Category Archives: End of this universe

Strategic Powers of Our Age: Part II, Mystery Babylon the Great

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Not always the most obvious, but of central importance.

Many think that Mystery Babylon the Great is civil government, or the Roman Empire. However, as was pointed out in the post “Rome, A Prophecy Failure or Symbolic,” much of what is written in Revelation emphatically did NOT fit Rome all along. Revealing the Christian Age offers solid evidence that Mystery Babylon is NOT Rome. Rome and the caesars are at best a type, symbolic of what is to come.

Mystery Babylon is treated as if she is a secret entity.

Revealing the Christian Age discusses the many things in Revelation which do not fit ancient Rome.

That fits calling her “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT,” Rev 17:5 WEB. That implies she is a mystery religion, as discussed in the post on “The Mystery Religions: An Overview.”

Now you can view Rome in public. You can travel there, stay there, live there. But to see Mystery Babylon John is carried “away in the Spirit into a wilderness.” Rev 17:3 WEB. A remote place. She is a hidden entity. She is “the great prostitute,” Rev 17:1 WEB. But Rome had no need to prostitute herself. Rome could beat to pieces any who resisted her.

Mystery Babylon is spoken of as if she
dominates world trade

In fact, most of the imagery about Babylon and her fall, seems to come from the prophecies of the fall of ancient Tyre and Sidon, like Isaiah 23, and Ezek 26, 27 and 28 (they are symbolic of her). These were principal Phoenician trade cities, which dominated trade in the Mediterranean world for several centuries. They were not all of Mediterranean trade, but they did facilitate it, and dominate it.

“ “… the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from the abundance of her luxury.” ” Rev 18:3 WEB

Mystery Babylon is a promoter of sexual immorality,
and perversion of every sort.

In Revelation 17 she is drinking from a golden cup filled with the filth of fornication, Rev 17:4. She is “THE MOTHER … OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” Rev 17:5 KJV.

“ “with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality, and those who dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her sexual immorality.” ”
Rev 17:2 WEB

Mystery Babylon is the arranger of death and destruction.

She is not government. Rather she reigns/rules OVER the kings of the earth, Rev 17:18. She is the original Deep State. Mystery Babylon is implicitly the fomenter, the arranger, of wars.

“ “In her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of ALL who have been slain on the earth.” ” Rev 18:24 WEB

Mystery Babylon is COMPLETELY destroyed
very near the end of our age.

The man of lawlessness comes very near the end of time, and he with ten kings, destroys Mystery Babylon completely, all the way to the ground, within HISTORY, Revelation chapters 17 and 18.

Christians are commanded to come out of Mystery Babylon, Rev 18:4.

That of course implies that you can understand the prophecy, and come out of her.

KJV is the King James Version, 1611

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Zechariah: A Key Prophetic Book

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Poor, poor, neglected Zechariah. Zechariah is one of the smaller books in our Bible. Also Zechariah is one of the most difficult books of our Bible. Perhaps it is more difficult than the book of Revelation. Even many scholars just avoid the book. On the other hand, I would not say there is any book of the Bible of which I can say, I understand ALL of it. Still Zechariah deals with some central themes.

Zechariah deals with the first coming of the Christ.

It even quotes particulars such as His violent death.

“Awake, sword, against my shepherd,
And against the man who is close to me,” says Yahweh of Hosts.
Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; And I will turn my hand against the little ones.”
Zech 13:7 WEB

There is more about Jesus in Zechariah, but this verse is quoted as such in Mtt 26:31

Zechariah and Revelation often use similar imagery.

There are horns, there four chariots that sort of remind one of some of the images of heaven in Revelation. There are angels ministering to men, and more.

Zechariah deals with the Jews coming to Jesus.

It deals with this explicitly in Zechariah chapters 12 and 13. It seemingly speaks of all of Israel turning to Yahweh and His Christ, and it is discussed in connect with some heavy attacks on both “Judah” and “Jerusalem.” Such a national conversion has not happened to the Jews overall … so far!

Zechariah deals with TWO massive assaults on “Jerusalem,”.

“… and all the nations of the earth will be gathered together against it.” Zech 12:3 WEB

But is this talking about earthly Jerusalem as in Gal 4:24? Or is it talking about the church, Jerusalem above of the “kingdom of heaven,” as in many passages, including:

“But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.” Gal 4:26 WEB

Earthly Jerusalem has NEVER been assaulted this way, nor has the church, EVER, by “ALL the nations of the earth.” Either way, as described, these assaults have NEVER happened in any way. So we are either talking about a false prophecy … or one that is yet to happen.

Zechariah deals with a special “worthless shepherd.”

He is called an “idol shepherd” Zech 11:17 KJV. In a wandering discussion over several chapters Zechariah compares him with the true shepherd (Jesus the Christ). Both are killed by “the sword” according to Zechariah. Both have a recovery from death of one sort or another, according to Zechariah. Could this be speaking of the beast of Rev 13:3, who is “wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed,” KJV, and who is worshiped by the entire world?

There is more to tell, but this is a sampler.

Really, I do not think you can unravel the prophecies of the Christian Age, of Revelation, or of the end of the age, without Zechariah. Really we should not even be trying to do that.

KJV is the King James Versiom, 1611

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Psalms: A Key Prophetic Book

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When we think of the book of Psalms, most people think of it as a book of songs for the ancient assembly of Israel, which indeed it is. Also many think of it as an in depth devotional book, to help us think about God, and to learn to draw nearer to Him. It is indeed also that. Psalms is one the loftiest and most inspiring of the books of the Bible. Almost no complete view of God can be made without dealing with the Psalms. And when you are having those major trials and difficulties which come upon men, Psalms is an extraordinary source of comfort and help. Psalms helps us to keep in mind that God is still in control and that He will hear the pleas of His saints, and answer their calls for help.

Most do not think of Psalms as a prophetic book at all. I didn’t. Then came a time when I need some shorter lessons for a once a month evening assembly that was to be followed by other activities. I decided to do lessons on the psalms. Over a period of nearly nine years I covered about 100 of the 150 psalms, taking each in turn, analyzing their message, declaring these things in sermons. It was only after covering over half of the psalms that I slowly began to realize, Hey, this is an important prophetic book! I admit to being a slow learner at times, and duller than I should be, but that was a shock to me.

It actually begins in Psalm 1 with talk of the wicked not being able to survive the judgement, Psa 1:5.

It continues with speaking of Jesus ruling the kings and judges of the earth during the Christian Age, in Psalm 2. This is clearly before the end of this age when it says,

“Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power.” 1Cor 15:24 WEB

In fact, I call Psalm 2 the “New Testament Psalm.”

Psalms continually speaks of eternal things of hope and prosperity in a better world. The psalmist David says,

“For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” Psa 84:10 KJV

It continually speaks of end things.

He makes wars cease to the end of the earth.
He breaks the bow, and shatters the spear.
He burns the chariots in the fire.
Psa 46:9 WEB

Further Psalms is a primary source on the great uproar which will occur among nations, leading up to the end of our age.

“Why do the nations rage,
And the peoples plot a vain thing?”
Psa 2:1 WEB

In fact I do not think that any comprehensive view of the end things can be formed without the Psalms.

No wonder that the second most quoted book in the New Testament is that of Psalms.

KJV is the King James Version, 1611.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Yes, There a Great Tribulation.

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In fact there are multiple times of severe persecution and stress during the Christian Age.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”
2Tim 3:1 KJV.

The word “tribulation” means to be suffering, or under severe pressure. The Greek word is “thlip´-sis,” and it is a word used for being under pressure, much as we speak today. Some translations use the words “affliction” or “oppression.” Paul even says of all Christians,

“…that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”
Acts 14:22 KJV

So some stress is involved in being a true Christian. Further Jesus says,

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” Mtt 24:21 KJV

Jesus associates this period of stress with the end of this present universe. 

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:”
Mtt 24:29 KJV.

Jesus says “then” He will come.

“30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his electfrom the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
Mtt 24:30-31 KJV

Yes there are two grand subjects in Matthew chapter 24: the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, and the Second Coming of Christ. The “problem” (I speak as a man) is how to separate the two subjects. But notice that Mtt 24:30-31 is clearly about a time when “ all the tribes of the earth mourn, and … see” Jesus. And it is the time when Jesus shall gather his “elect” (the saved) “from one end of heaven to the other.” This also is something which clearly has not happened.

Also Rev 7:14 speaks of the “great tribulation.” The Greek here is very emphatic. If you translated it word for word it would be, “the great, the tribulation.”

Some want to maintain that the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD was the “great tribulation” of Mtt 24:21 which was worse than anything that will ever happen. But that of course makes nonsense of the Second Coming of Christ as clearly described in Mtt 24:30-31 which talks about “Immediately after the tribulation of those days.” As bad as 70 AD was, multiple events in history were worse than the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Prophecy Principles discusses this in more detail.

At best, the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD is a “type,” symbolic, a prototype, of the end of the world. The end of the world will in some respects “like” the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. A “great” tribulation will precede the Second Coming of Christ.

This Great Tribulation is not some invention of men. This is Scripture.

KJV is the King James Version of 1611

Some Events Toward the End

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By and large Scripture does not tell us when things will happen. It tells us this or that will happen, assures us that such and such will come to pass, and then leaves us to watch for these things.

At times however there are clues. For instance with the man of lawlessness in 2 Thessalonians 2. The Thessalonians are shook up as if the day of Christ had already come, 2Thes 2:1-2. Then Paul reminds them what has to happen before Christ comes again. A special man of sin, man of lawlessness, has to come first.

“he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God.”
2Thes 2:4 WEB

This man of lawlessness is one,

“… whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,” 
2Thes 2:9 WEB

He deceives the whole world, all who “had pleasure in unrighteousness,” 2Thes 2:12. But then comes the purpose of Paul reminding them of these things. This man deceives the whole world just before the end of time, and it is this man,

“… whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nothing by the brightness of his coming;” 2Thes 2:8 WEB

Thus, this man, whom all in sin will worship, comes just before the end of time. 

Evidently he the same as the “beast” of Revelation chapters 13 to 10. Of the “beast” also it says,

“All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed.” 
Rev 13:8 WEB

Also this beast is destroyed by the Second Coming of Christ right at end of time. For it says,

“The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet … These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.”
Rev 19:20 WEB

This is no ordinary opponent of Christ during the beginning of the Christian Age, or the middle of the Christian Age, or even at any time before the very end of this universe. He is not an invention of the premillenialist, or some false prophet. This is Scripture.

He is produced by a “mystery of lawlessness” that is already at work in the first century,

“For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way.”
2Thes 2:7WEB 

And be warned, this agent of Satan will be able to do something the Roman Empire was never able to do.

“It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him.” 
Rev 13:7 WEB

He is allowed to do these things, “It was given to him…” In fact, God will help him do these things, 2Thes 2:11-12. But it will not happen until right at the end. Thus saith the Lord!

Is this close to happening now? I do not know. However, clearly we should watch. 

There are many more details on these times in both Prophecy Principles and in Revealing the Christian Age.

Also if you look at history there have been many attempts down through history to install such a man. Some of these attempts are reviewed in Prophecy Principles, in the section on “Lab Work.” All of these attempts so far have been either outright failures, or at best only limited successes. Paul in fact seems to speak in 2 Thessalonians 2 as if such a man was already in existence in the first century AD, but “… there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way.” 2Thes 2:7b WEB. 

So this is a Christian Age long threat, that is lurking and working until it can succeed! Thus the warnings are pertinent to the entire Christian age, for we do not know when these things will succeed. “For the mystery of lawlessness already works. …” 2Thes 2:7a WEB.

Thus comes the applicability of the book of Revelation to the entire Christian age.

So as Jesus says, “What I tell you, I tell all: Watch.” Mk 13:37 WEB.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

A Special “Mark” Never Happened, Revelation 13

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“It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him. ” 
Rev 13:7 WEB.

Many apply this to the Roman Empire, but Rome never ruled the entire world. Rome did not even rule all of the ancient world. Yes Rome was big. Yes it covered more nations and territories than any near eastern or western empire had to date. However, at it’s height the Roman Empire was becoming unwieldy, and the Romans debated whether they should take over anymore territory. They clearly knew, for instance, of Persia and India, which Alexander the Great had conquered, and which Rome never did. So did Rome have “Authority over EVERY tribe, people, language, and nation”? NO! So taken literally, of Rome, this part does not fit.

Later in fact, the unwieldiness of that ancient Empire caused it to be split into Eastern and Western parts, for more efficient administration.

However, bits and pieces of Revelation chapters 13 through 19 did seem to fit Rome. There were terrible battles to force everyone to worship the Roman Emperors. This was to create a sort of international unity based on the worship of the Roman Emperors as “gods.” Many looked for the other parts of Revelation 13 to 19 to be fulfilled in Rome at any time. For instance the requirement of a certain “mark.” 

“6 He causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slave, to be given marks on their right hands, or on their foreheads; 17 and that no one would be able to buy or to sell,unless he has that mark, the name of the beast or the number of his name. ” Rev 13:16-17 WEB

But it never happened!

For the average citizen, worshipping Caesar meant showing up before the magistrates, grabbing a pinch of incense (which the magistrates would supply), throwing it on the altar fire, and declaring, “Caesar is Lord.”

Then the magistrates would issue to the worshipper a certificate such as you see to the right, which declared that the holder had worshipped Caesar as a “god.” And the certificate was NOT needed for buying and selling! A special “mark” that “ALL” HAD to have for buying and selling NEVER HAPPENED!

And instead of Rome overcoming the saints (as in Rev 13:7 above), “the saints” (the church) overcame the Roman Empire, very much as prophesied in Daniel 2. The ancient Empire even came to be Christian to some extent, and even the Emperors denied their divinity and publicly worshipped Jesus Christ!

SO! Either Revelation is a false prophecy, that failed in the first few centuries after Christ (as many liberals believe), OR it is yet to happen. Rome and the Caesars are at best types or symbols of these final world empires and their rulers.

There is a great deal of just plain NONSENSE sold to us about the book of Revelation, and we often fail to think it through.

WEB is the World English Bible, is a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Not Everyone is in the Dark,

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Part III

But it is sin that causes you to be in the dark. It is sin that causes you to be caught by surprise.

Sin blinds. It leaves you in the dark.

“You shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds those who have sight and perverts the words of the righteous.”
Ex 23:8 WEB

“Yahweh will strike you with madness, and with blindness, and with astonishment of heart;”
Deut 28:28 WEB

“9 Stay you and wonder; take your pleasure and be blind: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. 10 For Yahweh has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes, the prophets; and your heads, the seers, has he covered.”
Isa 29:9-10 WEB

“Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away understanding.”
Hos 4:11 WEB

“9   … 
‘You hear indeed,
But don’t understand; 
And you see indeed, 
But don’t perceive.’ 
10 Make the heart of this people fat; 
Make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; 
Lest they see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears, 
And understand with their heart,
And turn again, and be healed.””
Isa 6:9 WEB

Those in the dark will be caught by surprise.

The church in Sardis in what is today Western Turkey, has a reputation of being alive, but is spiritually dead. Jesus warns them,

“Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If therefore you won’t watch, I will come as a thief, and you won’t know what hour I will come upon you.”
Rev 3:3 WEB

There are things to watch for!

“even so you also, when you seethese things coming to pass, knowthat it is near, at the doors.”
Mk 13:28-29 WEB

Not the day and the hour, but it is near. And Jesus is referring to what He has just said.

“23 But you watch.  “Behold, I have told you all things beforehand. 24 But in those days, after that oppression, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, 25 the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.” ”
Mk 13:23-26 WEB

And here Jesus is telling these things and going over things that have to happen first. Yes Jesus comes like a thief … to those in the dark.

“… He who walks in the darkness doesn’t know where he is going.”
Jn 12:35 WEB

“For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night.”
1Thes 5:2 WEB

But not everyone is in the dark.

But you, brothers, aren’t in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief.”
1Thes 5:3 WEB

WEB is the World English Bible, is a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Not Everyone is in the Dark,

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Part II

The second example that Jesus gives of the Second Coming and the end of this present universe, is what happened to Lot.

“28 Likewise, even as it happened in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from the sky, and destroyed them all.” Lk 17:28-29 WEB

Jesus is saying that the end of the world will be as it was when Sodom and Gomorrah fell when an inter-planatary downpour of fire and sulfur consumed them. Did they know? No! They were busy. Society was extremely degenerate there. But despite that they were busy with drinking, buying, selling, planting, building. Busy until they were completely consumed with fire from heaven. They were in dark about what was, to coin a phrase, coming down.

But “righteous Lot” (2Pe 2:7-8) the nephew Abraham, was not in the dark. He knew. With a sewer all around him, he was trying to live right. He knew.

“12  The men said to Lot, “Do you have anybody else here? … 13 for we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is grown great before Yahweh. Yahweh has sent us to destroy it.” 14   Lot went out,and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters, and said, “Get up! Get out of this place, for Yahweh will destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be joking.” Gen 19:12-14 WEB

Lot knew. And he was given special consideration.

“15 When the morning arose, then the angels hurried Lot, saying, “Arise, take your wife, and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the iniquity of the city.” 16 But he lingered; and the men laid hold on his hand, and on the hand of his wife, and on the hand of his two daughters, Yahweh being merciful to him; and they took him out, and set him outside of the city.” Gen 19:15-16 WEB

Sodom and Gomorrah did not know.But Lot knew.Maybe not the day or the hour, but he knew. And Jesus says,

“It will be the same way in the day that the Son of Man is revealed.” Lk 17:30 WEB

Some have the Light. Listen carefully to the words of the apostle Paul.

“3For when they are saying, “Peace and safety,” then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a pregnant woman; and they will in no way escape. 4 But you, brothers, aren’t in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief.5 You are all children of light, and children of the day. We don’t belong to the night, nor to darkness, 6 so then let’s not sleep, as the rest do, but let’s watch and be sober.” 2Thes 5:3-9 WEB

Oh! You don’t believe that? How interesting!

WEB is the World English Bible, is a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Not Everyone is in the Dark, Part I

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Now you may think that everyone is in the dark, and will be in the dark. After all, it does say that, 

“Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Mtt 25:13 KJV

So you might surmise at the start, that everyone is in the dark about the Second Coming of Christ, but that is just not so. Oh??? Who says. Well Jesus for one in Luke chapter 17. Now Jesus does say that He will come like lightning.

“for as the lightning, when it flashes out of the one part under the sky, shines to the other part under the sky; so will the Son of Man be in his day.” Lk 17:24 WEB

That also might seem to say at first glance that His coming will be a complete surprise, that all will be in the dark as to His coming. It is clear we will not know the day or the hour, but He also gives two clear examples of what it will be like at the last day. The first example of what it will be like at the last day is Noah.

“26 As it happened in the days of Noah, even so will it be also in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.”
Lk 17:26-27 WEB

The world was caught by surprise. But Noah knew.

“Gen. 6:13   God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before me, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. ”
Gen 6:13 WEB 

Then God told Noah to build a ship, an ark, for the saving of his family and some of all creatures on the earth.

Noah and his sons act on those things they are told.

“5   Noah did everything that Yahweh commanded him. 6   Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came on the earth. 7 Noah went into the ark with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, because of the waters of the flood. ”
Gen 7:5-7 WEB

“10 It happened after the seven days, that the waters of the flood came on the earth. 11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day all the fountains of the great deep were burst open, and the sky’s windows were opened. 12 The rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights. ”
Gen 7:10-12 WEB

The world was in the dark, the darkness of sin. But not Noah. Noah was not in the dark. Noah knew. Noah knew the flood was near. Maybe not the day or the hour, but Noah knew.

KJV is the King James Version of 1611

WEB is the World English Bible, is a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901