The Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. Matthew 24:43-44.

 Here is where we left off in our study of Matthew 24.

“But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.  44 “For this reason, you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.”
Matthew 24:43-44 NAS95

The context has everything to do with Israel and the Jews, with a special focus on the seven years of God's wrath.

Can it also apply to us now?

Certainly. In the broader picture, the head of the household - called the Jews, are the rabbis, Pharisees, and scribes.

In the narrow view, it is one in which the Gentile church body exists in the form of individual believers, the heads of our own households, a situation where we are anxiously looking for the Son of Man (Jesus). For some, Jesus will be coming as a thief in the night.

I have sat with religious people who have scoffed at my statement and ranted that they are ready and don't need me to lecture them on what it is to be ready, all the while denying that such a theme exists for them. Well, Paul, Peter, and the Apostle John also referred to this very thing.

The Apostle Paul wrote.

1 Thessalonians 5:1 NASB Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you.

Paul could not say this unless he had clearly developed this teaching within this church body and left no room for argument.

Consider the words, times, and epochs.

Time, according to the Word Study Dictionary, is the Greek word chrónos. “This word perceives time quantitatively as a period measured by the succession of objects and events and denotes the passing of moments.”

Quantitatively, is something that is expressible in terms of quantity.

So Paul was comfortable telling them that this time that was coming was something expressible.

Epochs according to the WSD is the Greek word kairós. It is a season or an opportune time. It is not merely as a succession of minutes, which is chrónos (G5550), but a period of opportunity.

If you are paying attention to the events which are centered on Israel, then you would know that many of us are watching intently for Jesus' return for His bride.

1 Thessalonians 5:2 NASB For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.

Note the usage of the word “like”. It has similarities to the thief, but for the believer, He is not coming as a thief. Another scripture that speaks in similitude is Revelation 13:3, where it says.

Revelation 13:3 NASB 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;

Typically, when people read or hear this, they don't pay attention to fact that it is one of it's many heads that sustains the wound, nor do they realize that it is NOT dead, it just seems to be for the moment. The Ottoman Empire easily fulfills our understanding of this head.

1 Thessalonians 5:3 NASB While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.

The United Nations and the World Economic Forum both repeatedly made calls for peace and security or safety, and, blame the lack of such on “antisemitism, anti-Muslim bigotry, persecution of Christian minorities and white supremacist ideology.”¹ All of this is evidence that the globe needs to live on social contracts like China already does.

Today is August 12, 2024. This is important for several reasons. 1. It is a day of mourning in Israel as so many bad things have happened on this day. Such as the expulsion from Spain and then England. The Destruction of both temples, and now the threat of Iranian missiles be shot as Israel in retaliation of several assassinations attributed to Israel. Iran has the intent of removing Israel from the map. So, Watchman River Tom, a YouTube channel I watch, spoke about the possibility that Iran could hold off on these launches and feign peace by holding hostage talks with Israel on Thursday. This could play into the common thread where either the Jewish people or the antichrist character says peace peace.

Look at the terminology that the Amplified Bible uses.

“When people are saying, All is well and secure, and, there is peace and safety, then in a moment unforeseen destruction (ruin and death) will come upon them as suddenly as labor pains come upon a woman with child; and they shall by no means escape, for there will be no escape.” 1 Thessalonians 5:3 AMP

1 Thessalonians 5:4 NASB But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief;

Why will it NOT overtake us?

2 Timothy 4:8 NASB In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.

1 Thessalonians 5:5 NASB for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;

Paul explains verse four above by telling this church and us, that we are not of night or or darkness; and, therefore, not subject to the fears of the night.

Again I turn to the Amplified Bible as it defines 1 Thessalonians 5:4 so well.

“But you are not in [given up to the power of] darkness, brethren, for that day to overtake you by surprise like a thief.” 1 Thessalonians 5:4 AMP

1 Thessalonians 5:6 NASB so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.

The challenge, if you will, is to be alert and sober.

Sobriety has little to do with alcohol. According to Webster's it also means to be “Cautious; prudent; watchful on all sides; examining carefully all the circumstances that may affect a determination.

The Weymouth translation states,

“So then let us not sleep, like the rest of the world, but let us keep awake and be sober.” 1 Thessalonians 5:6 Weymouth

So then, let us not sleep like the rest of the world.

Can I spread a broad blanket and say that the majority of those who claim they are Christians are nothing more than asleep?

I recently saw a clip where Joy Behar, a commentator on the television show, The View, said, in talking about Donald Trump, after he said that it was God's grace that spared his life in this assassination attempt, that she, too, was a Christian because she was brought up in the Catholic church, and that Donald Trump's comments about God moving in his life were narcissistic. Growing up in a Catholic church does not make you Christian. Putting your life and faith into the hands of Jesus Christ by asking Him to come into your life, does. Joy Behar could never speak so corruptly about people who choose to uphold conservative values and standards and be deemed a Christian by anyone.

Matthew 24:44 Weymouth  “Therefore you also must be ready; for it is at a time when you do not expect Him that the Son of Man will come.”

Last night we went to hear a good band that was playing as part of the summer concerts in the parks. There were easily about three hundred people there. We often see people that we know from church. In a way, having a picnic in the park and listening to music makes the world seem normal, especially as the city picked up the bill for the band to be there and we just come and enjoy. The problem, that most will refuse to see, is that few of those people have any clue that we are on the cusp of Jesus' return and the start of the seven years of God's wrath.

The scriptures tell us that they were not looking for Him, nor were they aware.

Having said all that, Matthew 24:43-44 is implying that we, as the heads of our households, can know what time the thief is coming (He only appears to be a thief because they are not looking for Him.) Those of us who are alert and ready are so because we have given our hearts to Jesus as the Redeemer. Those who merely attach themselves to the name Christian will not be taken up in the rapture of the church, as they are not looking for Him, and neither are they ready for Him. For them, Jesus will come at an hour when they are NOT looking for Him.

1https://press.un.org/en/2024/ga12582.doc.htm

" one will be taken and one will be left." ?? Matthew 24:40-44

 We ended the last study looking at Matthew 24:36-39, as Jesus compared what the times would be like when He comes back as the Messiah that the Jews long for.

Most Bibles title this section “No one knows the day or the hour,” it immediately references Noah and how the flood shocked everyone on Earth.

So, let’s set aside assumptions for a moment and try to figure out what Noah said or did that would potentially eliminate the ability of these “people” to argue that they did not know what was coming.

Now, seeing as they had never seen or experienced rain, I might give them some grace for their lack of understanding about something as tactile as rain.

I can work off another assumption: Noah explained that the water would also come gushing out of the earth. You cannot convince me they did not drink or collect water from underground springs.

To initiate a response, we have to start with this truth: 

We were told that Noah was a preacher of righteousness.

“... but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;”  2 Peter 2:5 NKJV

Let’s camp here for a moment.

Preacher is the Greek word kērux from G2784, meaning a herald of divine truth. So, with this information, I recognize that Noah was a messenger of divine truth.

Some will say something stupid like that might have been true for Noah, but not for me. I am not adept with the parameters of philosophy, but I know enough to understand that a statement like this is an unsound and quickly challenged judgment because the one espousing it cannot substantiate what they are saying with truth in their argument.

Consider that for 99 years and a few days, Noah could not substantiate his claim either, but that did not stop him from building this enormous vessel.

When the flood came, God affirmed His support for Noah and his claims; thereby, God corroborated Noah’s claim that rain, sufficient to cover the highest peaks of the earth and wipe out everything that breathed air, was coming. I might add that a logical assumption would be that Noah pointed to the ark as the only method of salvation, a type of Christ.

If I can be direct, righteousness has always been a troublesome word for me.

Why?

Because righteousness, as espoused by religion, has always had works attached to it.

For example suppose you are doing Bible study to meet someone else’s demands, (typically associated some organizational and religious standard.) In that case, you are doing works to meet a demand to live in a particular manner so that God may find you acceptable.

Do you realize that God loved you enough to send His Son Jesus to earth so that He would be slaughtered to purchase your life back to Himself?

In doing this, He reacquired us all back into His legal possession. (But don’t worry—you don’t have to go with Him if you don’t want to, and many are choosing that path.) Having realized that this is the situation, all I can think about anymore is how soon you will find me, wrapping my arms around at least one leg and weeping for joy.

Righteousness - this is the Greek word dikaiosunē. Thayer's definition explains that: "1) in a broad sense, it is the state of him who is as he ought to be, righteous, and the condition acceptable to God. 1a) the doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain a state approved of God."

Since Jesus directed the small crowd to consider the days in which Noah lived, let’s add one last thing.

- Before the command to build the ark, we have little that tells us how Noah lived his life.

Note to self: We can assume things all day long, but that is a useless endeavor unless there is some from of evidence to validate such assumptions. 

One such piece of evidence provides a provocative lineage.

Adam – Seth – Enosh – Kenan – Mahalalel– Jared– Enoch– Methuselah– Lamech– (this is where it gets interesting)

“Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years and became the father of a son. Now he called his name Noah, saying, “This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the LORD has cursed.”
Genesis 5:28-29NAS95

Adam walked with God.

We can assume that Eve also walked with God, but not as Adam did because of her action with the fruit. (Admittedly, this is an assumption, but a good one.)

This following assertion is NOT an assumption, but few will read and pay attention to the details involved with God putting humans on earth.

Day is the Hebrew word yôm. It is from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day(as the warm hours), whether literally (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figuratively (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverbially): -age.

Pay attention to the word age. In the Greek, this is eon, meaning an indeterminate time frame. So, if you choose to argue for the idea that what we see here is a strict 24-hour time period, then perhaps you can tell me what brand of watch God used.

In Genesis 1 

verse 23, we see the arrival of the fifth day. Carry this forward to Genesis 1:26-28, and we see God speaking to others and saying,

“Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 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 God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Genesis 1:26-28 NAS95

Let that information hang there for a moment.

Next, God decreed a seventh day and rested, which moves us into Genesis chapter two and, though not kept track of, the eighth day and beyond.

Another logical assumption we must resolve is, 

"how do we explain when Adam showed up?"

We have made huge assumptions about Genesis 1:26-28, but I can tell you now that those assumptions are only correct if they are based in spirit.

While the terminology may uphold your argument, explain how God speaks to the “male and female He created and then calls the creation him?

At some point  after this verbal introduction we are introduced to Adam in Genesis 2:7 but not to Eve until an indeterminate time later (a yôm.)

“Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”
Genesis 2:7 NAS95

Some time later.

“Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. The LORD God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die."
Genesis 2:15-17NAS95

Did you see Eve in that conversation?

Neither did I.

So the only instruction about the one tree that cannot be eaten from has been given to Adam alone.

Your assumption should be, how did she learn about the tree?

Where is Eve?

She has yet to be formed.

Now, there is no denying that she has been a spiritual being with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, but she has NOT been physical.

“The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.”
Genesis 2:20-22 NAS95

Until Genesis chapter 3, nothing defines when or how Eve obtained information about “the tree.”

If God did not tell Eve about the tree, then who did?

Having handed dominion over to the man, Adam, it was his job to tell Eve. This same principle applies when it comes to Cain and Abel.

Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 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 God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth." 

Genesis 1:26-28 NAS95

Rule is also translated as dominion. Within a marriage relationship it is NOT a very pretty word. 

But ask yourself a question was man in a physical form in Genesis 1:26-28?

The answer is NO. 

If this was the point at which Adam received the directive to rule over the earth, why wasn't Eve in compliance later on in the garden, where the talking serpent was?

Adam had dominion over the earth, was the groundskeeper, and had the right to touch any tree in any manner he deemed necessary. Specifically, his instructions were, DO NOT EAT FROM IT, which for an indeterminate amount of time was not a problem.

A wee bit of a side trip, so let's get back to assumptions related to Noah.

If you do the math, you will find that Adam was well beyond 600 years when Enoch was born.

Since the scriptures do not tell us, I will ask. Where did Enoch learn what it was like to walk with God?

A logical assumption would be Grandpa Adam.

Interesting, why did no one else ask Adam what it was like?

Good question. Maybe they did, but it did not strike them the way it struck Enoch.

Enoch, we are told, walked with God.

Here is a logical assumption. Enoch did this for many years, but if the others did the same thing, Enoch took it one step further; he believed and trusted in God as no one had since Adam. Finally, we are told Enoch walked with God and was no more.

What does “was no more” mean?

I do not know. The narrative about Enoch continues in the New Testament; there, Enoch is referred to as a prophet and implies that he never died. 

This plays into Enoch being one of the prophets returning to earth in the last days. 

The logic behind that is that it is appointed unto man to die once, and then the end comes for them. This previous statement bothers many people because they fear death, but consider the fact that the human body comes with a “sin” damaged genetic strain. We all have it. The only way to get past it, or bypass it, is to kill the body. 

Doesn’t the scripture teach us that we will all be tried with fire? 

It does; therefore, I am convinced that this body, as we know it, will be burned at the Bema seat of Christ. Our soul, which lives on forever, will be placed in a shell that looks a whole lot like the one we are currently in, only better, say around 35 – 40 years old, when it worked well.

Enoch produced Methuselah. Now stop here a moment.

What do we know about Methuselah?

He was the oldest man on earth. A feat, no doubt, but in the world in which we live, I see no purpose for it. So, for God to point this out means that Methuselah was a sign to this evil and violent world. 

If you read the post just before this one, then you would immediately have made a connection with Hamas (violence) and Allah (corruption.) Methuselah stood in the faces of those who were taken by the fallen angels and corrupted.

Many have said that Methuselah means—when he passes, it will come. The only “it” we should make and associate with would be the all-encompassing flood.

All of the men named in that lineage, except for Noah, had other sons and daughters, but we have NO information on any of them, and we have no indication that any of them followed after God. 

This forces us to make huge assumptions about the women folk, and that is that they were taken, at will, by the fallen angels, forced to have some form of sexual relation, and Nephilim or, if it suits you, giants were produced through this interaction.

So much for my introduction.

Almost abruptly, Jesus moved on with this.

“Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.  41  "Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left.  42  "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.” Matthew 24:40-42 NAS95 

Some will read a passage like this and decide that it is nothing less than an example of an unjust God, as He snatches some to eternal life while others are left to burn up with the earth. 

If you think this way, you are merely displaying your foolishness and refusing to search the scriptures for yourself.

The context is wrapped up in Jesus talking to His Jewish disciples about a specific time frame covering the last three and one-half years; after which, He returns as the warring Messiah. 

We Gentiles foolishly assume that He is talking to us, the church because it says one will be taken and the other will be left. This has nothing to do with the church, as we will have been taken up in the catching away of the church. You can call it the Rapture if you must.

The commentator, Albert Barnes, wrote concerning the phrase “One shall be taken” - “The word “taken” may mean either to be taken away from the danger - that is, rescued, as Lot was Luke_17:28-29,or to be taken away “by death.” Probably the latter is the meaning.”

In his Midwest style, Dr. J Vernon McGee tells us, “He still is not talking about the Rapture. After all, what is our Lord talking about here? "As the days of Noe were." Who was taken away in the days of Noah?" They knew not until the flood came and took them all away." They perished in the Flood.”

If I were to answer Dr. McGee's question, it would read like this: The unrighteous were swept away in the flood narrative.

Applying this to Jesus's conversation with His disciples, I can assume that the unrighteous are captured or killed when He says, “one shall be taken.” That idea is alarming and confusing when you think about it, but it is only so because, once again we incorrectly apply the scenario to the church. Keep in mind that being religious does not make you righteous.

The people in the account that Jesus speaks of are similar to the people that we witnessed assaulting Israel on October 7th of 2023, and, as you well know, they slaughtered without regard. That day, there were more than 1,200 deaths, not counting the wounded, and more than 240 people, including infants, that were taken captive. Since then, many of those captives have been murdered while in captivity in Gaza.

Why bring this up?

Because savage brutality, as we have already witnessed, is precisely what those who are left after the catching away of the church can expect to experience, and I think that this attack will happen shortly after Israel goes to war with Hezbollah in the North.

Several Bible commentators referred to what life was like pertaining to Noah and the flood, and life was merely routine. The populace, both then and now, did not care about the zeal I felt or the need to heed my calls to study; they did not believe what “the Watchmen” were pointing out coming destruction, and therefore, as we see, one is killed, and the other manages to escape with little more than their life.  

The time of the end is finally upon us.

“Therefore, be alert, because you don’t know on what day your Lord will return.” Matthew 24:42 GW

Many years ago, singer/songwriter James Taylor sang, “Keep-in my eyes on the Holy Land.” Something tells me that at some point in his life, he knew that Israel would play a central role in end-time events.

Matthew 24:42 is another passage that people will throw in our faces when we talk confidently about Jesus Christ’s soon return. The problem with their logic is that they apply this to the church when it is talking to the Jews; I am talking about context. 

The Apostle Paul clearly stated that we are not in the darkness.

“For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.  3  While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.  4  But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief;  5  for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;”
1 Thessalonians 5:2-5 NAS95 

Number 1. Paul told them he did not have to teach this message to them once again. Why not? Because he had already done a thorough job of teaching them. If you feel like you are lacking, then invest some quality time in the Books of Daniel and Revelation. Oh, there is more, but those two books are related to each other and will answer many of your questions. A little wisdom: ask the Holy Spirit to lead you and guide you into the truth about what is to come.

Number 2. Sure, Jesus is coming as a thief in the night, but only for those who are not prepared and awaiting His return. Paul even explains that these are some of the people who will be saying peace and safety. I used to think that it was Israel alone that was saying peace and safety, but several groups, like the UN and the World Economic Forum, have also cried out for these things. Truth be known, these words do NOT mean what you think they mean when they say them.

Number 3. Consider those words that Paul is saying. If necessary, allow them to be spoken deep into your heart. You are NOT in darkness; you are not a part of the night if you belong to Christ, and the world will not overtake you. This is not a secret society. Jesus wants you to understand and then share this truth with others.

“But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.  44  “For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.”
Matthew 24:43-44NAS95

If the context is exclusively about the Jewish community, then who would be the head of the house?

The rabbis, Pharisees, Jewish ruling council, and whoever else decides what chapters and verses the attendees can and cannot read in the Old Testament. Did you know that they tell the attendees to stay away from the Book of Daniel and NOT to read Isaiah 53, why is that? Because they do not want those who follow their teachings to find Jesus, the Gentile Messiah. How foolish.

Are you alert and ready? This has nothing to do with stockpiling food and water but has everything to do with putting your hope and faith in the one who gave Himself to redeem you back to Himself.

Questions and concerns about the antichrist. Part four of four.

 Considering the title of these rants about the antichrist, does any of this affect the believer?

No, but if you are a follower of mine, then you know that I write to followers of Christ, and followers of Christ will be taken up in the catching away of the Church. 

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. David is typically portrayed as a four-foot-tall, 60-pound weakling 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.

Was David a skillful warrior?

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.

Sitting among some men at a home group, the question was asked,

“How tall do you think David was when he fought Goliath?”

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 Saul, before being anointed as king, was said to be head and shoulders above any man in Israel. Having had a salesman come to my door, who told me that he was an Israeli who had sustained a wound while serving in the IDF, was easily over six feet tall. Consider that imagery as Saul's shoulders began at the top of this man's head.

We know that Saul struggled with mental issues and may well have been bipolar. David, because he visited 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.

Saul was so impressed by this young man that he made David his armor-bearer. Among other things, David's job was to make sure that the armor was reliable, the fittings secure, and that Saul looked his best when he stepped out onto 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 because I haven't tested it. This scenario doesn't even seem feasible, considering how big David would have to have been.

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.

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? 

Their stones were about the size of lemons and were meant to kill should they strike you in the head. David put his faith in God and not his skill set, but skills certainly helped.

Goliath dead? 

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.

Were you aware that one of the Philistine Kings, Og of Bashan, had an iron bed that was four and a half cubits long?

That equates to 13.5 feet.

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.

The antichrist persona does NOT have unrestricted reign throughout the seven years.

Revelation 13:5 indicates that this beast, which has migrated into what appears to be a solitary being – a male- now has the “authority to do whatever he wants for forty-two months.” (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.

“Then the beast was allowed to speak great blasphemies against God. And he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for forty-two months.” Revelation 13:5 NLT

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.

“The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, ...” Revelation 13:6 BSB

I can immediately comprehend that the man already has a mouth, so this is telling me that they give him an opening or freedom to speak as though he represents them. 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. Arrogant is the Greek word megas.

We understand mega to be very large or boisterous. The defining words are “exceedingly great, large, loud, strong,”

Your words cannot be considered strong unless they have some form of backing, like muscles or officiating individuals who will judge to your benefit. 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.

“For ships from Cyprus (Kittim, as many versions state) 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.” Daniel 11:30 NKJV

Empowered by Satan himself, who else is there to empower this man?

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^th, 2023, hearings on UAVs, one of those testifying was David Grusch, a former national reconnaissance officer and representative of the Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Task Force with the Department of Defense. Mr. Grusch said that there are those above the known officials who are calling the shots. Klaus Schwab, because of his publicity, is probably just a puppet, as is Bill Gates.

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.

Here is where it begins to make sense to us.

Daniel 11:21-31 NKJV: And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue.  

The NASB uses the term despicable instead of vile. The Strong's concordance gives us the word disesteem as our first option and means one held to scorn and thought of as a vile person.

Disesteem, when used as a noun, is seen as the want of esteem, slight dislike, or disregard. It expresses less than hatred or contempt. When used as a verb is to dislike in a moderate degree; to consider with disregard, disapprobation, dislike, or slight contempt; to slight.

Titles given to the person commonly known as "the Antichrist."

(1) "The king of Babylon" (Isa_14:4);

(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.

(3) "The Prince that shall come" (Dan_9:26);

(4) "The king of fierce countenance" (Dan_8:23);

(5) "The vile person" (Dan_11:21);

(6) "The willful king" (Dan_11:36);

(7) "The man of sin" (2Th_2:3);

(8) "The son of perdition" (2Th_2:3);

(9) "That wicked (or lawless) one" (2Th_2:3; Rev_13:18);

(10) "The beast with ten horns" (Rev_13:1);

(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.

• We are told that he will reaffirm the covenant 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.

• Coming under the guise of peace, he is able to seize Israel. Now I cannot exclude a massive attack (see Ezekiel 38 and 39)

22  With the force of a flood, they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, and also the prince of the covenant.  

• “With the force of a flood”? This does not look good for Israel. Remember, God has always preserved for himself a remnant. Verse 22 also makes a bizarre statement: "they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, 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 (the antichrist) worship and allegiance.

23  And after the league is made with him (the Mahdi), he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people.  

24  He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, 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.  

Because he is an Assyrian, a hated enemy of Israel, 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.

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.

Let's just take a shot. The king of the South is Egypt. They, like the Saudis, are probably Sunni Muslims (85 % percent of the Middle East is Sunni Muslim) and not Shiites (Only 15% of Muslims are Shia Muslims; Iran adheres to Shia ideals); therefore, they will not cooperate, and, as scripture 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 Aug 25, 2021, on a website called "The Conversation," authors Sohel Rana, a Ph.D. Student at  Indiana University, and Sumit Ganguly, a Distinguished Professor of Political Science and the Tagore Chair in Indian Cultures and Civilizations at Indiana University, wrote an article entitled Taliban’s religious ideology – Deobandi Islam – has roots in Colonial India. https://theconversation.com/talibans-religious-ideology-deobandi-islam-has-roots-in-colonial-india-166323

Merely because they are the smallest portion of the sects, we cannot exclude them. 

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.  

His own people will betray him and die.

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.

The appointed time? This is the time when they try to go to battle with Jesus.

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.” Revelation 19:11 NKJV

“Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. 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

 

28  While returning to his land with great riches, his heart shall be moved against the holy covenant, so he shall do damage and return to his own land.  

The question is, where is his land?

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.

"his heart shall be moved against the holy covenant."

This has everything to do with Israel, and since Israel primarily focuses on the Torah and the Tanakh,  then we are really talking about those that hold tightly to the covenants or promises of God in those manuscripts.

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 Cyprus 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.  

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.

Question? How far South can this man go and still have the Cyprian navy chasing him? 

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.

“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? 1290 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.

One of the mysteries.

“Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.” Daniel 12:12 NKJV

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.

Why would God do that?

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.

How did they know to gather in the Megiddo Valley?

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.

Daniel 11:44-45 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. But while he is there, his time will suddenly run out, and no one will help him.

What does this phrase “his time will suddenly run out, and no one will help him” speak of? It speaks of the final and sudden end of the antichrist and the false prophet.

Revelation 19:19-21 NLT: 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.  21  Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came from the mouth of the one riding the white horse. And the vultures all gorged themselves on the dead bodies.

Revelation 19:11-12 NLT  Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war.  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.

Revelation 19:15 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.

Question: Does He kill everyone from among the nations?

The answer is no, and you can see that in verse 15, as it states, “He will rule them with a rod of iron.”

If He kills them all, then who is left to rule over?

If you answered no one, you would be correct; therefore, there are those from among the nations that survive and go into the millennial kingdom.

Revelation 19:18-20 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.

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.

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.