In Numbers This concoction of ash and water is used to purify objects and people from sin to be used for the worship of God. Around 2015 all items needed to reconstruct the Temple in Israel had been gathered and built (check out our Facebook page “End of Wickedness” for pictures of some of these items) Yet without this red heifer everything constructed is only an art object to be placed into a museum (which they are) and cannot be used for the worship God.
This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke: And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face: And Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times: And one shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn: And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer. Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the even. And he that burneth her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the even. And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin. And he that gathereth the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even:and it shall be unto the children of Israel, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among them, for a statute for ever. He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days. He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean:but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean. Whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him.

As Christians we are sorely lacking in our understanding of other religions and their ways. Having our origins in the Jewish faith (through the Old Testament) one would assume that we would be familiar with their ways and how it relates to us. Yet this is one of many examples where our ignorance shines forth. We ask our selves “What is so important about a heifer?”

Numbers 19:2-13

At this time there are many Christian and Jewish groups working diligently to produce this heifer. Over the years I have read about three heifers being born that could be used, each was disqualified for various reasons.

One was disqualified when it was found to have two non-red hairs located near each other. Could you imagine having the job of verifying every single hair on cow…..YUCK!!!

Another one was disqualified when the son of the owner tired from working all day in the fields leaned on the calf to rest. Because the hairs were not perfectly straight the calf was deemed not kosher and unfit.

The last heifer I’ve heard about was born in 2015 and I have not heard of any news concerning it’s status. As mentioned in the video there has been 9 heifers found since the inception of Israel as a nation in 1500 BC, with the last one found over 2000 years ago.

Two weeks ago I mentioned that one point does not make a pattern and this red heifer is a perfect example. With each birth announcement one would expect that three years later the Tribulation would begin, and each time you would be wrong.

Yet if you see the one world currency and the fourth world kingdom instituted then hear of the birth of a red heifer you would be completely justified in assuming that the start of the Tribulation would begin in around three years.

Despite all these prophecies being fulfilled there is still two more that would put a nail into the timing. I know there are many that is saying “But the Bible says no man knows the day or the hour of the End.”

This is the second most misquoted verse in the whole Bible. Let’s take a look at what God actually said and was talking about.

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Matthew 24:36

We see that God says that “of that day” neither men or angels knows the day or hour only God knows. But what day is God referring to? Is it the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Abomination of Desolation, the Second Coming of Christ, the Millennial Reign or what?

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Matthew 24:29, 30

God says that the day in question is the Second Coming of Christ, so it is the only day which this statement can refer to. Any other use of this verse for all thing End Times is people trying to justify their own ignorance of the scriptures. If your still wondering about the other events stay tune to this blog as we will talk about each one in turn.

During this week as you munch on some beef product take time to ask yourself if you are separating yourself from the world living a life that is holy and acceptable to the Lord.

Father,

If I’m honest with myself and Your Word, my life could not be summoned up with the word holy. My walk, talk and demeanor has not reflected You in all I say and do Lord, please mold me and my life into a vessel of honor that other’s may see me and say “I would like to know more about his God.”

Amen

And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

Daniel 2:41-43

And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise:and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.

Daniel 7:24

In 2012 I did a search of the internet looking for any governing body that had subdivided the earth into 10 regions or kingdoms as described in Daniel chapters 2 and 7. At that time there was one organization that had a map as described, that was the United Nations. They had a map which subdivided the earth into 10 regions that was called the Millennial Development Goals (MDG).

As I dug deeper I found that these goals covered most of our every day life. Here are the areas listed originally.

No Poverty

Zero Hunger

Good Health and Well Being

Quality Education

Gender Equality

Clean Water and Sanitation

Decent Work and Economic Growth

Industry Innovation and Infrastructure

Reduced Inequalities

Sustainable Cities and Communities

Partnerships for the Goals

Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

A quick look at the list would show that there are not many areas in our life in which these goals do not effect. Instead of stopping there the United Nations in 2015 expanded the goals into the Sustainability Development Goals adding more areas of influence as seen here

Affordable Clean Energy

Responsible Consumption and Production

Climate Action

Life Below Water

Life on Land

Using the original MDG map one could see that world could be further divided into separate East West regions along the edge of the Eastern Mediterranean. Thus giving us five regions

for the East and five for the West matching the Description of Daniel 2.

You may be asking yourself why should this happen before the Tribulation? Glad you asked. It is because of Daniel 9:27 states that a covenant is made with many for 7 years to start off the Tribulation Period.

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Daniel 9:27

Today we don’t use the word covenant any more we use the term treaty that represents the same thing. No country in history has ever made a treaty with an individual unless that individual represented a country of equal or greater size. Hence in order for the treaty to be made the person would have to represent a faction of equal or greater power than the many described.

The Traditional Timeline presupposes that this power will be granted in the First Seal of the Tribulation causing one to believe that a new reality exists in which many countries make a covenant with one individual.

Once we get to the First Seal we will go into more depth of the two feet and ten toes mentioned in Daniel 2 and show the what the Seal is truly talking about. Until then be patient and this quandary will be navigated to heart desire.

Seeing that the rule and reign of our world will be turned over to someone else this week spend some time on your own political view. Is it truly important that the “other” party is in control or are the ones in power the people God wills to be in charge for His Sovereign purpose.

This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

Daniel 4:17

Father,

As I grew into adulthood I found myself gravitating towards a specific political party. Like so many from my party I claimed that the opposition was attempting to destroy my country and the things I held so dear. It wasn’t until I read Your Word that I came to understand that no matter who controls the government they are there by Your declaration and are there to fulfill Your Will. Lord as I pray for these leaders, I ask only that their actions helps to glorify You and that Your purpose will be served by them.

Amen

Now that we’ve looked at all the signs God has given us to show us how close the End is to us, it’s now time for us to fast forward our clocks to the time of the End. According to the Traditional Timeline the next event of God’s prophetic calendar will the Rapture (more on that later). This view does not take into account the various last minute items that are needed to be in place for the End Times events to take place. One of those events is the institution of a one world currency.

The Bible does not specifically state there will be a one world currency but it is highly suggested in the following verses.

And he causeth all, both and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Revelation 13:16, 17

The reason this event must take place just prior to the End Times is that it takes a number of years from date of issuance of a currency before it is accepted by everyone. In 1792 Congress created the Coinage Act which established the dollar as the currency for the newly formed United States. Due to a limited supply minted and resistance from the states it took almost 10 years before all 13 states adopted the newly minted dollar as one of their official currencies.

It wasn’t until 1863 with the National Banking Act that the dollar became the sole currency used in the United States. Almost 71 years after the new currency was issued was completely accepted by the entire nation.

Using a calculator you would see that this world currency would have to start it’s original issuance up to 68 years before the beginning of the Tribulation in order to be fully accepted by the mid point spoken of in Revelation 13.

In April 2020 the United Nations released a 218-page report from the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development outlining a new global currency called the UN dollar to replace all current global currencies used today. Originally introduced in 2009 this new currency would work similar to Bitcoin without the need for blockchains. The only conversion rate announced as of September 2022 is one UN Dollar would equal 10 US Dollars.

If we use our national history of currency acceptance, this would put the middle of the Tribulation at approximately the year 2091. If we use the shortest date from history we arrive at 2030. Sounds preposterous, maybe not lets take a look at some historic estimates of the End from several sources.

Nostradamus – 2024

Isaac Newton – 2060

Christ publication of gospel – ~ 2025
MIT computer program – 2040

Heinz Von Foerster from overpopulation – 2026

Messiah Foundation from asteroid -2026

Kent Hovind the Rapture – 2028

This is not to say that I believe that the earliest date of the End of Times will begin in the year 2025 because Wycliffe Publishing states that it takes approximately 5 -10 years for the gospel to take effect allowing the growth of churches in the area. I find that it is interesting that multiple sources are putting the End around the same specific decade(s). To steal a quote used in the News recently 1 point does not make a pattern, same here, one prophecy being fulfilled does not make it a fact, you need more points before making that determination. In the coming weeks we will look at other prophecies that must be fulfilled before we can truly state the End is here.

This week take some time in contemplation of your life attitude as it concerns money. The American dollar has “In God we Trust” printed on it. Is this true, do you truly trust God when the going gets tough or do you trust in you job, money for your security.

Father,

During the course of my life I have found myself stressing over my financial security. These times has led me to put my trust into my employers and my own effort. Over time you have taken away these idols in my life showing me the truth of where my faith should lie. Lord I pray that your Holy Spirit would convict me of straying from the foundation of truth which is the Lord Himself, drawing me closer to You not allowing the world to corrupt me.

Amen

Before we move on to our last sign God has given us concerning the End Times, let’s take a few minutes to review what we have seen so far.

Our look at the signs began with the “must needs be” signs. We discussed how these are signs that do not tell us anything concerning the timing of the End, but are simply tools that God uses to prepare the World for the End. Some of these signs included

Earthquakes Famines

Wars and rumours of Pestilences

False Messiahs

If you want further research into these signs look up 1^st Century (insert sign). You’ll find that all these signs were fulfilled during the lifetime of the Apostles, this would mean that the End could between anytime within the next two thousand years.

The common view of today’s Churches is that as these signs increase in frequency and intensity it tells us that the End is moving ever closer. This false belief is from the Greek word Odin which is translated as sorrows. The word is used to describe the pains of childbirth as we see in

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

I Thessalonians 5:3

Here we see the same word translated as travail, yet God uses the same word meaning only pain and sorrow as illustrated

That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

Romans 9:2

After we finished looking at the tools that God uses to mold this world of ours we then looked at signs that would happen only at the End of Time, these included

Running to and fro Increase of knowledge

Women’s liberation Marriage of conveniences

Not standing sound doctrines

The last sign we took a look at was the only one that Christ said would happen then the End would come, that was the publication of the gospel in all the world. We saw that as of yet this sign has not been fulfilled but there is a concerted effort from many organizations to fulfill it

Today we are going to look at a section of scripture that many call a sign of the times. Unlike all the other signs this one specifically addresses the attitude of the people in the End and is one that you could not point your finger and say yes this is that.

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

2 Timothy 3:1-5

When I first was introduced to these verses it was 1981 at which time I thought it described the state of our nation at that time. Little did I realize that these attitudes would become more prevalent as time went on.

This week spend some time to see if you have fallen into these attitudes, I know that at different points in my life every one of these attitudes I held. If you see these in your own life now would be a good time to study your Bible more and develop godly attitudes

Father,

As Peter began to sink below the waves when he took his eyes off of Christ, I find myself drowning in the world around me. Just like Peter the cause of my distress is that I have turned my gaze to world around me and not focus on You and Your ways. Lord, allow Your Spirit to draw me back closer to You and return to me the joy of my salvation.

Amen

On the podium with the pastor are several young people, each are discussing a different ministry they have started for God. From the right side of the podium a young lady sneaks up with a super soaker heading to the pastor. With a high pitch cry she leaps, soaking the pastor with a steady stream of water.

For a few minutes there is chaos on the stage as each in turn try to retrieve the offending weapon. Once everything settles down the pastor asks the young lady why she attacked him. She said that she had found her niche that God wanted her to do. She was to do drive by baptisms.

With the patience of the saints the pastor had the teens sit on the stage as he began his message about finding God’s will for our lives.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2 Timothy 4:3, 4

Unlike many sermons the world over, this church actually preached the word of God, using the skit as a means of introducing the subject matter. Sadly this is not the case in our churches today as pastors, preachers and priests find more creative ways to entertain their parishioners instead of teaching them the Word of God.

It was not to long ago that the Word of God was central to the worship services. Songs (hymns) sung would emphasis God’s Word and the doctrines therein. Sermons would be preached decrying our sins both public and private. Feelings were hurt as the Spirit of God cut our souls for the sins we were committing.

Today if one could find a church similar to the times of yore, it would be like stumbling on the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Today we are taught about a relationship with God without the sacrifice of the Cross, our sins are glossed over as something that is natural to our being not a sinful act against God. We are flooded with the glories of Heaven to our hearts delight, and the horrors of Hell fade into the background.

Because we do not teach God’s Word some have never seen that without the shed blood of Christ there is not reconciliation with God nor is there salvation without it.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Romans 5:8-10

With our churches failing to base their teachings on the Word of God only is it no wonder that Christians are having false teaching seeking into their doctrines. During my day I run across many false doctrines believed by many across all denominational boundaries. Some I’ve run into recently have been Satan is Christ’s brother, Satan being coequal to God only opposite, Lilith comes up time and again and the list continues on ad nauseum.

This week take some time reviewing your Theology seeing if you are understanding God as the Bible speaks of Him or if your basing it on a lesson from outside the Bible. One hint: If there is not one aspect about God that is hard to swallow then you Theology is not based off God’ Word but is a man made construct of how we think God should be. Examples: Holiness, Righteousness, Anger, Sovereignty of God.

Father,

As I read your Word I find aspects of you that is hard for me to comprehend and find myself rebelling against you. Because of these hard truths I tend to sway toward a watered down version of You that soothes my conscience. This rebellion has led to a life that is sinful in I dishonor Your Glory and give only lip service to You. I pray that You’ll allow Your Holy Spirit to fill me and guide me into the Truth that is You and mold my life into a vessel of honor worthy of You and Your Son, Jesus.

Amen

The movie theater was cool and dark, freshly popped popcorn filled the theater. As a Star Trek fan I eagerly awaited the release of Star Trek 2 and now was my opportunity to experience the movie for myself. As the projector cast it’s beam of light across the screen my heart thumped with excitement. Then the bombshell exploded, the movie was dubbed in Japanese.

I sat through the movie hoping beyond hope that at some point I would recognize some inkling of the plot as the movie continued. There was all the long familiar characters and sets, yet I was at a lost as to what was going on. It was years later when I saw the movie in English did I understand the movie and could enjoy it.

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Matthew 24:14

And the gospel must first be published among all nations.

Mark 13:10

According to https://www.wycliffe.net/ there are 7.9 billion people alive on the earth with 7378 languages spoken across the globe.

Across this world there are millions of people living that nightmare as they long to read the Words of the Living God in their own language. For them the nightmare continues.

Of those languages only 3495 have some portions of scripture available in their own languages. Only 717 languages have the complete Bible. 1582 languages have the complete New Testament. Another 1196 languages have some translated Bible portions available.

Those languages having no scriptures available only 828 of them are in the process of being translated. 1892 languages need to begin. 1119 languages have a population so small that no translations are needed. 44 of these communities are served by Scripture in another language.

As of right now there are 2217 languages in 147 countries where translations of the Bible has begun. This still leaves millions who have never had the Bible in their native language. Currently there is no completion date has been set for this monumental task. About a year ago there was a drive to collect monies to complete the task by 2025.

The reason these translations have taken so long is simple, it’s a long tedious process. It takes about 10 years of study to become proficient in the language, another 10 years of translating the text add to that approximately 5 years to publish and distribute then 5-10 years for churches and pastors to be trained.

As late as the 1980s the goal was around 2150 for this task to be accomplished. But with the advances in technology what took decades to complete now takes a couple years. Seeing as Christ says that when the gospel is published among all nations the end will come it would seem we would pay closer attention to this task.

This week ask the Lord how you can help fulfill His mission for the Gospel to published to all nations. It could be by making a financial contribution(s) to the cause or volunteering as a translator either way we need to pray that His Word can reach the lost and dying world.

Father,

Most days I lose sight that there is literally a world of people who have never heard the Good News of the Gospel, some have never heard the name Jesus spoken to them. As I set in church listening to a sermon or spend my daily meditation on your Word, lay on my heart these lost and dying souls. Use me to help sow the seed that may germinate into another soul entering Your kingdom.

Amen

And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

Isaiah 4:1

Of all the signs that God has given us concerning the End Times approaching this sign will be considered the most controversial. There are scholars who try and place this verse with the previous chapter due to the mass death of men dying in warfare. The problem I see with that assessment is that there is no record in the archaeological record to confirm this interpretation. Another reason that this interpretation is not valid is that in Isaiah 1 the term “in that day” is said to refer to the second advent of our Lord, you will notice that the term is used repeatedly in Chapter 4 with all times referring to Christ’s Millennial Reign.

When I first read this verse I believed God was talking about polygamy. If that was the case then the verse would have read “seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will be your wife and ye shall be our husband…” The way the verse is written it describes a time where men are in scarce supply and several women would perform a marriage of convenience with the man. One can see this by the statement “only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach. This is not for love, commitment, romance but to take away their public shame by not being married.

Another thing this verse points to is there is coming a time where women will be liberated from financial ties to the man when it says “We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel.” This again shows independence of the women from the men instead of the interdependence between a married couple. At the time this was written until about the 1960s most households were single income with the men working outside the home and the women being homemakers. After that time there has been a gradual increase of the number of women in the workforce.

The lack of eligible spouses can be seen in Revelation between the Second and Fourth Seal. The Second Seal says
And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

Revelation 6:3, 4

This is saying there will be a war that will encompass the earth drawing all nations into the conflict. As most of the world’s militaries are comprised of young men, their deaths on the battlefield would decrease the number of bachelors available to be married.

The Fourth Seal gives us the dire consequences of the first Three Seals when it says

And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

Revelation 6:7, 8

Here we see that the global population is decreased by a quarter of the earth dead. We’re talking about 1,875,000,000 people dying during this period. Using the current ratio of 2 women for every man on the earth we see that approximately 625,000,000 men being killed between the war and famine including men dying from beasts attacks in the wilderness as they search for food to feed their families.

This verse is not a condemnation of the Women’s Liberation movement, but is a statement of fact of the state of society at the time of Christ’s return. If you currently hold a job and have income coming in, I would use this verse as measuring tape to reflect on my reason(s) for holding the job. Is it to gain independence from our husband? Help the family financially? A means to escape our duties to our children and spouse? Find meaning for our lives exterior to our family? If our motives are pure and Christlike then by all means continue in your position. If not it may be time to do some soul searching asking God where you can best honor Him with your life.

This week each of us should take time and look at our occupations and it’s relationship to our Heavenly Father and families. If our job is bringing honor to all we stay where we are, if not we need to begin searching for another occupation.

Father,

I have taken many jobs in my career based only on the amount of money I would receive. At no time did I consider how these jobs affected those around me. Your Son told us to “seek ye first the kingdom of God first and all these things would be added unto me”. Lord, I rededicate my whole life to You, guide me in Your ways so that I may live a life well pleasing to You.

Amen

In the 1990s if you wanted to play a online RPG, one would have to access a bulletin board in order to play a text based game, the only graphics was a small icon of the creature or beast you have encountered to the side of the text.. With dial up as the only access it would take between 5 to 10 minutes for these message boards to upload to a point you could access the game. Once you were online the game only gave you limited access (around 30 minutes) with you having to wait for the next day’s upload to continue play. Today there are countless online RPGs that allow you to enter a fantasy world seeing sights and sound unimagined just a few decades ago each offering unlimited game play.

Articles online estimate that the internet is doubling in size and information every year, with thousands of pages added daily. Those of us born prior to the computer age remember that the only source of information was either the encyclopedia or the local library. Even 50 years ago most libraries were filled with so much information one could not read and understand all the volumes located in even a modest size branch.

During the 1700s there was a man named Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz who many believed to be the last man on earth to understand everything. Just the 200 years between his time and ours there has been a explosion of information that no one could possibly learn it all even if they lived several lifetimes.

Yet this is the very condition God talks about in our sign today when He said:

But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end:many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

Daniel 12:4

This condition has been noticed by the secularists as shown in this article

How Fast Is Knowledge Doubling? – Lodestar Solutions

Advances in technology that once took decades or hundreds of years to increase are now taking only months or even weeks. Some believe that the advent of the computer has aided these advances, others believe it is because information is more freely available. Either way we can see advances in knowledge on all fronts of human understanding.

Despite all these advances God states that we are no closer to the truth than we were at the beginning when He said

Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2 Timothy 3:7

This week take some time to review all the “knowledge” you have acquired in your life and ask if that information brings you closer to or drives you further away from God. It may be time to do a data dump of the useless and keep only the helpful.

Father,

Over the years I’ve filled my head with the trivia and the arcane. Most of what I’ve learned is useless outside of the game of Trivia Pursuit. Lord this vast array of information has clouded my spiritual eyes from seeing You and Your Glory, leading to life that varies little from the world around me. I pray that you’ll guide me in retaining only the necessary and profitable removing the damaging to restore me to the purity and joy of my salvation and love I had for Jesus.

Amen

Here in the United States and many of the European countries we feel that we are being persecuted when we are not allowed to wish someone a Merry Christmas in the market place. We’ve seen some of the freedoms we have enjoyed for so long eroding away and feel that the world is on a campaign against us and our believes. The reality is that this is not the persecution Christ was talking about in this sign. These changes in society are a direct result of equalizing the playing field for all. True persecution is when we are tortured, excommunicated from society and even put to death for our faith this is what Tertullianus meant when he said:

The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church,

Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus

Jesus warns us in the Bible that we would suffer persecution for His sake

But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.

Matthew 24:9-13

Mark 13:9-12

Repeatedly God tells us that as Christians we should expect the world to “push back” against us and the message of hope that we bring.

Matthew 10:28-33 Romans 8:31-35 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

1 Peter 4:14-16 2 Timothy 3:12 Revelation 6:9-10

Revelation 20:4-5

Christ admonishes us in today’s sign that we should not prepare a speech in defense of ourselves, but allow the Holy Ghost, working through us, to speak the message that He knows needs to be shared. If we stay faithful and true to this command, even unto death, God has a reward in Heaven for us as He mentioned. This crown is one that many in the West will never be able to wear, it is one that holds more meaning in Heaven than the Medal of Honor holds among the US military. For it is the highest honor you can earn for our Lord.

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Revelation 2:10

This week’s action step, we need look at the “persecution” we believe we see in our daily lives and see them as opportunities to spread the gospel message to the unsaved. As Francis of Assisi once said

Preach the Gospel Always, and if Necessary, use Words

Saint Francis of Assisi

Father,

I’m a selfish self-centered person who thinks only of myself, I forget that as Your child, it is

for You and Your Glory that I should live and have meaning. Help me to see my sinful pride

in the events of my life, remembering it’s not me that the world hates, but it’s You they rebel

against. Today, I renew my heart and life to Your Glory, let Your Holy Ghost fill my life to the

brim so that I may reflect You to the world in everything I do or say.

Amen

Siting on the empty bleachers we watched as the sun slowly set over the horizon, behind the ball fields, it’s golden rays bathing the area in beautiful hues of orange and red. Despite the loveliness of the event and surroundings our hearts were heavy as the import of news reported on the Six O’clock News made it’s way home.

Beside me sat a friend who was caught in the midst of grief as her mind tried to comprehend that David Koresh and the others had died in Waco, Texas. Between sobs, she would mutter his name, “David, David, oh my sweet David.” In time she recounted that she and her mother had been members of the Branch Davidians.

She regaled me with memories of David and his teachings. She said he would begin each service holding a worn tattered Bible from years of use in his hands. And give a sermon quoting scriptures and references in rapid succession never once glancing at the Bible. It was if he was quoting the verses that he himself wrote. Not once in all the years under his tutelage did he ever miss quote a single verse. At the end of each sermon he would lay the Bible down on it’s spine which would always open to the specific page which the sermon was based on.

Had it not been for slight modifications of understanding about the verses quoted, she would have been with those people that fateful day. Yet, small changes crept in unaware that changed the focus of the sermons from God and Jesus and put them fully on David, himself.

This is the very thing that the sign this week has given us warning about.

And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Mark 13:5, 6

Matthew 24:5

This sign as all the other “must need be” signs are the tools God uses to adjust attitudes, move people into position to accomplish His will in the End Times. In 2 Timothy 3 God gives us a list of the attitudes of the last days. He says,

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their’s also was.

2 Timohy 3:1-9

As you will note In 2 Timothy there is an attitude of people who are ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. This attitude is accomplished by God through the workings of this sign.

Today in churches throughout the world we have many other teachers/preachers and priests that are claiming the authority and glory that is reserved for the Lord and God, for themselves. Most may never fallen into the depths of claiming Divinity themselves, yet by their actions and teachings they have laid claim to the title in deeds if not words.

Their claim to the Divine allows them to modify the Word to fit their on sinful and selfish desires, leading people astray committing acts of sin that were unthinkable a few short decades ago. Look to your own church and ask when was the last time you heard anything about personal and corporate holiness or even a sermon on the Holiness of God. If you are like me, it’s probably been decades. Yet we’ve been inundated with sermons about the sins of others, being taught to hate the sinners and have the very sin we hate manifest in our own lives. A good example is homosexuality is a sin, yet God in Leviticus places our lustful desires for another in the same category. We all know of affairs in our congregations, unfaithful husband and wives running rampant doing God knows what tearing our families apart. The sounds of the crickets are deafening as nothing is being said or done about these sins.

Here are some questions to ask to see if we are under the leadership of someone claiming to be Christ. If you answer yes to more than two of these, I would recommend seeking God through prayer and meditation for wisdom of finding another body to serve God.

Being caught in a church where this sign is in full force is scary at best. I once was in this position and found that only my only refuge and salvation was to draw closer to God. I did this through prayer (voicing my feelings of unrest) and meditation (studying God’s Word, learning the truth of what He so clearly said), placing my faith that if I follow Him He would honor His own Word. As I grew in my walk with the Lord, I received the strength and wisdom to remove myself from this toxic environment and move to a healthy body where God’s Word was taught and lived by all.

Father,

I was raised in a church that checked all the boxes listed above. Like most I was

afraid to leave the fold to venture out into the great unknown. Your word says

you are my shepherd and I shall not want, though I walk through the valley of the

shadow of death, I will fear not evil: for thou art with me. Lord help me to move

closer to my shepherd, for it is there that I find the comfort and wisdom needed

to face this life. I do this because I want to be more like you son, Jesus. It’s in

His Holy name I ask this.

Amen