o Beasts of the earth - θηρίον thērion, 1) an animal, 2) a wild animal, wild beast, beast, 3)metaph. a brutal, bestial man, savage, ferocious
o Could this possibly be referencing trans-human creatures that we are seeing as a result of human experimentation, mixing human and animal DNA.
- Cloning
- See Tom Horn’s book Forbidden Gates for more information on trans-humanism.
§ Famines – λιμόςlimos, masculine noun, scarcity of harvest, famine
§ Pestilences – λοιμόςloimos, masculine noun, a pestilent fellow, pest, plague
§ Earthquakes – σεισμόςseismos, masculine noun, 1) a shaking, a commotion 2) a tempest, 3) an earthquake
§ Troubles – ταραχήtarachē, feminine noun, 1) disturbance, commotion 2) metaph. a tumult, sedition
§ Fearful sights – φόβητρονphobētron, neuter noun, that which strikes terror, a terror, (cause of) fright
§ Great signs – μέγας megasσημεῖονsēmeion, neuter noun, a sign, mark, token a) that by which a person or a thing is distinguished from others and is known b) a sign, prodigy, portent, i.e. an unusual occurrence, transcending the common course of nature
§ 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.
o According to Amos, the famine spoken of may not be a famine as we would typically think, but the absence of the Word of God. This is becoming more and more evident in the world today when the Word of God is compromised and diluted in pulpits all over the world.
II. Delivering up (Matthew 24:9-10, Mark 13:9-12, Luke 21:12-16)
Matthew 24:9-10
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Mark 13:9-12
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Luke 21:12-16
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Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
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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. And the gospel must first be published among all nations. 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 Ghost. 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.
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But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute [you], delivering [you] up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle [it] therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: ForI will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and [some] of you shall they cause to be put to death.
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a. Daniel 12:10 –Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand
§ Starting with Stephen, many have been martyred for the gospel of Christ, what the gospels are pointing to is a time of severe persecution of the true believers in Christ.
§ We are already beginning to see a culture that cultivates informants, starting out with a seemingly good motivation anonymous whistle blowers are encouraged through monetary reward.
o During Roman persecutions people would “inform” on their neighbors for being Christian, even if they weren’t. The accused would be taken before the governor and asked to sacrifice to pagan gods in order to prove their allegiance to the state religion, if they would not they would be tortured or killed. Many believers walked away from the faith in fear of losing their lives. This was a trying time for the Church that was purified through the persecutions.
§ Acts 7:59-60 -And they stoned Stephen, calling upon [God], and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
o Stephen’s testimony before his stoning was an example of what is spoken here in Mark to “take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak…”, Stephen was given what he was to speak by the Holy Spirit. People who yield to the power of the Holy Spirit can do amazing things in times of great peril.
b. Revelation 6:9-11 – And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the alter the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
§ Nothing more powerful than the testimony of one willing to be persecuted and killed for their belief, at the hand of an unbeliever. These persecutions and public executions led to an explosion of new believers joining the body of Christ.
§ People just want something real, something genuine, and when they see someone willing to die at the hand of another for their belief, there is no greater attestation to their faith.
§ 11 of the 12 Disciples were martyred for their faith, most notably Peter who once denied his master, why would anyone give their life for a fairy tale? These men knew what Jesus taught was true and paid the ultimate price for their love of the truth.
§ If the occasion should ever arise, how does one prepare to make the ultimate sacrifice?
o A lifestyle of denying self
o A commitment to the study of God’s Word
o Discipline in thought and deed
o Prayer and fasting
o Love of the truth
c. Revelation 7:13 -14 – And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, these are they which came out of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
§ Even though the Great Tribulation has not yet come in our timeline, many of these servants of the Most High will remain in prison and be purified (killed) at some point during the Great Tribulation.
§ How are the people of God to be purified through martyrdom if they are carried away in rapture?
o Why does every generation think they are somehow more special than the previous generations who have endured severe persecutions? We live in air conditioned homes, watch movies and TV, enjoy technologies that no other generation in history has had, yet for some reason we think we are more worthy to escape these persecutions than past generations.
o We need to be preparing our minds daily, for the sudden onset of mass persecution and deception.
d. Do these passages refer to those who have been martyred and are martyred even now or is this specifically referring to a future mass delivery of a Holy Spirit inspired message?
e. How will the gospel be published throughout the world? We see that this comes at a time when believers are delivered up before councils…could this refer to a worldwide broadcast of public persecution and executions of Christians that could lead to mass conversions to faith in Christ Jesus?
§ “…It shall turn to you for a testimony” Luke 21:13
III. Rise of the false prophets (Matthew 24:11-12)
Matthew 24:11-12
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And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
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a. False Prophets – ψευδοπροφήτηςpseudoprophētēs, masculine noun, 1)one who, acting the part of a divinely inspired prophet, utters falsehoods under the name of divine prophecies 2) a false prophet
§ Let’s examine the entertainment industry. Its safe to say that there is a major satanic influence over most of the performing arts.
§ See www.goodfight.org for articles and videos that provide substantial evidence for the satanic influence through these modern day false prophets.
§ See also the influence of a man name Aleister Crowley who proudly relished in the title bestowed upon him as the most evil man on earth. Disciples of Crowley included Timothy Leary (Harvard Professor and drug Guru), L. Ron Hubbard (founder of Scientology), Jack Parsons (famous rocket scientist referred to Crowley as his “father”), Alfred Kinsey (initiator of the sexual deviance) Robert Anton Wilson (Author and mystic, credited with pushing the sexual revolution) and Kenneth Anger (motion picture director, has the reputation as the most influential independent filmmaker in US history) Anton LaVey (founder church of satan). See Pastor Joe Schimmel’s Documentaries They Sold Their Souls for Rock & Roll http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoBfpP4pMRk and Hollywood’s War on God http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UikA3tWu2VA
§ The alien abduction phenomenon may fit here as well; there are estimates that show that as many 3% of the population has undergone an alien abduction experience. There is a stigma associated with anyone who claims to have had an alien encounter; therefore, many people are shamed into silence. However, there is too much evidence to ignore and too many similarities among the victims to discount their testimonies. See http://www.alienresistance.org for legitimate information on the topic of alien encounters.
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