Israel: Remnant Seed of the Woman (Revelation 12:16-17)

Israel as the remnant seed of the “woman” (Revelation 12:16) is singled out for satanic wrath, for many reject the worship of antichrist and will embrace the Messiah before the end of the Tribulation Week. “And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 12:16-17 KJV). Excitement bristles in the Unseen Realm as all eagerly anticipate how the Almighty will conclude the story, while keeping His promise to Abraham of blessing his descendants, as well as the Gentiles (Genesis 22:17-18). Even the earth miraculously helps the fleeing fugitives of Israel, who refuse the worship of the antichrist, and who now “have the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 12:17). Many speculate these flee to Petra, and pray the prayer, “Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?” (Psalm 60:9). Yahweh will “let none of his words fall to the ground” (1Samuel 3:19), as He secured for Samuel. National conversion awaits Israel (Isaiah 66:8), as her Messiah comes the second time. LORD, Your faithfulness astounds us in fulfilling all Your prophecies. May Israel be preserved and saved to their joy and Your glory. In Jesus’ name, we ask it. Amen. 

They Overcame Him by the Blood of the Lamb (Revelation 12:11)

Tribulation Saints will overcome the enemy by the blood of Jesus during the Tribulation Week. “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 12:11 KJV). Just as demons should be presently cast out in the name of Jesus because of the blood of His sacrifice for us, during the Tribulation, the adversary will be overcome by the “blood of the Lamb” (12:11) coupled with the “word of their testimony” (12:11), which may cost them their lives, for “they loved not their lives unto the death” (12:11). Resisting the devil is necessary for him to “flee from you” (James 4:7). Resisting him “steadfast in the faith” (1Peter 5:9) using God’s Word is key. But, the specific testimony that drives demons out of humans is the value of Christ’s shed blood in cleansing our sin (1John 1:7), thus defeating the devil’s power over us. For the Tribulation Saints, this most likely ends with their martyrdom. Not all, however, will be martyred, since some will enter into the Millennium in the flesh, along with newly converted Israel at Christ’s Second Coming, to be ruled by Christ. LORD, a lot needs to happen before we ever get to the New Heavens and New Earth at the end of the Millennium. In particular, fortify our brothers and sisters at this time in the Tribulation Week. Grant those appointed unto death the Martyr’s Crown. Even now, teach us patience that we would faithfully fight Your battles. Grant us the Victor’s Crown for overcoming. Return quickly, in Jesus’ name, amen. 

Demonic Horsemen Kill 1/3 of Humanity (Revelation 9:13-21)

Every third person in the world will be burned alive in the Fifth Trumpet Judgment. “By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths” (Revelation 9:18 KJV). The “brimstone” is the fuel, the “fire” is the combustion process, and the “smoke” is the exhaust; but, wicked men are the targets of the flame. The LORD is the Righteous Judge. Satan is the villain. The enemy executes a burning, which makes insignificant the six million murdered in the Holocaust. Yet, the survivors “repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk” (9:20). Insanity! O the depths of the depravity of the human heart! Will any finally repent to enter physically into the Millennial Reign of Christ? Yes. Will Israel finally be saved? Yes. “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children” (Isaiah 66:8). Everything that happens during this seven year Tribulation Week, must happen, for they “are determined upon thy [Daniel’s] people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy” (Daniel 9:24). LORD, You alone have clean hands. You have pleaded by the prophets with Your prophecies, and the unrighteous would not repent. Why do they cling to the one murdering them? Insane! Continue Your righteous and mysterious work of judgment. Secure for Yourself a people. Reclaim Israel. In Jesus’ reconciling name, we pray. Amen. 

Persecution Grows the Church (Revelation 7:9)

Saul of Tarsus (the future Apostle Paul) was the berserker, who wreaked havoc on the Early Church, but  the churches “were multiplied” (Acts 9:31 KJV); nonetheless, because persecution grew the Church. Likewise, a “great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues” (Revelation 7:9 KJV) will respond to the Gospel witnessed by the 144,000. That multitude will be those martyred by antichrist. “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (7:14). A seeming paradox is the blood of Christian martyrs grows the Church. Tertullian (155-240 AD) defended the Christian faith before the governors of the Roman Empire. He said, “The oftener we are mown down by you, the more in number we grow; the blood of Christians is seed” (The Apology, 50.13). Though the Vanity Fair approach has been enormously successful in limiting Spiritual Christianity, even such measures will become unnecessary during the final end game of the Tribulation Week. LORD, grant unto Your children the patience of faith of Christ, Stephen, Antipas, and Your Two Witnesses that we may, too, witness a good confession for You, even unto death. In Jesus’ name, we ask it. Amen. 

Black Horse of the Cost of Living (Revelation 6:6)

The third seal judgment of the Book of Revelation reveals the third horseman of the Apocalypse, which is famine or the insanity of the cost of living. Unlike the Father caring for us like He does the “birds of the air” (Matthew 6:26 KJV), food insecurity under the Antichrist will require more than an ordinary job can provide. “And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat [what a laboring man would eat in only one meal] for a penny [a day’s wage], and three measures of barley [a lesser grain that a laboring man would eat in three meals] for a penny [a day’s wage]; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine” (Revelation 6:6). No doubt there will be peace enough for building again the Third Jewish Temple, but food insecurity will prevail to fulfill this prophecy. LORD, we appreciate what You have already given us to do Your will. May Your tribulations teach righteousness in the earth. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Behold A White Horse (Revelation 6:2)

The first seal judgment of the Book of Revelation opens at the beginning of Daniel’s Seventieth Week. “And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer” (Revelation 6:2 KJV). This first of the four horseman of the Apocalypse most likely represents Antichrist with veiled military power (“a bow”) diplomatically consolidating power worldwide. What has just disrupted the world? Was it a Pre-Tribulational Rapture of the Church? Could it be the revelation of the first horseman as a supernatural alien/Nephilim (UFO alien)? LORD, You are our teacher of things to come. Give us understanding that we may hasten Your return. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

The Final Call (Revelation 3:20)

If the Church of Laodicea can be compared to the final stage of Church History, then lukewarmness is its trademark. “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue [vomit] thee out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16 KJV). In spite of Laodicea’s lukewarmness, Christ gives her an invitation, the final call to repentance before He unfolds tribulation upon the earth. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me” (3:20). We have been comfortable in the world, rationalizing Christ can benefit from our riches, but blinded by self-interest, we have not seen the glories of the Invisible Christ in the Unseen Realm. O LORD, awaken Your people! May we acknowledge Your displeasure because of the slowness of our heart in believing You. Be merciful to us and cause us to make an impression on those left behind. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen and amen. 

Opinion: UFOs Are Not Extraterrestrial

If UFOs are demonic lying wonders, then SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) is misdirected. “Even him [Antichrist], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders” (2Thessalonians 2:9 KJV). What is commonly labeled as ET (extraterrestrial) has been addressed throughout the ages as “lying wonders” or demonic. Demons are disembodied spirits resulting from the Nephilim killed in the Flood, where the Nephilim are the product of Fallen Angels, who cohabitated with human females (Genesis 6:2,4). Science fiction movie script? No, Hollywood is only repeating the discussion that has been around for millennia. This perspective may actually be the key to explaining the conundrum of how a charismatic world leader [Antichrist] can usher in a period of World Peace, especially for Israel, which has defied Arab, Christian, and Jew. “And he [Antichrist] shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate” (Daniel 9:27). Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen. 

Fear of Prophecy

The fear that prophecy will do more harm than good seems to be an often found position in Christendom rather than comforting friends about how to act consistently with their Father’s future plans. “It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given” (Matthew 13:11 KJV). Preterists (prophecy has already been fulfilled) are afraid the dispensationalsts (rapture is imminent) will confuse the Church about a rapture non-event, while taking away from or neglecting to relieve the poor until the New Heavens and New Earth are ushered in. Post-Tribulationists (rapture at end of Tribulation Week) are afraid the faith of the Pre-Tribulationists (rapture at the beginning of the Tribulation Week) will be overthrown, when they are required to go through the Tribulation. And, the Pre-Tribulationalists are afraid the Body of Christ will not understand how to act as the world rapidly advances toward the Tribulation Week. What’s the solution? Love the LORD, and love His appearing. “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing” (2Timothy 4:8).

 

Significance of Israel-Hamas Conflict (2023)

What is Israel’s importance, in light of the Israel-Hamas Conflict (2023)? Israel must somehow exist in the prophetic future. For Jehovah, Israel is the “apple of His eye” (Deuteronomy 32:10), not because they are stubborn, rebellious, or murdered His Son the Messiah; but simply because, He sovereignly chose them. Israel is the prophetic clock for gauging upcoming End Time events. Israel must continue to be a nation (1948) with a yet to be rebuilt Jerusalem Temple for Antichrist to desecrate with the “abomination of desolation” (Matthew 24:15 KJV). But, Israel will be converted from their rabid unbelief by the End of the Tribulation Week. Quite a miracle! “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children” (Isaiah 66:8 KJV).