Username of the writer: Adison66

Revelation 1;3- Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

There have been lots of rumors and conspiracy theories before all, pointing at the end of the world. However, in 2020 a peculiar year started with locust plagues in some parts of the world, asteroid threats, war declarations, religious killings, adverse climatic changes, and among other things. The whole world, apart from Greenland and Antarctica, is faced with a historical virus threat that could wipe out more than half of its population. So far, more than 2 million people have died, and the virus is yet to be contained.

Many believers have been preparing for the end of days from the very beginning through prayers and supplication. On the other hand, non-believers were for a while over themselves thinking of how to survive the asteroid threat they presumed would hit the earth on 29th April 2020. This is until NASA recently reassured them of the safety of earth. And now, despite the wake of a new life-threatening virus, they have gone back to their sinful ways.

2 Corinthians 4;4– In their case, the God of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Our God is merciful and takes no pleasure in the death of anyone (Ezekiel 18:32). Therefore, he promises us redemption if we repent our sins and turn to him. It is saddening that great leaders in the Bible could identify a time to have the nation repent and ask for God’s mercy, but, unfortunately, today’s leaders are hell-bent on suffering the defenseless and stealing from the people in substantial corruption schemes. Therefore, brethren, we beseech you to prepare your hearts and souls for the coming of the Lord.

I do not know, and neither do I believe that anyone knows when the Lord shall return. Mathew 24;36 – But concerning that day and hour, no one knows, not even the angels of the heavens, nor the Son, except the Father. However, the Bible advises us to be ready Revelation 19:7-9 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb, has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” (8) And to her, it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. (9) Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

Therefore, let us take hid to the following signs that have already passed and strongly suggest the end of the world.

• Chaos, climatic changes, and Plagues; there has been lots of floods drowning wildlife, ecosystems suffering damages, divisions between communities, hail storms in different parts of the world, destructive forest fires, locust plagues in some parts of the world, and a deadly virus has befallen the world. Not to mention that survival currently depends on our love for each other.
• Gospel restoration; many have turned worldly possessions and money into replacing God, relying heavily on science for survival. However, only God can save them in these dangerous times. The Isaiah and Ezekiel prophesy about the Mormon book being bought forth to the world has come to pass.
• The gospel has reached the world; the Bible has been translated to almost all the world’s languages, and even those who do not believe have heard about Jesus Christ. Some believe and proclaim him in truth and spirit, while the devil sends others to mislead God’s people. For instance, the Bible says there shall be prophets who shall claim to be servants of the highest.
• The president of the church, Joseph Smith, has witnessed the return of Elijah and was also handed the gospel of Christ Jesus. Both of these two occurrences are prophesied in the Bible.

Conclusion
It is our sincere hope that you are preparing for the second coming of the Lord. It is enough that worldly possessions do not matter at this point in today’s world, but there is comfort in knowing that your faith in God is the only one that can save you!

The Timing of Jesus' 2nd Coming.

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT GOD IS REAL!

Daniel's Dream and Visions

Why Bad Things Happen?

Is Jesus coming back?

The Ticking Time Bomb Countdown

Originally posted 2021-06-05 13:14:02.

The reality of Matthew 24:7

 Matthew 24 is one of the most significant chapters of the Bible for Christians on the end time’s prophecy. If you know nothing about the end time, this chapter is an excellent guide to the return of Jesus Christ to this earth.

There are many proofs that the end is near, ranging from great famines, pestilences, earthquakes, and wars occurring in diverse places of the earth. So let’ take a realistic look at these things briefly.

Signs of the end-time; Have they taken place?

The answer to the question above is YES.  According to Matthew 24, these things must happen before the coming of Christ. Let’s take a quick list of them:  False Christ’s, Wars, Famine, Earthquakes, persecution of believers, Great tribulation, false prophets, pestilence, A world without love, amongst others.

This great chapter of the Bible clarifies that all of these things must occur before the end of time. But, unfortunately, most of these events have occurred while others are still occurring.

According to several Christian writers and teachers on biblical prophecy, Jesus prophesied that there would be a visible increase in the intensity and frequency of earthquakes just before his return to earth. Many writers and teachers have proven that the 1990s saw a sharp increase in the frequency and intensity of earthquakes compared to the preceding decades of the 20th century. These writers and teachers see this coincidence of Jesus’ prophetic declaration and recent seismic events as a clear demonstration of the signs of his return.

Hal Lindsey, the most famous teacher of biblical prophecy in the world and author of 17 prophesy books, writes in one of her last books:

Earthquakes continue to increase in frequency and intensity, as the Bible predicts for the last days before the return of Christ. History shows that the number of deadly earthquakes remained relatively constant until the 1950s, with an average of two to four occurrences per decade. In the 1950s, there were nine. In the 1960s, there were 13. In the 1970s, there were 51. In the 1980s, there were 86. From 1990 to 1996, there were more than 150. 1

Many find it hard to believe that we live in the last days of the earth’s history. But, according to the Bible, 2 Pet 3: 3-4. “I bring to your reminder that in the end time, the scoffers will come and do everything they can to make a mistake and laugh at the truth. This will be their argument: ”So Jesus promised to return, did he? It will never come! Because, since the days of our ancestors, everything has remained exactly as it was since the first day of creation.”

Nations will rise against nations and kingdoms against kingdoms. Wars and diverse conflicts are already occurring on the earth. This is in line with Mark 13: 7-8

Things That Christians Must Know About the End Times

Matthew 24: 9-14. It establishes a very succinct and critical section of verses that describes what will happen during the end times and that will affect, especially Christians. Let me declare them briefly: Vs. 9: There will be great tribulations, hatreds, and murders of Christians throughout the world. Vs. 10. There will be the fall of the false Christians. Vs. 11: false prophets will try to deceive people. Vs. 12: the world will become increasingly evil and without love. Vs. 13: Christians will last until the end of time and will be saved. Vs. 14. The gospel will be preached all over the world. These things must happen before the coming of Christ and the rapture of the church. Let’s have a leaf through them:

1. Matthew 24: 9. There will be tribulation. The word “tribulation” comes from the Greek “thlipsis,” which means persecution. It is a word that was frequently used in the New Testament about the difficulties that Christians regularly encounter. 1 chor 7:28, 4:17, and john 16: 33 are a few scriptures that point that Christians must go through the tribulation.

2. Matthew 24:10. This tells us about this great apostasy, which means that many people will be straying from the Christian faith because they are not faithful believers. This is usually seen in churches today. When this persecution begins, when the heat rises against the Christians, these so-called Christians will leave their church, turn away from the faith, turn against the real Christians.

3. Matthew 24:11. False prophets will arise to deceive people from the one true God and the true faith. The devil will do everything possible to convince people to the desert and move away from Christ. There is a clear link between the false prophets of verse 11 and the apostasy of the so-called Christians in verse 10 because the false prophets will cause people to leave the true church, turn away from Christ, and become the antichrist.

4. Matthew 24:12. Anarchy will increase. This world will become more and more sinful and wicked. This will be especially true after the rise of the Antichrist because this wicked, unjust, and perverse man will lead this world to sin like never before. In 2 Thessalonians 2: 3-4. The peace, courtesy, and kindness that we often see in the world right now, deeply rooted in our Judeo-Christian culture, will no longer be visible, except for Christians. But his light, our light, will shine in the dark. Matthew 5: 14-16, Romans 12: 9-21

5. Matthew 24:13. This is an ecstatic verse. Jesus Christ speaks of Christians who live during the days of this great tribulation and must persevere until the end of time. Then they will be saved and raptured by Christ. Life will be tough for Christians in this time of great persecution, but many will persist and resist until the end, and suddenly they will be raptured from the earth to be with Christ.

Advice to Christians on Mathew 24

Dear Christian, do not ignore this chapter. Would you please not take it lightly? It is very significant to the Christian faith. We are talking about the most challenging days for Christians living on this earth. This information is of fundamental importance to you about Christ for the end times, as it will help you feel overwhelmed by what God wants you to be. I encourage you to read it, reread it and meditate on it continually. The study, reflect, and pray about it and be confident that it will happen. Jesus Christ does not lie. He tells you the truth. You must believe and hold fast to your faith.

As the time approaches, you can be part of the last generation of Christians on this earth, and you will see more of these prophesy fulfilled as Jesus said. One day, and it won’t be long, and Jesus Christ will return and take with love, power, speed, security, and glory all the believers on this earth to be with him forever and ever. “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20

The Timing of Jesus' 2nd Coming.

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT GOD IS REAL!

Daniel's Dream and Visions

Why Bad Things Happen?

Is Jesus coming back?

The Ticking Time Bomb Countdown

Originally posted 2021-07-05 15:57:00.

Username of the writer: ArticleProf

Do you look forward to the second coming of Christ? Do you wake up with the hope that this may be the day I see my Savior face to face? I am not talking about engaging in debates regarding his second coming but really that eager expectation of His return? 

The second coming of Jesus Christ is the anticipation of every true believer.  Just as the Bible says; “He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for Him” ~Hebrews 9:28

I have heard young people make statements like, “I hope Jesus doesn’t come back before I get married or before I buy my own house or before I accomplish my dream of being a billionaire.” Unfortunately, this shows that we are more eager for the riches of this world than we are for our Savior. It shows that our hearts’ desires are more for the world than they are for God.

As believers, we eagerly wait for His return because we are not of this world; the things of the world do not captivate our hearts. We desire to be with the lover of our soul, the one who quenches our hunger and thirst—the one we love with all our hearts, all our soul, and all our mind.

“For we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives and we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior” ~Philippians 3:20

Since we know He will indeed come again, the big question becomes, are we prepared for His coming? For how can we eagerly await His return when we are not prepared?

As Jesus was telling His disciples about the end times, He said to them, “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming” ~Matthew 24:42

PRAY

One of the crucial ways we stay prepared for the second coming of our Lord and Savior is by developing and nurturing our relationship with God in prayer. Prayer is simply communication with God and that helps us to stay connected to His Heart. Just as communication is the fuel to any relationship, so is prayer like the fuel that keeps our relationship with God going.

Jesus actually gives a parable of the ten virgins; five of them did not take any oil with them while the other five took oil in their vessels with their lamps (Matthew 25: 3-4). They were all waiting for the bridegroom, and when he delayed, they all slumbered and slept. Unfortunately, when the bridegroom finally came, only five were ready while the other five had no oil in their lamps.

This is what the Bible says, “And while they went to buy the oil, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with Him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward, the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But He answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you’ ~Matthew 25: 10-12

Many of us might wonder, how can Jesus claim not to know us when He is the one who created us and put us here on earth? The answer to that question is that the ‘know’ used in this scripture is the same ‘know’ used when the Bible tells us in Genesis 4:1 that Adam knew Eve and she conceived. It is a knowing of intimacy. Jesus will say to those whom He did not know intimately through communion in prayer, ‘I do not know you.’

Just as Apostle Peter wrote, “The end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be serious and watchful in your prayers” ~1 Peter 4:7

My prayer is that we will all be found ready when our Bridegroom finally comes. May we will be found in a constant place of living in and enjoying the presence of God. May our hearts be found yearning and desiring more of God as we seek Him with everything we are. May our prayer lives be found flowing with oil.

STUDY THE WORD

The Lord told Joshua, “Study this book of instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night, so you will be sure to do everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do” ~Joshua 1:8

To be ready for the coming of our Lord, we have to be students of the word of God. For how can we know God without studying His word? God knows us through our intimate fellowship with Him in prayer while we get to know Him by diligently reading and studying the scriptures.

John wrote and said, “In the beginning was the word and the word was God and the Word was with God.” He then continues to say that Jesus is the Word made flesh. 

The word of God is pure, without any error, complete, sufficient, and true. Therefore, though the world will pass away, the word of God will by no means pass away.

I challenge you to be a student of the word of God, take time from your daily schedule to sit quietly, and read the Bible, and the Lord will show you wonderful things that will renew your mind and transform your life.

OBEY

It is not enough to simply read the word and store that information as knowledge. We are called to obey the Word of God. James wrote and said, “Be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” ~James 1:22

When we only read, study, and hear the word of God but refuse to do what it says, we are walking in deception. “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away and immediately forgets what kind of man he is” ~James 1:23-24

Jesus also spoke and said that if we love Him, we will obey his commandments. Jesus said that those who practice lawlessness would not enter the Kingdom of heaven.

As the day draws near, may we be found ready as true followers of Jesus Christ who obey the word of God and do what it says. May our lives bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit as Sons of God and Children of Light.

Whenever you find yourself walking in disobedience to the ways of God, be quick to ask God for His forgiveness and repent, turning away from that sin. 

The Bible tells us that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and sometimes our sins defile the temple of the Holy Spirit. It may range from pornography addiction to poor eating habits. Jesus set us free from all things that may hold us from being who He died for us to be; Children of God. It is now for us to stay free. (See Galatians 5:1)

LOVE FOR EACH OTHER

Jesus spoke to His disciples and said, “By this, all will know that you are my disciples if you have a love for one another” ~John 13:35

As disciples of Jesus Christ, the world will know that we are true followers of Christ by how we love each other. And to be ready for His coming, we must be living in peace, love, and unity with each other.

Let’s not be caught in dissensions with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Instead, let’s be quick to forgive. Peter asked the Lord how many times he should forgive his brother when he sins against him, and Jesus replied and said seventy times seven.

Jesus also taught us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. I believe that one of the ways we show love to those around us is by telling them about Jesus and what He did for them, sharing the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We can also show Love by helping those in need. An interesting passage where Jesus explains this in great detail is Matthew 25:31-46, and I encourage you to study that portion of scripture.

Jesus also taught us to love our enemies and pray for them. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven” ~ Matthew 5:43-45

It seems that the life of a believer is walked out in Love everywhere and to everyone. So I hope that we will be found ready, loving on every human being, and in every way possible. 

CONCLUSION

Interestingly, preparing for the Lord’s coming is not as complex and complicated as many of us may think. Instead, it is simply living as children of God, cultivating a relationship with Him through prayer and studying the scriptures, obeying Him, walking in Love, spreading the good news. Following the example Jesus set for us. 

The Holy Spirit is always there, willing to help us to stay alert and be always prepared for the coming of our Bridegroom. For no one knows the time nor the hour, it may be today or a few months from now or a few years from now. What we know is that it will be unexpected. 

“Two men will be in the field: one will be taken, and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know the hour your Lord is coming” ~Matthew 24:40-42

The Timing of Jesus' 2nd Coming.

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT GOD IS REAL!

Daniel's Dream and Visions

Why Bad Things Happen?

Is Jesus coming back?

The Ticking Time Bomb Countdown

Originally posted 2021-05-30 17:47:37.

Username of the writer: ArticleProf

The Miracle Deception

God loves humanity with an everlasting and unending Love. While sin had separated us from experiencing a relationship with God as He intended from the very beginning, He gave His precious Son Jesus Christ the ultimate sacrifice that we may be reconciled back to Him. And as if that was not enough, He made it possible for us to experience His presence in our lives every day by giving us His Holy Spirit. God has given so much of Himself to show us that His Love for us is so pure and so unconditional that it knows no end. His Love is revealed in His pursues of our hearts; it is also seen in His solemn warnings. He loves us so much that He doesn’t want us to be deceived and lose out dwelling with Him for all eternity. 

One of the solemn warnings God gives to us is found in Revelation 13, where John sees the two beasts. This will be a very crucial test in the time of tribulation that will reveal whom our true worship belongs to as humanity. It will also provide yet another opportunity to either choose to obey God or obey the devil.

Everyone has a choice; that’s one of the ways God shows us He loves us because true Love provides free will and never forces itself on another. 

As we get into Revelations 13, I just want to remind you that the Bible has stood the test of time, and it remains relevant in today’s complex world.

The book of Revelation seeks to reveal the plans of God and the works of the devil to try and thwart God’s plans but ultimately failing terribly. 

However, the devil manages to deceive a lot of people who will, unfortunately, end up perishing with him. That’s why these warnings were written so that God can speak to your heart and my heart to remain faithful to Him to the very end. This is all because He loves us so much and desires no one to perish with the devil.

He desires that all men will be saved and come to the knowledge of Truth. (2 Timothy 2:4)

THE FIRST BEAST 

This is what John saw, “Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.

Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.” ~Revelation 13:1-2

It’s important to start by noting that God shows John a beast, revealing it for what it really is. But to the people of the earth, it may not necessarily be an actual beast. A beast speaks of something tremendously evil, and in God’s clear view and vision, it is a beast. John describes it as having seven heads and ten horns and on his horns ten crowns. Throughout scripture, a horn always represents strength or power. 

Take Note: In the book of Daniel, a horn is a leader, president, or King, someone in charge of a territory. 

We can, therefore, see that this beast has ten powers that are royal in nature because of the crowns we see on the ten horns. This also talks of leadership. On the seven heads, John sees a blasphemous name, which shows us that this beast is contrary to the things of God. 

Take Note: There will be 10 Kings in charge of ten tracks of land, and one of the Ten Kings will be the 7th King that replaces the 6th King. It is the 6th King in the North Kingdom that starts the Mark of the Beast system, and it is the 7th king who is the raiser of taxes. The good news is The Mark of the beast system comes to an end. Then we have the 7th king and, by the way, only will live for a few days. 

Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger nor in battle. Dan 11:20

Take Note: The 7th King is the King that is killed and comes back to Life after its deadly wound. He becomes the 8th king after he is killed, which is the King that does battle against Jesus Christ when he returns as King of Kings at the end of Armageddon.   

To blaspheme means to speak untrue and vicious lies about God, His Kingdom, and His people. In verse 6, we see that this beast opens his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name and those who dwell in heaven. We can all make the observation that this beast is evil, represents ten powers, and it’s entirely contrary to the word of God. Some see this beast, not as a person but a kingdom, as a federation of ten Nations that will rise to power during the tribulation period. However, other people see this beast as a symbol of a man and, more specifically, the antichrist. The difference in interpretations comes from the fact that some of the things that are said of the beast refer to a kingdom while some things refer to a man. I tend to believe that both are right.

Daniel also writes of this particular beast in chapter 7:23-24, “The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth which shall be different from other kingdoms and shall devour the whole earth, tremble it and break it in pieces. The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; he shall be different from the first ones.” Isn’t it amazing that some things that John saw had already been shown and explained to Daniel? God really wants us to understand these warnings so that we will always stay prepared. I believe that the kingdom references are the fact that during the tribulation, the antichrist will control this federation of nations. What John sees here is the antichrist and his power and his tools to accomplish his mission. We read that this beast rises up from the sea. The sea is a reference symbolically in scripture for the nations of the world. Sometimes, the Old Testament refers to the nations of the world as islands. So we see that this beast will rise from the nations.

And John saw that the beast was given power and great authority by the dragon that we see in Chapter 12, who is the devil.

THE HEALING MIRACLE

Something rather interesting happens to this first beast in Revelation 13, and this is what John saw. “And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshipped the dragon who gave authority to the beast, and they worshipped the beast saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” ~Revelation 13:3-4

John sees a fatal wound on this beast that is healed, and the world marveled and followed the beast. Dear brethren, do not be deceived by counterfeit healing miracles. Many will be deceived to worship the devil himself simply because of a miracle. Our relationship with God is what matters, our relationship with God takes first place, and we don’t love and follow Him just because of His Marvelous mighty works but because of who He is and because He first loved us. So don’t be disillusioned by hunger to see miracles that you abandon your hunger for God. 

This has also been linked to Revelation 17:7-8, where the angel said to John, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has seven heads and ten horns. The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. 

And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the book of Life from the foundations of the world. When they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is” 

It is believed that this beast (This is the 7th King in the northern kingdom) had been killed and has been raised back to Life hence why the angel said the beast that was and is not, and yet is. 

As Daniel interprets king Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, he talked of the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, which showed that the final kingdom would be divided, then the end will come where God will establish His Kingdom which shall never be destroyed. (See Daniel 2:41-45)

Therefore, it is believed that this divided kingdom could mean that there were nations that came against this beast and killed him, but now he had risen again, and his deadly wound healed. Many lost souls will marvel and follow him, worshipping both the beast and the dragon.

WAR AGAINST THE SAINTS

It was granted to him to make war against the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given to him over every tribe, tongue and nation. 

All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose name have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundations of the earth” ~Revelation 13:7-8

Take Note: This is believed to be a time after the church will have already been raptured. 

The saints mentioned here are those who will have believed in Jesus Christ as Lord, repented of their sins, and devoted their lives to following God after the rapture.

However, it will be a challenging time to be saved, and those saints will face many tribulations. We see that this beast will come against the saints and overcome them. Many will be slaughtered because of their faith in Jesus Christ. There is, therefore, no better time to be born again and living in the ways of God than now. John also sees that those whose names are not written in the Book of Life will worship this beast. 

And my simple question to you is, do you have the confidence that your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life? Have you repented of your sins and received the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ? And are you living in His righteous ways and walking in holiness with the Holy Spirit’s help? If not, I am here to encourage you that you can make that decision now. You can ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and write your name in His Book of Life. You can believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that He died for you, and on the third day, He resurrected and now lives forevermore. You can ask Him to make a home in your heart and help you to turn away from your old ways completely, and He will answer you. If you do that, get to know Him by reading the Bible and talking to Him every day through prayer. He is always ready to reveal Himself to us and to lead us in His will. 

THE SECOND BEAST

John sees yet another beast, “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound has been healed. ~Revelation 13:11-12 

This beast has the appearance of a lamb, but something gives him away; he speaks like a dragon, like the devil. We know from the Bible that the devil is the father of all lies, and this beast speaks deception, just like the dragon even though his appearance is that of a lamb. He appears harmless and maybe the beast’s image, but he speaks the words of the devil. Jesus actually warned us of this when he said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” ~Matthew 7:15

This beast is later referred to as the false prophet whose main goal is to point people to the antichrist. His primary function is to demand that the people of the earth worship the antichrist or the beast that was healed. 

THE MIRACLE DECEPTION

Beware of this second beast because he will come with great signs and wonders. John saw that “He performs great signs so that he even makes fire to come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 

He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would worship the image of the beast Satan killed.” ~Revelation 13:13-15

This beast will be given power from the devil to exercise authority and supernatural power. You may wonder, where does the devil get that kind of power? Well, the devil has that kind of power, but it is counterfeit; it’s not the real deal. In Exodus, when Moses went to Egypt, we read that the magicians were able to counterfeit what Moses was doing. But ultimately, God’s power was proven to be more powerful than that of the devil. It’s important to know that supernatural power is not always from God. Signs and wonders are not always from God. And that’s why it is so important that we focus on developing and nurturing a relationship with God instead of only seeking His miraculous signs; otherwise, we may easily be deceived through counterfeit miracles if that were possible. Paul also writes to the church of Thessalonians to warn them, “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of satan, with all power, signs and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved” ~Thessalonians 2:9-10

The question I want to pose to you is, do you actually love the Truth? The Word of God says that a time that will come and is now here with us when people will not put up with sound doctrine but instead to suit their own desires, they will gather around themselves a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. (2 Timothy 4:3)

My prayer is that we will be lovers of Truth both in words and in deeds. That we will obey His commandments for that is one of the ways we express our Love and Honor for Him. May we all receive Love for Truth. Let us not be deceived by the lies of the enemy, and we can do this by putting on the full armor of God which is well elaborated in Ephesians 6:10-18: 

The Belt of Truth

The Breastplate of Righteousness

Sharing the Gospel of peace

The Shield of Faith

The Helmet of Salvation

The Word of God

Prayer and Intercession 

THE MARK OF THE BEAST

John continues to see that, “He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their foreheads and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”

~Revelation 13:16-17 The second beast uses the pressure of the economy to get people to worship the beast that was healed or the antichrist. People will not be able to buy food or services or anything without the Mark of the beast. There are rumors that have been spreading that maybe the vaccine for the Covid19 virus may be the Mark of the beast and that people will receive the Mark without knowing it in the form of a vaccine. However, that cannot be true because everyone receiving the Mark of the beast will know exactly what it is and will choose to either accept it or reject it and be killed. We don’t have to wait until a time when having a relationship with God will be punished by death. We can start now. We can devote ourselves to studying the word of God and staying connected to Him through daily communication with Him, through obeying His commands and telling others of the hope we have found in Jesus. I also know that the fantastic thing with the internet is that it will be here for a long time and maybe you’re reading this, and you are living in those times, I encourage you to endure to the end, to choose Jesus no matter what the cost because on the other side you will enjoy eternal life where there is no more pain or sorrow or sadness. God loves you, and that is why He has given you another chance. He is with you even now, trust Him and don’t give up.

God Bless You

Originally posted 2021-06-27 00:01:00.