Answering Muslims: Muslims Torch Buddhist Temples and Homes in Riot o...

Did you really think they would only go after Jews and Christians. They despise the homosexuals too.

Answering Muslims: Muslims Torch Buddhist Temples and Homes in Riot o...: But we shouldn't let this distract us from the real problem: Islamophobia. BANGLADESH --Thousands of rioters have torched Buddhist temples...

The Seals are opened. Revelation 6 and beyond. Part 4

The Sixth Seal – From the poor to the richest.

And when He had opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake. And the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs when she is shaken by a mighty wind. And the heaven departed like a scroll when it is rolled together. And every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him sitting on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of His wrath has come, and who will be able to stand?

(Revelation 6:12-17 MKJV)

Let’s break this down just a bit.

Verse 12: (From the Wuest translation) “And I saw when he opened the sixth seal. And there occurred...”

• a great earthquake. (Ezekiel 38:19 For in my jealousy and in my blazing wrath I declare, On that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel.)
• The sun became black as sackcloth. (From Websters dictionary: SACK'CLOTH, n. [sack and cloth.] Cloth of which sacks are made; coarse cloth. This word is chiefly used in Scripture to denote a cloth or garment worn in mourning, distress or mortification.)
• the moon became as blood. (Where I live we have had beautiful sunsets as the sun shines through whatever is in the atmosphere illuminating the clouds with reds and oranges against the background of blue. Should you happen to catch the moonlight just right you would think it was blood-colored. I suspect that the effect will have a lot to do with pollutants being thrown into the air, but there is always the bizarre possibility that God takes this literal.)
• the stars of heaven fell unto the earth. (Lacking astronomical training how would you describe asteroids and meteors striking the earth. As they enter the atmosphere they begin to burn up; those that are large and solid enough continue on, striking the earth. Evidence and theory strongly imply that the earth has been struck by such things on several occasions, creating a havoc that impacted the entire earth. And, like so many other things we will see here in scripture, this could be a literal event.)
• the heaven departed as a scroll. (The International Standard version says, “The sky vanished like a scroll being rolled up.” I am not sure what that will look like but be sure of this, God is really trying to get the attention of those left here on the earth. I have tried several times to convey to those who read my thoughts, that God is above all else, a God of mercy. Yes, this time period is a time of judgment and wrath, but then ask yourself why. After sending messengers, prophets, and then his own son so many have rejected him. Not only rejected him but brutally killed his son. Not to worry, God raised his son from the dead and this victorious Jesus Christ has been seated as the reigning king ever since. The problem is, few bow to the king. To be honest, I do not care if that concept of bowing before him upsets you anymore, for no one is more deserving of obeisance than Jesus Christ, and I humbly submit myself before him.)
• every mountain and island moved out of their place. (As a child in school, our teachers taught what they understood and no one ever taught us that the earth may have been one large land mass now disrupted. I am not a rocket scientist, but just like most of you, I have some common sense. First, looking at a map of the world you can see that they look like worn down puzzle pieces that have been torn apart, and two merely reading scripture, in particular things about the Garden of Eden, tells me that this entire planet was the garden and there was a center. The third thing that should have your attention was the fact that in the most arid environments scientists have found evidence of lush, tropical foliage, along with skeletal evidence of large animals you would never have expected to be there. Point: something extremely dramatic happened to change all that. I can give you a hint. Look carefully at the story surrounding Noah after the flood. Genesis 10:25 tells us of one of Noah grandchildren naming his son Peleg. Peleg is a derivative of palag and it literally means to divide or cleave. I believe that most bible translators spoke of this event in terms of language barriers or ideals because in part they, like most of the world, did not understand or have knowledge of the tectonic plates, and they may have thought the earth was really flat.)

Revelation 6:15-17 ESV Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, (16) calling to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, (17) for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"

I have watched enough of the Discovery channel on television to understand that should a super volcano, like the one beneath Yellowstone Park in Wyoming blow, it could cause many of these things. How the destruction arrives and what forms it takes are really irrelevant for God is making it happen with the express intent of punishing the nations and those who willfully reject his Son as the sacrifice that restores the ability to have a relationship with the Father, and apparently this love relationship was God’s intent when he made man to begin with.

I know that Satan lies to you when you read something like this, telling you that you were created as a toy for God’s perverted pleasure, but you do not realize is that outside of God’s restoration, your mind filters everything through a broken mindset; one in which you take the ideals your accustomed to and you assign them to God. You have no idea who God is, you cannot outside of asking Him to come into your life. Only then can you begin to understand that God is love. This makes me chuckle, for I have been where you are. I have had to choose to challenge my worldly mindsets and unbelief, asking myself the hard questions like: is this life in Christ for real? What I have found is that God, this invisible entity, for the most part, has consistently come through, exactly as he said he would. Turn to him through Jesus Christ and he will become real to you too.

Related articles

• Challenges to: "A Short Course on Revelation" Part 2
• The Seals are opened. Revelation 6 and beyond. Part 3
• The Seals are opened. Revelation 6 and beyond. Part 2
• The Seals are opened - Revelation 6 and beyond. Part 1
• Every Prayer Uttered
• The Seventh Seal, Excerpt From Soul Savior, Book 3 In My Trilogy, Grand Slam!

Answering Muslims: Whitewashing Islam: 20 Errors on 20/20 (ABC News)

We have to hold the networks accountable for errors. They should be shamed right of the air.  If you do not understand what motivates Islam, YOU WILL BE DECEIVED.

Answering Muslims: Whitewashing Islam: 20 Errors on 20/20 (ABC News)

The Seals are opened. Revelation 6 and beyond. Part 3

The fifth seal is opened.

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?"

(Revelation 6:9-10 NIV)

I want you to keep something in mind as we go ahead. Nothing is in this book we call the bible, is by accident, and this look into heaven, at this first set of martyrs is no different. Why would I be compelled to mention that? Because this insertion of slain saints between such horrors seems out-of-place.

Every previous seal has been filled with death, destruction, and deceit, and yet this seal gives us a look back into heaven at those who have been slain since some specific point-in-time. I like to think that the point is the catching away of the church. If this details a mid tribulation catching away, that of course negates the concept, pointed out in (1 Thessalonians 5:9 AMP)

For God has not appointed us to [incur His] wrath [He did not select us to condemn us], but [that we might] obtain [His] salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)”.

This passage dictates that there is a wrath to come aside from mere human cruelty, and that this wrath has a specific time period, seven-years and goes by multiple names, such as: Jacob’s troubles, or the tribulation, and it has a specific purpose. Those who choose to fight with me over this premise are failing to answer a couple of questions:

1. If I am wrong, why a limited number of slain?
2. Since John got a second glimpse at the martyred, why was that number uncountable?
3. Why just focus on two reasons for their deaths: The Word of God, and the testimony which they held.
   Let’s be honest; many Christians have died merely going about the affairs of everyday life, but nothing sets them apart as belonging to the Lord. If you think your bumper sticker on your car sets you apart as God’s then you have not been cut off on the freeway, or flipped off by the driver of a car with a “christian” symbol on their car, as I have. So clearly that is not what these people have done.

They were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

Maintained through what?

If they had been part of the church that had awaited Jesus return then they would not have been here. (I suppose you figured out that my point-of-view is one of pre-tribulation rapture.) So these people now come from every walk of life, and may even include that fifty percent that Jesus described in Matthew 25.

There was something distinctly different about these people and those yet to be martyred, and yet this difference was not there just minutes before the rapture of the church. No, prior to that day they did not understand, care, or because of deception were looking for answers in things that had no meaning.

I looked up some numbers on religious populations in the United States. Mormons number about 6.1 million; Jehovah’s Witness claim numbers equaling 7.65 million, none of this accounts for the obscure religious sects, and those in traditional religion that do not pursue God in a way that maintains the oil in their lamps. When you consider that every cult is based in some form of truth (that is the general premise in deception – draw them in with some form of truth.) then every cult has enough truth to send people toward Jesus Christ. Since that rarely happens then we should understand that scripture tells us that the god of this world has blinded them.

A light bulb suddenly turned on.

Whatever twisted message they have spread will change, as will the books they have carried. I strongly suspect that in the United States the Word of God will be declared illegal and yet these new believers will carry it proudly, knowing full well that this act will take them to their deaths. What would you do with the realization that the one you rejected for years was true and now you have this one last chance to declare your newly found love for him. They will do this regardless of the cost, because of His love.

Killed, as they were.

(Revelation 6:11 KJV) And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Some have already died and more are to come. How do we justify a delineation in this time some call the great tribulation? On a personal level, how much greater does wrath have to get when it is directed at you?

Just to make a point, my Dake’s bible indicates that verse 12 of chapter 6 begins the wrath of God. I don’t see it, for wrath merely continues, and I will attempt to pursue that with the sixth seal.

They will come from every cult, religion, race and nation.

What if bible believers are right and Jesus is coming back for those who long for and await him. Then all those who practice a form of religion, having been deceived and turned against receiving the king of glory, Jesus Christ, now wake up. How that happens is not my business, but the Holy Spirit, through God’s word, tells me that it will. Falling on their knees they will ask the one they ignored for so long to forgive them, come into them, and accept them into his kingdom, which he will. Their numbers will be uncountable.

One of the fallacies about the time after the rapture, is that many believe that the Holy Spirit is taken away. What I believe we see is the power and drawing ability of the Holy Spirit as he continues to direct people to the kingdom. Who do you think it is that gives these people who never had a backbone before to now have one? Most will face horrendous tortures and death and I think they will quickly come to this understanding.

Related articles

• The Seals are opened. Revelation 6 and beyond. Part 2
• The Seals are opened - Revelation 6 and beyond. Part 1
• A response to my post, "A Short Course in Revelation" - part one.
• Challenges to: "A Short Course on Revelation" Part 2
• What is the Rapture?
• First Seal, The White Horse

The Seals are opened. Revelation 6 and beyond. Part 2

The third seal is open - Revelation 6:5

The rider on the black horse holds a pair of scales in his hand.

"Then I heard something that sounded like a voice. The voice came from where the four living beings were. It said, "A quart of wheat or three quarts of barley will cost a full day's pay. But don't harm the supply of olive oil and wine!" 

Revelation 6:6 ERV

I can generalize this and say the economy suffers from total upheaval. My bible (at the time of this writing) is a Dake’s, King James version, and the comments indicate that food will rise to prices 8x above whatever is normal (that is already happening,) and that might be the tip of the iceberg. We are watching national economies collapse, and a national conservative broadcaster claims that if Obama gets re-elected, the economy of the United States will collapse and that there will be food riots across this nation. Why would he say that? Across the United States, we have suffered horrible drought, and crops that have not died are dying. This affects everyone as prices continue to rise. Several years ago, we began to see gas prices hit the $4 dollar per gallon mark. Although the impact had other effects, we saw the price of food go up due to transportation costs. And yet, when the price of gas dropped, food prices did not go back down.
I wish I could understand why God would not allow for the oil and wine to be critically affected. Around my neck of the woods, we have a store called BevMo. It is primarily a large liquor store but leans toward the wine gourmet. It is fairly consistent from store to store; while the price of a loaf of bread is now over $4, wine is still cheap. Perhaps this, too is symbolic, just as the rider is. If we had the statistics, we would probably find that alcohol consumption has risen dramatically, as well as suicides.

The Fourth Seal

“The Lamb opened the fourth seal. Then I heard the voice of the fourth living being say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a pale-colored horse. The rider on the horse was death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth--power to kill people with the sword, by starving, by disease, and with the wild animals of the earth.”

(Revelation 6:7-8 ERV)

This is the second rider to bring death, and yet this rider is more specific in their methods and prolific.
One-fourth of the “worlds” population is killed. I put the world in quotations because I cannot specifically say that will be the effect. On September 11, 2001, over 3000 people were killed, both directly and indirectly, as airplanes were flown into the Twin Towers in New York.

What is to guarantee that the quantity of people killed is not spread over a wide area? Absolutely nothing. Sure, firepower seems to be a deterrent to the law-abiding, but we are not talking about those who will follow the law; for them, this is a war (Jihad), and we, those of us who claim a relationship with Jesus Christ, and the Jews are the enemy.

Everyone who dies as a Muslim is merely collateral damage, and Allah will sort them out in the end. In Islam, to spill your blood, even as collateral damage, is your hope (this used to say guarantee, but I have learned that Islam gives no guarantees) of a righteous reward. In Islam, without the spilling of blood, there is nothing that gives you hope of an eternal future; therefore, they are always striving to be more religious and righteous and willing to kill anyone who steps outside Islam’s moral boundaries.

The world population is estimated to be 7.039 billion. That equals the death of one billion seven hundred fifty-nine million seven hundred fifty thousand people in a fairly short amount of time.

Religion Statistics > Islam > Population (most recent) by country

From - https://origins.osu.edu/article/hajj-and-europe/maps.

What is the point of showing you this information? 

To make you aware that there is not a nation on this earth that does not have a Muslim population living.

If what we see in Revelation chapter six is reality, the killing by sword of one-fourth of the world's population, then you can begin to see that this can take place anywhere and everywhere. 

As you can see the United States alone has over 4 million Muslims living in it.
If only 18% are hard liners, demanding every tenet of the Qur'an be followed precisely, then we are merely looking at about 745,000 people in the US that are willing to die as martyrs for Allah (of course this post was written several year ago.) 

Tell me again how it is that this nation will escape the violence that is coming.

Forget about the alleged anger over some poorly done movie (that is the bogus lies we were told by Hillary Clinton, to explain the killing of special forces and the American ambassador in Benghazi). All this was just a cover for their real intent, killing anyone who stands in the way of Islam being the religion of the world and Sharia being the “law” that runs that world. 

If you know anything about Sharia then you understand that personal freedom has no place within it’s guidelines and women have no rights at all.

Just look around you. Indonesia has been one of the main places in the world where “Christians” have been tortured and killed over the years. 

Now with activity levels of Muslims in the middle east taking a front seat in the worlds eyes, we seem to think that this is the only place Muslims live.

Today’s news, 9/17/12, indicated that now even Indonesia has joined in the melee attributed to a six month old movie. 

If you do not understand by now that violence is a mandate in the Qu’ran, with statements like, hide for them in wait and kill them at every opportunity, then there is probably no hope for you. 

If there is a point, it is that Islam fits the prescription of violence that the passage call for. 

As of this writing, my pastor has been preaching a series on deception. As part of his message he stated, that the every human, because of his broken nature, has it in them to do evil. Only receiving a new life from within can change and snap a person out of such a nature, and you only do that by accepting Jesus Christ. In contrast with so many religions of the world, like Islam or Mormonism, you cannot work your way into the kingdom of God by your works. Salvation, and a life with him is only attainable by faith in Jesus Christ, the only one that did it right. Turn to him; call on his name and he will give you his life.

Related articles

• The Seals are opened - Revelation 6 and beyond. Part 1
• Challenges to: "A Short Course on Revelation" Part 3
• Challenges to: "A Short Course on Revelation" Part 2

• A response to my post, "A Short Course in Revelation" - part one. (omharris.com)
• Islamic vs Christian Eschatology Part 3, Crucifixion/Return (lynleahz.com)
• Dearborn Imam calls on U.S. to enforce Sharia blasphemy laws (iranaware.com)
• Islamic vs Christian Eschatology Part 4, Jesus and the False Prophet (lynleahz.com)

The Seals are opened - Revelation 6 and beyond. Part 1

Rev 6

After a brief introduction to the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world, the only one worthy to open the seals. The opening of the seals begins.

I think this is worthy of thought.

Of all the aspects that one understands about Jesus, bringing the wrath does not seem to be one that comes to mind, and yet here he is opening the seals that bring the pain.

What comes to mind is how little understanding we have of who Jesus is. He told us plainly, the Father and I are one. As I was talking with a friend about this I mentioned that my understanding was that God would sit upon the throne at the "great white throne" and pass judgment; clearly it is Jesus that sits upon that throne.

We need to find out who he is, and the only way to do that is to spend time with him in his word.

Revelation 6, The seals are opened - with one exception.

The first seal - The rider on the White horse.

I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

(Revelation 6:1-2 NIV)

As a side note: this is about the only passage that Islam will give any credence to for they believe that this speaks about their Mahdi that they have expected, much like we await the return of Jesus. Saddam Hussein believed so strongly in this that he portrayed himself as this rider on billboards across Iraq.

• He carries a bow, symbolic of war, but he has no arrows. Therefore this is representative of false peace. The passage even makes that clear for us, “and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.” It is not clear who gives him this crown, but throughout the Revelation we see crowns and they are all symbolic of a high degree of leadership. Do not start getting warm fuzzies over this leadership aspect, as though the man is a student of John Maxwell or Zig Ziglar.
• While this may be thin on the logic side.Those of us that grew up on cowboy and Indian movies have always seen the cowboy on the white horse as being the good guy. It makes sense, for white is perceived as purity, therefore this rider comes under a false pretense.
• This man is the antichrist and is empowered by Satan himself.

The second seal is opened– The rider on the red horse.

The Lamb opened the second seal. Then I heard the second living being say, "Come!" Then another horse came out, a red one. The rider on the horse was given power to take away peace from the earth so that people would kill each other. He was given a big sword.

(Revelation 6:3-4 ERV)

Now we have a rider on a red horse. Just the coloration alone should be a warning, for the horse is the color of blood.

• “it was granted to the one seated on it to take peace from the earth, and that they would slaughter one another, and a large sword was given to him.”
  Again you should be asking who is empowering this one. We know that Satan empowers the antichrist and probably empowers this one also, but if we work on the principal that nothing is happening without God’s permission then we might conclude that God is empowering these beasts. If that is the case then they are merely acting out God’s plan and therefore bringing the judgment that God intended upon the earth.
• An understanding of Islam will show you another angle on the false prophet.
  Islam believes: “Jesus (Isa; Arabic: عيسى‎ ʿĪsā) is considered to be a Messenger of God and the Masih (Messiah) who was sent to guide the Children of Israel (banī isrā'īl) with a new scripture, the Injīl or Gospel.[1] The belief in Jesus (and all other messengers of God) is required in Islam, and a requirement of being a Muslim. The Quran mentions Jesus twenty-five times, more often, by name, than Muhammad, four times.[2][3] It states that Jesus was born to Mary (Arabic: Maryam) as the result of virginal conception, a miraculous event which occurred by the decree of God (Arabic: Allah). To aid in his ministry to the Jewish people, Jesus was given the ability to perform miracles (such as healing the blind, bringing dead people back to life, etc.), all by the permission of God rather than of his own power. According to the popular opinion and Muslim traditions, Jesus was not crucified but instead, he was raised up by God unto the heavens. This "raising" is understood to mean through bodily ascension.
  Many Muslims believe that Jesus will return to earth near the Day of Judgment to restore justice and to defeat Masih ad-Dajjal ("the false messiah", also known as the Antichrist).[4][5]

Like all prophets in Islam, Jesus is considered to have been a Muslim (i.e., one who submits to the will of God), as he preached that his followers should adopt the "straight path" as commanded by God. Islam rejects the Trinitarian Christian view that Jesus was God incarnate or the son of God, that he was ever crucified or resurrected, or that he ever atoned for the sins of mankind. The Quran says that Jesus himself never claimed any of these things, and it furthermore indicates that Jesus will deny having ever claimed divinity at the Last Judgment, and God will vindicate him.[6] The Quran emphasizes that Jesus was a mortal human being who, like all other prophets, had been divinely chosen to spread God's message. Islamic texts forbid the association of partners with God (shirk), emphasizing a strict notion of monotheism (tawhīd).” From Wikipedia

• Having an understanding of the above information leads me to believe that the rider on the red horse is the false prophet. He comes as the enforcer of Islam and he will demand that all non-Muslims convert or die, he is the one that makes the image to speak, he is a Jew of Aaronic lineage and therefore entitled to be a high priest, and, as stated, he can do amazing signs, such as causing it to rain. (This will be important as the two witnesses will have caused it not to rain.)

• “That they should kill one another”
  Who is the “they”?
  A broad spectrum answer might be people in general. If that is the case then there will be bloodshed in the streets on a global basis. The United States is preparing for major rioting in this nation. The street gangs are aware of the issues with the police forces and their excessive violence and they are taking advantage of it. The stripping of police authority has emboldened them and they are preparing for a war of their own.
• If we focus on a more specific level I believe we could be looking at the impact that Islam will have upon the world. Even within Islam there are multiple sects and they fight between themselves for power on a continuing basis. What we saw in the early days of the Iraq war was Shiite’s and Sunni’s vying for power, blowing each other up. They cannot agree on most line items. They have one foundational teaching the Koran and it prescribes a unified killing of those outside the faith. This term Jihad that we have come to hear often, is a call to war, by deception or violence, against those outside the faith, especially against Jews and Christians.

Related articles

• The Seven Seals
• The 7 *seals - Revelation 6:1-8:1

Part 4 – Challenges to “a Short Course on Revelation”.

Yes, I tried to change the look to accommodate someone who said I make these too long.

Things to come -

Having made a brief outline of things to come, I stated, “After what seems like days of panic there will be three and one half years of relative peace.”

You rebutted that statement with, “The 2^nd half of Daniels seven years is the Great Tribulation..”

While that might be excruciatingly correct, you gave no scriptural backing as a foundation for your argument and, in essence you have assumed that there will be little to no tribulation effects until you say so, and that the horrors of this seven-year period come only at the 2^nd half. Since you feel that the horrors are exclusive to the second half what do you do with the escalating acts of violence against Christians, and bizarrely against the opposing Muslim sect that loses the day’s battle? If escalating violence for the sake of power does not get your attention, how about the concept of shoving my religion down your throat by cutting off your hand or your head, raping and then beating your wife merely because she is not a Muslim, burning down your church with all it’s members in it, all merely because you will not bow before my god.

You say that Christians must go through the tribulation. If that is a solid, strict concept in your mind then you have placed all of us in the Great Tribulation, a time of judgment against the nations and Israel, ignoring scripture that states, “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” 1 Thessalonians 5:9 KJV, and effectively called God a liar.

God is cleaning house -

Whether you call it Jacob’s troubles, as Ezekiel did, or a time of wrath, or judgment, it is all serving the same purpose, God is cleaning the house – so to speak. I feel compelled to point out what Jesus made very clear, it will be as in the days of Noah and Lot. In both examples God delivered them, by removing them from the judgment, and immediately the method of destruction came. Read this in Luke 17, Matthew 24, Genesis 6:11-7:6, Genesis 18:20 – 19:26

If God is cleaning house, why?

1. Because Israel violated the covenant, over and over again. Psalms 89:31-33 ESV if they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments, (32) then I will punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes, (33) but I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness.
2. Because of the pride, evil, and iniquity of the world. Isaiah 13:11 JPS And I will visit upon the world their evil, and upon the wicked their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the tyrants.

There are passages scattered all over the bible defining why God is bringing judgment upon the earth. Look at the example of Noah and you will find that the earth was filled with violence and every thought of man was continually evil. Look around you, is it that much different today?

Is it important how he cleans house or what he calls it?

John, in Revelation 6:2 states, “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.” This is the beginnings of the seven-year period, and yet you already have a man with bow without arrows and yet conquering. We are nowhere close to the mid-point, the time of the Great Tribulation, as you have pointed out, and yet you would be hard pressed to say that wrath has not begun.

We do not know how much time passes until the second rider shows up. Revelation 6:4 KJV “And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.” Again we are distanced from the mid-point and yet you cannot deny that some form of pain is being pressed into the world.

This has nothing to do with the believer.

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Calling God’s actions by other names does not change his intent. This passage in Romans calls it wrath and tells us it is revealed from heaven. Is what John sees directed at the negligent Christian community? NO! God’s wrath is directed at ungodliness, the unrighteousness of men, and those who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Undoubtedly any of these aspects are demonstrative of our own bad behaviors as Christians, that is not what he talking about.

Let’s look at Romans 1:18 for a moment.

• “ungodliness” – The Greek word is asebeia, meaning NO reverence for God. Even within the church body there are those that have no respect for God.
• “the unrighteousness of men” - Unrighteousness is the Greek word adikia, meaning the act of injustice. Webster’s dictionary tells us that injustice is any violation of another’s rights.
• “who hold the truth in unrighteousness;” - Hold is the Greek word katecho and means to suppress, bridle or withhold. This last aspect, while not necessarily an act of violence is an act of abuse for in doing so they are keeping people away from truth by a variety of methods. And for what means?

This is not the mislead Christian, stumbling over some concept as they walk out this lifestyle of ours. This is intentional acts of impeding others from finding the truth. Paul told us (1Jn 4:3, 2Jn 1:7) that the antichrist is already in the world.

Ephesians 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things comes the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Vain words, what does that mean? Empty words, devoid of truth, nullifying God in the lives of people, causing people to be disobedient, and therefore subject to wrath.

Colossians 3:5-6 KJV Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: (6) For which things' sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience:

In this case the wrath of God is coming upon the children of disobedience, this covers a lot of people, and verse 5 defines what makes them disobedient. The Greek word for disobedience is apeitheia and means obstinate opposition.

Ponder the meaning of the word obstinate for a moment: Stubborn; pertinaciously adhering to an opinion or purpose; fixed firmly in resolution; not yielding to reason, arguments or other means.

Christ, having already suffered once-

Luke 24:44-47 ESV Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." (45) Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, (46) and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, (47) and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Romans 5:9 KJV Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Romans 8:1-4 ESV There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (3) For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, (4) in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Ephesians 2:3 KJV Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Ephesians 2:3 speaks in the past tense when it says, “and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” That is not who we are once we accept Jesus Christ as our redemption and life.

1 Thessalonians 1:10 KJV (10) And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Luke 21 is one in which you need to show the context.

Luke 21:23 KJV But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

In Luke 21:20 Jesus says, “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.” So based upon this passage who is he speaking of? Israel, and specifically Jerusalem. As such he is talking about the Jews. So to say wrath upon a people he is talking about wrath upon the Jews. Why? Because Israel rejected him, over and over. They will turn to him now. Can you see in this instance that God is directing his wrath toward a specific people group, and not a generalized body of Christ.

Nobody wants God wrath upon them.

I suspect that most people feel vulnerable to wrath because they lack an understanding of who they are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:21-25 GW Now, the way to receive God's approval has been made plain in a way other than Moses' Teachings. Moses' Teachings and the Prophets tell us this. (22) Everyone who believes has God's approval through faith in Jesus Christ. There is no difference between people. (23) Because all people have sinned, they have fallen short of God's glory. (24) They receive God's approval freely by an act of his kindness through the price Christ Jesus paid to set us free from sin. (25) God showed that Christ is the throne of mercy where God's approval is given through faith in Christ's blood. In his patience God waited to deal with sins committed in the past.

We understand this concept of God’s approval as being our receipt of his righteous blessing because we have faith in Jesus Christ. A word used commonly in many translations is propitiation. It merely means that Jesus Christ’s actions for us and toward us was enough. Sin, our broken condition, required, a payment, and that was usually done through a bloody sacrifice. If you watched the movie or read the book, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” then you got a small dose of understanding, for the Witch made it clear that she had the right to blood for the representative man-child had committed treason against the kingdom and his own kind. Aslan did not argue the point, but made himself the sacrifice instead of the boy. The price paid for your life was made by Jesus Christ upon the cross. All that is left is your acceptance of the one who made it on your behalf; Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Many believe the tribulation is here.

When it comes to severe tribulation, a simple look at the Muslim countries of the world and you will find that Christians are already going through it, and have been for many years. The violence against Christians has taken a dramatic upswing with the rise of Muslim majority populations and recent political takeovers. You are not going to stop this with violence, only prayer can hold it back, for you are dealing with powerful, devilish angels that fell with Satan, and their influence on people that seem to enjoy invoking pain upon people while their main motivation is power.

2 Thessalonians 2:5-8 CEV (5) Don't you remember that I told you this while I was still with you? (6) You already know what is holding this wicked one back until it is time for him to come. (7) His mysterious power is already at work, but someone is holding him back. And the wicked one won't appear until that someone is out of the way. (8) Then he will appear, but the Lord Jesus will kill him simply by breathing on him. He will be completely destroyed by the Lord's glorious return.

Even if the passage tells us plainly that someone is holding back the evil one, isn’t it plain to see that not everyone is being restrained. Look, Paul already made that clear in 2Thessalonians 2:7 when he said, (CEV) “His mysterious power is already at work”. Whose power? Satan’s, as he works through evil people. We have seen this repeated throughout history. One of the most vile was Antiochus as he desecrated the temple, a sign of things to come.

What then is holding the antichrist back?

Paul had preached this message to the Thessalonian church and is now reminding them again. We, who are believers, are the one that is holding him back, and with him the onslaught of evil.

John MacArthur’s commentary conservatively tells us that the restraints can have many aspects, “These include: (1) human government; (2) preaching of the gospel; (3) the binding of Satan; (4) the providence of God; (5) the Jewish state; (6) the church; (7) the Holy Spirit; and (8) Michael, the angel. Whatever now restrains the Antichrist of verses 2Th_2:3-4, 2Th_2:8-10 from being revealed in the fullness of his apostasy and evil, must be more than human or even angelic power. The power that holds back Satan from bringing the final apostasy and unveiling of his Satan-possessed false Christ must be divinely supernatural. It must be God's power in operation that holds back Satan, so that the man of sin, the son of destruction, won't be able to come until God permits it by removing the restraining power.”

The problem I have with the human government side of this is: within the United States, laws are changing rapidly. Those of us who speak out against the weakening of laws or the removal of protections by law are becoming labeled as terrorists. We are no longer looking for those who wish to destroy the nation as the enemy, but those who wish to preserve it’s sanity as the problem. Jonathon Cahn wrote the book “The Harbinger”, a sign of things to come. In it he describes how this nation has not repented, even though the calls and signs have come to do so. We have failed to repent and turn this around and this nation will be punished for its arrogance. There is always a chance for repentance; all it takes is for a few people with backbones to pray. Pray that God withholds the enemy. I believe that many have been doing that over this nation or we would have seen far greater destruction by now.

Joel Richardson’s book, “The Mideast Beast” scripturally defines why the antichrist will be a middle east Muslim. Sure, he will come off as a moderate at first, but that is while his forces continue to bleed out the middle eastern Christian community. Israel will have suffered a tremendous attack and therefore have the need to sign a peace treaty. That treaty will correspond with the rapture of the church, the introduction of the antichrist, and a rapid increase in violence and destruction globally.

In trying to refocus for a moment; I have no doubt that multiple scenarios will be come together at one time. With the level of violence in the Arab world already as high as it is and little to bring it under control, how do you expect that to not spill over into America and other, so-called civilized nations. We have Mosques in almost every city with Mullahs teaching the edicts of the Qu’ran, therefore it is a logical assumption that a hatred of those outside the faith (Islam) is being taught as well.

(We assume that the word might be Jihad, the confusion for us that do not understand, is that Jihad is a way of life for the Muslim, the Qu’ran teaches this, and deception is the highest and most honorable form of Jihad, therefore Jihad is quite probably being performed on a daily basis around you.

The problem with Islam is: The potential for explosive harm is there. Do not be foolish enough to think it cannot happen, for it already is. Don’t even try to tell me that while this antichrist declares peace that there will be peace; there will be pandemonium. What makes it worse is that while the impact of his control will be centrally felt and located in the middle east, those Muslims living in this country will attempt to assert control and power as well, and they will attempt to invoke Sharia law over you, where ever they can.

If you read this and the rapture has come.

Turn your lives over to Jesus Christ even now. Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you and he will. Cry out in the name of Jesus Christ, for that name alone carries power. You can stop the enemy in his tracks. The story of the three Hebrew men that Nebuchadnezzar had thrown into the furnace is not merely to entertain you. It was meant to show you that God is in control and stop the effects of the enemy. Put your trust in him and speak specifically against these things. In the name of Jesus command them to turn away. Call down God’s vengeance upon them. Ask God to hide you. Do what ever the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart to do. Listen to him for he will direct you.

This is not a time of fear but of power. I know this for I saw it as I read the scriptures. Detractors will die as they sit in unbelief, either that or they will convert to Islam, worshiping the beast and his false prophet, and they will condemn themselves to the flames that the antichrist is condemned to. Do not do that, no matter what the cost. Turn your eyes upon Jesus Christ and he will bring you, his saints, into the kingdom. A kingdom filled with joy, and you will reign with him for the thousand years.

Turn your life to him now and enjoy a hope, knowing that eternity with the one who has loved you since time began is yours. You can have hope. There is a life with him, and his name is Jesus Christ.

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