Prophecy 20 – www.TtibulationPeriod12.com

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PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 242

September 24, 2005

IF? HOW? WHEN? Those are the Questions? Part 4

Tribulation Begins – Sudden, Suddenly, In One Day!

The current outbreak of hurricane activity along the southern coastal sections of the United States, when considered individually, does not fit the description of “Sudden, Suddenly, In One Day!” They form, and usually long lead times of warning are given to the sections of the coast that could be affected. When the tribulation period begins it will be “Sudden, Suddenly, In One Day,” and the communications systems that allow us to be so well informed will be so severely affected by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, that warnings of shore arrivals will be little to nil after a few days into the tribulation period. They will come on the earth in many cities near the thousands of miles of interlinking fault lines stretched across the earth. The damage of surface equipment we use in communications, and the distortion of atmospheric transmission by volcanic pyroclastics, will make early warning of the great number of tribulation period hurricanes chaotic at best. The cities of the earth, near the boundaries of the tectonic plates, are going to experience day by day what suddenly happened to Sodom and Gomorrah in one hour on a certain day.

Luke 17:29,30 – But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. [30] EVEN THUS SHALL IT BE in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

The attitude that men and women hold worldwide is at least strongly influenced by whether or not they believe the Bible is the inspired Word of the living God, who sent Christ to earth as his only begotten Son. To those who believe it is, the question is never IF a prophesied event will occur, but rather HOW and WHEN it will occur. It is the HOW and WHEN that causes believers to disagree, not IF an event will occur. To believers IT will happen, but HOW and WHEN is open to a wide variance of interpretation, opinion, and speculation. In Luke 21:35, Jesus spoke these prophetic words to his first New Testament Church.

Luke 21:35 – For AS A SNARE shall it come on ALL them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

The word SNARE is “pages,” and it means “whatever makes or holds fast; hence, a trap – A creature was SUDDENLY caught in a cleverly laid snare or trap by its hunter, who had been able to deceive its senses into the belief it was in no danger.

Because I have taught the following things concerning the Second Coming, I have been branded a heretic, a revisionist, and a lunatic. One MB preacher at a local association told preachers I was a warlock. I am not really concerned about what people label me, but I am concerned for those who label me, yet have never really considered what I teach. It is no great concern to me if you disagree with it, but I do wish you would at least know what I teach because, if I am right, our people are in for a real surprise, and may suddenly be caught in a snare of great shock and consternation.

Let me assure you that what is being taught today in prophecy is a far cry from what was taught before the rise of the Great Evangelical Movement after 1740. I suppose I am as one born out of season. I assure you I would not have been considered a heretic, revisionist, or lunatic in the ages before 1740. So, please allow me to state once again what I believe because, if I am right, it is going to dramatically stun both the saved and the lost.

1. The catching out of the saints will not occur until the blowing of the seventh trumpet in Revelation 11:15. (Please see our Prophecy Archive Updates 73D, 74A, 76, 78A, 82A, 114A, 123B, 144A, 144F, 147D, 166C & 233A)

2. The three “he’s” in Daniel 9:27 do not refer to the antichrist, but to Jesus Christ. This means we do not have a coming tribulation period of seven full years, and directly affects or completely changes the numerous ideas of prophetic interpretation based on it. (Please see our Prophecy Archive Numbers 230B, 231, 231A, 231B, 232, 232A, 232B, 232C & 233)

3. The antichrist will not come out of Europe. He will come out of Syria to lead 10 Arab nations against Israel. (Please see our Prophecy Archive Whole Numbered Updates 62 to 69)

4. The Temple will not be rebuilt on the Temple Mount until after Christ arrives. (Please see Prophecy Archive Updates 76D, 79 & 121B)

5. A False Peace will occur and, some 75 days later, Israel will be attacked from the North. (Please see our Prophecy Archive Updates 198A, 207B, 208, 209, 209A, 209B, 210, 210B, 211B, 213A, 213B, 214A, 214B, 215A, 215B, 215C & 216B)

6. Antichrist will not rule over the entire world as we know it today, but over those areas of it that were known at the time of the writing of Revelation. (Please see Prophecy Archive Updates 77, 77A, 77B, 77C & 135A)

TRIBULATION SUDDEN, SUDDENLY, IN ONE DAY

It shall be at an Instant in Israel’s Jordan River Valley!

Ariel is a Name for Jerusalem meaning Lioness of God!

There will be a great earthquake in the Jordan River Valley that will shake Jerusalem to begin the final 1260 days of the tribulation period. It will start a worldwide chain of rippling energy around the borders of the great tectonic plate structures of the earth that will continue until the Second Advent. This release of energy will be heard, seen, and/or felt near the tectonic plate faults in the form of thunderstorms, earthquakes, great noises from the grinding of the plates against one another, the generation of tsunami storm waves and great tempest along the shorelines, and great flames of devouring fire from hundreds of volcanic eruptions,

Isaiah 29:1-6 – Woe to Ariel (Jerusalem), to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices. [2] Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heaviness and sorrow: and it shall be unto me as Ariel. [3] And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee. [4] And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust. [5] Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall BE AT AN INSTANT SUDDENLY. [6] Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of hosts with THUNDER, and with EARTHQUAKE, and GREAT NOISE, with STORM AND TEMPEST, and THE FLAME OF DEVOURING FIRE. (For Exposition of Isaiah 29:1-5, See Archive Prophecy Update 175A)

Isaiah 30:8-13 – Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, THAT IT MAY BE FOR THE TIME TO COME FOR EVER AND EVER: [9] That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord: [10] Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: [11] Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. [12] Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: [13] Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose BREAKING COMETH SUDDENLY AT AN INSTANT.

Luke 21:25,26 – And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; [26] Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Jeremiah 30:7 – Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

Matthew 24:21,22 – For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Isaiah 47:11 – Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put if off: and desolation shall COME UPON THREE SUDDENLY, which thou shalt not know.

Mark 13:34-37 – For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants and to every man his work and commanded the porter to watch. [35] Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight or at the cockcrowing or in the morning: [36] LEST COMING SUDDENLY he find you sleeping. [37] And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

I Thessalonians 5:3,4 – 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. [4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Revelation 6:12 begins the last 1260 days of tribulation.

Revelation 6:12-15 – And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; [13] And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. [14] And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. [15] And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

Revelation 16:21 ends the final 1260 days of tribulation.

Revelation 16:21 – And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

The Last 1260 Days Begin Suddenly, on a Certain Day!

Luke 17:27-30 – They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, UNTIL THE DAY that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. [28] Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; [29] But THE SAME DAY that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. [30] EVEN THUS SHALL IT BE in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

I do indeed believe that the bulk of tribulation period suffering and death will occur in what was the known world of the Book of Revelation, but I do expect the new world to have some part of the suffering and death. My concern is that many believers are so convinced they will not experience any of the tribulation period, that they will be in a state of absolute shock when they find they are still here, not “left behind,” but “still waiting.” If believers have never been advised that the post 1740 rapture positions might not be correct, just how much confidence will they have in the ones who taught them if they are still here during part of the tribulation period?

Luke 21:34,35 – And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so THAT DAY come upon you unawares. [35] For AS A SNARE shall it come on ALL them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 242A

September 25, 2005

Armageddon – Not in the Far Distant Future – Part 8

An Exposition of Revelation 16:13 to 18:24

Ezekiel 33:3-6 – If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; [4] Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. [5] He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. [6] But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.

The primary Scripture, among those on which I will be expositing in this series, specifically warns those setting under false teachings to break away from the religious “her” that is teaching them today.

Revelation 18:4 – And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

This Scripture lets me know there are saved men and women who are in the “her” of this verse, because it calls them “my people.” The primary purpose of this series is to specifically identify the “her” and to implore those “in her” to come “out of her,” and to warn those not in “her” to stay “out of her.”

Now, I shall continue expositing from where we left off in Part 7.

Revelation 18:11 – And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

The Catholic Church is the greatest merchandiser of religious objects in the faiths dominated by salvation by Jesus plus works. Her sales of a multiplicity of statues of Mary, Jesus, the saints, and countless other objects impregnated with their pictures, have made billions for those who merchandise them and the Catholic Church that authorizes such sales. Her sales of religious relics, indulgences, rosaries, praise objects, and other objects of adoration have brought billions into her coffers down through the ages. All these profits will be cut off from her merchandisers abruptly in one hour.

Revelation 18:12 – The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

All of these items have marked Catholic Church history in the character of her sales for profit down through the ages. They have been floated up the Tiber and carried over land from many ports into her storehouses.

Revelation 18:13 – And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

These were the things that were brought up from the port at the mouth of the Tiber River from the ships on the Mediterranean Sea, during the reign of the Roman Emperors from Constantine onwards, and from which the early Catholic Church enjoyed the carnal fruits thereof.

Revelation 18:14 – And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

All of her carnal benefits received because of marriage with the state will be ended in one hour by a geological holocaust.

Revelation 18:15 – The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

All the merchant ships of the Mediterranean Sea will stand afar off from the mouth of the Tiber River, and see the fire and smoke of her burning.

Revelation 18:16 – And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

One has but to take a tour through the Vatican City to see the picture painted by this verse. If you watched the recent Pope’s funeral, you got to view a small part of it.

Revelation 18:17 – For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

In one hour God’s judgment comes upon her for almost 1700 years of spiritual adultery from the faith once delivered to the saints.

Revelation 18:18 – And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

Rome was the city that ruled the known world when John wrote these words and, indeed, there was no city like her.

Revelation 17:18 – And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

Revelation 18:19 – And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

It is indeed absolutely shocking to believe that, in one hour, almost 1700 years of history, religious tradition, and heresy will suddenly end.

Revelation 18:20 – Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

In order to properly portray this very short verse of Scripture, please allow me to quote from “The Trail of Blood” by Dr. J.M. Carroll. The history of churches that have maintained “the faith” once delivered to the saints left a trail of martyr’s blood, which was extracted from them by the Roman Catholic Church during the Dark Ages.

BEGIN QUOTES FROM “THE TRAIL OF BLOOD!”

“17. I again call your attention to those upon whom the hard hand of persecution fell. If fifty million died of persecution during the 1,200 years of what are called the Dark Ages, as history seems positively to teach, then they died faster than an average of four million every 100 years. That seems almost beyond the limit of human conception. As before mentioned, this iron hand, dripping with martyr blood, fell upon Paulicians, Arnoldists, Hendricians, Petro Brussians, Albigenses, Waldenses, and Ana-Baptists much harder than upon others.”

“Sad and awful was the fate of these long-suffering Ana-Baptists. The World now offered no sure place for hiding. Four hard persecutors were now hot on their trail. Surely theirs was a Trail of Blood.”

“18. But persecutions did not cease. The hatred Ana-Baptist (called Baptists today), in spite of all previous persecutions, and in spite of the awful fact that fifty million had already died martyr deaths, still existed in great numbers. It was doing this period that along one European highway, thirty miles in distant, stakes were set up every few feet along it, the tops of the stakes sharpened, and on the top of each stake was placed a horrid gory head of a martyred Ana Baptist. Human imagination can hardly picture a scene so awful! And yet this thing was perpetrated, according to reliable history, by a people calling themselves devout followers of the meek and lowly Jesus Christ.”

END QUOTES FROM “THE TRAIL OF BLOOD!”

On one day in one hour all the martyrs of Revelation 18:20 will surely be avenged by God, and will rejoice in heaven to see the end of Vatican spiritual apostasy.

Revelation 18:20 – Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

Lord willing, in the next Update of this series, I will exposit on 18:21 to 18:23.

Revelation 18:21-23 – And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. [22] And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; [23] And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

The Catholic Church, some of her offspring, and many of the organizations rising out of the Great Evangelical Movement since 1730, have become the Pharisees of today.

Matthew 15:8,9 – This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. [9] But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

II Timothy 4:1-4 – I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; [2] Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. [3] 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; [4] And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

John 4:24 – God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

I Timothy 3:14,15 – These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: [15] But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 242B

September 28, 2005

Armageddon – Not in the Far Distant Future – Part 9

An Exposition of Revelation 16:13 to 18:24

Revelation 18:4 – And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Now, I shall continue expositing from where we left off in Part 8.

Revelation 18:21 – And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

The penalty for teaching false doctrine and causing God’s little born again children to stumble is described using the same illustration.

Matthew 18:3-6 – And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. [4] Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. [5] And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. [6] 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.

The word OFFEND means “to cause to stumble” and, in the context of verse six, it means to cause the born again babe in Christ “to stumble” in his walk of faith as a child of God. In the case of Matthew 18:6 it is used as a metaphor. However, in Revelation 18:21, it is literally going to happen to the city of Rome and its Vatican as a punishment for causing billions of God’s children to stumble in their walk by faith. The city, encompassed by the seven hills, is literally going to sink under the Sea as the land subsides below sea level, causing the great Mediterranean Sea to flow up the Tiber River to engulf Rome.

The actual word translated as “offend” is “skandaliz,” which means “to entrap, to trip, to cause to stumble, to entice to apostasy.” This has been the role of the whore of Babylon, the Catholic Church, for some 1700 years.

SINKING OF THE CITY OF ROME IN ONE DAY!

It might be a good idea to look at a map of the entire Mediterranean Sea area as far east as Turkey, and as far south as Israel, while reading this Prophecy Update.

This is something I have taught since 1982. Please allow me to seemingly “beat around the bush” before directly addressing how, and why, Rome will literally sink below the upper waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

The basaltic Pacific Ocean sea floor is pushing against the western coast of the United States. The rock strata of the dry land there is lighter than the basaltic sea floor. Consequently, it lifts over the sea floor basaltic strata. As the weight of the coastal rock strata rises over the basaltic sea floor strata, its overlying weight causes the sea floor strata to dive downward under the western United States. As it slides downward under the western U.S. at about a 30 degree angle, ever increasing pressure is incurred on the rock strata due to overlying weight that constantly increases as it goes deeper, and this causes numerous subterranean chambers to form in lines along the layer’s perpendicular intersection with the coastline. When further movement causes a sudden release of pressure by vertical cracking, the solid rock layer instantly liquefies, fills the subterranean chamber with magma, and starts toward the surface, sometimes erupting as a volcano. It is this generalized effect that has created the lengthy chain of volcanoes from British Columbia southward across Washington, Oregon, and California.

Please forgive this long discourse on the creation of the western U.S. volcanic chain. I gave it because you may have seen an animated illustration of it on one of the TV Discovery programs, and I wanted you to go from the familiar to the unfamiliar, because the same phenomena exists along the western coast of Italy, where a volcanic chain stretches the length of the Italian boot from near the tip of its toe to well north of Rome.

I am particularly interested in the very ancient crater designated on geological maps simply as “004.” It is located on the southwestern suburbs of the famous seven hills on which Rome is situated, and is clearly visible as a lake filled caldera when one flies over the area to land at Rome. Like the infamous Mt. Pinatubo eruption in the Philippines, from a volcano that had laid dormant for more that 400 years, the same is true of the Italian “004” volcano. When “004” erupts it, along with its accompanying earthquake, will fulfill the prophecy of Revelation 18:21.

The great earthquake of Revelation 6:12, in the Jordan River Valley, will create a seismic energy release that will travel north to strike the east-west fault that runs across northern Turkey, then west along it to the long sea floor submergence zone off Italy’s western coast, a portion of which dips under Rome. The last fantastic earthquake of Revelation 16:18 will send the final surge of energy along the same route, and it will trigger the “004” eruption with its associated earthquake activity.

Revelation 6:12 – And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

Revelation 16:18 – And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

The results of this eruption and earthquake will cause Rome to slowly sink beneath the upper waters of the Mediterranean Sea, which will flow inland a few miles up the Tiber River to submerge Rome. This is the same scenario that happened to the great Roman Port Julius due to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes in Italy’s turbulent history.

Believe it or not, the gigantic African continent is slowly floating on great underground masses of magma, and turning clockwise in a circle. This is the driving force that is pushing the Mediterranean seafloor against the western half of the European continent’s long Italian peninsula. The African and European continents meet head-on along the western Italian coast. The earth’s African Plate slowly grinds under the Italian peninsula, melting deep rock into magma that then rises through cracks to the surface. This process has formed a string of volcanoes from Sicily to far north of Rome, and a system of geological faults that release stress through earthquakes, often catastrophically. The great Gulf of Pozzuoli lies just to southwest of Rome. Pozzuoli lies in an enormous ancient volcanic caldera, named for the Campi Fiegrei (Fiery Fields) region, which has begun to reawake as the magma below it becomes more active. It is the movement of this magma that forces the earth up and down in an earthquake triggering action. Today’s fear comes from a speed up of this activity.

The Campi Flegrei is a zone of fiery fields and sunken cities. Magma beneath the Gulf of Pozzuoli heats the groundwater to activate fumaroles. And in the silence of doom the Roman Port Julius lies mired beneath the surface of the sea. The city of Rome to its northeast will be a companion underwater city during the millennial reign of Christ. The thousands of years that Rome has known great joy, which has caused her to be called the “eternal city,” will end on one day in one hour, and her underwater streets will experience the silence described in the verses following Revelation 18:21.

Revelaion 18:21-23 – And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. [22] And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; [23] And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 243

September 30, 2005

IF? HOW? WHEN? Those are the Questions! – Part 5

Luke 17:32 – Remember Lot’s wife.

In the first book I wrote, some 29 years ago, I included the account of the destruction at Sodom and Gomorrah as an example of suddenness, which would be characteristic of the abrupt beginning of the tribulation period, and as something that would be occurring in individual cities, near the world’s tectonic plate boundaries, throughout the last three and one-half years prior to the Second Advent. I believe many will be remembering Lot’s wife during this period of time. For that reason I am presenting a detailed analysis of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Genesis 19:23-26 – The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. [24] Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; [25] And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. [26] But his wife looked back from behind him, and she BECAME a pillar of salt.

The “plain” to which the writer refers is the wide, flat rift valley fault at the southern end of the Dead Sea. Sodom and Gomorrah, before their obliteration, sat directly over the fault (F2) on the southeastern side of the Dead Sea shore (See Birth Pang Archive Figures 24 and 27). Examination of the geological substrata in this area is very interesting. The Bible gives a description which reflects that numerous shallow oil deposits existed in this zone prior to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Genesis 14:10 – And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.

The vale of Siddim (valley of the fields) was the territory south of the land tongue which protrudes into the Dead Sea from its eastern side (See Birth Pang Archive Figures 24 and 27). The great cataclysm which destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah was followed by subsidence of all the vale of Siddim, and up until the last century it lay submerged beneath the southern end of the Dead Sea south of the land tongue of Lisan. The “slime pits” were bitumen or asphalt pits. The words for slime pits in Genesis 14:10 are the Hebrew words “chemar beer,” and represent a pit of bitumen that extended downward into the substrata of the earth. Asphalt is a brown to black bituminous substance that is obtained as a residue in petroleum refining. A great deal of the asphalt of ancient times came from the Dead Sea, which was also called Lacus Alphatites. Asphalt is a mixture of hydrocarbons, in part oxygenated, the softer types generating toward petroleum. When exposed to the air it hardens partly by oxidation and partly by evaporation. There was once a large build-up of this petroleum based bituminous material surrounding the area of Sodom and Gomorrah, because the writer states that it was “full of slime pits.” Even today an occasional chunk of asphalt will suddenly bob up to the top as a sulfur vent erupts on the sea floor of the Dead Sea. There are, to this day, large sulfur springs that deposit heavy loads of sulfur over the Dead Sea flats in this area. Here, in the hey-day of Sodom and Gomorrah, was a great subsurface powder keg of petroleum hydrocarbons and sulfur, just waiting for a giant match to ignite them. Another compound, sodium chloride, better known as salt, has always existed in the upper surface layers of this zone as vast block formations hundreds of feet thick. So, here is the disaster, waiting for the God who formed it, to ignite it with what he put beneath the layers of salt, sulfur, and petroleum based material – thick deposits of salt immediately under the surface, petroleum hydrocarbons boiling up through cracks in the salt layers, and sulfur springs rippling into the salt zone both vertically and horizontally. All this formation needed to trigger it was a vertical thrust of the igneous magma into the crack running through the Sodom-Gomorrah area (See Birth Pang Archive Figure 27). As you can see on Figure 27, a vast molten sea of magma underlies the earth’s outer crust, and it is closer to the earth’s surface in this area than in many other parts of the world. Numerous fumaroles occasionally release hot gasses and vapors to the surface from old volcanic vents that still extend deep into the underlying magma, bearing testimony that intense heat pockets exist just below the surface.

Zoar was not resting on top of the powder keg. When Lot entered the safety zone to which God had directed him, then God pulled his tectonic trigger and completely destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. I believe that God opened his Dead Sea Fault just enough to allow the fiery magma to push up through the vents of salt layers he had long saturated with sulfur and bitumen. This touched off a tremendous chain of explosions that roared through the entire vale of Siddim. The explosions weakened the upper crust and great fiery swirls of pyroclastic materials were blasted high into the heavens. The writer describes it vividly by stating, “brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven.”

But what of Lot’s wife – how did she become a “pillar of salt?” First of all, she disobeyed God, and remained in the disaster zone – “But his wife looked back from behind him.” When Lot was safely inside Zoar, his wife was still standing in the danger zone “looking back.” This tells us why she became a pillar of salt – she disobeyed God! Now, let us explore how “she became a pillar of salt.” She observed the great vents of fire that went up into the heavens from the chain reaction, but before she could clear the danger zone a blanket of of pyroclastic material from the eruption rained down on her – and yes, you guessed it – the pyroclastic material was composed of hot, liquid, pryochemical salt. She actually “BECAME a pillar of salt,” exactly as the Word of God proclaims.

This sort of thing is not unheard of – pyroclastic materials of the local area covered the residents of Pompeii in 79 A.D. – They were actually encased, in perfect body form, by pyroclastic materials of the local area called “rapilli” that were thrown into the heavens by the eruption of Vesuvius. They became pillars of rapilli rather than pillars of salt. The Italian Florelli devised a method of making casts of the former residents by pouring plaster into the rapilli shell coverings. When the material rained down from heaven the residents of Pompeii were in the danger zone. I am convinced the same thing happened to Lot’s wife. The residents of Pompeii did not become “pillars of salt” only because the upper layers of the crust in their area were not composed of salt layers.

As the sulfur and petroleum based substances continue to burn both externally and internally, a great deal of the valley mass went up in smoke. Additionally, the salt blocks fused into more compressed strata and the limestone layers gradually shrank after the initial ignition by magma. This chain of events caused a further local subsidence of the graben valley floor. As it gradually sank below the level of the Dead Sea to the north of it, its murky water flowed slowly southward across the area like a great smothering blanket over the smoking valley, and much of what remains today of this great holocaust lies hidden beneath the shallow waters of the southern Dead Sea.

Please do not believe I am trying to “explain away” a miracle. God does as he wills with his own creation. I simple believe this is what God did. The sight that met Abraham’s view the morning after Lot’s wife became a pillar of salt, is a flawless description of a local opening of the tectonic plate along the Dead Sea Fault.

Genesis 19:26-28 – But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. [27] And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord: [28] And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.

I believe God opened the Dead Sea Fault in a small local area to cause the terrifying picture Abraham witnessed in the aftermath of the cataclysm. I am convinced that God will once again open this fault in the last 1260 days of the tribulation period. But this time it will not be local – the opening will stretch from the southern tip of the Dead Sea via the land of Idumea to the northern extension of the Red Sea into the Gulf of Eilat or Aqaba (See Birth Pang Archive Figure 23). I believe the prophet Isaiah saw this happening in his vision of destruction in Idumea during the tribulation period (See latter part of Chapter 11).

Isaiah 34:9,10 – And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. [10] It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 243A

October 2, 2005

Armageddon – Not in the Far Distant Future – Part 10

An Exposition of Revelation 16:13 to 18:24

Revevelation 17:18 – And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

Revelation 18:24 – And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

You might consider taking a look back at Part 8 in this series to get a better idea of how much martyr’s blood has been shed in the past by the Roman Catholic faith. But since I am more concerned about the blood of the martyrs that will be shed in the tribulation period, I will use 18:24 as a springboard for what is coming, rather than what is past.

Other Believers will die in Tribulation before Trump 7!

Billions of dollars have been poured into the coffers of those who advocate the post-1740 rapture teaching that all the saved will be whisked up to heaven before seven years of tribulation begin on this planet. I don’t believe God waited until the great evangelical movement, which began in the 1730’s, to have a first-of-the-week position taught. I have personally searched for any evidence of the position prior to 1740, and have found none. But I surely do not ask you to believe what I teach based on historical research. Please take a look in our Prophecy Update Archives for a historical and biblical exposition of the rapture question. You will find it in Archive Updates 73D, 74A, 76, 78A, 82A, 114A, 123B, 144A, 144f, 147D, 166C & 233A. Check it out for yourself!

The recent “left behind” series made millions in book sales, and filled the pockets of those who wrote them, as well as those who ghost wrote or published them. If the first-of-the-week position is incorrect, then millions are going to be in shell shock when all hell breaks loose and they find themselves still living as occupants of surface earth. How much confidence will they then have in the many other things writers taught them as being true?

I encourage you to go to the link which follows to get a truthful description of the “left behind” series.

http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/BookReviews/left.htm

I am convinced that some of God’s children are going to die in the tribulation period, yet most are convinced they will not be here doing any part of it, and do not want to hear anything contrary to that belief.

Remembering that Revelation Chapters 12 through 14 are classed as parenthetical chapters, I believe the sequence which follows is a reasonable chronological arrangement of the last three and one-half years prior to the Second Advent that ends Armageddon.

War, Pestilence & Famine Ravage a 4th Part of Earth!

Revelation 6:8 – 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. (Archive Updates 145E to 146C)

Angelic War Breaks Out in Heaven – Michael vs. Devil!

Revelation 12:7 –And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, (Archive Birth Pang 39 & Prophecy Update 138C)

The Devil is cast Out of the Heavens onto the Earth!

Revelation 12:12 – Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but A SHORT TIME. (Archive Birth Pang 40)

Revelation 6:9-11 – Souls in Heaven are Anxious for the Rapture to Occur! (Archive Updates 146A to 146C)

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: [10] And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? [11] And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for A LITTLE SEASON, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that SHOULD be killed AS they were, should be fulfilled.

Little Season Begins on Earth – Some Saved are Killed!

Revelation 6:12,13 – And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; [13] And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. (Archive Prophecy Update 146C)

Israel Driven into Negev for Little Season of 3 ½ Years!

Revelation 12:13,14 – And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. [14] And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. (Archive Birth Pang 41 & Prophecy Update 138C)

One Third of Men Die in Volcanic-Earthquake Chaos!

Revelation 9:18 – By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. (Archive Updates 180B, 182B, 183A, & 186A)

Satan Makes War with Negev Remnant of Jesus (seed)!

Revelation 12:17 – And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Archive Birth Pang 43 & Prophecy Update 140B)

Believers Killed for Not Worshipping the Beast Image!

Revelation 13:15 – And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. (Archive Prophecy Update 88)

Martyrs Rewarded for not affiliating with the Beast!

Revelation 20:4 – And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

II Timothy 2:11,12 – It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: [12] If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: (Deny some saved the right to reign)

Galatians 6:7 – Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

II Timothy 3:12 – Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

I Peter 4:12-14 – Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: [13] But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. [14] If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Ephesians 3:21 – Unto him be glory IN THE CHURCH by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Revelation 22:16,17 – I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things IN THE CHURCHES. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. [17] And the Spirit and THE BRIDE say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take THE WATER OF LIFE freely.

Ephesians 5:26,27 – That he might sanctify and cleanse it with THE WASHING OF WATER BY THE WORD, [27] That he might present it to himself a GLORIOUS CHURCH, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Revelation 22:12,14 – And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. [14] Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 243B

October 5, 2005

Armageddon – Not in the Far Distant Future – Part 11

Man’s Technological Tower of Babel is in Place!

Genesis 11:1-9 – And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. [2] And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. [3] And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. [4] And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. [5] And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. [6] And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. [7] Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. [8] So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. [9] Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

In the history of mankind there has always been a single factor that stymied scientific progress more than any other element in human achievement – the carnality of man manifested by his distrust of anyone who did not speak his language. We naturally tend to develop trust by association, and associate more readily with those of the same language and culture. Because we have many different variations of language, which have manifested themselves with certain nations having languages that identify them as that country, we long ago developed a tremendous suspicion of each other, which usually falls under the category of national interest. Nations simply don’t trust each other and, because of this, would not share any information that could cause another nation to profit from what it had just discovered. Different languages have been a definite block to technological advancement ever since the Tower of Babel.

But the invention of, and rapid advancement in abilities of, the computer, followed by the development of the vast world internet associated with it, have overcome the long stymied technological advance of scientific advancement. The continuing advancement of man’s fantastic growth in knowledge in the last 100 years has given the present generation all the blessings of material prosperity imaginable. All this was prophesied by the Spirit of God in Daniel 12:4.

Daniel 12:4 – 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.

Man has run to and fro on the earth, above the earth, and beneath the earth, due to his remarkable advance in ability to probe rapidly and skillfully into these vast areas of creation. The international language did not become English or French – turned out to be computer language, which had the ability to translate all of them into decodable functions, and has broken down most of the restricting power of nations to “make us a name.”

Well, now that individual nations have made a name for themselves, and we have finally achieved accruing all this great material gain and creature comforts through the great industrial revolution, just look at what it has enabled mankind to become on its own, separated from the meddling of the God who created Adam. We have divided into systems of different beliefs that hate each other. The nations of the world meet together at the United Nations, but despise each other, and are divided on every issue because of national interest. The world is divided into two camps – the “haves” and the “have-nots,” and they both dislike each other. The individual ideology of men and women range from “bleeding from the heart,” to bleeding from the neck after beheading to “let’s kill them all,” or from pro-abortion to anti-abortion, etc., etc., etc. Human rights and uniform international judicial systems have little relation to each other, and certainly no relation to the Bible from which they originally were taken. Yes sir, just as the famous cigarette commercial of the last century proclaimed: “You’ve come a long way, Baby!”

Man’s problem has always been his inherited carnality from his forefather Adam. Adam made the choice for us all. So let’s just blame God for creating Adam and for allowing him to make that choice. Don’t blame God for all this, God chose all men to be saved in Christ Jesus, and he gave us a system of commandments that would at least partially protect us from our rampant carnality while we waited for the Seed, his Son, to come.

Galatians 3:19 – Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Galatians 3:24 – Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Ephesians 1:4 – According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

II Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Acts 20:21 – Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Men and women have the right to refuse God’s choice for them. They can choose not to repent of their sinful inherited condition, and not to put their faith in Jesus Christ, so don’t blame God if you end up in Hell for not doing so – It’s your choice!

Merrill Unger, in his popular “Bible Handbook,” when discussing the Tower of Babel verses says: “This is not a mere hyperbole, but an expression of pride (“make us a name”) and rebellion against God, and his most explicit command to “replenish the earth” (Genesis 9:1). Self-glory, instead of God’s glory, and man-made unity to replace the unity forfeited by abandoning the fear of God, were evidenced in the account.”

The second Psalm, in the first 3 verses, clearly outlines what man would do in breaking all ties with God by abandoning any bands, any cords, any restrictions put on him by God’s commandments, or any fear of failing to follow or obey them. Verse 4 describes what God will do as he watches them suffer the consequences of their own abandonment of any form of law based on what he delivered to them to maintain order in society. Verse 5 then describes the punishment God himself will put on them in the last days before his Son’s Second Advent. The remaining verses involve the establishment of his Son as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, in Mount Zion (Jerusalem), Christ’s Millennial Reign, and his advice for men and women to respect and put all their trust in him to deliver them.

Psalm 2:1-12 – Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? [2] The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, [3] Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. [4] He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. [5] Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. [6] Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. [7] I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. [8] Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. [9] Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. [10] Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. [11] Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. [12] Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Indeed, “You’ve come a long way, Baby!” Man can really be proud of his accomplishment of severing his relations with the God who created him. Why! Just look at how far we have come on our own. Here we are back in the land where the tower of Babel stood along the Euphrates River, surrounded by Islamic terrorists in Iraq that are killing and beheading, who classify us as crusaders and infidels, with a world full of people whose envy of our prosperity leads them to disagree with us on virtually every issue. Yes Sir, we sure were smart to break the cords and bindings of our relations with God through our judicial system. And on our own we have “made a name for ourselves.” Just look what mankind has been able to do on its own without God. We have eliminated wars and conflicts, we have been able to eliminate crime of all types, we have developed a system that has rehabilitated carnality in man, we have politicians that always tell the truth, and don’t do what they do just to be reelected, and on and on and on, you name it, and we’ve done it. I can only speak for myself, and most people think I have gone mad, but I am truly looking forward to the end of all this mess man has, and is, continuing to make without God. Jesus Christ is the only one who can end this horrible state of society. I am anxiously waiting for the following verses to occur.

Luke 21:25-29 – And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; [26] Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. [27] And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. [28] And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Malachi 4:1-3 – For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. [2] But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. [3] And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.

Zechariah 13:8,9 – And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. [9] And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.

Zechariah 14:9 – And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.

Today, the three great world monotheistic faiths are joined in mortal combat in the Middle East and things are going to eventually get a lot worse before Christ returns. The Jews started celebrating their most Holy days earlier this week – the Arabs spotted a new moon on Monday night and began celebrating their most Holy Days on Tuesday – and the U.S. is sitting on a powder keg in the same place the Tower of Babel once stood.

I am look forward to that day he comes quickly!

Revelation 22:12-14 – And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. [13] I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. [14] Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 244

October 7, 2005

Revelation Message – The EVERLASTING Gospel! Part 1

Revelation 14:6 – And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the EVERLASTING gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

Here we are in Chapter 14, a parenthetical chapter in the Revelation, and John sees a heavenly messenger fly in the midst of Heaven, with the everlasting gospel to preach unto earth’s tribulation period inhabitants.

The word translated “EVERLASTING” is “aionios.” It is an adjective – A word that describes the properties, characteristics, and qualities of the gospel – time in its duration that is constant, abiding, forever, denoting not belonging to what is transitory. It does not mean the gospel will be preached eternally – It means the results of receiving it are eternal, everlasting, forever. As an adjective, it describes the character of the noun, which is the “gospel.” When one believes, receives, accepts the gospel, he or she receives the EVERLASTING benefits of its character, having been passed from under the condemnation of God EVERLASTINGLY, as well as being EVERLASTINGLY passed from spiritual death to ETERNAL SPIRITUAL life.

John 5:24 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, HATH EVERLASTING life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

The character of God is EVERLASTING as is his Son’s character. The character of God continues in all of his children EVERLASTINGLY.

John 12:50 – And I know that his commandment is life EVERLASTING: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

The EVERLASTING gospel did not begin in the New Testament. It came into existence before the foundation of the world. And it has always been the promise of the Seed, Christ Jesus. God knew before he ever made man that man would make the wrong choice, and thereby need a Savior.

Ephesians 1:3,4 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: [4] According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

The first application of the promise of the Seed is found in the Garden of Eden, immediately after Adam and Eve disobeyed God.

Genesis 3:15 – And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

The EVERLASTING gospel is the good news promise of God made here in simplistic Old Testament format. It did not begin in the New Testament. It came into existence by name, and as the “better” covenant or promise with the arrival, the ministry, the sacrifice, the death, and the resurrection of the Old Testament Lamb Seed of God, the man Christ Jesus. The gospel has always had the true characteristic of EVERLASTING because it has always been an unconditional covenant. However, the extent of the good news, that it was totally by the grace of God in his promised seed, was not able to be completely understood until the Seed had totally fulfilled every jot and tittle of its requirements for all who would receive him as the full atonement for all their sins – That is why it is good news and why it is a “better” covenant – because now the believer is able to understand that Christ fulfilled it for him, and that the salvation in the covenant is totally by the grace that was, and is, in God’s promised Seed.

The unconditional covenant of God’s Seed promise was announced immediately after Adam and Eve had sinned and broken their spiritual union with God – They both DIED SPIRITUALLY. God immediately promised he would send a Seed to crush the power of the Devil’s hold on their souls by stepping on his head, but advised that the Seed’s own body would be bruised in so doing.

Genesis 3:15 – And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Isaiah 53:5 – But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

When Cain arrived they naturally thought God meant their first seed would fulfill verse 15, but when he rose up and slew the second seed, Abel, they knew neither of them was the promised one from God.

Genesis 4:1-3 – And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. [2] And she again bare his brother Abel.

So they waited for the third seed, still thinking he might be the one promised of God. But after Seth came a new problem arose – Seth had a son, Enos. So was Seth or Enos the promised Seed? It began to dawn on them that the promised Seed might be a distant descendant of Seth. They did the only thing they could do by faith. They began to trust in the Lord that he would one day send the Seed he promised and, while they waited, the ones who believed God’s promise began to call on the name of the Lord.

Genesis 4:25,26 – And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another SEED instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. [26] And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: THEN began men to call upon the name of the Lord.

And believers have been doing that ever since by faith in the promise of God.

Romans 10:17 – So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:13 – For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

It is a better covenant because now we know the name of the Seed upon whom we are to call, and we know how he died for all our sins, and lives in heaven as the only intercessor for those sins.

Acts 4:12 – Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Hebrews 10:4-18 – For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. [5] Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: [6] In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. [7] Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. [8] Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; [9] Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. [10] By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. [11] And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: [12] But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; [13] From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. [14] For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. [15] Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, [16] This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; [17] And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. [18] Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

The characteristic of the promise is EVERLASTING life in the promised Seed, who gave those who call on his name the characteristic of his life. And the very character of his life is EVERLASTING.

John 5:39-41 – Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. [40] And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. [41] I receive not honour from men.

John 5:21-23 – For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. [22] For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: [23] That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 244A

October 9, 2005

A Rejected Son Returns as a Rod to Bring Peace to Us! Part 1

ISAIAH 11:1 – And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

He came as a direct descendant of David, the son of the man Jesse, as a human man child made of a woman by God in the Virgin Mary’s womb – a sinless man who was both the Son of man and the Son of God. When Isaiah wrote in 700 BC most did not believe his report, as is the case today. But he grew up before his heavenly Father as a perfect tender plant of flesh and blood, and in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily. He revealed himself to those who would believed he had been sent by his Father. He had no attributes of great human beauty manifested in his flesh – his beauty was the inner beauty of his Spirit. It was the beauty of God in him reconciling the world to himself.

Isaiah 53:1,2 – Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? [2] For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

ISAIAH 11:2 – And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;

Isaiah 42:1 – Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

Isaiah 61:1,2 – The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the MEEK; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; [2] To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

The prophecy of Isaiah 61:1,2 was fulfilled by Jesus in the synagogue at Nazareth more than 700 years after it was written. He proclaimed himself as the one who was sent to tell them it was the acceptable year of the Lord to bring in the kingdom by Messiah, but that rejection of it would bring the day of vengeance of their God.

Luke 4:16-20 – And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. [17] And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, [18] The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the POOR; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, [19] To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. [20] And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

He did not base his judgments or rebukes on the human senses, but on the Word and Indwelling Spirit of his heavenly Father.

ISAIAH 11:3 – And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

John 12:44-50 – Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. [45] And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. [46] I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. [47] And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. [48] He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. [49] For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. [50] And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

His judgments were merciful and full of promise to those who were poor in spirit and meek toward God.

Matthew 5:3 – Blessed are THE POOR in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:5 – Blessed are THE MEEK: for they shall inherit the earth.

But the time is coming when he will smite the earth and slay the wicked.

ISAIAH 11:4,5 – But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. [5] And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

His coming judgment is pictured by his return on the white horse of Revelation 19:11 judging those who did not repent of their sins and receive his righteousness by his gracious offer of salvation.

Revelation 19:11 – And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

II Thessalonians 1:7-10 – And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, [8] In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: [9] Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; [10] When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

Philippians 3:9 – And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Galatians 3:26 – For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:26 – To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Romans 3:28 – Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Luke 21:25-28 – And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; [26] Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. [27] And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. [28] And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 244B

SOME WON’T BELIEVE GOD EXISTS EVEN IN TRIBULATION!

October 12, 2005

Revelation 16:9 – And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and THEY REPENTED NOT to give him glory.

For 30 years, in four books and more than 700 weeks of lectures across this planet in churches, seminaries, colleges, universities, and schools, I have tried to warn people that we were already in the “beginning of sorrows,” and that the tribulation period, which was to follow it, was not a far distant event. Many have listened, but few have believed it. I have attempted to warn any who would listen that the manifestation of the Sons of God in glorified bodies, at Christ’s Second Advent, was not something in the far distant future. The beginning of the tribulation period is closer than most prophetic teachers believe.

I John 3:2 – Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Romans 8:19 – For the earnest expectation of the CREATURE waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

The Greek word translated “CREATURE” IS “KTISIS,” which has the basic root meaning of “original formation,” literally THE CREATION. The same word is translated as CREATION in Romans 8:22. All the creation of God, in which atoms and ions move at different speeds in the many different elements and compounds of it, has been groaning for a long time since the fall of man, waiting for his final glorified restoration to the God who made him. That earnest expectation of the angels and all the rest of his great creation is about to come to pass – it is not a far distant event – the saved will be manifested in glorified bodies to one another on the surface of this planet when Christ returns them to it at his Second Advent.

Romans 8:22 – For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

We have always had earthquakes, famines, pestilences, tsunamis, floods, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, hazardous weather phenomena of all types, landslides, mudslides, and many other horrific effects attributed to the nature of the creation. The question is twofold – is there a God – and if so, can he do what he wants to do with what he created, when he wants to do so? Is God causing his creation to accelerate in “groaning in travail” as he said he would do in “the beginning of sorrows,” which was to immediately precede the tribulation period to warn us it was not in the far distant future.

Matthew 24:7,8 – For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. [8] All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Matthew 24:7,8 was to be a time when man’s sorrows would gradually increase for an indefinite period of time and, at the end of that time, the tribulation period would suddenly come in like a roaring lion, as stated some 13 verses later in Matthew 24:21,22.

Matthew 24:21,22 – For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. [22] And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

The final three and one-half years of the tribulation period will begin with the first great earthquake in Revelation 6:12 and end with the last, and greatest, in Revelation 16:18,19.

Revelation 6:12 – And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

Revelation 16:18,19 – And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. [19] And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

Luke 21:25-28 is a summary of what will transpire on the earth between Revelation 6:12 and 16:18, which will culminate with the Second Advent of Christ.

I have long believed that “the beginning of sorrows” began in 1967, at which time the Israelis took back the temple mount in the old city of Jerusalem, which they lost in 70 AD. Since a Jewish generation is, in most biblical cases, considered to be 40 years, I have believed that “the sorrows” would begin to be more noticeable as that period of time drew to a close. This is what I believe is now being manifest in the increase of natural disasters we have observed the last two years. Just take a look at some of the things that have happened the last 10 months.

1. The great tsunami in the Indian Ocean.

2. The great earthquake in Pakistan and Kashmir.

3. Record numbers of disaster producing hurricanes.

4. Current floods in the northeastern U.S.

5. Massive mudslides in Guatemala and San Salvador.

6. HIV, flu, and numerous other virus mutational hazards

7. Increasing volcanic eruptions.

I have listened, for some 30 years, to my atheistic and agnostic peers in my chosen fields of meteorology and geology, make this statement as each single disaster occurred: “this particular disaster is just a normal part of CREATION that has always been happening – Your imaginary God has nothing to do with it.” Well, what about “NOW?” The entire creation of God has indeed been groaning in cycles for a very long time, but take a look at it now – all the elements of the earth, sky, and seas seem to be producing massive sets of groaning at the same time.

The real question is this – Did God make what we call the creation, and does he have the ability to control and use it? I am convinced he has, is, and will, continue to use what he created to fulfill his own prophecies by his own power.

Some 2700 hundred years he told us what he would visit mankind with just before the end of this age.

Isaiah 29:6 – Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.

The vast bulk of mankind does not believe he will do what he said, and even those who do believe it, have been successful in believing it would always be some future generation, not during their lifetime. Many of God’s children have convinced themselves this is something that will occur, but in the far distant future, and their lives match their belief. It is also quite fashionable to be in the majority of believers who believe they will be whisked away before any of the bad stuff happens. Well, I assure you that my conscience is clear. I expect to get my lumps at the judgment seat of Christ, but my hands are clear of failing to warn this generation of what was coming, and one can hardly accuse me of being guilty of tickling men’s ears by telling them what they wanted to hear.

Ezekiel 33:6 – But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.

II Timothy 4:3,4 – 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; [4] And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 245

October 14, 2005

Revelation Message of the Everlasting Gospel – Part 2

Revelation 14:6 – And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

I pointed out in some detail in Part 1 of this Series that the EVERLASTING gospel did not begin in the New Testament. It came into existence before the foundation of the world. And it has always been the promise of the Seed, Christ Jesus. God knew before he ever made man that man would make the wrong choice, and thereby need a Savior.

The first application of the promise of the Seed is found in the Garden of Eden, immediately after Adam and Eve disobeyed God.

Genesis 3:15 – And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

And the promise, the covenant, of a Seed deliverer was continued through the great flood by grace extended to Noah. Salvation has always been by grace through faith in the promised Seed being confirmed by God in Christ. It was the Seed, the man Christ Jesus, who confirmed the covenant, the promise of God. It was God in him that reconciled the world to himself by him.

II Corinthians 5:19 – To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Romans 4:7,8 – Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. [8] Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

As was pointed out in Part 1 of this series, the gospel, the good news was first announced in Genesis 3:15, and the covenant was continued through the flood by the grace of God extended to the surviving human race by grace through Noah, a direct descendant of Seth. God’s promise, God’s covenant, has always been by faith that God’s Word, God’s promise of a Seed, is true.

Genesis 6:11-13 – The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. [12] And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. [13] And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. [18] But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee. [8] But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

God continued his grace promise, his grace covenant of the Seed, through Abraham.

Genesis 22:18 – And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

But how can we be sure “thy seed” refers to Christ, the promised Seed, and that it is an unconditional covenant that produces EVERLASTING salvation that will never be taken away once received?

Galatians 3:16-18, 1-14 – Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. [17] And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. [18] For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. [1] O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? [2] This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? [3] Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? [4] Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. [5] He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? [6] Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. [7] Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. [8] And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. [9] So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. [10] For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. [11] But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. [12] And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. [13] Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: [14] That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Galatians 2:21 – I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Romans 10:13 – For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 245A

October 16, 2005

A Rejected son Returns as a Rod to Bring Peace to Us! Part 2

ISAIAH 11:1 – And there shall come forth a ROD out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

Revelation 12:5 – And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with A ROD of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

Because they rejected him, SMITING him with a ROD upon the cheek, the ROD out of Jesse will soon come to SMITE all unbelievers who still reject him. Micah writes of THE ROD’S birth, rejection, and Second Advent.

Micah 5:1 – Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall SMITE the judge of Israel with a ROD upon the cheek.

“NOW GATHER THYSELF IN TROOPS, O DAUGHTER OF TROOPS:”

There are few cities on this planet that can compare with Israel in the number of times she has been conquered over and over again in history, many times being retaken by those troops once driven out. Truly, Jerusalem has earned the title of “Daughter of troops.” This Scripture speaks of a particular time in her long history, a day during the Feast of Passover, a day when three sets of troops were in the city. The Roman Governor, who ruled from Caesarea (Pontius Pilate) had, in order to put down any rebellion that might arise at this feast, brought his Roman troops to Jerusalem, and quartered them in the Fortress Antonia, which was attached to the northwestern corner of the Temple Mount, and from which troops could overlook all the Temple courtyards from its highest level. The King of Israel, Herod, had brought his troops with him for Passover, and they were quartered in Herod’s Fortress Palace on the western side of Jerusalem, where some of its base may be seen today. The High Priest was also allowed to maintain a small contingency of Jewish troops to protect him from harm, and they could be sent to arrest religious offenders. They were found around him at public assemblies.

“THEY SHALL SMITE THE JUDGE OF ISRAEL WITH A ROD UPON THE CHEEK.”

This prophecy of Micah was fulfilled during the last Passover Jesus attended. It was fulfilled from the time the first troops arrested him to take him to the High Priest until he was placed on the cross. During this time Jesus was exchanged back and forth between the High Priest, Herod, and Pontius Pilate. On these occasions he was beaten on the head above his neck many times with rods (reeds), and struck over and over again by the hands of the troops. You will find all this recorded in the latter chapters of the four Gospels. Jesus was sent by His Father to be the judge of Israel, but they rejected him as their judge, and judged him instead, finding him guilty of the false charge of blasphemy again God. The middle portion of this verse gives God the Father’s reaction to their rejection of His only begotten Son.

“HE HATH LAID SIEGE AGAINST US:”

Micah was an Israelite. So the “us” refers primarily to Israel. God has laid “siege” (judgment) against Israel for almost 2000 years because they rejected the one He sent to judge them. There has never been a race descended from one man (Jacob) that has ever passed through such persecution, unbelievable horror, and terrifying torture, as has been experienced by the nation of Israel, the most horrifying of all being experienced at the hands of the Nazi SS during WW2. The current siege is the constant threat of terrorism by Hizbollah, the Islamic Jihad, Hamas, and Fatah splinter groups.

Micah 5:2 – But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

This is one of the most beloved verses in Scripture concerning the birth of Israel’s Messiah, Jesus Christ. It has been put on display Christmas after Christmas, and preached vividly during that season from millions of pulpits. By the time it was fulfilled by Christ’s birth in Bethlehem, traditional teachings concerning the Messiah’s birth had replaced God’s account, and it is truly sad that Herod had to ask where he would be born, and perhaps even sadder that the scribes had to look it up. Some traditional teachings, by the time that Christ arrived, taught that Messiah the Prince would be born of royalty, or perhaps by the wife of the High Priest, or at least of wealthy parents who had great influence. Traditional teachings had completely departed from those verses found in the 53rd Chapter of Isaiah. He was not expected to be a suffering servant, but rather a great conqueror that would fight and destroy Israel’s enemies in battle after battle until Israel reigned supreme. Some traditional teaching suggested he might be born in the great city of Jerusalem. But when he came only a handful knew who he was, a man child whose Father was God, born of a virgin from the dirty little town of Nazareth, laying in a manger outside the inn in a cave in the small city of Bethlehem. Many “traditional” teachings of today will also cause most of the world to receive the man of sin, the antichrist, as the true Christ.

He was sent by His Father “to be ruler in Israel,” but Israel rejected him as both judge (Micah 5:1) and ruler, and they were without excuse, for all the prophets from Moses to Malachi had foretold of His “goings forth,” which had been from of old, from everlasting. His characteristics, His goings forth, His life, His purpose, and His death had been clearly revealed by God’s word before His Living Word arrived in sinless flesh. The following Scriptures reveal this truth. Had they studied His word and believed it they could have recognized Him.

Deuteronomy 18:18,19 – I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. [19] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

Isaiah 53:6 – [6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Malachi 3:1 – Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.

John the Baptist was the messenger God sent before Christ the Messiah. And Jesus Christ was the messenger of the covenant made to the seed of both Abraham and David. He came quickly to the temple after His temptation in the wilderness to cleanse it to be a house of prayer, not a den of thieves. And, at the final Passover, when He came again to cleanse it, He found the same den of spiritual and physical thieves saturating it with ungodliness. That is why He cried from the Mount of Olives before His arrest: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! [38] Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. [39] For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (Matthew 23:37-39)

Judging from the rapid fulfillment of prophecy in Israel at the present time, I am convinced that Israel will finally be calling Him blessed in the near future.

Micah 5:3 – Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.

“Therefore” is a conclusion to Micah 5:1,2 that explains why the Messiah of Israel gave “them up.” Because they beat him and rejected him as their judge, they came under judgment because they would not let him judge them. God’s judgment has been on them for some two thousand years. Without their God to deliver them, they have become the most persecuted, prosecuted, and rejected people on this earth. The Nazi burning, torturing, and butchering of some six million Jews was beyond belief. And yet I love them tenaciously. Why? Because their Messiah, who forgave them on the cross, is alive in me, and in the near future he will return to be their Messiah, their God with them. The word “until,” in the second phrase of this verse, makes the point that he has not forsaken them forever, but only “until” they have passed through the final judgment for having judged him, which consists of the last 1260 days of travail in the tribulation period. Christ will come forth at his Second Advent as the Lion of Judah to rule over the remnant of Israel that survives the tribulation period, and will bring a remnant of his brethren with him. In verse three he rejected them with “therefore,” then told them they would suffer travail “until” he came back to the earth and “then,” that is, at his Second Advent, all of the remnant of his “brethren” would return to live on the same planet with him.

Matthew 23:38,39 – Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. [39] For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Revelation 1:7 – Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Zechariah 14:5 – And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.

Hebrews 2:11 – For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

Romans 11:5 – Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Romans 2:29 – But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Israel still has a final siege of terror to endure for rejecting her judge. After experiencing what appears to be an end of her suffering when what seems to be peace comes to her land, she will suddenly be viciously attacked from the north in a lightning Jihad involving 10 Arab nations. This will be her final travail before her Messiah, Jesus Christ returns to reign over her.

I Thessalonians 5:3,4 – 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. [4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Zechariah 12:2 – Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.

But after Israel’s final travail, this will be the fate of those who laid siege against her. This is a part of the smiting of the rod.

Zechariah 14:12 – And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.

Because they did receive him as the Messianic Rod of Jesse’s son David, he gave them up, but he will return with, and to, those who believe in him. He will return after the travail of Israel during the tribulation period.

Micah 5:3 – Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.

He will feed his flock in God’s majesty. They will abide on the earth a thousand years, and Christ will be great to the ends of the earth. He will bring “the Peace” when he comes as Isaiah’s rod of Jesse and defeats the coming Assyrian antichrist. This will fulfill Micah 5:4 as well as ISAIAH 11:1,4,6.

Micah 5:4 – And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth. [5] And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.

ISAIAH 11:1,4,6 – And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: [4] But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

[6] The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

SPECIAL PROPHECY UPDATE NUMBER 245B

October 19, 2005

A Rejected Son Returns as a rod to Bring Peace to Us! Part 3

Isaiah 11:1,4,9-14 runs the gauntlet from the time of his first arrival in a manger in Bethlehem to his smiting the earth with the rod of his mouth at his Second Advent to his bringing in the peace of his millennial reign.

ISAIAH 11:1,4,9-14 – And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: [4] But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. [9] They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. [10] And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his REST shall be glorious.

Matthew 11:29 – Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find REST unto your souls.

John 14:1-3 – Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. [2] In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

II Thessalonians 1:7-9 – And to you who are troubled REST with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, [8] In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: [9] Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

Hebrews 4:9,10 – There remaineth therefore a REST to the people of God. [10] For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

At the start of the millennial reign of Christ, the final great gathering of the surviving Jews from the great tribulation period will be initiated. All surviving Jews will return to Israel. The word “ensign” in Isaiah 11:10 in context means: “to lift up a standard, a banner, for the purpose of gathering the people together.” Christ the Messiah will be that banner which draws all Jews back to Israel, and for a thousand years the message of him will be carried to the Gentile nations seeking him.

ISAIAH 11:10,11 – And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. [11] And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

Ezekiel and many of the other prophets speak of this return to Israel after the Second Advent, and describe the glory God’s blessings to restored Israel.

Ezekiel 39:25,26 – Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; [26] After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid.

ISAIAH 11:12 – And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

The meaning of “ensign” was previously discussed. The meaning of “sign” in Isaiah 66:10 means “in the sense of appearing as a beacon.” It will be “his appearing” that acts as a beacon to draw Israelites home to Israel.

Isaiah 66:19,20 – And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. [20] And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord.

The sign, his appearing in the heavens, at his Second Advent will be “the beacon” that draws them home.

Revelation 1:7 – Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Zechariah 12:9,10 – And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. [10] And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

The split of the one kingdom under Solomon’s son Rehoboam, into the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) and the southern kingdom of Judah, will be healed. They will be a great single kingdom under Christ without envy between the tribes, and all their enemies will have been cut off in the great tribulation period.

ISAIAH 11:13 – The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.

Ezekiel also writes of the reuniting of the two sticks of Ephraim and Judah when Messiah comes.

Ezekiel 37:19-22 – Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. [20] And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes. [21] And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: [22] And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:

This next verse has as many different interpretations as a wild dog has fleas and, quite frankly, over the years I have changed my mind from what I first believed about it. What I now believe follows Isaiah 11:14.

ISAIAH 11:14 – But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.

One cannot question that the time Isaiah has brought forth is the millennial reign of Messiah. So, in order to correctly apply this event that begins his reign, we must consider the first thing that introduces it – the forceful taking of the millennial land grant promised to the Jews through Abraham’s seed Jacob.

Genesis 15:18 – In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

As the Scripture states, Abraham’s land grant was to extend to the east and to the west from Jerusalem. The biblical people that lay immediately to the northeast, east, and southeast of Jerusalem were the 700 B.C. descendants of Ammon, Moab, and Edom. The biblical people living to the northwest, west, and southwest of Jerusalem were the 700 B.C. Philistines (Isaiah 14:31).

The Isaiah 11:14 reference that Israel would “fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines,” refers to swooping down on the present day occupants of this area like a hawk on a chicken – “they shall spoil them of the east together,” means that Israel will take the Philistine land and the spoils of it “together” (along with) the land and spoils of Ammon, Moab, and Edom, the people to the east of Jerusalem. The Scripture does not refer to Israel uniting with the Philistines to the west and, joining with them, spoiling the nations to the east of Jerusalem. Isaiah 11:14 refers to Israel, at Messiah’s Second Advent, expanding to the east and west to claim the land grant promised to them by Abraham through Jacob.

The Gaza Strip of today was the land of the Philistines in biblical times, and the nation of modern day Jordan encompasses the biblical land containing the nations of Ammon, Moab, and Edom.

Micah 5:5-7 gives an accounting of Israel claiming the Abrahamic Land Grant by force after Messiah returns. For a full exposition of this Scripture, please consult our Prophecy Update Archive Numbers 66 and 67.

Micah 5:5-7 – And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men. [6] And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders. [7] And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.