Category Archives: Powers of Our Age

Keys to Prophecy: Religious Diversity PREVENTS Much Political Unity

Posted on by
Reply

An inheritance of political diversity

It is one of the great political facts of life, that God has deliberately divided the nations of this earth, and divided the political powers that exist on this earth. These powers were created relatively recently in history, immediately after the world-wide flooding of the earth in the time Noah. Then these powers were divided in the confusion of languages which occurred on the plains of ancient Babylon. Both of these events appear to have happened in second half of the third millennium BC.

The scrambling of our speech by tribe and nation
meant that cultures and world views
would develop independently.

The creation of separate languages is still a powerful barrier to unity in many areas, including politics. It means there are often totally different ways of thinking about things and expressing ideas. These then become formidable obstacles to everyday things like fellowship and travel and exchanging ideas. The technology for learning other languages is better than ever in our own day, but these are still mighty obstacles to unified world power.

All of this is by the deliberate plan and counsel of God.

God decided thousands of years ago that it was NOT good man in his wickedness to be united. For instance in Isaiah’s day the nation of Judah had turned very bad, and the government was bad also. Isaiah wrote of those times.

“1 Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers who write perverseness; 2 to turn aside the needy from justice, and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!”
Isa 10:1-2 WEB

But there was little way to change this from the inside of the nation. The prophets were preaching to both the people and their rulers with little effect. So what can be done? So God raised up another nation of fierce men, able warriors and engineers to bring down the fortifications of Judah and bring punishment on that nation for their sins.

“5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. 6 I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.”
Isa 10:5-6 KJV

There comes a time when talk is over, preaching and pleading is done, and sinful nations are punished … ALL within history.

This diversity has been a powerful barrier to
wickedness

For evil men trying to manipulate these systems, these have been powerful barriers to unrestrained exploitation of the weak and helpless. If one people or group came to be very wicked and exploited others, then other nations/tribes would in time put them down. These became mighty obstacles to uncontrolled evil men.

The diversity of cultures and religions which grew out of these divisions meant that there would be no unified basis for opposing God’s plans.

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

Keys to Prophecy: God Can And Does Often Direct Our Thinking

Posted on by
Reply

We are but creatures and are by no means omnipotent. I have heard many preachers say that God would never violate our “free will” as they put it. He will never “make us” do something. What foolishness. The truth is that He makes us do or say or think things everyday, that we had no intention of doing or saying. God often overrules us.

Actually many may manipulate our thinking.

Including moms and dads, and “friends,” and announcers and ads. Because of the limitations on our earthly life and our knowledge, we from time to time become the victims of counsel that at best misguided, or at worst is manipulative. Sometimes even from those we love, and who also love us. And Satan! He can do such things,

“After supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,”
Jn 13:2

And of Mystery Babylon the Great, it says

“… for with your sorcery all the nations were deceived.”
Rev 18:23

So here is a human entity, which by “sorcery,” can alter the thinking, manipulate/deceive the entire world at some future time. (You don’t suppose God actually foresaw modern mass media do you? I jest!).

So do you suppose that “many” can and do “manipulate” our thinking: mom, dad, friend, announcer, ad, movie, Satan … and God could not, would not?

God can and does influence the thinking of men.

It is both and little things and big things. God speaks of what He will do to His people in foreign lands, if they are not faithful to Him.

““‘As for those of you who are left, I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies: and the sound of a driven leaf will put them to flight; and they shall flee, as one flees from the sword; and they will fall when no one pursues.””
Lev 26:36

God can help us, or if we oppose God, He can harden us in bad thinking.

“But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him; for Yahweh your God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into your hand, as at this day.”
Deut 2:30

And so it will be even with God’s enemies
(Rev 17:13-14) near the end.

Mystery Babylon the Great has near the end deceived the nations and come to commercially dominate the world, ruining the nations with wars and sexual immorality in order to better exploit men (Revelation 18). She deserves to be punished, but she is too powerful to resist.

So God puts together a coalition of ten kings (“horns,” see for instance Dan 8:20-21), who for “one hour” had the resources to destroy Mystery Babylon all the way down the ground.

“For God has put in their hearts to do what he has in mind, and to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished.”
Rev 17:17

Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

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

Posted on by
Reply

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: Mystery Babylon is a age long entity.

Posted on by
Reply

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.

Posted on by
Reply

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

Posted on by
Reply

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

Posted on by
Reply

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

Keys to Prophecy: The Most Powerful Institution on Earth

Posted on by
Reply

Now you and I are entering a section of inferred evaluations of our situation here on earth.

Regardless of the opinions of many, God clearly prophesied in Daniel 2 that in the days of the Roman Empire that,

“In the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty of it be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.”
Dan 2:44 WEB

That was a clear prophecy, which is also repeated in Daniel chapter 9, giving more details of the timing of these thing, all of which is dealt with in more detail in Prophecy Principles.

Then at the very right time both John the Baptist and Jesus came saying “the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” Mtt 3:2 WEB and many other verses. Lastly Jesus told his disciples that the kingdom would come with power before some of them died, Mk 9:1, etc.

Incredibly, some very conservative Bible believers
teach that the Father and the Son blew it, just
didn’t foresee what would happen, and
that these prophecies FAILED!

That is foolish, and ignores the clear testimony of the kingdom being in existence (Col 1:13, etc), and that Jesus is now the ruler of the kings on earth (Rev 1:13), and that He has now ALL authority in heaven and on earth, Mtt 28:18.

What authority supports the Christian?
ALL authority.

It is true that we are counted as only sheep to be slaughtered (Psa 44:22, Rom 8:36), but in all of these thing we are MORE than conquerers (Rom 8:37), and in this same section it names many of the many things which cannot overcome us in Christ (Rom 8:35-39).

The church is the most powerful institution
in the entire world.

Paul preaching in Athens. These simple things have had staggering effects on history.

It seems small and fragile and about to pass away, but it will never pass away, and will in the end overcome ALL of its adversaries. The prayers of the saints ascend to God in heaven, and at the end of the day, judgment is poured out on God’s enemies, and the saints are still around (compare for instance Rev 5:8, 16:1, etc.)

Many may gather against God’s people

“15 Behold, they may gather together, but not by me: whoever shall gather together against you shall fall because of you. 16 Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals, and brings forth a weapon for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. 17 No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of Yahweh, and their righteousness which is of me, says Yahweh.”
Isa 54:15-17 WEB

The most powerful institution on earth is the church/kingdom of the saints. It has the full power of God behind it. This is no exaggeration, and the Satanic enemies of the church fully realize these things, and try to seduce it from trusting in Jesus the Christ. Also clearly, this power is often unrealized, even among Christians.

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

Coronavirus and Scripture, Part III of III

Posted on by
Reply

“Plague” is a very general word in the Bible sense

It is far wider than our modern sense of a wide spread disease, epidemic, or pandemic. The basic Greek word used in the New Testament is pl?g? and it means to hit something. It a word used to describe a literal beating, or the wounds that might result from such a beating. Thus it could include any serious blow to a man, or to a nation, or to the world.

There is though another aspect of the wars and disease and desolations of our world which are such a huge influence in our sinful world. It is that,

These blows often serve as Trumpets of Warning

These blows are often not the end in themselves, but they serve as warnings. In Revelation chapter 8 things are going very wrong on the earth. The prayers of the saints are going up to God as incense in Rev 8:1-4. This results in a response, and seven angels are given seven trumpets to sound. Not the final punishments for the sins of men or nations, but loud warnings of judgement to come for our sins, Rev 8:6ff.

Similarly, also these age long disasters which fall on us as men are often meant to warn us, and to straighten us out.

The First purpose would be to wake us up

Chapter VI.” Trumpets of Warning” in “Revealing the Christian Age,” gives a more complete discussion the trumpets in Revelation chapters 8-11.

First to the fact that not everything is right in our world. That things are often not even right with ourselves. Often we know our sins, but do not deal with them. Let’s face it, as men we are frequently a very hard headed lot. What will get our attention? What will get us to turn and avoid final judgement for our sins.

“Tell them, As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn you, turn you from your evil ways; for why will you die, …?”
Ezek 33:11 WEB

Often we are asleep to the dangers that come on us. First God will try gentle methods, and when these do not work, then more severe methods are often allowed.

“It is for discipline that you endure. God deals with you as with children, for what son is there whom his father doesn’t discipline?”
Heb 12:7 WEB

The Second purpose would be to get us to
no longer live for ourselves

Quite often in life we are all wrapped up in ourselves. However, it says of Jesus,

“… all things have been created through him, and for him.”
Col 1:16 WEB

We were made by Jesus, and for Jesus! What then should be our orientation for this temporary life we have now, in this temporary world?

We need to be aware that Jesus came to earth to die for your sins and mine, so that we will NOT have to die for our sins.

“He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again.”
2Cor 5:15 WEB

God wants us to realize how transient we are, how vulnerable we are, so that we will act with a mind of wisdom. The Coronavirus and Scripture.

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

Coronavirus and Scripture, Part II of III

Posted on by
Reply

When speaking of major powers at work in the Christian Age, the Bible uses more than one set of symbolism. One set is,

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
in Revelation chapter 6

I do not think Jesus is just speaking here of things at the very end of the age. I think rather He is speaking of powers that are at work all through the Christian Age. You might even say they are the everyday things of history. I am only going to discuss two of these horsemen in this post.

The first horseman is Jesus the Christ Himself

Revealing the Christian gives a more complete disucssion of the Four Horsemen who run through history. It is available through your bookseller.

Jesus is THE dominant power of our age!

“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 (Compare Rev 19:11-16)

ALL authority has been given to Jesus the Christ, both in heaven and on earth, Mtt 28:18. Jesus reaches out to men to try to get them to change before it is eternally too late. What is the method to this rule?

“26 He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined 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

Jesus presently rules in the midst of His enemies, Psa 110:1-2. He rules over the kings of the earth NOW, Rev 1:5. These kings are warned,

“10 Now therefore be wise, you kings.
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve Yahweh with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
For his wrath will soon be kindled.
Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.”
Psa 2:10-12

Everyone will have to submit to Jesus the Christ, before this is over.

The fourth horseman is Death and Hades

“And behold, a pale horse, and he who sat on it, his name was Death. Hades followed with him. Authority over one fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword, with famine, with death, and by the wild animals of the earth was given to him.”
Rev 6:8

Now this is NOT talking about extraordinary times at the end of this age, but we could say normal times, in an abnormal, sinful world. This ‘horseman” has authority to let death rule over “one fourth of the earth” (Rev 6:8 above).

This “horseman” includes the wars of our world (“to kill with the sword”), the famines and desolations we see on TV, the murders, the inexplicable accidents. It includes the Spanish Flu of 1918, and the regular flu which kills about 60,000 each year in the United States. In truth the World is in “bondage to decay,” Rom 8:21, and it affects us all, everyday.

Sin and death go together. Things are not right in our universe, things are not right with us. Compare Psalm 94 in our previous post.

The only real escape is a permanent one

Giving our lives to Jesus Christ so we might be counted worthy of that new heavens and new earth where only righteousness dwells, 2Pe 3:10-13.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901