Islands – M 7.8 Fatalities 1,621
1990 06 20 – Western Iran – M 7.7 Fatalities 50,000
1988 03 06 – Gulf of Alaska – M 7.7
1987 11 30 – Gulf of Alaska – M 7.8
1987 03 06 – Colombia-Ecuador – M 7.0 Fatalities 1,000
1986 05 07 – Andreanof Islands, Alaska – M 7.9
1985 09 19 – Michoacan, Mexico – M 8.0 Fatalities 9,500
1981 07 28 – southern Iran – M 7.3 Fatalities 1,500
1980 11 08 – Humboldt County, California – M 7.2
1980 10 10 – El Asnam (formerly Orleansville), Algeria – M 7.7 Fatalities 3,500
1979 05 20 – Alaska Peninsula – M 7.0
1979 02 28 – Mt. St. Elias, Alaska – M 7.6
1978 09 16 – Iran – M 7.8 Fatalities 15,000
1977 11 23 – San Juan, Argentina – M 7.4
1977 03 04 – Romania – M 7.2 Fatalities 1,500

1976 11 24 – Turkey-Iran border region – M 7.3 Fatalities 5,000
1976 08 16 – Mindanao, Philippines – M 7.9 Fatalities 8,000
1976 07 27 – Tangshan, China – M 7.5 Fatalities 255,000
1976 06 25 – Papua, Indonesia – M 7.1 Fatalities 5,000
1976 02 04 – Guatemala – M 7.5 Fatalities 23,000
1975 11 29 – Kalapana, Hawaii – M 7.2 Fatalities 2
1975 02 04 – China – M 7.0 Fatalities 10,000
1975 02 02 – Near Islands, Alaska – M 7.6
1974 10 03 – Near the Coast of Central Peru – M 7.6
1972 07 30 – Sitka, Alaska – M 7.6
1972 04 10 – southern Iran – M 7.1 Fatalities 5,054
1970 07 31 – Colombia – M 8.0
1970 06 24 – S of Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia, Canada – M 7.0
1970 05 31 – Peru – M 7.9 Fatalities 66,000
1970 01 04 – Yunnan Province, China – M 7.5 Fatalities 10,000
1969 02 28 – Portugal-Morocco area – M 7.8 Fatalities 13
1968 08 31 – Iran – M 7.3 Fatalities 12,000
1967 07 22 – Turkey – M 7.0
1966 10 17 – Near the Coast of Peru – M 8.1
1966 08 19 – Varto, Turkey – M 7.1 Fatalities 2,520
1966 08 07 – Rat Islands, Alaska – M 7.0
1965 03 30 – Rat Islands, Alaska – M 7.3
1965 02 04 – Rat Islands, Alaska – M 8.7
1964 06 16 – Niigata, Japan – M 7.5 Fatalities 26
1964 03 28 – Prince William Sound, Alaska – M 9.2 Fatalities 125
1963 10 13 – Kuril Islands – M 8.5
1962 09 01 – Qazvin, Iran – M 7.3 Fatalities 12,230
1960 05 22 – Chile – M 9.5 Fatalities 5,700
1959 08 18 – Hebgen Lake, Montana – M 7.3 Fatalities 28
1958 11 06 – Kuril Islands – M 8.3
1958 07 10 – Lituya Bay, Alaska – M 7.7 Fatalities 5
1958 04 07 – Huslia, Alaska – M 7.3
1957 12 13 – Iran – M 7.3 Fatalities 1,130
1957 12 04 – Gobi-Altai, Mongolia – M 8.1 Fatalities 30
1957 07 02 – Iran – M 7.4 Fatalities 1,200
1957 03 16 – Andreanof Islands, Alaska – M 7.0
1957 03 09 – Andreanof Islands, Alaska – M 8.6
1954 12 16 – Fairview Peak, Nevada – M 7.1
1954 03 29 – Spain – M 7.9
1953 08 10 – Kefalonia Greece – M 7.2   from 8th to 12th. Fatalities 476
1953 03 18 – Western Turkey – M 7.3 Fatalities 1,103
1953 01 05 – Near Islands, Alaska – M 7.1
1952 11 04 – Kamchatka – M 9.0
1952 07 21 – Kern County, California – M 7.3 Fatalities 12
1950 08 15 – Assam – Tibet – M 8.6 Fatalities 1,526
1949 08 22 – Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia, Canada – M 8.1
1949 08 17 – Turkey – M 7.1
1949 07 10 – Khait, Tajikistan – M 7.5 Fatalities 12,000
1949 04 13 – Puget Sound, Washington – M 7.1 Fatalities 8
1948 10 05 – Ashgabat, Turkmenistan – M 7.3 Fatalities 110,000
1948 06 28 – Fukui, Japan – M 7.3 Fatalities 5,390
1947 10 16 – Wood River, Alaska – M 7.2
1946 12 20 – Nankaido, Japan – M 8.1 Fatalities 1,330
1946 11 10 – Ancash, Peru – M 7.3 Fatalities 1,400
1946 08 04 – Dominican Republic – M 8.0 Fatalities 100
1946 06 23 – Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada – M 7.3
1946 04 01 – Unimak Island, Alaska – M 8.1 Fatalities 165
1945 11 27 – Off the coast of Pakistan – M 8.0 Fatalities 4,000
1945 01 12 – Mikawa, Japan – M 7.1 Fatalities 1,900
1944 12 07 – Tonankai, Japan – M 8.1 Fatalities 1,223
1944 02 01 – Turkey – M 7.4 Fatalities 2,800
1944 01 15 – San Juan, Argentina – M 7.8 Fatalities 5,000
1943 11 26 – Turkey – M 7.6 Fatalities 4,000
1943 11 03 – Skwenta, Alaska – M 7.4
1943 09 10 – Tottori, Japan – M 7.4 Fatalities 1,190
1942 12 20 – Erbaa, Turkey – M 7.3 Fatalities 3,000
1942 11 26 – Turkey – M 7.6 Fatalities 4,000
1940 11 10 – Romania – M 7.3 Fatalities 1,000
1940 05 19 – Imperial Valley, California – M 7.1 Fatalities 9
1939 12 26 – Erzincan, Turkey – M 7.8 Fatalities 32,700
1939 01 25 – Chillan, Chile – M 7.8 Fatalities 28,000

1938 11 10 – Shumagin Islands, Alaska – M 8.2
1938 02 01 – Banda Sea, Indonesia – M 8.5
1937 07 22 – Central Alaska – M 7.3
1935 05 30 – Quetta, Pakistan – M 7.5 Fatalities 60,000
1935 04 20 – Formosa – M 7.1 Fatalities 3,280
1934 05 04 – Chugach Mountains, Alaska – M 7.1
1934 01 15 – Bihar, India – M 8.1 Fatalities 10,700
1933 11 20 – Baffin Bay, Canada – M 7.4
1933 08 25 – China – M 7.4 Fatalities 10,000
1933 03 02 – Sanriku, Japan – M 8.4 Fatalities 2,990
1932 12 25 – Gansu, China – M 7.6 Fatalities 70,000
1932 12 21 – Cedar Mountain, Nevada – M 7.2
1931 02 02 – Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand – M 7.9 Fatalities 256
1930 05 06 – Iran – M 7.2 Fatalities 2,500
1929 11 18 – Grand Banks, Nova Scotia, Canada – M 7.3
1929 05 26 – South of Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia, Canada – M 7.0
1929 05 01 – Iran – M 7.4 Fatalities 3,300
1929 03 07 – Fox Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska – M 7.8
1927 11 04 – Lompoc, California – M 7.1
1927 10 24 – Southeast Alaska – M 7.1
1927 05 22 – Tsinghai, China – M 7.9 Fatalities 200,000
1927 03 07 – Tango, Japan – M 7.6 Fatalities 3,020
1925 03 16 – Yunnan, China – M 7.1 Fatalities 5,000
1923 09 01 – Kanto (Kwanto), Japan – M 7.9 Fatalities 143,000
1923 03 24 – China – M 7.3 Fatalities 5,000
1923 02 03 – Kamchatka – M 8.5
1923 01 22 – Humbolt County, California – M 7.2
1922 11 11 – Chile-Argentina Border – M 8.0
1922 01 31 – Eureka, California – M 7.3
1920 12 16 – Gansu, China – M 7.8 Fatalities 200,000
1918 12 06 – Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada – M 7.0
1918 10 11 – Mona Passage – M 7.5 Fatalities 116
1918 02 13 – Kwangtung (Guangdong), China – M 7.3 Fatalities 10,000
1917 01 21 – Bali, Indonesia   – MMI of IX . Fatalities approx 15,000
1915 10 03 – Pleasant Valley, Nevada – M 7.1
1915 01 13 – Avezzano, Italy – M 7.0 Fatalities 30,000
1912 08 09 – Marmara Sea – M 7.8 Fatalities 1,950
1912 07 07 – Paxson, Alaska – M 7.2
1910 09 09 – Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska – M 7.0
1909 01 23 – Iran – M 7.3 Fatalities 5,500
1908 12 28 – Messina, Itlay – M 7.2 Fatalities 70,000
1908 05 15 – Gulf of Alaska – M 7.0
1907 10 21 – Tajikistan – M 8.0 Fatalities 12,000
1906 08 17 – Valparaiso, Chile – M 8.2 Fatalities 20,000
1906 04 18 – San Francisco, California – M 7.8 Fatalities 3000
1906 03 16 – Kagi, Formosa – M 7.1 Fatalities 1,300
1906 01 31 – Off the Coast of Ecuador – M 8.8 Fatalities 1,000
1905 09 08 – Calabria, Italy – M 7.9 Fatalities 2,500
1905 07 09 – Mongolia – M 8.4
1905 04 04 – Kangra, India – M 7.5 Fatalities 19,000
1904 08 27 – Fairbanks, Alaska – M 7.3
1902 04 19 – Guatemala – M 7.5 Fatalities 2,000
1901 12 31 – Cook Inlet, Alaska – M 7.1

Once again these are but just a few as they are only the most major recorded events. Along with each comes a great toll in lives and the to rebuilt. The most recent earthquake in Japan cost an estimate of 13 billion dollars in damage. How terrible are the times we now live in, yet how much better they truly will be as compared to that of the tribulation period.

We of course have an understanding that the wars and disasters we face today will be much worse during that final days leading up to the real war that will end all wars “Armageddon”.

Revelation 16:13-16.

So let us examine this final war, in order to so we must first go to Ezekiel, the 38th & 39th chapters.                       Ezekiel Chapters 38 & 39

Verses                         Statement

38:1-7                          History and grouping of the attacking Anti-christ lead army.

38:8-9                          The strategy of the attack.

38:10-13                    The purpose of Gog.

38:14-16                    The attack.

38:17-22                    The destruction of Gog.

38:23                           God’s glorification, sanctification and declaration.

39:1-6                          A reiteration of God’s fury and Gogs destruction.

39:7-10                      The spoils of war, the fuelling of a nation for seven years.

39:11-16                     Seven months of burning the dead then steady employment thereafter for some to clean up any remains.

39:17-20                    God’s celebration.

39:21-24                    Israel’s justification through-out the world.

39:25-29                    Israel’s return and conversion.

Much of this we will examine closer as we study Revelation chapters 16-20. For now though we must ask this one question, who is Gog? There has been much speculation as to who Gog is, many believe that Gog and Magog will be the country of Russia however examination of scripture will show that Gog is not a country but rather the Anti-christ who fuels the countries of the world and leads them to destruction.

The prophet Daniel shows that he will rise from within the divided kingdom of the new Roman Empire the will be a part of the 10 nations ruling power over which the anti-christ is the dictator. Daniel 7:19-25, 8:20-25

Russia is not nor has ever been a part of this empire. Although Russia may be a part of the attacking armies sent against Israel scripture shows clearly that she is not instigator of the attack, that it is Gog.

He descends from the Roman empire which came about from the spilt of the Greek empire lead by Alexander the Great. The division of the Greek empire was made up by four, Greece, Turkey, Syria, and Egypt. (Old Syria is modern day Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Iran).

Gog has been named in other parts of scripture as:

The Prince or King of the North                                                       Daniel 7,8,9 & 11

The man of sin, the son of perdition                                      2 Thessalonians 2

The King of Babylon                                                                          Isaiah 13 & 14

The Assyrian                                                                                                                          Micah 5

The Anti-christ                                                                                                           1 John 2

The beast                                                                                                                                Revelation 13

We must not forget that the anti-christ comes from the final world power of Daniel’s prophecy of seven world powers:

Daniel 2:38

Two came before                                Egypt and Assyria

The head                                                         Babylon

Arms & Breast                                    Medo-Persian

Belly & Thighs                                   Grecian

Legs                                                                            Old Roman Empire

Feet & Toes                                                    Modern Roman Empire

As the Anti-christ comes out from the Modern Roman Empire represented by the clay and Iron feet and toes we see that he is an elected official. Clay is representative of democracy and iron of dictatorial rule. So then the Anti-christ then is placed into power by the people, once there he will change all rules and laws giving himself supreme power.

We saw from Ezekiel that Gog is the chief prince of Meshech. In order that we have a clear understanding that this man Gog is anti-christ we must trace his roots.

So then Gog is the son of Meshech the son of Japheth the son of Noah. Japheth means enlargement, this we certainly see as Japheth sons spread across the world forming many nations from their descendants.

NOAH, means rest.

Father of: Shem, Ham, Japheth

──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Japheth, son of Noah, means enlargement

Father of: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, Tiras

Gomer, means completion

Father of people’s or nations such as: Galatians, Phrygians, Some Northern Europeans, ie. Gauls, Celts, Germans, French, Welsh, Irish, and Britons most Anglo-Saxon races.

Magog, meaning unknown

Father of people’s or nations such as: Scythians, Tartars from whom came Russians, Muscovites, Tibarenis, Cappadocians, some Northern Asian and small parts of European nations.

Madai, meaning unknown

Father of people’s and nations such as: Medes, Persians, some Hindu countries and central Asian nations.

Javan, meaning effervescent, hot and active

Father of people’s and nations such as: Greeks, Italians, Spaniards, Portuguese and other Mediterranean nations.

Tubal, meaning unknown

Father of people’s and nations such as: Iberians, Georgians, Cappadocians, and other Asiatic races.

Meshech, meaning a sowing, precious price

Father of people’s and nations such as: Muscovites, and Slavic nations as, Poland, Ukranie, Bosnia, Czechoslovakia, Rumania, Bulgaria and others of the Black Sea area.

Tiras, meaning fearful

Father of people’s and nations such as: Thracians, Etruscans, parts of Italy, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, India and those of the Causcans mountain countries.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Shem, son of Noah, means shame

Father of Elama, Assar, Arhaxad, Lud, Aram

Elama, meaning hidden

Father of people’s and nations such as: Elamites, some Persian gulf nations

Assar, meaning successful

Father of people’s and nations such as: Assyrians

Arphaxad, meaning unknown

Father of people’s and nations such as: Israelites, Arabians, Edomites, Moabites, Ammonites, Ishmaelites, Midionites, nations of the middle east.

Lud, meaning unknown

Father of people’s and nations such as: Lydians, Ludims of Chaldea

Aram, meaning elevated

Father of people’s and nations such as: Aramaens and some Syrians

──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Ham, son of Noah, meaning hot

Father of Cush, Mizraim, Phut, Canaan

Cush, meaning unknown

Father of peoples and nations such as: Ethiopians and other southern African nations.

Mizraim, meaning besieged places

Father of people’s and nations such as: some Egyptian tribes and the Philistines

Phut, meaning unknown

Father of people’s and nations such as: Libyans and North african tribes, some Persian tribes

Canaan, meaning humiliated

Father of people’s and nations such as: Palestine, Arabian, Tyre and Sidon

In the final analyst the anti-christ is shown as coming from the division of the Syrian branch of the divide old Greek empire.  Daniel 11:35-45

Sign Three

Matthew 25:9-39

Verses 9-11; Refer to the tribulation period of man just prior to the second coming of Jesus but after the rapture of the church. The indication is of great anti-semitism and anti-christian attacks will take place. No Jew or Christian will be safe from the wrath of the anti-christ, he will fuel the entire world against those who will not give into his way and rule.

Verses 12; The illegal activities, lawlessness, and utter disrespect for what is right, true and righteous will cause men to depart of trying to do what the scripture says and thus many will be led away into destruction.

Verse 13; Those who have set their eyes on obtaining the goal of righteousness through Christ Jesus will be the overcomer’s of the end time. Surviving until the return of Jesus.

Verse 14; The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ will be preached even during the tribulation period. That means the message of salvation and deliverance, the message of healing, the message of true prosperity. All will be preached and offered to the ruling power nations during the worse time the earth has ever known.

***World; is the Greek word, oikoumene, oy-kou-mem-ay; which means the then known world,  the Roman Empire, which of course is what the anti-christ will be ruler of. The gospel is preached around the entire planet earth today, but during the rule of the anti-christ as special endeavour will be made by the 144,000 Jewish martyrs to p[reach the good news to this area as it will be the focal point of everything that takes place else where around the globe.

***Nations, once again we see the Greek word, ethnos, meaning ethnic groups, or those of various ethnic persuasions found within the new Roman empire.

Verse 15; The abomination of desolation, This is the anti-christ and his attempt to establish himself as god within the temple of God at the mid way point of the tribulation, this then is known as the great tribulation.c/f Daniel 9:24-27 Lamas version Verse 24 & 27 are yet to be fulfilled whereas verses 25 & 26 have been completed.

Verses 16-20; The anti-christ will come down upon Israel so quickly that no man will have time to pack and take his valuables with him, he needs just to flee leaving everything behind, for his very life is on the line and death is what the anti-christ is seeking. Verse 19 even gives a warning to those with small children for they will slow down their flight. Verse 20 warns that this should be prayed against it happening on a sabbath day for then their destruction will come even as they are in worship, and perhaps their religious traditions will cause them not to flee for fear of breaking their religious laws.

Verses 21-22; These actions begin the marking of the final 3 1/2 years of the anti-christ rule upon the earth. This is the breaking of the peace agreement that he will have made with Israel and a prelude to the destruction that he has planned for Israel. How is that he may move upon the people so quickly? We may see the beginning of this plan in action today with the so called peace agreements of the Palestine and Israelites.

Once the land is granted to the Palestine they will form an alliance with the anti-christ and he will move his armies into those lands, from which he may attack with missiles in less than 2 minutes. From the ground in less than an hour.

However God will intervene, causing the persecution of the nation to be lessened, as the anti-christ becomes distracted by the armies of China, and Russia. Daniel 11:21-44, Lamas version

After he defeats these armies he will once again re-group and begin a new attack upon the nation of Israel and upon Jerusalem it is called the battle of Armageddon, half the city will fall before Jesus will return as indicated in verse 27. Zechariah 14:1-14, Lamas version

Verses 23-26; Then will the people of Israel be diligently seeking the Messiah to come and bring the promised rescue, and because of their cry many false Christs will be sent against them, deceiving many.

Verse 27-51; Now come the true Messiah, Jesus Christ, this is the actions at the time of the second coming of Jesus. The anti-christ will have caused his sights to be returned to the destruction of the nations and the nations will rise against him to come to battle at Megiddo, in valley of Armageddon.

Just at the time when he thought that the entire nation will be his the anti-christ will be crushed by Jesus, His return will be so swift that the city is split in half and Jerusalem becomes a seaport.

Jesus returns to:

A) Take vengeance upon the anti-christ and all rebels. 2 Thess.1:7-10, Jude 14 & 15

B) To judge the remaining nations, and punish all sin. Matthew 25:31-46, Isaiah 26:21, Rev.11:18,

C) To deliver Israel. Zech.14:1-14

D) To establish His universal theocratic government. Psalm 72:11, Isaiah 2:1-4, Dan.2:44-45

E) To re-establish the throne of David. Isaiah 9:6-7, Jeremiah 30:7-11

F) To manifest the Glory of God upon all the earth. Isaiah 4:2-6, 35:2, 40:5, 60:1-9

G) To bring salvation as the Soterion. Isaiah 11:9, 49:6, 52:7, 1 Peter 1:5-13, Romans 11:25-29

H) To rebuild Jerusalem and the temple of God. Ezekiel 43:7, Zech.6:12-13

I) Remove the curse from the earth. Isaiah 35, 65:20-25, Micah 4:1-7, 1 Corinthians 15:24-28, 21:1-7, 22:3

J) To bring peace and prosperity. Isaiah 2:1-4, 35:1-8, Micah 4:1-7

K) To heal everyone. Isaiah 32:1-5, 33:24, 35:5

L) To finally cause man to fulfil the original plan of God. Genesis 1:26-31, 8:22, Rev.20-22

JESUS WILL REIGN 1000 YEARS

Matthew 24:37-25:46

As we saw  Jesus returns for many and various reasons, the greatest being that of setting His children completely free. Seeing God’s plan come into fruition He mow prepares to take His Kingship and rule on earth for 1000 years.

To explain His return, Judgement and then Reign He uses a series of parables. A parable is an: allegory, lesson or a morality tale. The one thing a parable is not is a made story, for that is a lie, and it is impossible for Jesus to lie.

Verse 24:37-39; Jesus gives us an indication as to moral state of the world at His return. He likens it to that of the days of Noah. Then the world was filled with debauchery, illicit sexual encounters, devil worship to the point that man began even to call themselves Jehovah. They had degenerated into less than the animals of the earth over whom they were once given authority. Thus man had become so adulterated in spirit, mind and body that they had no self-worth remaining within themselves, thus those who have no value of self will have no appreciation for the things that God values, such as righteousness, praise and fellowship. The greatest act of love that God could have ever preformed up to this time in history was to bring the deluge upon the earth and her rulers.

However God had promised never to destroy man again in such a manner, thus as man has been left alone to do his own bidding and to be controlled by the god of this age, he will have once again regressed into his state of debauchery. At that time when man is about to completely destroy himself worldwide, Jesus Christ will return ushering in a time of great peace, a time of 1000 years of joy.

Only He could provide the time of everlasting peace, only He will. Jude 14-25. As the world will be living in sensual sin during the end times, we are encouraged to live lives of righteousness, that is doing seven things up until the time of the rapture.

A) Build up yourselves in your holy faith. 1 Timothy 1:4

B) Pray in the Holy Ghost. Ephesians 6:18, Romans 8:26

C) Keep yourselves in love of God. 2 Timothy 1:14, Romans 8:35-39

D) Look for mercy to flow from Jesus and Jehovah. Hebrews 12:15

E) Have compassion. Verse 22

F) Provide the way of salvation to all who are willing. Verse 23

G) Hate anything that operates in the flesh. James 1:27, Ephesians 5:27

Matthew 24:40-42, Now the Lord begins to explain that there is a judgement coming upon those who are in rebellion to Him, those who have rejected the Word of salvation which was proclaimed to them.

Just as the flood did not spare any expect Noah and his family, only those who deserve God salvation will be spare. These are not examples of the rapture, this an on going occurrence at the coming of Christ Jesus.

Verses 43-44, Now Jesus emphasizes once again the urgency of standing guard over that which you have acquired in Him, so that it may not be stolen from you and you end up destroyed.

Verses 45-51, Next parable of those who Jesus is looking for at His return, those who are faithful and wise. Faithful to God, His Word and the following after righteousness, wise enough not to break faith for a moment of living in the flesh. Those who do receive a reward of ruling and reigning, those who are unfaithful receive a reward of eternal judgement and confinement into hell.

Jesus expects to receive His reward of faithfulness from all, He expects it because he gave His life and has been faithful to all who have received him. There is an indication here that this faithless servant knows and understands the meaning of having a relationship with Jesus Christ. He is a servant, Jesus is the Master, not to be found faithful at His coming is tantamount to rejecting all that He has done on our behalf.

This person is not one who does not know the Lord, but, rather is one who the Lord has placed in charge and keeping of God’s people, this is a pastor, a man who is misusing and abusing his authority in the house of God. Many will be found misapplying the authority in the last days for personal gain, using duplicity to further personal greed, believing that they have time to get their own lives in order before the return of Christ Jesus. They will be wrong, and will account greatly for their deceptions.

They are the end times Nicolaitanes. The Nicolaitanes were a group of gnostic followers of the heretic Nicolaus (victorious over people). He was a manipulator of people and their emotions. His teaching are not unlike the warped grace message that is taking root in the world to-day,

ie. wilful sin is okay because God’s grace will cover it, not so. Communal living where wives belong to all men for their use or abuse. They were the followers of the Balaam doctrines, witchcraft, idolatry, adultery, fornication, and using of bribes to subjugate the will of God and the speaking of curses on others.

A Study of Revelation

Introduction

Chapter 1:1; within the very first verse of the Book of revelation many things are revealed. It is based upon these disclosures that we are able to formulated the entire remaining scripture.

“The Revelation”, The first thing we learn is found in the name of the book itself. Revelation: the English word means the act of revealing or disclosure. Webster also goes on to say: a revelation is God’s disclosure of Himself and His will to His creatures. The Greek word for revelation is: apokalupsis, which carries the meaning of uncovering that which is hidden, to reveal or make clear. Therefore the very name of the book shows us God’s intent for the reader is to have clear and accurate knowledge of the passages they are about to examine. No longer does the argument hold true that man was not to know and comprehend the mysteries of the book.

“Of Jesus Christ which God gave unto Him”, Then the next thing we learn is this is not the Revelation of John as many bibles have subtitled it, but rather the revelation from Jehovah given to Jesus Christ. This then gives the reader the sense of looking ever carefully at what is about to be said, for these are the inspirations of Jesus, simply penned by John as they were given to him by Jesus.

“To show His servants”, Next Jesus confirms the purpose of Revelation, which is to make open and clear to those who are in right relationship what He is about to do upon the earth. The fact is that Revelation is the clearest warning given by Jesus to His servants as to the coming events of the last days. This then is a direct charge to those who follow Christ Jesus, one may compare this with the charges given the servants of Mathew 24:46

“Things which must shortly”, He says that these things are about to happen shortly, so many have interpreted this as a meaning as to a certain time line. But they miss it by not interpreting the word shortly accurately for it does not mean a length of time by rather the speed of time. Once these events begin they will all happen with such speed that it would appear that nothing will stop the utter destruction of the earth, and if not for Jesus, nothing will. Just as this judgement is poured out upon the earth God’s salvation is also poured, be sure both will be swift and complete. Know also that when the translation of this line is made, it may accurately read, the things necessary to demonstrated the relationship of rest. Therefore the Revelation of Jesus Christ is a revelation given o His servants to bring them into rest.

“Come to pass”, this too, gives confidence to us, for here we see that what is about to occur is a complete guarantee. This will occur, there can be no doubt whatsoever that what the reader is about to be exposed to will take place just as it is revealed.

“And He sent and signified by His angel unto John His servant.”, Jesus was the one issuing forth the scripture, transferred to His angel to be given to the scribe John who then gave it to the chruches for the very reason that all prophecy is given, for comfort, edification and exhortation. So believe that because the word signified is used that it means that the writing was to be in symbols and therefore difficult to read and understand. Although much of revelation is written in symbols, their meaning and intent are clear. Most of the book is written after the manner and style of the title of the book, revelation, to unveil and make and clear. Confusing is not what the book is about, revelation of the end times is.

Chapter 1:2; John now gives reason why He should be believed as to the writing of this book.

“He bare record of the Word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things he saw”. He had first hand experience with Jesus, not only through divine vision, but in the actual physical realm. This was the Apostle known as John the beloved, author of the gospel of John, the books of 1,2, and 3  John as well as Revelation. He is brother of the Apostle James. In the gospel of John 1:1, He wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. His experience with Christ Jesus as man and as God is without question one of the greatest examples of love any has experienced with Jesus.

This man walked with Jesus, ministered at His side, stood before Him at His trial, saw Him die, witnessed the empty tomb, touched His resurrected body, and received the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit of Christ Jesus. He suffered great personal torment for Christ, some say he was boiled in oil and they could not kill him, so they exiled him to Patomos, from where he wrote Revelation. He is believed to have died of natural causes at the age of 100, a true miracle for an apostle in the early persecuted church day.

Chapter 1:3; Now John shows that there is a blessing that will come upon those who take up the challenge of the Book. The blessing however is not one which belonged just to those who read the book. The blessing comes upon those who follow after a three cord instruction, A) read, B) hear, and C) keeps, the instruction found with the pages of the book.

Reading requires more than just a brief skimming of the pages. To read means to come to full and complete comprehension of what is expressed upon the pages. This requires time spend in meticulous study, as the langauge used greatly differs from that which we speak today.

Then he says we must hear, the pages will speak to us. Not verbally, but rather in a loud warnings within our spirit. We must listen, for in listening we establish ourselves as able to hear what the Spirit is saying, and as we delve further into this study we will see the great importance for the reason of listening with the spirit.

Once he has read and heard, he must keep them, in others words act upon them, do them with all his heart. Proclaim them as being so. Then and only then is the abundant blessing going to come upon him.

“For the time is at hand”, the first sense of urgency given by the writer. Do miss it, time is short, and the prophecies are about to happen. When they do they will happen quickly.

Chapter 1:4, John now shows exactly to whom this writing is directed, the seven churches of Asia Minor. The seven churches were: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. These churches became a representation of the seven basic divisions that have taken place since the inception of the church age. Chapters 2 & 3 are given over in their entirety to each churches charge, therefore when we arrive at the appropriate verses we examine what they say regarding our world today.

Seven is the number of God, the number of perfection, and although there were many more than just seven churches in existence at the time of this writing, the churches listed along with their charges could be seen as what is necessary for the church to come to completion. The Greek word for seven is “hepta”, which means full in abundance and completion. Therefore the time that the seven churches would go through would bring them into abundance, making them complete in Christ Jesus.

After the third chapter the church is no longer mentioned in any fashion with the expectation of Revelation 22:16 where once again they are given the same charge to heed what has just been written to them. The warning can only be that there is a certain time in thee history of man when God will bring the church into completion, remove her and then pour out His wrath upon those who remain. Such is the warning of the entire book of Revelation.

“Grace be unto you”, before John begins to show the sufferings of judgement about to befall those who remain after rapture, he reassure’s those of the church not to get caught up into worry, grief and concern, as they live lives of grace and peace.

Some have used the acronym of; God’s riches at Christ expense” for the word grace. For the greater part it is true. Grace is the gratuitous favour of God, bringing the completion of the works of salvation in ones life. God’s grace prefects, healing, deliverance, prosperity, and wholeness.

The Greek for grace here is, “charis”, which means the divine influence upon your heart and it’s reflection within your life, what is acceptable, beneficial, favourable, joyful resulting in what is most pleasurable.

Grace is the free gift of God brought to us by the dead and resurrection of Jesus Christ the one to whom this revelation was given. Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God”.

Although grace has been bestowed upon us, chapters 2 & 3 are clear warnings that we are not to abuse that grace. Grace always reassure’s our faith, faith in turn completes our hope, hope fulfils our love and love brings to us salvation, thus no-one should, would or indeed could live a life where grace could be abused. A wilful sin, no matter how great or small is the abusement of the grace that is provided for us through the love of the Father and given to us by the love of Son. Romans 6:1-16

“Peace”, John couples along with grace peace, having a full understanding as to what is about to take place and knowing that although great tribulation is about to befall those who are left, he assures them to be peaceful. Take the “eirene” peace of God, peace that insures quietness in the midst of the tribulation, peace that guarantees rest when all else are disquieted, peace that in the very nucleus of poverty, prosperity can be found. Isaiah 26:3, John 14:27

“From Him, which is, and which was, and which is to come; This is a direct reference to the triune nature of God. This expression used only 2 times in all scripture, is found here and in verse 8, which gives the exact interpretation that this could only be the triune God. The book then is not just the revelation of Jesus and what He is about to do upon the earth. But it is the unification of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit will bring into existence. Isaiah 42:1-8, 48:16-17, 59:21, 61:1-3 USE THE AMPLIFIED VERSION FOR THESE SCRIPTURES

“And from the seven Spirits which are before His throne”. Once again the number of perfection comes into being. As the seven church are encouraged to overcome, the seven Spirits are sent forth to assist in their enduring and their victory. What are these seven Spirits? They are seven applications of the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 11:2, names them as:

A) The spirit of the Lord, or the deity of God.

B) The spirit of Wisdom, to be skilful, The Advocate, 1 John 2:1

C) The spirit of understanding, comprehension, discernment, The Helper, Hebrews 13:6

D) The spirit of counsel, direction, guidance, etc.The Counsellor, Isaiah 9:6

E) The spirit of might, authority, The Strengthener, Philippians 4:13

F) The spirit of knowledge, to be prudent, circumspect, watchful in all direction. The Standby, Zech.4:12-14

G) The spirit of the fear of the Lord, love incarnate (The Comfortor) John 14:26

REVELATION 1:5

Here the King of Glory is about to reveal Himself and His great power, first before He does one see that there is great reward in store for those who follow after Him.

Before His arrival upon the earth there had been four hundred years with out the voice and works of a true prophet of God. From the days of Malachi to John the Baptist it was as if God had completely stilled His voice. What He wanted was for His people to hear Him from Hi Word.

Instead the people took the word and twisted it, making it a thing of bondage and hardship instead of a tool of freedom.

When the blinders are removed from one’s eyes all they will see in the word of God is Jesus.  For He is the word.

During Jesus’ day on earth He had deal with the differing religious sects that would all come into agreement for one reason, to see Jesus put to death. Thus fulfilling prophecy and bringing redemption unto man.

Revelation 1:9-20

Verse 9: John the oldest of all the living Apostles had a complete understanding of what tribulation was all about, he had watch countless others die for the faith, yet there could be no turning back, Jesus is Lord. John must cling to Him. Like Paul, John was ready to give his life for Jesus, like Paul, Peter and John, the end times saints (for the faith) will also give their lives for Jesus Christ, they lose nothing, they gain…..everything. Hebrews 11:32-40

Verse 10: In the Spirit, nothing is gained in the flesh, many seek visions from God, yet spend no time with Him in the Spirit. In the Spirit is everything, outside the Spirit is nothing, in the Spirit all things work together for those who love the Lord. Romans 8:26-31

The Lord’s Day, this is a direct reference to the first day of the week. The scripture John is about to give is to the seven churches, the idea is the even though he is imprisoned he did not stop doing that which is vital concerning the Lord’s day. Romans 14:5-6, Colossians 2:16

Verse 11: These seven churches were actual churches of the day. What was to be revealed of the vision was not to be selective for just one church but for all who would read it. Thus the sects who had control over the people of Israel of the day would no longer have their influence.

The sects were:

Sanhedrin: These men were the supreme religious leaders of the Jews, they also acted as the social governing body, but they were nothing more than puppets of the Roman government.

Pharisees: These believed the Jews were the superior race of people upon the earth. It is their seeds of hate that has caused a world-wide harvest of anti-semitism. Their legalistic views on all of mans life deepened the bondage man is held within. Their ignorant belief that they were God’s favourites held them in darkness, thus Jesus called them blind leaders of the blind.

Scribes: The historians of the day, were also the ones who had charge of copying the scriptures. They’re legalistic views were closely related to that of the Pharisees, they’re legalistic interpretation of scripture made all what was spiritual void.

Rabbis: These men often gave differing and multiple interpretation of scripture causing confusion in the people. The were the hands on ministers of the people and they word in the lives of the people was the final one.

Sadducees: This were the wealthy people of the day, considered as modernist, felt that scripture was situational at best. They denied miracles, angels or the resurrection. Often they held the position of High Priest. Therefore because of they belief of doubt cause the people to move only deeper into despair.

Essenes: These were the commune people of the day. They held ultra legal views, and believed that they should not inter-mingle with any others for any reason.

Zealots: These were hateful radical who were self serving. They were destroyers of anything that would not bring to them their ultimate goal, of their complete control of Israel.

As much of the worlds teaching were creeping into the churches so to were the teaching of these sects. Revelation chapters 1-3 were given as much as to free these as it was given to free them from the dangers that lie ahead or that lie within.

The selection of these seven churches could have been due to what they represented, each one a different phase within church life and church history. Or, possibly seven different divisions within the church or even seven characteristics of a local church.

The seven golden candlesticks, once again a reference to the seven churches. Gold means precious, candles, refer to light, and sticks to who supports the light. Those of the church are considered most precious to God, they are to be the light of the world shining forth the light that was instilled within them by Jesus Christ who their support and source of that is needful. Matthew 5:14.

The actual Greek word for candlestick is “luchnia” which means a lamp stand rather than a candle stick. The lamp again gives the connotation of light, but unlike a candle which provides light but is also self consuming, a lamp is fired oil and a slow burning wick, the oil may be symbolic of the Holy Spirit which is always referred to as the Oil of God. Here once again we see a parable of Jesus come into being. The cross reference of Matthew 25 and the parable of the 5 wise and 5 not so virgins, who required oil for their lamps.

Verse 12-20 Description of Jesus

Ten characteristics of Christ envisioned by John.

A) “one like the son of man” This title always referred to Jesus in His state of man, being the Messiah and having under gone all that man could suffer, He took upon Himself so that we may be freed from it. This is the title Jesus gave unto Himself, it indicates His authority over the entire universe. John 3:13, 1 Corinthians 15:47

B) “clothed with a garment down to the foot”, This a reference to the power that Jesus has as the Son of man, for His garment is representative to those worn by the Priests giving spiritual authority and like those worn by kings giving Him political authority. It also refers to His robes of righteousness. Isaiah 61:10

C) “grided about the breasts with a golden girdle” Again a reference of both His authority and His priesthood. Both the garment and the girdle that Jesus wears are the prefect ones that were worn by the priest. Exodus 28:2-29

D) “His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow”, this communicates to us the close relationship the Son as with the Father, for the Father is describe in like fashion, as the Ancient of Days, Daniel 7:9-13.

“white as snow” always refers to the purity of being completely clean, having no sin, which of course Jesus defeated all sin. Psalm 51:7, Isaiah 1:18, Matthew 28:3

E) “His eyes were like a flame of fire”, the actual reading of this verse is “His eye’s shot fire” this is an indication of the rage and anger He had with these seven churches and His indignation with having to rebuke five of the seven for their waywardness from His Word, for their compromising their stand in Jesus Christ. In chapters 2 & 3 we feel this flame come upon them.

F) “His feet like fine bronze” Kenneth Wuest translates this as, “His feet were like sliver bronze, when it is white-hot in a furnace”, refinement and judgement is what the white hot feet will bring, those who are in Christ will be refined, and those who call themselves by His name but have disobeyed will be judged. Another thing that could be found through this is that the feet and meant to place the brand of Christ upon His people. For they are representative of His body, and Satan is beneath His feet. His feet as white hot refining furnace would certainly crush Satan’s head, the anti-christ with hot judgement.

We must keep in mind that He is found walking among the churches, and therefore this stomping of impurities and deliverance from the works of Satan is being done within the church. Nahum 1:2-3, Lamentations 3:31-40, Psalm 8:4-6

G) “His voice like the sound of many waters”, when God speaks His voice will be like the sounds of a great water fall, like Africa’s mile long Victoria Falls, or where I grew up Niagara Falls, when one stands on the Maid of the Mist and the boat go right up to the base of the falls nothing many be heard but the roar of the falls. All attention is turned to falls, all who are in the boat at left in awe of the power of the great amount of water, 5520 cubit meters (194,940 cu ft) of water per second. So too will the voice of God leave all who hear Him in awe, all attention will be fixed upon Him and He will pronounce His judgement upon Him.

Like the power derived from Niagara’s massive hydro-electric generating plants, (just the Sir Adam Beck generating plant alone provides over 1,815,000 kw of power alone) So too can be picture the massive amount of power that is derived from spending ones life in Christ Jesus. Romans 1:16-20, John 1:12, Acts 1:7-8

H) “He had in His hand the seven stars”, Jesus explains this Himself in verse 20. The word angels, is the word messengers. So of this and according to chapters 2 & 3 these messengers were those who had the charge of the care and keeping of the church. Therefore it may refer to both the actual angel over the church and the pastor of the church. With all the Spiritual attack that is sent against the church it would require both the angel and the Pastor working together to see to it that the church is not destroyed.

I) “Out of His mouth went a two edged sword”, This is the Word of God. Jesus is the ultimate judge, who does so according to His word and by nothing less. Those who cling to the word and will not compromise it will be judge in favour, those who compromise it will be judged in harshness, for they will be judge according to their own words regarding Jesus’ Word. Matthew 12:37, 24:35

J) “His countenance was as the sun shineth in His strength” Malachi call Jesus the Son of Righteousness, for in Him all the world may stand right. All those who receive Him that is. Malachi 4. Once all has been accomplished Jesus will shine with the joy that He has for all who live within His righteousness.

THE CHURCHES OF REVELATION

Chapters 2 & 3 of Revelation deal with the seven churches, these seven churches are a type of the modern day church. For within the church today one can readily see the circumstances of the earlier churches coming into light.

The church is the greek word “ekklesia”, (ek-klay-see’-ah), which mean: the called out ones.

The church has been called out from the works of Satan, the have been called out from the destruction that lurks for the those who remain in the realms of despair, desolation, emptiness and loneliness.

Matthew 16:18, And I say unto thee, That thou art Peter, (patros, a little stone, or a fragment of a rock), and upon this rock, (petra, a massive unmoveable rock), will I build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”.

The church is or should be:

Build by God                                                                           Acts 2:47

A place for instruction and fellowship.                                    Acts 11:26

Comprised by the blood bought redeemed people of God.     Acts 20:28

The church should have structure.                                          1 Cor. 12:28

Edify it’s members by the gifts of the Holy Spirit.                    1 Cor. 14:12

Have Christ as the head, giving the body His authority.         Ephesians 1:22

Have the rulers of darkness in subjection to it.                        Ephesians 3:10, 6:12

Have the highest standards of integrity.                                  1 Timothy 3:5

THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF REVELATION

The seven churches of Asia Minor and what type they represent are:

Ephesus The apostolic church               2:1-7

Smyrna The persecuted church            2:8-11

Pergamum The indulged church               2:12-17

Thyatira The pagan church                   2:18-29

Sardis The dead church                     3:1-6

Philadelphia The loved church                     3:7-13

Ladodicea The lukewarm church             3:14-22

THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH

Ephesus; The desired one.

Commendation                       Rev.2:2-3

Condemnation                        Rev.2:4

Counsel                                   Rev.2:5

Reward                                   Rev.2:7

COMMENDATION

No church, or church age has ever been able to accomplish what was accomplished through the Apostolic church age. This church age spread the gospel throughout the entire world. Even with modern communication the results of this church age go unrivalled.

Romans 10:18, 16:26, Colossians 1:6 & 23. The purpose of the church is to spread the gospel, many churches have left this main purpose of Jesus Christ. As did the church of Ephesus.

The church of Ephesus eventually grew to be approximately 30,000 in numbers. This was a incredible feat, as Ephesus was a very demonic controlled city. They worshipped the sex goddess Diana, and committed all sorts of detestable acts. In the most wicked of sin this church preached against it and held onto the faith.

“I know thy works, and thy labour and thy patience” This was a hard working church for God, but they departed from the spreading of the gospel, this was the first love of they had, tell the world of Jesus Christ, this should be the first love of every church today. To come to Christ cost nothing, to follow Christ cost something, to serve Christ cost everything. But never does one ever lose anything that is of value when serving Christ Jesus. Christ today is calling upon all to serve Him. Matthew 10:32-42, 19:28-29

“I know-how thou canst not bear them which are evil” This church believed in remaining separated from those who practised the ways of the sinful world, but they hated those who named themselves as christian yet lived the life of the world as were the “Nicolaitans”. Romans 16:17, was a standard in their life.

“I know- thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars”, This was a unblemished church. Some self-seeking, self-promoting men came into their midst and were exposed as “blind leaders of the blind”, this church would not be taken in by them. Although under attack of Satan, they would not depart from the message that Paul proclaimed unto them. That message was the message of Faith, Deliverance and Warfare. Ephesians 6:10-18.

“I know-thou hast borne, and hast patience, and for my Names sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted” This is a tolerate church, a uncompromising church. This church was established because of faithfulness and grew for the same reasons. They were faithful to the gospel, regardless of what was taking place around them.

“I know-thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans” This was an independent church,they dependency was upon Jesus Christ and only Him. Not any structure of man such as the Nicolaitanes, a group of gnostic followers of the heretic Nicolaus (victorious over people). He was a manipulator of people and their emotions. His teaching are not unlike the warped grace message that is taking root in the world to-day, ie. wilful sin is okay because God’s grace will cover it, not so. Communal living where wives belong to all men for their use or abuse. They were the followers of the Balaam doctrines, witchcraft, idolatry, adultery, fornication, and using of bribes to subjugate the will of God and the speaking of curses on others.

Through Nicolaitanism a structure of bishops, arch-bishops, cardinals and a pope was established. This is not a scriptural structure for the church. Through such a structure men would look to men for their leading and guidance making the Holy Spirit and His gifts of no effect. God desires that men seek Him for all things and not other men. The church of Ephesus would not compromise itself, thus saw through the works of men, and chose to hold onto the works of faith. Zechariah 4:6.

CONDEMNATION

“Nevertheless I have some what against thee, because thou hast left thy first love”.

This church did what all churches do, they begin to take the gifting and works of the Holy spirit of God for granted. They became complacent in their attitude toward the life that they had gained in Christ Jesus. The great Apostle and Pastors that they once had were now gone, Paul, Timothy, and others. Their lives had become routine, “this is the way we have always done this”. Their love for God was real, true and genuine, but it had lost it’s zeal, it’s fire, it’s effervesce like excitement.

This is done by living the things of God by routine, doing the same things, the same way at all times. God wants us to live in Christ Jesus, always doing what He does, meaning; always following the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit. Jude 1:20-25

COUNSEL

Jesus counsels the church to do three things, Remember, Repent, and Return to Doing the First works. They were to remember the life they had when the Holy Spirit lead them into all the ways of life.They were to repent of their indifferent attitude. They were to return to the life of the Holy Spirit rekindling the excitement they have in Christ and that He has in them.

REWARD

The reward comes by two actions, A) Hear what the Spirit saith, and B) Overcoming the enemy.

This was a church that knew the life of being Spirit lead, it was through departing from this lifestyle that their problems came. It would be through returning to it that they would be able to regain their sparkle for Christ Jesus. Hebrews 5:9-16

Their return to their first love would be marked with the reward of God, “to Him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God”. This is the same tree that cost Adam is Kingship and his life. Adam could not eat of it, but those who will not allow their love of God to stolen from them and who will not compromise their stand will be able to eat from that tree.

One may ask if they are an overcomer, a simple qualifying test may be applied to ones self, check yourself daily with 1 John 5:4-5.

THE CHURCH OF THYATRIA

Revelation 2:18-29

The church of Thyatria is the representation of the pagan church. those who once knew Christ and allowed their compromising to lead them into witchcraft and other demonic practices.

Thyatria means – continual sacrifice. This however did not become sacrifice to God but the sacrifice of works.

The Thyatrian church is the pagan church or the church of the Dark Ages.

After the compromising of the church of Peragmos, this church continued in the compromising lifestyle. soon the compromising lead to many false and heretical doctrines that people would put more faith in rather then a the Word of God.

Some of this doctrines are:

A.D.     607       Boniface made the first pope.

709       Kissing of the pope foot was installed

786       Worshipping of images and relics

850       Use of Holy water

995       Canonization of saints

998       Fasting on Fridays, (Fish on fridays was a method the church use to procure monies from the people as they would have to buy fish from fishermen who were complaining that they could not give because people were not eating as much fish.

1079     Celibacy for priests made mandatory

1090     Introduction of prayer beads

1184     The Inquisition began (an attempt to wipe off the earth all non-christians)

1190     Sale of indulgences

1215     Transubstantiation (communion elements actually change into part of the body and blood of Christ.

1220     Adoration of the wafer

1229     Bible forbidden to laymen

1414     Cup forbidden to the people at communion

1439     Doctrine of purgatory decreed

1439     Doctrine of seven sacraments affirmed

1508     The Ave Maria approved

1545     Tradition granted equal authority with the Bible

1546     Apocryphal added to the Bible

1854     Immaculate conception of Mary

1870     Infallibility of the pope declared

1965     Mary confirmed as the Mother Of the Church

All this just leads man from God and deeper into death and destruction. This the dark age church continually feels the need to offer up sacrifices. Praying for the dead, burning of candles in the dark, speaking in latin to cause mystery, idolatry, chanting, crucifixes all practices of the occult all embraced by the Jezeblic church.

Jesus does bring some praise to this church.

COMMENDATION: Revelation-2:19 Six words:

A) Works, there can be no doubt that the dark age church is a church of works, inspite of it’s self many have come to a saving knowledge within the darkness. Most however do not remain within that darkness once light has come upon them.

B) Love, many of this church do have a genuine love mankind, they have sent such missionaries as Mother Theresa and other around the world to serve those who are needy. At one time most hospitals were founded through the compassion of the church recognizing the need to healing in people.

C) Service, simply the ministry offered to the people through those whose hearts were toward the people.

D) Faith, by faith many remain in Christ, yet lost in tradition.

E) Patience, meaning endurance, this church age has lasted more than 1000 years.

F) Works, more good works, but many have lost the idea that salvation is offered by grace and not by works.

CONDEMNATION: Revelation-2:20-24

There is a two fold condemnation upon this church.

A) Condemnation for permitting false teaching.

B) Condemnation for not repenting when given the opportunity.

The result was this is the church that misses the rapture goes on into the tribulation.

COUNSEL: Revelation 2:25

Given to those who are found to be faithful during this church age.

REWARD: Revelation 2:26-29

THE CHURCH OF SARDIS

Revelation 3:1-6                                                                      THE DEAD CHURCH

Sardis means “escaping ones”.

This church is representation of the Protestant Reformation, those who desired to escape from the pagan dark age church, only to take with them many of the same practices, doctrines and beliefs.

Whereas the Roman church was the main state church all these as well began state churches. Germany’s Lutheran Church, England’s Anglian church. Unfortunately people of state churches lose all love of Christ and His Word choosing to place the dependency within the state and it’s provision over that of Jesus. This is especially true in regards to economics.

COMMENDATION: Revelation 3:1

Works, of those who were willing to die to be free from the death grip of the pagan dark ages church.

That thou hast a name, their name was held only in their early days, today they represent the most vile of satanic practices ie. Homosexual priests.

That thou livest, some life exists within the church, but it does not come based on the church but rather on the life spend in Jesus Christ.

CONDEMNATION: Revelation 3:1

“Thou art dead”, This church age began well but very quickly has regressed into something worse even than the Roman church.

COUNSEL: Revelation 3:2-3

Be watchful; points to serious problems in the doctrine and teaching that they were receiving.

And strengthen the things that remain, build yourself up on those things that are of the Word and are Christ centred.

Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard; recall how salvation come and return to it.

Hold fast; hold onto those doctrines that are clearly the word of God, reject all else.

And repent, there is always life waiting even for those who are dying if they will be repent.

REWARD: Revelation 3:5,

Hold fast will give life, a clothing of white raiment, shows the purity of life when no compromise is given in Christ Jesus. for a no compromise stand, for not denying Jesus before man, He embraces you to the Father.