tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72667273598388781822024-03-24T16:16:05.916-07:00A voice in the wildernessWhat you will find here are thoughts and commentary on what I happen to be studying. As for me, I have two daughters who have grown up without me. Education wise, I have two AS degrees, one being in Horticulture, but no bachelors degree. The longest time spent at any one job was 15 years. Sadly, I have not been the great success I had dreamed I would be, but I find that I am becoming more content as my relationship with the Father God grows. God's word is my passion. Ozzie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312485261504917503noreply@blogger.comBlogger1051125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266727359838878182.post-36354401401957743762024-03-24T16:15:00.000-07:002024-03-24T16:15:33.351-07:00An interruption of the Layman's commentary. Are there prophets in this enlightened time of the New Testament?<p> <span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">My
pastor, who is not the only one, will adamantly proclaim that there
are NO prophets since the arrival of the New Testament.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Is
that true? </span></strong></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Let's see
what the scriptures say.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“For
just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not
have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ,
and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that
differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise
them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his
faith.” <br /></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Romans
12:4-6</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> NASB</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">These
passages clearly identify prophecy as one of God’s gifts to us,
Jesus’ followers</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">We may be
missing something, and the terminology prophecy may be mistranslated,
causing us to mishandle it.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Here, in
Romans 12:6, the word used is prophēteía, from prophēteúō
(Strong’s#G4395,) meaning to prophesy. It also conveys the idea
of </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">prediction</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">, </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">foretelling
future events</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">,
including the </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">prophets’
declarations</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">, </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">exhortations</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">,
and </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">warnings</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">while
acting under divine influence. </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Thayer's
definitions tell us it is</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> “a
discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the
purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, or
comforting the afflicted, or revealing things hidden; especially by
foretelling future events.”</span></strong></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Since we
tend to struggle with this divine inspiration part, we may add, “Thus
saith the Lord,” when, in fact, you are not sure.</span></p>
<ul>
<li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">According
to Webster's dictionary, </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Declaration </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">is
"An affirmation; an open expression of facts or opinions, or a
verbal utterance; such as he declared his sentiments. We should keep
our opinion out of the affirmation.</span></p>
<ul>
<li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Affirmation </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">is
the act of affirming or asserting as true, as opposed to negation
or denial. It is also a confirmation, ratification, or
establishment of what had been done or decreed before.</span></p>
</li></ul>
</li><li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Exhortation
- </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">The
form of words intended to incite and encourage. It also means advice
or counsel.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Warnings
- </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Caution
against danger or against faults or evil practices that incur
danger.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><b>This
sounds more like common sense</b>. As a former group leader for the
anger group in recovery, my advice, in many cases, could have easily
been perceived as a caution against danger or faults, as they will
lead to further dangers.</span></p>
</li></ul>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
words (which scare us)</span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">
</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">are
merely a way of understanding the </span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><b>practical
forms in which we share God's word</b></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">.</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">With
an understanding of prophecy that looks like common sense, </span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><b>why
do we need to lose our minds over the prophetic? </b></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">This
might explain some of the reasons we get so upset about the
prophetic.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Some time
ago, on a Sunday morning, I was verbally assaulted by a “brother in
Christ” with a theological doctorate who attended the same church
that I did, as he angrily explained that <b>under no circumstance
should anyone operating in what they believe is a prophetic word say,
“Thus saith the Lord.</b>” </span>
</p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">The
reasons behind this admonition were defined by saying: </span></p>
<ul>
<li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">By
doing so, you falsely qualify the word you give as a valid word from
God.</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> This
is true because we consistently insert some aspect of our broken
lives and emotions into every word we give. </span></p>
<ul>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">I could
not disagree with this assertion, and though I could not stand this
“brother’, I have since integrated his “exhortation” to me
about the words I gave to others.</span></p>
</ul>
</li></ul>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">The man
with the doctorate went on to say,</span></p>
<ul>
<li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">The
phrase “thus says the Lord” is solely designed to raise the
status of the word</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">,
which you believe is necessary to provide. </span></p>
<ul>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Therefore, </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">you
are trying to force people to accept what you are about to say</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">. </span></p>
</ul>
</li></ul>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Habit is
part of the problem.</span></p>
<ul>
<li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">We
have developed the habit of adding “thus saith the Lord” as an
introduction</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> and
announcement; sometimes, it is simply a tradition. </span></p>
<ul>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Some
would even tell you that God does not need to speak in Elizabethan
English; therefore, this archaic word “thus saith” falls on
deaf ears and sounds foolish. </span></p>
</ul>
</li></ul>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Since
we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of
us is to exercise them accordingly:</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> if
prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;”<br /></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Romans
12:6</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> NASB</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Wow,
according to the grace given to each of us.</span></span></strong></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">First</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">,</span><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background: #ffffcc;">the
gifts differ according to the </span></u></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background: #ffffcc;">grace</span></u></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background: #ffffcc;"> given
to each of us</span></u></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">.
</span>
</p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.22in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">This can
imply that some have all or many gifts, but that rarely happens.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Grace</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> is
the Greek word </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">charisma</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> and,
according to the Strong’s concordance, means a (divine) </span><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">gratuity</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;">,
that is, </span><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">deliverance</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;"> (from
danger or passion); </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">a
(spiritual) </span></strong><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">endowment</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;">,
that is, (subjectively) </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">a
religious </span></strong><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">qualification</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;">,
or</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> a
(free) gift</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.
The Word Study dictionary conveys that grace is </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">to
show favor</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.
A gift of grace, </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">an
undeserved benefit</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">I know
many of us think that we deserve God’s benefits (<i>grace</i>)
merely because we make lots of money, have a theological doctorate,
wear fine clothes, and when we talk, people listen. <b>If you are not aware, we were all born into sin, and all your self-applied traits will burn up at the Bema seat should you happen to get caught up in the rapture of the church.</b> Perhaps the best way to picture this sin issue is to perceive the
fact that by eating that fruit, Adam permanently damaged and changed
his DNA, and he passed that damaged DNA to all humanity through the
inescapable generations of sexual intercourse so that no one escaped
the damage.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Some will
say that it is not possible that ingesting some fruit could damage
your DNA. Well, in taking that attitude, you have set yourself above,
the one that knows all things and created this body that you
perpetually damage with chemically laden “foods” on a daily
basis. You are also living in denial that these so-called flu vaccinations are changing and damaging your DNA when it has been proven that this is precisely their purpose.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Secondly</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">, </span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">the
gifts are given according to the grace given to each of us
individually.</span></u></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">What
does that mean?</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">It means
that we are individuals, and there isn't an all-consuming blanket
coverage. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Romans
12:6 tells us that </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">prophecy</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">,
for example, </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">is
given according to the proportion of that person's faith</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Having
operated in this realm, I can tell you it requires much faith. You must trust that you are hearing the voice of the Holy
Spirit, which often sounds like your own inner voice. </span>
</p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">A dear
lady, who, on previous occasions, operated frequently in giving words
to people, stopped me one day as I walked into the church and
said, </span><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">why
aren't you doing what God told you to do?</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><b>Do you
know that we are to judge the prophetic?</b></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">
</span>
</p>
<p lang="zxx" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Therefore,
I responded, “I know what that means to me, but why don't you explain what you think it means?” She was dead on in her explanation. If I had been honest, I would have said I have run from giving God's words to crowds because they are incredibly intimidating,
and I can hear all the negative voices telling me that I might lead
people astray and fail. </span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">When I gave words to the church body, I was always in tears, and I can tell you that having the pastor whine at me and say, could you give these words to the church without tears; didn't help. My lady friend
repeatedly told me that no one could hear me except for the two rows
in front of me. Once I started obeying God and giving these words, it
went on for six weeks (</span><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">Suddenly,
the others that had been giving words went silent</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;">.)
I worked to bring the volume up, and I am sure I could be heard on
the street on the last occasion. I was told that a couple (</span><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">who
had the ability to control things that happened in the church because
of their significant contributions</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;">)
complained to the pastor because I made God sound angry (</span><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">what
a peculiar thing to say, as though I could control God</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;">,)
and the following week, I was met at the door by the pastor, as I
tried to enter. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The pastor told me of this complaint and said, "you
are done giving these words, though, as he said, he could find no fault in what I
said. Should you think that you have a word beyond this point you will run it
through me and I will let you know if you get to deliver it." If
only God worked that way with me. When the Holy Spirit's motivation
hit me, I would ask Him to give me a clue as to what I would say (<i>all
this happened in my head</i>.) The Holy Spirit's response was, as always, </span><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">trust
me</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;">.
Trust Him is all I could do; therefore, the preposterous idea of
running it past the pastor was improbable.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">I told
the Lord that I was through and to never ask me to give anyone a word
again. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit laughed me off, and His speaking
to me never stopped; some words were as simple as “God is not
through with you yet.”</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Here,
in the days before the catching away of the bride, the implications
are that we live in the age of
grace</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> (</span><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;">.) </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Let me
remind you of the words of a song that goes like this - “He paid a
debt I could not pay.” In so doing, we receive the benefits awarded
to those who accept His (</span><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">Jesus</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;">)
death and resurrection, which gave us all of God’s benefits to
those who love Him. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">We are
also given this exhortation. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For
by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of
himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober
judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has
assigned.” <br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Romans 12:3 </b>ESV</span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #0e101a;">Every one of us has been given the measure of grace, but faith clearly varies among us, though that was not God's plan. Faith is faith, but having experienced the pressures that can affect faith, it is easy to see that events can put enough pressure on you to NOT trust and that lack of trust can affect your ability to trust God's plan. Paul tells us not to get high-minded; perhaps that is because you can be brought down quickly and with a crushing blow.</span></p><p><span style="color: #0e101a;">To be honest, I do not remember if this is the verse my pastor was referencing when he denounced New Testament-era prophets, but let's look at it anyway.</span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Love never ends. </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>As for prophecies, they will pass away</b>; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.”<br /><b>1 Corinthians 13:8-10</b> ESV</span></span></p><ul>
<li>
<p><span style="color: #0e101a;">“As for prophecies...”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The Greek word for prophecies is the same word we saw in Romans 12:6. We did a deep dive into the background of this word prophēteia , and we found that it can also mean<strong> declarations, exhortations, and warnings while acting under divine influence</strong>. Some <strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US">of us are very adept at giving out words like this.</span></span></strong></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">They will pass away;”</span></span></span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">Pass away is also translated (in some versions) as done away. </span></span></span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">The Greek word for “pass away” is katargéō , which means to render inactive, idle, useless, or </span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">ineffective</span></span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">.</span></span></span></strong></p>
<p><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>What would be the most logical reason to make giving declarations, exhortations, and warnings while acting under divine influence inactive, idle, and useless?</b></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">The first place</span></span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"> this would have an impact would be when the church leaves the earth.</span></span></span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">Why here?</span></span></span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">Because we no longer have to interact with those who are struggling with their faith and relationship with Jesus. This is valid because we will now be with Jesus and the Father, the source of all knowledge.</span></span></span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">But there is a problem, as there will be many who did not go up in the rapture but thought they would.</span></span></span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">Who then would give out these prophetic words once the church is gone?</span></span></span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">Those who may have had a bit of knowledge of God's word and thought they should have gone. </span></span></span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">In a sense, there will be an amazing revival on the earth, and this will be the second reason for the prophetic.</span></span></span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">In the Old Testament, the Prophet Joel speaks about the last days on earth before Jesus returns to end the pain down here and begin the millennial reign. Here is how he sets the tone.</span></span></span></strong></p>
<p align="LEFT"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">“</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">...Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble</span></span></span></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">; </span></span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>For the day of the LORD is coming</b></span></span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">, For it is at hand: A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness like the morning clouds spread over the mountains. </span></span></strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">A people come, great and strong, The like of whom has never been;</span></span><strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"> … </span></span></strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Joel 2:1-2</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"> NKJV.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">And yet, in the midst of all this tumult.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">"And it shall come to pass afterward That </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants, </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>I will pour out My Spirit in those days</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">.” </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Joel 2:28-29</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"> NKJV</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">People will try to tell you that the Holy Spirit leaves the earth when the church goes up in the rapture. How about NOT!</span></p>
</li>
</ul><p><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">In case you have not read it, I will give you this bit of insight. A common translation reads like this.</span></span></span></strong></p><p align="LEFT" style="padding-left: 40px;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">“</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">I bowed at his feet to worship him. But he told me, “Don’t do that! I am your coworker and </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">a coworker of the Christians who hold on to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God </span></span><strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>because the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy</b></span></span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>!</b></span></span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">”<br /></span></span></strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Revelation 19:10</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"> GW</span></span></span></span></p><p><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">So as long (</span></span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><i>7 years</i></span></span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">) as there is the possibility of people on earth giving testimony to Jesus, then </span></span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">the spirit of prophecy</span></span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"> (</span></span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><i>the Holy Spirit</i></span></span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">) </span></span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">will be active and necessary.</span></span></span></strong></p><p><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">Let's just admit it—for the most part, we don't know what we are talking about when we say that prophetic words have not existed since the New Testament. I get it—there is nothing new under the sun, but people get beat down and forget who they are—</span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">a Child of the Living God and an heir to the kingdom</span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">Is there any doubt that we (</span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><i>humans</i></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">) have turned the prophetic into money making schemes, none whatsoever. As irritating as their actions are that doesn't make all of us bad or self-seeking.</span></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
</p><p><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">We merely need to learn to judge correctly. </span></span></span></p>
<p lang="zxx" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<br /><br />
</p>Ozzie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312485261504917503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266727359838878182.post-48969985876973605662024-03-14T19:49:00.000-07:002024-03-14T19:49:34.508-07:00A layman's commentary on Matthew 24, verses 16 - 28. Let those in Judea flee to the mountains. <p> <span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">We
are now in chapter five of my Layman’s commentary on Matthew 24,
and we are in the section identified by the publishers as the,</span></p>
<h2 align="CENTER" class="western" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Abomination
of Desolation.</span></h2>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Matthew
24:15 tells us this -</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“Therefore
when you see the ‘ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION,’ spoken of by Daniel
the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him
understand),” </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">NKJV</span></strong></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">The</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">abomination,
as described by Daniel, does not take place until the midpoint of the
seven years of God’s wrath. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">I am
trying to avoid the perpetual doubt and confusion associated with the
terminology “the tribulation.” </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Why? </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Because
we have for far too long ignored the fact that Jesus said, </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">in
this world, you will have tribulation</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.
That means our daily lives may be associated with extremes of
hardship and adversity. When these words were spoken by Jesus, most
of those who listened to Him lived lives of daily attempts at
survival.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Aside
from what Scripture tells us, I cannot decisively tell you what the
image will look like. </span></strong></p>
<ul>
<li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">It is an image</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.
This could easily be a statue or an animatronic device. </span></p>
</li><li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Because he</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> (</span><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">it is unclear whether this refers to the antichrist or the false prophet</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;">) </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">makes it talk</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">,
we must assume </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">it has a mouth</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.
So this thing will dish out orders, commands, and perhaps demands,
such as bowing before the image of the beast and worshiping it.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Since
the term beast is assigned to both the antichrist and Satan, and only a few have ever seen Satan (</span><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">or
Allah</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;">,)
then </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">our
only logical assumption is that the image is an image of the
antichrist</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">. </span></p>
</li><li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">None
of us earth dwellers will know who this man is until after the
church is removed from the earth.</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> (See
2 Thessalonians 2:3,7,8)</span></p>
</li><li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">The
beast is</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> a
spiritual entity</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">,
a demon or </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">fallen
angel</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">, </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">and
a man</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> who
will be possessed by, at minimum, one powerful demon or fallen
angel.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">The
image is defined as the abomination.</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></p>
</li></ul>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">A
definition of abomination can read like this, </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">extreme
hatred, abhorrence, defilement, and pollution. </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Look
at other translations, and you will see that it is the image that
causes the defilement and appears to be the hatred against the Jews
and the tribulation saints.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“So
when you see </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">the
abomination that causes desolation </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">spoken
about through the prophet Daniel standing in the Holy Place” (let
the reader understand the allusion),” <br /></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Matthew
24:15 CJB</span></strong></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">This
brings us to Matthew 24: 16-20.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">"then
let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on
the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let
him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to
those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those
days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the
Sabbath.” <br /></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Matthew
24:16-20</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> NKJV</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">You have
to admit that some have specific instructions. </span>
</p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">One goes
something like this: " Let those who are in Judea flee to the
mountains.”</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Where
is Judea? </span></strong></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">It was
the Southern kingdom, but now it is considered the southernmost
region of Israel, near Petra. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Where,
in general, are the mountains Jesus may be referring to?</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">The most
commonly mentioned mountains are in the northern region called the
Megiddo Valley, which borders Syria and Lebanon. While some would
tell you that Jerusalem is the closest thing they have to a mountain,
there is a range of mountains South of the Dead Sea, near the Negev
and the area of Petra in Jordan. </span>
</p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">This may
be what Jesus is talking about. Look at what else He told them. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">[</span><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">I
must remind you that virtually everything in the Torah, and a
significant percentage of the New Testament, is focused on Israel and
the return of the Messiah – the Day of the Lord.</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;">]</span></p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Let
him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his
house.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Why say anything about that? In the midst of the October 7<sup>th</sup>
attacks, did people have time to pack? No, they just hid or jumped in cars and tried to flee. </span></span>
</p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And
let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.” </span></span></span>
</p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">If you have paid attention to what happened at the music festival,
some tried to go back and rescue friends. That turned out to be a horrid decision for them, and they, too, were killed.</span></span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But
woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in
those days!” </span></span></span>
</p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">God
forbid you should ever say, this baby is a burden, but it is just
one more thing to cause you grief as you try to move quickly or
hide because Hamas has proven that committing horrors has no age
limit.</span></span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And
pray that your flight may not be in winter or <b>on the Sabbath</b>.”</span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Think
about the fact that He is talking about devout and religious Jews.
Jews that have to uphold religious laws that restrict the distance
you can travel. [</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #474747;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>A
Jew was permitted to travel </i></span></span></span><span style="color: #040c28;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="background: rgb(211, 227, 253);">2,000
cubits</span></i></span></span></span><span style="color: #474747;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i> </i></span></span><span style="color: #474747;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>on
the Sabbath (Exod. 16: 29 and Num. 35: 5), </i></span></span></span><span style="color: #474747;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>about</b></i></span></span></span><span style="color: #474747;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>
1.2 km. (</i></span></span></span><span style="color: #474747;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>¾
mile</b></i></span></span></span><span style="color: #474747;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>),
and the Mount of Olives was within this distance from Jerusalem
(Acts 1: 12).</i></span></span></span><span style="color: #474747;"><span face="Google Sans, Roboto, arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">]</span></span></span><span style="color: #474747;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
<a href="https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/middle-east/israel-and-occupied-palestinian-territories#:~:text=travel%20advice%3A%20Health-,Local%20laws,the%20Sabbath%20may%20offend%20people">https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/middle-east/israel-and-occupied-palestinian-territories#:~:text=travel%20advice%3A%20Health-,Local%20laws,the%20Sabbath%20may%20offend%20people</a>.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Imagine
having to flee but only being permitted to travel ¾ of a mile.
That would be a hopeless situation.</span></span></span></span></p>
</ul>
</li></ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>In
all of this, your head should be screaming, when does this all happen?</b></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
</span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I
want so badly to tell you that this event is exclusive to the
midpoint of the seven years and beyond, but horrors of this magnitude
are already occurring, and you can't blame them on God, for </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>it
is people lost in their religious beliefs, who believe they are
doing the will of their god</b></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
– Allah.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">So, although deadly events will occur throughout the seven years, the intensity of violence will ramp up at the three-and-one-half-year mark within the seven years and will heighten as the high priest—otherwise known as the false prophet—decides to make himself known to the world.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The
following demonstrates that the Lord is involved in the wrath within
the seven years.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For
the Lord shall judge by fire, and by his sword unto all flesh, and
the slain of the Lord shall be many.” <br /></span><b>Isaiah
66:16</b> DRB</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">And the Lord
shall make the glory of his voice to be heard, and shall shew the
terror of his arm, in the threatening of wrath, and the flame of
devouring fire: he shall crush to pieces with whirlwind, and
hailstones.” <br /><b>Isaiah 30:30 </b>DRB</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Moving on. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">for then shall be
great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the
world to this time; no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days
should be shortened, no flesh would be saved. But for the elect's
sake, those days shall be shortened.” <br /><b>Matthew 24:21-22</b>
MKJV</span></p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>for then
shall be great tribulation,”</b></span></span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">This is in excess of how the time period begins. Let me give you an example. </span>
</p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">And I saw when
the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard one of the four
living creatures like a sound of thunder, saying, Come and see.
And I saw. And behold a white horse! And he sitting on it had a
bow. And a crown was given to him, and he went forth conquering
and to conquer. And when He had opened the second seal, I heard
the second living creature say, Come and see. And another, a red
horse, went out. And power was given to him sitting on it, to take
peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another. And
there was given to him a great sword.” <b>Revelation 6:1-4</b>
MKJV</span></p>
</ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The rider on the white horse is the antichrist. Though he is associated with the word peace, don't be deceived; he is carrying a bow, and so the truth be known: There will be bloodshed related to this man.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The second seal, related to the seven years of wrath, brings us the red horse. Notice that it says, “and power was given to him... to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another.” Did you catch that? It says "they." Now, that could be a generalization referring to anyone from the nations, or it could be referring to
military forces who are enforcing the will of “governing bodies.”
</span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Now, ask yourself a question. If Revelation is chronological and Revelation 6:1
shows us the initiation of God's wrath, then<b> is there ever a time of peace</b>, especially considering what the WEF and WHO are currently doing while the church is still here. Remember, there is
NO antichrist as long as the church is still here. </span>
</p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
“ <span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">for then shall
be (a) great tribulation, <b>such as has not been since the
beginning of the world to this time</b>,”</span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Because our conversation concerns the abomination of desolation, the word “then” refers to the midpoint of said wrath.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Seriously, <b>since the beginning of the world</b>? Virtually every despot has brought horrendous devastation and slaughter, and the associated deaths will surpass your most vivid imagination.</span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>But for the
elect's sake, those days shall be shortened.”</b></span></span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Many were taught,
though disrespectfully, that the world revolved around the followers of Jesus Christ; they do not, we were merely grafted in to the stock, which is Israel. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Who then are the elect?</b> </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">To be elect is not a self appointment, but clearly we are talking about the Jews and
even more so about those who have controlled people and suppressed
the Word of God – the Rabbis.</span></p>
</ul>
</li></ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.45in 0.04in 0.49in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Then if any man
shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ! Or, There! Do not believe it.
For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs
and wonders; so much so that, if it were possible, they would deceive
even the elect.” <br /><b>Matthew 24:23-24</b> MKJV</span></p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Then
if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ! Or, There! Do not
believe it</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.”
</span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Consider the context. The world is crashing down on the Jews and saints,
“Christ followers.” This idea of Christ’s followers is odd because it initially applied to the church, which had been caught up to be with Jesus three and one-half years before. What makes them saints now is their hearts turning toward God and the
“testimony” associated with their actions- and, unfortunately,
getting their heads lopped off. </span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">How
laughable is this. But wait, Jesus said, </span>
</p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“<u><b>if
it were possible, they would deceive even the elec</b></u><u>t.</u>” </span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><b>How is this possible since these are the teachers of Israel? </b></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">The
answers to the question might have much to do with this; the two witnesses from God who have been standing in the streets of
Jerusalem preaching about Jesus the Messiah (</span></span></span></span><em><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">I
assume</span></span></span></span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">).
But it’s not just the preaching; </span></span></span></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">it’s the signs</span></span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"> (and we may not have the details on all that they demonstrated - such as the fire that emits from their mouths should anyone attempt to harm them, and they stop the rain. (Doesn’t it make you wonder how the
average citizen would know the rain had been stopped over a
particular parcel of land?)</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">As I
was meditating on this very thing a short time ago, I was amazed at how odd it is. At about this same time, I ran across a video of an
African nation where </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">a man in regal attire declared that he was Jesus</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.
Not only that, but he is proclaiming others to be the reanimation
of the prophets and the apostles of the New Testament. How believable are this man’s actions? Consider that Jesus was a
Middle Eastern Jew with olive-colored skin which was flailed mercilessly with a whip, which had sharp shards integrated into the whip; He was nailed to a cross; His side was pierced with a sword or spear; dead, He was taken from the cross and placed into a tomb where a large stone was rolled over the opening, and He rose from the dead after the third day. As far as I know, none of those things are exhibited in this man, and if they are, I would understand that we are dealing with the demonic. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">And yet, the number of people following this deceived human being is growing. Even worse, he is not the only one.</span></p>
</ul>
</li></ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Behold,
I have told you beforehand.” </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Matthew 24:25</b>
MKJV</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Albert Barnes
commentary states, “<span style="color: #141823;"><span lang="en-US"><b>The
reason why he told them before was that they might be on their guard,
and be prepared for those calamities</b></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span lang="en-US">.”</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Ezekiel
tells us of warning the righteous person – the elect. They will
surely live because they took a warning. </span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“If you
warn the righteous person not to sin and the righteous person does
not sin, he will surely live, because he took warning. You will have
delivered your soul.” </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Ezekiel
3:21 </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">TLV</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">I do not
believe that your survival is the point here, but obedience certainly
is, and Israel’s spiritual leaders are more concerned about
obedience to laws and not the spirit of God. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Jesus
also emphasized that telling the listeners beforehand would
demonstrate His love for them.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">"From
now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does
occur, </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">you
may believe that I am He</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.”
<br /></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>John
13:19</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
NASB</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.43in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">And
He wants to prevent them from stumbling.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“These
things I have spoken to you </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">so
that you may be kept from stumbling</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.” <br /></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">John
16:1</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> NASB</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Back to
the context. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“So if
they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go
out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe
them.” <br /></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Matthew
24:26</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> NASB</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">In his
Bible notes, Finis Jennings Dake stated that this refers to “</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Anyone
claiming to be Christ</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.”</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">What
are the warnings to those living on Earth at this time?</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“Do not
go out” there and try to see him and, even more straightforward,
“do not believe “these people.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Jesus
ends this section with two cryptic messages.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For
just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the
west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.” <br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Matthew
24:27</b> NASB</span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">This has
a similar feel to time that Jesus was explaining the Holy Spirit and
the new birth. In that case it was the wind that was dancing across
the patio, but here, the lightning is flashing across a clouded sky
and everyone, for miles and miles, can see it.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">That
which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the
Spirit is spirit. "Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You
must be born again.' "</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The
wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not
know where it comes from and where it is going</span></b></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">;
so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” <br /></span></span><b>John
3:6-8</b> NASB</span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">His
coming will be no mystery; in fact, He explained, in great detail,
the chain of events that will alert those still alive, as to when He
is coming back as the Messiah and when. </span>
</p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Here is
the second of those cryptic messages.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">"Wherever
the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” </span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.43in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Matthew 24:28</b>
NASB</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">For
the majority of my seventy years, verse 28 has made no sense to me.
Suddenly, I can visualize a bit of what He is saying. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><b>Death</b>,
during the seven years, <b>will be an ongoing thing</b>. </span></p>
<ul>
<li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">There will be </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">death at the hands of humans</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.</span></p>
<ul>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Consider
Haiti, where cannibal gangs are killing, roasting, and eating the dead.</span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">We are told that the </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">wild beasts</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> will attack people and kill or eat them.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">World
leaders</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">,”
I say it like this because we already have, too, many who are self-appointed, trying to run the nations, are already actively killing millions. </span></p>
</li><li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">An angel on an ashen horse will be released for the express purpose of </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">killing a fourth of the earth’s population.</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> The techniques they use include the sword, famine, and pestilence.</span></p>
<ul>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Pestilence</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> is
the Greek word </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">thánatos</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> and also means </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">plague,
pests, and disease.</span></strong></p>
</ul>
</li></ul>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">In case
you have been living under a rock, these so-called “world leaders”
have been financing and creating plagues while resurrecting several
others that should have stayed gone. Perhaps this is the reason that
so many undocumented people have been allowed to cross the borders of
America. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Is it
that the corpses will be gathered and placed in a particular area? I
don't think so. It comes across as there are just that many deaths globally. </span>
</p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">The
context has much to do with the time frame, three-and-one-half years
after the introduction of the antichrist, and the false prophet, as
the Islamic prophecies call for, will be the orchestrator of the
majority of these deaths. </span>
</p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Vultures
or flesh-eating eagles, as several translations declare it, are
symbolic and represent: </span>
</p>
<ul>
<li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Jesus words to John in Revelation.</span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then
I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud
voice, saying to all the birds which fly in mid heaven, "</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Come,
assemble for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh
of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men
and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh
of all men</span></b></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">,
both free men and slaves, and small and great.” <br /></span></span><b>Revelation
19:17-18 </b>NASB</span></span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dake's bible
conveys that this is “<span style="color: #141823;"><span lang="en-US">Where
the dead bodies are slain at Armageddon.”</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;">While that is possible, it is an assertion and an assumption that this is referring to the battle of Armageddon. </span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;">If you do a word search for the word Armageddon, in the King James
Bible, you will only find one reference, and it is in Revelation
16:16. </span></span></span>
</p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates;
and its water was dried up,</span></span><span style="color: #141823;"> so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east. </span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">And
I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of
the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean
spirits like frogs; for they are</span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">
spirits of demons</span></b></span><span style="color: #141823;">,
performing signs, </span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">which
go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for
the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.</span></span><span style="color: #141823;">”
<br /></span><b>Revelation 16:12-14</b> NASB</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 153);">And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called
Har-Magedon</span></span><span style="color: #141823;">. <br /></span><b>Revelation
16:16</b> NASB</span></p>
</ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #141823;"><span lang="en-US">Armageddon</span></span></b><span style="color: #141823;"><span lang="en-US">.
i.e., hill of slaughter, *S# </span></span><span style="color: #9753db;"><span lang="en-US">G717</span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span lang="en-US">.
i.e., Mount of Decision or Sentence (</span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span lang="en-US"><i>UCRT</i></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span lang="en-US">)</span></span></span></span></p>
</li></ul>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Dr.
J Vernon McGee tells us. “It means “Mount of Megiddo.” It is a
compound word made up of the Hebrew words Har, meaning “mountain,”
and Megiddo, which is a mount in the plain of Esdraelon. ... It is
one of the most fertile valleys I have ever seen. I guess it is the
most fertile valley in the world today. </span></span></span><em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">And</span></span></span></em><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">,</span></span></span><strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"> it
is a place where many battles have been fought</span></span></span></strong><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"> in
the past.”</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Lastly,
the people who choose to fight will come to the Meggido Valley in
preparation for the colossal battle that Jesus will participate in
just before the millennial reign of Christ.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">If you
choose to reject Christ, then your fate will be put in the hands of
an angry God, and you will have to endure, should you survive or get
your head lopped off for your faith and testimony. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Bypass all that
and turn your life over to Him now; you will escape the wrath of God
and live forever with Him in paradise.</span></p>Ozzie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312485261504917503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266727359838878182.post-48682839120090362282024-03-02T13:43:00.000-08:002024-03-02T13:47:34.592-08:00A layman's commentary on Matthew 24 verse 15. The Abomination of Desolations.<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">The
NASB entitles this next section,</span></span></span></strong></span></p>
<h2 align="CENTER" class="western" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: large;">The
Abomination of Desolation.</span></strong></h2>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">As a
standalone statement, this makes no sense to me, and thus, we begin a
deep dive into Matthew 24:15 and beyond.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">“When
ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by
Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso reads, let him
understand:).” </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Matthew
24:15</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> KJV </span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">When I
was young, one of the first Bibles I received was the King James; in
time, I became more accustomed to it and would mentally change the
“these and thous” to those and you. The KJV has many known
issues, as do all the translations or transliteration, so pick a
translation you feel comfortable with, and don’t be afraid to
integrate other versions into your Bible study time. As you will see
below, I used the New Living Translation. This particular version was
the project of a father who wanted something simplistic that his
children could understand. The NLT has been updated to a modern
version of English, so tread lightly.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">If
something should concern you, it should be this statement, </span></p>
<h2 align="CENTER" class="western" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">“</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">The
day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke
abou</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">t.” </span></span></h2>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">I say
this in this manner because you need further explanation to know if
it applies to you. Since</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> the
church must be extracted from Earth before the antichrist can be
revealed </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">-
We can find evidence for this in at least two places. </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">2
Thessalonians 2:3, and 7,8</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">. </span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">2
Thessalonians 2:3</span></u></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"> is
one of those places that have issues. </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">The
terminology was changed in the 1500s, from departure to
apostasy,</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> principally
to appease the State church – the Catholic church. They did this
because people were leaving the Catholic church and migrating to
Protestantism; then it applies to those who will become the
tribulation saints - Saints are all those who come to a personal
acceptance and knowledge of Jesus Christ; however, there are many who
think they are part of the church that will be caught up but they
will not. Paul said they were not of us. So, after the rapture, many
will come to Jesus and lose their heads for their faith, witness, and
testimony. These, too, are called saints. In other words, they must
die for their testimony and witness. Let’s stop here for a moment
and then move on. </span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">What
did Daniel understand and, therefore, speak about?</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Taken
as a Jewish captive to Babylon, Daniel advanced relatively quickly
within the Babylonian empire. Assuming that Daniel had hopes and
dreams, many of those dreams may have been around the idea of what
God would do with his life. Daniel may not have known, but God was
about to use him to deliver a message that Daniel may never
understand or experience, as many of these events were for the time,
over two thousand years later, a time that concerns us. </span></span></strong></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“<span style="font-weight: normal;">Although
I heard, I did not understand. Then I (</span></span></span></strong><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">Daniel</span></em><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">)
said, "My lord, what shall be the end of these things?" And
he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and
sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white,
and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked
shall understand, but the wise shall understand.” </span></span></strong></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Daniel
12:8-10</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> NKJV</span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">In
the second chapter of Daniel</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">,
we see a young Daniel appealing for the lives of himself and three
other Hebrews who were brought into captivity with him. Daniel not
only tells Nebuchadnezzar his dream but interprets the dream (up to a
point) for the king. You will see the details of that dream in Daniel
chapter two. </span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Dake’s
Bible notes/commentary indicates that “The time of the vision was
at the end of the reign of Belshazzar which corresponds to the time
of the handwriting on the wall of </span><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Dan_5:1-31</span></u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">,
for he only reigned a little more than two years.” </span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">“Then I
heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain
saint which spake, </span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">How
long shall be the vision concerning</span></u></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">the
daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">, </span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">to
give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot</span></u></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">?” </span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Daniel
8:13 </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">KJV</span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">What
Daniel saw explained the transgression of desolation </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">as
the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden
underfoot</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">,
and it gave the time frame.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">“He
said to me, “For 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the holy place
will be properly restored.” </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Daniel
8:14 </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">NAS95</span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">So, the
temple will be held in abhorrence for three and one-half years.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Dake’s
Bible notes</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> indicate
that it is at the end of the 2,300 evenings and mornings (3 years, 2
months, and 10 days; </span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Dan_8:11-13</span></u></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">, </span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Dan_8:26</span></u></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">)
that the sanctuary shall be cleansed of the abomination of
desolation.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">If you
don’t know, </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">the
sanctuary is the final temple</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> to
be built. </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">The
host is the Jewish people</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> in
Israel.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">The
generalized idea is that the antichrist plays a massive role in the
destruction of Israel and the temple, but that may not be correct.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">“The
day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke
about—the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in
the Holy Place.” (Reader, pay attention!) </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Matthew
24:15</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> NLT</span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Even
though we can know through scripture that the giving of both the
sanctuary and the host to be trodden underfoot are a part of the
transgression of desolation, there is one more thing, and that is the
desolation of the temple, and that is the unholy/unclean object that
is either placed on the altar, or it is standing there in the holy
place.</span></span></strong></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">Abomination
is the Greek word bdelugma and is defined by the following sources: </span></strong></p>
<ul>
<li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Strong's</span></u></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">From
G948 indicates </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">a
detestation, that is, (specifically) idolatry: - abomination; </span></strong></span></p>
</li><li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The
Word Study Dictionary</span></u></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> suggests
that this means </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">to turn away through loathing, disgust, or abhorrence. Abomination: </span></strong></span></p>
</li><li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Thayer's</span></u></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> definitions
tell us that this means</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> a
foul thing, a detestable thing, of idols and things pertaining to
idolatry. Thayer's, as you can see, uses the word detestable. I
suspect that this is an offshoot of the phrase detestation, which
has synonyms like this: abhorrence, loathing, odium, hatred, and
disgust.</span></strong></span></p>
</li></ul>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">The</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> Word
Study Dictionary defines desolate as </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">the
act or the process of making desolate.</span></strong></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">If you
let your mind ponder the possibilities of what this might be, all you
do is remind yourself how suddenly we have had artificial
intelligence thrust upon us. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">Elon
Musk's scientists have successfully installed the Neuro-Link device
in a volunteer's head, and now that person can control a computer
mouse merely by thought. In previous posts, I have alluded to the Mr.
Lincoln exhibit that may still be there in Disneyland; if you have
gone on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, there is an overload of
animatronics. And, even though it has been explained multiple times,
I am still mesmerized by the head in the crystal ball or the tiny
little woman who thanked you for coming at the end of the Haunted
Mansion ride. The attraction is filled with holograms that look so
real that you may struggle to maintain a focus on reality.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">We are
told that “</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">He</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">”
will make an image of the beast, cause it to speak, and everyone –
though perhaps regionally, will be forced to accept this image as
god, give their allegiance to it, and worship it. So when we talk
about an image, are we talking about one that exhibits the face of
the antichrist, as he is referred to as the beast, or are we talking
about an image of Allah, the false god followed and worshiped by
Islam, that should be interesting merely because Allah is a demon –
a fallen angel representing himself as something to be worshiped; and
never been seen.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">For those
who want to fight about what I just said by saying, no one has
effectively seen Christ in about two thousand years. Well, that is
true, but Jesus said that when you have seen Me, you have seen the
Father, and we know the Father through His word, and yet we love Him.
And then, there are those from the Middle East, and Jesus has
appeared to them in their dreams. How odd they recognized Him.
Perhaps He demonstrates the scars that helped bring about His death,
or maybe He tells them, convincingly, who He is; I don’t know the
answer. Most will tell how they just knew.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">Now,
will the antichrist place the detestable thing there, or is this the
job of the mouthpiece of the antichrist, the false prophet?</span></strong></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">As Daniel
sought answers to this vision of the abomination, he apparently heard
two angels talking about this very thing.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">“Then I
heard a certain holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that
certain one who spoke, "</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">How
long shall the vision last, concerning the daily sacrifice and the
transgression that causes desolation, to give both the sanctuary and
the host to be trampled under foot</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">?”</span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Daniel
8:13</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> AFV</span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">Sometime
later, Daniel got this piece of information.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">“And
forces from him will stand up on his part, and they will profane the
sanctuary, even the stronghold, and shall take away the daily
sacrifice, and they shall set up the abomination that makes
desolate.” </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Daniel
11:31</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> AFV</span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The
reference to “</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">him</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">”
is the antichrist; the fact that he has forces would mean that he has
control of a military force. Never does it say these are not Islamic
forces, so don't close the door to that idea. </span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">According</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> to
Webster, profane is</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> the
act of violating sacred things or treating them with contempt or
irreverence.</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">In the
“civilized” world, an army would refrain from doing something
like this. The problem with such naive thinking is that we
(Americans) have moved down the bar a few rungs and have done horrid
things to churches. So, there will be a purposeful violation of the
sacred things in the temple. This sounds more like Islam as we
progress. As evidence for my argument, consider the horrors that
transpired on October 7th as Hamas attacked Israel and its citizens
that day.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">The AFV
translation uses the term stronghold, but others consider it a
fortress or a part of the temple/sanctuary. We may be talking about
Israel's defense forces and their bases. Missiles fired from Lebanon
seem, for the most part, to be aimed at military posts, making this a
reference to end times events.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Forces,
on behalf of the antichrist, will “</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">take
away the daily sacrifice, and they shall set up the abomination that
makes desolate</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.”
So, it seems inevitable that we put the blame on the antichrist for
the abomination. </span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">I have
heard the whining about how some will not accept anything
extra-biblical, and yet we do it all the time, and many have been
living most of their lives by un-biblical information, so spare me. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">With that
being said, Islam has its own set of demonic prophecies, and they
understand that a man of the lineage of Aaron will be the final
priest in the last temple. This man will flop, give his allegiance to
the Mahdi, the antichrist, and will set up this detestable thing in
the temple. He will become the enforcer of Sharia law. And will
enforce the worship of Allah and the beast – the antichrist, by
beheading those who choose to ignore his demands. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">It is no
wonder God comes crashing down upon these two when Jesus returns to
rule for a thousand years. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><br />
</p>Ozzie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312485261504917503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266727359838878182.post-60500449280849620822024-02-26T19:08:00.000-08:002024-02-26T19:09:56.804-08:00A layman's commentary on Matthew 24. Chapter 24 verse 14. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Our
last post on Matthew 24 opened with “Because Iniquity will abound.”
Jesus equated this iniquity to false prophets and lawlessness. </span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">There are
two prominent translations of the Greek word </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">anomia</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">,
and the King James gives us this. </span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">“And
because </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">iniquity </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">shall
abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” <br /></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Matthew
24:12 </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">KJV</span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">A common
alternative reads like this.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">“And
because </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">lawlessness </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">shall
abound, the charity of many shall wax cold.” <br /></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Matthew
24:12 </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">JUB</span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.23in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Lawlessness </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">in
Greek means</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> the
condition of </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">(</span><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">being</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;">) </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">without
law, </span></strong><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">choosing
to be</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">ignorant
of it</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">, </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">violating
it </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">(</span><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">the
law</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;">;),
or </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">contempt </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">for
the </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">law</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.
It also means </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">iniquity</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.23in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Shall
abound </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">is
the Greek word </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">plēthunō </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">and
also means </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">to
increase or multiply.</span></strong></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">Here it
is, February 20, 2024, and I just read how, in one of the Northern
African nations, a young couple was recently beheaded for rejecting
Islam and turning to God. So, where there is NO COMMON law, a twisted
religious belief gives you the freedom to chop people’s heads off?</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;"><b>Can
you not see how the war that Israel is having with Hamas in Gaza is
turning our hearts to cold stones?</b></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Jesus was
addressing His Jewish disciples about their questions</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">: </span></strong></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">“</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">What </span></strong><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">will
be</span></em><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> the
sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?” </span></strong></span></p>
<ul>
<li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Get this straight in your thinking. His coming pertains to </span></u></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">the physical return of Jesus</span></u></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> as the warring Messiah that the Jews are looking for</span></u></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">. </span></span></p>
</li><li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><b>The end of the age </b></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">will be in part </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">His wrath</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> (</span><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">the wrath of God being poured out upon the Jews and the nations during the seven years</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;">)
and includes the few extra moments that we associate with the transition into the millennial kingdom, where Jesus will sit as the
Judge over the earth.</span></span></p>
</li></ul>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Some
think Jesus’ return in the clouds for His church - His bride, is
the end.</span></u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> Well,
yes, but only for His church. At this point, He only comes in the
clouds and gathers His bride to Himself in the clouds. We, the
church, will be with Him forever from this point on. </span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">We
received this admonition from Jesus.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">“But
the one who </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">endures</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> to
the </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">end</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">,
he will be saved.”<br /></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Matthew
24:13</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> NASB: </span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">“</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">But
he that endures unto the end</span></u></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.” </span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Endure</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> is
the Greek word </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">hupomenō
</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> and
means </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">to </span></strong><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">stay
under</span></em><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> (</span></strong><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">behind</span></em><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">),
to </span></strong><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">remain</span></em><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">;
figuratively, to </span></strong><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">undergo</span></em><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">, </span></strong><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">bear
up under</span></em><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> (trials), </span></strong><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">have
fortitude</span></em><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">, </span></strong><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">persevere:</span></em><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> endure,
take patiently, suffer.</span></strong></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Considering
the anguish and pain coming upon the world, who would sign up to bear
the trials to come?</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">No one,
so <b>this is speaking to those who</b> (1) have missed the rapture
and decided to give their lives to Christ. And (2) it speaks to those
who will now have to give their necks to the sword, become saints in
God’s eyes, and eventually enter into the kingdom of God; and (3),
therefore <b>undergo, stay under this torment, and have fortitude</b>;
because God, who is faithful, will bring these “saints” into His
kingdom.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;"><b>Have
you ever asked, even facetiously, what it means to be saved? </b></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.22in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Safe</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> is
the Greek word </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">sōzō
</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> and means </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">to
deliver, protect, heal, preserve, and make whole</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">If you
survived the time of God’s wrath, then I would think you were
<b>delivered, protected, and preserved</b>. On the other hand, if you
had your head lopped off, then words like healing and made whole
would be in order. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">After all that, I want you to look at a scripture passage.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">Nevertheless,
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">hold
fast to what you have until I come</span></b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
And to the one who overcomes and continues in My work until the end,
I will give authority over the nations.” </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">R</span></b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>evelation
2:25-26 </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">BSB</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
Pay attention to the words “hold fast to what you have until I
come.” Seriously, <b>what do you have?</b></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
Some people don't have much, but I can confidently assure you this
has nothing to do with money.
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">But
hold fast what you have till I come. </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>And
he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will
give power over the nations</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">—
“ <br /></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Revelation
2:25-26</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
NKJV</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.42in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-US">An
alternate version that may make more sense.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Nevertheless,
<b>hold fast to what you have</b> until I come. And to the one who
overcomes and continues in My work until the end, <b>I will give
authority over the nations</b>.” <br /><b>Revelation 2:25-26 BSB</b></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.43in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">People
often ask, what will the martyred saints do during the 1000 year
reign? </span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.43in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">If
you have read the Revelation, you know that the martyred saints
sit on thrones and rule over the nations. Since authority and rule
will be dealt out swiftly, then it seems appropriate that these
people who brutally lost their lives would be the ones who meet swift punishment.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Hold
fast or hold on</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
is the Greek word </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>kratéō</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>
</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">(G2902)
and means to</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>
use strength, seize, or retain.</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>
It also means to keep, lay hold of, obtain, retain, take,</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>cleave
to, apprehend, and guard</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>So what, then, are we holding on to?</b></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-US">Some
are clinging to their survival bunkers, but that will not help them,
for God will find them no matter where they hide. Some hold fast to
their great wealth, but their money will not save them, and the
digital monetary system may take of that. </span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">This
<b>overcoming is accomplished by holding on to the Lamb (Jesus)</b>
and expressing their renewed affection for Christ for the rest of
their lives, however short that may be.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">“And
they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their
testimony, and they did not love their lives to the
death.” <br /></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Revelation
12:11</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> NKJV</span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">Who
are the “they” in verse 11? </span></strong></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">Revelation
12:10 tells us they are the brethren; whether they came to know Jesus
Christ during the age of grace or came to Jesus through the seven
years of God’s wrath is irrelevant. <u>Verse 11 explains that these
people were killed while here on earth</u>. </span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">In
light of the context, which we have been chewing over, where does
this next statement take place? </span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">And
this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a
witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” <br /></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Matthew
24:14</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
NKJV</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-US"><b>I
had been rebuked by a man who was undoubtedly intelligent (he ran the
public works department of a large city), but when it came to the
Bible, it might as well have been a foreign language to him. He told
me that Jesus could not come back because the gospel had not been
given to every living person – at least, that was the implication
of what he said. </b></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Yet,
verse 14 conveys that after the church’s catching away, those who
come to accept Jesus will preach the gospel (</span><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">the
gospel is simply the good news of the kingdom</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;">)
will be preached (proclaimed, declared) in all the world. </span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Think
about this statement, “</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">in
all the world</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.”
We are rapidly watching attitudes change to hostility against those
who stand up for scripture and the name of Jesus Christ. You have
heard the saying, no doubt, that </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">the
squeaky wheel gets the grease; </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">they
get attention because that minority is making the loud, obnoxious
noise and, therefore, getting their way and being appeased; all the
while, the church remains silent. </span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">I am part
of a very proactive church, and my pastor was recently invited to
open the US Senate in prayer. He had to submit a prayer, in which
many standard terms among the Christian community were banned. He
tore up that prayer, wrote a quick one-page prayer, and said what the
Holy Spirit wanted him to say. He is now taking tremendous flak,
mainly from Senate Atheists, over what he did. You might accuse him
of sabotaging himself by making those changes and, therefore, making
himself susceptible to whatever they dish out upon him; I happen to
think it was a demonstration of great strength by choosing to do what
God has asked us to do, and that is to stand up for what is morally
right. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Did you
notice that Matthew 24:14 tells us that the actions of these
“tribulation” saints would be </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">considered
to be preaching to all the world as a witness to all the nations?</span></strong></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.01in 0.04in 0.22in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>This
gospel of the kingdom</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">,”
is the Greek word </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>kērussō</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
and means</span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>to
</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>herald</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>,
</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>proclaim,
or publish</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>.</b></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.22in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">Be
</span><span lang="en-US"><b>a
witness</b></span><span lang="en-US">”
is the Greek word </span><span lang="en-US"><b>marturion</b></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
and means </span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>evidence
given</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><i>and
</i></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><i><b>something
that defines your current actions</b></i></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><i>.</i></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.22in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>The
nations</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">,
to a Jew, are anybody that is not a Jew and as loathsome as eating
bacon.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">God,
it seems, doesn't concern Himself on whether you come to Him before
the wrath or after, you are still His. Allow me to show you
something. </span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;">So
they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they
worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able
to make war with him?" And he was given a mouth speaking great
things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for
forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God,
to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.
It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome
them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and
nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have
not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world.” </span><b>Revelation 13:4-8</b>
NKJV</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">“</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">They</span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">”
points to those who have chosen not to come to Jesus since the
catching away of the church. </span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">This
event will be so dramatic it is hard to understand why they would
have continued to turn their back to God. A bizarre and stunning
explanation has been erupting on the news for several years now, and
that is what the government calls aliens and unexplained aerial
vehicles. For many years, I have been trying to tell people that
these fallen angels are demonic manifestations. They, being
God-created beings, are not subject to gravity, our limitations of
time, or the limitations of a dimensional understanding.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">This next
one is hard to understand. “</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">They
worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.”</span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.2in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">dragon
is Satan</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">,
and it tells us that they worshiped him. </span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.2in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Worshiped</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> is
the Greek word </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">proskuneō</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">,
meaning </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">to
kiss like a dog licking the master’s hand. Prostrating oneself.</span></strong></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">So these
lunatics</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">are
worshiping Satan because he gives power to the antichrist, otherwise
known as the beast. </span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;"><b>We
have never seen Satan</b>, although many of you base your impressions
of his appearance on a characterization they saw in a movie. So, let
me give you a clue that will explain what he looks like. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
The <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">(Amplified
Bible) in looking at</span></span></span><span style="color: #218282;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Isaiah
14:12</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">,</span></span></span><span style="color: #218282;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">says
this about Satan.</span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">How
have you fallen from heaven, </span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>O
light-bringer</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span><em><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">and</span></span></span></em><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>daystar</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">,
</span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>son
of the morning</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">!...”</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-US">The
King James version calls him Lucifer.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.01in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">How
art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! ...”</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">And
finally, the English Standard Version.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.01in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #141823;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">How
you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn!...” </span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Lucifer</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
is the Hebrew word </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>hêylêl,</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
and it also means</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>
morning star</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">.
</span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">According to The Ultimate Cross-Reference Treasury, Lucifer is his original name and was or is a bright and eminent star that ushered in the sun and the morning. Still, here, it is metaphorically taken for the high and mighty king of Babylon.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-US">Ezekiel
28:12 refers to him as the king of Tyre and tells us that he was “the
signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.”</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;">“</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #141823;"><b>You
were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your
covering</b></span><span style="color: #141823;">, ...” </span><span style="color: #141823;"><b>Ezekiel
28:13</b></span><span style="color: #141823;"> ESV </span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;">“</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #141823;"><b>You
were an anointed guardian cherub</b></span><span style="color: #141823;">. I
placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the
stones of fire you walked.” </span><b>Ezekiel 28:14</b> ESV</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>You were
blameless in your ways</b> from the day you were created, <i>until</i>
unrighteousness was found in you.” <b>Ezekiel 28:15</b> ESV</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.42in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">But in that day when
the nations shall see Satan get judged.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">Those
who see you will gaze at you and consider you, saying, Is this the
man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms?-- “<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Isaiah
14:16</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
AMP</span></span></span></span></span></p>Ozzie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312485261504917503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266727359838878182.post-86116067696225742702024-02-19T13:20:00.000-08:002024-02-19T13:20:56.501-08:00An interuption of the laymans commentary of Matthew 24. Let's talk about the age of the earth from a Biblical point of view.<p>We had a house guest recently, and I try not to overwhelm them with my deep dives into scripture. But a family member had also stopped in, and that person instigated this conversation under the pretense of pointing out the lack of understanding in someone else. This explosive delivery on the age of the earth was clearly directed at several of us because we do not adhere to the to a young earth orientation. <span style="color: #0e101a;">Amid
raised voices and argumentation, I want to take a moment for sanity
and present a, not so familiar view of the creation; this point of
view, which I am sure clashes with the beliefs of many, allows me to see creation in
a larger time frame and a magnificence in God that I rarely saw when
I was younger. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">“In </span></strong><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">the </span></em><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">beginning, </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">God
created the heavens and the earth.</span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><b>”
<br /></b></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Genesis
1:1 </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">AFV
(A Faithful Version)</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">If you
wish to challenge the italicized word “</span><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">the</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;">,”
then perhaps you should sharpen up on your Septuagint Greek, and we
can do just that. </span></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">en</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">G1722
PREP </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">arche</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">G746
N-...Genesis 1:1 LXX-BYZ</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">“en” </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">transliterates
to </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">in, </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">and
“</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">arche” </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">transliterates
to </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">beginning</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.
We can, therefore, read verse one as “</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">in
beginning</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.”</span></p></blockquote>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The
Septuagint</span></u></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> (LXX/Greek
Old Testament) </span></u></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">The
Romans banned the Hebrew language and all written forms, forcing the
Jews to learn Greek around 200 BC. This initiated the secretive
process of documenting the Torah and the Tanakh - the Old Testament
to us rookies- into the Greek language. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Imagine
the difficulties in transliteration where the original language -
Hebrew, which does not transliterate well into English - must now be
turned into Greek, Aramaic, and back to Hebrew. The difficulty level
increases as Hebrew, which for a long time was a dead language. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">It was
not until the 1500s that we were introduced to the King James Version
- a product of Roman Catholic influence upon King James’s royal
throne. They pushed this change to influence those leaving the State
Church and the Catholic church and going to Protestantism and Martin
Luther. All this was done even though an English version of the Bible
was published almost a year before this effort.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">If you
were to argue that most translations read “</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">In
the beginning</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">,”
you would be correct, but merely mimicking incorrect translations
because of tradition does not make it a good idea. A few translations
put the word “</span><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">the</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;">”
in italics to indicate that the word </span><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">the</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;"> is
added to enhance clarity. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">I am not
a grammarian, but I perceive that a read like this conveys
alternatives, such as:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">The
phrase “</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">in </span></strong><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">the</span></em><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> beginning</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> “</span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">attempts
to force the reader</span></u></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"> to
understand this creation process as beginning and possibly
completing at a specific moment in time. </span></p>
</li><li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">A
reading of verse one without the added word </span><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">the</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;">,
s</span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">uggests
that the Genesis creation took place over a period of time</span></u></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">. </span></p></li></ul><span style="color: #0e101a;">The time
frame of verse one, lacking other descriptive words, could have been
more precise and may have transpired over billions of years. </span><div><span style="color: #0e101a;"><br /></span>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Genesis
1:2 intelligibly informs us that something cataclysmic transpired;
the question is, what?</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“and
the earth was formless and void, and darkness was on the face of the
deep, and the Spirit of God was fluttering on the face of the
waters,” <br /></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Genesis
1:2 </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">LSV.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Accepting
verses one and two as a chronological description is far too
elementary. </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Are
we expected to take it for face value? </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Verses
one and two need to make more sense. The implications are that God
created all creation through some swirling mass technique. This
technique still allows for an undefined period, </span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">or
else it was a quick creation and something tumultuous intervened. </span></u></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Regardless,
I lean toward an intervention, and here is why. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“For
thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed
the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it
in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: “I am the LORD, and there
is no other.” <br /></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Isaiah
45:18 </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">NKJV</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Notice
the words “</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Who
did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited.</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">” </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Genesis
1:2 tells us that all of creation was now:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Formless </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">-
is the Hebrew word </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">tôhû.
</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">The
meanings include:</span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><b> c</b></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">onfusion</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">,
</span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><b>unreality,
emptiness, nothingness, wasteland, wilderness</b></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">,
or </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">a
place of chaos</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">. </span></p>
</li></ul>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Vain</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> is
a word we saw in Isaiah 45:18. It means </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Empty,
worthless, having no substance, value, or importance.</span></strong></p>
<ul>
<li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">And <b>Void. Void</b></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"> is
the Hebrew word </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">bôhû </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">and
means </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">to
be empty, an undistinguishable ruin</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.</span></p>
</li></ul>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">What seems obvious to me is that creation was once distinguishable, and at this moment in time, it is no longer.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">What
could have caused such damage?</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Don’t
say the fall of man because man has yet to be spoken into existence;
even though there is an inference of man and woman in Genesis 1:26,
it is only spiritual. Man's physical presence on earth does not show
up until Genesis 2:7.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“And
the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into
his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living
being.” <br /></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Genesis
2:7</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> NKJV</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">And, we
don't see the woman until Genesis 2:20-25. </span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><b>There
is, however, a character who may have contributed to this chaos. </b></u></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Jesus
told the disciples: </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“...I
saw </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Satan</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> fall
like lightning from heaven.” </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Luke
10:18 </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">NKJV</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Consider
the physics of lightning for a moment.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“While
the flashes we see as a result of a lightning strike travel at the
speed of light (670,000,000 mph) an actual lightning strike travels
at a comparatively gentle </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">270,000
mph</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.”
(</span><a href="https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/learn-about/weather/types-of-weather/thunder-and-lightning/facts-about-lightning" target="_blank"><span style="color: #4a6ee0;">https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/learn-about/weather/types-of-weather/thunder-and-lightning/facts-about-lightning</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a;">)</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">At least
two known meteorite strikes were large enough to affect the
atmosphere globally. Strangely, both struck in the vicinity of the
Yucatan Peninsula.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Genesis
1:2 goes on to say:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“and </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">darkness</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">was</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;"> on
the face of the deep.”</span></p>
</li></ul><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Darkness</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> is
the Hebrew word</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> chôshek</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">,
which also means </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">misery,
destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, and wickedness</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">. </span><br />
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">So, </span><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">it
is safe to assume that this has gone far beyond merely not having
light</span></u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">. Everything
about this sounds like Satan inflicting death and misery.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">If, as
Isaiah 45:18 states, the creation was habitable before Genesis 1:2,
then there was adequate light for plant life, and one of the arguments that was thrown out at us that day.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“Then
God said, "Let there be light"; and there was
light.” <br /><b>Genesis 1:3 </b>NKJV</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Obviously,
the light was taken away. </span>
</p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Go back
to the definitions of darkness I just gave. You will find <b>misery,
destruction, death, sorrow, and wickedness</b> here. </span>
</p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><b>Is
there any place in God's creation where He installs such grief?</b> </span>
</p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">The
answer is no. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Light</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">,
as used here in verse three, is the Hebrew word '</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">ôr.
</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">While
one of the definitions implies the light of day, we have yet to see
that defined. </span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><b>As
its primary usage, Strong's concordance defines the word as
illumination</b></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">.
That could be provided by any number of sources, such as stars,
typically suns much larger than ours, or reflective bodies, like
Jupiter and Saturn. The Word Study Dictionary defines light in this
manner, “<b>In a literal sense, it is used primarily to refer to light
from heavenly bodies</b>.”</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Nope, no
Sun, as we know it, yet.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“And
God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from
the darkness.” </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Genesis
1:4</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> NKJV</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Having
just covered light, the thing that grabs my attention is this, “</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">God
divided the light from the darkness.</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">”
Without any additional definitions, my mind noticed that if a
disruptive entity put out the lights, God did not destroy that entity.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Good</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> is
the Hebrew word </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">ṭôb.
</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Its
meanings include </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">pleasant,
agreeable, and having value. But those terms also include welfare,
benefit, and prosperity</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">So far,
this speaks to mental welfare as well. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Divided</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> is
the Hebrew word </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">bâdal</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">,
which means </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">to
separate, </span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">partition,</span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> set apart, and make a distinction.</span></strong></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Making a
distinction makes more sense when a Sun is involved, but we don't
have that yet.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">The last
word I want to talk about is </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">darkness</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Darkness</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> is
the Hebrew word </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">chôshek
</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> and
can also mean </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">obscurity</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.
The Word Study Dictionary tells us that </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">chôshek
</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> is
associated with </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">disorder,
and i</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">n
subsequent uses, whether used in a physical or a symbolic sense, </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">it
describes confusion and uncertainty</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> (</span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Job_12:25</span></u></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">; </span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Job_37:19</span></u></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">); </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">evil
done in secret </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">(</span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Job_24:16</span></u></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">; </span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Proverbs_2:13</span></u></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">; </span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Ezekiel_8:12</span></u></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">).</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“God
called the light Day and the darkness He called night. So the evening
and the morning were the first day.” <br /></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Genesis
1:5 </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">NKJV</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“God
called the light day,” </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Light</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> is
the Hebrew word </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">'ôr</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">,
which we already covered, but I will repeat, </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">illumination </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">(used
primarily to refer to light from heavenly bodies.)
(See </span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Jeremiah_31:35</span></u></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">; </span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Ezekiel_32:7.</span></u></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">)</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Day</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> is
the Hebrew word yôm. The </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Brown-Driver-Briggs'
Hebrew Definitions</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> tell
us that the word can mean <b>day, time, year, a lifetime, or an
undefined period of time.</b></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: -0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"> “</span><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">So
the evening and the morning were the first day.” </span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;">And
still no sun.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Lacking a
sun, I think that most can see how ridiculous it is to try and assign
a twenty-four hour time frame to what appears to be God's second
creation event.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.41in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“Then
God said, “Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the
waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.” And that is
what happened. God made this space to separate the waters of the
earth from the waters of the heavens. God called the space “sky.”
And evening passed and morning came, marking</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> the
second day</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.”
<br /></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><b>Genesis
1:6-8 </b></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">NLT</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">And still
no sun.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“Then
God said, “Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one
place, so dry ground may appear.” And that is what happened. God
called the dry ground “land” and the waters “seas.” And God
saw that it was good. Then God said, “</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Let
the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant
and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.
These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from
which they came.” And that is what happened. </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">The
land produced vegetation—all sorts </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">of
seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit. Their seeds
produced plants and trees of the same kind. And God saw that it was
good. And evening passed and morning came, marking </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">the
third day</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.” <br /></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Genesis
1:9-13</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> NLT</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Plants
and trees, but no sun and no weeds.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“Then
God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from
the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years.
Let these lights in the sky shine down on the earth.” And that is
what happened.</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> God
made two great lights—the larger one to govern the day, and the
smaller one to govern the night</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.
He also made the stars. </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">God
set these lights in the sky to light the earth, to govern the day and
night, and to separate the light from the darkness</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.
And God saw that it was good. And evening passed and morning came,
marking </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">the
<span style="background-color: #ffe599;">fourth</span> day</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.”
<br /></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Genesis
1:14-19</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> NLT</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Finally, the Sun, the moon, and the stars govern their skies alongside His creation; it is the end of the fourth day.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">If
this is the first place we see stars, what were the luminaries that
filled the skies and brought light to the world?</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Here is
some interesting food for thought about Satan and light.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“And no
wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of
light.” <br /><b>2</b> <b>Corinthians 11:14</b> NKJV</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">The
word </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">transform</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> is
the Greek word </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">metaschēmatízō</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> and
can also mean </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">disguise,
change the figure of, or change the outward form.</span></strong></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">If Satan
is changing his outward form into an angel of light, then there must
be other, more noble, angels of light, and based upon what we have
seen in scripture, these angelic beings may have been the light or at
least added to the light.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">At this
point, I want you to pay attention to the emphasis on the “</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">day</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">”
in which a thing or aspect is created. (Remember how this
conversation started with God creating a habitable, perfect earth on
the day He spoke it into existence.) Obviously, to me, all of it got
corrupted.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“Then
God said, "Let the waters abound with an abundance of living
creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the
firmament of the heavens." So God created great sea creatures
and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded,
according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind.
And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, "Be
fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds
multiply on the earth."</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> So
the evening and the morning were the <span style="background-color: #ffd966;">fifth </span>day</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.” <br /></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Genesis
1:20-23 </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">NKJV</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Notice
how we are focused upon the waters, which are abounding with abundant
living creatures. I have had my moments where I understood that the
waters produced birds. There are certain birds that are well
adapted to water and can fly, dive, and swim to feed themselves. By
looking at other translations, which some people would wholeheartedly
reject, I understand that God merely spoke the birds into existence. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“And
God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to
their kinds: livestock, land crawlers, and beasts of the earth
according to their kinds.” And it was so. God made the beasts of
the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their
kinds, and everything that crawls upon the earth according to its
kind. And God saw that it was good.” </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Genesis
1:24-25</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> BSB</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Here, the
passage speaks of land creatures according to their kinds. Keep in
mind that the curse that came with Satan is here and has been since Genesis 1:1.5. I know there is no 1.5. Since Jesus witnessed Satan being thrown to earth, and it appears that Satan had a destructive goal, it is easy to understand that the chance to annihilate God's perfect creation was just waiting
for its opportunity. Since humanity is not yet on earth, this means that the evil and destructive plans Satan had for humanity and the land have yet to occur. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Now,
how can I say this? </span></strong></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">All you
have to do is go forward in scripture to where we find Adam and Eve in the garden,
where the four-legged serpent, which speaks, is already there hanging
around in that tree – the only tree for which they have a
restriction of NOT eating. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">When
did Satan get here on earth?</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">"Long
before the events in the Garden." I already pointed out that
Jesus told the disciples that He beheld Satan fall like lightning
from the sky. The precise date associated with that date is NOT given
to us. But Genesis 1:1 tells us that "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." While that does not define how He went about creating or how long it took. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Hebrews 11:3 can be rather eye opening for some as their is a little weight put back on us as we are required to apply some faith.</span></p></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen did not come from anything visible. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><b>Hebrews 11:3</b> TLV</span></p></blockquote><p>And, as I have pointed out in this post,</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p>For thus says Adonai—He is God who fashioned the heavens, who formed the earth and made it, He established it and did not create it desolate but formed it to be inhabited—“I am Adonai—there is no other!” <b>Isaiah 45:18</b> TLV</p></blockquote>I see no room for a void and formless creation. <span style="color: #0e101a;">If I
wanted you to take anything away from this, it would be verse Genesis 1:25,
where it states, “</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">And
God saw that it was good</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.”
Considering the damage that is to come at the hand of Satan, I would not have said <strong style="color: black;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">it was good</span></strong> considering all his
treasonous actions imply.</span><div>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“Then
God said, “Let Us make man<b> in Our image</b>, after Our likeness, to
rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the
livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that
crawls upon it.” So God created man in His own image; in the image
of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed
them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the
earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of
the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.” Then God
said, “Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the
face of all the earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. They
will be yours for food. And to every beast of the earth and every
bird of the air and every creature that crawls upon the
earth—everything that has the breath of life in it—I have given
every green plant for food.” And it was so.” </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Genesis
1:26-30</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> BSB</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“Let
Us make man in Our image.”</span></u></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Who
is doing the talking?</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Here are
two versions of an answer: </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God. He was with God in the beginning. <u>Through Him, all things were
made, and without Him, nothing was made that has been made</u>.” <br /></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">John
1:1-3</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> BSB</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">So, here,
all three were talking, but primarily, Jesus, the living Word. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“<u>In the
beginning the Word already existed</u>. The Word was with God, and the
Word was God. <u>He existed in the beginning with God</u>. God created
everything through him, and nothing was created except through
him.” <br /></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">John
1:1-3</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> NLT</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Saying
that Jesus was the Word is as good as saying Jesus has been here for
a long time. Remember, we really don't know how long ago the world
was spoken into existence. So, the NLT merely tells us that “the
Word,” </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Jesus,
already existed</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.
The narrative was not waiting for God to send Jesus to the earth so He could
become the physical expression of the Word. Note that God created
everything through him (the Son.)</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">What
is the image of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit?</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Well,
before the Father sent the Son, as a human, to recover His creation,
<b>they were all Spirit beings</b>. Consider the possibility that God is
more like a ball of energy. I got this idea from Moses, who asked to
see God. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">God's
response:</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“Then
Moses said, “Please show me Your glory.” “I will cause all My
goodness to pass before you,” the LORD replied, “and I will
proclaim My name—the LORD—in your presence. I will have mercy on
whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have
compassion.” But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one
can see Me and live.” The LORD continued, “There is a place near
Me where you are to stand upon a rock, and when My glory passes by, I
will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until
I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away, <b>and you will see My
back,</b> </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">but
My face must not be seen</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.” <br /></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Exodus
33:18-23 </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">BSB</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“ </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">but
My face must not be seen.” </span></strong></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">We are
not told why, but there is the potential that God is nuclear energy
that burns brighter than the sun.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Oh,
but wait, didn't Adam hear God walking in the garden, in the cool of
the day, after the fall?</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Yes, that
is what we are told, but why is it necessary for God to define, in
great detail, all the pre-incarnate appearances of Jesus Christ. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Do
massive balls of boiling hot energy make footstep sounds?</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The
answer is NO, but you should realize I am being facetious, for we
have evidence that </span><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Jesus
showed Himself repeatedly throughout the Old Testament</span></u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
He</span><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> did so as the
Angel of the Lord</span></u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> in
most of these occurrences.</span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-color: #ffe599;">Ah, there
it is, the sixth day</span>.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“And
God looked upon all that He had made, and indeed,<b> it was very good</b>.
And there was evening, and there was morning—the <span style="background-color: #ffe599;">sixth
</span>day.” <br /><b>Genesis 1:31</b> BSB</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Lacking
the physical existence of the man on the earth, God called it quits in terms of restoration.
He was done, and it was done right, once again.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“Thus
the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. And
by the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on
that day He rested from all His work. <u>Then God blessed the seventh
day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the
work of creation that He had accomplished.</u>” <br /></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Genesis
2:1-3</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> BSB</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“He
rested from all His work.”</span></u></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Did
He rest because He was exhausted? </span></strong></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“Look
up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out
like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Because
of his great power and incomparable strength</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">,
not a single one is missing.” <br /></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Isaiah
40:26</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> NLT</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Seriously,
could such a being get tired? </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Try this
verse on for size. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“Look
up to the skies above, and gaze down on the earth below. For the
skies will disappear like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a
piece of clothing. The people of the earth will die like flies, </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">but
my salvation lasts forever. My righteous rule will never
end!” <br />Isaiah 51:6</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> NLT</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Rested</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> is
the Hebrew word </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">shâbath. </span></strong></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Who would
have thought that this Hebrew word was the basis for the word
Sabbath? </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">It
means </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">to </span></strong><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">repose</span></em><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">,
that is, </span></strong><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">desist</span></em><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> from
exertion</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">. </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">It
also means to celebrate or rest</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.
The Word Study Dictionary conveys that “this example of rest by God
at creation set the requirement of rest that He desires for His
people in order that they may live lives pleasing to Him, full of
worship and adoration (</span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Exodus_31:17</span></u></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">).”</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“These
are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were
created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
“<br /></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Genesis
2:4</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> KJV</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Created</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> is
the Hebrew word </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">bârâ</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">‘, and it also means </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">shape
or form. </span></strong></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Do
you realize that God, who initially spoke the world perfectly into
place, now has to reshape and reform all of creation?</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">This may
explain why the moon and Mars have oddities on them that cannot be
explained by any human means. Verse four is also curious, for it
speaks of </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">generations</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> (in
the KJV) </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">when
they were created</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> and
associates these generations with the “day” that the Lord made
the earth and the heavens. Reminder: day, according to Strong’s
concordance, can mean “pace of time defined by an associated term.”
In this case, the relational phrase is “in the day that the LORD
God made the earth and the heavens.” We make no assumption that God
created man on that day, so I have to presume that this refers to the
entirety of the time, most of which is unconstrained by a Timex
watch, which is what He is talking about.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">With
two potential beginnings of the earth, where would the men be that
could be considered in these generations?</span></strong></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Generations</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> is
the Hebrew word </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">tôledâh </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">and
means </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">descendants,
results, proceedings, and genealogies</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.
Brown-Driver-Briggs says it is an “</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">account
of men and their descendants</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.”</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">It
becomes evident that men get most of the acknowledgments in the Old
Testament; however, when we get to the New Testament, we see Jesus
lifting women up and giving them dignity.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">So, here
we are in verse four, talking about generations. Still, we will not
yet see the physical manifestation of a human via the handmade
version of Adam for several verses. All this makes this conversation
about generations even more peculiar.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">The </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">earth</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> means
just that, but the heavens open a can of worms. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><b>Heavens </b>are the Hebrew word<b> shâmayim, </b>and it implies<b> sky, heaven, abode, firmament, air, and stars.</b> The </span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Word
Study Dictionary</span></u></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"> explains
that there is a singular or a plural version. “</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">The
word describes everything God made besides the earth</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">:
God made </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">the
heavens of the universe</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> (</span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Genesis_1:1</span></u></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">; </span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Genesis_14:19</span></u></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">); </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">the
firmament or expanse which He created around the earth was named sky
or heaven as well</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> (and
this is what we see in </span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Genesis_1:8</span></u></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">).
Isaiah the prophet tells us that He stretched out the heavens (and we
find this in </span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Isaiah_40:22.</span></u></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">)”</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">I have
already covered this, but Genesis 1:2 tells us that the heavens
were </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">void</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> and </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">darkness</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> was
upon the face of the deep. Take a deep dive into those two words,
void and darkness, and you will come to find out that </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">the
destruction that Satan brought with him turned the lights out</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> through
his associated devastation.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">“And
every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb
of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to
rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the
ground.” <br /></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Genesis
2:5</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> KJV</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">The NLT
states, "</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">neither
wild plants nor grains were growing on the earth</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.”
I am assuming this is after the destruction that Satan brought with
him, and God is now having to replace him. So God reseeds the earth,
but perhaps without weeds. (</span><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">Free
information: According to my Horticulture teacher at the college,
weeds are any plant growing where it is NOT needed or wanted.</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;">)</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">There was
a point to this: </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">we
make massive assumptions based on tradition, which are unfounded and
non-biblical</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">.
</span>
</p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><b>Do you
want an example? </b></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">Well, you
are going to get one. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">A brother in Christ asked the men’s group, one
evening, <b>how tall do you think David was when he killed Goliath?</b> No one
responded, so I threw in my two cents. I said, about six foot seven
inches tall. After the angered tones had settled, I said, I can prove
it. <b>Remember King Saul?</b> He</span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> was
head and shoulders above every man in Israel </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">when
he was anointed to be King. I told them that I had a contractor come
to the door, and in short order, I found out that he was an Israeli,
taller than me, and I was 6’4” tall. In a short period of time David came to
work for Saul. He not only played soothing music but <b>he was asked by
Saul to be the armor bearer</b>. The man who asked the question that
night strongly suggested that David was about four feet tall and
tried to demonstrate how ridiculous David would have looked with Saul’s
armor clattering on the ground around his feet. I stated how </span><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: large;">absurd </span><span style="color: #0e101a;">it would be to suggest such a thing or to even </span><span style="color: #0e101a;">propose </span><span style="color: #0e101a;">that Saul would do that. Still, it wasn’t unusual because David, a young man, happened to be large enough to wear Saul's armor and
test the straps and buckles before Saul put it on. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><b>Time
</b>seems irrelevant to a God that made time and yet lives outside of it. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Nothing here in the creation narrative tells me that God is restricted by our traditions and misconceptions, and He is fully capable, without harm, of using any method of His choosing to create this planet and the heavenly lights that we used to enjoy. I said we
used to enjoy because of smog and light pollution, which prevents our
ability to see stars.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">The word
yôm, transliterated as day, has multiple meanings covering vast and
extensive periods. </span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">Does
it matter to me? </span></strong></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Not at
all, nor does it diminish who my God is or how He made the earth. </span>
</p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Since I
know that Satan was thrown out of heaven, then it makes far too much
sense that Satan would try to destroy all of creation and may give us
clues as to why God had to make a specific garden of beauty in Eden.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br /><br />
</p></div>Ozzie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312485261504917503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266727359838878182.post-24543889917468442672024-02-11T20:39:00.000-08:002024-02-12T19:21:20.805-08:00A laymans commentary on Matthew 24. Chapter Four, verses 11- 15. “Because iniquity shall abound.”<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Chapter
Four</b></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />
</span></p>
<p align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.03in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Because
iniquity shall abound.”</b></span></span></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.03in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.03in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Matthew
24:11 </b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">NASB
"Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.”</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.03in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Matthew
is not the only one to make this statement. </span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0.41in; margin-top: 0.04in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">Many
will come in [appropriating to themselves] the name [of Messiah]
which belongs to Me [basing their claims on the use of My name],
saying, I am [He]! And they will mislead many.” <br /></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Mark
13:6 </b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">AMP</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">And
we find something similar in Luke's account. </span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0.41in; margin-top: 0.04in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">And
He said, Be on your guard and be careful that you are not led astray;
for many will come in My name [appropriating to themselves the name
Messiah which belongs to Me], saying, I am He! and, The time is at
hand! Do not go out after them.”<br /> </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Luke
21:8</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
AMP</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin: 0.04in 0.4in 0.04in 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">Because
lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold.”<br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Matthew
24:12</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
TLV</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">You
would have had to be born numb to NOT understand that the love of
many is growing cold on a daily basis. Perhaps all these wars are
having this effect. </span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
Amplified Bible conveys verse 12 in this manner. </span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin: 0.04in 0.41in 0.04in 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: #e6e6ff;">the
love of the great body of people will grow cold because of the
multiplied lawlessness and iniquity</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">.”
</span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Here in America, where the moron lawmakers raised the monetary amount to around $900+ dollars before stores can get a police officer to respond, they have motivated the bad guys to form up in mobs and attack high-end stores. Each individual steals less than $900, so they can't be touched, supposedly. But more than just a few of us have had enough. Perhaps
our love has grown cold. </span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">The
word </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>iniquity</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
is the Greek word </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><i><b>anomia</b></i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
and means </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>illegality
or violation of law</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">.</span></span></span></span></p>
<ul><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">A
CNN article b</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">y
Terry Frieden, CNN Justice Producer, updated 10:01 AM EDT, Wed
October 17, 2012, and </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">pulled from the internet, states that - </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">U.S.
violent crime is up for the first time in years. </span></span></span>
</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">Data collected by the Bureau of Justice Statistics in telephone surveys showed a</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>
22 percent increase in assaults, pushing up the overall rate of violent crime for the first time since 1993.</b></span></span></span></span></p>
</li></ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.03in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">Seriously,
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>who
has not noticed this?</b></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.03in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Matthew
24:13</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
NASB: "But the one who </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>endures</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
to the </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>end</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">,
he will be saved.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.03in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">If
you are paying attention to the context and you are enduring, then you
are neck deep in the time of wrath – the seven years of
tribulation, specifically the last three-and-one-half years known as
the great tribulation.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.03in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Endure</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
is the Greek word </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><i>hupomeno</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">,
which means </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>to
stay under</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
or </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>bear
as in a trial</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">.
</span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.03in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>End</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
is the Greek word </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><i>t</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><i><b>elos.
</b></i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">It</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
means </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>to
set out for a definite point or goal</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">.
</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.03in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">I
believe this makes it clear that some, not necessarily Jews, will
survive the horrors of this time.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">And
the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole
world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.”
<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Matthew
24:14</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
NLT</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">I
have already pointed out that God uses an angel as an instrument to
proclaim the gospel around the globe. (</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">Revelation
14:6-10</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>.</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">)</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 1in; margin-right: 0.42in; margin-top: 0.04in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">It
was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting
on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Attending
him were mighty seraphim,</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with
two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.” <br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Isaiah
6:1-2 </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">NLT</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin: 0.04in 0.41in 0.04in 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">The
day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke
about—the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in
the Holy Place.” (Reader, pay attention!) <br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Matthew
24:15</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
NLT</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Parallel
verse</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">For
warships from western coastlands will scare him off, and he will
withdraw and return home. But he will vent his anger against the
people of the holy covenant and reward those who forsake the
covenant. “</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background: #e6e6ff;">His
army will take over the Temple fortress, pollute the sanctuary, put a
stop to the daily sacrifices, and set up the sacrilegious object that
causes desecration</span></b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">.
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: #ffff99;">He
will flatter and win over those who have violated the covenant</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">.
But the people who know their God will be strong and will resist
him.” <br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Daniel
11:30-32</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
NLT</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-US">Here it is, January 20, 2024, and suddenly, the idea that warships from western coastlands scaring “him” off and making “him” withdraw is becoming more understandable and more of a reality. Why, because the Mediterranean Ocean and the Red Sea are currently filled with Western warships due to Israel's war with Hamas.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin: 0.04in 0.41in 0.04in 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">And
from the time that the continual burnt offering is taken away and the
abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290
days.” <br />[</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><i>Dan.
11:31</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">.]
</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Daniel
12:11</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
AMP</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">1290
days divided by 360 days, the length of a year on the Jewish
calendar, equals three-and-one-half years. From the time that the
antichrist adds his confirmation to</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>
“the covenant,”</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
until the time that they take away the daily sacrifice will be 1290
days. This assumes that the third temple is built, but it is NOT
necessary as it seems that this “covenant” has a mandatory role
in eschatology. </span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-US">If the rapture comes today (1/22/2024), there is still no temple; the Jews have plans already laid out, and I would guess that the tilt-up cement panels that will be used to make the temple are probably already made and awaiting the crews to assemble them. I point out these things because there are so many things that must still happen, all of which will trigger the destruction of the mosque and an abundance of warfare, of which Israel will take a horrific beating and only a third of their population will survive. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Daniel
9:27, in the NASB, uses the Hebrew word </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>gāḇar</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
twice</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">,
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">"And
he will </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>make</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: #ffff99;">H1396</span></span></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>a
firm</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: #ffff99;">H1396</span></span></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">covenant
with the many.”</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">Using
a word repetitiously, and in short order, conveys the idea that
something is very important. </span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">The passage itself tells us that the antichrist will establish, confirm, and cause a covenant to prevail or make an existing covenant firm. I could easily retell this passage by reading that </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: #ffccff;">he
will make this covenant and cause it to be established.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Covenant</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
is the Hebrew word </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>b</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>e</b></span></span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>rı̂yth</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
and can also mean </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>confederacy.
</b></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-US">Let's
put the situation in these terms. Hamas, nor any other Middle
Easterner, is going to make a treaty with Israel, as the Islamic
nations have but one goal, the total annihilation of Israel and the
Jews.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">The
explanation that Daniel received went on to say.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin: 0.04in 0.4in 0.04in 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">Blessed
is he who waits, and comes to the </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>one
thousand three hundred and thirty-five days</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">.”
<br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Daniel
12:12</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
NKJV</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">That
exceeded the seven years by 45 days. </span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.5in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">"Then, after the sixty-two weeks, the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>even
to the end there will be war; desolations are determined</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">.”<br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Daniel
9:26</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
NASB</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">One
might assume that Jesus was coming back precisely at the end of the
seven-year mark, but that does not appear to be the case. Is it
possible that the incessant warring will extend the time? </span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Daniel
9:27</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
AMP “... </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>until
the full determined end is poured out on the desolator</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">.”</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Speculation seems pointless as I know that the world's system of doing things will come to a crashing halt, and then peace will reign for those who walk into the thousand years of Jesus' sovereignty on earth.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Do
we know who this antichrist character is?</span></b></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><u>We
have NO clue</u> who will fill the role of the antichrist, and no one
else will until the bride of Christ is lifted from the earth. </span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>You
want substantiation?</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin: 0.04in 0.41in 0.04in 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">For</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: #ffff99;">
the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now
restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background: #ffff99;">And
then the lawless one will be revealed</span></b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">,
whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy
with the brightness of His coming.” </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>2
Thessalonians 2:7-8</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
NKJV.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>For
the mystery of lawlessness is already at work;</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">”
</span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Do you realize that He is talking about the beast that empowers the
antichrist? The beast is both a spiritual entity, a demon, and a
man that will be possessed by, at minimum, one powerful demon/fallen angel.</span></span></span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>He</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">”
is those who are filled with the Holy Spirit and stand against the destruction and demise of the world around us with our words of prayer and our actions.</span></span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“ <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">He
who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.</span></span></span></b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">”</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">The only way we are going to be taken out of the way is by the catching away of the church, with us in it, prior to God's wrath being poured out upon the earth.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.41in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><br />
</p>Ozzie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312485261504917503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266727359838878182.post-42427484483735306542024-02-10T16:59:00.000-08:002024-02-11T20:38:10.386-08:00A laymans commentary on Matthew 24. Chapter Three, verses 7- 10. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. Isn't that what we are seeing?<p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Chapter
three.</b></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.42in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 1in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>For
nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:”</b></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 1in;">
<br /><br />
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Matthew
24:7</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
“</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">For
nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and
there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers
places.”</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">We
have been talking about this very thing. The subject of verse 7 was a
post I made over the course of six weeks sometime ago. I went on to say, "<i>Now, here we are in mid-June of 2019, and a violent group of Muslims is effectively overrunning Iraq. Iran has declared that they are sending troops to Iraq to stop them, and apparently, that has happened.</i>" </span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Fast forward to February of 2024, and what has changed? </span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pestilence</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
– </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
</li></ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Think
bugs, flies, frogs, and generally, pests; plagues fall under this
category. As of last year, the world is seeing a rise in the Bubonic plague, and it is coming from multiple fronts, such as Asia, Mexico, and Madagascar. In March of 2013, Egypt was swarmed with over 30
million locusts. Moreover, Guinea is currently suffering from a
deadly outbreak of Ebola. To make matters worse, </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">a
major French biomedical research body, the Pasteur Institute, has
investigated the disappearance of some 2,300 test
tubes containing samples of the SARS virus.</span></p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>How about </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">famine</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">?</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
</li></ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a class="western" href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/feb/04/un-2bn-help-combat-hunger-sahel-africa"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">UN
calls for $2 billion to help combat hunger in Sahel</span></span></span></a></u></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">.
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a class="western" href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/25/north-korea-food-shortages-pyongyang"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">North
Korea: fears of food shortages outside Pyongyang as distribution
fails</span></span></span></a></u></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">;
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pakistan</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">’</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">s
Impending Famine </span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> This
list could go on forever.</span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Let us look at earthquakes for a moment.</b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><b>
</b></span><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span>
</p>
</li></ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaL9uNl7qOTdiE28ZK3i2T-GsaLRNPcc0MFiZJ9soV_rLTdKBY1oTcblhgbLdUXNXLZ4G1mmTTAvlOrLxGpvehE76eZ3L7z7TbMe0x20TEPAYWNxHdaQDPtAc7vPexCMiPDE6ld-W_L2Y7Xu_n9FvAlc4lBLmKIIqFXNwOfNUKMM9Jpiq5FXZxQvYyHUo/s1366/USGS%20Earthquake%20map%2001222024%20large%20scale%20events.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaL9uNl7qOTdiE28ZK3i2T-GsaLRNPcc0MFiZJ9soV_rLTdKBY1oTcblhgbLdUXNXLZ4G1mmTTAvlOrLxGpvehE76eZ3L7z7TbMe0x20TEPAYWNxHdaQDPtAc7vPexCMiPDE6ld-W_L2Y7Xu_n9FvAlc4lBLmKIIqFXNwOfNUKMM9Jpiq5FXZxQvYyHUo/s1366/USGS%20Earthquake%20map%2001222024%20large%20scale%20events.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1V6E5hG1rbAcra2a4PtIIxjtMFSImxJfmkI0JViTabfdvJ5UZ-gPUk42Z84x213u5RgwIbhvFJwOhLAjxzRnA6bXqxv5u3Nc43X-QgUo1Wf5PHjuJmdKNUh5LJhujzYWryjQF-NULgi6joDcih1Hag_AGeljh-VbJdAB2qzksRtJjAUUMRdk72DI7mts" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1V6E5hG1rbAcra2a4PtIIxjtMFSImxJfmkI0JViTabfdvJ5UZ-gPUk42Z84x213u5RgwIbhvFJwOhLAjxzRnA6bXqxv5u3Nc43X-QgUo1Wf5PHjuJmdKNUh5LJhujzYWryjQF-NULgi6joDcih1Hag_AGeljh-VbJdAB2qzksRtJjAUUMRdk72DI7mts" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3Kl2FNG4xdUgNXi2ieiSS6uKV4h4YvtzPdw3C5-TRpr87Dr6QXSCglkbLpzJQRJflSH_nU03Q5qIIT_PzWDVnCE73CM_cMFTfwUbggt9UuhBU1bCwFcrZiOySLi58aFgBjSjvfBqTxUsDliq5hhhNDePNuoMZCqCnVSLs17qak5Ji8wPRnjIzht106sg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="600" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3Kl2FNG4xdUgNXi2ieiSS6uKV4h4YvtzPdw3C5-TRpr87Dr6QXSCglkbLpzJQRJflSH_nU03Q5qIIT_PzWDVnCE73CM_cMFTfwUbggt9UuhBU1bCwFcrZiOySLi58aFgBjSjvfBqTxUsDliq5hhhNDePNuoMZCqCnVSLs17qak5Ji8wPRnjIzht106sg=w640-h378" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div></div><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span><p></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Note
the date on the screenshot. 01/22/2024 from </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>
</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">USGS
reports</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Does the ring of fire mean anything to you?</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;">
<br /><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Matthew
24:8</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffff99;">“All
these </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="background: #ffff99;">are</span></i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffff99;">
the beginning of sorrows.”</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; orphans: 0; widows: 0;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffff99;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
Complete Jewish Bible calls it </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: #ffff99;">birth
pains</span></b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">.
If a woman goes into labor, she will be experiencing birth pains;
that only means one thing, the baby is on the way.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Matthew
24:9 </b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">NASB
"Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you,
and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.”</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Luke
21:12,13</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #417cbe;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> "</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">But
before all these they will lay their hands on you, and persecute you,
delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought
before kings and rulers for my name's sake. And it shall turn to you
for a testimony.”</span></span></p></blockquote><p> <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Matthew
24:10</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">NASB
"At that time many will fall away and will betray one another
and hate one another.”</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>A
parallel verse comes from:</u></span></span></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Luke
21:16 WBS </b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">"</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">And
ye will be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsmen, and
friends; and some of you will they cause to be put to death.”</span></span></span></span></p></blockquote><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Mark's gospel says
something that is repeated by neither of the other two.</u></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Mark
13:10</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
NASB "</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: #ffff99;">The
gospel must first be preached to all the</span></span></span></span></span></p></blockquote>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">In
trying to convey how imminent the Lord's return is, an acquaintance
angrily threw this back at me, </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Jesus
cannot come back, for the gospel has not been preached to all nations</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">. He quickly started giving out a large number of people groups that had not received a printed copy of the gospel. As of 2007, it was
said that there are 100 million unchurched people in the United
States alone. (</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>Unchurched
is defined as those who have not been in a church in the last 6
months</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.)
I attempted to appease his argument by pointing out that the angel
broadcasts the gospel around the globe. He responded with, I have
never read that. So, I give it to you.</span></span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Genesis
3:5-7</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
NASB: "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
(6) When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. (7) </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: #e6e6ff;">Then
the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were
naked, and</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"> they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin
coverings.”</span></span></span></span></p>
</li></ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">This
act of treason, “sin,” brought the knowledge of good and evil to
every man, and that lousy gift was passed on through their genetics;
therefore, no man can use the lack of understanding as an excuse. </span></span>
</p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Romans
1:20</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
NASB: “</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: #e6e6ff;">For
since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His
eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">,
being understood through what has been made, so that they are
without excuse.”</span></span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Revelation
14:6-10</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
NASB: (6) “</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>And</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background: #e6e6ff;">
I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having an eternal gospel
to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and
tribe and tongue and people</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>;</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
(7) and he said with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give Him
glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who
made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters."
(8) And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, "Fallen,
fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink
of the wine of the passion of her immorality." (9) Then
another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice,
"If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a
mark on his forehead or on his hand, (10) he also will drink of
the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the
cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone
in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb."</span></span></span></span></p>
</li></ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">This
makes it clear to me that nothing is holding God back from his action plan.</span></span></p>Ozzie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312485261504917503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266727359838878182.post-55300828677864411752024-02-07T10:21:00.000-08:002024-02-07T10:21:10.915-08:00A laymans commentary on Matthew 24. Chapter Two, verses 3 - 6. When shall these things be - a common question these days.<p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">Chapter
two.</b></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.43in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<br /><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Tell
us when these things shall be, or evidence of the end of the age.</span></b></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Matthew
24:3</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">“And
as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him
privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what
</span><span style="color: grey;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i>shall
be</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; text-indent: -0.01in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Anyone
who has spent time looking at the disciples' lives knows that
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><u>they
had a very Jewish mindset</u></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">,
so it is necessary for your understanding to consider this when
trying to grasp Jesus's response to them. Jesus had a direct connection
to the Father (</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i>and
so do we as believers</i></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">)
therefore what He is saying is clear and concise. </span>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">A</span></u><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><u><b>nd
what </b></u></span><span style="color: grey;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i><u><b>shall
be</b></u></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><u><b>
the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?</b></u></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><u>”</u></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; text-indent: -0.01in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The question may
well be two questions. In conversation and observation, the Christian
community seems to confuse Christ's return for His bride with His
final return to the earth. </span>
</span></p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">On the day of
His return, He will touch down on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem,
and on that day, He will come prepared for war.” <br /></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Zechariah
14:3-4</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span>
</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">When He comes
for His bride, He will meet them in the air and does not touch
down.” <br /></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>1
Thessalonians 4:16-17 </b></span></span></span>
</span></p>
</li></ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">An
aspect of Jesus's response to their question can be seen in Matthew
24:4,5.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Matthew
24:4,5</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
“And Jesus answered and said unto them,</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: #ffff99;">Take
heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying,
I am Christ; and shall deceive many.</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">”
</span></span>
</span></p>
<h1 align="LEFT" class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Why
would he say that? </span></span>
</span></h1>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Just
a partial list off Wikipedia gives the names of 32 people that have
taken that role. Some I recognize. Think about the ridiculousness of
something like this. An example would be David Koresh. His teachings included his self-proclaimed authority to propagate children with the wives of men involved in the cult. That would not happen!</span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>This
idea of someone coming in the name of Jesus becomes enormously
important if you realize that Islam has it’s own version of Jesus</b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">.
</span></span>
</span></p>
</li></ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Allah
has some similar properties. The following is from Wikipedia about
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: #ffff99;">the
Islamic Jesus.</span></span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">The belief that Jesus is a prophet is required in Islam.</span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background: #ffff99;">He is the son of Mary, not God (Allah).</span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">According
to the Qur’an, </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: #ffff99;">Jesus</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">,
although appearing to have been crucified, </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: #ffff99;">was
not killed by </span></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a class="western" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucifixion_of_Jesus"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: #ffff99;">crucifixion</span></span></span></a></u></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
or by any other means; instead, "Allah raised him unto
Himself."</span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: #ffff99;">Jesus is considered a </span></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a class="western" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: #ffff99;">Muslim</span></span></span></a></u></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
(i.e., one who submits to the will of Allah), as he preached that
his followers should adopt the "straight path" as
commanded by Allah. (In other words, all must become Islamic and
follow Sharia.)</span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">To aid in his ministry to the </span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a class="western" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Jewish</span></span></a> </u></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">people, </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>the
Muslim Jesus was given the ability to perform </b></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a class="western" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>miracles</b></span></span></a></u></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
(</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: #ffff99;">such as healing the blind, bringing dead people back to life, calling fire down from the heavens, and causing it to rain where there has been none</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">),
all by the permission of Allah rather than of his own power. </span></span>
</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Muslims
believe that 'Jesus' will return to earth near the </span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a class="western" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qiyamah"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Day
of Judgment</span></span></a></u></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
to restore justice and </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: #ffff99;">to
defeat </span></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a class="western" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masih_ad-Dajjal"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background: #ffff99;">al-Masih
ad-Dajjal</span></i></span></span></a></u></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: #ffff99;">
("the false messiah", known to the church as the
</span></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a class="western" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antichrist"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: #ffff99;">Antichrist</span></span></span></a></u></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: #ffff99;">
but to them it is our Jesus</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">.) It's odd</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> how they, too, have an understanding of the end-times pattern. The
“false messiah” Islam looks for, is in direct opposition to
Jesus Christ. They believe that the Antichrist is our Jesus. If you
use the perspective that they serve the father of lies, then you
might be able to comprehend why they are in opposition.)</span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: #ffff99;">The
Jesus of Islam will be a Jew. A priest of the lineage of Aaron,</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
and therefore have access to the temple.</span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: #ffff99;">He will defer to the Mahdi.</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
(The Mahdi is their awaited savior. He is the 12</span></span><span style="color: black;"><sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">th</span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
or hidden imam, and several have already declared that the Mahdi is speaking through them. </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>It is said that he will return on a white horse. This is the same white
horse that we see in Revelation 19, and it is the only passage in
our Christian bible that they believe is true</b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">.)</span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: #ffff99;">He
will be the enforcer of Sharia</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
(the brutal set of rules that Islam uses to not only condemn
outsiders but manipulate and control women within their religion.)</span></span></span></p>
</li></ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">If
all this is true, and </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>there
is someone who will take this role</b></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">,
then this makes all the sense in the world, and the ones that will be
the primary targets of this deception will be the knowledgeable Jews.
We happen to think of these as the religious of Israel.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Matthew
24:6</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
“</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">And
ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not
troubled: for all </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i>these
things</i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The
immediate context is:</b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: #ffff99;">what
will be the signs indicating your immediate return to the earth to
rule as the Messiah we anticipated.</span></span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Wars,
we are surrounded by them.</b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
</span></span>
</span></p>
</li></ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Syria,
Iraq, and Afghanistan are active war zones, but all those be-headings
have become commonplace and boring, beside that, </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><u>somebody
powerful wants all this destruction</u></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">,
or it would not be happening. Syrian President Bashar even threatened
Israel with a missile attack recently, to which Israel replied that
they would flatten Damascus. The oddity here is that the </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>prophecy
tells us that Damascus will be utterly destroyed and uninhabitable;</b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
that can only happen if a nuclear weapon is used. The other news we
are painfully aware of is the Ukraine. (The land of Gog) </span></span>
</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 1in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Ezekiel
38:9-12 </b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">NASB:
"</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>You
will go up, you will come like a storm; you will be like a cloud
covering the land, you and all your troops</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">,
and many peoples with you." (10) 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "It
will come about on that day, that thoughts will come into your mind
and you will devise an evil plan, (11) and you will say, 'I will go
up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who
are at rest, that live securely, all of them living without walls and
having no bars or gates, (12) to capture spoil and to seize
plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places which are now
inhabited, and against the people who are gathered from the nations,
who have acquired cattle and goods, who live at the center of the
world.'</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 1in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><br /></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 1in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Isaiah
17:1</b></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
LITV: “The burden of Damascus: Behold, Damascus is taken away from
being a city, and it shall be a ruined heap.”</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 1in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">In
case you haven't noticed Israel has been proactive in assassinations
and bombings in and near Damascus and the airport there. If this were
a baseball game we are in the last inning of the game. The end will
be come soon.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 1in;"><br />
</p>Ozzie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312485261504917503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266727359838878182.post-53894245022465724802024-02-06T19:58:00.000-08:002024-02-06T19:58:48.258-08:00A laymans commentary on Matthew 24. Chapter one, verses 1,2. Signs of the end of the age.<h4 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Chapter one.</span></h4><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Signs of the End of the Age.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Matthew 24:1</strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> “And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to </span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">him</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> for to shew him the buildings of the temple.”</span></span></p></blockquote><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The disciples, proud of their heritage and the temple, were shaken by Jesus's interaction with the scribes and Pharisees and nervously pointed out the temple construction to Jesus. I am sure Jesus was aware of the grandeur of Herod's temple, but it represented something entirely different for him. He also knew what would soon happen to the temple. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jesus responded to them.</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Matthew 24:2</strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> NASB:</span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> “</strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">And He (</span><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Jesus</em><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">) said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down."</span></span></p></blockquote><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;">An alternate version.</span></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Luke 21:6 </strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">NASB: "As for these things which you are looking at, the days will come in which there will not be left one stone upon another which will not be torn down."</span></span></p></blockquote><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">His reply directly addresses the disciples' observation of the immense cut stones making up the temple, but </span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">it also alludes to something more</strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">. This was </span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">literally fulfilled a short time later in 70 A.D., but </strong><u style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">it</span></u><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><u style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></u></strong><u style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">is to be fulfilled again</span></u><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">.</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Luke 21:6 is integrated into end times prophecy through the words of Daniel. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">"And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.” </span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Daniel 9:26 </strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">NKJV</span></span></p></blockquote><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Historically, Jerusalem was under the rule of the Roman emperor Titus; and most ascribe the temple's destruction directly to Rome, but that was not the case. </span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;">While it is true that troops were operating under the Roman standard, it is documented by both Josephus and Tacitus that the overwhelming majority of these troops were conscripts from conquered Assyrian nations. All had an open and vile hatred of the Jews. This will come into play later as we define other aspects of the end-time prophecies.</span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">From: The Wars of the Jews, by Josephus. Book 4, Chapter 6</span></b></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">5. "So Titus retired into the tower of Antonia and resolved to storm the temple the next day, early in the morning, with his whole army, and to encamp round about the holy house. But as for that house, God had, for certain, long ago doomed it to the fire; and now that fatal day was come, according to the revolution of ages; it was the tenth day of the month Lous, [Ab,] upon which it was formerly burnt by the king of Babylon; although these flames took their rise from the Jews themselves, and were occasioned by them; for upon Titus's retiring, the seditious lay still for a little while, and then attacked the Romans again, when those that guarded the holy house fought with those that quenched the fire that was burning the inner [court of the] temple; but these Romans put the Jews to flight, and proceeded as far as the holy house itself. </span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">At which time one of the soldiers, without staying for any orders, and without any concern or dread upon him at so great an undertaking, and being hurried on by a certain divine fury, snatched somewhat out of the materials that were on fire, and being lifted up by another soldier, he set fire to a golden window, through which there was a passage to the rooms that were round about the holy house, </strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">on the north side of it. As the flames went upward, the Jews made a great clamor, such as so mighty an affliction required, and ran together to prevent it; and now they spared not their lives any longer, nor suffered any thing to restrain their force, since that holy house was perishing, for whose sake it was that they kept such a guard about it."</span></span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">6.</span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> "And now a certain person came running to Titus, and told him of this fire, as he was resting himself in his tent after the last battle; whereupon he rose up in great haste, and, as he was, ran to the holy house, in order to have a stop put to the fire; after him followed all his commanders, and after them followed the several legions, in great astonishment; </strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">so there was a great clamor and tumult raised, as was natural upon the disorderly motion of so great an army. </span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Then did Caesar, both by calling to the soldiers that were fighting, with a loud voice, and by giving a signal to them with his right hand, order them to quench the fire. But they did not hear what he said, though he spake so loud, having their ears already dimmed by a greater noise another way; nor did they attend to the signal he made with his hand neither,</strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> as still some of them were distracted with fighting, and others with passion. </span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">But as for the legions that came running thither, neither any persuasions nor any threatenings could restrain their violence, but each one's own passion was his commander at this time;."</strong></span></p></blockquote><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Histories by Publius Cornelius Tacitus, Book 5 - (A.D. 70)</span></strong></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></strong></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> [5.1] "EARLY in this year, </span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Titus Caesar, who had been selected by his father to complete the subjugation of Judaea,</strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> and who had gained distinction as a soldier while both were still subjects, began to rise in power and reputation, as armies and provinces emulated each other in their attachment to him. The young man himself, anxious to be thought superior to his station, was ever displaying his gracefulness and his energy in war. By his courtesy and affability, he called forth a willing obedience, and he often mixed with the common soldiers while working or marching without impairing his dignity as general. </span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">He found in Judaea three legions, the 5th, the 10th, and the 15th, all old troops of Vespasian's. To these he added the 12th from Syria, and some men belonging to the 18th and 3rd, whom he had withdrawn from Alexandria. This force was accompanied by twenty cohorts of allied troops and eight squadrons of cavalry, by the two kings Agrippa and Sohemus, by the auxiliary forces of King Antiochus, by a strong contingent of Arabs, who hated the Jews with the usual hatred of neighbors, </strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">and, lastly, by many persons brought from the capital and from Italy by private hopes of securing the yet unengaged affections of the Prince. With this force Titus entered the enemy's territory, preserving strict order on his march, reconnoitering every spot, and always ready to give battle. At last, he encamped near Jerusalem." </span></span></p></blockquote><p><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1 Kings chapter 9 recorded that long before Daniel's prophecies, Israel would be cut off from the land, and the temple would be rejected and reduced to a heap of rubble.</span></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">1 Kings 9:7-9</strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> NIV “</span><u style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. (8) This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say,</span></u><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> 'Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?' (9) People will answer, '<b>Because they have forsaken the LORD their God</b>, who brought their ancestors out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them--that is why the LORD brought all this disaster on them.'"</span></span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">“ </span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">After the sixty-two weeks [of years] shall the Anointed One be cut off or killed.”</strong></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">“<u>Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem until [the coming of] the Anointed One, a Prince, shall be seven weeks [of years] and sixty-two weeks [of years];</u> it shall be built again with [city] square and moat but in troublous times. And after the sixty-two weeks [of years] shall the Anointed One be cut off or killed and shall have nothing [and no one] belonging to [and defending] Him. And <b>the people of the [other] prince who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary</b>. Its end shall come with a flood, and even to the end, there shall be war, and desolations are decreed.” [Isa. 53:7-9; Nah. 1:8; Matt. 24:6-14.] </span><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Daniel 9:25-26</strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> AMP</span></span></p></blockquote><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus rode into town on a very precise day, and He was killed on the very day that Daniel describes ending the 69th week of the year.</span></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><p></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p>Ozzie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312485261504917503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266727359838878182.post-87262582473176671662024-01-15T17:14:00.000-08:002024-01-15T17:14:58.946-08:00The antichrist. How, then, do we fit the Roman Empire into this mix? Daniel 9:26 and a few other verses. <p><span style="font-size: medium;">In the previous
post, I referred to Daniel describing the statue, with the head of gold, to Nebuchadnezzar. He tells Nebuchadnezzar that he is the head of
gold. Both the silver and the bronze are referred to as inferior kingdoms, and though history lends a hand and gives us an identification of the Persian empire (technically the Medo-Persian empire) and the Grecian/Macedonian empire initiated under Alexander the Great, we are not given the identity of the fourth empire.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Have you ever
wondered why?</b>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Is it possible
that Nebuchadnezzar's act of turning his heart toward God played a
role in the way God felt about the Babylonian kingdom under
Nebuchadnezzar's rule? We see nothing in the other kingdoms that indicates a leader who followed after God.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Since the
first three empires are closely chronicled and in rapid succession,
why NOT the fourth empire?</b>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
Since you can't have legs without thighs, it seems ridiculous to
assume that there is not a continuous succession. Alexander's reign
covered the belly and the thighs on this statue.
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>What happened
to cause the transition from bronze to iron?</b>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
Again the scriptures do not tell us, but history does. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Alexander
died. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So if you insist on throwing out the argument, <i>I do not believe we should concern ourselves with information outside the Biblical texts</i>, <span style="background-color: #ffe599;">then you should not</span> accept that Alexander
the Great even existed.
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Wait a minute; historically, we know that four generals were left contending for control of the empire. An obvious problem is that statues
of humans don't have four legs. Daniel chapter 10, <u>in a cryptic
fashion</u>, covers a great deal of this intrigue. <span style="background-color: #ffe599;">In the end, there are
only two generals in charge of what is left of the Grecian empire's
control of the Middle East</span> - <b>Seleucid</b>
in the North and <b>Ptolemy</b>
in the South.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> As I pointed out, all these materials from which the statue is made have strength, but Iron has a brittle fragility. The iron goes all the way to the feet, where we see an unimaginable mix of iron and clay. The antichrist
that we know will come on the scene comes out of these ten toes. Mixed, by the way, is the Aramaic word for arab.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>How, then, do we fit the Roman Empire into this mix?</b>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The standard assumption emerges from Daniel 9:26.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">And
after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for
Himself; <b>And the people of the prince who is to come Shall
destroy the city and the sanctuary</b>.
The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war
desolations are determined.” <br /><b>Daniel 9:26</b> NKJV</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Religious
tradition makes the association with <b>Titus Vespasian </b>as
the prince who came and “his” troops, under the Roman flag,
destroyed the temple and the city in 70 AD. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We arbitrarily assume that troops are “all” Italian Catholics (<i>I am being facetious here</i>) and that Titus gave the orders to destroy the temple. The problem when you choose to use Daniel 9:26 to answer your question is that <b>you are choosing to IGNORE the historical record</b> given by Josephus and Tacitus.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Josephus</b>
and <b>Tacitus</b> both
recorded that:
</span></p>
<ul>
<li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Titus was under <b>a mandate </b>from the Emperor <b>to maintain peace</b>.
</span></p>
<ul>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
That did not happen.
</span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That <b>the majority of the Roman troops</b>,
at this time, <b>were conscripted Assyrian troops</b>.</span></p>
<ul>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
Some estimate that troops originating from Rome were 14% of the whole number.
</span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That <b>the Assyrians had an overt hatred of the Jews.</b>
</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That it was <b>the Assyrians that set fire to the temple</b> <b>and ignored Titus' orders to stop</b>.</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
That <b>the Assyrians </b>continued with a slaughter of the Jewish people.</span></p>
</li></ul>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b>Prince</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
is the Hebrew word </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><b>nâgı̂yd</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">/
nâgid and means </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><b>a
</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><b>commander</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"> or </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><b>a
religious leader</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">
(think high priest); </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><b>chief</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">,
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><b>governor,
leader, noble, prince.</b></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">In most cases, Bible translators chose appropriate terms to fit the
context of the sentence. Applying the title of prince to Titus because he is a commander makes sense.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">The
King James concordance only shows 47 uses of the word </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><b>nâgı̂yd</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">.
The word translated as prince only happens 8 times, but none of them
apply to this character that we will eventually call the antichrist.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">Ezekiel
has an indirect reference to the antichrist but refers to him as</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><b>
the prince of Tyre</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">.
</span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">"Son
of man, </span><span style="color: black;"><b>say to the leader of
Tyre</b></span><span style="color: black;">,
'Thus says the Lord GOD, "</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: rgb(230, 230, 255);">Because
your heart is lifted up</span></span><span style="color: black;">
And </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: rgb(230, 230, 255);">you
have said, 'I am a god</span></span><span style="color: black;">,
</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: rgb(230, 230, 255);">I
sit in the seat of gods</span></span><span style="color: black;">
In the heart of the seas'; Yet you are a man and not God, Although
</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: rgb(230, 230, 255);">you
make your heart like the heart of God</span></span><span style="color: black;">--”<br /></span><b>Ezekiel
28:2</b> NASB</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Consider these
attributes assigned to the antichrist. </span>
</span></p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Your heart is lifted up.</span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">You have said, I am a god.</span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">I
sit in the seat of gods.</span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">And,
you make your heart like the heart of God.</span></span></p>
</li></ul>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">In Daniel 9:25-26 the term prince is used twice; once for the Messiah the Prince (Jesus), and the other in verse 26, which we already talked about.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: medium;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span>After
this I saw in the night visions, and behold, </span><span style="color: black;"><b>a
fourth beast</b></span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black;"><i>[Roman
Empire]--</i></span><span style="color: black;">terrible, powerful and
dreadful, and exceedingly strong. And it had </span><span style="color: black;"><b>great
iron teeth</b></span><span style="color: black;">; it devoured and crushed
and trampled what was left with its feet. And</span><span style="color: black;"><b>
it was different from all the beasts that came before it</b></span><span style="color: black;">,
and </span><span style="color: black;"><b>it had ten horns [symbolizing ten
kings]</b></span><span style="color: black;">. [Dan. 2:40-43; 7:23.] I
considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another
horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were
plucked up by the roots; and behold, in this horn were eyes like the
eyes of a man and a mouth speaking great things.” <br /></span><span style="color: black;"><b>D</b></span><b>aniel
7:7-8</b> AMP</span></span></p>
<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">There
is much ado about ten – empires, kingdoms, regions. </span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">This <b>little</b>
one comes out of the ten horns/empires. </span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Three of the horns - kingdoms
are plucked up by the roots before this man's kingdom. </span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>And guess
what? </b></span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">This little horn has eyes and a mouth speaking blasphemy
against God. </span></span>
</span></p>
<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">If
it is not the man himself with the eyes and mouth speaking, then it
is a <b>spokesperson</b>. </span></span>
</span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">It was Jesus who defined blasphemy for us when he told the scribes and Pharisees who were attributing His works to the devil that they were committing blasphemy.</span></p>
<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">So
we can expect this man to tell all those that will listen, that God's
works are Satan's works, but he may not openly say Satan, he might
attribute God's words and actions to Allah. </span></span>
</span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Have
you considered the names and attributes assigned to this man?</b> </span></span>
</span></p>
<ul>
<li><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><u>The
Antichrist</u>
(1,2 John)</span></span></p>
<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A
poignant aspect of this conversation is the time frame in which John spoke these words. <u>The entirety of the church was to have been on rapture watch since.</u></span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>1
John 2:22</b> NKJV "Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son."</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>1
John 4:2-3</b> CJB "Here is how you recognize the Spirit of
God: every spirit which acknowledges that Yeshua the Messiah came
as a human being is from God, 3 and every spirit which
does not acknowledge Yeshua is not from God—in fact, this is the
spirit of the Anti-Messiah. You have heard that he is coming. Well,
he's here now, in the world already!"</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>2
John 1:7</b> CJB "For many deceivers have gone out into the
world, people who do not acknowledge Yeshua the Messiah's coming as
a human being. Such a person is a deceiver and an anti-Messiah."</span></span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><u>The insolent king;</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
of Daniel 8.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Daniel
8:23 </b></span><span style="color: black;">NAS95 "In the
latter period of their rule, When the transgressors have run their
course, A king will arise, </span><span style="color: black;"><b>Insolent</b></span><span style="color: black;">
and skilled in intrigue."</span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>INSOLENT</b>,
a. Proud and haughty, with contempt of others; overbearing;
domineering in power;</span></span></p>
</ul>
</ul>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><u><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span>the </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span>Beast</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span> of </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span>Revelation
13</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span>;</span></span></span></span></u></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Revelation
13:1-8 </b></span><span style="color: black;">NAS95
“And </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">the
dragon</span></span><span style="color: black;">
stood </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 153);">on
the sand of the seashore</span></span><span style="color: black;">.
</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">Then
I saw a beast coming up out of the sea</span></span><span style="color: black;">,
having </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: rgb(204, 204, 153);">ten
horns</span></span><span style="color: black;">
and </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: rgb(204, 204, 153);">seven
heads</span></span><span style="color: black;">,
and </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: rgb(204, 204, 153);">on
his horns were ten diadems</span></span><span style="color: black;">,
and </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">on
his heads were blasphemous names</span></span><span style="color: black;">.
2 And the beast which I saw was like a </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">leopard</span></span><span style="color: black;">,
and his feet were like those of a </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">bear</span></span><span style="color: black;">,
and his mouth like the mouth of a </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">lion</span></span><span style="color: black;">.
And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great
authority. 3 </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 153);">I
saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound
was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the
beast</span></span><span style="color: black;">;
4 they worshiped the dragon because he gave his
authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?" 5
There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and
blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to
him. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against
God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was also given to him to make war
with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every
tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. 8
All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name
has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book
of life of the Lamb who has been slain.”</span></span></span></p>
<li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Since </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b>the antichrist is also referred to as the beast</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">,
and Revelation 13:1 describes “</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><i>a
beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">,”
then it is describing an overarching ruling body that has covered aspects of the earth since about 600 AD.</span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b>Who is the dragon?</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
Satan. </span></span>
</span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b>What does the sand of the seashore speak of?</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> First, all eschatology has Israel, or the land promised to Abraham, as the center of its focus. Since these sands have to do with the region of the Middle East with Israel at the center, </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background: rgb(221, 221, 221);">then the sands represent the lands of the coastal regions of the
Mediterranean and the people in general, or the Gentiles, but more specifically, the Islamic nations.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><i>"Ten horns, seven heads... and on his heads were blasphemous names."</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
Since we covered Jesus's explanation of blasphemy, then these kingdoms are such that </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b>they blaspheme God by their beliefs, teachings, and actions; in particular – an intense, undefinable hatred of the Jews merely because they are Jews</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">.</span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Many will take this portion of Revelation 13,” I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast,” and apply it to the antichrist, it is NOT, it is a powerful ruling body. In 1924, such a powerful voice, the Ottoman Empire, had so angered the Mideastern world with its Islamic pirates that roamed the Mediterranean Ocean, capturing anybody who sailed those seas, taking them captive, and selling them as slaves on the Ivory Coast. Well, the wealthy shipping vessels and yacht owners shouted loudly enough for the saner world to take notice and take up arms against the Islamic Ottoman empire. <b>In 1924 the empire was crushed,
disbanded, and deemed illegal, or so the world thought</b>. In a
sense“</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 153);">one
of his heads </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">was</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 153);">
as if it had been slain.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">”
The world, for about 20 years, thought that Islam, as a global threat, had been slain;<b> in theory, the head had been slain</b>.</span></span></span></span></span></p></li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"> “</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 153);">And his</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
(a kingdom or ruling body)</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 153);">
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 153);">fatal wound </span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 153);">was healed</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">.
The healing came through the Muslim Brotherhood, which emerged primarily from Egypt in the 1940s and made a covenant with the
Nazis. <b>We, in modern history, also witnessed the resurrection of the Islamic Empire in 1979 with the capture of the American Embassy in Iran</b>. <b>After this 444-day event, the Caliphate was restored along with the Mullahs as leaders</b>. “</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 153);">And
the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">”Keep in mind in Revelation that this beast is not yet the man so many are looking for. <b>Currently, “the whole earth” is following Islam, but in time, there will be a man to supposedly lead all of Islam in a particular direction; one of those directions will be a unified hatred of the Jews and their God.</b></span></span></span></span></span></p></li></ul>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Revelation
13 shows us the same things that Daniel saw,<b> and Daniel pleaded for an explanation</b>. Perhaps we should pay attention to what Daniel was shown.</span></span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>Daniel
7:19-20</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
NKJV "</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 153);">Then
I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">,
exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet; 20 and </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a
mouth which spoke pompous words</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">,
whose appearance was greater than his fellows.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;"><b>Daniel
7:21</b></span><span style="color: #141823;">
NKJV "I was watching, and</span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 153);"> the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing
against them</span></span><span style="color: #141823;">,</span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">This is the little horn, the antichrist, making war against the saints.
Clarity moment. The church – followers of Jesus Christ have already been caught up to meet Christ in the air. This is exactly what 2 Thessalonians 2:3-9 is talking about. So then, all the saints at this point are those who have come into an acceptance of
Jesus Christ since the snatching away of the church. </span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Those,
coming to Jesus during this nightmarish time, will most likely lose their heads.</span></span></p>
</ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;"><b>Daniel
7:23 </b></span><span style="color: #141823;">NKJV
"Thus he said: '</span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 153);">The fourth beast shall be A fourth kingdom on earth, Which shall be different from all other kingdoms, And shall devour the whole
earth, Trample it and break it in pieces</span></span><span style="color: #141823;">."</span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="color: #141823;">The question you should be asking is, </span><span style="color: #141823;"><b>in what ways is it different?</b></span><span style="color: #141823;">
</span></span></span>
</span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">I will leave you to ponder that question on your own but don't most kingdoms go to war to collapse conflicting kingdoms to obtain the benefits of more land, monetary gain, and titles that come from victories.</span></p>
</ul>
</ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>Daniel
7:24</b> AMP “And as for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten
kings shall arise; and another shall arise after them, and he shall
be different from the former ones, and he shall subdue and put down
three kings.”</span></span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Here,
in Daniel 7:23 – 25, we see an explanation that points to kingdoms.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b>Why do Islamic nations go to war? </b></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">To bring the citizenry of that land into ideological submission,
where they bow to Allah and no other; oh sure, people will die, but that is a minor detail and the path for infidels.</span></span></p>
</ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;"><b>Daniel
7:25</b></span><span style="color: #141823;">
AMP And he shall speak words against the Most High [God] and shall wear out the saints of the Most High and think to change the time
[of sacred feasts and holy days] and the law; and the saints shall be given into his hand for a time, two times, and half a time
[three and one-half years]. [Rev. 13:1-6.]</span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;">“</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="color: #141823;"><i>And
he shall speak words against the Most High</i></span><span style="color: #141823;">.”
</span><span style="color: #141823;"><b>Who is being referred to as the Most High in this passage? </b></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Since everything we are studying is Israel-centric, the answer is the
“Jewish” God. We believers know Him as Yahshua, the Messiah.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;">“ </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><i>and think to change the time [of sacred feasts and holy days] and the
law,</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">”
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>Who is doing that as we speak?</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">It is happening in the UK, and cities like Dearborn Michigan, where they have supplanted the population, slowly taken over the governing bodies, and initiated “lawful changes. They have also changed the laws to Sharia laws and inserted their own law-keepers.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-size: medium;">“ <span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><i>and
the saints shall be given into his hand for a time, two times, and
half a time.”</i></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: medium;">The
Amplified Bible explains this time period as three-and-one-half years. That means that the antichrist will act like a moderate peacekeeper for the first three-and-one-half years of this seven-year covenant of peace.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">But there is a problem, as Daniel 9:24 clearly states that 70 weeks, equaling 490 years, are decreed upon Israel and the Jewish people, in general.</span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span>Seventy
weeks [of years, or 490 years] are decreed upon your people and
upon your holy city [Jerusalem], to finish and put an end to
transgression, to seal up and make full the measure of sin, to
purge away and make expiation and reconciliation for sin, to
bring in everlasting righteousness (permanent moral and spiritual
rectitude in every area and relation) to seal up vision and
prophecy and prophet, and to anoint a Holy of Holies.” </span><span style="color: #141823;"><b>Daniel
9:24</b></span><span style="color: #141823;">
AMP </span></span></span>
</span></p>
</ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">Verse
24, without question, brings us to the end of all things outside of the eternal kingdom. As you can see in </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>Daniel
9:26</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">,
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><u>there is a reference to the Messiah being cut off</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">.
Well, that happened, and yet the brakes, it would seem, got slammed down hard, </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>for we have surpassed the 69</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>th</b></span></span></span></sup></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
week as we have waited for the 70</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">th</span></span></span></sup></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
week to begin. That final, somewhat missing week consists of seven years, give or take a few days. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;"><b>Daniel
9:26-27</b></span><span style="color: #141823;">
NKJV "And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be
cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is
to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it
shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations
are determined. 27 Then</span><span style="color: #141823;"><b>
he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week</b></span><span style="color: #141823;">;
But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice
and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who
makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate."</span></span></span></p>
</ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">The assumptions are that this covenant is one that he makes, but scripture never says that he does; he merely affirms an existing covenant, and the UN has stated, on multiple occasions, that they are affirming seven-year agreements.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Another assumption is that he confirms this covenant with Israel; the problem with that thinking is that Israel is not mentioned;
however, it seems as if there is a chronology here in Daniel 9:26 that indicates that his people (<i>and they may only be his people because they are Islamic</i>,) who are coming will destroy the city and the sanctuary, and therefore, this destruction, which can happen at any minute and may be happening as we speak. However, it is difficult to destroy something that is not built yet. My suggestion is that you keep your eyes on the Holy Land.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>What is the sanctuary?</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">It is the final (the third) temple in Jerusalem.</span></span></p>
</ul>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Look at what Revelation 13 tells us: “</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><i>And
the beast which I saw was like a </i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><i><b>leopard</b></i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><i>,
and his feet were like those of a </i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><i><b>bear</b></i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><i>,
and his mouth like the mouth of a </i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><i><b>lion</b></i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><i>.
And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great
authority.</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">”
</span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Now
compare this to </span></span>
</span></p>
</ul>
</li></ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;"><b>Daniel
7:4-6 </b></span><span style="color: #141823;">NAS95 "The first
was like a </span><span style="color: #141823;"><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">lion</span></b></span><span style="color: #141823;">
and had the wings of an </span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">eagle</span></span><span style="color: #141823;">.
I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up
from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human
mind also was given to it. 5 "And behold, another
beast, a second one, resembling a </span><span style="color: #141823;"><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">bear</span></b></span><span style="color: #141823;">.
And it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth
between its teeth; and thus they said to it, 'Arise, devour much
meat!' 6 "After this I kept looking, and behold,
another one, like a </span><span style="color: #141823;"><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">leopard</span></b></span><span style="color: #141823;">,
which had on its back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four
heads, and dominion was given to it.”</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.76in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Very
similar.</span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">the </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Man
of Sin</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">,
or Man of Lawlessness, of </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">2
Thessalonians 2</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">:1–12</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">;</span></span></span></p>
</li></ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.41in 0.04in 0.98in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><b>2
Thessalonians 2:3-12 </b></span><span style="color: black;">NAS95
“Let no one in any way deceive you, for </span><span style="color: black;"><b>it</b></span><span style="color: black;">
will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of
lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who
opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of
worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying
himself as being God. 5 Do you not remember that while I
was still with you, I was telling you these things? 6 </span><span style="color: black;"><b>And
you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be
revealed.</b></span><span style="color: black;">
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; </span><span style="color: black;"><b>only
he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8
Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with
the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His
coming</b></span><span style="color: black;">;
9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the
activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10
and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish,
because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.
11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding
influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in
order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but
took pleasure in wickedness.”</span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>What is the “it” we see in 2 Thessalonians 2:3?</b></span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span>It”
is the coming of Jesus to collect His bride, removing them from the earth and allowing for the antichrist to be released upon the earth, and the unleashing of God's wrath upon the residents still left upon the earth. Yes, the saints will still be impacted by
God's wrath. </span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">If one only gives </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>2
Thessalonians 2:3-12</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
a cursory read, they will encounter verse three, think that the apostasy, of the church in general, must still come first, and possibly believe that will never happen. Many people I have talked with still cannot see a
problem with churches. We are performing homosexual marriages,
aborting babies without regard, and having transgender reading hour performed by men dressed as women prepared to do a striptease act.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Several years ago, a brother in Christ, in doing his doctoral thesis, found that the state church, the Catholic church of the 1500s, demanded that King James do a rewrite of the popular </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b>Geneva
Bible</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><u>and make it say </u></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><u><b>apostasy </b></u></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><u>instead of a </u></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><u><b>departure</b></u></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">,
as so many people were leaving the Catholic church for
Protestantism. The Geneva Bible reads like this: “</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><i>Let
no man deceiue you by any meanes: </i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><i><b><span style="background: rgb(221, 221, 221);">for
that day shall not come, except there come a departing first, and
that that man of sinne be disclosed</span></b></i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><i>,
euen the sonne of perdition</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">.”
</span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">If you paid attention to what you read in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2,
you would find that verses 7,8 clarifies any confusion by declaring that a departure of the church is necessary, as the church restrains the antichrist (</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>
</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><i><b>he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed,</b></i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>)</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
and it will do so until he (the church) is taken out of the way,
and then the wicked one will step forward. </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">Until this happens, we will not know who this man is</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">.</span></span></span></p>
</li></ul>
<li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">Other
titles for the antichrist, several of which we have covered: </span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">(1)
"the king of Babylon" (</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #238554;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><u>Isa_14:4</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">);
</span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">(2)
"the Assyrian" (</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #238554;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><u>Isa_14:25</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">;
+**</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #238554;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><u>Mic_5:5</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">
note); </span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">(3)
"Lucifer, son of the morning," in opposition to "the
bright and morning star" (</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #238554;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><u>Isa_14:12</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">);
</span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">(4)
"the Prince that shall come" (</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #238554;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><u>Dan_9:26</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">);
</span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">(5)
"the king of fierce countenance" (</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #238554;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><u>Dan_8:23</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">);
</span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">(6)
"the vile person" (</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #238554;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><u>Dan_11:21</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">);
</span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">(7)
"the willful king" (</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #238554;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><u>Dan_11:36</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">);
</span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">(8)
"the man of sin" (</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #238554;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><u>2Th_2:3</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">);
</span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">(9)
"the son of perdition" (</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #238554;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><u>2Th_2:3</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">);
</span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">(10)
"that wicked (or lawless) one" (</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #238554;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><u>2Th_2:3</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">;
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #238554;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><u>Rev_13:18</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">);
</span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">(11)
"the beast with ten horns" (</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #238554;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><u>Rev_13:1</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">);
</span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">(12)
"the little horn" (</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #238554;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><u>Dan_8:8</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">)
[CB]. =</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #238554;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><u>1Ki_22:11</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">,
=</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #238554;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><u>Psa_75:10</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">;
=</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #238554;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><u>Psa_132:17</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">,
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #238554;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><u>Isa_27:1</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">,
=</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #238554;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><u>Zec_1:18</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">,
**</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #238554;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><u>Mat_24:5</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">;
**</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #238554;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><u>Mat_24:15</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">,
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #238554;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><u>2Th_2:3-4</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">,
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #238554;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><u>1Jn_2:18</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">;
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #238554;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx"><u>1Jn_4:3</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">.
(</span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">The
Ultimate Cross-Reference Treasury</span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="zxx">)</span></span></span></span></span></p>
</li></ul>
<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">For many, by
the time you read this, Jesus will have come back for His bride, the
followers of Christ. He still holds out His arms for you. All you
have to do is give Him your life and accept Him into yours.</span></span></p>Ozzie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312485261504917503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266727359838878182.post-45048769762483630932024-01-06T20:40:00.000-08:002024-01-07T18:50:45.586-08:00I want to talk about the antichrist persona for a few minutes. <p align="LEFT" style="break-after: avoid; break-inside: avoid; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; page-break-after: avoid; page-break-inside: avoid;">I pay a lot of attention to conversations about
eschatology (end times events as they relate to scripture.) Everything going on around us is related to biblical end-times events; this includes Israel at war, the breakdown of our governmental systems, the collapse of global economies, and the coming of a man – the antichrist, that will shortly step up to take control over practically everyone and everything.</p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><u>A
large portion of scripture speaks in terms of “everyone” when
clearly not everyone was there.</u> One of the blatant examples comes
from the narrative surrounding <b>the three Hebrews who</b> were
brought into Babylon at the same time as Daniel, and they are the same ones who<b> were thrown
into the fiery furnace</b>. </p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><b>Daniel was not included with them; why?</b></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">When
you read the account dealing with Daniel and the three other Hebrews,
you find that <b>Daniel</b>, after giving the King the dream and the
interpretation, <b>was promoted and</b><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>
made the ruler over the entire province of Babylon and chief
administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"> Daniel's Hebrew brethren were included among the wise men, and Daniel requested that the king appoint Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (their Babylonian names) to manage the province of Babylon while Daniel was busy elsewhere.</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"> Logic tells you that Daniel had an entourage while he was doing business in various regions of Babylon, so obviously, there were a number of others not there to bow before this statue. Read the narrative in Daniel 2:46-49.</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">So,
let's not assume that everyone, as scripture denotes, is always in
compliance. Certainly, Samson was not, yet God deems him a fine example of an upright man. (You can read about Samson's
adventures and sordid love life in Judges chapters 13 – 16.</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">If
I want to get a firm grasp of this man, </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>the
antichrist/beast, </b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">I
think it best to initiate this quest in Daniel chapter two. The saga
sort of begins with Nebuchadnezzar during the second year of his
reign.</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">One
night ... Nebuchadnezzar had such disturbing dreams that he couldn’t
sleep.” <br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Daniel
2:1</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
NLT</span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">So
Nebuchadnezzar calls the people he depends on for answers to help him. But!!!</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">He
called in his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers, and
he demanded that they tell him what he had dreamed. As they stood
before the king, he said, “I have had a dream that deeply troubles
me, and I must know what it means.” <br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Daniel
2:2-3</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
NLT</span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.42in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Nebuchadnezzar,
speaking about Daniel and the three others who came from Israel, had
this to say. </span></span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Whenever the king
consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment,
<b>he found them ten times more capable</b> than any of the magicians and
enchanters in his entire kingdom.” <br /><b>Daniel 1:20</b> NLT</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.42in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Why then would you choose anyone else to tell you what your dream was, and yet
look who he chose.</span></span></span></span></span></p><ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">magicians,
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">enchanters,
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">sorcerers,
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">and astrologers.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
</li></ul><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">If
you are one who does not put your faith and hope in God, then this
probably seems like a good idea. My father, with his sense of humor,
would always make a comment about the tellers of fortunes and
futures, how that if he were to go in there, the first thing he would say
is, you </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>tell
me why I am here</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.
Well, when you think about it, it makes sense.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">After making a plea before the King, Daniel is given a chance. He gives all
the credit to God, and this is what Daniel said. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.43in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">While
Your Majesty was sleeping, you dreamed about coming events. He who
reveals secrets has shown you what is going to happen.” <br /></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Daniel
2:29</b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"> NLT</span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">The
details. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNYvn8P9Wfy8ACd5TaCpmuMbhlFcABV-MaNbzLkTcOSw2mPxB6mRObkDGLYGYQBBrJpcsnH4Yb1EaGXIW9ODoiJh1lxvxJMslwZR2vq_4gHE2HLhpOWv7z3EewWvrxVp6sSB62Jdl6bf6dzELswES8s31D9Yc6F1YF_RpQzzUSCjI5PgDmGBTtiLTpSU/s616/king-nebs-statue-redo-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="354" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNYvn8P9Wfy8ACd5TaCpmuMbhlFcABV-MaNbzLkTcOSw2mPxB6mRObkDGLYGYQBBrJpcsnH4Yb1EaGXIW9ODoiJh1lxvxJMslwZR2vq_4gHE2HLhpOWv7z3EewWvrxVp6sSB62Jdl6bf6dzELswES8s31D9Yc6F1YF_RpQzzUSCjI5PgDmGBTtiLTpSU/w184-h328/king-nebs-statue-redo-11.jpg" width="184" /></a></span></span></span></span></div><p align="LEFT" style="margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.42in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">In
your vision, Your Majesty, you saw standing before you a huge,
shining statue of a man. It was a frightening sight.” <br /></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Daniel
2:31 </b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US">NLT</span></span></span></span></span></p><p></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">What
made this thing so frightening? </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.43in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This
image's head was of fine gold, its chest, and arms of silver, its
belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron
and partly of clay.” <br /><span style="color: black;"><b>Daniel
2:32-33</b></span><span style="color: black;"> NKJV</span></span></span></span></p><ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">The
head was of fine gold,</span></span></span></span></u></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">You,
O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a
kingdom, power, strength, and glory; and wherever the children of
men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven,
He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them
all—</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>you
are this head of gold</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.”
<br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Daniel
2:37-38</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
NKJV</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Consider this as you make judgments about those who are giving Israel grief right now. Clearly, God uses whom He chooses to be His firebrand.
Some He deems to be gold. So this head was the Babylonian empire.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Its
chest and arms were made of silver,</span></span></span></span></u></span></span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Silver is a pliable metal, just as gold is; however, it is notably less valuable than gold and will tarnish. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Daniel
2:38</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">a</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
merely says,”</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>But
after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours...</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">”
Historically we know this to be the Medes and the Persians. All of these are known to be the basis of the Assyrians. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">The
empire of the Medes and Persians, whose union was denoted by the
breast and two arms of silver; and which was established on the
ruins of that of the Chaldeans on the capture of Babylon by Cyrus,
B.C. 538”</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>
(</i></span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">The
Ultimate Cross-Reference Treasury)</span></span></span></span></i></span></span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u>its
belly and thighs were made of bronze,</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">...then
another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the
earth.” <br /></span><b>Daniel 2:39</b>b NKJV</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Here is another of those over-the-top statements, and it is such because Alexander only controlled the majority of the then-known world, and the Roman Empire never held reign over the territories that Alexander did.</span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">This
belly and thighs of bronze is “t</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">he
empire of the Macedonians, or "brazen-coated </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Greeks</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">,"
aptly denoted by the belly and thighs of brass, f</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>ounded
by Alexander the Great</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">,
who terminated the Persian monarchy by the overthrow of Darius
Codomanus at Arbela, B.C. 331.” </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>(</i></span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">The
Ultimate Cross-Reference Treasury)</span></span></span></span></i></span></span></p>
</ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Let's pause here for a moment. Bronze as a material for making weapons has advantages and disadvantages, strength, depending on the material integrated by the refiner's fire, and it often has an attractive quality like gold. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>The oddity </b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">is that </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u>it is difficult to separate the thighs from the legs, </u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">and nobody does that. So, from the belly to the toes, the fourth kingdom is an ever-weakening and fragile kingdom until the end when
Jesus comes back and crushes it completely.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u>Its
legs were made of iron,</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Therefore,
the legs are vital. In this case, they are of practical material,
iron, but iron, like a cast iron pan, can shatter if dropped on a
hard surface from mere feet away; I know this because I broke a
covered pot in just such a manner. So the strength is only temporal.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The point I am making is that the kingdom(s) represented, from the belly of this giant statue down to the toes, is, in essence, an integration of one kingdom along with all the others.</span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u>And the feet – including the toes, were made of a mixture of iron and of clay.</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">The toes are ten, and they, too, are a mixture of iron and clay. The implications are that this kingdom, by the time it has reached this era, has gone through multiple leadership transitions, but from the thighs down, there is a common – deadly, yet fragile thread. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Clay can be used to make a nice model but has no strength at all. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">A
brief history. The bronze is Alexander. Dead, his empire is split into four and then two. The two start well – the bronze but finish poorly integrating with the Assyrians, descendants of the Babylonians, and Japheth, the father of Gomer, Magog, to say the least.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
</ul>
</li></ul><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.43in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #141823;">"You
watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the
image on its feet of iron and clay and broke them in pieces. Then the
iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed
together and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the
wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the
stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the
whole earth." <br /></span><b>Daniel 2:34-35</b> NKJV</span></span></p><p>
</p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">That
stone is Jesus – He is God, and He is an aspect of the Father's
wrath that is being poured out upon the earth when this destruction
happens. Jesus will shatter all the final ruling empires and kingdoms
upon the earth when He returns. Nebuchadnezzar didn't need to know
all that as it would not affect him.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>Ozzie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312485261504917503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266727359838878182.post-9233203786044162012024-01-04T20:23:00.000-08:002024-01-04T20:23:56.227-08:00And God saw the light. Genesis 1:1-4.<div class="separator"><p style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
[caption id="attachment_5280" align="alignright" width="300"]<img alt="" class="wp-image-5280 size-medium" height="169" src="https://omharris.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/carlsbad-caverns.jpg?w=300" width="300" /> Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico. Photo property of Google travel contributor Ivan Friedman[/caption]
</p></div><p> In my previous post, I had hoped to establish that all things were created perfectly from the moment Jesus first spoke all things into existence. I believe that the primary creation happened in verse one.</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="padding-left: 40px;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">In <i>the</i> beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” <b>Genesis 1:1</b> NKJV</span></p><p align="LEFT">But writing and thinking through the events of the first few verses of Genesis, I am reminded that Jesus, in time, will voluntarily set aside His divinity, which includes His knowledge, insight, and power, so that He could become a human being, untainted by sin, and thereby bring redemption and salvation to all who would receive this great salvation.</p><p align="LEFT">The sacrifice or price that would be paid to become a human was to quite literally be born a blank slate, and it may well mean that Jesus had to be told about the scriptural narrative that describes actions that He performed in creation by Joseph and, in time, the Holy Spirit. Put yourself in Jesus's shoes for a moment and then try to imagine <b>what you are supposed to do with information like this</b>.</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="padding-left: 40px;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, <b>Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited</b>: "I am the LORD, and there is no other.”<br /><b>Isaiah 45:18</b> NKJV</span></p><p align="LEFT">I feel strongly about this perspective. If such a revelation caused you to go into a tailspin, as it did me at first, my suggestion is that you relax and reestablish yourself in the words of Jesus that we find in Genesis and the Hebrew that makes those words work; and remember that Jesus is God.</p><p align="LEFT">The idea that Jesus lost His knowledge of who created all things was never a question that we see the Apostle John fretting over. John's opening statement about Jesus demonstrates that he has become convinced, without question, that Jesus was, is, and ever shall be God.</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="padding-left: 40px;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. <b>He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him</b>, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”<br /><b>John 1:1-3 </b>NKJV</span></p><p align="LEFT">I pointed out in the previous post that Jesus told us that He beheld Satan's fall in a rather dramatic way.</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="padding-left: 40px;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.”<br /><b>Luke 10:18 </b>NKJV</span></p><p align="LEFT">The problem with that is that we have few details that define what Satan's fall looked like aside from that. Just because we do not see those details does not mean it did not happen.</p><p align="LEFT">So, let's assume that the lights entirely went out.</p><p align="LEFT"><b>Did God/Jesus merely quake in fear that Satan's fall included a horrendous destruction?</b></p><p align="LEFT">No, the recovery process began with a peculiar act.</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. <u>And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters</u>.”<br /><b>Genesis 1:2</b> NKJV</span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">There is a peculiar usage of the word </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>hovering</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">. It is the Heb</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">rew </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>râchaph</b></span></span><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>. </b></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">One of the defining words means</span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b> </b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>to </b></span></span><i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>brood</b></span></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">. </span></span></i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">The Word Study Dictionary refers to this hovering as an eagle hovering over its eggs. Honestly, it works the same for chickens or foul. All of this is part of the process of growth, which is an aspect of brooding. The Strong's concordance adds that it is, by implication, to be relaxed.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Does a hen seem stressed as it broods over the chicks?</b></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">Only if a threat arises and then she will fight. If the mother hen flutters or moves, it is only to maintain a satisfactory temperature necessary for the embryo to progress in their growth.</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">So I can assume that God, in His brooding, was actively in the process of restoring and rebuilding the creation. The Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit were actively involved in the recreation of the creation.</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #141823;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.”<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Genesis 1:3</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"> NKJV</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>When God said, Let there be light, who was speaking?</b></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">It's a rhetorical question, and I am not demanding an answer, but the simple answer is that </span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><u>Jesus spoke those words into existence</u></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">. Watch what happens next.</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="color: #141823;">“</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">And God saw the light that it was good; and he divided the light from the darkness.”<br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Genesis 1:4 </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">DRB</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">When I read narratives like this, I picture God standing there watching as Jesus precisely spoke creation into existence a second time (as though Jesus/God was troubled by the severity of the damage;) only moments pass when I realize how foolish such a thought process is, as God is not impacted by time and space as we know it. I remind myself that God knew that Satan would, in turn, destroy, deceive, and attempt to capture the hearts of God's creation, and all of this was a part of God's eventual plan of redemption that ends with the eternal removal of Satan once and for all.</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Light</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"> is the Hebrew word </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>'ôr</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">. It means </span></span><i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>illumination</b></span></span></i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"> or (concretely) </span></span><i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>luminary</b></span></span></i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"> (in every sense, including </span></span><i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">lightning</span></span></i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">, …) </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><i>Strong's concordance/dictionary</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">To assume that this is </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><u>only</u></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"> the sun is erroneous as it also applies to stars, which are suns, just like ours; the difference is that other suns tend to be much larger than ours, and they are scattered across the universe at incomprehensible distances away from the earth; and then there are the reflective bodies, such as moons and planets. Seeing as there is no reference to heat, as we will soon see, then, while I cannot exclude the sun, </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><u>it clearly speaks to the variety of things that emit or reflect light</u></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Question, can you typically see the effects of a flashlight on a bright day?</b></span></span></span></p><p>No, so it is obvious that the lights had gone out and the light that Jesus is now speaking into existence, once again, was not a blinding light. This tells me that the illumination was like some nights when the sky was clear.</p><p align="LEFT">When we were teens dad took the family to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. Besides the spectacular</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVd-_o44ObbOSCVylmbgasIkcs0G4VI8I8PhcRx86y-R4CMN29ctJk1dMHtKFue_jYhdpaseA7mDNYepP1RNt5q2xEgNgBSWh1zRz_4vpWONquYt_JazljoLvbB98xfTNDDGkyC1oPoyUKaAOebi0SMgJyqgn6S26qDXKYURaIxEr3odpcphHRabaS3FI/s1360/Carlsbad%20caverns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1360" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVd-_o44ObbOSCVylmbgasIkcs0G4VI8I8PhcRx86y-R4CMN29ctJk1dMHtKFue_jYhdpaseA7mDNYepP1RNt5q2xEgNgBSWh1zRz_4vpWONquYt_JazljoLvbB98xfTNDDGkyC1oPoyUKaAOebi0SMgJyqgn6S26qDXKYURaIxEr3odpcphHRabaS3FI/w320-h196/Carlsbad%20caverns.jpg" title="Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico. Photo property of Google travel contributor Ivan Friedman" width="320" /></a></div>formations, it is known for the nightly flights of bats that emerge from the cave (there are thousands of them.) <p></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">On the tour, the Park Ranger takes us to a deep place in the cavern, warns the audience not to move, and then turns out the lights for about a minute. You literally cannot see your hand in front of your face, as there is NO illumination at all. It is a darkness that feels like it permeates you. Moments later, they turn the lights back on, and you are instantly reminded of how spectacular the ancient formations and reflective lighting truly are.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Divided</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"> is the Hebrew word </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>badal</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">.</span></span><span style="color: #2e78c2;"><span style="font-family: Doulos SIL;"><span lang="en-US"> <span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">It is a primary root and means to be divided or separated: It also means to come over, dismiss, make a separation, make a distinction, partition, separate, or set apart.</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">In Genesis chapter 1, verse 4, we see this: “<strong>and God divided the light from the darkness</strong>.”</span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Darkness</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"> is the Hebrew word </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>chôshek</b></span></span><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">. </span></span></span></i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">The Strong's # is</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b> </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">H2822.</span></span><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"> </span></span></span></i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">It is f</span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">rom </span></span></span><span style="color: #9753db;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">H2821</span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">; the </span></span></span><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">dark</span></span></span></i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">; hence</span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b> (literally) </b></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>darkness</b></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>; figuratively </b></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>misery</b></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>, </b></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>destruction</b></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>, </b></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>death</b></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">, </span></span></span><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>ignorance</b></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">, </span></span></span><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>sorrow</b></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">, </span></span></span><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">wickedness: - </span></span></span></i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">(</span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">darkness), night, </span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>obscurity</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">When I think about the effects that Satan had on the earth, these words stand out.</span></span></span></p><ul>
<li>
<p align="LEFT"><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>misery</b></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>,</b></span></span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p align="LEFT"><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>destruction</b></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>,</b></span></span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p align="LEFT"><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>death</b></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">,</span></span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p align="LEFT"><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>ignorance</b></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">,</span></span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p align="LEFT"><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>sorrow</b></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">,</span></span></span></p>
</li>
<li>
<p align="LEFT"><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>wickedness,</b></span></span></span></i></p>
</li>
<li>
<p align="LEFT"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><i><b>obscurity</b></i></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">.</span></span></span></p>
</li>
</ul><p align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">The Strong's # associated with </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>chôshek</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b> - </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">is</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b> H2821</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">- </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>châshak</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">, enunciation khaw-shak'. It is a</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"> primitive root meaning </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>to be dark (as withholding light</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">); transitively to darken: - </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>be black</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">, be (make) dark, darken, cause darkness, be dim, hide.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><b><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">Now ask yourself, when did Jesus begin to address Satan's actions?</span></span></span></b></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">So Jesus did not only address the lights going out, but He immediately began attacking the damage that Satan brought about.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">If you want a definition of who Satan is and what he does, you got it.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">Jumping forward in time to the Garden. Eve, having bought into the deception, hands the fruit, with her teeth marks on it, to her “husband.” We have no indication that he was deceived, so Adam sets aside what God had told him and chooses to die with his “wife.”</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">It doesn't matter what you call it; the treasonous act was to hand over the dominion – rule and control over the earth. Sounds bad, and lacking a relationship with Christ is a hopeless situation. But God had a plan all along.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="padding-left: 40px;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">So the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and every beast of the field! On your belly will you go, and dust you will eat all the days of your life. <b>And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed.</b> <b>He will crush your head</b>, and you will strike his heel.”<br /><b>Genesis 3:14-15</b> BSB</span></p><p>
</p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">We get bruised all the time. Some foolishly believe that this bruising is God's wrath (tribulation;) it is NOT. It is just life, so get over it. Note, however, that God tells the serpent that the seed of the woman will crush your head. You don't typically get over a crushing; you die. Our hope is, to some degree, based on the reality that through Jesus, Satan's head will be crushed – or at least put away forever.</span></span></span></p>Ozzie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312485261504917503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266727359838878182.post-4205123928704607912023-12-30T17:03:00.000-08:002023-12-30T17:03:56.962-08:00In beginning God created. Genesis 1:1<p align="CENTER" style="break-after: avoid; break-inside: avoid; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; page-break-after: avoid; page-break-inside: avoid;">
<span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Genesis
1:1 NASB In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">When
it comes to Bible translations, I transitioned from the King James
version long ago as I came to understand that the NASB was a bit more
accurate in translating to English. Many years ago, while listening
to Dr. Chuck Missler on the radio, I learned that he preferred the
KJV because the problems with that translation were well known, while
other, relatively new translations or transliterations, which, too,
had issues but, in some cases, were not identified yet. Taking Dr.
Missler's advice, I approach them all with a bit of skepticism. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">That
being said, here is a translation that works for me when looking at
Genesis 1:1.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-left: 0.49in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">In </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>the </i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">beginning,
God created the heavens and the earth. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Genesis
1:1 AFV</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
<br />(</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="en-US">AFV
- A Faithful Version) </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="en-US">Copyright
© 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011; York Publishing Company.</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What
is so different about the AFV?</b></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It
is one of the few versions that puts the word "<i><b>the</b></i>"
in an italicized format to affirm that it is an added word and used
only for the sake of clarity. I do not think verse one needed any
added clarity at this point. So verse one could and should be
read <b>"In beginning."</b></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">You
might ask, </span><span lang="en-US"><b>what difference does it
make?</b></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">To
say, "</span><span lang="en-US"><b>In the beginning</b></span><span lang="en-US">"
denotes an emphasis on a specific point in time in which everything
happened perfectly. The Hebrew word is rê'shı̂yth and
means </span><span style="color: #141823;"><span lang="en-US">the </span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span lang="en-US"><i>first</i></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span lang="en-US">,
in place, time, order, or rank (specifically a </span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span lang="en-US"><i>first
fruit.</i></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span lang="en-US">) If
you were to hold tightly to a specific point, why does scripture
bother to point out other periods in which God/Jesus created? Almost
as if the Hebrew is in opposition to a specific point, you should
have noticed the reference in definition to this point in time being
the first fruit. If there was a first of the fruit, then there were
other fruits produced or gathered; none of which takes away from or
diminishes the authority and power of God in creation, but it also
does NOT limit His creative abilities. So, the more appropriate read
of </span></span><span lang="en-US"><b>rê'shı̂yth</b></span> <span lang="en-US">would
be "</span><span lang="en-US"><b>In beginning,</b></span><span lang="en-US">"
as this expresses the idea that creation was a process.</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">If
you feel you need to continue arguing that everything was created at
once, with one word, then why wasn't Adam placed here on the earth at
that moment<u>?</u> Notice that I did not mention Eve because
she clearly came later, and we cannot define how much later she
showed up.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What
else can I learn from verse one?</b></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">That
God created <b>created</b> the heavens and the earth.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Create</b> is
the Hebrew word <b>bara, meaning</b> <b>to shape, bring
about, make, or produce</b>.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>How
do I look at this and not see a process?</b></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I
can, however, see why evolutionists think the way they do; the
obvious is that they refuse to acknowledge or consider that there is
an omniscient, eternal God that established our moral baseline and
placed the knowledge and comprehension of that baseline within us
through His Son, Jesus, who put Himself upon that cross in order to
give us all salvation and a restored life with the Father. A life
without problems or mistakes in it.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Does
God have problems or make mistakes?</b></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">The
answer is an emphatic NO, although someone lacking wisdom will throw
in the creation of Lucifer/Satan and say, see, what about that?</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Even
the angels were given free will, and though we don't know when this
Satanic rebellion took place, it was obviously after verse one and
was prior to God putting the man in the garden.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">This
is so much easier on the brain when you can acknowledge that the
creation was a process.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If
God created the Earth, then it had to be perfect from the
beginning. <b>Want evidence?</b></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="break-before: auto; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.43in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">For
thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (</span><span lang="en-US"><b>He
is the God who formed the earth and made it, He established it and
did not create it a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited</b></span><span lang="en-US">),
"I am the LORD, and there is none else.”<br /></span><span lang="en-US"><b>Isaiah
45:18</b></span><span lang="en-US"> NASB</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Note
the words </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u>formed</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
and </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u>made</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">;
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Formed</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
is the </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Hebrew</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
word </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>yāṣar</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
and means to form, fashion, or devise. In my book, this word alone
demonstrates a process. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Made</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
is the </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Hebrew</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
word </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">‛</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>āśāh,</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
meaning <b>to do, make, accomplish, or</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b> complete</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.
If it was complete from the moment He spoke it into existence, there
would be no reason to complete it sometime later unless something cataclysmic took place.</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">So <b>God</b>,
in making the earth and everything related to it, did it perfectly
from the <b>beginning</b>. In other words, it was NOT formless
and void unless you can handle a process that allows for the sun and
planets to be created out of spinning, formless masses of matter that
God had to fashion into something usable (trying to reason that out
simply defies logical thought). If God made everything, then He also
had to make the formless masses from which He may have formed the
universe.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Most
of the “Christian community” will adamantly renounce such talk
because they believe it implies an agreement with evolution. For
someone to suggest that the Creation of the earth, in the Genesis
account, could have taken an indeterminate amount of time garners
abrasive negativity and the idea that I am now an evolutionist, which
I am not.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>How
do I know that the fall of Satan took place after verse one?</b></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Because
verse two declares that the earth is now destroyed.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="break-before: auto; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.44in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the
deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the
waters.” <br /><b>Genesis 1:2</b> NASB</span></span></span></p><p>
</p><p align="LEFT"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Perhaps
you have never heard what Jesus said about Satan. </span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;"> “<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">And he said unto
them, <b>I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven</b>.” <br /><b>Luke
10:18</b> KJV</span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in;">
</p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus, the creator –
according to John's gospel, watched as Satan fell from heaven.</span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
word </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>fall</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
is the Greek word </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>piptō</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b> and</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
means </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">to
descend from a higher place to a lower; or to be thrust down. </span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">When
I apply Jesus's eyewitness account, in which He compares Satan's fall
to lightning, it is easy to see that Satan's departure from his
heavenly position was fast and powerful. </span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Why
is this important?</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Because of the potential damage involved with Satan's impacting the earth, the fall could have had a greater impact than some meteorites, such as those that struck the Yucatan Peninsula 66 million years ago. An understanding like this makes it far easier to understand that the heavens sustained tremendous
violence.</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">We
have another piece of evidence concerning Satan's plummet. </span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.43in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;">And
war broke out in heaven: Michael and </span><span style="color: #141823;"><b>his
angels fought with the dragon</b></span><span style="color: #141823;">; and
</span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="background: #ffffcc;">the
dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail</span></span><span style="color: #141823;">,
</span><span style="color: #141823;"><b>nor was a place found for them in
heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out</b></span><span style="color: #141823;">,
that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the
whole world; </span><span style="color: #141823;"><b>he was cast to the
earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” </b></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Revelation 12:7-9</b>
NKJV</span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<b><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Who
is the dragon? </span></span></span></span></b>
</p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
</p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Repeatedly,
we learn that Satan is the dragon. One of the problems we seem to
have is that the Book of Job renders Satan, in heaven, walking among
the Sons of God. This gave Satan the opportunity to pursue a course
of action against Job. So obviously Satan did not receive complete
destruction with his punishment or he would not have been able to
tempt Jesus nor offer Jesus all the kingdoms of the earth when he
tried to tempt Him. His day will come.</span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.42in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;">Again,
the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain and showed Him
all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him,
"All these things I will give You if You will fall down and
worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan!
For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND HIM ONLY
YOU SHALL SERVE.' " </span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Matthew 4:8-10
</b>NKJV</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Having
been thrown down to earth, did God bestow him with authority and
power?</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">No,
but Adam did, and that was an aspect of the deception and willing participation in eating the fruit, in opposition to the ONLY rule God placed
against the only two humans walking and dominating the earth. And
yet, there it is, Satan is offering Jesus all the kingdoms of the
world and their glory. </span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.41in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #141823;">For
God knows that in the day you eat of it, </span><span style="color: #141823;"><b>your
eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and
evil</b></span><span style="color: #141823;">." So when the woman saw
that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes,
and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate.
She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. </span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="background: #ffffcc;">Then
the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew</span></span><span style="color: #141823;">
...”. <br /></span><b>Genesis 3:5-7</b> NKJV</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">They knew they had undone the life and pattern that God had laid out before them, and they knew they had just handed it over to Satan.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Did
you see Jesus calling Satan a liar or reminding him that he had been
thrown down to earth, stripped of power?</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">You
did not see that because even Jesus knew that Adam had given
Satan all this power. This is an interesting way of stating a fact, and it is
interesting because Jesus had voluntarily set aside all that HE was
to become a human – and He is still a human today. </span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.41in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Let
this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the
form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but
<b>made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and
coming in the likeness of men</b>. And being found in appearance as a
man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death,
even the death of the cross.” <br /></span><b>Philippians 2:5-8 </b>NKJV</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>If
that is the case, and it is, then how did Jesus come to know and
understand that Satan had been given his power through Adam's
betrayal?</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">The
most substantial clue we have is a sparse statement about Joseph. </span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #141823;">Now
the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was
betrothed to Joseph before they came together, she was found with
child of the Holy Spirit. <b>Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.”</b></span><span style="color: #141823;"><br /></span><b>Matthew 1:18-19</b> NKJV</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Just</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
is the Greek word </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>dikaios</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
and means that </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u>he
was </u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u><b>one
that observed divine laws</b></u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u>I</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u>n
a wider sense, Joseph was </u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u><b>upright</b></u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u>,
</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u><b>righteous</b></u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u>,
</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u><b>and
one who kept the commands of God</b></u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u>.</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
(</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>Thayer's
Definitions</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">)</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">This
title of being righteous was not one you gave yourself but was
assigned by a watchful community – in other words, Jews. Because
Mary stood her ground and maintained that this baby was implanted by
the Holy Spirit, she was considered a tramp, worthy of nothing more
than a stoning, and the baby was deemed an illegitimate child – a
mumzer and He (the young Jesus) was excluded from entering the
synagogue or learning from the rabbis. It may have been possible that
Joseph was very capable of teaching
the young Jesus. </span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Obviously, somebody taught Him and taught Him well because without us having to have a discussion about it, it is clear that He knew the intimate details of the events that happened in the garden the day that Adam handed the world over to Satan.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<br /><br />
</p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<br /><br />
</p><p align="LEFT"><br /><br />
</p><p align="LEFT">
<br />
</p>Ozzie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312485261504917503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266727359838878182.post-87403920030515994532023-12-19T19:28:00.000-08:002023-12-19T19:28:21.545-08:00Lawlessness will abound, and the love of many will grow cold. Matthew 24:12<p>When I left off our study in Matthew 24, we were looking at verse 11.
The context goes like this: the disciples asked when will these
things – the destruction of the temple and His return as the
warring Messiah. Jesus began to answer, but the first thing out of
His mouth was that they do not allow themselves to be deceived. He
then went on to tell them briefly what was coming.</p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">For many will
come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.”</span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Christ is indicative of the Messiah but also the anointed one. This word anointed opens the door to self-appointment.</span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">...you will hear
of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all
these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”</span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Why would this be important in a world where conflict is always going on?</b> </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The statement lends itself to something much larger than local skirmishes. </span>
</p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. </span>
</p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Do names like
Ukraine and the Soviet Union sound familiar? How about Israel and
Hamas? </span>
</p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">And there will be
famines, </span>
</p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">All of which are man-made.</span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">pestilences, </span>
</p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">This is the Greek word pharmakeia, from which we Americans get our word pharmacy. But it also applies to the neighbor that manufactures meth in his garage and the big businesses pushing their vaccines.</span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">And earthquakes in various places. </span>
</p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">In case you haven't noticed, earthquakes are popping off all over the globe and are frequently associated with volcanic activity. Read Matthew 24:5-7
NKJV.</span></p>
</ul>
</li></ul>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>All
these are</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>
(merely)</i></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>
the beginning of sorrows.”</b></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Verse eleven tells
us that during this time, “...many false prophets will rise up and
deceive many.” </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Then
many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.” </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Matthew
24:11</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
NKJV</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Rise
up?</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"> The Greek word egeirō comes from the idea of collecting one's faculties: to waken; to rouse - literally from sleep, and in the extreme, to rouse from death.</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>Now
it is getting really dark -</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
To raise again. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Imagine
that while driving your car, your mind decides to go to some vivid,
white sand beach where you had a great vacation. Suddenly you panic,
<b>collect your faculties,</b> and realize that you cannot remember
the last quarter mile of driving. It might also apply to the boxer
who momentarily gets knocked out while fighting and gets awakened
from a blow to the head.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Deceive
many?</b></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">My thoughts lean toward a mass hypnosis, but that seems too much like something from a comic book, and yet, since October 7th, there is evidence of a mass deception. If you paid attention to the
crowds wrapped up in this mass hysteria, most are younger, and I
doubt they were ever disciplined for misconduct and, therefore, think
that there are no rules. The college campuses where much of this
riotous activity is birthed actively feed deception to the young and
easily manipulated students through their professors, who arouse
pitiful behavior in their students. </span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">With
all this in mind, comprehending a mass deception is not so difficult. However, t</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u>he
deception that Jesus speaks of has everything to do with a context</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">;
that context leans toward the Orthodox Jewish leadership in
Israel. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">First</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">,
give this some thought, if you can deceive the leadership, then you should be able to easily deceive the blind followers. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">How is that possible?</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
</li></ul>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Because,
by their domineering tactics, they inform the followers what they can read or not read. For the most part, the Jews do not read the Torah for themselves but rely solely on the Rabbis reading it to them.
The congregants are NOT, for example, permitted to read the prophet
Daniel or Isaiah 53. It sounds like most of the people you sit beside are in Christian churches. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Secondly</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">:
The third temple, which is, at this point, not been built, has a
chosen high priest,</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
</span></span></span></span></span><em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Rabbi
Baruch Kahane</span></b></span></span></span></span></em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
If the priesthood thinks this man is just a fine, young man, with outstanding qualifications, then there is nothing to take note of or to be alarmed. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Maybe this will help you understand.</span></u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
<br />I sat down at the after-service taco fest to eat lunch with a couple from that church that I only knew by face and began one of my random conversations. I did this because I am prone to be an introvert and I need to fight that, and my calling in life is to be a teacher of God's Word. <br />I said to the man, did you know that the scripture says nothing about Jesus's occupation except two verses. We assume that He was a carpenter, as His earthly father (a good man, by the way) is understood to have been a carpenter, and it is expected in this ancient culture that a young son would follow in the trade of His father.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">The
passages that reflect this are: </span></span></span></span></u></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">"When
He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue,
so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
Is this not the carpenter's son?</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon,
and Judas?" <br /></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Matthew
13:54-55</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
NKJV </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">The
other passage is: </span></span></span></span></u></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Is this not the carpenter,</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And
are not His sisters here with us?" So they were offended at
Him.” <br /></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Mark
6:3</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
NKJV</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Since
Mark's gospel makes no mention of Joseph, the husband of Mary, we can only assume that he has been dead for quite some time.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u>In either case, the Greek word translated as carpenter is </u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u><b>tekton</b></u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u>.</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
This word means </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">a
</span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">skilled
craftsman or artisan) </span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
and can include a </span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">producer </span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">of fabrics, wood articles, and a carpenter. It means to produce, bear,
bring forth, and could have included a person who lathed stone pots or wrote poetry.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">An interesting thing happened about a quarter mile outside of Nazareth several years ago. A family owned a plot of land and wished to install a gas station. Well, you don't make a move without the
Israeli Antiquities department getting involved, and they discovered an artisan's shop where they had been producing granite articles, such as large stone pots, by lathe. The intriguing thing is that Jesus seemed to know that the home where this wedding in Cana was taking place had such pots.</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"> History records that an entrepreneurial Jew realized that granite was not mentioned in the list of things that could be polluted, making that article unusable; therefore, it must always be ceremonially clean. The fact that the craftsman's shop was so close to
Jesus's home may imply that He, too, worked there as a craftsman.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">I
pointed out how absurd the man's assertion that we should only pay attention to scriptural references, and yet he was wholly given over to Jesus being a carpenter when nothing in scripture upholds his assertion. Now, picture a nation where the majority lives their lives this way.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">So,
a piece of information you won't find in the Bible is the Islamic prophetic belief that our false prophet will descend Aaron and will function as the high priest in the new temple.
They are also wholeheartedly given to the idea that this false prophet will give himself over to Islam, follow the Mahdi (a man who may well be the antichrist), and that our false prophet will be the enforcer of Sharia law on a global scale. This man, the false prophet, will be the Islamic version of Jesus.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Just something to think about.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
</li></ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>How
would you perceive this phrase “rise up” if it applied to one
being "wakened" from the dead?</b></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">That only happens when God speaks a word over the dead.
(<i>Read John 5:21 NAS95. If you must have two witnesses, then look at
Deuteronomy 32:39 NAS95</i>)</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>But
didn't the witch of Endor call Samuel up from the dead?</b>
(Read 1 Samuel 28)</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">That is the show that she intended to put on for King Saul, but she screamed because Samuel arose, and he was not too happy about it. That day, Saul was stripped of his kingdom at Samuel's word.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>What
if this "rising up again" has more to do with something
comparable to those fallen angels chained up in the Euphrates?</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
Read Revelation 9:13-15)</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Dear
Lord, NO, as 1/3 of the earth will die because of their release!</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I
hope you can begin to understand that this has nothing to do with
God's voice. The mere fact that many will be misled is a major part
of the puzzle. </span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Now
we look at verse twelve</b>, where it says, “And because
lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">All these are the
beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation
and kill you, and <b>you will be hated by all nations</b> for My
name's sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another,
and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and
deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many
will grow cold.” <b>Matthew 24:8-12</b> NKJV</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
Although the hatred for Israel and the Jews has been ongoing since
Abraham, this malicious and deadly attack on Israel on October 7,
2023, the hatred of Israel and the Jews has been dominating the
internet and the news on a daily basis.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><b>Do you want examples of lawlessness?</b>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">How
about organized mobs that overtake high-end stores and clean them
out. What about Antifa, BLM, or the effects of pro-Hamas “parades”
or the takeovers of our highways on our “democratic” society?
That and more are a part of this lawlessness.</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">And the love of
the great body of people will grow cold because of the multiplied
lawlessness and iniquity,” <b>Matthew 24:12 </b>AMPC+</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">If it is not merely mass hypnosis, then it is like-minded, uneducated people who, with a minimal amount of motivation, are willing to kill some older Jewish man because he verbally withstood your cries to not punish Hamas and its pathetic followers. Here is one of the many
headlines about the incident.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.44in; margin-top: 0.04in; page-break-before: auto;">
<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jewish-man-died-israel-palestinian-demonstration-california-c76a49e7c7e3dc18bc8e62633f143351" target="_blank"><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>AP
News</u></span></span></span></a><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
– Man involved in confrontation with Jewish protester who died
called 911 and cooperated with police</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="border: none; line-height: 0.19in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.44in; padding: 0in;">
<cite><a href="https://apnews.com/article/jewish-man-died-israel-palestinian-demonstration-california-c76a49e7c7e3dc18bc8e62633f143351" target="_blank"><span style="color: #4d5156;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><u>https://apnews.com ›
article › jewish-man-died-israel...</u></span></span></span></span></a></cite></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.44in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #70757a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Nov
8, 2023 — </span></span><em><span style="color: #5f6368;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>California</b></span></span></span></span></em><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> authorities
are seeking help as they investigate the </span></span><em><span style="color: #5f6368;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>death</b></span></span></span></span></em><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> of
a 69-year-old </span></span><em><span style="color: #5f6368;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Jewish
man after</b></span></span></span></span></em><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> a
confrontation at a pro-Palestinian …</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.44in; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>The
Guardian</u></span></span></span><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
reported,</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.44in; padding: 0in;">
<span style="color: #202124;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Posts
circulated on social media included video of Kessler injured and
lying on a sidewalk as people tend to him. The Jewish Federation of
Los Angeles reported that Kessler was struck in the head with a
megaphone by a pro-Palestinian protester before he fell, which the
sheriff’s office has not yet confirmed. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">An
autopsy found Kessler died from a blunt force head injury and that
his injuries were consistent with a fall, Dr Christopher Young, the
Ventura county medical examiner, said at a news conference on
Tuesday. </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>He
also had “non-lethal” injuries to the face</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">,
Young said. The manner of death was homicide, Young said, but that
does not reflect whether a crime occurred.”</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="border: none; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in; padding: 0in;">
<u><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/nov/07/california-police-man-death-protests-israel-palestine</span></u></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Matthew
24 was directed at the Jewish people who were following Him. <b>So,
when He is talking about a great body, who is He talking about?</b>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">The
nation of Israel and the Jews.
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><b>Could
He be talking about the church?</b>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">It
seems easy to say yes, especially when a quick look around indicates
that much of the church has grown cold. But the context presses the
knowledgeable <b>to keep our focus on Israel. </b>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><b>So,
as you look at the news coming out of Israel, do you see lawlessness
and the love of many growing cold? </b>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">No doubt about it, and the lawlessness and iniquity do not necessarily have to be coming out of the Israelis. This should be obvious as you
watch the reactions of the so-called Palestinians.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">The
environment associated with Israel removing an entire community that
has a driven goal to eradicate Israel is clearly associated with
Jesus's prophetic words concerning the time right before His return
for His church.
</p>Ozzie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312485261504917503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266727359838878182.post-67152106765095119602023-12-07T19:23:00.000-08:002023-12-07T19:23:13.026-08:00 “We are to know” what is going on around us. A different way to think about Eschatology. Matthew 24.<p>Thanks to a change in the atmosphere, I am jumping out of our study
on Matthew once again.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">If I
did not say it before, let me say it now. I have been struggling with mild depression. Some would say it is a demonic attack, and I don't
doubt it, as Satan would love to stop anyone who has a sincere heart
and wants to share the Word and Love of God with others. I feel as if
my primary purpose in life is to do just that: share the Word, so it
does not take a genius to imagine where this attack has hit me; yep,
I lost interest in doing Bible studies, but I will add that there
has been a tremendous amount of family-oriented activities taking
place and I frequently stop what I am doing and take care of my wife,
Doctor appointments, and grandparent duties. Well, sometimes you just
have to dig yourself out of the pit, and that is what I am doing now.
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><b>Is
it merely a strange circumstance that Israel would be attacked in the
midst of my spiritual battle on the Sabbath (October 7, 2023),
filling the nation of Israel with death, confusion, and war</b>?
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">I
don't think so. What I do believe is that Satan, who knows his time
is short, has released his demon hordes upon the earth, and we, who are
followers of Jesus Christ, will experience attacks on many levels.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Oh,
by the way, though I cannot legitimately claim that I am a Jew, even though I did
have a Jewish grandfather who died when I was around 12, because of this, I have
progressively turned my heart toward Jerusalem. This attitude makes
me feel a bit aggressive when someone attacks my nation.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">With
our eyes on the Holy Land, we should be hearing messages from
Daniel, Ezekiel, Zechariah, and 1 Thessalonians, to say the least. I
know I can't get enough of intelligent messages about Eschatology –
end times events.
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">With
that said, I want to talk about the idea that “<span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">we
are to know</span>” what is going on around us.
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">A
common verse used to berate those who are excited about the return
of Jesus Christ for His bride is this.
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.43in; margin-top: 0.04in; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in; page-break-before: auto;">
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of
heaven, but My Father only.” <br /><b>Matthew 24:36</b> NKJV</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">First
off, there is a context to this verse, and it has everything to do
with <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Jesus talking exclusively
to a Jewish audience</span></u><u>. </u>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><b>What
importance does that knowledge play in such a bold and rather
blatant statement by Jesus?</b></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">They
were not Christians as yet, for Jesus had not gone back to the
Father; therefore<u>,</u>
<u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Jesus would not have
spoken to them about things that pertained to anyone but Jews</span></u>.
So, everything we see in Matthew's account was directed to Jewish ears
and understanding alone.
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">As
for <u>understanding the idea of being the bride</u>, many were
Galileans, and Jesus first recorded “miracle” was at a wedding
in Cana of Galilee. Several of the newly chosen disciples were in
attendance there. If anyone could understand the depth and meaning of
being the bride, it would be a Galilean. If you are having trouble
grasping what I mean by the depth of the Galilean wedding, it was
bathed in tradition and Jewish understanding and held together by a contractual agreement, which the bride had every right to reject.
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Another
translation of Matthew 24:36 may give you more understanding.
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.41in 0.04in 0.49in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">But of that
[<i>exact</i>] day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of
heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” <br /><b>Matthew 24:36</b>
AMP</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">The
Amplified Bible added words that provide us with alternative
understandings, while other [<i>italicized</i>] words provide
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">“</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">synonyms
and explanations in brackets and parentheses within the text […]
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The
strength of this version is that it acknowledges that no single
English word or phrase can capture precisely the meaning of the
Hebrew or Greek</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">.”</span></span>
The quotation is from Wikipedia.
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amplified_Bible#:~:text=is%20unique%20among%20Bible%20versions,of%20the%20Hebrew%20or%20Greek">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amplified_Bible#:~:text=is%20unique%20among%20Bible%20versions,of%20the%20Hebrew%20or%20Greek</a>.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">So,
if you must be one that holds to tradition because this is the way
we have always been taught, and, therefore, agree that NO ONE can
know the day or the hour, then knowing that we can't know the precise
timing, <span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">we may easily be able to
place ourselves within the season</span> and what we are living in is
the Baseball World Series, which we, in America, just experienced.
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Let's
talk about this phenomenon called the World Series for a moment.
</p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><b>Do we have an idea when this series of games will take place?</b></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Yes,
<u>it happens on a yearly basis</u>,
in September, after a prescribed number of games have been played by every team. That is not the case with Christ's return, as He is first coming to collect
His bride. <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">E</span></u><u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">vidence,
in every way, shape, and form, is pointing to Jesus's soon return</span></u>.
We like to refer to this evidence as signs.</p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><b>Once the World Series begins, are there things that we can absolutely know about the event?</b>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><u>The series will be controlled by rules</u>.
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">In baseball, three outs bring about changes in the inning and the side as the home team now gets their opportunity at bat and a chance to score.
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">There will be a prescribed number of games played within the series to determine the winner. It is not mandatory, however, that the series includes the entirety of the seven games as it is a best-of-seven series, meaning that one team could win the first four games and,
therefore, win the series.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">And though each game has nine innings, there can be no tie games, and some games have gone on for well over 12 hours. Typically, the games last about two hours.
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">So,
as in Jesus coming for His church, there are variables that affect the length of the period we are looking for and at.
</p>
</li></ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">The
point of this was not to have a discussion of baseball, which may
mean little depending on where you live and the restrictions you live
under, but to make a point that we can know the timing of the
rapture just as we can talk with understanding about the World
Series. Since we have established that Baseball has variables, then
we must surely know that the rapture or snatching away of the church
is filled with variables. Consider this: <u>the game belongs to God, and
the rules, though set in scripture, are His as well.
</u></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Most translations entitle this next section of the Bible</p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">“<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Signs
of the End of the Age.”</b></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">This
is how it played out. Having ridden the young colt into Jerusalem,
the crowd welcomed Him with wild enthusiasm. </span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #141823;">And
a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut
down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then</span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">
the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out,
saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David! 'BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES
IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!' Hosanna in the highest!</span></span><span style="color: #141823;">"
<br /></span><b>Matthew 21:8-9</b> NKJV</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><b style="color: #141823; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Where
do we find the Jewish context of what Matthew conveys?</b></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">Blessed
is he who comes in the name of the LORD</span></span><span style="color: #141823;">!
We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.” <br /></span><b>Psalms
118:26 </b>NKJV</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Leviticus
elaborates on the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths. </span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #141823;">Speak
unto the children of Israel, saying: On the fifteenth day of this
seventh month is the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the
LORD.” <br /></span><b>Leviticus 23:34</b> JPS</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">And
there are specific instructions associated with the Feast of
Tabernacles.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #141823;">And
on the first day you shall take the fruit of pleasing trees [and make
booths of them], branches of palm trees, and boughs of thick (leafy)
trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the
Lord your God for seven days.”<br /></span><b>Leviticus 23:40
</b>AMPC+</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">The
excited crowd anticipated the warring Messiah because all the signs
pointed to Yeshua as being that Messiah.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><b><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">But
what did Jesus do? </span></span></span></span></b>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“</span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">And
Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold
and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money
changers, and the seats of them that sold doves</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">,
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>And
said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of
prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.
And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed
them.” <br /></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Matthew
21:12-14</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
KJV</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.43in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">This
verbal onslaught went on for days. </span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And
he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged
there.” <br /></span><b>Matthew 21:17</b> KJV</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.43in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">The
next day, He went back to the temple.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Now, when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the
people confronted Him as He was teaching and said, "By what
authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this
authority?" But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also
will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell
you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John—where
was it from? From heaven or from men?" And they reasoned among
themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to
us, 'Why then did you not believe him?'” <br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Matthew
21:23-25</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
NKJV</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">We
have records that indicate that He delivered the </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">parable
of the two sons</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">,
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">the
tenants</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
(</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>which
was directed at the Jewish leadership</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">);
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">the
wedding feast</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">,
and more. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">He
cursed the fig tree</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
because it had no fruit on it; </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">He
spoke about paying taxes</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
to Caesar as a rebuttal against those who tried to trap Him; the
Sadducees asked Him about the resurrection; and </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">He
berated the leadership</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
over the demands that they placed on the people but would not follow
themselves. </span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">I
imagine that the disciples imagined that they would be killed during
this process. After two long days, they left the temple and headed to the Mount of Olives, and this was the best they could come
up with. </span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then
Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and </span><span style="color: #141823;"><b>His
disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple</b></span><span style="color: #141823;">.
<br />And Jesus said to them, <br /></span><span style="color: #141823;"><b>"Do
you not see all these things?</b></span><span style="color: #141823;">
Assuredly, I say to you, </span><span style="color: #141823;"><b>not
one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown
down</b></span><span style="color: #141823;">."
<br /></span><b>Matthew 24:1-2 </b>NKJV</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Jesus,
finally seated on the Mount of Olives, begins to answer the question
below.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">And as he sat
upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately,
saying, Tell us, <br /><b>when shall these things be and what shall be
the sign of thy coming,</b> <b>and of the end of the world?”</b>
<br /><b>Matthew 24:3</b> KJV</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">While
the answer to the questions has great depth, Jesus's first response
was this.
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">And Jesus
answered and said unto them, <b>Take heed that no man deceive you</b>.”
<br /><b>Matthew 24:4</b> KJV</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>How many
different ways can you be deceived?</b> </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Look
up the Greek word for </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 255);">deceived,</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
and you get </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">planaō.
It means </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">don't
let anyone (</span></span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">cause</span></span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">
you to) roam (from safety, truth, or virtue</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">):
- [</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>don't
let anyone make</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>you</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">]</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>
</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>go
astray</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">,
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>deceive</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">,
[</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>don't
allow yourself to be</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">]
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>seduce[</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>d</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">]</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">,
to </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>wander</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">,
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>or
</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">be
[</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>taken</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">]</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>
</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>out
of the way</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">For many will
come<span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 255);"> in My name</span>, saying, 'I
am the Christ,' and will <span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 255);">deceive</span>
many.” <br /><b>Matthew 24:5</b> NKJV</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">This
doesn't even make sense to me. Since I know that Jesus will first
come in the clouds and gather His church, it doesn't make sense that
people would try to portray themselves as the Messiah.
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 255);">My
name</span></b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">”
is the Greek word </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>onoma;</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
it means </span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">authority
or</span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">character.</span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">The
Word Study Dictionary tells us they will come using the </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>n</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>ame,
title, character, reputation, </b></span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">or
the</span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>
person </b></span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">of
Jesus</span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>.</b></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">An
example can be seen in Jeremiah.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Then
the LORD said to me, "</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>The
prophets are prophesying falsehood in My name. I have neither sent
them nor commanded them nor spoken to them</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">;
they are prophesying to you a false vision, divination, futility, and
the deception of their own minds” <br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Jeremiah
14:14 </b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">NASB</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 255);">Deceive</span></b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">?
We already covered this. It is the Greek word </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">planaō.
It means don't let anyone (</span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">cause</span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
you to) </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>
</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">be
[</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>taken</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">]</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>
</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>out
of the way</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">I
can remember Jim Jones and David Koresh. The latter managed to tell
these fools that he was entitled to have other men's wives. Try that
line on me, and you are probably going to get hurt. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">So,
fools will cause you to go astray from God's truth, which is His Word, and to be taken out of the way – the way is God's way and not what
Allah or some guru says. But wait, there is a context, and it is Jesus
responding to their Jewish-oriented questions in a manner that they
would understand. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>So,
even if you think you can stay committed to “the truth,” why can't
we understand what Jesus or the scripture is saying?</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">We
can, but most will choose not to perceive that </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>the
Bible is a Jewish book</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"> written to a Jewish audience that somehow applies to us now because
we were adopted into the family. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>So,
how many questions did the disciples ask Jesus?</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Their
questions covered three distinct events.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>When will these things be?</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">This had more to do with the destruction of the temple, which was a
relatively short few years away. The immediate destruction happened in 70AD. The future sign and destruction have a specific timing once the antichrist comes into power, and that only happens after the church is removed from the earth.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">What </span></span></span></b></span><b><span style="color: #757575;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>will be </i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">the sign of Your coming?</span></span></span></span></b></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">The
NLT translates this portion in this manner: “</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">What
sign will signal your return.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">”
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>As
Jews, </b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">they were NOT asking about the church, as the church did not exist yet, and to be honest, filled with Gentiles, they would not have considered those attending to be worthy of the kingdom of God. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">The first thing to take note of, although since sin made time notable, there have been </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>wars</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">And
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">you
will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes,
these things must take place</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">,
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>but
the end won’t follow immediately</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">Nation
will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">...”
<br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Matthew
24:6-7a</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
NLT</span></span></span></span></span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Secondly,
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">...There
will be </span><span style="color: #141823;"><b>famines</b></span><span style="color: #141823;">
and </span><span style="color: #141823;"><b>earthquakes</b></span><span style="color: #141823;">
in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the
birth pains, with more to come.” <br /></span><b>Matthew 24:7-8b</b>
NLT</span></span></p>
</ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I cannot remember a time when some third world nation wasn't suffering famine. Now it is a common conversation pertaining to hunger and our streets here in America. And earthquakes, though common, are now incessantly in
excess of 6 and 7s in terms of magnitude.</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Thirdly,
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Then
you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated
all over the world because you are my followers.” <br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Matthew
24:9</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
NLT</span></span></span></span></span></p>
</ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">While we were able to sit unrestrained, in many of our churches, the
Spirit of the Lord – the Holy Spirit, had spoken through me,
saying, the time is coming when you, too, shall experience persecution, and you will NOT be able to handle it. </span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">With the war in Israel and heated conversations about abortions, the hatred toward Jews and Christ-followers is growing more each day.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Fourth,
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">...Many
will turn away from me and betray and hate each other.” <br /></span><b>Matthew
24:10</b> NLT</span></span></p>
</ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I have watched this happen, and if you were paying attention, you would agree.</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Fifth</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Many
false prophets will come and cause many people to believe things
that are wrong.” <br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Matthew
24:11</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
ERV</span></span></span></span></span></p>
</ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Who is doing this?</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">I
honestly cannot imagine such a thing, but there are plenty of highly driven people, like those in the Faith movement, who are trying to act and speak in the authority of the name of Jesus.
Consider that Jesus emphasized that deception would be great. </span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Who was he talking to?</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Jews,
and so our focus is on a Jewish impact. </span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Did you know that a Rabbi was picked to be the high priest in the new
Jewish temple once it gets built?</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">It was reported by Israel 365 News, several years ago that his name is Rabbi </span></span></span><span style="color: #062135;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Baruch
Kahane. Although he did not feel it was the right time for such a
declaration to be made, however, in 2022, he was front and center when a preparation to sacrifice on the temple mount was performed.
When I showed this man to some friends of mine, they made comments like, he looks like a fine young man; why would you think that he might be the one to cause such a deception? That's my point; such a
trusted man would cause such an uproar.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
</p>
</li></ul>
</li></ul>Ozzie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312485261504917503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266727359838878182.post-28518899368048569182023-11-04T14:29:00.001-07:002023-11-04T14:29:12.945-07:00Isaac is a type of Christ. Let me explain.<p> First off, I apologize to those who are regular readers. You could say I have been fighting a mild depression, and I have been occupied with the events surrounding Israel. One of my grandfathers was a Jew, and I feel a strong attachment to Israel. So, this post, triggered by a post I read several weeks ago, has had many interruptions. Life sometimes gets in the way.</p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; page-break-after: avoid; page-break-inside: avoid;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>I can't remember
ever hearing this before. </b></span></span>
</p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">In Genesis 22:19 it shows us (<i>in a type</i>) Abraham coming down off the mount alone, for God received Isaac up - just as He would receive Jesus at a future date.</span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">In case you are
struggling to understand “a type,” think of it as a simile or
model. Isaac, for us, is a pattern or model of Christ who was
to come, and Isaac submitted himself, as Christ eventually would, to
be the sacrifice for us by what He did. </span>
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.42in; margin-top: 0.04in; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">"He
(</span><span lang="en-US"><i>Abraham</i></span><span lang="en-US">)
considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from
which he also received him (</span><span lang="en-US"><i>Isaac</i></span><span lang="en-US">)
back as a type.” <br /></span><span lang="en-US"><b>Hebrews
11:19 </b></span><span lang="en-US">NASB95</span></span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Look at this in
another translation. </span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: #ffff99;">By
faith Abraham</span>, when
he was tested, <span style="background: #ffff99;">offered
up Isaac</span>, and he who
had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom
it was said, "IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED,"
concluding that God was able to raise him up, <span style="background: #ffcc99;">even
from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative
sense</span>.” <br /><b>Hebrews
11:17-19 </b>NKJV</span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>So, how does the
narrative describe what transpired?</b> </span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Now
it came to pass after these things that <span style="background: #ffff99;">God
tested Abraham</span>, and
said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
Then He said, "<span style="background: #ffcc99;">Take
now your son</span>, your
only son <span style="background: #ffcc99;">Isaac</span>,
whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, <span style="background: #ffcc99;">and
offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which
I shall tell you</span>."
So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took
two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the
wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which
God had told him.” <br /><b>Genesis 22:1-3</b> NKJV</span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Points to hold on
to. </span>
</p><ul>
<li><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">God
tested Abraham by saying, “ Take
now your son, <b>your only son Isaac, whom you love</b>.”</span></p>
<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><u>Didn't
Abraham have another son</u>?
He did, but it was not through the covenantal promise he made with
God. </span>
</p>
<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">At Sarah's insistence, Abraham went into Hagar, a servant girl of Sarah's, as a wife, and nine months later, she produced Ishmael. Ishmael's descendants became the perpetual enemies of the Jews with one purpose: to kill the Jews.</span></p>
<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">If Isaac is an allusion to Christ, then we can recognize that God loved His only
Son as well. </span>
</p>
<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><u>Is it possible that Abraham announced to Sarah what he was going to do</u>? He may have because we do not see any mention of Sarah again until she died in Genesis 23.</span></p>
</li><li><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Christ was not burnt upon an altar, but He was undoubtedly offered upon the same
Mountain.</span></p>
</li><li><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Abraham took the wood, the fire, and two young men. Perhaps these were there to help,
or they could have been witnesses. </span>
</p>
<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Problem: Sunday school often portrays Isaac as a young child who could have been forced through rough handling to submit to being sacrificed, when in fact, Isaac was big enough to successfully resist had he wanted to. </span>
</p>
<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">So then, Isaac willingly submitted, just as Jesus would eventually do. </span>
</p>
</li></ul><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Then
on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.”
<br /><b>Genesis 22:4</b> NKJV</span></p><ul>
<li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Abraham has had to journey for </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>three days </b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">to get to Mt. Moriah, even though he has no idea where he is going or the significance of this place. This should have alerted you to comparable language about Jesus, who spent three days and nights in,
as Jonah did, in the belly of death. </span></span></span>
</p>
</li><li><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Isaac noticed that they were missing the lamb to be sacrificed. Abraham's response went like this. </span>
</p>
</li></ul><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">And
Abraham said, My son, <b>God will provide Himself a lamb</b>
for a burnt offering. So they both went together.” <br /><b>Genesis
22:8</b> MKJV</span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
inference was that <span style="background: #ffff99;">God
would provide "His own self" as the lamb necessary for our
sacrifice</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">,
and He did just that through His Son. </span>I
can't imagine what Isaac felt. It appears that Abraham, though we
don't see it in scripture, taught Isaac what it is to act in faith. </span>
</p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Did Abraham
strike Isaac with the knife?</b> </span>
</p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><u>The answer is an emphatic no</u>, but it appears that he went so far as to lift it as to slit his son's throat. Sorry if that offends you, but it was the standard method of dispatching the sacrifice.</span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">To shorten this, I will say that God provided a ram stuck in the thicket. </span>
</p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>How did that just
happen?</b> </span>
</p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I don't know, but it
did, and Abraham took his son off the altar and offered up the ram. </span>
</p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">God, once again,
blesses Abraham.</span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">and
said, I have sworn by Myself, says Jehovah; because you have done
this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only one; that in
blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your
seed like the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is upon the
seashore. And your Seed shall possess the gate of His enemies. And<span style="background: #ffffcc;">
in your Seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because
you have obeyed My voice.</span>”
<br /><b>Genesis 22:16-18</b> MKJV</span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Now, pay attention to
what happens next. </span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: #ffff99;">Abraham
returned to his young men</span>,
and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba. And Abraham lived
at Beer-sheba.” <br /><b>Genesis 22:19</b> MKJV</span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Why did the
description suddenly turn into a singular scenario?</b> </span>
</p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The answer lies in
what Abraham did. Short of killing his son, he went right up to the
point where killing his son was next. God sees the heart and the
dedication and accepts that. </span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">By
faith <b>Abraham</b>, when
he was tested, <b>offered up Isaac</b>,
<u>and he who had received
the promises offered up his only begotten son</u>,
of whom it was said, "IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED,"
<br /><b>Hebrews 11:17-18 </b>NKJV</span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Abraham knew that
God was able to raise up Isaac.</span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">For
he (<i>Abraham</i>)
reasoned that God was able to raise [him](<i>this
is an inference toward Isaac and Jesus)</i>
up even from among the dead.<b> </b><b><span style="background: #ffcc99;">Indeed
in the sense that Isaac was figuratively dead</span></b>
[potentially sacrificed], he did [actually] receive him back from the
dead.” (<i>The italicized
words within the parenthesis are mine</i>.)<br /><b>Hebrews
11:19</b> AMP</span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">So the scriptures reflect Isaac as figuratively dead, an allusion to Jesus's death and ascension into the clouds.</span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Just as we will not
see Jesus again until He comes, at His Father's dispatch, to collect
His bride, we see no mention of Isaac again. Abraham sends the servant
to find a wife for Isaac.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.42in; margin-top: 0.04in; page-break-before: auto;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">but
you will go to my country and to my relatives, and take a wife for my
son Isaac.</span><span lang="en-US">”
</span><span lang="en-US"><b>Genesis 24:4</b></span><span lang="en-US">
NASB95</span></span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: -0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Something tells me
that the time frame between the “sacrifice” of Isaac and his
fetching of his bride is significant, but time eludes me. I am
confident this was an intentional language choice meant to
allude to Jesus being caught up to heaven <span style="background: #ffff99;">because
we don't see Isaac again until He meets his bride</span>, Rebecca. </span>
</p><p align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #292f33;">Rebekah
</span>coming to Isaac.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Now
Isaac had come from going to Beer-lahai-roi; for he was living in the
Negev.”<br /></span><span lang="en-US"><b>Genesis 24:62 </b></span><span lang="en-US">NASB95</span></span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Now, we see him and
her for the first time since the mount. </span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Notice where Isaac is; he
is in the wilderness of the Negev, where we will eventually find Jesus, where He was tested by Satan. </span>
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.43in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Isaac
went out to meditate in the field toward evening; and he lifted up
his eyes and looked, and behold, camels were coming. Rebekah lifted
up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from the camel.
She said to the servant, </span><span lang="en-US">“</span><span lang="en-US">Who
is that man walking in the field to meet us?</span><span lang="en-US">”</span><span lang="en-US">
And the servant said, </span><span lang="en-US">“</span><span lang="en-US">He
is my master.</span><span lang="en-US">”</span><span lang="en-US">
Then she took her veil and covered herself. The servant told Isaac
all the things that he had done. Then Isaac brought her into his
mother Sarah</span><span lang="en-US">’</span><span lang="en-US">s
tent, and he took Rebekah, and she became his </span><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background: #ffccff;">wife</span></b></span><span lang="en-US">,
and he loved her; thus Isaac was comforted after his mother</span><span lang="en-US">’</span><span lang="en-US">s
death.”<br /></span><span lang="en-US"><b>Genesis 24:63-67</b></span><span lang="en-US">
NASB95</span></span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">In this narrative <b>that we are living</b>, Jesus, our sacrifice, was caught up to
heaven, and we don't get to see Him again until the day that Jesus once again meets His bride, the church in the air. </span>
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">The
term </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>wife</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
is the Hebrew word </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="zxx">'</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="zxx"><b>ishshâh </b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="zxx">and</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="zxx">
means </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="zxx"><b>woman</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="zxx">.
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Wife
and woman</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
are the same Hebrew word. H802 </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>'ishsha^h </b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">meaning
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>a
woman.</b></span></span></span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">If
you are okay with losing your mind, look at what Adam said about Eve. </span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
man said, "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman Because she was taken out of Man."
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be
joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” <br /></span><b>Genesis
2:23-24</b> NASB</span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Did
Adam have a mother? </b></span></span></span>
</p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: #ffccff;">No</span>,
he was a creation of God alone and made from the soil. </span></span>
</p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Did he ever have the experience of leaving his Father, God, before the moment in which he ate the fruit of that tree?</b></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: #ffccff;">No,</span>
for when God saw that the man's relationship with the animals was not
a substitute for an intimate and conversational relationship with a
<b>woman</b>, He had to make one. What a peculiar thought, as I am
sure that God realized that naming all of the animals and then
tending the sheep would not satisfy and already had plans to clone a
perfect woman from the perfect man He would make. </span></span>
</p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Another
consideration is that God knew that Lucifer, soon to be known as
Satan in this narrative, would rebel, be thrown to earth, and cause a
cataclysmic amount of damage to the creation. God also knew that
Adam would eventually stumble and fall, but this was not a shock to
God as He knew it would happen; therefore, fallen mankind became the
path for God to insert His Son into the earth as a human capable of
redeeming and restoring the humans back to God, by accepting His love
if they chose too.</span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Since humanity carried a damaged DNA strain because of Adam, God had to bypass human genetics - this plays a role in the conversation we see in Genesis chapter six, where God had to bring a flood that would kill off all life on earth except for Noah's family, as they alone were NOT polluted by the infiltration of the fallen angels. All this is why God asked Mary if she would be willing to carry the Son of God. I said it like this because Mary was “artificially” inseminated with a fertilized egg without having damaged DNA involved. This conversation demonstrates why it was said that Jesus had no sin. You would rightly assume that I was infected with sin if I turned over the vendor's table and chased all these fine citizens off the church property with my handmade scourge, and yet scripture tells us that Jesus was without sin. Hmm.</span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">We
also make the assumption that Adam did not or could not interact or
speak with the animals. It would be a limited
conversation, as there was no news or sports to discuss. If you
think this is crazy talk, <b>then tell me how it is that the serpent
in the garden held a conversation with both of them, and they were not
alarmed, or why Balaam did not flinch when his donkey spoke to him?</b>
</span></span>
</p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I am not so sure that the sin that overtook the two of them in the garden, with all its horrid aspects, such as separation from the Father, which is clearly an emotional death, to say the least, as it separates you from the one that made you; and the physical death that we can only assume God described to Adam.</span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>How
would you understand death if you have never witnessed any form of
death?</b> </span></span>
</p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">We
are left to assume that this was all thrust upon them in the moments
following the eating of the fruit. </span></span>
</p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Did
this instant break in communication with the Father - through the
death that sin brought,</b> <b>give Adam the elated emotions that we
tend to associate with the experience of marriage?</b> </span></span>
</p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I bring this up because this <b>leaving</b>, in some cases, has to be fraught with emotions, not all of which are pleasant, as so many in the Middle East get married only to immediately return to the added-on room or new additional floor of your parent's home.</span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<br /><br />
</p><p lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br /><br />
</p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<br /><br />
</p><p lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<br /><br />
</p><p>
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Ozzie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312485261504917503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266727359838878182.post-3446332533188225042023-10-14T12:47:00.000-07:002023-10-14T12:47:20.254-07:00Blessed are those who mourn. Matthew 5:4 through ?<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="break-after: avoid; break-inside: avoid; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Look
intently at this.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="break-before: auto; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.44in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">And
seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, <b>and when He
was seated, His disciples came to Him</b>. <br />(<b>Matthew 5:1</b> NKJV)</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus
did not retreat in fear, nor did He retreat, but it was a strategic
move because the voice travels better as it moves downhill. Aside
from that, there was the need to teach His own disciples what the
heart of God is.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Having
gathered His followers and all the others, He opened His mouth and
taught. In the previous post, I covered Matthew 5:3, where the God's
Word translation conveys this:</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="break-before: auto; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.42in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blessed
are <b>those who
recognize they are</b> <b>spiritually
helpless</b>.
The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.” (<b>GW</b>)</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Though
I did not elaborate on the idea that understanding that you are
spiritually helpless it is much like an alcoholic who realizes that
they are not in control and will never be.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Does
God leave you helpless?</b></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Absolutely
not. God's life in you makes you a son or daughter of the King and
entitled, within reason, to all the authority of the King. Think
about the children of diplomats and how protected they are.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="break-before: auto; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.42in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blessed
are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.” <br />(<b>Matthew
5:4</b> NKJV)</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Blessed</b>?</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">It
seems so odd to consider telling someone who just had their family
blown up as they attended church in Nigeria that they are blessed. </span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
NLT unpacks <b>Matthew 5:4</b> with “<b>God blesses those who...</b>”
I think this way of perceiving what Jesus/God is about to say is more
appropriate as, in most cases, it would be difficult at best to see
this thing or event as a blessing.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mourn</b> is
the Gk word penthéō and means <b>to mourn, lament,
or grieve over people or situations</b>, <i>and they do not have
to be your own.</i></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">My
takeaway on this is that in time, if you are a follower of Jesus
Christ, God will turn this thing that has brought your mourning into
a blessing. This turn may be in heaven, before the Father, but
occasionally, it happens quickly within the current time frame. </span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.42in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">"How
blessed are those who are humble, because it is they who will inherit
the earth!”</span> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">(</span><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Matthew
5:5</b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> ISV)</span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
other common word option is meek. Both meek and humble have an aroma
of weakness in my mind for a long time. What changed my mind came
about when I read the narrative about Moses. Allow me to elaborate.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.46in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">(Now, the man <b>Moses was very humble</b>, <u>more than all men who were on
the face of the earth</u>.) <b>Numbers 12:3</b> NKJV</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Being
placed in the river by his mother, you could certainly see Moses'
future as one that could be oppressed or dead. But that was not to be
his fate. He was rescued by the Pharaoh's daughter and raised to be
nobility in the Egyptian court. The scriptures do not define how
Moses came to understand what his true heritage was, but we have
evidence that confirms our suspicions.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And
it came to pass in that length of time, that <b>Moses having grown,
went out to his brethren the sons of Israel</b>: and having noticed
their distress, he sees an Egyptian smiting <span style="background: #ffff99;">a
certain Hebrew of his brethren the children of Israel</span>.” </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">(</span><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Exodus
2:11</b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> Brenton)</span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Based
upon Exodus 2:11, it is hard to perceive the humility in Moses as
yet. Perhaps we don't understand the meaning of the word. I can tell
you that it is not what my dear mother defined it as.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Humble</b>,
according to the Word Study Dictionary, is the Hebrew word <b>‛ānāw.
</b>It is an
adjective meaning <b>poor, oppressed, afflicted, humble</b>.
<b>It is used for persons who put themselves after others in
importance</b>; it is also used for
persons who are not proud, haughty, supercilious, self-assertive, or low
in rank or position.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">We
always build our arguments on at least two witnesses, so here is
another.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">By
faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of
Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the
people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming
the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt;
for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing
the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is
invisible.” </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">(</span><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Hebrews
11:24-27</b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> NKJV)</span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Let's
apply some logic to what we read here.</span></span></p><ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Moses,
at his sister's prompting, was given back to his mother to breastfeed until he was weaned. </span></span>
</p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">There have been mothers who have allowed their children to stay on the breast beyond seven years. I suspect that most attempt to wean the child when their teeth show up around 18 months. </span></span>
</p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If
Moses was given back to Bithia at 18 months, then there is "NO" way this child could have been taught about his heritage as a son of
Jacob, a follower of Yahweh. (</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Keep in mind that these people, who kept to themselves, were sheepherders and followers of this unknown God, Yahweh. They were not known as
Jews as yet</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">.)
</span></span></span>
</p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">This
puts the driving force on Bithia, the daughter of Pharaoh, who
rescued Moses from the river, <b>to have Moses placed in the
intermittent care of </b><b>Jochebed</b>
(<i>which, according to the Midrash, was the birth mother of Moses.</i>)
And, as far as we know, she used these opportunities to teach Moses about his heritage as a Jew. </span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This puts the motivation on </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bithia</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">,
Pharaoh's </span></span>daughter <span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">who rescued Moses from the river, to have Moses placed in the care of </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Jochebed</b></span> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">(who,
according to the Midrash) was the birth mother of Moses. </span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Does that make sense?</b></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Not unless you believe in a God that works through people, often without their understanding, and does what seems to be improbable and impossible.</span></span></p>
</li></ul><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>So,
can we define humility based on what we see in Moses?</b></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u>Absolutely</u></span><span lang="en-US">. </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">In
Numbers 12, we find someone making a defining statement about Moses.
Since God had Moses write all these early books, we might assume that
it was Moses writing, as the Holy Spirit instructed, about himself.
The Apostle Paul and the Disciple John seemed to find writing about
themselves a bit uncomfortable. The following passage is a definition
of Moses for a reason. We know this because, in most translations, it
is set apart by parentheses. The Berean Study Bible did not do so.</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u>Now
Moses was a very humble man, more so than any man on the face of the
earth</u>.”<br /></span><span lang="en-US"><b>Numbers
12:3</b></span><span lang="en-US"> BSB</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Why
bring up the word humble and apply it to Moses?</b></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Because
there was a jealous hostility arising in the camp, and it centered on
the brother and sister of Moses.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">T</span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: #ffccff;">hen
Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because of the Cushite woman he had
married</span></span><span lang="en-US">,
for he had taken a Cushite wife. “Does the LORD speak only through
Moses?” they said. “Does He not also speak through us?” And the
LORD heard this.” <br /></span><span lang="en-US"><b>Numbers
12:1-2</b></span><span lang="en-US"> BSB</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">When
I read this, I find myself saying, really, all this because he
married another woman.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>By
the way, what became of Zipporah, the first wife?</b></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Oh,
she is still around. If you remember, she threw the foreskins of
their sons at Moses, yelling that he was a bloody husband to her,
after he insisted that his sons, who might have been young men at
this point, were to be circumcised. This is just a guess, but it
seems some distance was suddenly put between Moses and his wife.
Later, we see Jethro, Zipporah's father, come to Moses, and he
brought Moses' two sons with him. Those two sons became priests in
the desert temple.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>We
have several examples that might define Aaron and why he acts as a
spokesman for God, but what about Miriam?</b></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">One
of the first places we see Miriam is in Exodus 15.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Then </span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: #ffffcc;">Miriam
the prophetess, Aaron’s sister,</span></span><span lang="en-US"> took
a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her with
tambourines and dancing. And Miriam sang back to them: “Sing to the
LORD, for He is highly exalted; the horse and rider He has thrown
into the sea.” <br /></span><span lang="en-US"><b>Exodus
15:20-21</b></span><span lang="en-US"> BSB</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Seriously,
that is all I could find. Perhaps she got the job because she was
family.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Earlier
in this post, I defined humility from the Word Study Dictionary. It
is an adjective meaning <b>poor, oppressed, afflicted,
humble</b>. <b>It is used for persons who put themselves after
others in importance</b>; it is also used for persons who are not
proud, haughty, or self-assertive.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">This
may have played a role in Moses' and his resistance to going to
Pharaoh.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Did
you notice how Numbers 12:3 pointed out how both Miriam and Aaron
were saying, “<b>Does the LORD speak only through Moses?</b>” and
“<b>Does He not also speak through us?</b>”</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Well,
they got a generalized answer. </span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">And
suddenly the LORD said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “You three,
come out to the Tent of Meeting.” So the three went out, and the
LORD came down in a pillar of cloud, stood at the entrance to the
Tent, and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When both of them had stepped
forward,” <br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Numbers
12:4-5</b></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> BSB</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.42in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
answer was this. </span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">He
said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the
LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a
dream.” <br /></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Numbers
12:6</b></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> BSB</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Did
Aaron and Miriam meet these qualifications?</b></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
</span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">We
are never told what their qualifications were aside from Miriam
leading the worship choir. </span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I
can tell you that Jesus spoke to me in a dream, but maybe it was a
vision; all I know is that it felt very real. He related my entire
life to me, and I was only about 25 at the time. I am now coming up on
70, and I can tell you that I saw the end, and it was filled with joy.
Sadly, when I woke up, the only thing I could remember was that He had
been there and the joy I felt. Truth be told, it has been a rough 45
years, and I am living through a rough time now. Maybe the joy has
more to do with the joy we all will experience when He comes back
soon for His bride, in the moment we call the rapture.</span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">But
when it comes to Moses, it's different.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">But
this is not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My house.
I speak with him face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees
the form of the LORD. Why then were you unafraid to speak against My
servant Moses?” <br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Numbers
12:7-8</b></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> BSB</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Face
to face? </b></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Several
translations use the terminology mouth to mouth. It is the Hebrew
word peh and infers the mouth </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">as
the instrument of speech</span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">.
You might say, we talk face to face. So this makes the relationship
that Moses has different from anybody else's up to this point. </span></span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;">It
goes on to say, </span></span></span>
</p><ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">I
speak clearly, </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">face
to face,</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">not
in riddles, </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">and he sees the form of the Lord. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
</li></ul><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Not
even Moses was able to look at the face of God, or he would die, so
this is all symbolic but serious. To elaborate on the serious nature
of this conversation, God says, “</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Why
then were you unafraid to speak against My servant Moses?</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">”
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Make
no mistake, God was angry.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.45in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So
the anger of the LORD was aroused against them, and He departed.”
<br /></span><b>Numbers 12:9</b> NKJV</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Oh,
He didn't go away without acting. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.45in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;">“</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>And
when the cloud departed from above the tabernacle, suddenly Miriam
became leprous, as white as snow.</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;">
Then Aaron turned toward Miriam, and there she was, a leper. </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>So
Aaron said to Moses, "Oh, my lord! Please do not lay this sin on
us, in which we have done foolishly and in which we have sinned.</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;">
Please do not let her be as one dead, whose flesh is half consumed
when he comes out of his mother's womb!" <br /></span><b>Numbers
12:10-12</b> NKJV</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">You
should know by now that Leprosy is a fungal disease that is treatable
nowadays.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Aaron
pleads with Moses for help. </span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;"><b>So
Moses cried out to the LORD</b></span><span style="color: black;">,
saying, "Please heal her, O God, I pray!" Then the LORD
said to Moses, "If her father had but spit in her face, would
she not be shamed seven days? Let her be shut out of the camp seven
days, and afterward, she may be received again." So Miriam was
shut out of the camp for seven days, and the people did not journey till
Miriam was brought in again.” <br /></span><b>Numbers
12:13-15</b> NKJV</span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Verse
13 is one of the most dramatic verses that help to define why Moses
was deemed so humble because he put God first in decision-making. </span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Was
Moses always so humble?</b> </span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I
don't think so, and here is why. Remember how I asked the question,
<b>where is Zipporah, Moses' first wife?</b> Well, Jethro, her father,
brought her back to Moses, along with the sons. As you well know, there are two sides to every story. In a region that still supports a
culture where a woman can be treated as a farm animal, I can't imagine what
could have become of Zipporah. Perhaps humility played a large role
in this marital affair.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: #ffffcc;">And
Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that
God had done for Moses and for Israel His people</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">—that
the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. Then </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: #ffccff;">Jethro,
Moses' father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent
her back, with her two sons</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">,
of whom the name of one was Gershom (for he said, "I have been a
stranger in a foreign land") and the name of the other was
Eliezer (for he said, "The God of my father was my help, and
delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh"); and Jethro, Moses'
father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the
wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain of God. Now, he had
said to Moses, "</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: #ffffcc;">I,
your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her
two sons with her</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">."
So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and kissed
him. And they asked each other about their well-being, and they went
into the tent. And Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had
done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the
hardship that had come upon them on the way, and how the LORD had
delivered them. Then Jethro rejoiced for all the good which the LORD
had done for Israel, whom He had delivered out of the hand of the
Egyptians. And Jethro said, "</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: #ffffcc;">Blessed
be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians
and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from
under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the LORD is greater
than all the gods</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">;
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: #ffccff;">for
in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them."
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Exodus
18:1-11</b></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> NKJV</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">In
contrast to Moses, the humble man – because he trusted and followed
God, “the people,” including Aaron and Miriam, “behaved
proudly,” according to Jethro. </span>
</p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Proudly</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
is the Hebrew w</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">ord
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">zûḏ</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
and means </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>to
treat someone insolently, proudly, or arrogantly</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.
The people acted in opposition to Moses and showed their indifference
to God. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.44in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
next day, Moses went back to work. </span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">And so it was, on
the next day, that <span style="background: #ffffcc;">Moses sat to
judge the people</span>; and the people stood before Moses from
morning until evening. <span style="background: #ffccff;">So when
Moses' father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said,
"What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do
you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until
evening?</span>" And Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because
the people come to me to inquire of God. When they have a difficulty,
they come to me, and I judge between one and another, and I make
known the statutes of God and His laws." So Moses' father-in-law
said to him, "The thing that you do is not good. Both you and
these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For
this thing is too much for you, you are not able to perform it by
yourself. Listen now to my voice; <span style="background: #ffccff;">I
will give you counsel, and God will be with you</span>. Stand before
God for the people so that you may bring the difficulties to God.
And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the
way in which they must walk and the work they must do. Moreover, you
shall <span style="background: #ffccff;">select from all the people
able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness, and
place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds,
rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And let them judge the people
at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall
bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So
it will be easier for you,</span> for they will bear the burden with
you. If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be
able to endure, and all these people will also go to their place in
peace." So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did
all that he had said. <span style="background: #ffffcc;">And Moses
chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the
people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties,
and rulers of tens</span>.” <br /><b>Exodus 18:13-25</b> NKJV</span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.44in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">And
then Moses let his father-in-law depart, but the wife and sons
stayed, as though Moses demanded they stay. If there was an impetus
to stay it came through Jethro.</span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Then Moses let
his father-in-law depart, and he went his way to his own land.”
<br /><b>Exodus 18:27</b> NKJV</span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.44in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Moses
took his father-in-law's advice.</span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<br /><br />
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br /><br /><br />
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<br /><br />
</p><p>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<br /><br />
</p>Ozzie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312485261504917503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266727359838878182.post-24688020801913566832023-10-03T17:46:00.000-07:002023-10-03T17:46:38.053-07:00He opened His mouth and taught them. Matthew 5:1-4.<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; page-break-after: avoid; page-break-inside: avoid;"> We ended Matthew chapter four with this.
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.43in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">...
His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick
people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and
those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He
healed them. Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from
Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.” <br />(<b>Matthew
4:24-25 </b>NKJV)</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><b>Syria? </b>
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">I have not heard that saga about Jesus was spread throughout all of Syria.
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><b>Can we attest
to the fact that Jesus went throughout Syria?</b>
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">No, I cannot
prove any of that.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><b>You know what we do know?</b></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.43in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There
was a certain man in <b>Caesarea</b> called Cornelius, a centurion of
what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared
God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people,
and prayed to God always.” <br />(<b>Acts 10:1-2</b> NKJV)</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Cornelius became
convinced of who Jesus was – God’s Son- and obviously shared
his faith. G ing off this ESV map, I assumed that Cornelius lived on
the Southern border of Syria. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdGPpt4hwMFNmCklDqvbNSTqSKMnUpkCjhnInPKvy6bM3rkQGsbCQBpBGtNHAK2XNksCgttsSG9SK8UhqnnLwU-yGDU5BL13Pk1gfX7q4T96UU0rhfeH9JSJ21WmySSIWYFXU2wZCoEIEN223Ddeq_AK73vZ4Q6YaoHdyLb7Sstchwr7rWsYYSkR4bvM/s491/Caesarea%20Philipi%20_%20the%20home%20of%20Cornelius%20the%20Centurion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="378" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdGPpt4hwMFNmCklDqvbNSTqSKMnUpkCjhnInPKvy6bM3rkQGsbCQBpBGtNHAK2XNksCgttsSG9SK8UhqnnLwU-yGDU5BL13Pk1gfX7q4T96UU0rhfeH9JSJ21WmySSIWYFXU2wZCoEIEN223Ddeq_AK73vZ4Q6YaoHdyLb7Sstchwr7rWsYYSkR4bvM/w246-h284/Caesarea%20Philipi%20_%20the%20home%20of%20Cornelius%20the%20Centurion.jpg" width="246" /></a>Again, there is no way to validate
this.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Look at where
Caesarea is located. This map is from ESV Maps and provided through
e-Sword Graphics. Caesarea Philippi is inland, South of Mt. Hermon, and close to Syria. <u>Other maps show Caesarea at the lowest point
in which that nation touches Israel along the coast</u>. So, I am not
clear which one is true. The Southernmost version is about halfway
between Jerusalem and Syria.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">The Pulpit
<span style="color: #292f33;">Commentary says this about the cohort.
“Jose hus, in the passage above quoted, speaks of </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><u>five
such auxiliary cohorts coming from Caesarea to join Vespasian’s
army</u></span><span style="color: #292f33;">, and he tells us in another
place (’ Bell. Jud.,’ 2.18, 7) that </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>the
principal portion of the Roman army at Caesarea were Syrians</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;">.”</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>Why
is the information about the Italian Regiment important?</b> </span>
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #292f33;">Because
it feeds into the traditional response, we apply to those troops
destroying the temple as though they were Italians answering to Titus
when, as we learned from Josephus, those troops who destroyed
the Temple in 70 AD were primarily <b>Syrians</b>. Yes, they fought
under the Roman banner, but they did this only because they were
conscripted troops with no other option but to participate and had a
bitter hostility for the Jews.</span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.42in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #292f33;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And
after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for
himself: and </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>the people of the prince
that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;">;
and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the
war desolations are determined.” </span>(<b>Daniel 9:26</b> KJV)</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #292f33;">Matthew
5 is entitled <b>The Beatitudes</b> by most translations. </span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.42in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #292f33;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">One
day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside
and sat down. His disciples gathered around him,” <br /></span>(<b>Matthew
5:1</b> NLT)</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>Where
did we leave off?</b></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.43in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #292f33;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">News
about him spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to
him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if
they were demon possessed or epileptic or paralyzed—he healed them
all. </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>Large crowds followed him
wherever he went</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;">—people from
Galilee, the Ten Towns, Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east
of the Jordan River.” <br /></span>(<b>Matthew 4:24-25</b> NLT)</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>So
what did He do? </b></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background: #ffccff;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">and
he began to teach them.”</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>
<br /></b></span>(<b>Matthew 5:2</b> NLT)</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>Teach?</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;">
</span><span style="color: black;">It is the Gk word </span><span style="color: black;"><b>didaskō</b></span><span style="color: black;">
and means t</span><span style="color: #292f33;">o know, teach, or </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><u>instruct</u></span><span style="color: #292f33;">
by word of mouth. </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>D</b></span><span style="color: black;"><b>idaskō</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;">
has inherent in it </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><u>the intent to
influence the understanding of the person who is taught</u></span><span style="color: #292f33;">.</span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
find myself chuckling because m<span style="color: #292f33;">any of those
surging upon Jesus did not come to be taught; they wanted the free
stuff, like healing and food.</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;">As
He taught, He said, </span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blessed
are <span style="background: #ffff99;">the poor in spi</span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background: #ffff99;">rit</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;">:
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” <br /></span>(<b>Matthew 5:3
</b>KJV)</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="zxx" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A
more simplistic translation tells <span style="color: #292f33;">us, </span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.43in; margin-top: 0.04in; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffff99;">Blessed
are those who rec</span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background: #ffff99;">ognize
they are spiritually helpless</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;">.
The kingdom f heaven belongs </span>to them.” <span style="color: #292f33;"><br /></span>(<b>Matthew
5:3</b> GW)</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Look
at what Dr. J. Vernon McGee had to say. “</span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Blessed ar the poor in spirit.” It doesn’t tell you </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>how</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
to become poor in spirit; it just says, “Blessed are the poor in
spirit.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Having
had the self-esteem beaten out of me as a child, being poor in spirit
takes on a whole new meaning for me. Sure, there are those who think
their feces doesn’t stink, and many of whom have wrangled their way into
the pulpits of some massive churches. One that comes to mind averaged
over 3000 in every service. The pastor would brag about his earned
Doctorate, the high price of his suits, and how he could eat better food
at the restaurants in Beverly Hills. He turned the church over to his
arrogant son shortly before the Covid lockdowns of 2020 and 21; just
the other day, I heard that this mega-church had locked its doors. To
be honest, I felt some sadness about this rumor because there were
many good people there.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Poor</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
is the Gk </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">word
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>ptōchós; according</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"> to the Word Study Dictionary, it</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">means
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>to</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>
cower like a beggar, poor and helpless, c</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>ompletely
destitute.</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Perhaps
the phrase from the GW translation, “... </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">those
who recognize they are spiritually helpless,” is more appropriate.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Before
I move on, sometimes the simplest of words, like destitute, can take
on a grander meaning. Destitute and a so convey the idea of being </span></span>
</p><ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">impoverished</span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">indigent</span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">poverty-stricken</span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">needy</span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">and
downright poor</span></span></p>
</li></ul><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Now
try to associate these mental images with your spirit. </span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Just
this morning, one of the devotionals that a group of us read by Max
Lucado. I responded to the question Max put forth that went something like this: will you be prepared to reply when the time comes for you to respond<u> about your faith that could mean
your death, as it did for Queen Esther and Mordechai?</u>
</span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I am barely comfortable when I have to respond, and it has nothing to
do with life. Put in a situation where can see a need to “witness”
for Jesus, I can hear the Holy Spirit telling me to “<b>go for it.</b>”
When I finally make the decision to just jump in (<u>this entire
process only lasts a couple of seconds</u>,) the fear goes away, and an amazing courage takes over; I, too, am in tears because I
can see how God, not only, blesses the person listening to me, but
those words coming out of my mouth are speaking to me as well. </span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>So
what caused this perpetual internal struggle in me?</b> </span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Much
has to do with the way I was raised. Maybe this will help you
understand. When I got married for the first time, I was a
co-dependent disaster, so when the first marriage was coming to an
end due to her infidelities, among other things, I was put in a
psych hospital for threatening to kill her; there, they asked me <u>how
long my </u><u><b>religious</b></u><u> parents had been alcoholics</u>.
Considering that they never drank, I was hard-pressed to figure out
how to deal with all these issues. </span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">So,
let’s take a moment to examine some of the defining issues associated with co-dependency. </span></span>
</p><ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">A
lack of self-esteem and self-love.</span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">Inability to set functional boundaries </span><span style="color: #202124;"><span style="font-size: small;">with other people and protect oneself.</span></span> </span></span>
</p>
</li></ul><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">A
website called <a href="https://www.priorygroup.com/blog/the-five-core-issues-of-co-dependence">priorygroup.com</a> tells us that <b>the red</b></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>
flags of codependency are</b>: </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><u>A</u></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>
mood that reflects how others feel rather than your own emotions</u></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>.
Guilt or anxiety when doing something for yourself. Doing things you
don’t really want to do simply to make others happy. Idealizing
partners or other loved ones, often to the point of maintaining
relationships that leave you unfulfilled.</u></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><u>
</u></span></span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">These
are the things that escorted me into adulthood with little to no
self-esteem. </span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Having
grown up in “faith” churches that idolized strength and bravery,
I can tell you that there is a tremendous amount of bullying and
judgment that happens there. It may be a lack of understanding, but
for the most part, they, too, are submitting to peer pressure while
ignoring what the Word of God says. </span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>What
does the Word of God say? </b></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">How
about this verse? </span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.42in; margin-top: 0.04in; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But
whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it
were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and
that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” (<b>Matthew 18:6</b> KJV)</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Offend</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
is the Gk word </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>skandalizō</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.
This is the root of our word </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>to
scandalize, </b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">and
I imagine it brings up a tremendous amount of negative imagery in
most, but i</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">t
also means t</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">o
</span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>entrap</b></span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">,
</span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>trip</b></span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>
up</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
(figuratively to cause to </span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>stumble</b></span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
[transitively] or </span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>entice</b></span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>
to sin</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">,
To fall away from the gospel of Jesus Christ, or to offend.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">And
now you know the heart of the Father when it comes to children, and
may I say it, abortion; and why Jesus said </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: #ffff99;">whoever
causes one of these little ones to stumble, it would be better for
him that a millstone was hanged about his neck, and that person was
drowned in the sea</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Get
real; if someone tied a two-hundred-pound millstone to your neck and
tossed you into the ocean, there is only one thing that can happen to
you, you die. Don’t get me wrong, this does not equate to the fiery hell
that comes after the great white throne, but there is certainly
judgment that comes while you are here on earth; some people think of
this as karma. </span></span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.42in; margin-top: 0.04in; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Therefore
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: #ffccff;">you
are without excuse, O man—every one of you who is judging</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: #ffff99;">
For by whatever you judge an ther, you condemn yourself</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.
For you who judge practice t e same things. We know that </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: #ccffff;">God’s
judgment n those who practice such things is based on truth</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.
But you, O man—judging those practicing such things yet doing the
same—do you suppose that you will escape the judgment of God?”
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">(</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Romans
2:1-3</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
TLV)</span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Yeah,
I get it, you don’t see your cruelty as a judgment, but it is, and
you can expect cruelty in return, both now in your lifetime on earth and at the judgment seat of Christ. </span></span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">...</span>
<b>for when you judge someone else, you are passing judgment against
yourself; since you who are judging do the same things he does</b>.”
CJB </span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Okay,
wait a minute. You said we, as Christians, will not receive God’s
wrath and judgment because that all went on Christ at the Cross. </span></span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Yes, I did, but it does not give you the right to be a jerk down here on
earth, and we will all stand before Christ’s bema seat, where</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>
we will account for the stupid stuff that we did in the flesh</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.
I have this tendency to think we will be thankful that all this
broken, earthly mentality and our actions will be burned away, and we
will be clean and free before Him.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">The
NASB uses the word </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>stumble</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
instead of </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>offend</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.42in; margin-top: 0.04in; page-break-before: auto;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Woe
unto the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that
of enses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!”
<br /></span>(<b>Matthew 18:7</b> KJV edited for readability)</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>What
do they call it?</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Oh
yes, the formative years are when your self-esteem is
supposedly being established. It probably occurs among females as
well, but like a pack of wolves, the pecking order within the pack is
established. This pecking order wasn’t just at school, it was a way
of life at church, and I typically felt like I was at the back of the
pack, and you wonder why religion disgusts me.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">When
I was around 12 years old, I was told by my mother that I would be beaten </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>(and
yes, that is the term mom used</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">)
if they found out I had defended myself. Now think about that; how
would they find out that I defended myself unless I, or someone else, told them? They wouldn’t. The only other way would be physical marks
on my face, arms, or hands. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">On
that note, I have been a stepdad twice. In the case of the first one,
he came home from school with some horrible marks on his arms (</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>these
marks indicated that my son had been struck at least three times</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">).
I asked him what had happened, and he said that he had blocked a shot on goal in physical education class (with a teacher somewhere present)</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">. The kid who tried to score became
enraged and began trying to hit my son on the head by striking
downward with an overhand swing with the field hockey stick he was
using. I said, what did you do? He responded with, I blocked his
swings and then hit him back (</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>I
venture a guess that blocking those blows hurt a lot</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">).
My son said, I happened to hit him in the head, and he went down. He
continued saying, I stood there for a moment in case his friends
thought they might take a few shots at me, and then the teacher got involved and started tending to the boy on the ground. Having seen
all the action, he told my son to go on to his next class, and nothing
more was said. You see, even in the short time I was with that boy, I
knew his heart, and he was not prone to violence. Now, imagine the
injustice if I had beaten my son for defending himself. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I see that public education facilities will punish and suspend you
for doing the right thing. Jesus did the right thing and sustained all the blows that were meant for us. Another way of describing this
is to say that He redeemed us from sin – it didn’t matter how many or
the manner of the sins; they were all taken upon Him through the
cross. </span></span></span></span></span>
</p><p>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Now,
the question is, what will you do with the man upon the cross. His name
is Jesus, and He is the only way to the Father. The thief on the cross
next to Jesus merely asked, will you remember me and Jesus said yes. To some, this equates to <b>asking Jesus into your life</b>. Time is so short. Perhaps you should do that.</span></span></span></span></span></p>Ozzie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312485261504917503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266727359838878182.post-39167210825821038922023-09-23T20:01:00.000-07:002023-09-23T20:01:06.652-07:00Yes, we are jumping back into Matthew's gospel and we previously ended on Matthew 4:22. Next, Jesus preaches to great crowds.<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="break-after: avoid; break-inside: avoid; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This
next section of Matthew's gospel is entitled</span></span></span></p><p align="CENTER"><span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Jesus
Ministers to Great Crowds.”</b></span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Yes,
we are jumping back into Matthew's gospel, and we previously ended on
Matthew 4:22, where four of the new disciples have left their jobs
fishing and are now following Jesus.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I
now throw in a bonus question.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Where
was the Apostle Paul's first stop in virtually every city he entered?</b></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">If
you said the <b>synagogue,</b> you would have been right.
But that opens a line of sarcastic questioning; I thought the focus,
here in the Gospels, was on Jesus? Well, it is, but guess what? We
frequently found Jesus in the synagogues.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What
was the logic of a move like that?</b></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Some
will say, what an odd question, seeing as the message Paul delivered
almost got him killed on several occasions and was his final end.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">One
of the answers to such an obvious question is that Paul was a changed
man and thoroughly committed to the message of Jesus and God's grace
because of what he encountered on the road to Damascus. Paul was
prepared to die for this message of grace.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Isn't
that what we saw in Jesus?</b></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus
did not change His ways, for He was sin-free (this state of being
sin-free had everything to do with NOT being born with damaged human
DNA. Yes, I believe that the fruit they ate, much like current
vaccines that change your DNA, changed theirs, and every human being
born of man was born with a propensity to sin. God bypassed all that
by having the virgin Mary carry a fertilized ovum that He made.) In
spite of valid temptations from Satan, Jesus stayed committed to the
painful path that would bring those of us who accept God's love back
into the arms of the Father.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>How
do I apply what Paul did to Christ?</b></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus,
too, was painfully aware that His death would come, and it is not
difficult to watch something like The Chosen, which portrayed Him
frequently praying all night, and imagine Him speaking freely with
the Father and asking, <b>is there any other way?</b> He
knew what was coming for Him would be brutal and painful, and yet He
continued to stay committed to the cross.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US">When
you read the Gospels, you see Jesus frequently saying things
like, </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US"><b>tell
no one,</b></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"> </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US">and </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US"><b>my
time has not yet come</b></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US">.
No, He did not want to die prematurely – as though that could
happen but was more than willing to take our place on the cross and
pour out His blood on our behalf.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>So,
what did Paul preach to these Jews in their synagogues?</b></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
message that Paul preached was based on the Torah – the Old
Testament and there were always a few who listened, heard the truth,
absorbed what he said, and believed.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">So,
too, was the message that Jesus preached. He preached from the Torah,
just as Paul did. Now, picture the disciples. Did they understand,
absorb, and believe? Strangely, many indicated that they did. The
reality of that understanding was wrapped up in their longing for
Jesus to be the warring Messiah that they longed for. Instead of war,
his message was one of love and the hope of peace obtained by a
relationship with the Father. </span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">In
either case, these new Jewish “believers” were the beginnings of
new churches, which we are familiar with because Paul wrote letters
back to those communities.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>So
much for an introduction.</u></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And
Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and
preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of
sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.” </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Matthew
4:23</b> MKJV)</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Let
that sink in.</span></span></p><ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus went about all Galilee. </span></span>
</p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">This sounds like purposeful intent to me. The crowds were not in the
Jewish synagogues but were the result of the times when they fed the thousands that came, and they came because of the miracles.</span></span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Doing what?</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Teaching in their synagogues.</b></span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">That means, in Galilee, Jesus had a reputation as a respected Rabbi, and they gave Him, initially, an open door to teach.</span></span></p>
</ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Preaching the gospel of the kingdom.</b> </span></span>
</p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
Jews had an understanding of what the kingdom represented, and it had everything to do with the time when God was back in full control of the earth, and Jesus ruled as the warring Messiah. While that imagery must have carried some weight in Jesus' mind, the kingdom was, at this point, love and gentleness. </span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What did He tell James and John when they wanted to call fire down on the small crowd that disrespected them? </b></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Effectively,
He said that is NOT why they were here and that they were to act as gentle as doves and wise as serpents.</span></span></p>
</ul>
</li></ul><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">And <b>healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the
people</b>. </span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.77in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Matthew
4:23</b> ESV “And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in
their synagogues and <b>proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and
healing every disease and every affliction</b> among the people.”</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">If
you are doing a more intense study, read from multiple translations
because that one word that the translators used has multiple
meanings. </span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
news G189 about Him spread G565 R1 throughout G1519 all G3650 Syria
G4947; and they brought G4374 to Him all G3956 who were</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>
ill G2192 G2560</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;">,
those </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>suffering
G4912</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;">
with </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>various
G4164</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;">
</span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>diseases
G3554</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;">
and </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>pains
G931</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;">,
R2 </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>demoniacs
G1139</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;">,
N1 R3 </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>epileptics
G4583</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;">,
R4 </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>paralytics
G3885</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;">;
and He healed G2323 them.” <br /></span>Matthew
4:24 NASB+)</span></span></p><ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;">who
were</span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>
ill</b></span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>G2192</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">echō
-</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>
</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">to be held in possession.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>G2560</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">kakōs
-</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
to be grievously ill, wrongly held by evil.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>suffering</b></span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>G4912</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">sunechō
-</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
suffering, perplexed, or afflicted.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>various</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>G4164</b><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">poikilos</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
- </span></span></span>various,
diverse, manifold<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">diseases</span></b></span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>G3554
</b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">nosos
- </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US">Disease,
sickness. Metaphorically, pain, sorrow, evil</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: black;">pains</span></b></span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>G931
</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">basanos
- </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">(by analogy) </span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">torture:</span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
- just generally tormented.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Those
who were thought to be demoniacs</span></span></span></span></b></span></span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>G1139
</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">daimonizomai
- </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">to </span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">be used by a demon:</span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
- to be vexed with, or possessed by demons.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Epileptics</span></span></span></span></b></span></span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>G4583
</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">selēniazomai
– these people often shake uncontrollably and fall</span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">:</span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
-many are thought to be lunatics.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Paralytics</span></span></span></span></b></span></span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>G3885
</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">paralutikos
- </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">“paralytic”:
one who is deprived of the power of muscular motion; there are
sometimes thought of as weak, trembling, and subject to involuntary shaking;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
</ul>
</li></ul><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">After
doing all this for the people, His fame spread throughout
Syria and a few other places.</span></span></p><ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>his fame went throughout all Syria</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;">:
</span><span style="color: #292f33;"><u>and
they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, </u></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><u><span style="background: #ffcc99;">and those which were possessed with devils</span></u></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><u>,
and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy, and he healed them</u></span><span style="color: #292f33;">.
<br /></span><b>Matthew 4:24 </b>KJV)</span></span></p>
</ul><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">In
the book of Acts, we see a statement that seems to be a retelling of
Matthew 4:24. </span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But
in every nation he that fears him, and works righteousness, is
accepted with him. </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><u>The
word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by
Jesus Christ</u></span><span style="color: #292f33;">:
(he is Lord of all:) </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><u>That
word,</u></span><span style="color: #292f33;">
I say, ye know, which </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><u>was
published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the
baptism which John preached</u></span><span style="color: #292f33;">;
</span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>How
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power:
who went about doing good, </b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background: #ffcc99;">and
healing all that were oppressed of the devil</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>;
for God was with him</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;">.”
<br /></span><b>Acts 10:35-38</b> KJV)</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><u>This
last statement, more than all the others, says that</u><u><b> </b></u><u><b><span style="background: #ffcc99;">there
is no disease among humans that does not have its origins in Satanic
oppression</span></b></u><u>.</u> I also had a strong sense that this
was Peter talking because Peter did not mention Syria, the land of
Gentiles. It is. </span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Why
wouldn't Peter,</b><i> in Acts 10</i><b>, bring the Syrians into the
conversation?</b> </span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Because
he, more than Matthew (<i>an apostate Jew when Jesus found him</i>,)
was a devout Jew and Syrians were unclean; to touch them would have
made him unclean (<i>according to Jewish - add-on laws – the
Tenach</i>), and Peter struggled to maintain his Jewish identity. </span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Some
will try to come back at me on this last statement because <b>Peter
was the Apostle to the Gentiles. </b> Yeah, that didn't last long; we know this because we eventually find Peter seated among the
“Christian” Jewish council in Jerusalem. </span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; text-indent: -0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;">Acts
chapter ten seems to be the major marker that we assume makes him the
Apostle to the Gentiles. </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
scriptures tell us. </span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;">“</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>There
was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what
was called the Italian Regiment</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;">,
</span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background: #ffcc99;">a
devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave
alms generously to the people and prayed to God always</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;">.
About the ninth hour of the day, he saw clearly in a vision an angel
of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!" And when
he observed him, he was afraid and said, "What is it, lord?"
So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for
a memorial before God. </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background: #ffcc99;">Now
send men to Joppa and send for Simon, whose surname is Peter</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;">.”
</span><b>Acts 10:1-5</b> NKJV)</span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">It is possible this
is the same centurion who, upon seeing all that happened to Jesus,
said, <span style="background: #ffcc99;">surely this is the Son of
God</span>. If not, it is a peculiar coincidence that the scriptures
give us multiple instances that refer to “the centurion.”</span></p><ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">And came out of
the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and
appeared unto many. Now when <span style="background: #ffcc99;">the
centurion</span>, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw
the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared
greatly, saying, <span style="background: #ffcc99;">Truly this was
the Son of God</span>.” <b>Matthew 27:53-54</b> KJV)</span></p>
</ul><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We are not told what
Cornelius' prayer was, but if I were to guess, he wanted as much of God
as God was willing to give. With that in mind, the angel in the
vision tells him that his prayers and <span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US">acts
of kindness have come up before God, so go get Peter.</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.01in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US">I
am always stunned at how well God coordinates these </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US"><u>appointments</u></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US">.
So, while Cornelius has sent men to ask if Peter would come to the
house, in the meantime, God begins to show Peter a vision that, in a
few minutes, breaks down Peter's barriers in a manner that would
convince Peter to enter the house of a Gentile. (</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US"><i>Note,
at this point, for the most part, salvation - life in Christ, has
only come to the Jews</i></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US">.)</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"> “<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">...Peter
went up on the housetop to pray about the sixth hour. Then he became
very hungry and wanted to eat, but while they made ready, he fell
into a trance and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet
bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the
earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild
beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to
him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." But Peter said, "Not
so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean."
And a voice spoke to him again the second time, "</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background: #ffcc99;">What
God has cleansed you must not call common</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;">."
</span><b>Acts 10:9-15</b> NKJV)</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">In
case you are lost, we have been working on Matthew 4:24, where Jesus'
fame went throughout all of Syria. By the time Peter has his interaction
with Cornelius and his family, Jesus has been dead for several years
now. </span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">If
Jesus went into Syria, we are not told about it in any other place.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3Qhil1nRZkOtSdYm1zyHHhSBqd0B7z78FbmPcAfni9icedG9SgVdySXmsDF8e8iQT1Szv99a4-9HvhMobSL4Kust0O_OjEet2si4vkT2z1wMSTQ27Okuqlck6tB0P54z2w4sAD0QwZaTaV5sjg1FkuYpyg3Bt0N_WySwHNfvsP1IImJABQCqyjpV3Ns/s653/Jesus%20travels%20to%20Jerusalem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="459" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3Qhil1nRZkOtSdYm1zyHHhSBqd0B7z78FbmPcAfni9icedG9SgVdySXmsDF8e8iQT1Szv99a4-9HvhMobSL4Kust0O_OjEet2si4vkT2z1wMSTQ27Okuqlck6tB0P54z2w4sAD0QwZaTaV5sjg1FkuYpyg3Bt0N_WySwHNfvsP1IImJABQCqyjpV3Ns/s320/Jesus%20travels%20to%20Jerusalem.jpg" width="225" /></a></span></span></div><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
It becomes obvious and quickly that Jesus has been to many places. </span></span>
<p></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Great
multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, Decapolis,
Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan. </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Matthew
4:25</b></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> NKJV)</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">People
were now following Jesus, not just from Galilee but from Decapolis,
Jerusalem, and Judea. </span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">So
this travelog begins with John the baptizer baptizing Jesus somewhere
around Bethany. Jesus traveled North to Nazareth and then to Capernaum
and eventually moved South once again toward Jerusalem.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<br /><br />
</p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<br /><br />
</p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<br /><br />
</p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<br /><br />
</p><p>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<br /><br />
</p>Ozzie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312485261504917503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266727359838878182.post-83419524286394829882023-09-19T17:35:00.003-07:002023-09-19T17:35:21.253-07:00Prophecy through the eyes of Terry James. The Crisis.<p> https://terryjamesprophecyline.com/2023/09/15/the-crisis/</p>Ozzie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312485261504917503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266727359838878182.post-54201511076474517402023-09-06T16:23:00.000-07:002023-09-06T16:23:02.708-07:00A king will arise, Insolent and skilled in intrigue. A study in Daniel 8 pertaining to the antichrist.<p> I wonder how many of you open up a site like this and say, oh, its just a Bible study. I have sat through too many boring, misleading, and thoughtless Bible Studies and have no intention of doig that now. Now when it comes to catchy headlines that grab your attention and sucker you in, I am not so good at that, praise God. </p><p>I write about things in scripture because I want to untangle them, or do not understand them.</p><p>The antchrist, is, quite possibly the most confusing character in the Bible, so let's get started.</p><p><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Daniel 8:3-14</b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">
NKJV</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.2in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>3</b>) Then
I lifted my eyes and saw, and there, standing beside the river, was <span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 255);">a
ram which had two horns</span>, and the two horns were high, but one
was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">At first read and
almost without thinking, I would have said this represented the
Seleucid and Ptolemaic empires that remained of Alexander, the
Grecian general. But an angelic explanation was given to Daniel, and
it reads like this. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Daniel 8:20-23
</b>NKJV</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">20)
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 255);">The
ram which you saw, having the two horns</span></b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">—</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>they
are </b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">the
kings of Media and Persia.</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">21) And<span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 255);">
</span><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 255);">the male goat</span></b><b>
is </b><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">the kingdom of Greece</span></b>.
The large horn that is between its eyes is the first king.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The first “king”
was Alexander.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">22) As for <b>the
broken horn and the four that stood up in its plac</b>e, four
kingdoms shall arise out of that nation, but not with its power.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Upon the death of
Alexander, <b>four generals struggled to gain and hold power; </b>this is not a coincidence.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">23) "And
in the latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have
reached their fullness, A king shall arise, Having fierce features,
Who understands sinister schemes.</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">"<b>When the transgressors have reached their fullness</b>," This statement leaves the door open for any variety of evil players. Fortunately, here in September of 2023, we have a smorgasbord of destroyers working to fullfill their dream of communism with them at the helm.</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">Do not ask because I have no idea who this man is.</p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"></p></blockquote></blockquote>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.22in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">4) I saw the
ram pushing westward, northward, and southward so that no animal
could withstand him, nor was there any that could deliver from his
hand, but he did according to his will and became great.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.22in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">5) And as I
was considering, suddenly a male goat came from the west, across the
surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and the goat
had a notable horn between his eyes.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">"<b>The shaggy
goat represents the kingdom of Greece</b>, and the large horn that is
between his eyes is the first king.” Daniel 8:21 NASB)</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Alexander</b>.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.2in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">6) Then he
came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing beside
the river, and ran at him with furious power.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">the
kings of Media and Persia.</span></b></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.21in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">7) And I saw
him confronting the ram; he was moved with rage against him, attacked
the ram, and broke his two horns. There was no power in the ram to
withstand him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled him;
and there was no one that could deliver the ram from his hand.</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.21in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">We should know that the Medes and the Persians had a common thread in that they were Assyrians. So yes, for a time the Assyrians were squelched.</span></p></blockquote>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.21in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">8) Therefore
the male goat grew very great; but when he became strong, the large
horn was broken, and in place of it, four notable ones came up toward
the four winds of heaven.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The male goat =
Alexander</span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The horn being broken was Alexanders death.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Four notable ones =
the four generals. Among those four were Ptolemy and Seleucid.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.2in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">9) And out of
one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward
the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">From Finis Dake's biblical commentaries.
“<span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US">the little horn or future
Antichrist who will become great in Egypt, Iraq, Iran, and
Palestine.” Instead of Palestine the NLT says “</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US"><b>toward
the glorious land of Israel</b></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US">.”
</span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;">All
these nations, with the exception of the area that holds Palestine is
Muslim territory and the Muslims have an entrenched association with the Assyrians.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.21in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">10) And it
grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and
some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Knowing that the
little horn represents the antichrist, then <b>this must also represent
Satan</b>, as he took a third of the angels with him when he fell. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.21in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">11) He even
exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and <u>by him the
daily sacrifices were taken away</u>, and the place of His sanctuary
was cast down.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Tree of Life
Version conveys it this way, “<span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US"><i><b>It </b>set
itself up to be as great as the Prince of the host.</i></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US">”
Notice the impersonal reference “it” as they reference the
antichrist. Most translations do the same thing. Why? Because Daniel
8:9 refers to the beast, the antichrist, as </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US"><b>the
little horn</b></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US">.
</span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US">No
one, it seems, gives this man the permission to declare himself god
(</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US"><i>although
Emmanuel Macron was vying for the title,</i></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US">)
this is totally on him (</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US"><i>well,
that, and the motivation and empowerment of Satan</i></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US">.)</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;">It
is at this point that the daily sacrifices come to a crashing halt. (<i>"</i></span></span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><u style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">by him the daily sacrifices were taken away</u></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down."</i>)</span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;">It occurs to me, that verse eleven, much like the Revelation, is a
repetition of events, each with a different point of view and often
an added detail. </span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;">The
language of verse eleven leaves you with the impression that the
temple is destroyed as soon as the daily sacrifice is taken away. </span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Daniel
12:11</b> </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><i>NASB)</i></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="en-US">
states </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;">"From the time that
the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation
is set up, there will be 1,290 days. </span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;">1290
days extends beyond seven years by several days. Some might say it
is not so precise.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><u>Have you ever wondered why they would say that?</u> </span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;">The
precision has been there all along but we have not attentively read
the scriptures as we should.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;">Since
the false prophet has now set up the image of the beast on the altar,
and is forcing people to worship it,</span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>
is it possible to have people come and worship this image if the
building has been torn down? </b></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;">The
answer is no.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;">Our general impression is that the false prophet,
associated with the “great tribulation,” runs rampant for the
second half of this covenantal time period. Matthew 24 details this
for us. </span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>Matthew
24:15</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"> </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><i>NASB</i></span><span style="color: #292f33;">
"Therefore when you see </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>the
ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"> which was
spoken of through Daniel the prophet, </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>standing
in the holy place</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"> (let the reader
understand),</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>Who
is Matthew talking to?</b> </span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;">Jews specifically, the nations generally, but
NOT the church because we will be gone for three-and-one-half-years
at this point.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>Matthew
24:21</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"> </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><i>NASB</i></span><span style="color: #292f33;">
"</span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>For then there will be a great
tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the
world until now, nor ever will</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;">.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;">And
almost all of it will be at the hand of the false prophet. If, as I
pointed out, this false prophet will be the former high priest of the
temple, can you imagine the utter dismay of most people. Some may actually follow
this fraud in worshiping Allah – the moon god.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.21in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">12) Because of
transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily
sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and
prospered.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Transgression</b>?
The Hebrew word is <b>pesha</b>' and the primary word this becomes in
English is <b>REVOLT</b>. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Currently, in the
tail end of 2023, people are finally beginning to wake up and realize
that Klaus, the WEF, and Billy bob the president are desperately trying to kill us.
I just found out that the N95 masks will give you cancer from
extended usage because of the chemicals used to make the stupid
things. And, we are starting to see that burning out the entire island
community of Lahaina has been in the works since 2006 so that they
can make a smart city out of it. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><u>
“A<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">n army was
given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices.” </span></u></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Imagine
telling what is left of the devout Jews, who think they are able to
cover their sins through a sacrifice, that you do not get to do that
any more. It will take an army to enforce this decision but it
doesn't tell us whose army. That opens the door to perhaps the IDF
coming against their own people. Just saying.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">We are also told
that the false prophet – which might be a Jewish high priest doing
this, trying to tell those devout Jews that the law of God is NOT the truth. Keep in mind that he casts truth
to the ground. This is suddenly getting quite ugly.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.21in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">13) Then I
heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that certain
one who was speaking, "How long will the vision be, concerning
the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving
of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot?"</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Question, at what
point could we say that the sanctuary and the host are trampled
underfoot? </span>
</b></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">If the temple mount
is deemed to be part of the sanctuary, then having Muslims play
soccer and throw rocks at visitors would certainly qualify as being
trampled. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>But what if it only
applies to a time when the new temple has been built?</b></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">For
three-and-one-half-years <b>it seems that</b> <b>Jews only would have
access</b>, but any restrictions on the nations gaining access
to the outer courts is not discussed. You see, we merely assumed that
non-Jewish people would not be allowed. </span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">May I be honest, the NKJ Version does not make a bit of sense. Try this version.</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">“Then I heard a holy one speaking and another holy one said to the one who was speaking, ‘<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;">How long will the vision last</span>, <span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">the daily sacrifice be forsaken because of rebellion</span>, <span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">the sanctuary be surrendered</span> <span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">and the host be trampled</span>?’ </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>Daniel 8:13</b> TLV)</span></p></blockquote><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.21in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">14) And he
said to me, "For <b>two thousand three hundred days; then the
sanctuary shall be cleansed</b>."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">While giving Daniel
the answers as to what all this means, Daniel hears two holy ones
conversing back and forth. “<span style="color: #292f33;"><u>How long will the
vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of
desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be
trampled underfoot?</u>”</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">From
the time of the giving the sanctuary and it gets trampled underfoot
is </span><b><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">2300 days</span>. </b>That equals 3
years, 2 months, and 10 days. So, from the catching away of the
church to the antichrist confirming the covenant, is clearly an
unknown, but relatively short time frame. </span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Since <b>seven years, by
the Jewish calendar is 2,520 days</b>, then there are <b>220</b>
days, plus 35 days unaccounted for. Some will adamantly say there is
undefined time frame before the antichrist comes on the scene and
the temple gets built.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I
will tell you what the problem is, years of fallacy and assumption
were relentlessly preached at us. Folks, it is time for you to read
your Bibles for yourselves. Let me show you why you need to read it for yourselves.</span></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #292f33; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Daniel 9:27 "Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate."</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">This says nothing about Israel, but it may be a direct reference to the UN reaffirming a SDG covenant on September 18 and 19. What a coincidence, September 18th and19th is supposed to be the time in which Israel's priesthood would be able to declare a new moon and inititiate Rosh Hanana (the Feast of Trumpets) and Yom Teruah. </p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">Isn't that peculiar. Jesus will return for His bride, the church, with a trumpet blast. </p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p>"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first." <b>1Thessalonians 4:16</b> NASB)</p></blockquote></blockquote><span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The
definitions associated with chapter eight end like this.</span>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now,
as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep with my face to the
ground; but he touched me, and stood me upright. And he said, "Look,
I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the
indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be." </span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Daniel
8:18-19</b> NKJV)</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">In these few short
sentences is the concise and definitive layout for the last days. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The ram which you
saw, having the two horns—they are the kings of Media and Persia.”
<b>Daniel 8:20</b> NKJV)</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Media and Persia
were also the second and silver portion of the statue that Daniel had
to define for Nebuchadnezzar, and yet, they are the first empire
talked about in this definition. A common factor is Assyrians.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">And the male goat
is the kingdom of Greece. The large horn that is between its eyes is
the first king.” <b>Daniel 8:21</b> NKJV)</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Greece, though not
defined in Daniel's description, associates with the Alexandrian
empire. Daniel identified this with Bronze, but the bronze extends
through the thighs in the statue. This transition is bypassed as the
Alexandrian empire migrates and dwindles down through the four
generals that tried to take over only to be supplanted by the final
two – the Seleucid empire in the north and the Ptolemaic in the
Southern regions. All of which have become Islamic kingdoms.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">As for the broken
horn and the four that stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall
arise out of that nation, but not with its power.” <b>Daniel 8:22</b>
NKJV)</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The broken horn is
Alexander. How quickly the purity (Grecian) of that empire
diminished. God does not concern Himself with the details, and He
does not tell us about the intrigue that runs through these kingdoms.
</span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">"And in the
latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have reached
their fullness, A king shall arise, Having fierce features, Who
understands sinister schemes.” </span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Daniel 8:23</b> NKJV)</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">If, in the majority,
they are Islamic, then what type of person will this king that rises
be? The short answer is Islamic or an acceptable blend.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">His power shall
be mighty, but not by his own power; He shall destroy fearfully, And
shall prosper and thrive; He shall destroy the mighty, and also the
holy people. "Through his cunning, He shall cause deceit to
prosper under his rule; And he shall exalt himself in his heart. He
shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against
the Prince of princes; But he shall be broken without human means.”
<b>Daniel 8:24-25</b> NKJV)</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">In all this, we
never broke from the remnants of the bronze or Grecian empire.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">All
this disturbed Daniel to the degree that he was physically sick and he pleaded
for an interpretation.
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">This
is what he got.
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Daniel
9:24 </b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>NKJV</i></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">24)
"</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><u>Seventy
weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To
finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make
reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness,
To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy</u></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.”</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">We
have been living in the 2000 year gap between the sixty ninth and the
seventieth week.</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Consider
that Antiochus destroyed the temple after Jesus's death in 70 AD, and
yet it speaks of a time to come.
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Daniel 9:25-27</b>
NKJV</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">25) "Know
therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To
restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be
seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and
the wall, Even in troublesome times.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Do the math, this
equals <b>69</b> weeks of years and is the time in which Jesus died
and rose again, but it is 69 out of 70 weeks of years. In short, we
have been waiting for the seventieth week to arrive, sort of, because
that seven-year period is the seven years of God's wrath.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">26) "And
after t<b>he sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off</b>, but not
for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall
destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a
flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">But not for himself?
</span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">He did this for any
who would receive Him. Hopefully, you understand that Jesus is the
Messiah and He is very Jewish.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Now, you have to identify the people of the prince who are coming to
destroy the city and the sanctuary. The short answer is that they are
Assyrians. Assyrians have been around for a long time; the common
name for our day is Muslims. They, <b>whoever this is</b>, will
destroy the temple once again. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Verse 26 speaks of
sixty-two weeks of years. Do not get confused by this time frame
because the first seven weeks of years had already come to pass, and
the total of 7+62 = 69. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">27) Then he
shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of
the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the
wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the
consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate."</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The prince that was
to come is, in all likelihood, here already. This man is the one
that <span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 0);">confirms</span> (<b>the/a</b>)
covenant with many for seven years (one week of years.) This, by the
way, is the same language that the UN has used about one of their
Strategic Development Goals at a meeting of the UN this September
2023, during Rosh Hashanah.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">He, the antichrist,
shall bring an end to sacrifices and offerings. For a period of time,
that might not equal three-and-one-half-years, the Jews will be
offering sacrifices, all day, six days a week. The antichrist will
have that stopped. Consider something that just occurred to me. We
assume the Prime minister of Israel would be holding a tight reign on
terrorist activities; we also assume that this prime minister would
be Benjamin Netanyahu, but even as we speak, people like Ehud Barak,
the former defense minister, are trying to dethrone the prime
minister for what, the third time, much like the democrats are trying
to prevent President Donald Trump from ever regaining power.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">A
man at church, who I only knew by face, responded to something I said
about Jesus with, </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(204, 255, 255);">I
do not think we should pay attention to extra-biblical information</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.
I pointed out how many things we “Christians” invest our minds in
as doctrine, such as culture and history, and it is extra-biblical. </span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">So here is a piece
of extra-biblical information. Islam understands that there will be
temple built and that one from the lineage of Aaron will hold the
position of high priest in the temple.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Try to imagine the
influence and power such a man might hold, especially if at some
point in time he begins performing signs such as Elijah did. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Do
you realize that the high priest </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Kohen
Gadol</b></i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>
in Hebrew</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">)</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">,</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
meant to offer these sacrifices as the high priest, has already been
assigned? </span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0EocjMZQowvKn2CTIHbWzv2Il-4T4ppJVQThzRs15oM7pMY3Nb3z_CQ8h8Ek6UjCHrm4ow6MYPkOz19F9FtG4F-PbXd0Ok0eQokrgYdMCofJHXYT2U6Vy6Os1dnnSxT6kXrVySrrp6q5NfoGxsAMG3mE5N6EcY4iYpu4qiRs5LXw_FcdDA_pjETxYAak/s150/Rabbi%20Baruch%20Kahane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="150" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0EocjMZQowvKn2CTIHbWzv2Il-4T4ppJVQThzRs15oM7pMY3Nb3z_CQ8h8Ek6UjCHrm4ow6MYPkOz19F9FtG4F-PbXd0Ok0eQokrgYdMCofJHXYT2U6Vy6Os1dnnSxT6kXrVySrrp6q5NfoGxsAMG3mE5N6EcY4iYpu4qiRs5LXw_FcdDA_pjETxYAak/s1600/Rabbi%20Baruch%20Kahane.jpg" width="150" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></div><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><br /></span></span></span></span></span><p></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">His
name is </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Rabbi
Baruch Kahane</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.
</span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">(<i>For the sake of
context this information was made public about four years ago, but
later, during the lock downs, it was said that Kahane had stepped
back from the position, saying, that he felt strongly that the timing
was premature. You might think that he had declined the great honor,
but about a year ago the Rabbi was there, among those illegally
blessing the temple grounds that are, to many, considered to be a
part of the mosque.</i>)</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Why is that a big
deal?</b></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Because, <span style="background: rgb(204, 255, 255);">while
the high priest performs his duties in the temple, the two witnesses
that God sent will be preaching in the streets of Jerusalem and
performing great signs</span>. <u>Imagine the impact these two
prophets sent from God will have on the unbelieving Jews in Israel</u>.
Now, at the three-and-a-half-year mark, give or take a few days, the
high priest ceases to perform his duties, turns his heart to Allah,
follows the Mahdi (the antichrist) and begins to perform signs of a
similar nature as the two witnesses. No one has been doing anything
like this; killing and destruction, yes, but no signs as if they
represented God.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: rgb(204, 255, 255);">One
of the things the two witnesses do is to turn off the rain for many
of the nations that are attacking Israel during this time.</span>
Droughts almost seem like a common event, but this stoppage of rain
is significant, especially since most every nation is experiencing
severe flooding currently ((9/5/2023), and may have been going on for
three years at this point. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What does the
false prophet, the former high priest do? </b></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.98in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">He turns the rain
back on. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">If
you know the events that surrounded Moses' demands for Pharaoh to let
God's people go, then you know that, at God's instructions, Aaron
threw the staff to the floor where it turned into a serpent. </span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Why
would an average, non-venomous garden snake send anyone into a
frenzy?</span></span></span></b></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">It
wouldn't, but something like a Cobra might. (</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>As
a side note, Brown – Driver – Briggs does give “</i></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i><b>venomous
serpent</b></i></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>”
as one the choices to define the Hebrew word </i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i><b>tannı̂yn</b></i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>.</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">)</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Since
you are students of the Bible, then you know that the magicians, a
part of Pharaoh's advisory staff, also turned their ceremonial staffs
into serpents. Aaron's staff ate theirs. </span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<br /><br />
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br /><br />
</p>Ozzie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312485261504917503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266727359838878182.post-6669183790219495292023-08-10T12:08:00.000-07:002023-08-10T12:08:31.294-07:00Questions and concerns about the antichrist. Part four of four.<p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">Considering
the title of these rants about the antichrist, </span><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">does any of this
affect the believer?</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">No,
but if you are a follower of mine, then you know that <b>I write to
followers of Christ,</b> and followers of Christ will be taken up in the catching away of the Church. </span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">That was uncomfortable, but only because I
have struggled my whole life with my biblical understanding and, by
extension, my faith due to false teachings. An example of false teachings
is the narrative concerning David and Goliath. <u>David is typically
portrayed as a four-foot-tall, 60-pound weakling</u> when in fact, he was
probably over six feet tall. My experience has demonstrated that I was taught traditions and broken beliefs instead of what the Bible says.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b>Was
David a skillful warrior?</b> </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Absolutely,
but his skill sets were honed against wild animals (not like I am
willing to try to take on a lion.) He, based on his Biblical
description, had red hair and freckles, and that alone made him come
across as a ruddy, pale-faced youth.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Sitting
among some men at a home group, the question was asked, </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b>How
tall do you think David was when he fought Goliath?” </b></span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">No
one dared put forth an answer, so I did. I said David was over six
feet tall and had a frame that filled out his height. That brought
out the criticism, so I responded by saying I can prove it. At this
point, I showed them how <u>Saul, prior to being anointed as king, was
said to be head and shoulders above any man in Israel</u>. Having had
a salesman come to my door, who told me that he was <b>an Israeli who</b>
had sustained a wound while serving in the IDF, <b>was easily over
six foot tall.</b> Consider that imagery as Saul's shoulders began at
the top of this man's head. </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">We
know that Saul struggled with mental issues and may well have been
bipolar. David, because of his visits to his brothers. on the front
lines, became well known, and was recommended to Saul as one who could
play the guitar (lute, lyre) well, and calm his spirit. </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">Saul
was so impressed by this young man that </span><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">he
made David his armor-bearer</span></b>. Among other things, David's
job was to make sure that the armor was
reliable, </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 17.3333px;">the fittings</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 17.3333px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">secure, and that Saul looked his best when he stepped out
the battlefield. I can picture David putting that armor on
sporadically to make sure that no one had changed the settings and
that Saul could still maintain flexibility. Most people who retell
this story assign variations where Saul put the armor on a “tiny
little boy named David” and how he would be pinned to the floor,
unable to move; hence, we have David saying, I can't use this
equipment</span><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;"> because I haven't tested it</b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">. This scenario doesn't
even seem feasible, considering how big David would have to have been.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Move
this narrative to where Goliath is now standing. We see David taking
five smooth stones from the riverbed; this is a selection process
that I have done as well. The rounder, the better.</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b>Have you ever
seen videos of the Palestinians slinging rocks at IDF soldiers
and the passing cars of local villagers who happened to be Israelis?</b> </span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Their stones were about the size of lemons and are meant to kill
should they strike you in the head. David put his faith in God and
not his skill sets, but skills certainly helped. </span></span>
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b>Goliath dead</b>? </span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">I doubt it; nonetheless, after being struck in the head Goliath went
to the ground, and David ran to him, unsheathed the giant's own
sword, and cut the man's head off. </span></span>
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b>Were
you aware that one of the Philistine Kings, Og of Bashan, had an iron
bed that was four and a half cubits long?</b> </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">That
equates to 13.5 feet.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Now,
you might think that it is unbecoming for me to say my struggles had
much to do with those who were my early teachers (We were made to go
to church, sit through Sunday school, and then sit through a main
service), but if all I got were simplistic stories, like the way I
was taught, I would disagree with you. Certainly, I played a role in
my false imagery of God because I, like most of you, would not pick
up my Bible and read it. Well, thank God there was a day when all
that changed, and since February of 2007, I have been consuming God's
word like it was my necessary sustenance. </span></span>
</p>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><i><u><b>The
antichrist persona does NOT have unrestricted reign throughout the seven
years.</b></u></i></span></span></span></h3>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Revelation
13:5 indicates that </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">this
beast</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">,
which has migrated into what appears to be a solitary being – a
male</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">,
</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">now
has the “</span></u></span><span style="background-color: #ffe599;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">authority
to do whatever he </span></u><i><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">wants</span></u></i><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
for forty-two months</span></u></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.”
(That is 3.5 years.) Immediately I am struck by the idea that this
man, the antichrist, only has 3.5 years to wreak havoc for the harlot
that rides the beast.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Then
the beast was allowed to </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">speak
great blasphemies</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
against God. </span></span><span style="color: black;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">And
he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for forty-two
months</span></u></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.”
</span></span><b>Revelation 13:5</b> NLT</span></span></p>
<h3 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
NLT is the New Living Translation, and most of us understand that the
Living Bible was written by an intelligent man who wanted something
his children could read and comprehend. So when I look at a
translation that some might consider scholarly and break down the words, such as the Berean Study Bible, I have a slightly different perspective.</span></span></span></span></span></h3>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">The
beast was given a mouth to </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">speak
</span><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">arrogant</span></b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">
and blasphemous words</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">,
...” </span><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Revelation
13:6 </span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">BSB</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">I
can immediately comprehend that the man already has a mouth, so this
is telling me </span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">that </span><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">they
give him an opening or freedom to speak as though he represents them</span></b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
It also implies that someone else is now doing the speaking. Once
again, this feeds into the idea that the antichrist is having his
power stripped away by someone or a group</span></span></span></span><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Arrogant</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">
is the Greek word </span><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">megas</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">.</span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">We understand mega to be </span><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">very
large or boisterous</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">.
The defining words are “<u>exceedingly great, large, loud, strong</u>,”</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Your
words cannot be considered strong unless they have some form of
backing, like muscles or officiating individuals that will judge to your benefit. </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Seeing
as this antichrist does not seem to have any official backing, power,
or glory at this time, I can see why it seems that many go to war
with him.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">For
ships from Cyprus (</span></span><span style="color: black;"><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Kittim,
as many versions state</span></i></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">)
shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return in
rage against the holy covenant, and do damage. "So he shall
return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant.”
</span></span><b>Daniel 11:30</b> NKJV</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Empowered
by Satan himself, who else is there to empower this man?</span></b></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
</span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Those
who can envision the antichrist as someone who can further their
cause; would be the likes of the World Economic Forum, the
United Nations, or possibly the World Health Organization. One more
thing on who is empowering this man. At the July 26</span></span><span style="color: black;"><sup><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">th,</span></sup></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
2023, hearings on UAVs, one of those testifying was </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">David
Grusch</span></span><span style="color: #292929;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">,
a former national reconnaissance officer and representative of the
Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Task Force with the Department of
Defense. Mr. Grusch said that </span></span><span style="color: #292929;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">there
are those above the known officials that are calling the shots</span></b></span><span style="color: #292929;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
Klaus Schwab, because of his publicity, is probably just a puppet, as
is Bill Gates. </span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
</span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">One
of the unusual pieces of information that defines the character of
the antichrist comes from Daniel 11. Daniel 11 is an intertwining of
historical events and prophecy. </span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Here
is where it begins to make sense to us.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Daniel
11:21-31</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">
NKJV And in his place </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>shall
arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">;
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">but
he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"> The
NASB uses the term </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>despicable</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">
instead of </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>vile</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">.
The Strong's concordance gives us the word </span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>disesteem</b></span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">
as our first option and means one </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>held
to scorn and thought of as a vile person.</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Disesteem</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">,
when used as a noun, is seen as </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>the
w</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>ant
of esteem, slight dislike, or disregard. It expresses less than hatred
or contempt</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.
When used as a verb is </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>to
dislike in a moderate degree; to consider with disregard,
disapprobation, dislike, or slight contempt; to slight.</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></b></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Titles given to the person commonly known as "the Antichrist."</b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">(1)
"The king of Babylon" (Isa_14:4);</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">(2)
"The Assyrian" (Isa_14:25; See notes on Mic_5:5); This
alone should quell all of your arguments defending your assertion
that a Revised Roman Empire will arise.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">(3)
"The Prince that shall come" (Dan_9:26); </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">(4)
"The king of fierce countenance" (Dan_8:23); </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">(5)
"The vile person" (Dan_11:21); </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">(6)
"The willful king" (Dan_11:36); </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">(7)
"The man of sin" (2Th_2:3); </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">(8)
"The son of perdition" (2Th_2:3); </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">(9)
"That wicked (or lawless) one" (2Th_2:3; Rev_13:18); </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">(10)
"The beast with ten horns" (Rev_13:1); </span></span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.98in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">(11)
"The little horn (Dan_8:9). Isa_27:1, Zec_1:18, Mat_24:5;
Mat_24:15, 2Th_2:3-4, 1Jn_2:18; 1Jn_4:3.</span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">We are told that he will </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>reaffirm the covenant </b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">for seven years. We assume that this is a peace treaty with Israel when Israel is NEVER mentioned, and I have shown you how the UN, in
September of 2023, will reaffirm their 7-year agreement to enforce
SDGs. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">Coming under the guise of peace, he is able to seize Israel. Now I cannot
exclude a massive attack (see Ezekiel 38 and 39)</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
</li></ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">22
With the force of a flood, they shall be swept away from before him
and be broken, </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">and
also the prince of the covenant. </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;">“</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>With
the force of a flood”</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">?
This does not look good for Israel. Remember, God has always preserved for himself a remnant. Verse 22 also makes a bizarre
statement "</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>they
shall be swept away from before him and be broken</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">,
and also the prince of the covenant." We often see a picture of Jesus as being the prince of the covenant; the problem is that Jesus brought the new covenant. So this prince points to the high priest that will be serving in the newly built temple and fits in with an
Islamic prophecy, which tells us that the high priest will convert to Islam and give the Mahdi (<i>the antichrist</i>) worship and allegiance.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
</li></ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">23
And after the league is made with him (<i>the Mahdi</i>), he shall act </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>deceitfully</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">,
for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people.
</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">24
<b>He shall enter peaceably,</b> even into the richest places of the
province; and he shall do </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>what
his fathers have not done</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">,
nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil,
and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds,
but only for a time. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.98in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">Because
he is an Assyrian, a hated enemy of Israel, then this statement
indicating that he shall do what his fathers have not done makes
more sense. This is talking about an ancestral line of attackers.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">25
"He shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of
the South with a great army. And the king of the South shall be
stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army, but he shall
not stand, for they shall devise plans against him.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.98in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">Let's
just take a shot. The king of the South is Egypt. They, like the
Saudis, are probably Sunni Muslims (<i>85 % percent of the Middle East is Sunni Muslim</i>) and not Shiites (<i>Only 15% of the Muslims are Shia Muslims. Iran ascribes to Shia ideals</i>); therefore, they will not
cooperate, and, as scripture tells points out, they will be
destroyed. Most of us never knew a group called ISIS or ISIL ever existed until the United States got involved in Afghanistan. According to an article dated</span></span></span></span></span></span><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="color: #70757a;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">Aug
25, 2021, on a website called "The Conversation," authors
<b>Sohel Rana</b>, a Ph.D. Student at Indiana University, and <b>Sumit
Ganguly</b>, a Distinguished Professor of Political Science and the
Tagore Chair in Indian Cultures and Civilizations Indiana
University, wrote an article entitled <u>Taliban’s religious ideology
– Deobandi Islam – has roots in Colonial India</u>. </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;">https://theconversation.com/talibans-religious-ideology-deobandi-islam-has-roots-in-colonial-india-166323</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.98in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">Merely because they are the smallest portion of the sects, we cannot exclude them. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">26
Yes, those who eat of the portion of his delicacies shall destroy
him; his army shall be swept away, and many shall fall down slain. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.98in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">His
own people will betray him and die.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">27
Both these kings' hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak
lies at the same table, but it shall not prosper, for the end will
still be at the appointed time. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.98in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-color: #ffe599;">The
appointed time?</span> This is the time when they try to go to battle with Jesus.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.98in;"><span style="color: #292f33;">“</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">Now
I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him
was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>He
judges and makes war</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">.”
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">Revelation
19:11 NKJV</span></span></span></span></span></p></blockquote><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.98in;"><br /></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.98in;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Now out of His
mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations.</b>
And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads
the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. “
Revelation 19:15 NKJV</span></p></blockquote>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.98in;"><span style="color: #292f33;"> </span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">28
While returning <span style="background-color: #ffe599;">to his land</span> with great riches, his heart shall be
moved against the holy covenant, so he shall do damage and return to
his own land. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.98in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">The
question is, <b>where is his land?</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.98in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">I don't know; no one does because he
will not be introduced to the world until after the church is
snatched out of here.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.98in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>"his heart shall be moved against the holy covenant."</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.98in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">This has everything to do with Israel, and since Israel primarily focuses on the </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 17.3333px;">Torah, and the Tenach</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">, then we are really talking about those that hold tightly to the covenants or promises of God in those manuscripts</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">29
"At the appointed time, he shall return and go toward the south,
but it shall not be like the former or the latter. 30 For
ships from <b>Cyprus </b>shall come against him; therefore he shall be
grieved, and return in rage against the holy covenant, and do damage.
"So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the
holy covenant. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.98in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">Translations,
such as the King James, say Kittim. This area can be identified as
Cyprus today. While I am sure they have a military force, I would not
have perceived them as dangerous. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.98in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">Question? How far South can this man go and still have the Cyprian navy chasing him? </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">31
And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the
sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices,
and place there the abomination of desolation.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.89in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">Then
they shall take away the daily sacrifices 1240 days after the
reaffirmation of the covenant, and place there the abomination of
desolation.” When does this take place? </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>1290</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">
days after they cause the sacrifices to cease. Do the math. Based
upon a 360-day year, we will have exceeded the seven years by ten days.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.89in;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>One
of the mysteries.</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.89in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Blessed
is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and
thirty-five days.” </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Daniel
12:12 NKJV </span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.89in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">Since
we know that the antichrist will stop the sacrifices at the 1240
mark, then adding this time that God is most interested in gives us
2575. That number minus 2540 puts us 35 days beyond the seven years. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.89in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.89in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Why
would God do that? </b></span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.89in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">Because
this is when Jesus comes back and cleans the house. In the 35 days, the
antichrist will have the temple destroyed, and they, from every
direction, will have gathered against Jesus for war. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.89in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.89in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>How
did they know to gather in the Meggido Valley?</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.89in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">We
are told that every eye will see Him. They will know, just as the
Magi knew where to come to find the young Jesus.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.98in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Daniel
11:44-45</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">
NLT “But then news from the east and the north will alarm
him, and he will set out in great anger to destroy and obliterate
many. 45 He will stop between the glorious holy mountain
and the sea and will pitch his royal tents. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>But
while he is there, his time will suddenly run out, and no one will
help him.</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></p></blockquote><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.76in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>What
does this phrase “his time will suddenly run out, and no one will
help him” speak of? </b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">It
speaks of the final and sudden end of the antichrist and the false
prophet. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.98in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Revelation
19:19-21</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">
NLT </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Then
I saw the beast and the kings of the world and their armies gathered
together to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">
20 And </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>the
beast was captured and with him the false prophet</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">
who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast—miracles that
deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped
his statue. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Both
the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake
of burning sulfur.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">
21 </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Their
entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came from the mouth of
the one riding the white horse</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">.
And the vultures all gorged themselves on the dead bodies.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.98in;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Revelation
19:11-12 </b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">NLT
Then I saw heaven opened, and </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">a
white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and
True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">
12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head
were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood
except himself.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.98in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Revelation
19:15</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">
NLT From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the
nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the
fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a
winepress.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.98in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.81in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Question,
does He kill everyone from among the nations?</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.81in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">The
answer is no, and you can see that in verse 15, as it states, “He
will rule them with a rod of iron.” </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.81in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.81in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>If
He kills them all, then who is left to rule over?</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.81in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">If
you answered No one, you would be correct; therefore</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><u>,
there are those from among the nations that survive and go into the
millennial kingdom</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">.
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.81in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Revelation
19:18-20</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">
NLT Come and eat the flesh of kings, generals, and strong
warriors; of horses and their riders; and of all humanity, both free
and slave, small and great.” 19 Then I saw the beast
and the kings of the world and their armies gathered together to
fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army. 20
And the beast was captured and with him the false prophet who did
mighty miracles on behalf of the beast—miracles that deceived all
who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue.
Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery
lake of burning sulfur.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">It
sounds like the end, but it is not. A few minutes after this, Christ
will sit as the reigning King for a thousand years, and there will be
peace, finally. Satan is bound for this time but will be released to
test the nations one last time. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span lang="en-US">No,
not everyone goes to hell, but that decision is entirely up to God. Since I have asked Him to come and live inside of me, so I am not going to worry about it. I do know that after the
judgment from the great white throne, we will all, the saints, that
is, migrate into an undisturbed eternity. The earth and all of its
pollution will be burned up, but God will make all things new, and it
will be fantastic.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.42in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<br /><br />
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<br /><br />
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<br /><br />
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<br /><br />
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<br /><br />
</p>Ozzie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312485261504917503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266727359838878182.post-67470992060465802312023-08-06T17:23:00.000-07:002023-08-06T17:23:02.680-07:00Questions and concerns about the antichrist. Part 3 of four.<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">We
ended part two with this. </span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Because
he, the antichrist, affirms the “peace” covenant, we seem to
think he is the one that initiates it, and that is not what the
scriptures tell us. The passage that we love to cling to and misread is
Daniel 9:26, 27, where we make several huge assumptions that are
incorrect.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">A
common translation reads like this.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="break-before: auto; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.43in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>Daniel
9:26-27</b> NKJV "And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall
be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is
to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall
be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are
determined. 27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many
for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to
sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one
who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate."</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"> </span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>Confirm
</b>is the Hebrew word </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>gâbar</b></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>
</b>and means </span></span></span>to be strong, exceed, confirm, and strengthen. You cannot use a word like strengthen and assume that he made the covenant. If this coincides with the covenant that the UN made in 2013, then all this mystery character can do is attempt to make the killing more efficient. Since the UN's vision has subtle bloodless death as its main method of help, then killing off more people should be an easy task.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Let's pick it apart.</span></p><ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“<span><b>And
after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off...”</b></span></span></p>
<ul>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This speaks of the death (and resurrection) of Jesus, the Messiah.</span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">“<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>And
the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and
the sanctuary.”</b></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">This
next one is where great and damaging assumption takes place.</span></span></p>
<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Followers of my blog have read, on multiple occasions, how Titus was desperately trying to preserve the temple, as an uproar in Jerusalem could have caused his death at the hands of Caesar. Titus, in his case, was the prince, but the people who came at his orders were </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">also </span><span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">conscripted
Assyrian Troops. These Assyrian troops ignored, at their own risk of death,
the orders from Titus to extinguish the fires they had started. So the people of the prince who came were Assyrians. These Assyrians match the legs,
feet, and the mixed material toes of Daniel's statue. If you look up the word mixed in something like the Strong's concordance, you will find that it is the Aramaic word <b>arab </b>and means mixed.</span></span></ul>
</li><li><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">What
do we know for sure?</span></span></p>
</li><ul>
<li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">That
violent people, on behalf of the antichrist, will once again come and
destroy</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">:
the </span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>city</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"> </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">and
the </span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>sanctuary</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">.
I say once again because the serpent has obviously done this once before during the reign of Titus Vespasian. If Psalm 83 depicts a coming war (I don't think so,) then that, along with Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39, describes at least two wars.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Those two events - the destruction of the city and the sanctuary, are not in close proximity, time-wise, because we have learned that the sacrifice will be stopped 1240 days into the seven-year covenant, which was reaffirmed by the antichrist. 1290 days later is when the abomination will be set up in the temple.
Somewhere between the abomination being set up and the return of
Jesus as the warring Messiah 45 days later, the temple will be
destroyed.</span></span></p>
</li><li><p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Considering how many people have countered with Israel will NOT be destroyed,
it feels like it is necessary to emphasize, <b>Israel will be
destroyed</b>. All at one time, right after the rapture of the church? Maybe not. </span></span></p>
</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">The allusions to "</span></span></span></span>The end of it shall
be with a flood" are numerous. You can only bring complete
destruction once, but you can bring many destructive battles that will seem like complete destruction and still have some form of
function. Just look at what is happening to Ukraine. <span style="background: rgb(255, 229, 153);">An
example of what I am talking about can be seen in</span> the
function of the rebuilt temple. 1240 days into the covenant time
cycle, the antichrist will cause the sacrifices to
cease. Certainly, the firebombing from God that we see in
Ezekiel 38, 39 will be substantial. </span></p></li></ul><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>In what form or purpose will the temple serve after the cessation of sacrifices</b>?</span></p></li><ul><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Because we
understand that Israel will be completely destroyed, <u>then a
complete destruction</u> - one that removes the functional government and the religious heads that turned the people away from Jesus the
Messiah, <u>must come to pass</u>, <b>but when?</b> </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Scripture
tells us that the wanton killing that comes <b>at the direction of the
antichrist and the false prophet </b>would indicate that people are
forced to worship the beast - and, in time, the image. Islamic prophecies tell us that the false prophet steps up as the enforcer of Sharia law after wholly pledging himself to the Mahdi. The false prophet will be the primary person at this point, who enforces compliance and worship of the Mahdi - the antichrist. When it comes to worshiping the image, well,
you cannot do that if the image is some animatronic head located in
a temple that may be blown up. So that piece of logic just got
destroyed. We are told that the <b>desecration</b> of the temple
happens <b>1290</b> days after the cessation of the sacrifices, and, as far as I can tell, having this image sitting on the same altar where you were doing the sacrifices would be the desecration. Do
the math, and you will find that we have now extended beyond seven
years.
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fepCpVtV40ft5HO1eksrdIRiJH6PPFOylNh3dxcGuAhbbVEuo0vXnESD1B7IOIBFEZb7yWTXoo-W2h-K7I7Vvwoqv0ercLrR7NekOudRrZHUh5w8w6wpR9jwEDCYzSycMoam3A2NxuoNbgFUSG-D3XkLIqF0NARqo2K5K9gNQ_qVvDdyK1vgMEOPKrk/s230/BAsking%20Shark.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="230" data-original-width="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fepCpVtV40ft5HO1eksrdIRiJH6PPFOylNh3dxcGuAhbbVEuo0vXnESD1B7IOIBFEZb7yWTXoo-W2h-K7I7Vvwoqv0ercLrR7NekOudRrZHUh5w8w6wpR9jwEDCYzSycMoam3A2NxuoNbgFUSG-D3XkLIqF0NARqo2K5K9gNQ_qVvDdyK1vgMEOPKrk/s16000/BAsking%20Shark.jpg" title="Basking Shark" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">This may be
classified as one of those scriptural mysteries, but<b> the Jews
count a day as any portion of a day</b>. Apply this to Jesus' death
and resurrection. If Jesus died on Friday afternoon (one day), He
is in the tomb before 3P.M., the beginning of the Sabbath. Sabbath
lasts until 3P.M. Saturday evening (two days.) <b>Sunday,
early in the morning, no matter the time, is the third day</b>. The logic behind this is that Sunday began at 3P.M. Saturday evening.
Consider that Jesus used <u>the Prophet Jonah as an analogy to His own time in death. I think He did this so that, beyond all questions, people would understand that </u><u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">Jonah
</span></u><u><b>was dead for three days</b></u><u>,
and God brought him back to life.</u> (Believe it or not, I have had many arguments with people about how Jonah was dead for three days. Ask yourself would use someone who had lived comfortably in the belly of a big fish with a raft, a small table, a lamp, and a deck of cards, like Pinocchio, to represent your own death and the magnificence involved in those actions, if his experience was not even close? The Mediterranean Sea, where the narrative of Jonah took place, has a fish capable of swallowing a human whole; it is called a basking shark.)</span><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So, if the signs, and there are many, are telling us that the warring Messiah will be back in 2030, at the end of the seven years of wrath, then
2023 should be the year of the departure or snatching away of the church. Considering the Jewish understanding of time, then any point within this year of 2023 is fair game.</span></p></li></ul></ul><div><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">He is the antichrist, and nowhere does it say that Israel is the subject of
this covenant. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">An interesting development occurred on June 13, 2023, when the UN stated, “</span></span></span><span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Today,
at the halfway point to 2030, that promise is in peril and a
fundamental shift is needed – in commitment, solidarity, financing,
and action – to put the world on a better path. And it is needed
now</i></span></span><span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">.”
If you wish to see this document, go directly to the UN's website.
https://www.un.org/en/desa/we-need-7-years-accelerated-transformative-action-achieve-sdgs</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>So
what are they calling the UN members to do about the potential that they
might NOT reach their 2030 goal?</b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
</span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">They
have called for an urgent meeting where they will reaffirm the
covenant for seven years. In Biblical terms, they are going to
“confirm the covenant with many for one week.” In prophetic
language, one week is equivalent to seven years. </span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">If you are thinking I missed the context, then look at Daniel 9:26.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Daniel
9:26</b></span><span style="color: black;">
NKJV "… And <b>the people of the prince who is to come</b>
Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. ...”</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It's
not the man but those that follow his commands. Titus did not
command his troops to destroy the temple, so don't go looking for a
re-birthed Roman Empire.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>When
you read something like 1 Thessalonians 5:3, you need to be asking
yourself, who are the “they”?</b></span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">For
when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction
comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall
not escape.”<br /></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>1
Thessalonians 5:3</b></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> NKJV</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">An
obvious but presumptive choice would be Israel. How are you not
aware? Israel just recently went through three nationwide votes to
get a prime minister once again, as Benjamin Netanyahu was dragged
through the mud over allegations, just as former President Donald
Trump still is. One of their former Prime ministers has been plotting
a coup for over two years with the aid of retired IDF Generals. All
this has been monitored as they met for discussions through Zoom
calls (<i>you have no secrecy in Israel</i>.) The country is on the verge of
civil war, if not already there. Doctors are on strike, and approximately
10,000 reservists are refusing to return to much-needed duty all
because the Prime Minister pushed for legal reforms that put an end
to leftist legal interpretations and judgments. Decisions have
pushed Israel into the critical situation they are now facing.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Still,
in all this turmoil, it seems there are those that think they are in
the best of times. </span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If
you have been paying attention, the UN is calling for a meeting in
early September, and they are already calling for <b>peace, safety, and
the reaffirmation of the seven-year covenant </b>that
was established to bring about the <u>Social Development Goals</u> designed
to bring about the New World Order, that Presidents Reagan, Bush, and
Obama talked about with frequency.</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: black;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">His
power will be great, but it will not be his own. He will cause
terrible destruction and succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy
the mighty men along with the holy people. Through his craft and by
his hand, he will cause deceit to prosper, and <b>in his own mind he
will make himself great</b>. In a time of peace he will destroy many, and
he will even stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be
broken off, but not by human hands.”<br /><b>Daniel
8:24-25</b>
BSB</span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Since
we know that <span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">royal
honor has </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">not</span></b></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">
been conferred</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
upon him, then it's safe to say that he is not currently a part of the crowd
that wants to dominate the planet. </span></span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">You
might ask, why, then, is he given the authority to do whatever he
wants?</span></b></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
</span></span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Allow
me to remind you. </span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now
the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet
of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The
dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority</span></b></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.”
</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">And
I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his
deadly wound was healed</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
And all the world marveled and followed the beast. </span></span><b>Revelation
13:2, 3</b> NKJV+</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The
beast was comprised of </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">known</span></b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
empires </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">until</span></b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
the two bronze leg aspects of the fourth showed up.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This
image's head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its
belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron
and partly of clay.” </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Daniel 2:32-33</b>
NKJV</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Empire
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">#1</span></b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">,
the head of gold – Babylon under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar; </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">#2,</span></b></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
the chest and arms of silver - </span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
the Medes and Persians; </span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">#3,</span></b></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
the Macedonian or Grecian monarchy, set up by Alexander. Now here is
where it changes. According to John Gill's commentary, the Grecian
empire was followed by “the two "thighs," </span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">the
fourth empire</span></b></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
These legs of iron denote Alexander's principal successors, the
Seleucid and Ptolemaic empires. Both were Grecian generals, and both
were highly integrated into the surrounding </span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Assyrian
kingdoms</span></b></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
If you do your homework, you will get to the feet where the toes are
mixed, iron and clay. </span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The
Aramaic word for <b>mixed </b>is <b>arab</b></span></u></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
Trace this lineage back to Abraham and Isaac, and you will come to
Ishmael and Esau. They are both described as nations that will NOT
get along with each other.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
beast is best thought of as a demonic spirit that enters particular,
handpicked people to drive, empower them, and be changed in Satan's
favor. </span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Then
I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">a
beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and
on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the
feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The
dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.</span></u></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">”
</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Revelation
13:1-2</b></span><span style="font-size: medium;">
NKJV</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And
we have descriptions of the first three empires but not the fourth.
Note that even within this passage, the beast takes on a singular
male orientation.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Those
handpicked people have ruled over kingdoms, empires, and
“governmental bodies.” But as we read verse three above, we see
one of these empires sustain what the world could see as a mortal
wound. That means they never expected this empire to rise again. Oh,
but it did as it was </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">restored
to health. </span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Strangely,
the primary word used to define this word “healing”</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
is to serve or do service</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
If this was the Ottoman Empire, as I have spelled out multiple
times, then <u>the implications are that people have meticulously nursed
this empire slowly and secretly back to health</u>. History shows us that
ideologies like the Muslim Brotherhood, an offshoot of the fallen
Ottoman empire, began to emerge in Egypt but with much more violent
motives.</span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Revelation
13:5 indicates that </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">this
beast, which has migrated into what appears to be a solitary being –
a male</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">, now has the “</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">authority
to do whatever he </span><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">wants</span></i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
for forty-two months.” (That is 3.5 years.) </span></span></span></span>
</p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Then
the beast was allowed to </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">speak
great blasphemies</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
against God. </span></span><span style="color: black;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">And
he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for forty-two
months</span></u></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.”
</span></span><b>Revelation 13:5</b> NLT</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">End
of part three.</span></span></p></div>Ozzie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312485261504917503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266727359838878182.post-57811515125727570282023-08-02T11:28:00.004-07:002023-08-05T21:10:42.537-07:00Questions and concerns about the antichrist. Part two of four.<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <i style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">It
feels like I covered all my bases in dealing with the antichrist in
the previous post, so let's move on to <b>the rule and influence of the
antichrist.</b></i></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #292f33; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span>Then
I stood on the sand of the sea. And </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">I
saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten
horns, and on his horns ten crowns</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">,
and on his heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast which I saw was
like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth
like the mouth of a lion. </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">The
dragon gave him his <b>power</b>, his <b>throne</b>, and great <b>authority</b>.</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">”
</span></span><b>Revelation 13:1-2</b> NKJV</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.44in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
beast rises out of the sea, and the sea is the nations. </span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.44in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Check
your focus because usage of the word nations tends to send our minds
to Indonesia or Myanmar. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">For
the Jewish audience, this reference to the sea was an allusion to the
nations that surrounded Israel</span></b></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
Nothing has changed, and</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">
almost every nation surrounding Israel is under Islamic rule</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
There is an oddity in that </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">a
bizarre, multi-headed beast</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
is suddenly referred to as a male entity, which has a throne, and
Satan, himself, has given this man his power. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The question is,
who gives someone evil, like George Soros, the power to bring down nations
and economies?</span></b></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">This
is one of those rhetorical questions that really does not need an
answer, </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">but
hopefully, it makes you think.</span></b></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
I suspect that the same people who empower the likes of Bill Gates and
George Soros will empower this man as well. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">We are told that the
dragon gives the antichrist power; we have nothing that says that
Satan does not empower others. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Matthew's
gospel recorded that Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness. This
time ended with Satan offering Jesus <u>the riches and glory of the
kingdoms of this world</u> (Matthew 4:8,) so it is Satan's to give thanks to Adam, and he is capable of giving this power to whoever he
pleases.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">"Throne"</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> is the Greek word </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">thronos</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
and can mean </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">(to
</span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">sit</span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">)
in a stately </span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">seat</span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
(“a throne”); </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><i>by
implication,</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
it means </span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">power</span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"> or (concretely) a </span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>potentate</b></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">.
<br /></span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">A
synonym for</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>
p</b></span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>otentate
is a dictator.</b></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span></i></span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>How
do most dictators come to power?</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">Through
bloodshed (</span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">Most
often through</span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">the
death of previous leadership and </span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">those
who refused to comply</span></span></span></span></span></i><i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
with the new state of things</span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">.)
Isn't that what we have been experiencing over the last several
years. On the plus side, we have not had to see much of the
bloodshed?</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">Pay
close attention to the words. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: medium;"><u>This
idea that this coming “man” will be shot in the head is bogus.</u></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #292f33; font-size: medium;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">And</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><u>
I saw one of his heads</u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">as
if</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And
all the world marveled and followed the beast.” </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>Revelation
13:3</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
NKJV</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">This
bizarre, multi-headed beast</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
initially </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b>represents</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
kingdoms or authority figures that assert power over us even though
we may not have voted for them. </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">In
the world of dangerous, multi-headed beasts</span></u></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">,
</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b>we
have already had one sustain such a wounding</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">.
Sadly, </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">only
some of us</span></u></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
will pay attention to this piece of history, and for the most part, you are deemed a racist fanatic if you focus on words like Muslim or
Islam. This oppression allows for Islam to grow and fester right
beneath our noses, and no one seems to care.</span></span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><u>End page one.</u></span></span></span></p>
<div dir="LTR" id="Frame2" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1pt solid rgb(255, 255, 255); float: left; height: 3.01in; padding: 0.02in; width: 4.65in;">
<p lang="en-US" style="margin-top: 0.08in;"><span style="font-family: Gentium Book Basic;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>1920s-era classic yacht previously owned by royalty.</i></span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="margin-top: 0.08in;"><span style="font-family: Gentium Book Basic;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Gentium Book Basic;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ykBz7SNMb88zYcFyW1LqrVwVbEZT0ksv8kyCBhWGpsm8RIowpZJSxRQiOhqqRNLYsE7rfESCX2GhDnJVqB98gG0UrGrvqW7R_8VTknfl3RvFMDjNgcOgXP6vh2yG28orXrfU7Jg6xGvnYIFC1osx7YoX4lq7-sELhmZRBnwyj_aqj1Sgxxr5rYnocpA/s2560/1920%20classic%20yacht.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1706" data-original-width="2560" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ykBz7SNMb88zYcFyW1LqrVwVbEZT0ksv8kyCBhWGpsm8RIowpZJSxRQiOhqqRNLYsE7rfESCX2GhDnJVqB98gG0UrGrvqW7R_8VTknfl3RvFMDjNgcOgXP6vh2yG28orXrfU7Jg6xGvnYIFC1osx7YoX4lq7-sELhmZRBnwyj_aqj1Sgxxr5rYnocpA/w419-h249/1920%20classic%20yacht.jpg" width="419" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Gentium Book Basic;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><i><br /></i></span></span><p></p>
</div>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">The
Empire that sustained such a mortal wound was the </span></span></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">Ottoman
Empire</span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US">.
This “</span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US"><b>head</b></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US">”
was tormenting the world of the early 1920s, and many feared that
it/they would take over the peace-loving existence they understood
back then. One of Islam’s notable offenses during this “global”
reign of terror was to board luxury ships and take “white,”
well-to-do people off those ships and sell them as slaves to
traders from the Northern African coast. As you might imagine, that
did not settle well with many back home. Finally, with the aid of a
well-armed coalition that included the United States Marine Corp. and</span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US"><b> the British military</b></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US">,
<u>mortally wounded, or so they thought, the head of this beast </u></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: large;"><u>in 1924</u></span><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US">. </span></span><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US"><b>The
Ottoman Empire</b></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: large;"><span lang="en-US">
went silent for years, and the Martini-drinking, global vacation crowd cheered. </span></span><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: large;">At the time, the
world breathed a sigh of relief and may have said, Thank God that
oppressive power is dead.</span></p><p></p>
<p lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;"><b>Guess
what?</b></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">Slowly,
under other names, the head of this beast began to resurrect itself.
It finally came back into full bloom in 1979 with the Islamic
revolution in Iran. </span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #292f33; font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: underline;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">So
much for </span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33; font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: underline;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">supposedly</span></b></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><u style="font-style: italic;">
killing the beast.</u> </span></span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRnHvv6RP_sSnOAWAg2cLhuA8XI8wBRFjzbalJCfljc_5fje02q5d9389v3ZC-q3MQBCT9mMiLXXKPbbzvWmPF-JjGHbWqBZcLrKywnpJsg8vch8naz6M0uHohDc011jtuJikFvuNlnSZydM7GtagcKuBcFqwlQRIScpfH8M4g9MX1KAw2unwekdFjcQ/s677/The%20land%20of%20Canaan.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Canaan, centered in the yellow zone." border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="461" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRnHvv6RP_sSnOAWAg2cLhuA8XI8wBRFjzbalJCfljc_5fje02q5d9389v3ZC-q3MQBCT9mMiLXXKPbbzvWmPF-JjGHbWqBZcLrKywnpJsg8vch8naz6M0uHohDc011jtuJikFvuNlnSZydM7GtagcKuBcFqwlQRIScpfH8M4g9MX1KAw2unwekdFjcQ/w273-h400/The%20land%20of%20Canaan.jpg" title="Canaan, centered in the yellow zone." width="273" /></a></span></span></span></span></div><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">If
you have been paying attention to the Mideast news, then you know
that Hezbollah and Hamas, both Islamic instruments of destruction funded by people with deep pockets and political ties, have been
tormenting Israel for years. </span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Now, you may think Hezbollah and Hamas
are wholly justified in their actions. <span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">But
we are Bible-believing people and should have an understanding of
the promises made to Abraham</span>. </span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.16in;">
<span style="color: #292f33; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span>And
the LORD said to Abram after Lot had separated from him: "Lift
your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward,
southward, eastward, and westward; </span></span></span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">for
all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants
forever.</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">”
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b>Genesis
13:14-15</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span>
NKJV</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Regardless
of your political affiliations and twisted bent toward Israel, </span></u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><u><b>God
promised the land to His people – descendants of Abraham through
Issac</b></u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.</span></u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
When it comes to</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">
Ishmael and Esaau, their descendants, </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: #ffff99; color: #0e101a; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">too, would become <b>the sands of the sea.</b></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: medium;"><b>An
intriguing comparison in light of Revelation’s references to the
sands of the sea. </b></span></span></span></span></p>
<p lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">One more
thing. </span>
</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Did
you notice how the above scripture passages end with the
word </b></span></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US">forever?</span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span>
</span></p>
<p lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: medium;">Once
this promise was made, it was never rescinded.</span></u></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US">Genesis
12:5-7</span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US"> NKJV
“Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and
all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom
they had acquired in Haran, </span></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US">and
they departed to go to the land of Canaan</span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US">.
So they came to the land of Canaan. 6) Abram passed through the land
to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. And
the Canaanites were then in the land. 7) Then </span></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US">the
LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants, I will give
this land</span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US">.”
And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.”</span></span></span></p>
<p lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Watch
what happens next. </span></u></span>
</span></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">Having
sustained what appeared to be a mortal wound, the beast – <span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">an
empire</span>, came back to life; “<i><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">all
the world marveled and followed the beast</span></b></i><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">.</span>”
Revelation 13:3. </span></p></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDy21EE-nCGi9MKt7qOcFpnAgOGlgM31EGlw7wMARh6SlILbw00rAEd3pFWjRpnVOP9_mkh3R-yNsQKRtW2zPYxbgxGJD5KqDUQrT2EakYq_D_NK0m0E8rLk5KuP3tSjp8uG1UDameYvou-kiQhVy1soEgHP56zAEJscJOA12P31neAgmDcQRl_JM6sh8/s275/islam%20will%20dominate%20the%20world.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDy21EE-nCGi9MKt7qOcFpnAgOGlgM31EGlw7wMARh6SlILbw00rAEd3pFWjRpnVOP9_mkh3R-yNsQKRtW2zPYxbgxGJD5KqDUQrT2EakYq_D_NK0m0E8rLk5KuP3tSjp8uG1UDameYvou-kiQhVy1soEgHP56zAEJscJOA12P31neAgmDcQRl_JM6sh8/s1600/islam%20will%20dominate%20the%20world.jpeg" width="275" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;">To this day, conversations surrounding Islam are
thrown back at me, with "we will never see Islam become large enough
or strong enough to rule the world." Unfortunately, we buy into
that false understanding, for <span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Islam
is wholly committed to dominating the world</span>.</span><p></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 3.07in 0.04in 0.15in;">
<span style="color: #292f33; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span>So
they </span></span></span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">worshiped</span></b></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
the dragon who gave authority to the beast; </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">and
they worshiped the beast</span></b></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">,
saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with
him?" </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b>Revelation
13:4</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span>
NKJV</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The
question is, </span></span></span></span></span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">who
is this "they"</span></b></span></span></span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
who are worshiping the beast?</span></span></span></span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-weight: normal;">It
is NOT the church, for the believers will have been snatched off the
earth by God when this happens. Keep in mind that people are dying
under these conditions as we speak, so don't get too haughty. </span></span></span></span></span></strong></span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Since
you nor I can see the heart of the person that sits next to you in
church and is now vehemently arguing with you as though they are a supporter of Islam, even worse, you have no way of knowing if they are </span></span></span></span></span></span></strong></span></span><strong style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-weight: normal;">truly </span></span></span></span></span></strong><strong style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">a follower of Jesus Christ. My own son-in-law will tell you </span></span></span></span></span></span></strong><strong style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><i><span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">I
don't read the Bible<span style="font-weight: normal;"> but make decisions as to whether the message I
hear is Godly or will lead me to God.</span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></strong><strong style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
Based on this, I am not sure what he believes; therefore, he
may well be one of those people who will make up the “</span>they<span style="font-weight: normal;">” who
will fall on his knees to worship the beast, as I described below.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></strong></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><u>Most
of the people who make up this crowd of “worshipers”</u> are, in most
cases, </span><span style="font-size: medium;">blinded</span><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">; they will prostrate themselves in submission. How
about the </span><span style="font-size: medium;">weak</span><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">, who will submit to whatever this fool will be selling? <u>Some will submit to Islam</u>. <span style="background-color: #ffe599;">It may not go so well for you</span> if you do
that, as they will probably kill you because you are weak, <span style="background-color: #ffe599;">but if it
does</span>, it is a man's religion as the woman is subservient and easily
brutalized and killed under Sharia law. <u>The drawback is that
entrance into the heaven these people are looking for only comes by
spilling your own blood in Jihad.</u></span></span></span></span></span></strong></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><u><br /></u></span></span></span></span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.01in 0.04in 0.16in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Worshiped</span></span></span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> is
the Greek word </span></span></span></span></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">proskuneō, </span></span></span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> meaning
“ To kiss </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">like
a dog </span></span></span></span></span><em><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">licking</span></span></span></span></span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> his
master’s hand,</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
which can imply a fear-based subservience.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
It also carries the idea of </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">prostrating</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
yourself in </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">homage</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.01in 0.04in 0.16in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.01in 0.04in 0.17in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Prostrating</span></b></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
myself before God/Jesus seems like the finest thing I could do
because He has forgiven me for so much. But, it, too, can imply
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">submissiveness
based on fear</span></u></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
</span></span></span></span></span></span>
</span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.01in 0.04in 0.17in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.01in 0.04in 0.16in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Homage</span></b></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">,
as defined by Webster, reads,</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.01in 0.04in 0.29in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">"In
feudal law, the submission, loyalty and service which a tenant
promised to his lord or superior,when first admitted to the land
which he held of him in fee; or rather the act of the tenant in
making this submission, on being invested with the fee. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The
ceremony of doing homage was thus performed</span></b></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
T</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">he
tenant, being </span></u></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><u><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">ungirt</span></b></u></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
and </span></u></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><u><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">uncovered</span></b></u></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">,
kneeled and held up both his hands between those of the lord, who sat
before him, and there professed that "he did become his man,
from that day forth</span></u></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">,
of life and limb and earthly honor," and then received a kiss
from his lord.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.01in 0.04in 0.29in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">The
idea that the antichrist creates a new religion and forces everyone
to worship him, as we do the Father, </span><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">is
</span></b><span><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">based on</span></b></span><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">
</span></b>the<b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);"> </span></b><span><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">assumption</span></b></span>
that these people, referred to as “they,” worshiped the beast,
antichrist, <u>because the beast (an empire) which they alternately see
as a man, sustains this mortal wound, dies, and comes back to life</u>. </span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">As
children, we watched cartoons that portrayed incidents just like this. What did the bystanders in the cartoon do? They said
ooh, and aah, and then blindly followed this leader into some form of
captivity. </span></span>
</span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">We
cannot find a biblical or legitimate reason to see the world
following this man’s religion if he has one, or to initially
worship him</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">In time, he will try to make the entirety of the global
population bow to him. I am making a massive assumption here because,
as I have pointed out, </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">most
of our eschatological conversation should be focused on the Mideast</span></u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
There is nothing dominant that should make us change our
thinking. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Well,
there is one thing: the idea of a sea</span></span></span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The
seas touch the shorelines of virtually every significant nation that
plays a role in the end times. </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 0);"><u>If</u></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><u>
the antichrist</u>, like one of our recent American Presidents, <u>has
declared that he is a Muslim, then the “religion” that this
man</u> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">may
try to make everyone follow is Islam</span></u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
(</span></span></span></span></span><em><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">If
he shows up wearing a monk’s robe, he may try to push everyone to
be a Catholic; at least they are not so openly violent.</span></span></span></span></span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">)
<b>Islam also advocates, through violence, that all people bow to Allah in
allegiance.</b> An intriguing way to look at life and prophecy,</span></span></span></span></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> right?</span></span></span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><u><b>I
need to interject this.</b></u></i></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Recently, on 07/21/23, an individual who makes Christian videos recommended that
we all watch a Christian video but gave no defining terminology, so I
watched a few minutes of it, clicked dislike, and turned it off. The
video was the preaching of </span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Pastor
Robert Breaker</b></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">.
His claim to fame is that he is a proponent of </span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">the
King James version of the Bible only</span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">,
as it, in his opinion, is the </span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>untainted
word of God</b></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">. </span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">Untainted?</span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"> Not
by a long shot, and as the now deceased Bible teacher</span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>
Dr. Chuck Missler</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
used to say, “the King James is filled with errors but those errors
are well known and documented,” and we have pointed those out
errors on multiple occasions. I pointed out one of those major issues
as we looked at </span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US"><b>2
Thessalonians 2:3</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="en-US">
and how the Catholic church, the state church of England, in the
1500s, forced King James to rewrite and change the wording found in
the Geneva Bible to reflect their disdain for those leaving the
church. This action taken by the Catholic church diminished and
changed our focus on the rapture and perverted the way we look at the
timing of this event. I am sure this information means nothing to
most of you, but it is vital, and the lack of sound and biblical
wisdom feeds into the confusion I perpetually hear from the mouths of
those I sit by in church – people, by the way, that will not pick
up their Bibles, I know this because they tell me.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US">Pastor
Breaker initiated his talk with a chuckle</span></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US"> as
he stated that there are a lot of false teachers out there</span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US">.
He continued his address by trying to define what will happen after
the rapture. If you are a follower of Christ that reads your Bible,
then you know that a significant player emerges after the rapture and
is called the antichrist.</span></span></span></p>
<p lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Pastor
Breaker quickly focused on Revelation 13:3, and he </span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">seemed
antagonistic as he talked about why we should take the bible
literally when it says this man receives a mortal wound. (</span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><i>No
matter the translation, it does NOT say that he receives a mortal
wound</i></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">.)</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.41in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span>And
I saw one of his heads </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">as
it were</span></b></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world
wondered after the beast.” <br /></span></span><b>Revelation 13:3</b>
KJV</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.41in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Try to picture a
human with three heads, and one of them takes a bullet. You cannot because there is NO way something like this can exist.
It is certainly easier to imagine a head of state being killed, but
even that is morbid and goes against our moral character if we have
one.</span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.41in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">How does the Tree of Life translation convey this same verse?</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><u>One of his
heads </u><u><b>seemed</b></u><u> to have been slain</u>, but the
fatal wound was healed. The whole earth was amazed and followed the
beast.”<br /><b>Revelation 13:3 </b>TLV</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b>Can
you see a common thread? </b></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">They
both </span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">imply</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
that </span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b>it
seemed to be dead</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">.
The King James Bible adds, <u>“his deadly wound was healed.”</u> And both
express that many begin to follow this beast because it rises from
its deadly wound, and now, in the form of a man, he is doing great
signs, much like the old testament prophets did.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><u><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
Strong's concordance gives us this. </span></span></u>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.43in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">One
short Greek w</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">ord, </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>hōs,</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">and
we get all this, </span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><i><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">as
it were,</span></b></i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">in
that manner. </span></b></span></span></span></span></i></span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.43in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">“ </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><i><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">as
it were' </span></b></i></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">is
the transliteration for the Gr</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">eek
word </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">hōs</span></b></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
In effect, that means we have no direct translation and, therefore,
must improvise.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">“</span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>his</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">”
is the Greek wo</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">rd
</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffe599; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; background: rgb(255, 229, 153);">hautou</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-color: #ffe599;">
</span>and has some vague meanings. It is a c</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">ontraction
for </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #9753db;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">G1438</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">;
</span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">self</span></span></span></span></i><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
(in some oblique case or reflexive relation): - </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>her</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
(own), (of) </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>him</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
(-self), his (own), of it,</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>
thee, their (own), them (-selves), they.</b></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Perhaps
this is indicative of the amount of information that we do not know
about the antichrist. What we do know is that the antichrist is
always referred to as he.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.42in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b>deadly</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">”
is the Greek word </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">thanatos,</span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
and it means death; however, it can mean death in a </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">figurative sense.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">We
are not playing words here, as the verse itself tells us to look at
this </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">as
if</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
it had been mortally wounded.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>Wound</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">”
is the Greek word </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">plēgē</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">.
It means, by implication, a wound, </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">but
figuratively we are to be looking for a </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><u><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">calamity</span></u></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>Calamity</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">,
according to Webster, </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">is</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">
any great misfortune or cause of misery</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.09in; margin-top: 0.09in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">Go
back to the beginning of page two, where I gave a brief
explanation of how <b>the Ottoman Empire fulfilled this role</b>. Having
been captured, outlawed, and forced to disband, certainly qualifies
as a </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>calamity</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
for them, at least for a time. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">One
of the things that bothers me is how much authority and power the
“bible teachers” give the antichrist. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">Daniel
chapter eleven is both a history lesson and an eschatological map of
the end times. For example: </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #292f33;">“</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">His
forces</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
will rise up and profane the fortified Temple; they will stop the
daily offering </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>and
set up the abomination of desolation</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">.”
<br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>Daniel
11:31</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><span lang="en-US">
TLV</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Anyone who reads the
Bible with the intent to learn knows that the antichrist will do just
that but at the three-and-one-half-year mark. I am not foolish
because I know that Antiochus Epiphanes did this very thing. If you
understand that prophecy, to the Jew, is repetition, then you know
that it just makes sense for God to have shown them this very thing on a previous occasion.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">And from the time
that the daily sacrifice is taken away, <b>and the abomination of
desolation is set up</b>, there shall be one thousand two hundred and
ninety days.” <b>Daniel 12:11</b> NKJV</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">So much of Daniel 11
speaks of Antiochus Epiphanes; however, there is a moment where there is a
definite shift in power. Notice the time frame, 1290 days. If you have been doing the math, the first segment of the seven years is clearly stated as 1240 days. Because we have been fed this idea of a seven-year peace treaty, you would logically assume that the last section of time would also be 1240 days. Surprise, the antichrist seems to be the one who establishes this extra fifty days. Another surprise comes as we were prompted to see the false prophet as the one who sets up an image of the beast, the abomination of desolation, and we all seem to believe that this happens three-and-one half-years into the seven years of the covenant. </span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Once the temple sacrifices are reestablished 1240 days later, the daily sacrifices will cease. 1290 days later, the image of the beast will be set up in the temple. Now pay attention to something I have never understood before. </span></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.01in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">"Blessed is he who waits, and comes to <b>the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days</b>." </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><b>Daniel 12:12</b> NKJV</span></p></blockquote><div><span style="font-size: medium;">From the time the daily sacrifice is taken away until Revelation 19:11, where Jesus comes back for war, riding a white horse, would appear to be these 1335 days. <u>We assume a lot of things</u>. Such as: how quickly the temple gets built after the rapture, how quickly the antichrist shows up after the rapture, how the antichrist's affirmation of the covenant is the trigger for the seven years of God's wrath, and how the seven-year period must hold to a precise seven years. Well, let's not make assumptions here, either. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Revelation 19:12-18 gives us a tremendous amount of background information, all of which can transpire with a thought. So we don't have to go looking for gaps in time.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-size: medium;">"And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army."</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Revelation 19:19 </b>NKJV</span></div></div></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Revelation 19:19 does not allow for last-minute preparations, as this has been at the forefront of the beasts thinking since he came into power; and, when Jesus shows up, they are there, in the Megiddo Valley, waiting for their chance to kill the Messiah. Good luck with that.</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Back to our descriptions of the beast.</span></h3>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">And in his place
shall arise <b>a vile person</b>, <span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">to
whom </span><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">they will not give
the honor of royalty</span></b>; but he shall come in peaceably and
seize the kingdom by intrigue.” <b>Daniel 11:21</b> NKJV</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.43in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Consider how the
Tree of Life version conveys this same passage. </span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;"><span style="font-size: medium;">
“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Then in his place
will arise <b>a despicable person</b>, on whom <span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);"><b>royal
honor has not been conferred</b></span>. He will come in a time of
tranquility, and seize the kingdom through intrigue.” <b>Daniel
11:21</b> TLV</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.02in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">The
terminology makes me think of King Charles 111. His mother added the
title “Sir” to a tremendous number of people. Whoever it is that
will step up to fill the role of the antichrist (it will not carry
the title of antichrist) will have no previously known title.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.2in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b>Honor</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span>.
The Hebrew word is </span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Doulos SIL;"><span><b>hôd</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span>
and means </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b>splendor,
majesty, vigor, and glory</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span>.
</span></span></span></span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-right: 0.43in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Many,
like Emmanuel Macron, are contending to hold power over the planet.
Macron is contending for the title of antichrist, although he does not
realize it.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.21in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b>Kingship
</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span>-
</span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Doulos SIL;"><span><b>malkûth</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span>
meaning </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span><b>rule;
concretely a dominion: - empire, kingdom, realm, reign</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span>.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">This
has a familiarity to it. Again the President of France, Emmanuel
Macron, or Barack Obama, should be excluded as they have both held
the rule over a dominion.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Another
clear description of the antichrist that excludes many is this
statement - “<span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">on whom royal honor
has not been </span><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">conferred</span></b>.”</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-left: 0.2in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><b>Conferred</b>
is the Hebrew word <b>nâthan</b> and means<b> to give or put upon
him</b>.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Because
he, the antichrist, affirms the peace covenant, we seem to think he
is the one that initiates it, and that is not what the scriptures tell
us.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">A
common translation reads like this. </span></span>
</span></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">
</span></span></p><p align="CENTER" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33; font-size: medium;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">he
shall confirm a covenant with many for one week</span>;” NKJV</span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">End part two.</span></span></p>Ozzie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312485261504917503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266727359838878182.post-55866008125948930752023-07-24T07:37:00.005-07:002023-08-05T21:10:11.430-07:00Questions and concerns about the antichrist. Part 1 of four.<p> <span lang="en-US">I am taking a short break from our study in
Matthew to address some questions and concerns once again. </span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US">One
of the major concerns is the number of people who are willing to tell
us that we are looking for the antichrist to come out of </span></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US">the
Roman Empire</span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US">.
(</span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US"><i>Sorry,
but I do not see that in scripture, so I will discuss it.</i></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US">)
</span></span><span lang="en-US">The other concern, and quite
frequently a question, has to do with </span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 255);">the
rule and influence of the antichrist</span></span><span lang="en-US">.
The assumption that many make is that he is </span><span lang="en-US"><b>a
power to contend with</b></span><span lang="en-US"> </span><span lang="en-US"><b>throughout
the seven years</b></span><span lang="en-US">, but that is not the
case, and I will show you why.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<b>Who are we looking for that can come and fulfill the role of the
antichrist?</b>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The answer has little to do
with the followers of Christ, <u><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 255);">for
we, the church, will never </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 255);">knowingly</span></span><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 255);">
see the antichrist</span>. </u></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">When people say we are looking
for a man to come out of the resurrected Roman Empire, <u>they are
leaning upon traditional teachings that are wrong</u>,
or<u> they are trying to put all their weight upon Daniel
9:26, which speaks of “the people of the prince who is to come</u>.”</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
“<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And
after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for
Himself; And t</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">he
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">people
of the prince who is to come </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Shall
destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a
flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.”
<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Daniel
9:26</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
NKJV</span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">A thought
on <b>Daniel 9:26</b> before we move forward. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><u>Within this verse, there is a chronological context and an allusion
to a time, which for us in 2023 is long past, and yet an event that
must happen again</u>; that would be <span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 255);">the
destruction of the temple</span>. A very obvious fact is that there is no temple today.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Yes, even
then, Titus was alluded to as the prince, but the context that we
should be concerned with is <b>the time after </b>“the sixty-two
weeks” in which the “Messiah” was cut off.<u> <span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 255);">It
is during this time that another prince shall come</span></u>. (<i>I was initiated into the World of Disney, where princes were the heroes. Now that may be what the deluded perceive him as, but it will be shortlived.</i>) <b>Nowhere
</b>does it say that this coming prince will be associated with the Roman
Empire (<i>which, by the way, no longer exists.</i>) Since it was
recorded that Assyrians destroyed the temple, then this prince that
is yet to come, which shall also destroy the city and the sanctuary,
will most likely be associated with the <b>Assyrians </b>– Islam.</span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">I
am confident that many of us have seen the person who will hold the
position of the antichrist, but because this explicit information is
NOT available to us, </span></span></span></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">we
will NOT know</span></span></span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);"> </span></span></span></span></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">that
we are looking at the antichrist</span></span></span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.</span></span></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">If you want proof, 2 Thessalonians chapter two has much of it. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The New King James version reads like this.</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Let
</span><span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come </span><b style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">unless
the falling away comes first</b><span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">, </span><u style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">and the man of sin is revealed</u><span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">, the son
of perdition, </span><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">2 Thessalonians 2:3</b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> NKJV</span></blockquote><p> <span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">I
have talked about this translation problem in detail in previous
posts, how </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>the
Catholic church</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
– </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>the
State Church of England</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
in the 1500s, </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ccffff;">demanded</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffcc;">
that King James change the wording of known Bibles, like the Geneva
Bible, to reflect the church’s </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="background: #ffffcc;">contempt</span></b></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: #ffffcc;">
for people leaving the official church as they migrated to
Protestantism.</span></span></span></span> The Geneva Bible, though difficult to read, gives us a more appropriate translation of the Greek word apostasia when it tells us that we are looking for the church to depart first, and then the son of perdition will come.</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">Let no man deceiue you by any meanes: for that day shall not come, except there come a departing first, and that that man of sinne be disclosed, euen the sonne of perdition, </blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><b>2 Thessalonians 2:3</b> Geneva</blockquote><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">In
general, <u>he will only be revealed when his time comes</u>, and that time
is after the church is removed from the earth. </span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">There
is one other translation (</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>The
Literal Standard Version</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">)</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
that also uses the word </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>departure,</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
but the language is old English and confusing; it gives the
impression that we should be waiting for the man of lawlessness to be
revealed, and that is NOT the case. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(204, 255, 255);">I
think it is safe to say that the church has fallen away from the
Lord</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">It
would be best if you looked up the Greek word – </span></span></span></span></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">apostasia</span></span></span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> to
understand why we, the church, are struggling. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The
KJV, with the Strong’s numbers, reads like this, </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>except</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #9753db;"><sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>G3362</b></span></span></span></sup></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>
there come</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #9753db;"><sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>G2064</b></span></span></span></sup></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>
</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-US"><b>a
</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>falling
away</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #9753db;"><sup><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><span lang="en-US"><b>G646</b></span></span></span></sup></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>
first</b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.”
Strong's G646 </span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">is
the Greek word </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">a</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">postasia</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">
and can be translated as</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">apostasy,
falling away, or departure</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US">In
2 Thessalonians 2:3, the phrase </span></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US">“that
day”</span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="en-US"> is
indicative of the day in which Jesus comes back for His bride, the
church, and then reveals the antichrist. </span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-US">Departure</span></span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span lang="en-US"> </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">denotes the removal of the church from the earth before God’s wrath is
poured out </span></span></span></span></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">and</span></span></span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);"> prior
to the revealing of the antichrist</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
</span></span></span></span>
</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";">“</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">And you know what restrains him now, </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">so that in his time he will be revealed</span></b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.”<br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>2 Thessalonians 2:6</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"> NASB</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p></blockquote><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><u><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">More
evidence to confirm that one event has to happen before the other
can, is, in virtually every translation, shown to us in </span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2
Thessalonians 2:7-8</span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span></u><span style="color: #0e101a;"></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For
the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background: rgb(230, 230, 255);">only
</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="background: rgb(230, 230, 255);">He</span></b></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background: rgb(230, 230, 255);">
who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;">.
</span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">And
then </span></b></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">the
lawless one will be revealed</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">,</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;">
whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy
with the brightness of His coming.” <br /></span><b>2 Thessalonians
2:7-8</b> NKJV</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Typically,
when you see a capitalized personal pronoun, such as He, it typically
refers to one of the trinity; in this case, the <span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Holy
Spirit; i</span>t could refer to one of two others, <u>Jesus</u> or
<u><b>the church</b></u>. </span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Why
the church?</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;">Because
we, the church, are in Jesus Christ. When we ask Jesus Christ into
our lives, the Holy Spirit becomes a part of our lives as well, and
it should be easy to perceive either as the subject here. </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">The
restrainer is the Holy Spirit operating in the life of the believer and responding to our cries for help (prayers.)</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;">
So as long as we who possess the Holy Spirit are still on the earth,
we are restraining </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>the antichrist
(he)</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"> from being revealed.</span></span></span></p>
<h5 class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Why do I reject the idea that the antichrist will come out of the Roman
Empire?</i></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span>
</h5>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>The
majority of the religious world incorrectly hangs their hats on this one passage.</u></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; break-before: auto; margin: 0.04in 0.44in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And
after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for
Himself; </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>And</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">
the people of the prince who is to come</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>
shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;">
The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war
desolations are determined.” <br /></span><b>Daniel 9:26</b> NKJV</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">In order to make the
Roman Empire fit into their argument, <span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">they
have to make the assumption that</span>: </span>
</p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Titus</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">
fulfills the parameters for the destruction of the temple; </span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">That
the “</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>people</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">”
are all Italians (<i>I am being facetious</i>) and maintain an allegiance
to the Pope; </span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">And </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>they have to ignore documented history</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
</li></ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>How many times
was the temple destroyed?</b> </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Two.</u></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The
last time was in 70 AD, during the reign of the Roman Emperor Titus,
t</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #34373a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">he
oldest son of Emperor Vespasian</span></span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">When
conversing about the rebuilt temple, we typically talk about the
third temple, which is yet to come. It will stand for a relatively short time, and then, it, too, will be destroyed.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Since
I opened the can of worms, the next question should be</span></span></span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">,
</span></span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">who
are the people of the prince?</span></span></span></span></strong></span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;">Notice
that in </span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">2
Thessalonians 2:5-6</span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> “he”
is NOT capitalized; therefore, </span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">“he”
is not Jesus.</span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;">
The only persons this could refer to would be Titus or the
Antichrist. Since Titus is still dead, </span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">the
only other person to fill this role of the prince is the prophesied,
coming antichrist. </span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">I
have a problem with the temple's destruction being tied to Titus?</span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b>
</b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"> </span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Both
historians, </span></strong><strong>Josephus</strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"> and </span></strong><strong>Tacitus,</strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"> recorded
that </span></strong><strong>Titus was under tremendous pressure
from Caesar to maintain calm in the city and, therefore,</strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">
</span></strong><u><b>was very much against allowing a riotous
situation to be created in Jerusalem</b></u><u>, for the Jews had
already been severely oppressed, had their language banned, and were
forced to speak Greek, and their Hebrew scrolls were removed from
them and destroyed. Tearing down their temple could ignite the Jews
even further and cause Titus to lose his own head at the hands of
Caesar</u>. <span style="color: #292f33;"> </span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">With
the understanding that <strong>Titus did not want the temple
destroyed,</strong> Josephus recorded that Titus, upon hearing
that the <span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">Assyrian conscript troops,
which had a vile hatred of the Jews,</span> were burning the temple,
ran partially clad, shouting orders to cease. But because of their
hatred, the Assyrians ignored Titus's orders to stop and continued to
burn the temple and tear it apart to obtain the gold that had melted
into the cracks between the massive blocks.<span style="color: #292f33;"> </span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Did
you pay attention to the description of <span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">Assyrian
conscript troops</span>, which did not obey orders because of their
hatred?</b></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTxLOJKCOkLemN14BkVnOwRMlx1C8zvcLAIQvbKwOvV2VEUaRbSRU7wIpuek1Bjvp7-OSbusUQaieDOwHrDKe9Xy00_kweA7X-x4xRc25r6lwRA9gmrqnlMBjeTKT5IiNrr6hyGy64gVzBEwqdxZK0VSDN4QKTcKRLGAoulu76dI2XJKTEDVXc9byQEMQ/s708/The%20world%20of%20the%20Assyrians.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="708" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTxLOJKCOkLemN14BkVnOwRMlx1C8zvcLAIQvbKwOvV2VEUaRbSRU7wIpuek1Bjvp7-OSbusUQaieDOwHrDKe9Xy00_kweA7X-x4xRc25r6lwRA9gmrqnlMBjeTKT5IiNrr6hyGy64gVzBEwqdxZK0VSDN4QKTcKRLGAoulu76dI2XJKTEDVXc9byQEMQ/w400-h260/The%20world%20of%20the%20Assyrians.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></span></span></span></div><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="color: black; font-family: "Gentium Book Basic"; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;">The label for Assyria sits in the middle of the green area. Note that the area encompasses </i><i style="color: black; font-family: "Gentium Book Basic"; text-align: left;">Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and a few others</i><i style="color: black; font-family: "Gentium Book Basic"; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;">.</i></div></b></span></span></span><p></p><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">So, the one thing that diverts me away from Titus being the prince to come, and points me toward another, is that<u> we are dealing with Assyrians as the people that will come</u>. </span><span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Give
a little consideration to the enemies that Israel is dealing with
now. </span><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204); color: #292f33; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">They are all Assyrians</span><span style="color: #292f33; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Let
me show you something from the Revelation. </span></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #292f33;">“</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">And
the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast
coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on
his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names</span></u></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.”
</span></span><b>Revelation 13:1</b> NASB</span></p></blockquote>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The <b>dragon </b>is Satan. </span>
</p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The </span></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">seashore</span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> is
easily seen as the </span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">Mediterranean</span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.</span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
Remember that the Biblical narrative is focused exclusively on the
Holy Land, as explained to Abraham</span></b></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
Since we are NOT concerned with oceans or the sands of a shoreline,
</span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">we
are looking at a specific region</span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">,
the Mideast, and the people associated with that region –
</span></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Assyrians</span></b></span><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">. </span></span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
“ <span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Then
I saw </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">a
beast coming up out of the sea</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.”
</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Dr.
J Vernon McGee</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
states, “In Scripture the sea is a picture of the nations of the
world, of mankind, like the restless sea.” </span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">I
believe that the sea is representative of the people of the Mideast,
primarily Assyrians</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
Since we understand that the sea represents people, then it is
people of a specific region, the Middle East – Assyrians. </span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">An
obvious factor has shown its ugly head. Here in July of 2023, it
appears that an organization with the acronym WEF, and it seems to
have little to do with the Mideast, has arbitrarily raised its ugly
head and wants to control us all, and that is what we perceive the
antichrist to do. But wait, Klaus Schwab's second in command is a
Jewish historian named Yuval Noah Harari. I am not looking for
either of these two to take the role of the antichrist, but there is
your huge link with the Mideast.</span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;">“</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">having
ten horns and seven heads</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.”
</span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Is
there anything out there that physically matches this description?</span></u></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
</span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
answer is NO; therefore, it is an analogy.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><u><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">But
to what</span></b></u></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">?
</span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Kingdoms,
empires, or perhaps dominant world leaders who have control over
nations or regions today. </span></u></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">If
you are thinking, as I am, about who is running this world today,
then there are particular names and groups of people that come to
mind, such as The World Health Organization; The World Economic
Fund; the United Nations; and the people to run, organize and
attempt to exercise dominance over the nations through these
entities.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
defining features were given to John, just as they were to the
prophet Daniel. </span></span>
</p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And
the beast which I saw was like a </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">leopard</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">,
and his feet were like those of a </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">bear</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">,
and his mouth like the mouth of a </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">lion</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great
authority.” </span></span><b>Revelation 13:2</b> NASB</span></span></p>
</ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">When
the prophet Daniel was shown these things, they were explained this
way. </span></span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">"And
four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one
another. "The first was like a </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">lion</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
and had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were
plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on
two feet like a man; a human mind also was given to it. "And
behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">bear</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
And it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth
between its teeth; and thus they said to it, 'Arise, devour much
meat!' "After this, I kept looking, and behold, another one,
like a </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">leopard</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">,
which had on its back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four
heads, and dominion was given to it.” </span></span><b>Daniel
7:3-6</b> NASB</span></p>
</ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">In
both passages, there was </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">the
lion, the bear, and the leopard</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">.
In (</span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><i>the</i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">)
Revelation, </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">John
did not see a definition of the fourth beast</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">,
possibly because it is so diverse. Strangely, Daniel was shown that
this bizarre beast had four heads. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;">Fascinating,
three bodies and yet four heads. </span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">Again,
we have nothing on earth to compare this to; therefore, we have to
be looking at not just an analogy but ruling bodies. </span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">We
are told that Daniel was so perplexed that it made him ill, and he
sought a definition of what he saw. </span></span>
</p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">'Those
great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the
earth.” <br /></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Daniel
7:17</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
NKJV</span></span></span></span></p>
</ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The
earth, in general, refers to the nations.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">We
understand, because scripture can explain itself, that </span></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Nebuchadnezzar
is the first of those kings</span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The
second is the </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Medo-Persian
empire under Darius</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">,
and </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">the
third is the Grecian empire under the reign of Alexander</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
</span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">The
fourth, which is NOT defined</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="zxx">,
although the common, misleading practice is to take the statement
from Daniel 9:26, where it says, “the people of the prince who is
to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary,” and apply
Titus, the Roman Emperor, to the defining role of the prince. This
does NOT work because Titus was entirely against the temple’s
destruction and served more of a reconstructive role to the Jews. </span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="zxx" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>If
it is NOT the Roman Empire, then who? </b></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">After
the death of Alexander, the region continued under the Grecian
influence, although progressively weaker, as four Grecian generals
ruled, finally ending with two. It is these two that played the most
prominent role after the death of Alexander. The </span></span></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Seleucid</span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> Empire
was in the North, and the </span></span></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Ptolemaic</span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> Empire
was in the Southern regions, encompassing Egypt and the Northern
African nations. All of these have migrated into being Islamic and
of varying sects of Islam, which makes for a very volatile region.
And Israel, which still maintains an Islamic population, is the only
nation that is NOT primarily Islamic, and that did not happen until
1948 when Israel became an independent nation.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #0e101a;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The
explanations continued for Daniel. </span></u></span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">"Thus
he said: 'The fourth beast shall be A fourth kingdom on earth,
Which shall be </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">different
from all other</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">
</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">kingdoms,
</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">And
shall devour the whole earth</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">,
Trample it and break it in pieces.” </span></span><b>Daniel
7:23</b> NKJV</span></p>
</ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The
Babylonian and Medo-Persian Empires were both Assyrians and capable
of violence. <span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">The differences have
more to do with who they worshiped.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>How,
then, is this fourth empire different? </b></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">It
“</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">shall
devour the whole earth, Trample it and break it in pieces.</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">”
</span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Did
the Romans devour the whole earth?</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
</span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">No,
</span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">You
might ask, </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">where
are they now? </span></b></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">I
will let that hang there. The other thing about the Roman Empire is
that </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">they
built </span></u></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><u><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 153);">infrastructure</span></u></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><u><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">,
such as roads, aqueducts, and sewerage systems</span></u></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
</span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Does
that sound like someone who breaks the whole earth in pieces? </b></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">No.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">So,
what entity or ideology desires to destroy </span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">all
those who refuse</span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
to adopt their ideologies?</span></span></strong></b></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">If
you said Islam, you would be correct, and Islam had its beginnings
with the Assyrians.</span></span></p>
<ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">“<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As
for the ten horns, out of this kingdom </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">ten
kings will arise</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
Another will arise after them, but he will be different from the
previous ones; he will subdue three kings.”<br /></span></span><b>Daniel
7:24</b> TLV</span></span></p>
</ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Another</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">?
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Another
kingdom</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">I
am NOT comfortable saying it is the Roman Empire because when
someone says the Roman Empire, all I can visualize is the Pope. Yes,
he is an older man, but just the fact that he is the Pope makes him
powerful, and he is trying to influence the whole world, but
projecting him as a global, destructive threat just does not work
for me. The problem is we need more that defines this kingdom, </span></span></span></span><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">but
there are clues, and they come from his titles</span></span></span></span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">. </span></span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Micah
5:5</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
calls him</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">the
Assyrian</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 204);">.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
That one verse eliminates the Roman Empire unless you can prove
some strong ancestral ties to the Assyrians. See </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Isa_10:24;
Isa_14:25</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">;
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Isa_31:8</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">He
is </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">the
desolator</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
in </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Daniel
9:27.</span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">We
see him as </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">the
beast </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">in
</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Dan_7:11,
Rev_11:7; Rev_13:1</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Nahum
2:1</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
(ASV) identifies him as </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">h</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">e
that dashes in pieces</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The
Darby translation of</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="zxx"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
Isaiah 16:4</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
expresses how </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">the
extortioner</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
will come to an end.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Zechariah
11:15</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
(AMP) calls him </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">a
worthless and wicked shepherd.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Daniel
8:23-24</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
(Darby) And at the latter time of their kingdom, when the
transgressors shall have come to the full, </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">a
king of bold countenance</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">,
and </span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">understanding
riddles</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">,
shall stand up. 24 And</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">his
power shall be mighty, but not by his own power, and</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">he
shall destroy</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
marvelously, </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">and
shall prosper</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">,
and shall practice, </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">and
shall destroy the mighty ones, and the people of the saints</span></b></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.</span></b></span></span></span></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The
</span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="zxx"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Amplified</span></b></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
version of Daniel 8:23,24 tells us he is </span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">a
king of fierce countenance</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">
and </span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">understanding
dark trickery and craftiness</span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Well,
you should get the general idea. It sounds as though he worked for
Hezbollah</span></span></p>
</li></ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">
<span style="color: #292f33;">“</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">he
will be different from the previous ones.</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">”
While going into captivity is challenging to see as a positive
influence, </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 204, 204);">Daniel,
the captive</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">,
touched and won the heart of several kings. </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">So
the captivity served as a protection and a preservative role for
Israel</span></b></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #292f33;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">.
This fourth kingdom will do nothing more than try to divide and
destroy Israel and God's people. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
</p>
</li></ul>
<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="color: #292f33; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 17.3333px;"><b><i>End of part 1.</i></b></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0.04in 0.43in 0.04in 0.49in;">
<br /><br />
</p>Ozzie Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16312485261504917503noreply@blogger.com0