Category Archives: Keys To Prophecy

Keys to Prophecy: There is More Than One Wide Spread Tribulation.

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It is sometimes missed but there are actually several periods of extreme trouble in the Christian Age. This is the way Paul describes the issues.

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

It is not just a single perilous or difficult or harsh time, but perilous timeS, plural.

Russia, China, and Eastern Europe had an anti-Christian
blood baths in the 20th century,
France in late 18th century.

There have been multiple attempts to bull-doze away Christianity and prepare the way for the worship of Satan and his special seed. Rome and the caesars were so used, until Christianity outright conquered Rome, as in Dan 2:44, and other passages. Islam was used in this way. The French Revolution was another attempt, and was intended to spread from nation to nation, but didn’t have the impact desired. The Communists also attempted world revolution, and did conquer one-third of the world before imploding. Communism still shows some lingering signs of life even in the United States in the early 21st century, and many of the old Communist organizations now seem to want to carry a banner of environmental emergencies to drive the destruction of any who might oppose them.

It seems from Scripture that two special times of tribulation/stress will come.

One is the times of stress in when the Jews turn
to Rabbi Jesus of Nazareth in faith.

And yes, Jesus is called “Rabbi” some thirteen times in the gospels, but it is sometimes translated as “Master” of “Teacher.”

It is clearly prophesied in the Old Testament that this will happen, and is verified in the New Testament, but many gloss over the texts. Moses, after denouncing the stubbornness and sins of Israel, is the first to announce it.

Coming in September, 2020, Jewish Chronicles will be an overview of Jewish history and Scripture as it pertains to these things.

“When you are in distress, and all these things are come on you, in the latter days you shall return to Yahweh your God, and listen to his voice:”
Deut 4:30 nf

This will be an extreme period stress for many nations. It appears to begin with a world-wide persecution of Christians. It is dealt with in detail in Ezekiel 37 and 38, and Zechariah, and also in my forthcoming book, Jewish Chronicles. It will be so severe that is seems it will become yet another “type,” symbolic of the end of this present universe.

The greatest tribulation will be right at the end.

It is literally called “the great, the tribulation” in Greek.

… “These are those who came out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes, and made them white in the Lamb’s blood.”
Rev 7:14 WEB

This time Christianity will be “overcome”/conquered.

“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

The Greek word is nikao, to conquer, to overcome, to have the victory.

Never yet has any one government had authority over every nation. Never yet has Christianity been “overcome” world-wide. But it will happen, for a short while … just before Jesus intervenes.

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

nf is my own translation based on the WEB.

Keys to Prophecy: Revelation Applies to the ENTIRE Christian Age.

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The principal powers at work during the Christian Age are the same throughout. They are:

Jesus of Nazareth, the One and Only
Son of God

He is ignored by most, but He is indeed Lord of Lords and King of kings, Rev 19:16. He is THE major power of the Christian Age. He is a conquerer!

“And behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow. A crown was given to him, and he came forth conquering, and to conquer.”
Rev 6:2 WEB

Jesus has complete authority.

… “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.”
Mtt 28.28 WEB

All authority where? “In heaven and on earth.” As God has operated in the past, so now Jesus rules the nations, and has,

“26 … appointed seasons, and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.”
Acts 17:26-27 WEB

He must reign (presently and continuously) until ALL His enemies are destroyed, 1Cor 15:24-25.

Mystery Babylon the Great

This is a religio-commercial entity. It evidently dominates world trade for the entire Christian Age. It does not control all of it, but it is evidently a central facilitator of world trade. It is pictured in Rev 18:11-13 as selling a little bit of everything, and so rich that “she” drinks out of gold cups, and is extravagantly clothed with gold and jewels in Rev 17:3-4. It says that,

“The kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived wantonly with her, will weep and wail over her, when they look at the smoke of her burning,”
Rev 18:9 WEB

She is the arranger of wars and conflicts on earth. Why? To make money out of those conflicts. It says,

“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

What a staggeringly comprehensive statement!

And she rides the Satanic dragon that has seven heads and ten horns, Rev 17:3! She rides the Mystery of Lawlessness, the seldom noticed “beast” organization of Rev 13:1-2, of which there are seven “heads,” directors.

The Mystery of Lawlessness

The mystery of lawlessness is a much smaller organization than Mystery Babylon the Great, and is opposed to Mystery Babylon, but also allows itself to be used for her purposes. It is a very highly leveraged satanic organization, a dragon (compare Revelation 12), and is already in operation in the first century, 2Thes 2:7. It is guided by a directory of seven men/kings, and it directs ten centers of power. It hates the harlot, and before the end will destroy her at God’s instigation, Rev 17:16-17.

None of the these powers are absolute, except Jesus the Christ. The others plot and plan and coerce as best they can, and have whatever triumphs God allows. In history they have both many victories and many dismal defeats. In worldly terms they are intimidating, but they are doomed from the start.

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

Keys to Prophecy: The Mystery of Lawlessness is an age long entity.

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It was already in existence in the first century
of our present age.

It is evidently literally a mystery in the ancient Greek sense. That is to say that it is secret or semi-secret religion whose teaching are kept secret from the public. Sometimes such religions had a public presence, but at other times were completely secret, even in their very existence. There have been many such religions since ancient times, and to quote the dictionaries, they tended to be “relig. and political in nature,” A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, Arndt and Gringrich, The University of Chicago Press, 1957, pg 531-532.

The Mystery of Lawlessness is evidently the same thing
as the beast organization in Rev 13:1-3.

Then one of the heads of the beast-organization, becomes “the beast” (Rev 13:3) / “the man of lawlessness (2Thes 2:8). This man of lawlessness, this beast, is worshipped by the entire world, Rev 13:4 and 2Thes 2:4, 9-12.

This is evidently a Satanic mystery religion, and Scripture clearly indicates that it both cooperates with Mystery Babylon the Great at times, and also competes with and opposes Mystery Babylon the Great at times. Paul says in the first century of our age that,

“For the mystery of lawlessness already works. …”
2Thes 2:7a WEB

It was already in existence and has worked for over 2,000 years.

The purpose of the Mystery of Lawlessness is:

“3 … the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 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 2:3b-4 WEB

This is basically the same as is described in Revelation 13. There it says,

“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

This is for a relatively short, but terrible times, just before the end of this universe.

The man of lawlessness WAS ready to be revealed
in the first century of our age.

And Paul said to the Thessalonians,

“Now you know what is restraining him, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season.”
2Thes 2:6 WEB

The Thessalonians knew what was restraining him, but we do not, but he has been being restrained for over 2,000 years, and one day he will be revealed, and there have been continual attempts seat such a man, Christian-Age-long. See the section on “Lab Work,” in Prophecy Principles.

And he will be destroyed by the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (2Thes 2:8, Rev 19:20).

Thus the case for the Mystery of Lawlessness is the most straight forward of all.

So these are powers which Christians of every age
have had to contend..

The same is true for that other great age-long enemy of Christianity, Mystery Babylon the Great. It is evidently in existence in the first century of our present age, and so will until near the very end of this present universe, and is destroyed by the beast and ten kings, Rev 17:18.

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

Keys to Prophecy: Mystery Babylon is a age long entity.

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It seems very clear that Mystery Babylon the Great
is in existence in the first century AD.

Revelation discuses threats to the Christianity that are immediate and powerful. It is “revealing” “things which must happen soon,” Rev 1:1. The first half of the book seems to describe world history from the outside, what it looks like to average man as he sees conflicts and judgements on the earth. Then in the second half of Revelation it emphasizes the behind the scenes players, including Mystery Babylon. It seems to imply she was already in existence in the first century AD.

One key is that it is a “mystery,” which was
a technical term for a type religion.

A “mystery” in the first century sense was a secret or semi-secret religion whose teachings were kept secret. They were very active politically, and often ran afoul of the governing authorities. There are many good studies of these religions, including Samuel Angus pro-mystery religion study called The Mystery Religions and Christianity. They are discussed in some detail in “Some Age Long Mysteries,” in Prophecy Principles.

It is NOT government, but instead it rules
OVER many governments, Rev 17:18.

It is centered in a city. Many think Mystery Babylon is the Roman Empire, but the caesars and the Roman Empire only fit Revelation to a point. They are merely types. My second book Revealing the Christian Age offers solid evidences that something beyond the caesars and the Roman Empire was intended from the first.

Many, especially modern commentators, think that Anient Rome was Mystery Babylon the Great. However, Rome and the caesars only fit Revelation to a point. Rome is there, but only as a type, symbolic of the ultimate poawers. For more details, and solid evidences, consult Revealing the Christian Age.

Mystery Babylon is a powerful commercial entity.

The comparison in the first part of Revelation 18 seems to be to the commercial cities of Tyre and Sidon, and it uses language similar that describing these cities in the Old Testament. Roman itself was primarily a political entity, NOT a commercial entity, although often influencing commerce. Compare Rev 18:10-13.

Mystery Babylon was something you could
“come out of.”

A religion, or a commercial entity you can come out of. But how would someone in the Mediterranean world of the first century come out of the Roman Empire? It is given as a command which can be understood and obeyed.

“I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, that you have no participation in her sins, and that you don’t receive of her plagues,””
Rev 18:4 WEB

Further, instead of describing government as something intrinsically opposed the God and righteousness, Scripture says that ALL government is ordained of God, Rom 13:1-3, and describes them as “a servant of God to you for good,” Rom 13:4. Lastly,

Mystery Babylon is destroyed at God’s command
very near the end of world history.

Mystery Babylon is destroyed by one called “the beast” and ten kings, at God’s command, Rev 17:16-17. But the beast himself only comes very near the end of world history, and at the second coming of Christ is thrown alive into hell, Rev 19:20.

This clearly implies that Mystery Babylon has existed throughout the Christian age, and every generation of Christians have had to deal with her.

I think it is proper to describe Mystery Babylon as a religio-economic power.

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

Keys to Prophecy: The World System is in the power of Satan.

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Satan is a creature, a creation.

Perhaps one of the most powerful creatures ever made, but still merely a creature, as you and I also are. God made through Jesus everything.

“For by him were all things created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and for him.”
Col 1:16 WEB

Satan, like us, was created good.

In fact, Scripture says,

“God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. …”
Gen 1:31 WEB

But Satan, again just like us, corrupted his way. He was originally evidently one the living creatures who hovered over the throne of God Himself in heaven, Ezekiel 28. There the king of Tyre is used as a “type,” symbolic of Satan, and it describes him as a beautiful and powerful creature. In Isaiah chapter 14 the king of Babylon seems to be used as a “type,” symbolic, of Satan. It says he aspired to be higher than God, and was cast out of heaven. Isa 14:13-14.

Satan began the revolt, but drew others into this revolt. Rev 12:4 says that he drew one-third of the angels of heaven into his revolt, and was at last thrown down out of heaven, Rev 12:7-10. Also yes, the human race was also drawn into, seduced into, this revolt.

Satan is ALLOWED certain power and rule in this
universe, for a short while.

One popular image of Satan down through history has been the drunken and lecherous “god” Pan, half-man, half-goat, often pictured with horns.

He is called “the god of this world,” 2Cor 4:4 WEB. He is allowed certain power to tempt and to try us, to see what we are. He is called “the accuser of our brothers,” Rev 12:10 WEB. He can offer some rewards to his servants, and with these things he attempted to seduce Jesus the Christ.

“5 The devil, leading him up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 The devil said to him, “I will give you all this authority, and their glory, for it has been delivered to me; and I give it to whomever I want. 7 If you therefore will worship before me, it will all be yours.””
Lk 4:5-7 WEB

Jesus corrects Satan when he is wrong, but does not correct this.

“the whole world lies in the power of
the evil one.” 1Jn 5:19

Indeed, we have ALL fallen under these powers.

“However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.”
Gal 4:8 WEB

We once walked by Satan’s dictates, and sometimes still do. So we are warned to not desire the fruits of a corrupted world that is passing away, 1Jn 2:15-17.

God is willing to protect us.

“ … who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, …”
1Cor 10:13 WEB

The problem is how to come to our senses, and
escape the devil’s snare, 2Tim 2:26

Jesus is that answer, to redeem ourselves in His blood.

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

Keys to Prophecy: The Third Most Powerful Institution on Earth

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Civil Government

An ancient Roman court scene. The judges are on the raised platform. On either side of them are lictors, bearing rods (for beatings) and axes. In front of the platform are recorders and other officials. To the right is the lawyer for the accussed, and the bound prisoner, guarded by two soldiers.

Civil Government is, like these other institutions, the church and the family, established by God Himself, for our good.

“1 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God. 2 Therefore he who resists the authority, withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment. … 4 for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.”
Rom 13:1-2, 4, WEB

The foundation of Civil Government is in the death
penalty that was established in the Noahic law,
with all of our ancestors.

Before the flood, there was no organized punishment of evil doers. This resulted in world-wide anarchy and violence and abuse of others. It was so bad that in a mere 1600 or so years, God decided to destroy mankind and the animals and start all over again.

The punishment of evil doers in th law given to Noah and his descendants (us) is centered around preserving human life.

“Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man will his blood be shed, for in the image of God made he man.”
Gen 9:6 WEB

And so is its emphasis even to this day. This is a corporate responsibility of all of mankind. Organization and financing is not dictated, and many systems within this framework have been tried by men.

Government’s basic charter is one of defending the innocent
and punishing the guilty.

“For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the same,”
Rom 13:3 WEB

Later this mandate was hedged by
dividing the nations.

In this way, never was this power of the sword concentrated into the hands of any single institution. If one nation became evil, and wanted to maliciously use others, other nations would exist to bring that abuse of power to an end, and protect their own people.

The central mandate of punishing evil
is hard to completely subvert.

Even at their worst, governments still tend to maintain order and prevent much looting and violence. Even at its worst it tends to retard violence and abuse.

Even a crooked sheriffs department tends punish much crime, and the system is such that, if the civil authorities are wicked, it tends to invite their punishment. These are strong institutions.

So criminals and corporations tend to try to subvert,
not do away with, the civil authorities.

“The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.”
Rev 17:18 WEB

Subversion, not elimination, is the constant strategy of the wicked, against these powers which were for sure, established for our good, and they do, generally, retard the spread of wickedness.

This also is from God.

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

Keys to Prophecy: The Second Most Powerful Institution on Earth

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The second most powerful institution here on earth is also one that few realize, but it is real and very powerful. The true power politicians here on earth do realize these things, and try to deal with it, or subvert that power.

It is the family.

This is the institution that brings forth the people of the earth, nurtures and protects them when they are small and unlearned and vulnerable, and the teaches the foundational information upon which all other development and learning rests.

It is with the family that the responsibility for education rests. Not with Nero, not with the commune, not with the schools (although the family may at times use some schools). The parents naturally have a close biological / genetic relationship with the children, and very naturally have close bonds of love for the children. The parents clearly perceive the wonder and majesty of the little ones who came from themselves, and who are so much like themselves. Unless we are terribly marred by sin, these are instinctive and natural reactions.

These things are built into our DNA, and are hard to frustrate.

It is the family that forms the
building blocks of society.

If these blocks are well formed and trained and educated, society can build on these things to form good and healthy societies. If they are married, so is all of human life in a society.

Why then is this power not realized
in this world?

Answer One: It is so diffused and scattered all over the world it is hardly noticed. As individual units, no one of them is normally very powerful, and this overwhelming power often goes unnoticed. However, families have a staggering impact on society and history, power that it is not easy to minimize and derail.

Answer Two: Some do realize these things, and lust after that power, but it is hard to capture. These are mighty, and politically savvy entities, like the Mystery of Lawlessness, or Mystery Babylon the Great, who wish to reform the world away from a Righteous, Good and Loving God, to something they can more easily hijack and control for their own profit and power.

There are Some Major Strategies Used to Try to Grab Some of
the Family’s Power and Influence.

1. Persuade people that these family things are not really that important. If possible get both men and women to simply abandon these responsibilities and seek what is supposedly better or more pleasurable things.

2. Destabilize the family so that it just drops some of this tremendous power and influence. If husbands or wives can be talked into dropping some of this power, and if some of the crumbs can be picked up by Nero or large corporations, it often results in these entities having tremendous increases in power.

3. Offer substitutes like communes. They have been tried continually throughout the Christian Age. They are always sold as better, fairer, ways to organize society. Communes always fail. The family foundation for society is built into our genes, and our very nature.

The Family is a Powerful Natural Barrier to Malicious
Exploitation of the Human Race.

This is from God.

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