End Times
Also known as: The Last Days. Time of the End. Final Days. The Final Showdown. Close of Probation.
Please also see: ‘Jesus’ return.’ ‘Prophecy.’ ‘Roman Catholic Church.’ ‘The Three Angels Messages.’
Seek the Truth with all your heart.
Last Days - destruction of the present Earth: (Jeremiah 4:23-29 & 2 Peter 3:10-11)
For all who love GOD, Earth is not our ultimate home. We are not completely happy here on earth because we are not supposed to be, it’s not our final home, GOD created us for something far more wonderful, for which we can be extremely happy.
We may have happy moments on Earth, but they are nothing in comparison to what GOD has in store for us.
Life on Earth is just a temporary existence. Jesus opened the door for us to inherit eternal life in GOD’s eternal kingdom of perfection.
In these end times GOD-loving Christians will be, and are being, targeted as enemies by the deceptive laws being put into position by the Vatican, through America. The Vatican is a giant, impressive system, which will completely fool uninformed people. There is a vicious sting in its tail. It all adds up to being the ultimate confidence trick.
Zephaniah 1:13 - 2:3 “Their wealth will be plundered, their houses demolished. They will build houses but not live in them, they will plant vineyards but not drink the wine.
The great day of the LORD is near; near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the day of the LORD will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there.
That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of blackness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. I will bring distress on the people and they will walk like blind people, because they have sinned against the LORD.
Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD’s wrath. In the fire of HIS jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for HE will make a sudden end of all who live on the earth.”
Gather together, gather yourselves together, you shameful nation, before the decree takes effect and that day passes like windblown chaff, before the LORD’s fierce anger comes upon you, before the day of the LORD’s wrath comes upon you. Seek the LORD all you humble of the land, you who do what HE commands. Seek the LORD all you humble of the land, you who do what HE commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.’
This passage refers to Israel initially, however, much scripture has a double fulfilment, and Israel is often used as a symbol or example, so this passage refers also to the last days of this age when GOD judges the earth (meaning humanity). This is repeated in Luke 21:20-28.
Psalm 96:13 ‘They will sing before the LORD for HE comes, HE comes to judge the earth. HE will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in HIS truth.’
Proverbs 22:3 ‘A prudent person sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.’
The wise foresee danger and prepare: spiritual preparation, eliminating debt, and storing imperishable food. However no amount of wealth and physical preparation will ultimately ensure surviving the times ahead, it is only our close personal relationship with GOD through Jesus that ultimately saves us for eternity.
These things relate to likely repetition in end times.
Isaiah 2:2-3 ‘In the last days the mountain of the LORD’S temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the GOD of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in His paths. The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.’
Isaiah 3:4-8 “I will make mere youths their officials; children will rule over them.”People will oppress each other, man against man, neighbour against neighbour. The young will rise up against the old, the nobody against the honoured.’
A man will seize one of his brothers in his father’s house, and say, “You have a cloak, you be our leader; take charge of this heap of ruins!” But in that day he will cry out, “I have no remedy. I have no food or clothing in my house; do not make me the leader of the people.” Jerusalem staggers, Judah is falling; their words and deeds are against the LORD, defying His glorious presence.’
verse 12 ‘Youths oppress my people, women rule over them, MY people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path.’
Isaiah 13:6-13 ‘Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. Because of this, all hands will go limp, every heart will melt with fear. Terror will seize them, pain and anguish will grip them; they will writhe like a woman in labour. They will look aghast at each other, their faces aflame. See, the day of the LORD is coming – a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger – to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. I will make people scarcer than pure gold, more rare than the gold of Ophir. Therefore I will make the heavens tremble and the Earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the LORD Almighty, in the day of HIS burning anger.’
All 22 verses describe end times happenings.
Isaiah 24:1-6 ‘See, the LORD is going to lay waste the Earth and devastate it; HE will ruin its face and scatter its inhabitants – It will be the same for (list depicting everyone.) The Earth will be completely laid waste and totally plundered. The LORD has spoken this word. The Earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers, the heavens languish with the Earth.
The Earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the Earth; its people must bear their guilt. Therefore Earth’s inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left.’
There will be a repeat, in today’s world, of events that happened in Jerusalem and Judah - Israel. Deception, manipulation, lies, misrepresentation, evil influences, false claims, rebellion, and rejection of GOD; all of which can be seen happening in the world now; and increasing in intensity and frequency.
Isaiah 51:6 ‘Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the Earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the Earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But MY salvation will last forever, MY righteousness will never fail.’
Isaiah 54:10 “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.’
Jeremiah 4:23-29 ‘I looked at the Earth, and it was it was formless and empty; and at the heavens, and their light was gone. I looked at the mountains, and they were quaking; all the hills were swaying. I looked and there were no people; every bird in the sky had flown away. I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert; all its towns lay in ruins before the LORD, before HIS fierce anger. This is what the LORD says; “The whole land will be ruined, though I will not destroy it completely. Therefore the Earth will mourn and the heavens above grow dark, because I have spoken and will not relent, I have decided and will not turn back.” At the sound of horseman and archers every town takes to flight. Some go into the thickets; some climb up among the rocks. All the towns are deserted; no one lives in them.’
Lamentations 2:7a ‘The LORD has rejected HIS altar and abandoned HIS sanctuary. HE has handed over to the enemy the walls of her palaces.’
This happened when Israel, GOD’S chosen people and nation, turned away from HIM.
Daniel 11:32-35 ‘With flattery he (the leader of the nation / country who is out to destroy GOD’s followers) will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their GOD will firmly resist him.
Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.’
Daniel 12:1-4 ‘At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people; everyone whose name is found written in the book, will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. ‘But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.’
Verse 4 where GOD instructs Daniel to ‘roll up and seal the words,’ does not mean to hide them from understanding, but to protect them safely until the time of the end when they would be correctly understood in relation to world events which are now happening. The sentence about ‘going here and there,’ - ‘running to and fro’ in some versions, - refers to people who will be seeking the understanding and truth of Daniel’s words. The book of Revelation helps us to understand it all in the correct context.
Habakkuk 2:3 ‘For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.’
GOD knows the timing of all things.
Zechariah 12:3 “On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.”
Malachi 4:1-3 ‘Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evil doer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the LORD ALMIGHTY. “Not a root or branch will be left to them. But for you who revere MY NAME, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the LORD ALMIGHTY.”
Matthew 13:47-50 ‘Once again the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Matthew 24:3-14 ‘As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “When will this happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in My Name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.
Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of Me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
Matthew 24:14 & 21-22 ‘And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.’
‘For there will be great distress, unequalled from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be equalled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect (GOD’s own people) those days will be shortened.’
The whole of Matthew chapter 24 tells of happenings in the last days; so do Mark 13, and Luke 21.
Matthew 24:37-39 “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”
Matthew 25:31-34 “When the Son of Man (Jesus) comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory, All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My FATHER take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”
Mark 13:18-27 (Similarly recorded in Matthew 24 and Luke 21) “Pray that this will not take place in winter, because those days will be days of distress unequalled from the beginning when GOD created the world, until now, and never to be equalled again.
If the LORD had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom HE has chosen, HE has shortened them. At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah.!’ Or ‘Look, there he is.!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and winders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.
But in those days, following that distress, ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’
At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And He will send His angels and gather His elect from the four winds, from the ends of the Earth to the ends of the heavens.
Vs 30-33 ‘Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the FATHER. Be on your guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.”
Luke 17:26-31 “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man (Jesus return.) People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulphur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day no one who is on the roof - doing things outside - of their house, with their goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field (workplace) should go back for anything.”
This means that on the day Christ returns, it is too late to collect anything of yours, whatever situation you are in at that moment, just answer to the leading, the directions, and demands of Christ Jesus. Forget your own affairs completely. None of your possessions will be required.
Luke 21:10-36 ‘Then Jesus said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of My Name. And so you will bear testimony to Me. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. Everyone will hate you because of Me. But not a hair of your head will perish.
When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment in fulfilment of all that has been has been. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers. There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and will be taken prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and hissing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of GOD is near.
Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and Earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole Earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
A similar prophesy is in: Revelation 3:12-16.
Luke 21:33-36 “Heaven and Earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole Earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man (Jesus).”
John 17:15 Jesus said ‘My prayer is not that YOU take them out of the world but that YOU protect them from the evil one.’
Acts 2:17-21 ‘In the last days, GOD says, I will pour out MY Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on MY servants, both men and women, I will pour out MY Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the Earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
1 Timothy 4:1 ‘The Spirit says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.’
2 Timothy 3:1-5 ‘But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of GOD - having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.’
2 Timothy 3:12-13 ‘In fact, everyone who wants to live a GOD-ly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.’
1 Thessalonians 5:3 ‘While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.’
2 Timothy 4:3-4 ‘For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.’
Christians need to be bright and shining lights amid the moral darkness of this world. There is hope for churches if they heed the message given to the Laodiceans -- the last of the seven churches.
The joy of Christ is needed in people’s hearts to enable singing, worshiping, and sharing, to come from inspired lips and warm and thankful hearts; together with a spirit of meekness and humility.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 ‘Do not let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come, until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed for destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called GOD or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in GOD’S temple, proclaiming himself to be GOD. Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things.? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of His mouth and destroy by the splendour of His coming. (This is because Satan and unsaved people will not be able to stand the word of truth and the light of His coming, which will destroy them.) The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of (Satan’s) counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason GOD sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.’
Hebrews 12:26-29 ‘At that time His (GOD’s) voice shook (will shake) the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removal of what can be shaken; that is, created things; so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful; and so worship GOD acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “GOD is a consuming fire.” ‘GOD is Love’ and is also a ‘Consuming Fire’ as a destroyer of evil. GOD eventually destroys all evil; and He does this with love for His people, and for His own kingdom. GOD will not destroy in a fit of anger; He will destroy with precision, measured exactness, and with the right intensity, duration, and power.
Destruction of the present Earth.
Malachi 3:16 – 4:3 ‘Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in HIS presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honoured HIS NAME.’
“On the day when I act,” says the LORD ALMIGHTY, “they will be MY treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve GOD and those who do not.”
“Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evil-doer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the LORD ALMIGHTY. “not a root or branch will be left to them. But for you who serve MY NAME, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the LORD ALMIGHTY.’
2 Peter 3:3-13 ‘Above all you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this coming He promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by GOD’s word the heavens came into being and the Earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word (since the time of the worldwide flood of Noah’s time) the present heavens and Earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgement and destruction of the un-GOD-ly people.
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be.? You ought to live holy and Godly lives as you look forward to the day of GOD and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with His promise we (all who love GOD) are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.’
Habakkuk 2:3 ‘For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it lingers, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.’
Revelation 1:7 ‘Look, He (Jesus) is coming with clouds (myriads of angels,) and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be. Amen.’
Revelation 3:10 ‘Since you have kept MY command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the Earth.’
Revelation 3:16 ‘Because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am about to spit you out of My mouth.’
Revelation 5:13 “Then I heard every creature in heaven and on Earth and under the Earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: To HIM WHO sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever.”
Revelation 6:9-17 ‘When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of GOD and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign LORD, holy and true, until YOU judge the inhabitants of the Earth and avenge our blood?” Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been. These had been killed as victims of Satan’s ruthless onslaught to persecute, torture, and kill devoted Christians - GOD’s children - in his evil, driven attempts to deny GOD of as many people as possible being in heaven. All who persevere to the end will receive rewards in heaven. After the resurrection, Satan will be bound for 1,000 years until his ultimate destruction, never to exist again. All sin and suffering will be finished forever. I watched as He opened the sixth seal. There was a great Earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to Earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.Then the kings of the Earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of HIM WHO sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb (Jesus.) For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”
These scriptures describe the end times turmoil which will be the most extreme in the history of humanity.
Revelation 13:8-10 ‘All inhabitants of the Earth will worship the beast; all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. Whoever has an ear, let them hear. If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of GOD’s people.’
Revelation 13:13-18 ‘And it (Satan) performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of people. Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the Earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honour of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.
This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666.’
Do not be deceived by apparent miracles which will not be from GOD, but will be counterfeit miracles carried out by one of Satan’s evil agents.
The book of Revelation contains symbolic language which needs to be cross referenced with the book of Daniel, to enable understanding. Fairly deep analysis is required to comprehensively interpret the meaning correctly. It all explains Satan’s deception, counterfeit, manipulation, and force of control through his earthly agents under evil influence.
Those ‘Christians’ who are luke-warm, will eventually go cold. Only those who persevere and overcome will be saved for eternal life.
Revelation 14:6-12 “Then I saw another angel flying in mid- air, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the Earth – to every nation, tribe, language, and people. He said in a loud voice, “Fear GOD and give HIM glory, because the hour of HIS judgement has come. Worship HIM WHO made the heavens, the Earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
A second angel followed and said, “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great (The Catholic church), which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice, If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their foreheads or on their hand; they, too, will drink the wine of GOD’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of HIS wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and of the lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of GOD who keep HIS commands and remain faithful to Jesus.’
Revelation 16:12-21 ‘The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of GOD ALMIGHTY.
“Look, I come like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”
Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying “It is done. Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on Earth, so tremendous was the quake. The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nation collapsed. GOD remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of HIS wrath. Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. From the sky huge hailstones; each weighing about a hundred pounds, fell on the people. And they cursed GOD on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.’
Babylon the Great refers to the Catholic Church.
Revelation chapters 12 - 20 All of the content in these chapters of the book of Revelation relates to the last days, and is crucially important.
Revelation 21:1-4 ‘Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from GOD, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. (This is heaven being delivered to earth after the 1000 years.) And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look, GOD’s dwelling place is now among the people, and HE will dwell with them. They will be HIS people, and GOD HIMSELF will be with them and be their GOD. HE will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
The thousand years (Millenium) is covered in Revelation 20. During the 1000 years in heaven, we will be able to see and understand perfectly clearly the justification for everything GOD has done. This will be a type of honeymoon before our return to the new earth.
The seven church eras are described in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. Each one typifies the behavioural conditions of each church era, which also reflect the same future repetition of each condition; into which we are close to completely fulfilling.
We are now in the seventh and final era, which is described as the ‘Church of Laodicea.’ Revelation 3:15-22 describes the attitude and behaviour of the period (the age) we are in right now. Please read these verses, and in your mind, apply the ‘picture’ they paint, as describing the half-hearted, compromising type of attitude which is widely expressed and exhibited today, as we see many different denominations of Christianity, allowing worldly (humanly justified) ways, standards, morals, principles, and behaviour, to infiltrate and become tolerated, and even wholly accepted and embraced. They justify these things by saying that they show love, tolerance, and acceptance to the world.
This is in direct opposition to GOD’s standards and requirements.
GOD will severely punish all who treat HIS truth lightly, who compromise it, thinking they have the right to apply it their own way, and even change what it really says. GOD, today, dwells in the hearts of HIS people who are referred to in the Bible as ‘the church.’
The ‘church’ means the people, not buildings or denominations; it is the people who are GOD’s loving, loyal, sincere, devoted believers and followers.
The ‘altar’ refers to priests and ministers. The ‘sanctuary’ refers to the people. The walls of the sanctuary and the ‘palaces,’ which means ‘high buildings,’ refers to the church buildings. This means that GOD will even reject priests and ministers who have so compromised HIS truth; and HE will leave the church system to the enemy. They may have lost their eternal lives and reached the point of no return. When GOD punishes the ‘Laodiceans’ they may realize their error, repent, and turn back to GOD, and HIS truth.
Everyone who has rejected GOD, and who is not a believer and follower, will not experience GOD’s correction, because they have already shut themselves out from any form of relationship, and eternal life. GOD leaves them where they have chosen to be.
GOD knows that most people will only understand and repent in a time of lamenting (Lamentations) mourning, woe and suffering. Of all the people who think they are Christians and living according to Christian values, many will not make it into GOD’s kingdom, because they are theoretical Christians, and not in true, loving, devoted relationship with GOD.
Revelation 22:11 ‘Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.’
This is saying that people are left to follow their own choices. If one is in relationship with GOD, then be true to HIM and HIS ways; and if one rejects GOD and is stubbornly intent on another direction, then GOD allows them to be free to do so. It also means that the outcome of their decision is sealed, it is too late to change their mind.
Revelation 2:10 ‘Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I (Jesus) tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.’ This was a message to the Church in Thyatira in Greece; however it will apply to Christians in the very difficult time of the last days.
End times conspiracy.
Mounting tragedies in the world fulfil this prophecy, and the drama begun. Events since the beginning of this seventh millennium have set us on the path to the ultimate showdown between good and evil. The attack on the contiguous 48 states in America, followed by the 9/11 attack and demolition of the World Trade Towers shocked people into radical change. As a result Americans accepted diminished civil liberties in exchange for the promise of increased safety. Now the threat and dread of economic catastrophe has paved the way for unprecedented control in the private sector. The common denominator is apparent, which is the willingness of human nature to make any sacrifice, including freedom, in order to guarantee survival. In the final struggle for survival, the Bible describes an urgent time when a world power declares that ‘No man can buy or sell’ – Revelation 13:17 – without its approval. This is hard to believe, but is just more of the unexpected.
This conspiracy is not about money, but about our hearts. Two supernatural powers are seeking our affections, which involve our devotion, allegiance, and worship.
One side is Satan who is willing to secure these any way he can.
The other side is Jesus Christ who leaves the choice to us.
Satan will use Earthly powers to force the hands of humanity, while Jesus Who has opened the door to forgiveness and eternal life, can only accept our free decision based on love. GOD does not use forceful coercion to influence our conscience. Satan is a force, which he uses at every opportunity. GOD is a power of love, which HE offers by invitation. Satan will use the economy to mask his goal of coercion by placing people into dire circumstances that in the interest of Earthly security will cause them to abandon respect for the Word of GOD and offer allegiance as a type of worship to a false Earthly power.
The choice. Please also see: ‘The Three Angels.’
The plot will be the ruin of many, but there is hope for all. Following the economic decree in Revelation 13, is an appeal to worship GOD – Creator of the universe.
In quick succession, three angels make loud announcements to all citizens of planet Earth. The first angel of Revelation 14 distinctly calls people to worship GOD. ‘Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the Earth - to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people – saying with a loud voice, “Fear GOD and give glory to HIM, for the hour of HIS judgement has come, and worship HIM WHO made heaven and Earth, the sea and springs of water.” - Revelation 14:6-7.
This appeal is immediately followed by a warning that those who ignore this invitation will suffer destruction with the false Earthly power. If anyone worships the beast and his image, they shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of GOD, which is poured out full strength into the cup of HIS indignation - Revelation 14:9-10.
As the incredible drama unfolds, truth becomes unmistakeable. The world arrives at a crossroads with eternal consequences. There cannot be any doubt about the message. Everyone will make a choice for GOD or a choice for self-preservation. Some will follow the path of least resistance and say, “I choose to buy and sell, even if it means breaking GOD’s commandments.” But others gladly respond, “I choose to trust GOD completely, knowing that HE will supply all of my needs. By HIS power, I will keep the Ten Commandments.” These loyal people are described as “those who keep the commandments of GOD and the faith of Jesus” – Revelation 14:12.
Prophetic link: “The Lord GOD of Israel is to execute judgment upon the gods (preoccupations) of this world as upon the gods of Egypt. With fire and flood, plagues and earthquakes, HE will spoil the whole land. Then HIS redeemed people will exalt HIS NAME and make it glorious in the earth. Shall not those who are living in the last remnant of this Earth’s history become intelligent in regard to GOD’s lessons?”
Last Day Events, page 240.
Tough times preparation.
Keep your eyes on Jesus.
Read GOD’s word - The Bible - every-day and store it in your heart and memory.
Rely on GOD’s almighty power, and such trust will become second nature.
Have faith in the power of Jesus’ blood, and Jesus will carry you through.
Focus on Jesus, He will be our refuge and will draw close to us.
Accept GOD’s will, and heaven’s glory will surround us.
Lead a life of prayer, it will be our refuge.
Learn to please the Lord, seek love and affirmation from Him, not from people.
Bless all those who hurt you or do wrong to you.
Sir Isaac Newton said: “About the time of the end, a body of men will be raised up who will turn their attention to the Prophecies, and insist upon their literal interpretation, in the midst of much clamour and opposition.”