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Hosea 6:6 For I desired mercy and not sacrifice;
and the knowledge of God more than your burnt offerings.
Bible Chapter Studies
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I THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 4
I Thessalonians 4 can be broken down into two sections labeled as such: Exhortation to Godliness (I Thessalonians 4:1-12) and Instruction concerning where the dead are (I Thessalonians 4:13-18). With that being said, let's get right to Father's Word:
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I Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. -> Paul is telling the Thessalonians to search their hearts for their shortcomings and sins, repent of those things they were doing wrong, correct them and then continue in Father's Word and grow as Christians and walk in their faith.
I Thessalonians 4:2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. -> Father's commandments have never changed neither has our Lord Jesus Christ: Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. -> Paul was telling them and us that through the direction and touching of the Holy Spirit we will know whether we are following Father's commandments or not - we don't need man to tell us. Nor do we need since Christ's crucifixion, to confess our sins to any man.
Three of the next four verses end in either a colon or a semi-colon meaning that they continue to the next verse, so I will write it as such and then explain.
I Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: [4:4]That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; [4:5] Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: [4:6] That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. -> What is God's Will for us? That we be pure and righteous, not allowing ourselves to succumb to the desires of the flesh as the heathen and chase after as many as we can. Instead we are to be pure to one wife or husband; we are to set the example, because spiritually we are all going to be the bride of Christ.
Another Will of God for us is that, as He tells us in Hosea 6:6 For I desired mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. -> Which goes along with I Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of Truth. -> He wants us to have the full knowledge of in order that we not allow ourselves to be deceived by any man, whether that be the heathen that try and spin Father's Word to their "gain;" by any preacher who though they be unskilled in Father's Word try and teach it or by satan and his fallen angels who will soon arrive. Father teaches in His Word and wants us to become skillful and knowledgeable in His Word to include all three earth ages, His plan as to what happened in that first age, what is going to take place at the end of this age and what is going to happen during Christ's 1,000 millennial reign and after.
God is the avenger of all sin and through His commandments; He set the guidelines for each of us in the way we are to act, and to talk. When we violate any of God's civil standards; we are not only held accountable to the civil authorities here on earth for what we have done, but also to our Heavenly Father, and if we violate His divine laws, those that are spiritual in nature, we answer to Him alone. This is why repentance is important in our daily walk of this life. God knows our hearts and our intents, so we must tune our minds to judge ourselves by God's standards. Through repentance our imperfections become perfect, or blotted out before the Lord and remembered by Him no more.
I Thessalonians 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. -> The word "Holiness" as used here is the same as the word "sanctification" used in verses 3 and 4 above; and means to be set apart for God.
I Thessalonians 4:8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, Who hath also given unto us His Holy spirit. -> I'll be honest here, this verse really hits home to me because what this verse is saying is that "whoever rejects another of Father's children to the point of not wanting to plant a seed of truth to that person, rejects not that person but the Holy Spirit AND therefore God Himself. It hits home to me because in these end times, with all the evilness we see on a daily basis, there are a lot of people (God's children) that do evil things, which I don't want to speak with for the evil that they do. I have to take this verse to heart and change my attitude!
I Thessalonians 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. -> Most Christians today say that this is what we must do, as that is what Jesus did - love everybody. The preachers that teach this have completely taken Father's Word out of context and say that Father and Jesus loves us and all His children unconditionally. That just is not true, how else could He say "Jacob I have loved but Esau I have hated?" How else could He write so many "if(s)" in His word?" There are conditions that must be met to receive Father's love, just as there are conditions that must be met in order to enter into His Kingdom - heaven. Likewise us also, we should try and love all of our brothers and sisters, as since we are all God's children, that is what we are - brothers and sisters, however if a brother or sister offends, if they are non-Christian we rebuke them and then put them away from us; if they are Christian, we rebuke and correct, if that doesn't work, then we are to put them away from the church lest they infect the whole congregation with false doctrine.
Either way, we know that this flesh age is coming to an end and that no man is judged while they are in their flesh bodies, the judgment doesn't start until after Christ's 1,000 year millennial reign; and salvation is at this is open and available to all.
I Thessalonians 4:10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; [4:11] And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; [4:12] That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. -> Don't be satisfied in your present spiritual position; but continue to study to increase in Father's Word and you will grow to be a much stronger Christian. Our goal is to bring others to Father, thereby strengthening brotherly love amongst those around us.
Likewise also, we shouldn't be busy-bodies; learn to mind your own business. We are to set an example, in order to be an example to those around us. The word "quiet" in verse 11 is in reference to your reputation; and Paul is urging us that we keep it stable and not become trouble makers. That doesn't mean you turn your head to an evil wrong, but that you see it's corrected.
As we walk in our daily Christian walk, even those who are not Christians will know of our stability. It is by the example we set within the community. In this way we leave an approachable door open to where the unsaved can come to us for advice, and we and our word can be trusted.
We now switch gears here, and move to instruction concerning where the dead are.
I Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. -> What is Paul talking about here? Every person who has died. And he is telling the Thessalonians (and us) that we should not be like the heathen, i.e. those which don't believe in the resurrection and/or those which don't believe in God. Every soul, at the death of the body, returns to The Father who created it - Ecclesiastes 12:6-7. Believing that Christ resurrected; and as Christians we absolutely do, IS the Foundation for Christianity. Our loved ones which have died are not out in a hole in the ground, yes, their old body is, but their soul has already returned to Father.
I Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. -> Jesus rose from the grave three days after His crucifixion, and we too rise immediately when we die, and our soul returns to Father who created it, as can be read in: Ecclesiastes 12:5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: (because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:) -> Man without God is so afraid of dying because they think that this life is all there is, they have no hope for anything after this life. And then to see Christians mourning and crying for their deceased loved ones, it really makes them scared. But there is nothing for us to fear. Ecclesiastes 12:6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. -> These are all ways that Solomon describes dying. Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God Who gave it. -> This flesh body, which YHVH created\formed from the dust of the earth as described in Genesis 2:7, will return to dust as it was, but the spirit which was created from the beginning, returns to Father, it doesn't go into the ground with the body; they separate at death. Paul also describes some of this in I Corinthians 15 turn there with me: I Corinthians 15:50 Now I say, brethren, flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. -> All created\formed man in the flesh have two bodies: the outer (flesh) man that we know and see everyday, the body that is sinful by nature; and the inner man which came from God known as the spiritual man or our soul. In order to enter in YHVH'S Kingdom, we all must either die, or, as Paul will explain in the next few verses, be changed at Christ's coming, these flesh and blood bodies cannot enter into His Kingdom.
[15:51] Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. -> Paul is about to reveal something to those at Corinth (and us), it is a mystery to some but, once he reveals it, it will no longer be a mystery. The mystery is this: at Christ's coming at the seventh trump, the last trump, all those that have not died, will, at His coming, be changed into their incorruptible (spiritual) body that can enter in YHVH's Kingdom. I Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. -> Did you hear that? Christ doesn't return until the last trump. Did Paul say that Christ will come first in the air to pluck out only certain Christians, and then return again at the last trump? No. Paul said that Christ will return at the last, the 7th trump, and when He returns -- in a twinkling of an eye, all living flesh bodies will change into incorruptible spiritual bodies.
If you are looking for a rapture so you won't have to be here during the tribulation, you're looking for a falsehood, because unless you have already died; all those that are living during the end of this age, will go through the tribulation. If you expect Christ to pluck you away, you're looking for the wrong christ because, the True Christ (7th/last trump) doesn't return until AFTER anti-christ (6th trump).
Who are the dead that "...shall be raised incorruptible..." in this verse? It is those who have not accepted Christ, in other words-- those who are spiritually dead. They too will be changed into their spiritual bodies. Nobody, I repeat, nobody is judged in their flesh body, all are judged in their spiritual body, see Revelation 20. All those that say there is a rapture are saying that YHVH has already judged those that Christ "left behind" to face the anti-christ in the tribulation which is NOT true. All living flesh will face the satan in his role as anti-christ; it is part of Father's test for us to see who has truly read His word with understanding. I Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. -> This flesh body will change into that wonderful spiritual body which can enter into the Kingdom of YHVH, that body will not age or get sick, it won't break down or get arthritis, nor will our eyes dim. One thing to remember about the spiritual body though, that body is still a liable to die (second death) body, until the time of the Great White Throne Judgment at the end of the 1,000 year millennial reign of Christ
as can be read about in Revelation 20. Christ warns us that both our bodies are liable to die in Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which can kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. -> If you choose to follow satan when he is loosed at the end of Christ's 1,000 reign, then YHVH will condemn your spiritual body to the lake of fire and you will be blotted from existence and be no more.
Returning now to I Thessalonians 4:14, what does Paul mean when he says in this verse "...will God bring with Him." This is another one of the reasons\proofs as to why the "rapture" is a false doctrine/teaching. Jesus is coming here to this earth to establish His Kingdom during His millennial reign, and when He does, He'll be bringing with Him all those that have died. We just read from Ecclesiastes and I Corinthians that all souls (not just Christians) return to the Father Who created them.
Jesus' return can be read in many places in Father's Word, we'll start in Acts 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, "Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" [1:7] And He said unto them, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power. [1:8] But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." [1:9] And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. [1:10] And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; [1:11] Which also said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, Which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.". Also in Zechariah 14:1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. [14:2] For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. [14:3] Then the LORD shall go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle. [14:4] And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. [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. Skip down with me to verse [14:9] And the LORD shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and His name one. -> When is this? On The LORD'S Day; the beginning of the 1,000 year millennial reign of Christ, the time just before the White Throne Judgment and eternity.
I Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep. -> By whose word? John Hagee's, Joel Osteen's or any other preacher's? No! By the word of the Lord! We cannot prevent, "prevent" in the Greek in the Strong's Concordance is Greek word number G5348 phthano, pronounced fthan'-o and means: Apparently a primary verb; to be beforehand, that is, anticipate or precede; by extension to have arrived at: - (already) attain, come, prevent,, in other words, we cannot precede those which are asleep because they are already with Jesus. We which are alive at His coming, in no way, shape or form can join with Christ before those that have already died because they are already with Jesus.
This isn't hard, it should NOT be a mystery, nor is there any thing to fear of the coming tribulation. We will be here because as Paul says in this verse "...we which are alive and remain unto the coming of our Lord...," and remember, Christ comes at the 7th trump, anti-christ at the 6th. So, if you love YHVH and have repented of your sins, you are a child of His and He declares in many places that He will protect you. And no, He doesn't have to fly you away to protect you either. Let's look at three different times of tribulation that occurred in the Old Testament that are ensamples for us: (1) The Israelites who were in bondage to the Egyptians and the tribulation they went through WITH the Egyptians during the exodus. Did YHVH take them out of Egypt first? No. They went through all ten plagues, and as long as they were true to YHVH and listened to Him, not one of those plagues affected them. (2) How about Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, better known as Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego from Daniel 3. They were thrown into the burning fiery furnace that was heated one seven times more than it was wont to be heated because they would NOT bow to Nebuchadnezzar's god. Did YHVH "rapture" them out of that fire? No. Christ walked in that fire with them and not one hair was singed on their heads, nor was there even the smell of smoke on their garments. (3) What about Daniel in Daniel 4, when he was thrown in the lions den. Did YHVH "rapture" him out? No. The next day king Nebuchadnezzar came to check on him, and he was still living. Nebuchadnezzar then realized that he had been fooled by his own people and he then threw them and their families into that same lions den and then the lions were hungry and devoured them.
What is the First Commandment? "Thou shalt have none other gods before Me." When satan in his role as anti-christ arrives, this is our test like Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego's, we are to do as they did and refuse to bow down and worship just like they did. Father has already told (and shown) us that He will protect us, so there is no need to fear.
I Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: -> Lets again break this verse down. First Paul says the "Lord shall descend with a shout," where is the rapture in that? There isn't one because as we read in Acts 1:18 and Zechariah 14, Father's Word says Jesus is coming to the earth, not just coming in the clouds to fly certain people away. Secondly, this verse says the dead in Christ shall rise first; again they rise first because they are already with Him and we can't precede them.
So, just what is the order of things prior to Christ's return to the earth to establish His Kingdom? His disciples asked Him this same thing because they too were curious. The answer to this mystery can be found in the Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, II Thessalonians and Revelation. We'll start with the three gospels, for they actually give us our purpose for being here in this age, though Revelation also gives us much needed information about why we're here, we'll use Mark 13, though Matthew and Luke say the same thing.
In Mark 13 Jesus will give four of His disciples in detail the events that lead up to His return. The subject of this whole chapter is "the end of this earth age and the signs leading up to His return." It is these things that we must look for today, so that we are prepared for His coming. We don't and won't know the day but, we can know the season and the signs to look for. Jesus is about to tell these four disciples the seven events that must take place. These seven events are the seven seals, trumps and vials of the Book of Revelation. So then, let's listen in so that we too will know the answer to this mystery. Mark 13:1 And as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples saith unto Him, "Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!" -> Since we are in the thirteenth chapter of this Book of Mark, we know that Jesus is close to the end of His time on earth in the flesh, which means the time for His crucifixion is close at hand. He has repeatedly told them of His being crucified and then rising from the dead after three days in order to go and be with the Father. His disciples also knew that the prophets had prophesied of His returning a second time as The Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
I, myself, have been to the wailing wall in Jerusalem and can tell you first hand that these are some very large stones and the temple was/is built very solidly. Mark 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto him, "Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." -> Many think that Titus' destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD was a major destruction and was what Jesus was speaking in reference too however, that was nothing as compared to what will take place on the first day of the eternity, after the Great White Throne Judgment. On that day, Jerusalem will be destroyed as will buildings all over the earth, why? YHVH promised that He would never again destroy His earth by fire but, on the first day of the eternity there will be a shaking like as seen only once before. YHVH is going to restore His earth to the way it once was, he shook and destroyed His earth once before at the end of the first earth age, when the dinosaurs walked the earth. We walked with them then but, not in these flesh and blood bodies, and no, there never was any "caveman." To find this in His Word re-read Genesis 1:1 AND Genesis 1:2, there were many years between these two verses and our clue to this is in verse 2. The word "was" in verse 2 in the Strong's Concordance in the Hebrew is word number H1961 hayah and means: A primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, that is, be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary). Verse 2 should read Genesis 1:2 And the earth became without form and void... -> The words without form in the Strong's in the Hebrew is word number H8414 tohu and means: From an unused root meaning to lie waste, a desolation (of surface), that is, desert; figuratively a worthless thing; adverbially in vain: confusion, empty place, without form. The word void in the Strong's in the Hebrew is word number H922 bohu and means: From an unused root (meaning to be empty); a vacuity, that is, (superficially) an undistinguishable ruin: - emptiness, void. So in other words, the earth was not created without form and void (tohu va bohu), it became that way. Ask yourself, would YHVH really create His earth a wasteful, desolate and uninhabitable place? No. He created it and it was beautiful as are all things that He creates. He doesn't create anything that is defective, (which is another reason the homosexuals are wrong when they say they were born {created} the way they are)! So, it became void and without form, let's find the evidence to support this claim.
Turn with me to Jeremiah 4:22 For My people is foolish, they have not known Me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. [4:23] I beheld the earth, and lo, it was without form, and void, and the heavens, and they had no light. [4:24] I beheld the mountains, and lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. [4:25] I beheld, and lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. [4:26] I beheld, and lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by His fierce anger. [4:27] For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end. -> If you think this was the flood of Noah's time, rethink think that. In the flood of Noah's time, it was just that, a flood of rain, here in verse 24 Father says the "hills moved lightly," meaning He shook the earth also; this is the destruction that wiped out the dinosaurs as well.
All the cities were broken down. That means in the first earth age, even though we were in our spiritual bodies, we had cities and such, much like we have today, only spiritual man did not have children or reproduce.
Further evidence of this can be found in Isaiah 45:18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. [45:19] I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye Me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. -> No, Father never wanted this information kept from His children, it was hidden and not passed down because of the kenites and their father didn't want the truth to be known.
What was the truth they were/are hiding? That is the "why" Father did this. It was because of their father, satan. Satan rebelled against YHVH, which can be read in Ezekiel 28, and then drew one-third of Father's children with him during that rebellion as can be read in Revelation 12:1-4. Father had a choice to either destroy satan and that third of His (Father's) children that followed satan in his rebellion or destroy the age that was and start anew with man in the flesh and without the knowledge of what happened, in order to prove in this age whether we love and will follow Him or whether we will follow satan. The best and only true way to prove to Him that you really love Him is by studying His Word to gain the understanding and knowledge that He wants you to have.
Evidence that we walked with Father before being born in these flesh bodies is quite easy to find but, before we read in His Word the evidence of this, I want you to think for a minute. I want you to use common sense and think real hard. When asked where we came from, most Christians will reply "from God." When you press further and ask when they were created, they really don't have an answer. What about you, do you really believe that your soul was not created/ formed until you were formed in your mother's womb?
Now, let's go and find the proof in Father's Word. We'll start with Esau because he is mentioned first in Father's Word. We read in Romans 9:10 And not only this, when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; [9:11](For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him That calleth;) [9:12] It was said into her, "The elder shall serve the younger." [9:13] As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau have I hated." -> Esau had not yet even been born and YHVH is saying that He hated him. Why would Father say this? It wasn't because of anything he had done in the flesh because, he wasn't born yet. It was because of what he did in that first earth age, when he stood with satan against Father, he despised his heritage then as he would again in this flesh age when he sold that heritage to his brother Jacob for a bowl of red pottage and then cried out to his earthly father and not to his Heavenly Father that he was wronged.
Let's look at more evidence of the first earth age. Since we're in the New Testament let's stay here for a minute. Turn with me to Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. [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: [1:5] Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. -> He chose and predestinated some before the foundation of the world, how and why would He do that? Again, it is because of what happened in that first earth age, and that is the entire subject of Romans 11. There Paul again states about those that are predestinated in verse 1 of that same chapter. These that are predestinated are so because in that first earth age, they like the Levites of Exodus 32 answered that call and stood on the side of YHVH against satan and those that rebelled against Father during that first great conflict. These predestinated will make that stand again in this earth age when satan and his angels are kicked out of heaven by Michael and his angels as can be read in Revelation 12:7-8.
Now we'll go to the Old Testament to Jeremiah 1:4 The word of the LORD came unto me saying, [5] "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." -> Did YHVH say only that He sanctified and ordained Jeremiah? No, He said that He knew Jeremiah before He formed him in his mother's womb. How could that be if there wasn't an age before this present age and if we didn't walk and talk with YHVH before being born in the flesh?
So in conclusion of the evidence of the first earth age we have YHVH saying several times that He either foreknew or preordained somebody, He hated Esau while he was yet in his mother's womb because of what he did in that first earth age, and then we have Jeremiah whom YHVH says He knew before He formed him in his mother's womb.
So now, let us return to Mark 13 to complete it before we go back and complete I Thessalonians 4.
Mark 13:3 And as He sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked Him privately, -> They are out of earshot of everybody else and feel more comfortable asking Him the things that they would be scoffed at for asking in front of a crowd of people. Mark 13:4 "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?" -> Now that we are in private, tell us when are You going to come back; what are the signs we should look for; and when will You destroy all these buildings and the earth. Matthew 24:3 gives a more detailed description of the question. Matthew 24:3 And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when shall these things be and what shall be the sign of Thy coming and the end of the world?" -> Most Christians are absolutely horrified by the prospect of this and that is why they want to fly out of here in their "rapture." Sadly their pastors have not properly taught or prepared them. This age will not be destroyed until His coming which is at the exact same time we are changed into our spiritual bodies, so there is nothing to fear. The earth itself will NEVER be destroyed. He is coming here to establish His Kingdom. Mark 13:5 And Jesus answering them began to say, "Take heed lest any man deceive you: -> Christ is telling them, Don't listen to any man, because unless I have opened a man's eyes to the truth in My Word, man will get this wrong. Don't listen to those that claim they are My shepherd's, you open Father's Word, dig deep and study it for yourself to find the answer. There is only one way a man cannot deceive you and that is by studying His Word. He tells us that we must become as little children when we study, meaning, put away all preconceived ideas, all former teachings that you have heard from man, get the tools (Strong's Concordance, Smith's Bible Dictionary, King James Version Bible {I recommend the Companion Bible} E-Sword) study to translate/transliterate it for yourself so that you know Father's Word well enough for yourself that no man can deceive you. If the scriptures aren't opening up to/for you, ask Him and He will assist. Mark 13:6 For many shall come in My name, saying, 'I am Christ;' and shall deceive many. -> Jesus is telling His disciples and us that there will be many pastors and many that claim they are pastors, but again, unless I open their eyes to the truth, they will deceive many. Why would He want us to know this and why would He allow this to be? Because He said it in verse 5, "...Take heed lest any man deceive you:" in other words, I want you to study so that you don't have to listen to any man, because if that man which you are listening to doesn't have his spiritual eyes opened by Me, he will mislead you. And when you are standing before the Great White Throne Judgment Seat, in other words, before Father, and He asks you, why you didn't study it deeply enough, you'll be able to reply that you have, and you'll both know that you didn't/wouldn't/couldn't take satan's mark, you were/are Sealed with His Word. Mark 13:7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. -> What's going on in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya today? Wars. Yet how many Christians that don't know Father's Word, and how many non-Christians are rebelling against these wars. Jesus told us to "...be ye not troubled:...". Mark 13:8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. -> This verse covers a lot of what we're seeing today, and again how many that don't know Father's Word are paining and horrified by the happenings. I rejoice because as Jesus told us here -- "...These are the beginnings of sorrows." what sorrows? The birth pangs of the age that is about to be born. Now, do I rejoice that people are being injured? No. Do I rejoice about the death of some? Yes and no, and I'll clarify, to die is to go home to Father, from whence we came, so there is in a sense, no reason to be sad, Father knew they were coming home, He is in control of all things. Did I say He causes the earthquakes and other disasters that are occurring today? No, I said He knows all things. Jesus also said in this verse "...there shall be famines..." what famines is He talking about? We read in Amos 8:11 Behold the days come, saith the LORD GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. -> Who sends this famine? YHVH does because His People don't want to take the time to study, they'd rather just sit and listen to some preacher preach at/to them. A man who can deceive or mislead them. Mark 13:9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them. -> What is going to happen? Father's Elect will be delivered up to councils and satan's synagogues for His names sake. Fear not, for this is our purpose, to take this stand for Father as we'll see in the next two verses, also, Father will take care of us, go back and read Daniel 3 (Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego).
Do you know that if Father has given you the truth in His word (opened your spiritual eyes and ears), and you speak that truth, you then teach against the majority of what the churches teach today. And for this they will deliver you up to their councils, so that they can grill you, over what you teach. They (the churches and councils of today) teach what has been taught and passed down from the time before the captivity of Israel by the Babylonians. When they came out of that captivity, as Ezra and Nehemiah were taking a census of who was who, they found that the priesthood didn't even contain one true Levite because the priesthood had been completely taken over by the nethinims (those given to service) as can be read in Ezra 8:15. So therefore, the traditions of man based upon the law (as the pharisees and sadducees wanted it to be) was being taught by false teachers\ preachers. Oh sure after this census, Ezra and Nehemiah restored the priesthood to the Levites but (1) they were still teaching the traditions of man; and (2) how long do you think the true Levites stayed in control of the priesthood? Like before, they became lazy and again allowed nethinims to take over and that is who was in charge of the priesthood during Jesus' time. He identified them and pointed them out for who they were in John 8 and many other places.
Don't forget also, this will be during the time of the tribulation and satan (in his role as "instead of christ") and his angels will be here and some (YHVH'S Elect) will have to be delivered up before him and his councils, remember he is pretending to be Christ and what Father has given you presently that you speak now, satan, as Christ, will be telling you and all the world that you are lying because you'll be saying he is satan, not Christ, and he'll be saying look at me I am Christ. But again, as Jesus is telling us here in this and the next two verses, don't even think of what you'll reply, because YHVH will provide His answer through His Holy Spirit. Mark 13:10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations. -> Many churches and Christians think they have to have missionaries and go on missions because of this verse. But the reality is that The Gospel (Father's Word, His True Word) will be published when His elect are delivered up as these three verses here tell us about. What is Father's Holy Spirit going to be saying? Several things, one will be the true gospel (exposing satan and his children {those who crucified Him} for who they truly are,) which the two churches (Smyrna and Philadelphia {the only two with which Christ was/is pleased with}) in Revelation 2:9 and 3:9 were teaching, this is important because this is what the people must come to know and that is why it will be made public among all nations.
Let's find out what they were teaching: Revelation 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; 'These things saith the First and the Last, Which was dead and is alive; [2:9] I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty (but thou art rich), and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are of the synagogue of Satan., again in Revelation 3:7And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; ' These things saith He That is Holy, He That is True, He That hath the key of David, He That openeth, and no man shutteth, and shutteth, and no man openeth; [3:8] I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My Word, and hast not denied My name. [3:9] Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, but do lie; behold, I will make them come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. -> This key of David is important because it is what opens your mind to the truth in Father's Word and when that truth is opened and revealed by Jesus, no man will be able to seal it back up, it also exposes the mind to what really took place in the garden of Eden between satan and Eve. Satan (the tree of knowledge of good and evil and NOT a snake) wholly (mind and body) seduced Eve into laying with him in order to try and interrupt the seedline through which He, (Immanuel -- God with us) Jesus, would come in the flesh. If satan could interrupt that seedline, he could have defeated YHVH. It was his offspring with Eve many years later which crucified Jesus not the Jews (Judah, Hebrews) as is still taught today. It was his offspring with Eve which took over the scribing of Father's Word to try and change it as can be read in I Chronicles 2:55, it was also his offspring which took over the priesthood while the Israelites were in captivity to the Babylonians and were found out in Ezra 8:15. The other thing that Father's Holy Spirit will be saying through His elect and must be published among all nations is what comes in the next verse. Mark 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Spirit. -> Rejoice!!! Here our purpose is clearly defined. To make that stand (as we are delivered up as verse 9 tells us) against satan and his angels (and yes this will be published among all nations as verse 10 tells us) and allow Father's Holy Spirit to speak through us.
What will the Holy Spirit of YHVH be speaking through our mouths? This can be read in Acts 2:6-8 and Joel 2. We'll begin with our example in Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. [2:2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting [2:3] And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. -> Notice our word "cloven tongues" in this verse, this is word number G1266 in the Strong's G1266 Diamerizo (dee-am-er-id-zo) and means: From G1223 and G3307; to partition thoroughly (literally in distribution, figuratively in dissension): - cloven, divide, part. In other words through partitioning, it can, as we'll see in the next few verses, be understood by all within earshot. [2:4] And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. -> What happened here? YHVH's Holy Spirit entered into them and they began to speak that which Father wanted them to speak. What is tongues? In the Strong's it is Greek word G1100 Glossa (gloce-sah) and means: Of uncertain affinity; the tongue; by implication a language (specifically one naturally unaccquired): - tongue. So tongues is a language (English, French, Spanish, German etc.) that is spoken by a person who attains that language without ever having studied that language. The word "utterance" here in this verse in the Strong's is Greek word number G669 apophtheggomai (ap-of-theng-om-ahee) and means: From G575 and G5350; to enunciate plainly, that is, declare: - say, speak forth, utterance. In other words, someone who is uttering in tongues is speaking plainly in a language that was naturally unacquired, not some unknown (only a language God and His angels speak). [2:5] And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, (these are those that are identified as such because of where they live and are not of the house {tribe} of Judah) devout men, out of every nation under heaven. [2:6] Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. -> See, that wasn't hard, it was rather self explanatory. [2:7] And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, "Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? [2:8] And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? [2:9] Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, [2:10] Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya, about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes. [2:11] Cretes, and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. -> So each of these of every nation heard the apostles speak in their own language even down to their own county and city in which they were born. It wasn't an unknown tongue and it wasn't babbling.
What exactly were they speaking? Let's continue listening to Peter right in the Book and Chapter we're in Acts 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel: [2:17] 'And it shall come to pass in the last days,' saith God, 'I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: -> When did Peter say this would come to pass? In the last days. Well let me tell you, those days are upon us right now, we are in the final generation of this life in the flesh. [2:18] And on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit: and they shall prophesy: [2:19] And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: Are you scared yet? You shouldn't be, unless you don't know Father [2:20] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the LORD come: [2:21] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be saved.' -> So just what was Joel meaning? Let's go there and find out. Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: -> Come to pass after what? Joel was prophesying that in the final days, the last generation of this earth age, the alarm was to be sounded, the trumpet blown signifying the end was near and the Day of The LORD was nigh at hand. How would we know we are in those final days? Father set benchmarks, signs so that those of His would know. The sign that the final generation started was the establishing of Israel as a nation in 1948. How do we know that? First Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:32, Mark 13:28 and Luke 21:29 that we must learn the parable of the fig tree. What is the parable of the fig tree? That is the setting out of the two baskets of figs that can be read about in Jeremiah 24. Those baskets were set in 1948, signifying the start of the final generation. How long is a generation? Either 40, 70 or 120 years, but in reality, it can be any time in between those as well. So the alarm is being sounded and the trumpet blown, meaning Father's elect (sons and daughters) have started prophesying that the end is close at hand for we are 62 years into this final generation and time is getting short.
What are the two different figs in Jeremiah 24? Well first of all we have to remember who is in Jerusalem at this time and that is what this is about. The good figs are the three tribes of the house of Judah: Judah, Benjamin and part of the tribe of Levi. Why only three tribes? Because in I Kings 11 YHVH told Solomon that He was going to split and divide the twelve tribes of Israel when Solomon died. How were they split? Reuben, part of Levi, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Joseph (Manasseh and Ephraim) would continue to be called the "House of Israel" while Judah, part of Levi and Benjamin would now be known as the House of Judah. It is these three tribes which comprise Israel (the country) today mixed in with the naughty figs, who are the naughty figs? The naughty figs are the kenites, those that claim to be Jews but do lie and are of the synagogue of satan. It is those which mixed in with the House of Judah 400 years before Christ was born, after the numbering of by Ezra and Nehemiah and are there to this day. So many times in the New Testament when we read the word "Jews," the writer is really talking about someone that is identified as such because of the location from which they were born or where they were living.
The two houses, Israel and Judah, will not be brought back together until the LORD's Day, the first day of the millennium, as is recorded in Ezekiel 37. Joel 2:29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My Spirit. -> Do you see these signs Jesus said would come when He was asked by His disciples when shall these things be and what shall be the signs of His (second) coming in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21? Wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes in diverse places, apostasy (lack of Father's Word being taught chapter-by-chapter and verse-by-verse as prophesied in Amos 8:11) running rampant, morals being flushed down the toilet on a daily basis. Yes, we are there, make no mistake about it. Satan as the anti-christ and his locust army will be kicked out of heaven shortly, are you ready for that time? [2:30] And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. -> What are all these, are they cause for concern? No, so don't allow the hell-fire and brimstone pastors to deceive you into believing satan is going to destroy this earth with blood up to the horse's bridles. Remember, satan wants people to worship him and for them to believe that he is Christ, he'll be coming in saying "peace, peace." Also, Father is not going to allow His earth to be destroyed by nuclear holocaust, Christ is coming here to establish His kingdom and He will not be coming to a place that is void and desolate.
When He does come though, all the evil elements, shall be burned up as Peter says in II Peter 3:10 But the day of the LORD will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. -> What will actually take place on that day, the day He returns? The elements that shall be burned up are not the elements that make up this earth; rather, we again must look at our word "elements" as used here. In the Greek in the Strong's it is word number G4747 Stoicheion (stoy-khi'-on) and means: Neuter of a presumed derivative of the base of G4748; something orderly in arrangement, that is, (by implication) a serial (basal, fundamental, initial) constituent (literally), proposition (figuratively): element, principle, rudiment. In other words, all the evil things that are on this earth will be destroyed, not the elements and/or the earth itself, just all the things that cause offense, the things that Father will not allow to pollute His coming kingdom. [2:31] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. -> Prior to Jesus' return, satan will loose all the evil spirits that are being held in the bottomless pit and when they are loosed, yeah, the sun will appear to be darkened and the moon into blood.
Now think about this for a moment, the brightness of Christ's coming will cause the sun to appear to be dark and at His coming we all change back into our spiritual bodies. So now, put away your fleshly thinking and don't be afraid which is the reason so many Christians want to fly away in their rapture, they just cannot get past thinking in the flesh and have this fear ingrained into them.
Mark 13:12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. -> This almost sounds scary, doesn't it? Well, again there is no need to be afraid because one of satan's names is death as can be read in Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had power of death, that is, the devil. -> So what is verse 12 in Mark 13 really saying and talking about? When satan comes as anti-christ, he will be so convincing as Christ to those not sealed with the Key of David that they will believe that he is Christ and tell satan (death) and his children that those that are sealed are non-believers and will be pleading with satan (death) to save their family members. Again, Jesus is telling us and forewarning us so there is no need to be afraid. Mark 13:13 And ye shall be hated by all men for My name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. -> Now we can finish the last verse from what Joel was declaring in Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. -> Notice Joel says the "and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call." It is these remnant, YHVH'S Elect, those with the Key of David that shall be hated by all men for Christ's name's sake and will endure unto the end.
Listen up for me because the next verse is also important.
Mark 13:14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judea flee to the mountains: -> Christ is telling us that satan, as Christ, will be standing in Jerusalem claiming to be Christ and that he will cause Christians to stop partaking of communion. Why? Because they think Christ is here with them, but, the one that is here is NOT Christ and this is why Jesus says "...then let them that be in Judea flee to the mountains."
What was it that Daniel was prophesying? Let's go there and find out. Daniel 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. -> So, what is Daniel, who is seeing a vision from Father, prophesying in this verse? Let's break it down to "understand" as Christ told us, "Let him that readeth, understand." Daniel is telling us that there will be a one week period of years, in other words, seven years time, most Christians, correctly, do recognize this as the seven years time of the tribulation (we will see in a minute that Christ shortened this time to a five month period). And in the middle of the "week" ("...in the midst of the week...") Christians will stop partaking of communion ("...he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease...") why will they stop? Because they, wrongly, believe that satan is Christ and that He has returned.
Do you know what the great news about this is though? When we see the abominator standing in Jerusalem, we know that Jesus' return is very, very close, because it is Jesus that will come and bring an end to this flesh age. How can we know whether it is satan or Jesus? Pinch yourself for one, another way is to look around you, if you still see very young children and older adults, we are still in the flesh age, and who you see is satan. When Jesus returns, we instantly, at His coming, change into our spiritual bodies.
Let's turn to II Thessalonians and read a portion of Paul's second letter to them. He realized by what he was hearing coming out of Thessalonica that they had misinterpreted some of the things he had written in his first letter to them, so he then wrote to them a second time. II Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering back unto Him, -> Paul is pleading with them that they listen to what he is saying about Jesus' return and how we'll be gathered back to Him. [2:2] That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter, as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. -> Like Christ told His disciples, "don't let any man deceive you." [2:3] Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, -> Pay attention because many men will come with false doctrines and will deceive many so as to confuse and lead people to the wrong Christ. But, Christ will not return until the apostasy (lack of hearing YHVH'S Word) is in full swing and satan, as the anti-christ, (or instead of christ as this reads in the Greek) stands in Jerusalem proclaiming that he is Christ and he will be revealed as the false christ first. [2:4] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. -> Does this sound like he'll be coming in destroying the earth? No! He will be right there in the temple saying, I am Christ and I have returned so you can stop taking communion in My absence. This is the abomination of desolation that Jesus was talking about in Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14, satan saying and portraying himself as God. If you still believe that there is a rapture of the church, you obviously cannot comprehend what you read, because verses 1-4 of this chapter make it very plain and clear that satan comes first. [2:5] Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? -> Paul is asking the Thessalonians (and us) don't you remember I already stated this? I'll go over it with you again... [2:6] And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. -> Yes he'll be revealed in his time alright, when is that? At the sounding of the sixth trumpet which is the second woe trumpet. We can read that the fifth angel sounds and that a star falls from heaven in Revelation 9:1, this star is satan, identified as Lucifer in Isaiah 14, and he goes to the bottomless pit where the fallen angels are kept to loose them, and as Revelation 9:2-10 tell us, to allow them to run loose on the earth bringing in and establishing the deception of satan's lies in preparation for satan's ruling dominion. Oh, reading everything in Revelation 9:2-10 sounds so scary but, if you are familiar with Father's Word, you'll understand that this is all spiritual and it is nothing but lies and deceptions and as verse 4 tells us, they cannot hurt anybody that is sealed with the truth of Father's Word in their mind. Verse 5 tells us that this time can only be for five months, not seven years or ever 3 1/2 years, like most preachers say. Satan himself doesn't actually show up and take control until the sixth trumpet sounds, which is the second woe. That is when he will actually be here defacto, in charge and proclaiming himself as God. And it is in this time that he will be revealed. [2:7] For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. -> It is during this time that the fallen angels are at work here on earth, satan up to this point is actually still being held by Michael the arch angel. Michael releases satan at the sixth trump as can be read in Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, (notice the coma here meaning the sentence continues into the next verse) [12:8] And prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. (satan and his angels, as we'll see, are about to be ejected) [12:9] And the great dragon was cast out that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: (how many? The whole world, except as
Revelation 9:4 tells us, those sealed with the truth of God's Word) he was cast out unto the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. -> Satan (as a man {but not in the flesh because he will never be born of woman} and anti-christ) and his angels now have full control over the whole earth. [2:8] And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the LORD shall consume with the brightness of His coming. -> Satan gets revealed first and then Christ returns. [2:9] Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, [2:10] And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; (they perish spiritually because they accepted satan's lies as truth) because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved (they believed those pastors that told them they would be raptured by the first one that appeared and when satan showed up they accepted his lies and his mark whereby they cannot be saved) [2:11] And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: (see the colon indicating it continues) [2:12] That they might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. -> YHVH said "you want to believe a lie and not My Word, then I'll allow you too and make you believe even more lies." "You want to listen to man and not study for yourself deeply enough and ask Me for understanding and knowledge?" I'll allow you to be fooled and deceived.
How long will satan be here on earth pretending to be Christ? Bear with me a little longer, we're almost there, we'll find the answer to this when we get to Mark 13:20.
Mark 13:15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house: -> Why would Jesus say not to take anything out of your house? Because when He truly comes, you won't need anything, this age of the flesh will be over and we'll be in our spiritual body and won't have any need of those things we had in this age. Mark 13:16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. -> Again, when the True Jesus returns, we will not need any of these things we obtained in the flesh.
Sharpen up for me, because if you listen to "preachers" our next verse is also scary.
Mark 13:17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days. -> Again, to those that don't understand Father's Word, this is quite scary and could cause one not to want to become pregnant but, let's think about this for a moment. Becoming pregnant and having a child is a blessed event and is a blessing from YHVH. So then, why would Jesus say "...woe to them..." You have to think spiritually here because that is what Jesus is alluding to "spirituality," the inner man and not the flesh, in other words, your mind. If you have accepted satan's lies, you have become pregnant with his false doctrines. Now think about this for a minute because Jesus is really making this quite simple. Who is the bride of Jesus? We are. So spiritually speaking, if our Husband is away (Jesus has NOT returned yet) and we become pregnant (lies and deception) and THEN He returns, how do you think He'll feel? Woe to you (wife) He (Husband) says. Is that hard? No!
You see, this really is so simple a child can understand it, IF, you put away the traditions of man. This is where man makes his mistake and we then get Father's Word so wrong and has a hard time understanding it, we listen to man and think in the flesh and not Christ and think spiritually. Mark 13:18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.
-> Here could be another stumbling block for those unfamiliar with Father's Word. Don't think in the flesh about having to go somewhere. What Jesus is saying is that you NOT be taken out of season; in other words, don't be taken by the wrong husband. He has already told us the season He'll return, it is during the harvest and we in this age NEVER harvest our crops in the winter, neither will Jesus return in winter.
Want another clue? Read Leviticus 23 and Numbers 29. Don't make the mistake and think the "seventh" month equates to our month of July because it doesn't. Think about what time the Old Testament was written, Before Christ (B.C.) under the old calendar and NOT the Georgian calendar. The seventh month to the Hebrews was the month of Tisri which equates today to our September - October. The Blowing of the Trumpets back then (during the Old Testament) was a sign of a future event, Christ's birth (September 29th and not Dec 25th, Mary conceived on Dec 25th, the clue to this is Luke 1:5 {Zacharias serving the "course of Abia"} and Luke 1:24-26) and in our future His Return will be in this same month Tisri, (September - October) the month when the harvest is gathered in. Mark 13:19 For in those days shall be affliction such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. -> The hellfire and brimstoners have a party and field day with this verse but, they take it out of context. It is also the reason the rapturists want to fly away, they're afraid of this "affliction such as was not from the beginning of creation..." and think "I don't have to, nor do I want to, be here for this."
Now, let's take it slow and break it down. What is this "affliction"? In the Hebrew in the Strong's it is word number G2347 Thlipsis (thlip'-sis) and means: From G2346; pressure (literally or figuratively): - afflicted, (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble., now let's see G2346 Thlibo (Thlee'-bo) means: Akin to the base of G5147; to crowd (literally or figuratively): - afflict, narrow, throng, suffer tribulation, trouble..
OK, now that we know "affliction" means "tribulation", we'll find that it is the same word that we'll find in verse 24. What is this tribulation? First of all, we have to know and understand that there are two (2) tribulations; the first is the one we're reading about here and in verse 24 and is the tribulation of anti-christ. What is the tribulation he brings? Lies, deception, his snares and his mark in both the hand and the forehead. What is his mark? Let's go to Revelation 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: -> (colon, meaning it continues) It is stated here that all people, and that is what these examples mean (I don't see any flying away in that), will take his mark in their hand or in their foreheads [13:17] And no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. [13:18] Here is wisdom, Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: or it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. -> Alright let's go back over it and break it all down. Verse 16 tells us that everybody alive in the flesh at satan's coming, will have to have his mark in either their right hand (power hand) and means that they will be doing his works. How you might ask? What did Christ tell us in Mark 13:12 "...brother shall betray brother...", if you are turning somebody that you know in to who you believe to be Christ but is in fact the false christ, you have just did his works. What is the mark in the forehead? If you ignorantly worship him, believing him to be Christ, (which you will have to do in order to buy or sell) when in fact he is the false christ you have just taken his mark in your forehead.
And don't fool yourself and say "I know the voice of my shepherd." Father says that unless you have His Seal (complete knowledge of His plan from the beginning of the foundation of the world, or in other words, what transpired in the first earth age when satan rebelled and drew a third of YHVH'S children with him; what happened in the Garden of Eden between satan and Eve; who satan offspring are; who was in charge of the "church" during Jesus time in the flesh including who crucified Him; who those are that say they are Jews but are of the synagogue of satan, which is the key of David and the Seal of God in you forehead) you will take the mark of the beast.
Revelation 13:18 tells us of Wisdom. What is Wisdom? Knowing what the numbers 6, 6, 6 mean. And it doesn't mean having those numbers tattooed on your body somewhere, nor does it mean having a computer chip inserted into your body. What it does mean is this: satan comes to this earth as anti-christ, (instead of christ; pretending to be christ; false christ, how ever you wish to say it he comes) before the True Christ because he comes at the "6"th Trump, "6"th Seal and "6"th Vial, unlike Christ who doesn't return until the "7"th Trump, "7"th Seal and "7"th Vial. No matter how you slice it, satan comes before christ deceiving many into believing he is Christ. Notice the number of Christ "7", what does seven mean in biblical numerics? Spiritual completeness and/or spiritual perfection.
Now, the second tribulation is the tribulation of Christ. "What" you might say, I've never heard of such. Jesus gave us a great example in Mark 13:17 "...woe to them that are with child...". If you are one of those who have sat in a church house for 5, 10, 20 or more years and have listened to a preacher tell you about a rapture, or have never read Father's Word chapter-by-chapter with understanding, so that you know and understand all the things I have stated and proved with Father's word here, then you are set up for Christ's tribulation. Jesus describes this seven times in Father's Word. I'll just quote the first and then give the references for the rest and then give another example by Jesus: Matthew 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. [8:12] But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. -> You'll also find these words in Matthew 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30 and Luke 13:28. A study of these will show that the occasion is "the end of the age", when He and His servants shall come and deal with all those that have taken the mark of the beast.
Now let's look at another superb example given by our Lord, Jesus. Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. -> Who is this bridegroom? Jesus, and this is talking about His return, when He returns to rule over His kingdom here on earth. [25:2] And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. [25:3] They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: [25:4] But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. -> Who are these ten virgins? Christians, not unbelievers. Who are the five wise and what is their oil? It is those Christians which took the time to study Father's Word deeply enough to gain understanding to know all of the signs, the season and the events which would lead up to Christ's, the Bridegroom's, return. The oil in their lamps is the truth in Father's Word. Who are these foolish and why didn't they have enough oil? If you think it is those that never gave a hoot about Father, think again because they are Christians. It is those Christians who have sat in a pew all their lives and said, Lord, Lord, I Love you, but, they did NOT take the time to study to show thyself approved, they did not know the signs, season or events. Don't get angry with me, I didn't write this nor did I say it, Christ did. [25:5] While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. -> Much like it is today; we are all awaiting His return. [25:6] And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. [25:7] Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. [25:8] And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. -> Do you have enough oil (truth) in your mind (lamp) or are you ready to fly away (take satan's mark) and your lamp is empty. [25:9] But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there not be enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. -> You better take it now before it is too late. Do you really think you can "buy" the truth? No. [25:10] And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. -> Are you able to enter in because you have the oil (truth)? And don't you rapturists try and say this is Christ coming to "rapture" His church away (and those left behind are just that "left behind") because if you say that, you are guilty of twisting Father's Word to try and fit it into your traditions of man, and Father will be angry at you for doing that. [25:11] Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. -> Are you one of these that will be left out in the cold? [25:12] But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. -> What a sad state to be found in. All their lives they sat in a pew listening to preachers that preached "messages of God's word" because "the bible is too boring to read verse-by-verse" or because they enjoyed stringing verses together to make God's word fit their version of things, when in reality, they themselves knew not the truth and led their congregations astray, and the people who had Father's Word in their own hands, the congregants, never sought YHVH to learn the deeper truths in His Word, and now that He has returned, they hear these words from Him. Yes, sadly there'll be much weeping and gnashing of teeth and praying for mountains to fall on them over the embarrassment of being deceived by satan.
Let's return now to Mark 13:20, sharpen up for me.
Mark 13:20 And except that the LORD had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom He hath chosen, He hath shortened the days. -> Jesus gives us a major clue here as to how long satan as anti-christ can rule here on earth, how deceitful satan can be and how closely he'll resemble Christ. Even Christ's elect could possibly be fooled if satan were allowed to be on earth for the full seven years. There are many things in this verse to look at and pay attention to.
(1) The first thing we have to acknowledge is that Father allows satan to have rule and dominion on His (Father's) earth and over His People. Why? To test and to try them. To see which ones actually know the Word of YHVH and which are sealed with His truths in their foreheads. Yes, it is Father That will allow satan to run free when he is on earth in his role as anti-christ, just as Father used satan's children (the kenites) to crucify Himself to fulfill His own plan. You see YHVH is in control of all things at all times! Even down to the election of our current president, the usurper in charge, Obama. He is a perfect type for us with eyes to see. Why? Because he (obama) IN his role is just like anti-christ will be, when he gets here - all things to all people. Birth certificate? Barry doesn't need one and when asked, anti-christ can say, we've already been through all that. Just pay attention to all the things Obama does and says and then think hard on them. How many times during his State of the Union speech did he say the words I or me? Satan is the same, he does all things for everybody.
Why would YHVH test his children? Want an example? See the Book of Job. Satan told YHVH to remove the wall around Job and watch what would happen. YHVH had so much confidence in Job that He did just that. The only stipulation YHVH gave satan was that he could not take Job's life. Job had the Truth in YHVH'S Word, satan did his testing for YHVH, YHVH allowed it, and Job came through in flying colors.
(2) What is this time shortening? We'll first we have to acknowledge that Jesus is saying that Father is shortening the time that satan is allowed to have rule over the earth. Where will we find that? Revelation 9:5 but, we'll start in Revelation 9:1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key to the bottomless pit. -> This is satan going to loose the evil spirits that have been here on earth and to set them on the people of the earth, preparing the earth for his arrival. How do they do that? [9:2] And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. -> This pit holds all the evil spirits that Christians tell to "get thee hence in Christ's name" and are in YHVH'S confinement. And as they come up out of this pit they are so numerous that the sun and air appear darkened because of the thick cloud of them. They will be loosed just as the fallen angels will be loosed while satan will be here. [9:3] And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth; and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. -> What power do they have? Let's look at the word "power" as used here in this verse, it is in the Strong's, word number G1849 Exousia (ex-oo-see'-ah) and means: From G1832 (in the sense of ability); privilege, that is, (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence: - authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength. In other words they are given the authority from YHVH to carry out His plan to test those on this earth to see if they will endure as well as Job did. What will they be doing, or stated this way, how will they be testing the people on earth? We'll find this out in verse 5. [9:4] And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. -> Why can't they hurt those with the seal of God in their foreheads? Because they are the ones that know YHVH'S Truth and they know who these are, and what they are up to. If you have been told by a preacher all these long years that Father's earth is going to be destroyed, re-read this verse. YHVH will NOT allow these to destroy any thing physically, but, spiritually they have free reign, and that is what this is about; your mind. This battle is spiritual and we are about to enter into a spiritual war as has never been seen before not even as in the times of Sodom and Gomorrah. Look around you today, heck, even the usurper in charge, Obama, covered all the religious symbols and pictures while he was at Notre Dame and Georgetown University. He covered up Christ (and he claims to be a Christian, yea right,) and he says we should be allowed to kill unborn children and allow the homosexuals to be given rights and have free reign in the USA and in our military, we'll even make "hate crimes" laws for those who teach that YHVH says homosexuality is an abomination. Yeah, we're being made ready for when satan as anti-christ and the fallen angels get here. The reality is, is that you'll have either the Seal of God OR satan's mark in your forehead, one of the two, either\or, no middle ground.
Will satan hurt or try and hurt any of YHVH'S children? Only Father knows but, I can say this: in Revelation 11 we can read about YHVH'S two witnesses, what satan and his angels will do to them and how the whole world will then rejoice over their death. YHVH'S Elect too will rejoice but, for a different reason. Because we know that once they are killed, Jesus will return in three days time. [9:5] And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. -> How long are they allowed to torment? Five months. This is a clue.
We are about to get very graphic because of the way a scorpion devours it's prey, and that is what Jesus is alluding to in this verse, but the prey is your mind.
Let's look at how a scorpion devours its prey. The first thing the scorpion does after it corners it's prey, is to sting the prey with it's tail, thereby injecting the poison into the prey and paralyzing it while the scorpion moves in to eat. The fallen angels likewise will "sting" the people of this earth, meaning, they will render them powerless in order to inject them with their lies and deceptions. What do satan and these fallen angels look like? Just like you and I. YHVH said in Genesis 1:26 And God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness:..." -> Who was He talking with? The Angels -- us. That is why we can read in Genesis 6:1-4 that the sons of God saw the daughters of man, that they thought they were fair to look upon and took wives unto themselves, which then bare children. It is also why, when YHVH brought the Israelites up out of Egypt, when they were hungry, YHVH sent "manna" from heaven for them to eat, likewise also, it is why YHVH and the two angels appear to Abraham, Sarah and Lot as men in Genesis 18-19, Michael and Gabriel too look like men.
A scorpion doesn't have a stomach like you and I have. No, and since the scorpion has an exoskeleton and therefore no stomach, it must eat its prey outside of it's body. How does it do this? By latching onto it's victim with it's pinchers, then pulling its victim toward its mouth. It then vomits up its digestive juices, acid, spewing that acid onto its victim to start the breakdown process. Our stomachs do the breakdown process once the food gets into the stomach. So when the fallen angels are here, they too will be spewing their acid to breakdown our minds to accept their lies. Think this isn't possible? Read the headlines and look how things are today, it's already started with things like "political correctness," moral depravity, and many such others, the process started many years ago. Let's also look at the "church houses" of today... Have you seen the news headlines of Catholic priests in the past few years? How about the denominations that now accept homosexual pastors and perform homosexual unions, what about all the false doctrines with things like "easter." Yes, this breakdown process started many, many years ago. Know where else they like to do this? They love to start this process in the school houses, with the little children. If they can get their minds now, it'll be easier when satan arrives. [9:6] And in those days men shall seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. -> This death is not satan. Men will literally seek to die in order to get away from the ugliness that will be upon the earth during the time of satan and the fallen angels. [9:7] And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. -> What does all this except "their faces" represent or mean? Satan's army is prepared for a fight or battle. This is a real war that will take place, only instead of physical fighting; it will be spiritual and for you mind. Their faces "were as the faces of men" is because they do look like us and we like them. YHVH is being very descriptive on purpose, He wants you to understand what is going to transpire and take place at this time. [9:8] And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. -> Just like satan will come in looking like the lamb of God but have the voice of the dragon, these fallen angels will be fair to look upon in order to appear harmless but, as pointed out in this verse, they will ruthlessly rip their prey (men's {no gender involved} minds) like a ravenous lion rips it's meal apart. [9:9] And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. -> Unlike most Christians today, these fallen angels are fully prepared for this battle, they know what is taking place. Far too many Christians have sat in church listening to preachers (with their denominational breastplate) who, did not prepare them for this battle, because they didn't understand YHVH'S Word enough to know this was coming and this is what YHVH'S Word is all about. [9:10] And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. -> Here is our five month time frame again, what in today's time is this? The time between Passover and The Feast of Tabernacles. They won't be physically hurting men because in verse 4, YHVH said they weren't allow to, but they may spiritually deceive your mind. [9:11] And they had a king over them which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon (G3 Abaddon {Ab-ad-dohn} and means: Of Hebrew origin {H11}; A destroying angel: - Abaddon. H11 Abaddon {Ab-ad-done} and means: Intensively from H6; abstractly a perishing,; concretely Hades: -- Destruction. H6 Abad {Aw-bad'} and means: A primitive root: Properly to wander away, that is lose oneself; by implication to perish (causatively, destroy): --break, destroy (-uction), + not escape, fail, lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend... be void of, have no way to flee.), but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon (G623 Apolluon {Ap-ol-loo'-ohn) and means: Active participle of G622; a destroyer, (that is, satan): -- Apollyon.). Mark 13:21 And then if any man shall say to you, 'Lo here is Christ;' or, 'lo, he is there;' believe him not: -> (colon meaning continued in the next verse) satan will be here before Christ, how will you tell whether it is satan or Christ? That is simple, look around you; do you see babies, children, older adults and the elderly? Then it is satan and not Christ. When Christ returns, and we change into our spiritual bodies, there'll be none of those previously mentioned. Why? Because all will be as young adults, approximately 30-33 years of age. Our example, Christ, Michael and Gabriel. Mark 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. -> There are many false prophets today claiming they are of Christ, the last prophet before Christ was John the Baptist and there haven't been any "new" prophets since and there won't be any new ones. How can I say that? We'll find our answer in the next verse, so just hold on. But, satan will be so convincing that if he were allowed to be here longer he might even fool, deceive and/or seduce, YHVH's Elect into believing he is Christ, I personally doubt that would happen but, you never know.
(3) So who are these Elect that Jesus mentions here and previously in verse 20? If you believe they are the so-called ones that will be "raptured" away, you would be thinking wrongly. Oh, don't get me wrong, they are almost the perfect candidate for this verse, meaning, they (the rapturists) are already seduced into thinking they're flying away. But in reality, YHVH's Elect are those that are mentioned in verses 9-11 of this chapter. They are those that will be delivered up before satan to make that stand against him and allow the Holy Spirit of YHVH to speak through them.
Why are they YHVH's Elect? Not because they're pretty or anything like that but because of what they did, not in this age but, in the age before this one. We can find the evidence of what else happened then in Revelation 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: -> (notice the colon, meaning the saying continues) What is this verse saying? This verse actually takes place many, many years before the time we're in now, it happened in an age prior to this one (I'll explain.) The wonder, "Wonder" in the Greek in the Strong's is word number G4592 Semeion {Say-mi'-on} and means: miracle, sign, token or wonder) means there was a great sign in heaven. What was that sign? The woman is mother Israel. How do we know? Because of the twelve stars upon her crown. It is Israel, the tribe, through which Immanuel -- God with us, Messiah, will come through. When is all this transpiring? In the time in between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2, it's called the first earth age. [12:2] And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. -> Mother Israel (Symbolic of Mary this age) is about to give birth to the Messiah of all. YHVH is showing us that when He initially created us, He established a perfect Kingdom. We had the same political and social orders that we have today, only YHVH was head over all (still much like it is today -- except man allows the flesh to get in the way and think they are in charge.) The only thing He didn't do was MAKE us love Him. That order was a wonderful order until something happened. What was it that happened? satan, the protecting cherub, one of the two protectors of YHVH's mercy seat, decided he no longer wanted to be the protector of YHVH's mercy seat, he now wanted to sit in that seat. In other words, he wanted to be God. This is all documented in Ezekiel 28. [12:3] And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. -> This is satan awaiting the Messiah's birth in order to destroy that Child as soon as it is born. Why? If he prevents this Child from being born, he defeats YHVH and (he thinks) then wins and is God. These seven heads, ten horns and seven crowns are those, as we'll see in the next verse, that he (satan) drew with him when he rebelled against YHVH and wanted to be God. It is those that he set in power over the dominion he tried to establish. The created can never be the creator. [12:4] And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. -> Satan was so convincing in the age that was, that he was able to cause one third of Father's children to follow him back then, which is why it is easy to see that he will be successful in this age as well when he comes. We were all right there with YHVH (walking and talking with Him) and satan deceived some into following him by convincing them that he could defeat YHVH, and then he himself would then be god. One third of Father's children followed him and another third were fence sitters and decided they would stay out of the fight until the winner was decided. It is why even today that we have one third of Father's children doing wickedness, one third that claim to love Him (but not enough to really break out their Bible and study deep enough to uncover the mysteries of YHVH). Oh, they do and believe they do love Him, but they'd rather sit in their church houses and listen to the preacher preach instead of allowing YHVH to speak with His Word and thereby gain the truth in His Word. But of course, the preacher(s) themselves don't know the truth. And then there is the third, YHVH's Elect, that is looking forward to making that stand against satan and those that follow him.
For those of you that don't know, this fight is real. What we hear on TV today, "oh, it's just a test of good or bad, right or wrong." Nope. This war/fight started billions of years ago. What happened then is what is going to happen at the end of this age. This is all a part of YHVH's plan; He is in control of all things. Our test is happening today to see whether that third will do as in the age that was, or whether they will follow YHVH.
Those heads, horns and crowns mentioned in verse Revelation 12:3, are the dominions and powers that satan's children are setting in place today, and have been for quite a few years now, in order to resemble that age that was before. What are these dominions and powers? The United Nations, the G-10, the one world order and such. It is all part of what is called the four hidden dynasties of (1) Economics (commerce, finance, trade, etc.), (2) Politics (look at the climate {and I don't mean weather} that our President, congress and the House of Representatives are putting forth today (2010), (3) Education (look at the what the professors are teaching the college students today which then become teachers themselves and look at what they are teaching our children. According to them, America's history is rife with ugliness and hasn't done anything to help the world; sexual depravity is OK etc.) and (4) Religion (satan loves to work from the pulpit, again look at the homosexual pastors, homosexual unions, celebrating easter instead of Passover, fly away and other doctrines of man, not Christ).
Just as satan, with his cunning, deceptive and enchanting ways drew a third of YHVH's children away from YHVH and caused them to rebel against Father in that first earth age, there was a third that stood with Father against those that rebelled. It is these that are the Elect today in this age; it is these that will make that stand again against satan, his angels, and those that will rebel at the end of this age. Likewise also, it is these that YHVH will use to bring forth that Word from His Holy Spirit through their mouths when they are delivered up to satan' synagogues. It is also only these which can commit the unpardonable sin (blasphemy of the Holy Spirit) which can be read of in Mark 13:11, Luke 12:8-12, and Luke 21:12-15.
We can read about YHVH's Elect many places in His Word, three times each in Matthew 24 and Mark 13, once in Luke 18:7, once in Romans 8:33, in Ephesians 1:4-5, in I Peter 1:2, in Hebrews 4:3, it is these elect that are sealed with the seal of YHVH of Revelation 9:4-6, it is these whose names are already written in the Lambs Book of Life from the foundation of the world (the katabole -- satan's casting down and the destruction of the age that was) of Revelation 13:8 and 17:8, it is these elect that will have the victory over the beast by not taking his mark, and then will be singing the song of Moses in Revelation 15:2-3, likewise also it is these elect that take part in the first resurrection of Revelation 20:4-6 and the second death has no power over them. It is also these elect which continue to bring forth the Truth in His word and do not allow it to be corrupted by satan's children -- the kenites, nor by the traditions of man. Mark 13:23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. -> Did you hear the warning Jesus just gave? "But take ye heed..." I have told you all things, there is nothing left out of Father's Word, it's all there and it's there for you to read. Read it to the depth that you're studying it, study it to the depth that you're meditating on it, meditate on it to the depth that you gain the knowledge and understanding of it. If you refuse to do this, in essence, you are choosing to refuse YHVH and if you choose to refuse Him, then you are rejecting Him and you have none to blame but yourself. I was given probably the greatest compliment in my life not long ago. I was told, after telling a co-worker that I no longer care about watching sports, movies and the like but now enjoy studying my Bible in my spare time, "that I no longer had a life." That co-worker is correct in that I don't have "life" in this age but, I have LIFE, eternal life that is.
Yes, Father in His Word, through His prophets and through Christ, has foretold us all things, ALL THINGS. There are no "messages" in His Word, and there is NO MAN who can say it better than our Father. For a man to think he can is to think he is better than YHVH. Father's Word is a Biblically accurate factual account from beginning (the first earth age) to the end of this age (present), to and through the millennium (Christ's 1,000 year reign here on earth), to satan's being loosed for a short time (to see who is foolish enough to still follow him) after the millennium, to the Great White Throne Judgment (Judgment day, satan and those that do still follow him thrown into the lake of fire) and into the eternity.
This verse also tells us that for those that take the hand of the first husband that comes, whether it be by accident, ignorance or by whatever means, they will not have any excuses for being with the wrong husband. Our Husband doesn't come until after the false husband is here and has deceptively "flown" his bride away on their honeymoon. Mark 13:24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, -> Notice this verse says "...The sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light...". In other words, we have reached the opening of the sixth seal of 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; -> satan has already opened that bottomless pit and loosed those evil spirits which is why the sun appears darkened today, look at the times of today, the church that proclaimed: "the bible isn't the final authority on homosexuality"; or more recently the "faith leaders" that signed documents declaring their "support of same sex marriage" while criticizing opponents who cite the bible while raising objections; or the other one which now rejects John 14:6 "The only way to the Father is through Christ"; then there is a "certain musician" who came out and has stated that "Jesus was a gay man"-- yeah , the sun is getting very dim in these end times, we are so very close. [6:13] 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. -> Listen to what Christ is saying here "those that are shaken by a mighty wind" are those that He is describing in Mark 13, those that are deceived and taken out of season. He is making this so very clear.
Notice also He says "But in those days, after that tribulation..." He is also referring to the time after satan's tribulation, will come the tribulation of Christ. What tribulation is that you might ask? The tribulation of those that thought they were "oh so good" Christians which loved the Lord but ended up taking the mark of the beast. Now comes their shame at realizing that they took that mark of the beast, and now they have to face Jesus. They'll be the ones wailing and gnashing their teeth and praying for the mountains to fall upon them because the shame is so hurtful to themselves, they'll be the ones praying to die. Mark 13:25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. -> You have to think on two levels here, and on two places -- heaven and earth.
So who are the stars that fall from heaven? The fallen angels. Why are they "fallen?" Because they refused to be "born from above." in other words, they told Father that they would not be born through the womb of women. Christ told Nicodemus in John 3:1-5 that we must be born of water and spirit. John also told us in I John 5:6 This is He That came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit That beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. -> So all must be born from above and come through the womb of woman or they're fallen angels. Remember these are part of the third that followed satan when he rebelled against Father, remember also that these held power and had high positions with satan because they followed him. And when they come (not born through the womb) they'll be bringing their positions of power with them in order to prepare flesh man for the arrival of satan when he is kicked out of heaven by Michael and his angels.
That is what this other shaking is in this verse. The shaking of the powers in heaven during that war between Michael and his angels (those that love Father) and satan and his angels (those that love and follow him). Mark 13:26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. -> Again, notice the Son of man, Jesus, returns after satan and his angels are already here on earth. This is plain, simple and to the point, satan is here first as Jesus. If you have listened to false, mistaken, wrongly taught, whatever you want to call those preachers that teach the "rapture" and are prepared for the first Christ that arrives, you're prepared for the wrong Christ and will take the mark of the beast.
The marriage to the wrong husband will bring you to a tribulation of shame like has never been seen. There will be sorrow, weeping and gnashing of teeth, praying of mountains to fall on people and for death because of that shame. Let's listen in to the next verse. Mark 13:27 And then shall he send His angels, and shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. -> Jesus here also in this verse says "and then shall He send His angels to gather His elect..." not before satan's tribulation, but after. Just like during the exodus, Father allowed His children to go through those plagues and then He gathered them out of Egypt.
Let's compare this verse with Revelation 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. -> The four winds represent the culmination of this earth age because they blow from all directions toward one point and YHVH has told these four angels to hold back these four winds until He is ready to bring this age to a close, He is waiting for something to happen. What is that something? [7:2] And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, -> This is the destruction of this age (this present earth age that we are currently living in) and just prior to Christ's millennial reign, but, again, the angels are told to hold back for something.
What is it that this angel ascending from the east has in his hand? The Seal of the Living God. What is he going to do with this seal? [7:3] Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. -> They have to seal YHVH's elect, all of His elect, with YHVH's Seal before YHVH will allow this age to end. As we learned in Revelation 9:4, you'll have either the Seal of YHVH or the mark of the beast in your forehead, either or, no middle ground. What is the Seal of YHVH? The complete knowledge of His plan from the foundation of the world; the Key of David; the parable of the Fig Tree and what happened in the Garden between satan and Eve; the knowledge of what is to take place when YHVH's elect are delivered up before the anti-christ and they allow YHVH's Ruach to speak through them; who those are that claim to be "Jews" but do lie and are of the synagogue of satan.
How does this sealing take place? YHVH calls out His elect and awakens them from the slumber that they are in. He then places a desire in their hearts to know His Word, and they pick up that word and study it until they gain His Knowledge, His Understanding and His Wisdom in His Word. They then become seed planters and they then plant the seeds of truth so that others can pick up those seeds of truth to be able to be sealed as well. Matthew 13 covers this quite well. [7:4] And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand, of all the tribes of the children of Israel. -> This verse says all the tribes of the children of Israel, it doesn't say of "Judah" or "Jews," and the Israel mentioned here isn't a place over against Palestine, it is the "house of Israel" all twelve tribes of Jacob, who YHVH changed his name to Israel, these tribes are his son's descendents.
This 144,000 is a spiritual number because it is one of YHVH's numbers and it denotes spiritual completion or spiritual perfection.
This then, now brings us to Revelation 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. -> We have come to the opening of the sixth seal (a "seal" is information that is placed into your mind so that you know beforehand what is going to happen) Mark 13:28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: -> Jesus gave a command in this verse "Now learn..." He didn't say "when you get around to it," He didn't say, "if you want," He didn't say "you might want to think about..." He said "Now learn..." What did He want us to learn? The Parable of the Fig Tree. What is this parable? Before we get to that, let's first learn a little about agriculture. When a tree is sprouting forth new leaves, it is considered in its tender stage and not yet ready to bring forth fruit. But, since its leaves are sprouting, you know that the weather is changing from spring toward summer at which time it can bring forth its fruit. What does this mean to us? It means that we are drawing close to the end of this age.
Now, let's continue and move to the parable itself. What parable did Jesus say to learn? The Parable of the Fig Tree. Why does He specifically mention "Fig Tree" and not some other tree? There are several reasons for this and they all tie together. We'll start here and move backward in YHVH's Word, meaning, from the New Testament backward into the Old Testament. Mark 11:12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, He was hungry: -> This is our Lord and He had just left Bethany and is on His way with His disciples to Jerusalem. [11:13] And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, He came, if haply He might find any thing thereon: (and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves); for the time of the figs was not yet. -> First I want to ask a question: Who is Jesus? Immanuel - God with us. So Jesus, being God with us - the creator of all things, do you think He wouldn't know when the figs would be on the trees? Of course He would, He is about to teach His disciples and us a lesson in this, as He always was. Watch what He does, He talks to this tree. Matthew 21:19 gives a better description of what He says: Matthew 21:19 And when He saw a fig tree in the way, He came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, "Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever." And presently the fig tree withered away. -> In talking to this tree and telling it that no fruit shall grow on it, He is showing us that there are some of Father's children that also will never produce or bare any fruit for Father. He was also telling His disciples and us to remember a prophesy that Father had given to Jeremiah. Jeremiah 24:1 The LORD showed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon. -> It is these two baskets of figs we are to pay attention to. What are these baskets of figs? They are part of the parable of the fig tree, the parable we must learn. [24:2] One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad. -> Jesus was showing His disciples that there were two manner of figs in Jerusalem during His time, that the two different figs were intermixed, one would bare fruit and one would not. He of course was speaking of the "House of Judah" (basket of good figs) and the kenites (basket of naughty figs) -- those that claim to be Jews but do lie and are of the synagogue of satan. They had gotten so ingrained with the House of Judah that people thought they were of the House of Judah when in fact they were not.
It also marks who is in Israel today because the two baskets of figs have been set out in Jerusalem. Which two baskets of figs you might ask? In 1948 the United Nations established the Nation of Israel, in doing so the two baskets were set. Why? Because it was only the House of Judah -- the tribes of Judah, Benjamin and part of Levi that returned and set up in Israel, not all twelve tribes, ten tribes are still scattered and won't be regrafted in until the prophesy of Ezekiel 37 comes to pass, and that won't be until The LORD'S Day. But when the House of Judah became the Nation of Israel as we know it today, they also brought with them the basket of naughty figs, the kenites. So in 1948 the prophesy of Jeremiah 24 came to pass. The rest of Jeremiah 24 completes this and you should give it a read, but for the sake of this study, I'll continue on.
Jesus was also pointing out the fig because of its significance in the beginning of Father's Word, in Genesis 3. Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. -> We're picking this up in the middle of a conversation between satan (called the serpent) and Eve, and an action that had just taken place. Sadly most churches today teach that the action that had taken place was an eating of an apple by both Eve and then Adam, of course this is what satan wants people to think, he doesn't want people to know the truth of what really transpired, it's all part of his deceptive nature. What really took place was that the tree of knowledge of good and evil (satan - also called the serpent in these verses because of his cunning, enchanting ways seduced Eve into laying with him in order to interrupt the seedline through which Jesus would come). If you don't have a Strong's Concordance to be able to take the words back to the original Hebrew language, you'll never be able to understand what really transpired. I was once paid a wonderful compliment by way of a question by a church going Christian. She asked me (in a very haughty manner) "so you translate the Bible for yourself then?" My reply was "yes, I do." It should have been "Yes, I do, you mean you don't and allow somebody to translate it for you!?" You see, reader, you need to be able to translate it for yourself, don't listen to any man, not even myself, get the tools and translate it for yourself so that you'll never be deceived.
The churches today teach that a snake walked upright and held an intelligent conversation (who by the way, doesn't have any vocal cords) with Eve (like it's an everyday occurrence) and then she and Adam ate apples. First off, what did they sew together? Fig leaves. So where were they then? In a fig orchard, and there are no apples in a fig orchard. Where did they put their sewn fig leaves? On their mouths? No, they made aprons and put them on the parts of their bodies that sinned, their privates. If it was their mouth that "sinned by eating an apple" why did they put their fig leaves on their privates? (and don't give me this "well it wasn't really that they ate an apple, it was the fact that they disobeyed YHVH and did what He told them not to do). If we skip down a few verses, YHVH joins in and He speaks to all three starting with Adam, asking him why he was hiding from YHVH.
We read in verse Genesis 3:11 And He said, "Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?" -> Do you, reader, really need the writer of this Book (YHVH and Moses) to explain in the simplest detail "Did you really have intercourse with satan when I told you not to?" We'll see that Father was talking about intercourse because of what He says first to satan and then to Eve in verses 14-16.
YHVH, speaking to satan in Genesis 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, "Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: -> Does a snake eat dust today? Nope, it eats rodents and such. So in other words, according to this verse then, snakes defy God to this day!? In reality, immediately and without any parley at all, YHVH pronounces His sentence upon satan, and it is not a light sentence either, it's a very heavy sentence. YHVH is tells satan that he is and will always be in a state of degradation and utmost humility in YHVH's Kingdom. Now think about this for a minute, according to the church houses, YHVH pronounces a heavy sentence on satan for "tempting Eve with an apple," but yet, approximately 1,700 years later, when satan asks YHVH to remove the wall around Job after YHVH says to satan in Job 1:8 And the LORD God said unto Satan, "Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?" -> So when YHVH removes the wall so that satan can have his way with Job. Did YHVH say "you can't do anything," or did He get angry and pronounce another heavy sentence? No, YHVH allowed satan to tempt and more so to Job. But yet there was no heavy sentence. What about when satan temped Christ in the New Testament. Did YHVH get angry and pronounce a heavy sentence? No. But yet, people think because satan tempted Eve with an "apple" YHVH then pronounces the harshest punishment that He did on satan.
Sharpen up for me.
[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. -> YHVH, Father, just said this plainly enough. Remember my question from the verse above...Does the writer really need to have this explained in the simplest detail...? Well here it is "...thy seed (posterity) and her seed (posterity) and no, He is not speaking about baby snakes and little children, nor is He saying that man will always be afraid of snakes. He, YHVH, Father, is telling the satan that there will be enmity (hatred and hostility) between his (satan's) children and Adam's (eth-ha-Adam's {The Man Adam} -- the seedline through which Immanuel -God with us) children. The parable of The Sower in Matthew 13 brings this out quite nicely. Matthew 13:24 Another parable He put forth unto them, saying, "The Kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which soweth good seed in his field: [13:25] But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. -> Another Matthew 13:37 He answered and said unto them, "He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; [13:38] The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the Kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; [13:39] The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. -> No, you can't get much plainer than that, but yet most churches and adults still missed it.
Of course this verse was also the first prophesy of Christ's coming and what shall happen at the end of this age. Continue listening as we continue reading into the next verse in Genesis 3. [3:16] Unto the woman He said, "I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and they desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." -> If they ate an apple, why would YHVH here in this verse start talking about conception and bringing forth children? Why also in this verse, if they ate an apple, would He talk about her (Eve's) desire shall now be to her husband (Adam)? Why also if YHVH told man in Genesis 1:28 to "Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish (this word "replenish" here in this verse is another study for another day) the earth..." would he here in this verse now punish woman during her delivery time and have her bring forth children in sorrow.
Yes, here in Genesis 2 and 3 YHVH talks about trees and says to not partake of the "fruit." Now let me ask you: what is the fruit of the labors of sexual intercourse? Children. Jesus Himself tells us that this was the fruit of that sexual union in John 8:43 Why do ye not understand My speech? even because ye cannot hear My word. [8:44] Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. -> Do you believe Christ or not?
Let's return to Mark 11:14.
Mark 11:14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, "No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever." And His disciples heard it. -> Was Jesus ashamed to speak to this tree? No, for there is no shame for the creator to speak to His creation. Was He ashamed that His disciples heard Him? No, but can you imagine the looks on their faces? This again in a sense is a parable in and of itself because by Jesus speaking to this tree He is speaking to a part of His creation that will never bare fruit just like He spoke many, many times to another part of His creation that would never bare fruit for Father, the kenites (the chief priest, the pharisees, the sadducees and the scribes).
Let's return now to Mark 13:29.
Mark 13:29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. -> What is nigh and even at the door? Following the verses, it would be summer, but for us, in reality Jesus is talking about the end of the age and the birth of the new age, His 1,000 year millennial reign -- The LORD'S Day. We are very close to the end, we are in that generation -- the generation of the fig tree and it already has 62 years on it. Remember, in Father's Word there are three times for a generation -- 40 years, 70 years and 120 years.
Let's return now to I Thessalonians 4 to finish the chapter.
I Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive, and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. -> Again, we need to break this verse down slowly. Paul tells us that when Jesus returns, those of us that have not died and are still alive will, as he describes in
I Corinthians 15:51-58, be instantly changed into our incorruptible (spiritual) bodies. "Clouds" as he uses here in this verse means a large crowd of people, not cloud in the air, and yes I realize he also uses the word "air" in this verse but he is talking about our breath of life body -- "pneuma" as in pneumatic tires.
Let's take the word "air" for a moment, in the Greek in the Strong's Concordance it is Greek word number G109 aer, pronounced ah-ayr' and means: From aemi (to breath unconsciously, i.e. respire, by analogy, to blow); "air" (as naturally circumambient): - air. In other words, it means to breathe or - again, our breath of life body. Let's compare this with Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. -> The word "breath" in this verse in the Hebrew in the Strong's Concordance is Hebrew word number H5397 nshamah, pronounced nesh-aw-maw' and means: From H5395; a puff, thatis, wind, angry or vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect or (concretely) an animal: - blast (that) breath (-eth), inspiration, soul, spirit..
I Thessalonians 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. -> And with Father's Word, we should be comforted, for there is nothing to fear because as Christ stated in Mark 13:23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.