What Shall Be the Sign...Part 6

b.       Is the reader to assume that the second statement is the result of the first? (Matthew 24:11-12)  Because many are deceived does it produce an abundance of iniquity? Long term conditioning of the world has led to mass deception, “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law”…phrase coined by Aleister Crowley in “The Book of the Law” which was apparently dictated to him by the dark spirit entity named Aiwass.

§         False Prophets à Deception à Iniquity à Love (true love) is scarce

c.      The abundance of iniquity results in what? The waning of Love

§         Love – ἀγάπη agapē, feminine noun, affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love

§         Iniquity – ἀνομία anomia, feminine noun, a condition without law either by ignorance or by intentional violation.

                                                                                       i.      From this statement can we infer a direct inverse correlation between love and iniquity

                                                                                     ii.      As iniquity increases love decreases

                                                                                    iii.      As love increases iniquity decreases

§         1 Corinthians 13:12-13 -For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three;but the greatest of these [is] charity.

                                                                                       i.      In these last days it is going to be very important for us to love each other and not be pitted against each other through the deception of a Hegelian dialectic or a tactic of the enemy that uses conflict between two or more groups to ultimately advance society toward a  communist/dictatorship form of government. Examples of the Hegelian dialectic can be seen in:

1.      Race – example: black v. white

2.      Religion – example: Muslim v. Judaism

3.      Gender

4.      Wealth

5.      Career – example: union v. non-union

6.      Region – example: east side v. west side, north v. south

7.      Politics – example: democrat v. republican

8.      Education – college degree v. non-degree

9.      Age

10.  Marital status

                                                                                     ii.      If we remain loving toward one another as Y’shuah instructed us to do this tactic is rendered ineffective.  Love is the key to overcoming the enemy, its easy to get caught up in this game, but remember when we do we are behaving in the exact manner that the enemy desires.

§         1 Corinthians 13:1-3 -Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.  And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.  And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

                                                                                       i.      Charity - ἀγάπη agapē, feminine noun, affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love

                                                                                     ii.      From this passage and the prior passage we explored in Ephesians we can determine a pecking order of importance.  Faith is the most important piece of godly armor, yet Love is the most important of all attributes.

                                                                                    iii.      We can see from this passage that it is quite possible to do a great many “good” works, but the motivation behind why we do them is more important than the actual deed itself.  Are we motivated by our love for God or fellow man or for recognition?

                                                                                   iv.      We can also see this in what Christ deemed important in the two greatest commandments:

1.      Matthew 22:36-40 -Master, which [is] the great commandment in the law?  Jesus said unto him, Thou shaltlove the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

2.      Though faith is of the utmost importance to God, these two greatest commandments do not mention faith (however, faith in God is required in order to be able to love Him).

§         The message of the deceivers back in vv. 4-5 was to come from imposters of Christ, here we see a message counter to the message to Christ’s message of love.

§         Proverbs 10:12 -Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

                                                                                       i.      Hatred - שנאהsin'ah, feminine noun, hating, hatred, hate

                                                                                     ii.      Covereth - כסהkacah, verb, to cover, conceal or hide

                                                                                    iii.      Sins - פשעpesha`, masculine noun, transgression, rebellion (could also be iniquity) so, this passage gives further clarity as to the relationship between love and iniquity, the reason iniquity decreases as love increases is because love conceals or hides iniquity.  If we view love as a blanket, the bigger the blanket all the more can be covered.

                                                                                   iv.      Note that Love covers all sin, but does not remove them.  They are still there because they still happened; when love diminishes it can reveal old sins of the past.  This is the difference between the love of man and the love of God.  God’s love (through His sacrifice) has the power to remove sin, man’s love can only cover sin.

1.      Psalm 103:12 - As far as the east is from the west, [so] far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

2.      Why not North from the South?  Because North and South are finite (one can only go so far south (or north) until you start heading north (or south) again), but East or West is infinite.  (Written way before Columbus proved that the earth was a sphere)

§         2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 -  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto him,ⁱ That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.  Let no man deceive you by any means:ⁱⁱ for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first,ⁱⁱⁱ and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way.  And then shall that Wicked be revealed,^iv whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: [Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:^v That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

                                                                                       i.      This subject of this passage is to address the return of Christ Jesus and our gathering back to him.  There is no indication that these are separate events, but one in the same.

                                                                                     ii.      Here is a command to “let no man deceive you” which is what is happening at this juncture of the Matthew 24 discourse, the false prophets are “deceiving many”

1.      An interesting observation here about the word man in this passage.  This word τις tis is a pronoun meaning: 1) a certain, a certain one or 2) some, some time, a while.  Thayer’s lexicon says that it refers to “persons or things the writer cannot or will not speak more particularly. 

2.      This could tie in to a supernatural being such as “an angel of light” or possibly “alien” beings from another world.  We need to be grounded in our faith that no matter who or what might contradict what the bible teaches, we remain steadfast.

3.      2 Corinthians 11:13-15 -For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

                                                                                    iii.      Paul clearly states here that until certain events transpire that the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ will not occur, in other words His return does no precede the appearance of the “son of perdition”

1.      Revelation 13:6-7 - And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

·        What is “His tabernacle”?

·        1 Corinthians 3:16-17 - Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are.

                                                                                   iv.      The wicked are revealed, this was the purpose of allowing the wheat and the tares grow in the Matthew13 parable of the sower

1.      Matthew 13:30 - Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

·        Matthew 13:38-40 - The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked [one]; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.  As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

                                                                                     v.      God, Himself will send a strong delusion to those who are given the opportunity to receive the “love of the truth” and reject it, so that they will believe a lie

1.      This is the effect, and the cause…they received not the love of the truth

2.      John 14:16 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

3.      What is the “love of the truth”? Receiving the Word of God, Y’shuah Mashiyach (Jesus Christ)

4.      Joshua 24:15 - … if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve…

 

What Shall be the Sign...Part 5

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	Mark 13:9-12	Luke 21:12-16
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.	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.	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.

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
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

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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What Shall Be the Sign...Part 4

I wanted to briefly go back to the parable of the 10 virgins in order to provide a proper understanding of the context of the parable by discussing the customs involved in the Hebrew wedding.  

 After the groom-to-be made a formal wedding contract with the bride-to-be and her father and executed the contract with a cup of wine, the bridegroom would set out to build a home suitable for his new bride.  This would take a very long time, sometimes up to a year or more.  At the completion of the home and the bride-chamber was made ready the groom's father would inspect his son's work, nothing could proceed until the father gave his approval. 

While the bride would wait for the groom she would wear a veil to indicate that she was betrothed. She would use this time to prepare herself for married life. She would wait at home every night accompanied by her bridesmaids because she would not want to miss the bridegroom’s coming. Traditionally, he would come late at night in order to take her by “surprise”. The bridesmaids would keep oil in their lamps and keep watch in order to alert the bride to make herself ready.

At a time of his choosing the bridegroom would go to the home of the bride to “abduct” her.  When the bridegroom arrived, the bride and her bridesmaids were carried off into the night. They would travel through the streets with fanfare and laughter. The bride and groom would enter the bride-chamber for seven days of intimacy.  Afterward they would emerge from the bridechamber as husband and wife. 

 The parable of the 10 virgins references the wedding custom of the “abduction of the bride”.

Picking up with the rest of II. c.

-        John 2:3-10 - And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.  His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do [it].  And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.  Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.  And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare [it].  When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: [but] thou hast kept the good wine until now.

1.     Jesus replenished the wine

2.     After the manner of purifying of the Jews – a Pharisee tradition that is not mentioned in the Old Testament, this is a tradition of man that Jesus turns upside down, because the wine He made was not purified in accordance with this custom.

-        1 Corinthians 10:16 - The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

-        Ephesians 5:18 – And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

1.     Thesis à drunk…antithesis à filled

2.     Thesis à wine…antithesis à Spirit

a.      Revelation 17:1-2 - And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

-        Revelation 14:10 – The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

1.     Wine = wrath of God

2.     Wine is made through a pressing and a fermenting process, God’s wrath can have similar attributes.  God is longsuffering, not desiring any to perish.

-        In conclusion regarding the significance of the instructions given not to “hurt” the Oil and Wine according to Revelation 6:6.

1.     We have the execution of the marriage contract with the cup of wine, we also have wine symbolic of God's wrath.  At this point the intent for preserving the wine appears to be inconclusive.

2.     During this time of war, famine and pestilence we can see God’s grace continuing to be extended to those who receive it (Oil).  Therefore the intent for preserving the oil seems to pertain to the continuing presence of the grace of God.

§       Revelation 6:7-8 - And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.  And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword (wars), and with hunger (famines), and with death (pestilence), and with the beasts of the earth.

o      The pestilence could refer to a future pandemic that is promulgated through man-made viruses and weakening of the immune system through all of the vaccination, antibiotics and other foreign substances that we have allowed unwitting medical professionals to inject in our bodies.  The introduction of several adverse contaminants have plagued human populations around the globe, these include:

-        Genetically modified vegetation, See the documentaries: The Future of Food;  The World According to Monsanto

-        Fluoridation of water, See book and documentary titled The Fluoride Deception

-        Contaminated vaccinations, See Dr. Sherry Tenpenny’s book titled Saying No to Vaccines , See also Dr. Mercola’s interview with Dr. Shiv Chopra (available on Youtube)

-        Spraying of chemicals in the atmosphere, See documentary What in the World are They Spraying?

-        Hormones in meats, See The Future of Food;  Food, Inc.

-        Contamination of fishing waters, See stories related to the Gulf of Mexico spill, dumping of hazardous waste, etc.

-        Contamination of the earth, see stories regarding disposal of hazardous waste, fracking, GMO crops, etc.

-        Overuse of antibiotics

o      Governments have been trying to artificially control the earth’s climates for years.  Artificial drought can be used to reduce food supplies, thereby increasing the price of food.  As food prices skyrocket people are going to be forced to choose between food and other necessities.  Using food supplies to control populations is not new.

-        For artificial weather control programs see stories related to HAARP.

-        Also see stories related to Geoengineering, See www.geoengineeringwatch.org