Author: Nathaniel

 

The previous article, What is the Beast of Revelation, expounded upon the Apostle John’s vision of a beast arising from the sea. However, that wasn’t the only thing contained in his vision. His vision also comprised a second beast. Therefore, to complete this vital prophecy, we must look at the second beast of Revelation.

The Beast out of the Earth

Rev 13:11-17 reads:

11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

14  And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

This beast represents a new kingdom that will play a vital role in the impending events leading to the world’s end.

This beast is unlike the first one described in John’s vision. As we saw in the first article, in Daniel 7 and Revelation 13:1-4, a beast represents a kingdom. This first beast represents the papacy and rose from the sea. In John’s vision, the first beast was a combination of the four beasts in Daniel’s vision, representing four kingdoms, namely Babylon, Med-Persia, Greece, and pagan Rome. All four of these kingdoms and the papacy in Revelation 13 rose from populated areas of the earth. In prophecy, seas represent populated areas. These nations rose through strife and conflict. Wind in prophecy represents strife (Daniel 7:2-3, Rev. 7:1-3).

The kingdom represented by the second beast differs from the kingdoms represented by the first beast in that it rises from the earth. Earth, in prophecy, represents sparsely populated land. Although kingdoms represented by the first beast, Greece, pagan Rome, and papal Rome rose from populated areas of Western Europe, known as the Old World, this new kingdom progressed from a comparatively unpopulated area of the world around the time that the papacy was wounded by the sword and taken into captivity (Rev. 13:10). A new power rose on the landscape of the world.

Secular history reveals that the United States is the only kingdom or nation corresponding to this description and timetable. It rose from the New World known as North America, sparsely populated in the late seventeen hundreds. This new nation had a comparatively peaceful rise to power compared to the prior kingdoms with a violent rise. Further, The Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, and the United States Constitution was ratified in 1787. While the papacy was leaving the world scene, the United States became the new prophetic kingdom.

Two Horns

The Scripture says that “he had two horns like a lamb.” The two horns on this second beast represent a significant difference from the first. Horns represent power (Deut. 33:17, 1 Sam. 2:10, 1 Kings 22:11, Habakkuk 3:3-4). It is central to note that these horns do not have crowns upon them. These two lamblike horns on this second beast denote the power the United States functions through. It is not a monarchy or kingdom, which explains the lack of crowns on the horns as opposed to the first beast with ten crowns and ten horns depicting the monarchial kings that empowered the papacy during the 1260 years.

The United States, in comparison, is a constitutional republic enabled by its two lamblike horns. These lamblike horns are pivotal in defining this beast. The lamb is depicted as Jesus Christ (John 1:29, Rev. 5:6, 13:8, 14:1,4, 17:14). These two horns on this beast define it as a prophetic kingdom powered by two horns with Christian principles. While the first beast, the papacy, received its authority and power from Satan, the United States began as a republic with Christian principles. The two horns represent two principles, Republicanism and Protestantism, supporting civil and religious
liberty. These are the principles upon which the United States was founded. These are the principles of Christ.

Spake as a Dragon

Next, the Scripture says, “…and he spake as a dragon.” Even though the United States originated as a nation with Christian principles, eventually, it will commence to speak like a dragon. The dragon is Satan (Rev. 12:9). Therefore, the United States will ultimately abandon its Christian principles, speak like the dragon, and stand by its side.

Verse 12 again reads, “And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.”

Exercises All Power

It is crucial to note that a nation represents itself through the laws it passes. The papacy claims the authority to change the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. Therefore, the United States will speak as a dragon as the papacy did during the 1260 years. The United States will remove Americans’ freedom of religion and enforce Sunday
as the day of worship by passing a law to implement such worship. When this occurs, America will speak as a dragon.

The United States will “exerciseth all the power of the first beast.” The first beast is the papacy, powered by Satan. The US will join in union with the papacy and cause the world to worship this first beast by passing and enforcing the Sunday worship law. The mandate for Sunday won’t come from God but from Satan. There is no Scripture in God’s Word condoning, endorsing, or requiring Sunday worship. When the United States (or any other nation) passes a law against God, it will be operating and exercising the authority of Satan.

When the Sunday law is passed, it will cause the world to worship the papacy, as the Scripture reads, “and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.”

Verse 13 reads, “And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,”

Throughout the Bible, miracles were used as evidence of God’s authority, power, and love. However, in this verse, Satan will use them to deceive.

We see that the first beast will make fire come down from heaven. To accomplish the goal of having the world worship the first beast, the papacy, Protestant America will choose to employ operations to deceive the world that God is involved and sanction the action. These uncanny actions will be for the sole purpose of supporting the ungodly false system of worship.

Verse 14 reads, “Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.” NIV

The second beast gains influence through the signs and wonders that he can perform for the first beast. The second beast orders the people to worship a statue to honor the first beast—directly defying the second commandment (Ex 20:4-6).

When the United States performs supernatural miracles under the masquerade of Christianity, the world will be deceived and follow America by accepting the false worship system it will be promoting.

Accepting Sunday worship will be easy for many as most of Protestant America already observe Sunday
as the day of worship even without any biblical evidence.

The Image and the Mark

The United States of America, Protestant America, heals the wound and resurrects the papacy by passing a Sunday law that unifies church and state. The passing of this law endorses the beast and forms an image of the beast, the papacy. This law will repeat the same unification that occurred during the 1260 years of papacy influence.

Verse 15 reads, “He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.”
NIV

A nation communicates through its laws. America is a nation of laws and will pass a Sunday law that will give power to the beast, thus providing the life and energy required. Ultimately, individuals who will not worship the beast by worshipping on Sunday will be killed. This action will be the result of a worldwide death decree. The United States will cause “all who refused to worship the image to be killed.”

Verse 16 reads, “He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead,” NIV  It is interesting to note that Satan has to “force”
worship of him. In contrast, God accepts those who worship Him willingly.

Everyone, wealthy or poor, famous or unknown, enslaved or free, will have to receive the mark on his hand or forehead to avoid death. The hand represents our actions; the forehead represents our minds, specifically our frontal lobes, where all thoughts and decisions are made.

Those who choose to receive the mark on their foreheads take on the beast’s character, disobedience to God. Acceptance of the Sunday law is willing disobedience to God and willing obedience to the beast power (Satan). There are only two choices (Matt. 6:24).

Those who accept the mark in their right hand go along with the worship of Satan and the beast by accepting Sunday worship, even if not in their minds. Any compliance with Sunday worship is acceptance of the mark of the beast. The mark of the beast is false worship.

Lastly, verse 17 reads, “so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.” NIV

Without the mark, no one can buy or sell anything. This mandate won’t be difficult to enforce in today’s digital world, where everything is increasingly being monitored. This directive will put overwhelming pressure on the world to accept the mark. Without the ability to buy or sell, it becomes an issue of self-preservation. It will be impossible for one to sustain oneself without the ability to purchase food and provide shelter.

Even so, those who receive the mark of the beast will receive the wrath of God poured out without mixture (Rev. 14:9-10).

Conclusion

This timetable of events is hard to fathom; how the great United States of America can partake in such damnable actions. But it is prophesied in the Word of God. Prophecy is history foretold, and history is prophecy fulfilled.

The arrival of the United States, speaking as a dragon, is futuristic. It will include intolerance, persecution, and ultimately, the worship of the papacy with the institution of Sunday holiness. It doesn’t take much observation to see that the process has already begun.

When this law is passed, it will be a clear indication that the end is imminent.

The issue has always been worship. Satan wants the world to worship him instead of God. This fact was clearly evident when he tried to tempt Jesus. In Matt 4:8-9 it reads, “Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;  And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.”  Worship is Satan’s highest priority and is the catalyst for spiritual warfare.

Satan is tempting the world today to worship him instead of God. Christians must stand strong, obey God’s commandments, and practice righteousness because the time is coming when we or those after us will have to choose between worshipping God on the sixth day or worshipping Satan on the first day.

Amen

Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.

Blessings

What is the Beast of Revelation? Is it a symbol, a fable, or an imminent reality? This article will answer this insightful question.

What is the Beast?

As mentioned in previous articles, the Book of Revelation is prophetic and highly symbolic. Therefore, a number of items mentioned represent something other than what we usually know them to be.

In prophecy, beasts represent religious or political powers. The Book of Daniel mentioned the beast of Revelation long before the Apostle John penned Revelation.

Scripture confirms itself, and the Book of Daniel is key to comprehending the Book of Revelation.

Daniel had a vision in Chapter 7 of his book. Let’s look at this vision in Dan 7:2-8

2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.

3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.

5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.

6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.

7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

Let’s now look at John’s vision in Rev 13:1-3

1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

In Daniel’s vision, he saw four distinct creatures: a lion, a bear, a four-headed leopard, and a fourth dreadful creature with ten horns rise up out of a dark and stormy sea (vss. 1-7). These creatures in Daniel’s vision are clearly representative of the sequence of empires from Nebucadnezzar’s Babylon to the Roman Empire.

Secular history confirms that these empires not only came into existence but in the exact order as Daniel’s vision depicted. It is from the fourth creature, which represents The Roman Empire, that the “ten horns”
arose.

The two visions (Daniel’s and John’s in Revelation) are very similar. In each incident, there are seven heads. In Revelation 13, John saw one creature, not four distinct ones. Still, the characteristics were the same—seven heads and ten horns were portrayed. In each account, the prophets visioned the symbolism of a lion, a bear, and a leopard.

However, there were differences. In Daniel’s case, it was fundamentally all imminent when he saw his vision. Babylon, symbolized by a lion, was present on the scene, and the remaining ones were yet to come.

When John saw his vision more than 600 years later, Babylon, Persia, and Greece were history. John focused not on the different beasts to arise but on the details concerning the one beast whose history he recorded in advance. Prophecy is history in advance; history is prophecy fulfilled.

Whereas Daniel concentrated on four empires, John’s vision centered on the one system that sprung from Babylon. He observed the various empires as merely different heads of the same creature.

On the other hand, Daniel identified what he saw as beginning in his days and remaining until the return of Christ when the saved ones would acquire the kingdom (Daniel 7:18). The Roman Empire of John’s day was simply a perpetuation of what had begun in Babylon.

The Beast of Revelation

The Apostle John stood upon the beach on the shore of the Isle of Patmos in the Mediterranean Sea and noticed that a change began to form. As he stared, captivated to see what would happen, a strange creature rose out of the water.

Waters in prophecy represent peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. As mentioned earlier, a beast represents a religious or political power. This entity denotes a new world power arising from a densely inhabited area of the earth. Secular history verifies that this new power arises from the territory of its predecessor, pagan Rome. The description of the beast in the passage makes its identity crystal clear.

In verse one, “having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns.” Each head has a crown and represents a specific king or kingdom. The kingdoms denoted by the seven heads are Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, pagan Rome, papal Rome, The United States of America, and the One World Coalition. These seven kingdoms have persecuted Christians since the time of Babylon. They will continue to do so until the end of the world when Christ returns.

Since this beast has the names of blasphemy or words of blasphemy on each of its heads indicates that this is a religious power. Additionally, it is a political power with seven kingdoms empowering it throughout history.

These heads have the name of blasphemy written upon them. Blasphemy is described as claiming to be God or claiming the power to forgive sins. Jesus affirmed to be God, and He did forgive sins. This affirmation led the Jewish leaders to charge Him with blasphemy. To them, He was a man as they were instead of the Son of God. Since Jesus is God, it was not blasphemous for Him to forgive sins or to declare that He is God.

Revelation 17:10 define the seven heads as seven kings. It reads, “And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.” Daniel 7 (vss. 17, 23) illustrates that the words “kings” and “kingdoms” are interchangeable in prophecy. Thus the seven heads are kingdoms that supported and will continue to support the great red dragon in its persecution of God’s people, Christians, covered in chapter 12. Again, these heads represent the kingdoms of Babylon, Medo Persia, Greece, pagan Rome, papal Rome, the United States of America, and a One world coalition at the end of time. The two latter ones are present and future.

The phrase, “five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.” One of the seven heads received a deadly wound (vs. 3) in 1798. This deadly wound occurred with the capture and captivity of Pope Pius VI by Napoleon’s general Berthier. When this incident occurred, the beast lost its political power over the nations of the earth and over which it had dominance. As a result, a heavy blow was imposed upon the church powered by the beast—the false church. Notice in Revelation 17 that there are no crowns upon the beast’s ten horns. The loss of crowns denotes the loss of power over the political kingdoms of the earth.

After 1798, the beast transitioned from was to is not. Concerning the seven heads, in Revelation 17:10, “five are fallen.”
When the deadly wound occurred to one of the heads in Revelation 13:3, this is synonymous with five of the heads being fallen. It was the fifth of the seven heads that received the deadly wound. When the fifth head received the deadly wound in 1798, it is accurate to say that “five are fallen”
and that the beast “was” and “is not.”

It is the papacy that received the deadly wound in 1798. To comprehend the timing of this deadly wound, it is essential to note that this beast had power for 42 prophetic months (vs.5).

That’s 1,260 years of papal supremacy from AD 538—1798. For more on this time period, please see the article, What is 1844 about on this website.

Although the deadly wound will not heal completely pending the passing of the Sunday law, the healing process commenced in 1929 with the treaty between Mussolini and the Vatican, which began restoring the papacy’s political power. Since then, the pontiffs have become significant players in the political scenes of the world.

The association concerning the popes and the United States presidents, particularly from the period of Pope John Paul the Second and President Reagan to the present, indicates that the wound is healing progressively for the provision to fulfill the prophecy of the complete healing of the wound.

The deadly wound is healing effectively and will heal completely with the passing of the Sunday law.

The deadly wound takes place at the end of the 1,260 years of papal supremacy. Nonetheless, the deadly wound will be healed sometime in the future after 1798. When this wound is healed, “all the world” will wonder “after the beast.”

All the false forms of the religion of the pagan nations from Babylon to Rome have been integrated into the papacy. The papacy is the fundamental system of false religion. It combines church and state, and many forms of paganism continue under the façade of Christianity.

Whereas five of the heads were fallen by 1798, another head or kingdom currently exists, as the Scripture reads, “and one is.” This kingdom is the sixth head which is current, and is the prophetic kingdom between the deadly wound of 1798 and the complete healing of the deadly wound when the Sunday law is passed.

As for the sixth kingdom, from a historic standpoint, there are two views: Atheistic France and the Protestant United States. It was France that delivered the deadly wound in 1798. This beast arose in 1793 with the French Revolution, just before the deadly wound, and has been responsible for secularism and a godless worldview ever since. Atheism has been at war with the papacy since 1798. However, atheism is not a kingdom but a movement, making it a less likely prospect.

As for the Protestant United States, historically, it became autonomous after the War of Independence in the late 1700s, about the time of the papacy receiving the deadly wound.

Both atheism and Protestantism in America have flourished worldwide as the papacy has been in its wounded state. However, only one power can characterize the sixth head. Protestant America became part of Babylon, as seen in Revelation 14:8. The message from the second angel
is that “Babylon is fallen.” For more on the Three Angels Messages, see the article, The Three Angels Message, on this website.

There are two falls. The Roman Catholic Church fell centuries past. Through a system, it merged pagan idolatry into the Christian church. It changed the Sabbath to Sunday and the confession of sins to the priests rather than Christ, the High Priest. It additionally claims the pope as the voice of God on earth. These and other erroneous doctrines have continued perpetually for centuries.

The protestant churches in America have to a substantial degree, accepted the Babylonian theology of Sunday as the Sabbath along with others and are paving the way for the comeback of the wounded head in the future. At this time, the union of church and state will take place.

Consequently, the sixth “now is” head of the beast represents the Protestant United States of America. [Also, the second beast of Revelation 13] This sixth head endures from 1798 to the passing of the Sunday law. Throughout this period from 1798 and the passing of the Sunday law, the papacy will not have power over the world’s nations as it did from AD 538-1798.

As for the seventh head, this head or kingdom is the future. As the Scripture reads, “and other is not yet come;” This kingdom will succeed the Protestant United States of America after the Sunday law is passed and involves the second beast in Revelation 13, which will be covered in a future article.

This seventh kingdom will arise in the future when the beast that received the deadly wound rises from the bottomless pit (Rev. 17:8). This kingdom’s power is only necessary for a brief time, As the Scripture reads, “and when he cometh he must continue a short space.”

The seven heads of this beast are the same heads or kingdoms in chapters 12 and 17.

Regarding the seven crowns, crowns denote rulership. Since there is a crown on each head, this indicates the rulership and dominion of each kingdom.

Back to Revelation 13, our key passage, in verse 2, we see that this creature had a leopard’s body, a lion’s mouth, and a bear’s feet. It, therefore, characterized the principal characteristics of the first three creatures Daniel had seen in his vision recorded in Daniel 7. The beast that John saw likewise had seven heads and ten horns. We are also told that “the dragon” gave this creature “his power, and his seat, and great authority.” The dragon represents Satan, the devil (Rev 12:9).

We see here that this beast, this political and religious power, is powered by Satan, the devil. The fact of the matter is that Satan has power on earth with whom he has invested his authority. After all, in Scripture, he is called “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2), “the prince of this world” (John 12:31), “prince of devils” (Matt. 9:34), and “the enemy” (Matt. 13:39).

Conclusion

It is intensely calamitous, considering this entity, the beast, is a professed Christian power. Therefore, this beast, known as spiritual Babylon, is a satanic power while Christian in appearance. This spiritual Babylon established itself in Rome and persecuted Christ and the Christian church. When Rome fell in AD 476, the dragon endowed the beast with great power and authority to be his agent of government on the earth.

The dragon in this prophecy is Satan, who persecutes Christ and the Christian church. He then gives his power, seat, and authority to the papacy. The seat of the papacy is in Rome. And it established its power where Pagan Rome had its seat. The papacy continued this work of persecution for 42 prophetic months, or 1260 literal years.

It is essential to realize that Satan, the father of lies; a murder from the beginning (John 8:44), is behind the power behind this beast. Satan is ultimately behind every act of evil on the earth. He inspired the nationalistic monarchies and empires to harass, torture, and kill the people of God (Christians) during the dark ages. He is the power behind the 1260 years of torture and the death of millions of Christians.

The fact of the matter is Satan works through the papacy to gain the worship of the earth. The vision illuminates this in verses 4-8 (Rev. 13:4-8).

The ongoing battle from the beginning is over worship. Satan has always wanted to be worshipped, to take worship from God to himself; he wants to be like God. This state of affairs is most evident during his temptation of Christ in the wilderness. Luke 4:5-8 reads:

5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.

7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” NKJV

In his final attempt to seduce Jesus to worship him, he offered Him “all the kingdoms of the world…, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”

However, in verse 8, “And Jesus answered and said to him,  “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.” NKJV

Jesus made the choice and is an example of the choice we should make—to serve God only. Because in the end, we will have to choose who we will worship. There is no middle ground in the struggle between God and Satan.

Prophecy is history foretold, history and prophecy fulfilled. The prophecies in this article illustrate the ongoing battle of spiritual warfare. For more on spiritual warfare, please see the article, All about Spiritual Warfare, on this website.

Amen

Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.

Blessings

Deep in the book of Revelation, two churches are presented. They are somewhat hidden because of the symbolism used. This article will reveal these two churches: The Two Churches of Revelation.

The Problem of the Church

In 1882, philosopher Frederick Nietzsche declared that God is dead. Some may argue the church is dead or at least dying. It isn’t challenging to understand the reason for such pronouncements. In the West, extensive tumbling in church attendance is taking place. Societies are changing, biblical morality is being mocked, and a sense of sharing value is practically non-existent. In cities and towns all over the Western world, church attendance is on a downward trend. In the US, more churches are closing than opening each year. In Canada, one-third of churches may close in the future.

As secularism makes colossal advances in society, it is clear that churches are in decline. In October 2019, The Pew Research Center
ran an article that noted that in 2018, and 2019, 65 percent of American adults professed themselves to be Christians regarding their religious affiliation. That is down 12 percent over the past decade. [search for charts] In the meantime, the unaffiliated segment of the population that declared themselves atheist, agnostic, or non-religious is currently 26%, up from 17% in 2009. These percentages represent tens of millions who have shifted their religious priorities. This shift illustrates an enormously significant change in the American religious scene in just ten years.

The question becomes, what will the nation look like in a few more decades? The Pew Research Center estimates that in 2020, about 64% of Americans, including children, were Christian. Unaffiliated individuals accounted for 30% of the US population. Other affiliations, including Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists, totaled roughly 6%. The projections show Christians of all ages declining from 64% to slightly more than half and a little above one-third of all Americans by 2070.

This trajectory is the same in other Western nations as well. For example, only 44% of Australians currently characterize themselves as Christians, down from 52% in 2016—the same for England and Wales. Canada has been on the border of woke culture in recent years. As a result, the number of church attendees has considerably declined. In 2001, 77% of the population professed Christianity. However, in 2021, the percentage dropped to 53%.

The question now becomes, why the shift? Why is this happening? For sure, the COVID-19 pandemic is a particular culprit. It was the cause of everything, including churches, to shut down. The marvels of technology stepped in and allowed churches to stream their services online.

Nevertheless, it has become a permanent solution instead of a temporary adjustment. It was easier for those on the border of church versus non-church to simply drift away altogether. Others are taking advantage of worshipping in the comfort of their homes. The advent of online worship has profoundly changed how individuals approach church worship. Choosing to worship online can be a trend that may be disturbing.

Jesus’ Answer?

So, where is this heading? What lies in the future of churches in the Western world? More significantly, what does Jesus, the head of the church, think about this? Will the church eventually disappear?

In Matthew 16:18, He said, … “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” This statement means that His church will never die. The grave will not consume His church. There will always be someone(s), somewhere, who is a faithful disciple(s) of Christ up until His return.

Further, in Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus said, in Matt 28:18-20:

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

This passage tells us that Jesus will personally direct His church until his return.

In Matthew 24 14, Jesus also said, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”

It doesn’t appear that Christ’s church will disappear.

The Two Churches of Revelation

Christ’s church will not die! Therefore, there is no need to be concerned about the church ending.

However, there is one thing that we should be concerned about.

Biblical prophecy tells us that on the horizon, not one but two churches will exist in the end times. This prophecy breaks down all the dominations that have existed over time into two groups. This prophecy exists in the book of Revelation.

The First Church

Keep in mind that Revelation is highly symbolic. Floods represent armies, horns represent kings or kingdoms, and women represent churches. It is important to note that two different women are documented in Revelation.

To look at one, Rev 17:1-6 contains a description.

 1 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:

2 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.

3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

 

This description is one of the women in Revelation: a harlot committing fornication, making “the inhabitants of the earth…” “…drunk” with spiritual error. She is also riding on a beast. Beasts in prophecy represent political or religious power. Therefore this harlot is a politically powerful church directing the actions of a corrupt government or kingdom.

In verse 4, we see this woman, or church, as enormously wealthy. And in verse 5, she is “the mother of harlots.” Meaning she also has harlot daughters, other churches that teach the same thing spun from her.

In verse 6, we see that she has killed the true and faithful followers, “the martyrs of Jesus.”

Revelation shows us that this church will carry on and operate with great power for some time, but its downfall will be sudden, as we see in verses Rev 17:15-18

15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

In verse 16, we see that this all-powerful church, represented by a woman, in the end, will be overwhelmed by the beast power she rode upon.

There is a warning not to ride this beast. Rev 18:4-5 says,

4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”

5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

Therefore, there isn’t an urgent need to be concerned about falling church attendance. The need for concern is not to fall prey to the false church that promotes false doctrine and leads to destruction, no matter how enticing it may be.

More detail is given about this woman—this church in Rev 13:11-15

11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

Notice the two horns of a lamb. Jesus is portrayed as a lamb. Therefore, this leader will appear to be like Christ, a Christian and a man of God, but he speaks like a dragon. What does the dragon represent? None other than Satan the devil (Rev. 12:9). Therefore, this leader will not speak the words of Jesus, but the words of Satan, the devil deceiving copious amounts of the world’s population into thinking that they are following Christ.

12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

So that’s the first church.

The Second Church

There is another woman represented in Revelation. She is acknowledged as the faithful and obedient church that follows Christ. Rev 12:1-2, 5 reads:

1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

This woman represents the true church, the saints of the Old Testament that grew into a nation

2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

The child was Jesus Christ, whose destiny is to rule all nations on the earth when He returns.

6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

This verse speaks of what happened to the faithful followers of Christ. Early in the church’s history, there was a branch that didn’t follow Christ’s teachings, which grew into a powerful entity that outnumbered the faithful followers of Christ.

These true and faithful followers had to go into hiding during these “thousand two hundred and threescore days” to escape persecution. Days in prophecy represent years. Therefore, the actual time of this period was 1260 years. For more information on this period, read the article, What is 1844 about, on this website.

Although millions of Christians were persecuted during this time, there were others who survived in “a place prepared of God.”

But the war wasn’t over; Rev 12:17 says, “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

The dragon is highly upset with the true church. Meanwhile, Satan has continued to deceive the whole world (Rev. 12:9 ).

There will be a mass deception by a false church in the last days. This deception will culminate in the operation of this church that has been operating for centuries.

Most individuals who profess Christianity are merely following the traditions of man, not the Christianity of Christ. Mark 7:9 quotes Jesus on this matter: “And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.”

Those of the true church “keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

God offers protection for His true church. Rev 12:13-16 says:

13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood the dragon cast out of his mouth.

After Christ ascended to heaven, Satan turned his attention to the woman to persecute her.

She is given two great wings to fly into the wilderness. This wilderness describes the place God prepared for the church to flee during the 1260 years of papal persecution from AD 538—1798, described as “a time, and times, and half a time.“

The flood waters in verse 15 represent persecution. He intended to destroy the woman or church, having it carried away by the flood and destroyed.

However, “the earth…swallowed up the flood” which “the dragon”
the devil “cast out of his mouth.” The earth represents the unpopulated areas of the world. The low-population areas were ideal for swallowing up the flood of persecution. The earth kept the woman from annihilation by Satan and the papacy during the 1260 years.

Conclusion

This false church is ongoing and will ultimately be destroyed (Revelation 18:1-8) just as the harlot (Rev. 17:16) that perpetuates it, and Christ’s true church will prevail. But tribulation must precede this act of Justice by God.

If we are indeed followers of Christ, if we obey all Ten of His Commandments, we are covered with the blood of His cross, being led by His Holy Spirit, He will protect us in the coming colossal tribulation.

Let us not be deceived by the harlot of the false Church!

Amen

Questions, comments, and concerns are welcomed below.

Blessings!

What is the faith of Jesus? There is the faith in Jesus and the faith of
Jesus. What’s the difference? The difference is…significant.

In the King James translation, there are four Scriptures that address the faith of Jesus (Rom3:22, Gal 2:16, 3:22, Rev. 14:12). The Scripture this article will focus on is Rev 14:12

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

However, before we address this Scripture, we must take a look at precisely who it addresses.

Those Who Follow the Lamb

Those who follow the lamb (Jesus) will receive the Seal of God and be saved. [Rev. 7:3,14:1]

Rev 14:4 describe the ones that follow the lamb. Keep in mind that Revelation is highly symbolic, which will be explained as we move through.

4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.

The “ones” mentioned in this verse are in reference to the 144,000. This symbolic number represents the saints that follow the Lamb in spite of all they have gone through. They have lived through the experience of overcoming the beast, his image, and the mark of the beast. They have been victorious. The Scripture says that these are the ones who are “not defiled with women.”

In prophecy, a woman represents the church. However, the church depicted here is not God’s church. Rather, the women mentioned represent the false, apostate churches. These women are the daughters of the harlot mentioned in Revelation 17 (Rev.17:4). This harlot rides the beast powered by Satan, the dragon, and these women, her daughters, defile all who partake of her wine or false teachings.

These “ones” are not defiled by the false teachings of the apostate churches of Catholicism or apostate Protestantism.

The Scripture describes these “ones” as virgins. They are pure because they come from a pure church and have not allowed themselves to be defiled by the women that commit fornication. Fornication in Revelation represents worship that is not true worship or false doctrine.

The Scripture says that these “ones” follow the Lamb wherever He goes” This Lamb represents Jesus Christ. This is how these “ones” kept themselves from being defiled by the “women”
of the apostate churches: by following Christ.

The Scripture says these “ones” “were redeemed from among men.”
When all the world wonders after the beast, as it states in Revelation 13:3, and receives his mark, these “ones” are “redeemed”
from the earth, from among men.”

The Scripture says these “ones” “are the firstfruits to God and to the lamb.” First fruits represent the best of the harvest. These “ones” are separate from the multitudes of the harvest mentioned in Revelation 7. They are the best of the harvest. They keep the Sabbath along with all of the other Commandments. They have followed Jesus into The Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary. They have survived the most difficult time in Earth’s history.

What does this mean for us? I’m sure all of us would like to be included in the group with these “ones.” Therefore, we must study and follow the Scriptures carefully.

The Faith of Jesus

So what is the faith of Jesus? Rev 14:12 reads:

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

This is our primary text that was introduced at the beginning.

This Scripture is from the third angel of the Three Angels Messages and the conclusion of the third angel’s message. This is a pronouncement of the integrity of the 144,000.

The Greek word translated as “patience” is hupone which means endurance. Not only will they have patience, but they will be of those who will “keep the commandments of God.” They will steadfastly keep all ten of the Commandments, including the fourth one, by keeping the seventh-day Sabbath. In spite of the fury of the dragon (the devil), these saints will prevail for keeping the Commandments through the power of God.

Heb 12:1-2 Reads:

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The most poignant point made in this verse is that Jesus “endured the cross.” The Geek word translated endured is hupomeno which means to strive or undergo. It refers to having patience, endurance, and steadfastness under trials. This endurance is what Jesus exhibited on the cross. Jesus totally submitted Himself to the will of the Father when He suffered the cross.

Because the 144,000 will have the faith of Jesus, they will be empowered to keep the commandments of God and have the patience necessary to live through the last and trying days on earth.

In Revelation 14:12, we are called to run with patience, or endurance, the race that is set before us. To have victory over sin and run the race before us with patience, we must keep our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus.

As we personally experience the redemption of the cross, we must run with endurance the race set before us. Looking to Jesus, the “author and finisher of our faith.”

At the beginning of the race, we need faith in Jesus as our savior. But to finish the race, we need the faith of Jesus. There is a difference between faith in Jesus and faith of Jesus. We need the same faith Jesus had when He was on earth as He endured the temptations of this world and then the agony and shame of the cross. It is this
faith that allowed Him to sit at the right hand of the throne of God, the faith He had in His Father.

How do we develop the faith of Jesus?

Since Jesus fully submitted Himself to the will of the Father, we must fully submit ourselves to Christ. Romans 6:1-8 reads:

1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?

2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.

6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—

7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. NIV

In the previous chapter, Paul addressed grace; that no matter how sinful we may be, there is enough grace to free us from sin and to sin. However, he makes it clear in this passage that when we accept Christ Jesus and are baptized, we are dead to sin.

When immersed in the waters of baptism, it publicly symbolizes the burial of our sins and Christ’s death. When we are raised from the water, it publicly symbolizes a newness of life and Christ’s resurrection. This action is exercising faith in Jesus. Faith in Jesus gets us there (salvation); the faith of Jesus keeps us there – through it all.

This action represents death to self. Just as Jesus totally submitted Himself to God, His Father, on the cross, when we are crucified with Christ, we totally submit ourselves to Him. He then lives out His life through us. The faith that is exercised in a life that is crucified with Christ is the faith of Jesus.

So the first step to achieving the faith of Jesus is the remission of sins—to stop sinning. The second step is to allow our faith to grow through the power of the Holy Spirit. Christ promised the Holy Spirit upon His departure for this purpose.

Gal 3:13-14 says:

13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

In summary, God’s Spirit takes up residence in a person who has trusted Christ and is now living by faith.

The power of the Holy Spirit enables us to obtain the faith of Jesus.

In Rev 3:21, Jesus said”

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. KJV

This statement of Jesus represents the faith He had while on earth.

We need this faith, brothers and sisters to “overcometh” because the time is coming when we must; when we will have to endure our own, ultimate, attack of the beast. We must allow the crucibles of life to prepare us for having the endurance required to make it through the final crisis.

James advises us in James 1:2-4

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. NKJV

If we are going to finish the race, if we are going to be included with these “ones,” we need patience and the faith of Jesus and “follow the lamb whithersoever he Goeth.”

Amen

Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.

Blessings!

The Brook Cherith (pronounced ke’rith) is a highly significant location in the Bible. Why? What is the Brook Cherith about? It is the intention of this article to answer these questions.

What is the Brook Cherith?

A brook is a natural freshwater stream; it is smaller than a river. The Brook Cherith was located in western Jodan in the Jordan Valley and flowed into the Jordan River. Cherith means cutting or separation, which probably refers to the geological nature of the stream. It has been described as one of the wildest ravines of this rugged region.

What is the Brook Cherith About?

So, what is the Brook Cherith about? What is its significance? The location of the Brook of Cherith is where one of the most significant of biblical events occurred.

Enter Elijah

Known as Elijah the Tishbite, Elijah was born around 900 BCE in the village of Tishbe in Gilead in ancient Palestine. Not much is known concerning his birthplace other than it is likely the ancient city of Listib, which is present-day Jordan. He was the son of Savah, but nothing is recorded about his background.

However, Elijah was indeed a prophet and is portrayed as having lived during the reigns of Israelite Kings Ahab, Ahaziah, and Jehoram, during the first half of the 9th century BC. He was known as the prophet of confrontation. In the Scriptures, Elijah appears suddenly to promote traditional orthodox Jewish beliefs. His first appearance places him about midway through the reign of King Ahab, son of Omri, who founded the northern kingdom of Samaria. This period would place Elijah somewhere around 864 BC.

Elijah was a dynamic prophet during a tumultuous time in Israel’s history. The nation had betrayed the Lord by worshipping Baal, and King Ahab had allied with Sidon by marrying their princess, Jezebel. Elijah was sent to show Israel the evil of their ways and encourage them to return to the Lord.

This mission is described in the Scriptures in 1 Kings 17:1

17 And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.” NKJV

The entrance of Elijah in the Scriptures is abrupt, bold, and dramatic. Like a bolt of lightning from heaven, Elijah suddenly appears on the scene. He confronts King Ahab, the wicked king of Israel, about the future weather conditions. Conversing about the weather is a typical conversation with people. But there was nothing typical about the weather talk of Elijah before Ahab, which we see in our text. An uncompromising Elijah stated that it was judgment time for Israel. He declared that a severe drought was coming to the land and would remain until he decided to stop it. No rain, no dew, no moisture, nothing. Only the burning, searing, wilting sun day after day until Elijah called a halt to the torment.

The Brook

It was a bold and severe prediction about the weather that did not go well with Ahab. Imagine declaring judgment before a wicked king! He stood the chance of being beheaded. Therefore, he wasted no time leaving the presence of King Ahab, as we see in verses 2 and 3

2 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying,

3 “Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. NKJV

Evidently, while Ahab was in a state of shock and unbelief from the appearance and pronouncement by the rugged and brazen prophet, Elijah abruptly walked out before he could be arrested. Immediately or soon after, the Lord instructed Elijah to flee and hide from the king in the event Ahab sought retaliation or revenge, especially after the drought commenced. Furthermore, the prophet needed to be out of Ahab’s reach, for the king would undoubtedly place undue pressure upon Elijah to stop the drought.

Next, we see that Scripture dramatically describes how God protected and provided for His beloved prophet. Verses: 4-6 reads:

4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

5 So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

Here we see the provision of the Lord—supernatural provision. Imagine birds delivering food!

Elijah was obedient to God, and God provided for His beloved servant in the wilderness. Elijah witnessed God’s power as the ravens brought him bread and meat twice daily, morning and evening. And he drank fresh water from the flowing brook.

Despite being totally alone and being hunted down by the king, Elijah’s needs were met by the Lord Himself. God’s dear servant was being protected and provided for day by day.

Although protected and provided for during the drought, imagine being all alone, unable to go anywhere, with nowhere to turn. Research yields that Elijah was sustained at the brook for about three years. Now, isolated from society and deprived of luxuries, he couldn’t go out to eat or even to the store. What do you suppose he did for three years?

He had no TV, radio, cell phone, or tablet; he couldn’t go and visit with friends. He had to wait—by the brook.

Have you ever been in a major life situation when you couldn’t do anything about it? A time when you have done all that you could have done, all you could do was wait? We’ve all been faced with a situation such as this. I call them brookside experiences.

These situations can involve life-changing and life-sustaining conditions, including career and spouse choices, where to live, and financial decisions, to name a few. It can be any situation in which we cannot solve ourselves. When we seek an answer through prayer, and we don’t receive it, we have to wait—by the brook.

The brook is where God places us sometimes for reasons that only He, in His wisdom, knows. It can be for timing. Perhaps the time may not be suitable for what we are seeking.

A time for preparation: Perhaps we aren’t prepared for what we are seeking, or what we are seeking isn’t ready for us.

A time of reflection: Perhaps what we seek isn’t suitable for us at all, and during this time, God can minister to us so that we will realize how unsuitable it really is.

A time of opportunity: Perhaps, God places us in this situation to bond with us. This time can be an opportunity to get closer to Him. Even if for one of the reasons above, it can be an opening to get closer to God.

God provided for Elijah’s nutritional needs in a most supernatural way; birds bought him “bread and flesh.”

We can be assured that Elijah, being the servant of God he was, used this time to solidify his relationship with his Lord.

Sometimes, as with Elijah, the brook is the only solution. He could have been captured and killed had he not obeyed the Lord. But aside from safety, there can be much gained from a brookside experience.

However, brookside experiences can be daunting. Verse 7 reads:

And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

Brookside experiences are temporary to varying degrees, and the temporary provision can begin to wane. This temporary provision can be unemployment insurance, temporary housing, a temp job, or even counseling that pulled us through the experience. Nevertheless, these things come to an end.

In Elijah’s case, his provision, the brook—dried up. What on earth was he to do with no water?

Verses 8-9 tell us:

8 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,

9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.

God is faithful!

While experiencing a brookside experience, we may feel that we are all alone. However, we are never alone; the Lord steps in just when the brook dries up. In Elijah’s case, the ordeal wasn’t over, but God made further provision for him; a widow would sustain him.

In this passage, we see that when one door closes, the Lord opens another one. God has promised, “for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” This promise is why, as difficult as it may be, we must maintain our faith during our brookside experiences. God provided for Elijah supernaturally; can He not do it for us?

Rom 1:17 reads, “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Faith and unconditional trust is the chosen way of receiving God’s righteousness and blessings. Because of God’s faithfulness to his promises, they move on in our response to faith. It is a perpetual progression throughout life. “the just shall live by faith.” Therefore, it is by faith, “faith to faith,” in other words, from first to last—from the beginning to the end. We need faith in Jesus at the beginning of our journey with the Lord, but we need the faith of
Jesus, the faith He had to endure the cross, to carry us through—to make it through our brookside experiences.

An observation of current events will yield to us that an extensive brookside experience is coming our way, a situation that we will be able to do nothing about—but wait and pray for the return of the Lord.

We need the faith of Jesus to carry us through life and into the presence of the Lord. Rev 14:12 says, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

Amen

Covetousness—one of the sins we don’t hear much about these days. Yet, it is among the most dangerous ones we can commit. So, what is covetousness about? This article will expound on this insidious state of mind.

What is Covetousness?

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, it is “marked by inordinate desire for wealth or possessions or for another’s possessions.”

In other words, it is an intense desire to possess something (or someone) that belongs to another person.

Even though we may not hear much about it, it is a severe offense. It is, in a word, sin. After all, it is addressed in God’s moral Law, the tenth Commandment of the Ten Commandments (last but not least). Ex 20:17 reads:

17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

What Does the Bible say?

What does the Bible say about covetousness? We’ve already seen that God’s base moral  Law forbids covetousness. However, other Scriptures take the point home. One poignant Scripture that touches upon the harm of covetousness is 1 Cor 6:9-10

9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,

10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. NKJV

Notice that the “covetous” is included with the unrighteous that “will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Therefore, if an individual is not guilty of any of the other listed behaviors yet desires something of their neighbor (covetousness), they will not inherit the kingdom; they will not go to heaven.

Take note of what  James 2:10 says: “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” NIV

We may not be as conscious of the sin of covetousness as we are about other sins, but it carries a heavy penalty if we yield to it. We must keep all of the Commandments of God.

The Consequence of Covetousness

God said to the Israelites through Moses in Numbers 15:40-41
40 That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.
41 I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God.

This passage was God’s will for Israel; He was to be their leader, their God. To transgress the will of God and His Commandments is sin (1 John 3:4).

Sin has consequences. Rom 6:23 says: “For the wages of sin is death.”
There is no more straightforward example of this than with the nation of Israel. 1 Sam 8:4-20 unfolds the account. This passage is rather lengthy, but it is necessary to view it entirely to grasp the impact.

4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”

Up to this point, Israel was a theocracy, meaning it was under a government led by God. But they no longer wanted to be governed by God; they wanted to be governed by a king like the other sinful nations around them.

6 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.

It was God’s will to lead His people. However, since they rejected Him and desired a king instead, He allowed it, and it became His permissive will. But it came with a stern warning.

The Lord continued.

9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do.” 10 Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the Lord will not answer you in that day.” 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” NIV

Israel was warned in detail of the consequences of having a king over them. Yet, because of their covetousness, they insisted on having a king. They were deaf to reason and blind to the evil of their craving desire, their covetousness. They desired a king who could unite the nation, establish an army, and lead them to triumph over their enemies. In other words, they wanted a king who could be their savior, deliverer, protector, and provider.

Covetousness and jealousy are first cousins. While invisible, they can manifest emotions that influence all senses of reasoning, causing blindness to the consequences. So, God gave them a king and many kings thereafter. What were the results? All of the above, and then some.

By rejecting God as their Savior and Deliverer, their Protector and Provider, the Israelites were ready to put their destiny into the hands of a human being rather than into the hands of God. They decided to make a covenant, an agreement with a man, and to forget their covenant with God. What a fatal mistake.

According to verse 8, Israel was already out of favor with God because of their idolatry. So He gave them what they wanted. History has proven that their stubborn resistance to God was catastrophic. Down through the centuries, Israel had suffered terribly for their continued stubbornness against God.

As a result, the kings that Israel coveted so strongly led them further into idolatry, causing the kingdom to be divided. Two of the twelve tribes, Judah  and Benjamin, became the southern kingdom, and the remaining ten fashioned the northern kingdom of Israel.

All of Israel’s kings were evil and practiced idolatry; Judah had a few good kings. Overall, God was angry with both kingdoms for their idolatry and warned them repeatedly about it through the prophets. Eventually, God sent the Babylonians to attack both kingdoms and carried them away into exile.

Imagine, an entire nation destroyed because of covetousness. Prov 14:34 says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” NIV

The trials, the heartaches, the death, and the destruction all because they coveted a king like the other nations. Israel turned entirely away from God and paid a dear price. Over time the nation became a disgrace and was annihilated.

As mentioned earlier, this wasn’t God’s will for Israel, but since they wanted a king instead of Him, He gave them what they wanted. This scenario brings to memory the well-known quote from the Irish poet Oscar Wilde: “When the gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers.” Therefore, we must be careful what we ask for; we just might get it.

Covetousness is idolatry because it diverts attention away from God and onto what is coveted. As the US continues along its unrighteous, idolatrous path, it, too, will pay the price. This is an undeniable principle of God.

This principle also applies to us individually; we pay a dear price when we covet what or who others have. Eph 5:5 states: “For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person — such a man is an idolater — has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” NIV

God provides what we should have.

Conclusion

There is a vital lesson for us in this experience of the Israelites. As 1 Cor 10:11 informs, “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.” NIV

1 Cor 10:6 also states, “Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.” NKJV

To covet or desire to be led by man instead of God, as Israel did, is included in “evil things.”

The lesson also to learn is that we must not covet what others have. It is the tenth Commandment of God’s moral Law. With this transgression of the Law, we never know what it will bring upon us.

Covetousness also involves an inordinate desire to be rich. Scripture warns against this as well. 1 Tim 6:9-10 warns:

9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil,…NKJV

Coveting riches only drives us into destruction, and as Jesus warns in Luke 12:15, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” NKJV

Lastly, we must not be stubborn, stiff-necked, and hard-hearted against God; He knows best.

Questions, comments, and concerns are welcomed and may be left below.

Blessings!

 

The Cross—a prominent symbol of Christianity. However, what does it mean? What is the Cross? What is the Cross about? This article will shed light on the Cross.

What is the Cross?

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “a structure consisting of an upright with a transverse beam used especially by the ancient Romans for execution.” It is known as a symbol of death, the cruelest form of execution. But to the Christian, there is one special Cross: the Cross on which Jesus was crucified. Therefore, to the Christian, the Cross means so many things.

Love

It all begins with love. John 3:16-17 reads:

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

God so loved us that He provided a way to save humanity from their sins by offering His only Son to pay for our sins. Jesus accepted our punishment and paid the price for our sins so we would not perish. This act is truly an act of love.

Rom 5:8-9

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

The death of Christ is the uppermost expression of God’s love for us. While we were rebellious and dreadful, Christ died for us so that we could go to God, find peace with him, and become recipients of his promises. Christ did not die because we were lovable; Christ died because God already loved us and wanted to bring us close to Him. No matter how lonely or alienated we feel, we have the unchangeable fact that Christ died for us. Every time we celebrate communion, we hear the words from Jesus, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 1 Cor 11:25

A Display of Humility

Phil 2:6-8 reads:

6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death —  even death on a cross! NIV

The Incarnation of Christ was the act of the pre-existent Son of God, who voluntarily assumed a human body and human nature. He became a human being; the man called Jesus. While he did not give up his deity to become human, He set aside the right to his glory and power. In submission to the Father’s will, Christ limited his power and knowledge. This act is humility personified.

A Confirmation of Prophecy

The Scriptures have many prophecies of the Cross, from Genesis to Revelation. From the beginning of time, God has been planning to rescue humanity from the clutches of evil through horrific death on the Cross.

Isa 53:4-5 reads:

4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.

5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. NKJV

This prophecy was written some 700 years prior to Christ’s birth. He was marred beyond recognition, tortured, and thoroughly abused. But not only was his punishment prophesied, but so was our atonement. The redemption was prophesied.

A Symbol of Freedom

The Cross is a symbol of the Christian’s freedom. Heb 9:14-15 reads:

14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance — now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. NIV

The blood of Christ cleansed His followers from “dead works.” Before individuals follow Christ, they are filled with sinful thoughts, actions, and behavior. These “dead works” pollute people, putting them in need of repentance.

“For this reason,” in other words, because Christ offered himself to God, He can mediate a new covenant. He mediates based on his self-sacrifice and shed blood. As our High Priest, Christ is the mediator or advocate between us and God. He intervenes for all who believe, looking after their interests and presenting their requests to God. Christ died as a ransom, the price paid to release an enslaved person.

It is the blood of Christ shed on the Cross that has freed us from sin! Look at how Paul addressed this fact in Rom 6:17-18

17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted.

18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. NIV

We all have a master and pattern themselves after him. Without Jesus, we would have no choice; we would be enslaved to sin, resulting in guilt, suffering, and separation from God. However, because of what Jesus did on the Cross, we can now choose God as our Master. Following him, we can enjoy new life and learn how to work for him. We no longer have to serve our first master. We can be free from him.

A Symbol of Suffering

The Cross represents suffering and pain. It is where Jesus suffered and died. Prior to His crucifixion, He had to carry His own Cross with much anguish.

Likewise, the freedom that Christians enjoy is not without problems. The Scripture says in 2 Tim 3:12

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

If we stand up for Christian values to live godly lives, we can expect opposition and hostility from the world. Based upon the testimony of many, we can anticipate facing some form of persecution or resistance if we persist in living in obedience to Christ. Absence of persecution may not mean unfaithfulness, but if our lives as Christians never affect the world, we may have to question the seriousness of our commitment.

Jesus said in John 15:18-20:

18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

Jesus was hated from the beginning (when Jesus was a young child, King Herod sought him out to kill him — Matt 2:13-16). He was hated at the end when the people of His time rejected him as the Savior and called for his crucifixion. Therefore with certainty, the same world will surely hate those who declare faithfulness to the crucified Lord.

To persecute Christians is to persecute Christ because Christians are an expansion of Christ, as branches are an expansion of the vine (John 15:5). Yet despite inevitable persecution, Christians are called to share the gospel — this includes not just telling the story but extending the invitation to accept Jesus as Savior and Lord.

The Cross not only represents suffering through persecution but, through life itself. The Scriptures inform us in Ps 34:18-19 NLT

18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

19 The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.

We often wish we could escape troubles—the pain of grief, loss, sorrow, failure, or even the minor daily aggravations that relentlessly wear us down. But God promises to be “close to the brokenhearted” and our root of power, courage, and wisdom, aiding us through our trials and tribulations. Sometimes He chooses to deliver us from those problems.

All of us, Christian and non-Christian, have trials and tribulations. The difference is the response. The non-Christians, the worldly ones, rely on themselves. Christians rely on Jesus through faith. It is a requirement, as Jesus said in Luke 9:23,  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

Jesus made it clear that following Him would not be easy. To deny ourselves means letting go of selfish desires and earthly security. “Self” is no longer in charge; Christ is. We need this attitude for the days ahead. We must be willing to set aside our desires to fulfill God’s will.

Christians follow the Lord by imitating His life and obeying his commands. Imitating His life involves partaking in His suffering. 1 Peter 4:12-13 reads:

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.

13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
NIV

Christians are not to be surprised at the trials they face as unbelievers do; we have to expect them. God’s plan for our lives often but not always includes pain and hardship. But as the previous Scripture reveals (Ps. 34:19), the Lord delivers us from them all.

This situation is why Jesus said we must take up our crosses: our trials and tribulations, and follow Him. Notice when Jesus said we are to take up our crosses: “daily.”  Following Christ is not a one-shot deal; one must be in it for the long haul. Otherwise, don’t bother. For Jesus also said in Matt 10:38: “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”

Christ’s followers must deny selfish ambitions and selfish desires. Following Christ is costly now, but it is well worth the pain and effort in the long run. Individuals are willing to shell out a high price for something they value. Therefore, is it any surprise that Jesus would demand this much commitment from his followers? At least three conditions must be met by individuals who want to follow Jesus. They must be willing to deny themselves, to take up the cross, and to follow him. Anything less is superficial.

Consequently, when trouble strikes, we must not get frustrated with God. Instead, we must admit that we need God’s help and thank him for being by our side.

This carrying of our crosses is a daily struggle that yields everlasting results.

Summary

As you can see, the cross symbolizes much in the life of a Christian. May we take note, understand its significance, and hold it dear to our hearts.

Amen

Questions, comments, and concerns are welcomed below.

Blessings!

What is 1844 About?

On occasion, articles on this website have addressed the year 1844. However, precisely what is 1844 about? What happened during this year that made it such a significant event in Christendom? Hopefully, this article will shed light on this very question with some answers.

The Background

The year 1844 results from the end of a prophecy written in the book of Daniel. It initially establishes the end of a prophecy and concurrently signifies the initiation of a significant event.

This prophecy is contained in a vision of Daniel, found in Daniel 8:1-13 which describes, with much symbolism, a period that entails the succession of three major kingdoms, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.

Let us take a look at this passage in Scripture and unpack it. Dan 8:1-13

1 In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me — to me, Daniel — after the one that appeared to me the first time. (2) I saw in the vision, and it so happened while I was looking, that I was in Shushan, the citadel, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in the vision that I was by the River Ulai. (3) Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and there, standing beside the river, was a ram which had two horns, and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. (4) I saw the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward, so that no animal could withstand him; nor was there any that could deliver from his hand, but he did according to his will and became great. (5) And as I was considering, suddenly a male goat came from the west, across the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. (6) Then he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing beside the river, and ran at him with furious power. (7) And I saw him confronting the ram; he was moved with rage against him, attacked the ram, and broke his two horns. There was no power in the ram to withstand him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled him; and there was no one that could deliver the ram from his hand. (8) Therefore the male goat grew very great; but when he became strong, the large horn was broken, and in place of it four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven. (9) And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land. (10) And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. (11) He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. (12) Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered. (13) Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who was speaking, “How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot?” NKJV

We see in verse 3 that Daniel saw a Ram in the vision with two horns. In prophecy, animals and beasts symbolize kingdoms; horns symbolize authority and great power. One horn was longer than the other and came up last. Further down in verse 20, it is stated that the ram represented the Medo-Persia empire.

Secular history reflects that Darius the Mede reigned first, followed by Cyrus the Persian, whose empire was the stronger of the two. Therefore, the first horn represented Darius the Mede, and the second, more prominent horn represented Cyrus, the Persian.

In verse 4, we see that the ram pushed its way west, north, and south, illustrating that it seized Lydia, Babylon, and Egypt during its rise to power.

Next, in verses 5 and 6, a goat appears on the scene from the west with a prominent horn between his eyes without touching the earth. Not touching the earth addresses the swiftness of this kingdom’s movement as it headed toward the ram. It is important to note that rams and goats were used in the sanctuary services.

In verse 7, the goat viciously attacks the ram and tramples him. The goat represents the kingdom of Greece, and the prominent horn between the goat’s eyes represents the first king of Greece (Daniel 8:21).

Verse 8 describes how great the goat became, and the large horn was broken off at the height of its power.

Secular history reflects that Alexander the Great was the first leader of a united Greece as it took over the world. Additionally, Greece defeated Medo-Persia in 331 BC. Alexander was only 25 years of age at the time. The horn of the goat breaking off signified Alexander the Great’s death at the age of 33 in 323 BC.

We also see in this verse that four prominent horns replaced the giant horn. Chapter 7 of Daniel confirms that four of Alexander’s generals eventually took over the Greek Empire. Ultimately, one took over the northern portion of the empire, known as the King of the North, while another took over the southern portion and became known as the King of the South.

In verse 9, we see that another horn rose from among these four. It started out small but increased in power. It grew “exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land.”
The glorious land refers to the land of Judea (Daniel 11:16). The direction that the little horn was traveling indicates that it came from the west, directly affecting Judea and nations in the south and east. This little horn refers to Rome, which came from the west of Jedea and Greece. Judea and other crucial nations were directly en route between Greece and Egypt. By 168 BC, Rome became the fourth world kingdom.

Verse 10 addresses how the little horn grew up to the host of heaven. Verse 24 says that the hosts of heaven and stars are the mighty and holy people. This refers to the persecution of God’s people by Pagan and Papal Rome. The faithful Jews and Christians after Christ were viciously persecuted by pagan Rome under various emperors, and later during the years of Papal supremacy, the persecution increased as was instigated by the Catholic Church.

In verses 11 and 12, we see that the little horn exalted itself against “the prince of the host,” who was Christ. It was pagan Rome that crucified Christ in A.D. 31. In other passages in Daniel, Christ is referred to as Prince (Daniel 9:25-27, 11:22). Not only did it crucify Christ, but it set itself up to be the equal of God and ordered the daily sacrifices to end.

In verse 13, two angels are communicating with one another. One asked the other how long it would take for the completion of the vision to be fulfilled. The reply in verse 14 was 2,300 years.

This verse is the high point of Daniel 8. This vision is known as the 2300-day prophecy and culminates the chapter. This vision of Daniel occurred long before its commencement and has been fulfilled in its entirety.

It is very crucial to note that the 2300 days mentioned are not literal because of the kingdoms it encompasses. Therefore, it is evident that the prophetic day-year principle is used. That is, each day is one (1) year. Thus, 2300 prophetic days are actually 2300 years. This principle is evident in Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6. This period began in 457 BC. It is verse 13 that begins to shed light on the year 1844.

The Dilemma

Daniel had problems understanding the meaning of the 2300 days as he said in Dan 8:27, “I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding.” NIV

The Answer

In chapter nine, Daniel earnestly prayed an intercessory prayer to God for Israel and himself and asked for understanding of the vision. While he was praying, God sent Gabriel with the interpretation in Dan 9:24-27 which reads:

24 “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.

Israel was attacked and annihilated by Babylon, destroying the temple, and the Babylonians carried the Israelites into exile for seventy years because of their sins against God (Jeremiah 27:7-11). At the end of the 70 years, Israel was given seventy-sevens, 490 prophetic years (1 week=7 days=7 prophetic years x 7=490 prophetic years) to “put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness,” etc.

In other words, they had 490 years to get their act together. This period served as a probationary period for Israel. This period is known as the 70-week prophecy. These 490 years were the beginning of the 2300-year prophecy.

25 “Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.

In 457 BC, Artaxerxes, the Persian King, issued the decree to rebuild Jerusalem. This was when the 2300-year prophecy began. It would take seven weeks (seven sevens =49 years) to rebuild Jerusalem, and it would be with much opposition. Sixty-two weeks (434 years)after that point, we have the messiah, the anointed one.

26 After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.

After three-and-a-half years, the Messiah would be cut off. Three-and-a-half years later, the nation’s probation will end. Then Jerusalem and the Temple will be destroyed by the Romans. War, destruction, and desolation will come in on the land like a flood.

27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” NIV.

During this last prophetic week of the seventy-year prophecy, God will fulfill His covenant promise to the people. But three-and-a-half years into the Messiah’s ministry, they will turn Him over to strangers to be crucified. This action will end the ancient sacrifices and offerings. For the next three-and-a-half years, God will extend one last call to the people, but the rulers will not listen, bringing about desolation. However, the nation that destroys the city and the temple (Rome) will also come to an end. The end has been decreed and is assured.

Again, this vision of Daniel occurred thousands of years prior and was fulfilled exactly as it was seen. The fulfillment of the prophecies of the past helps us to look forward to the fulfillment of the prophecies of the future. History is prophecy fulfilled, and prophecy is history foretold.

What is 1844 about?

The first 490 years of the 2,300-year prophecy apply specially to the Jews and the coming of Christ the Messiah. The last part of the 2300 years must apply to God’s people, both Jew and Gentile, along with the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary. Ultimately, after that, the second coming of Christ.

The first 490 years applied to the first Advent of the Messiah and ended in A.D. 34 with the stoning of Steven. Subtracting 490 years from 2,300 years leaves us with 1810 years. These remaining 1810 years apply to God’s people. If we begin at A.D. 34 and add 1810 years, we come to A.D. 1844, the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary and the beginning of probation. This is what the year 1844 is about. The chart below illustrates this remarkable vision and timetable.

For more on the cleansing of the sanctuary, see the article, The Sanctuary Truth, on this website.

In the light of the cleansing or restoration of the truth about the sanctuary and heaven’s end-time judgment, God makes His final appeal to all humanity in Revelation 14:6-11 to respond to His love, accept His grace, and live godly, obedient lives. This is what the three angels’ messages are about.

For more on the three angles messages, see the article, The Three Angels Message, on this website.

Comments, questions, and concerns are welcomed below.

Blessings!

Christendom is a word that is tied to Christianity. But precisely what is Christendom? This article will shed light on the answer.

What is Christendom?

Christendom is the whole organization of Christians. Historically, Christendom pertains to the Christian empires, Christian states, Christian-majority countries, and the countries where Christianity dominates, succeeds, or is culturally or traditionally entwined.

The question becomes, out of Christendom, the body of Christians, how many are indeed Christians? How many are engaged in true Christianity?

True Christianity

What is true Christianity? How do the Scriptures define a Christian? Is there more to it than repeating the sinner’s prayer? Are you a true Christian, and how? Is it because of good works? If that is the case, so are atheists and humanists. The Scriptures in Ephesians 2:8-9 read,

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Therefore, it takes more than good works to be a Christian. However, does that mean that God is against good works? Not according to the next verse, 10, which reads, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Therefore, God expects good works from those who are saved through faith.

Are individuals Christian because of the observance of ritualistic or ceremonial laws, such as vain repetitions of memorized prayers? Galatians 2:16 reads, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

Also, Acts 4:10 reads, “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.”

Therefore, the first sign of a true Christian is recognizing Jesus as the savior.

1 John 3:4 reads, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”

However, many believe that we no longer have to keep the Law because of the sacrifice of Christ and grace. Some passages of Scripture taken out of context are used to abrogate or nullify the Law. One of these is Galatians 2:16, which again reads, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

Was Paul advocating the abolition of the Law because of grace? Not by a long shot as we observe the following verses 17-19

17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

19 For I through the Law am dead to the Law, that I might live unto God.

Being justified means the forgiveness of past sins. Therefore, as a result, a true Christian has faith in the sacrifice of Christ for the forgiveness of sin and recognizes the obligation to cease sinning, which entails keeping the Law of God.

Not keeping the Law of God, twisting the Scriptures, and making excuses for not doing so is ludicrous. What is the point in returning to committing the same sins that Christ was crucified to pay the penalty for our sake? A point made clear in verse 18. Also, Hebrews 6:6 Says, “If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” The context of this Scripture addresses the result for those who have known the truth and then turned away from it.

Therefore, the second sign of a true Christian is keeping the Law of God.

How many individuals that are professing Christianity genuinely believe the teachings of Christ and walk or live as He lived? Believing in Christ and obeying Him are two different entities.

Many disregard the obedience aspect of Christianity. However, they are wise to pay attention to the Words of Jesus in Luke 6:46, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

Lord means boss or master. Nevertheless, there is a difference between what Jesus commands and what individuals do in reality. This is found in Matt 5:17-18

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Jesus went on to illustrate how the Ten Commandments are more obligatory than in the past by giving an example regarding adultery in Matt 5:27-28:

27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

James made it clear that when one command is broken, it is the same as breaking them all in James 2:10-11

10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

James is clearly addressing the Ten Commandments in their entirety. Christians cannot break one Command without being guilty of breaking them all. One of those Commands pertains to the Sabbath Day, the fourth Commandment to keep it holy.

We must follow Christ’s example when it involves keeping the Sabbath day. Will we walk in the footsteps of Jesus or the footsteps of apostate Christianity and the Roman Emperor Constantine in worshipping the sun?

The New Testament clarifies that Jesus kept the Seventh-day Sabbath as illustrated in many Scriptures. He declared Himself Lord of the Sabbath three times, Mark 2:28, Matthew 12:8, and Luke 6:5. No Scripture indicates Jesus as Lord of Sunday or the first day of the week.

While there are human justifications, reasonings, and twisted Scriptures taken out of context, there are examples of Jesus’ followers after His resurrection. For example, Paul kept the Sabbath with the Gentiles as found in Acts 13:42. There are others (1 Cor. 5:8, Acts 13:44, Acts 16:13, Acts 17:2), but the point is the followers of Jesus walked in His footsteps and kept the same laws as He. That is why the Apostle John wrote in 1 John 2:6, “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” NIV

In Rev 12:9, we are told that Satan has deceived the whole world, including the greater part of what is believed to be Christianity and Christendom]. This has been declared in the Scriptures by Jesus Himself, Paul, Peter, John, and Jude. Consequently, we must be careful to walk as Jesus walked.

Therefore, a third sign of a true Christian is that they walk in Jesus’ footsteps.

The next and final sign of a true Christian determines either eternal life or eternal death.

According to 1 John 3:4, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”

Even though Christ has paid the penalty for our sins and we are forgiven of them, does that mean we do not have to overcome our sinful nature? Jesus made it clear what we must do to have eternal life. In Matthew 19:17, he told the rich young ruler, “And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.“

We must not only acknowledge the Commandments but also keep them to inherit eternal life.

In 1 Cor. 6:9-11, it reads:

9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders

10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. NIV

Here Paul described what the brethren were in the past, but they were washed and sanctified in the name of Jesus. They were Justified, forgiven, and free from their past sins. They had overcome their sinful lifestyle of the past. 2 Cor. 5:17 reads, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

This new state of being must be maintained to attain eternal life.

At the end of the Scriptures, God clarifies that unrepented sins will keep individuals out of His kingdom and will reap the second death. This clarification does not apply to occasional sins of weakness that one has sincerely repented. Still, we must overcome our sinful weaknesses with God’s help.

Notice what Revelation 21:7-8 warns.

7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

We must overcome if we are going to be accepted into the Kingdom of God. True Christianity is a lifestyle of overcoming and following the footsteps of Jesus. We must put to death our old carnal selves.

Our old way of life, before we believed in Christ, is to be entirely in the past. We are not to be driven by desire and impulse. Eph 4:22-24 addresses this truth.

22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;

24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. NIV

This principle is what our baptisms represent. Paul explains this in Romans  6:3-4

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

This is what we do in reaction to the sacrifice of Jesus. In baptism, we figuratively die, are buried in a watery grave, and arise as a new person. [2 Corinthians 5:17]

Galatians 2:20 says, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

We are crucified with Christ in baptism; nevertheless, we live. However, as we rise out of the water, we are not as our old selves, but Christ living in us by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the faith of the Son of God that we live by; Christ living in us makes us true Christians. This transformation is a spiritual rebirth—born again.

Therefore, the last sign of a true Christian is the overcoming of sin.

Amen

Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.

Blessings!

For countless Christians, Easter is one of the most revered holidays of the year. For others, it is popular as a time to wear a new outfit or possibly a hat or bonnet. For the children, it can be an exhilarating occasion to seek out vividly colored eggs that have been hidden in the garden or around the house. They are told stories about the Easter Bunny. But, is this what Easter is about? What is Easter about?

Does this have anything to do with Jesus Christ and His resurrection? That question can be answered with an unequivocal no! Nevertheless, most people consider such customs harmless fun for children. But are they? In reality, they are far from harmless because they mask the truth concerning the most critical event in the history of humanity: the life of Christ, His message, crucifixion, and resurrection.

What is Easter About?

Children are told many lies about holidays: Santa Clause, the tooth fairy (not a holiday), etc., and of course, the Easter bunny. These lies are contrary to the Word of God. Eph 4:25 reads, “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.”
These neighbors include our children. Also, Revelation 21:8
states that “…all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Should we set this example and lead our children to this demise? Not to mention the damage we are doing to our own souls. Perhaps these untruths are more severe than we might think. As God says in Hag 1:7, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.”

When considering Easter, perhaps an excellent place to start is with the origin of these untruths beginning with the name of Easter.

Easter is another spelling for the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre. The origin of this goddess, as referenced in the New World Encyclopedia, proposes a connection between Eostre and Easter with the ancient goddess Ishtar. Similarly, scholars speculate that Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of Spring whose name later led to the current English name ‘Easter,’ may be ancestrally connected to Ishtar.

It is further believed that the correct spelling of Ishtar is Istra, the Norse goddess of fertility, which was symbolized by a rabbit, thus the connection between Easter and rabbits. Rabbits are well known for their fast breeding capabilities. For many, Easter is recognized with fertility images, for example, the Easter Egg, the Easter Lily, and the Easter Rabbit.

A sufficient amount of historians chart the origin of the Easter egg to the Babylonian fable of a large egg drifting from the sky and landing in the Euphrates River, and the goddess Astarte was hatched. But who was Astarte? According to historians, Astarte is only another name for Ishtar.

In early times, it was believed that the rabbit was a hermaphrodite, which is an animal that could reproduce without losing its virginity. This fallacy led to a connection between the alleged virgin rabbit and the Virgin Mary, characterized by the painter Titian’s Madonna of the Rabbit.

When the goddess-worshipers of the past were exposed to Christianity, it was easy for them to take their old reverence to a goddess and transfer it to Mary, in opposition to Scripture and genuine Christianity. As a result, the various myths increased and triumphed.

Does it Matter to God?

Naturally, there are disparities between these myths in the different world cultures, just as there are concerning worship. But as long as we celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection, does it really matter? It absolutely does!

Through Moses, God made it clear that the Israelites weren’t even to mention other gods.

In Exodus 23:13 it reads:

13 And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.

Despite this, Christians all over the world celebrate a holiday named after other gods, namely Easter. There are many who will reason that this reproach applied only to the Jews at that time. However, we must remember through His prophet Malachi; God said in Mal 3:6, “For I am the LORD, I change not…” and Heb 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” So then, why would it be permissible to celebrate or even mention the names of other gods today?

Understand that neither Christ nor the Apostles left us an example of observing such a festival. It is no wonder Jesus said in Luke 6:46, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” He is undoubtedly asking the same question today.

One of the things for which Jesus condemned the religious leaders of His day was that they discarded God’s Commandments and replaced them with their own traditions. Mark 7:6-8 quotes Jesus as saying:

6 “…Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.

7 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men…” NKJV

One of God’s commandments is that His people are not to borrow pagan ideas and blend them with His observances. We are explicitly told not to think about how to serve other gods (Deuteronomy 12:30–32). However, this is precisely what traditional Christianity does!

Israel was severely punished and taken into exile for idolatrous worship, as was Juda, and we are directly following in their footsteps.

In the days of the prophet Elijah, the major problem entailed combining paganism with worshipping the true God. After Elijah prayed that it would not rain for three-and-a-half years to make the people aware of their sins, Elijah and King Ahab gathered the people to settle the issue. Elijah’s question to the people was most practical: “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him”
(1 Kings 18:21).

This central question denotes a combination of the worship of the true God with heathen Baal worship.

The Christian church took many worship forms from pagan ideas and images. For example, celebrating the birth of Christ on the twenty-fifth of December in actuality came from a celebration of the sun god Saturn, the agriculture god. This celebration was known as Saturnalia, which ran from December 17-23 near the winter solstice, comprised of merriment, gift giving, and candles typically of our Christmas holidays. At the time when the Roman Empire supposedly converted to Christianity, Saturnalia became a Christian holiday honoring the birth of Jesus. In addition, greetings of “io Saturnalia!” were replaced with “Merry Christmas.” Christmas has pagan roots. For more information on Christmas, please read the article, Christmas Holidays Pagan on this website.

The pagan roots of Easter are a central problem for professing Christians. What’s more, by combining pagan customs and traditions into the worship of the true God, contrary to His command, the part of Easter that purportedly comes from the Scriptures is dreadfully flawed.

This fact is made clear in the next segment.

When was Jesus Resurrected?

Most believe that Jesus was crucified on a Friday, hence good Friday. However, more biblically knowledgeable individuals understand from Scripture that He was crucified on a Preparation Day leading up to a Sabbath. In Luke 23:52-54, it reads:

52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before.

54 That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near. NKJV

As most know, the weekly Sabbath commences at sunset on Friday and concludes at sunset on Saturday. Therefore, on the surface, it might appear that Jesus was crucified Friday morning and put in the grave very late Friday afternoon; however, this is not how it happened.

Without question, Jesus was crucified on the Preparation day for a Sabbath; however, which Sabbath? Was it the weekly Sabbath which began Friday evening at sunset and ended Saturday evening at sunset? Or is it possible it was a High Day, an annual Sabbath?

A good place to start would be how long did Jesus lay in the tomb. A more excellent place to start is how long did Jesus say He would be in the tomb? In Matt 12:39-40 Jesus responded to the Scribes and Pharisees asking Him for a sign.

39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. [cf. Matthew 16:21]

Jesus said that the only sign that would be given was the sign of Jonah. As Jonah was in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of man for “three days and three nights.“ It is not possible to count three days and three nights from Friday afternoon to Sunday morning.

According to Scripture, Jesus was placed in the tomb right at sunset. However, some count a few minutes before sunset as day one. Friday night would be night one; the daylight segment of Saturday would be the second day, and Saturday night would make the second night. If Jesus had risen on Sunday morning after sunrise, that might be considered day three, but what about the third night? It’s not there! That is being liberal by counting a few minutes of daylight at the beginning and end as two of the three days. Christ was resurrected Saturday after sunset!

In summary, He was crucified on Wednesday and resurrected on Saturday. This summarization is how the three days and three nights are fulfilled that Jesus prophesized.

These facts can be unclear since the way we begin and end days today are different, changed by man, but perhaps the chart below helps.

What is commonly known as the Lord’s Supper, or the Last Supper, was actually the Passover. However, some scholars deny plain scriptures and assert otherwise. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all call Jesus’ final supper with His disciples the Passover.

Here is Luke’s account in Luke 22:7-16

7 Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.

8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.

9 And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?

10 And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.

11 And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

12 And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.

13 And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.

15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:

16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

Further evidence is found in Matthew 26:17–20, where the Passover is mentioned three times in connection to His final meal. Additionally, Mark 14:12–17 mentions the Passover four times. The three (3) synoptic gospels combined (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) refer to the Passover at least twelve (12) times in relation to what is commonly called the Last Supper! There should not be any doubt that the last supper was undeniably the Passover.

Now that it has been established that the Lord’s Supper was the Passover, what is the significance? God counts each day from sunset to sunset (Genesis 1:3–5). Therefore, on the day of His crucifixion, Jesus observed the Passover with the disciples in the evening. Then, He was taken into custody that night and was crucified during the daylight portion of the Passover day. While the Passover is exceedingly special, it is not a Sabbath day.

The Passover

For a bit of history of the Passover, according to Exodus 12:6-11, on the tenth day of the month, the Israelites were to set aside a male lamb or goat and keep it until the fourteenth day and follow the Lord’s instruction.

Again, the Bible counts time from sunset to sunset; the fourteenth day began that year on a Tuesday evening after sunset (actually Wednesday). The firstborn in every household had death pass over them if they were in a house marked by the blood of a sacrificed lamb or goat—this evening became known as the Passover.

In the daylight hours of Nisan 14, the fourteenth day of the month, the children of Israel “plundered” the Egyptians and traveled to the city of Rameses. This location is where the Exodus began after sunset at the beginning of Nisan 15. It took the Israelites seven days to go from Rameses to the other side of the Red Sea, and this period was commemorated as the Days of Unleavened Bread since the Israelites were journeying and did not have time for their bread to rise.

The Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread were strongly associated, such that “Passover” is sometimes used to indicate both festivals together. The distinction between the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread is unmistakably defined in Leviticus 23:5–7
and Numbers 28:16–18. In both accounts, we learn that Nisan 15, the first day subsequent to the Passover, is a day to assemble and rest from our day-to-day work. It is an annual Sabbath—a High Day—a little-understood fact with considerable significance.

John 19:31 reads:

31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

It proves challenging to comprehend the New Testament account without knowing that the Sabbath following Christ’s crucifixion was an annual Sabbath. However, with this knowledge, the picture becomes clear. The day subsequent to the Passover was a high day, an annual Sabbath where work was not to be done.

Jesus observed the Passover with His disciples at the day’s commencement soon after sunset. He was tried and crucified, then was placed in the grave late in the afternoon at the end of the Passover day. When the sunset arrived that evening, the first day of Unleavened Bread, an annual Sabbath day, had begun. These facts are addressed by the Apostle John in John 19:31 above: “…therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.”

Of course, the Scripture in verse 33 (John 19:33) clarifies that the legs of Jesus were not broken. This fact also fulfills the Old Testament prophecy in Psalm 34:20.

The Scripture confirms that it was not the preparation for a weekly Sabbath. Furthermore, Passover is also the Preparation day for the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread for a high day Sabbath—an annual Sabbath, not the weekly Sabbath! Therefore, the day on

Two Sabbaths

What is commonly overlooked is that the Scriptures record two Sabbaths involving the time Jesus was in the tomb! Scripture indicates that the women rested on the Sabbath and then bought spices. Mark 16:1 reads:

1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. KJV

Notice that this took place after a Sabbath!

However, Luke 23:54-56 reads:

54 That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near.

55 And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid.

56 Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment. NKJV

It is important to note that Mark states that they did not purchase the spices until after the   Sabbath. However, Luke states that they prepared them and rested on the Sabbath. Therefore, these passages indicate that these women rested on the High day (the annual Sabbath), bought and prepared the spices the next day, and rested on the weekly Sabbath.

Since the Scriptures never contradict themselves, there obviously were two Sabbaths with an ordinary day in between. It is the only way to harmonize these two passages of Scripture.

Sunday Morning?

So what happened on Sunday? Why is it commonly believed that Jesus was resurrected Sunday morning? It is universally from tradition. However, we must remember that Scripture must take priority over tradition. Therefore, a thorough reading discloses that the women arrived at the tomb around dawn on the first day of the week.

Dawn on the first day of the week is when most people erroneously think resurrection occurred. However, observe what it states (even more significantly, what it does not state) in Luke 24:1–6. Notice that it does not read that He rose that morning; it merely states that He was not there when they arrived—already resurrected! Christ was resurrected Saturday after sunset!

However, some will question, “Doesn’t the Bible say that Jesus rose on Sunday morning?” The answer is not really. Notice this in Mark 16:9, “Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.” 

On the surface, this appears with certainty that Jesus rose Sunday morning. However, this contradicts the other evidence we have seen that contradicts this observation. However, remember, the Bible never contradicts itself. So, which is correct? John tells us: “the Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). Therefore, we must look at this verse more closely.

First, we must understand that the New Testament Greek texts did not have any punctuation as we know it today. All the letters were written in all capital letters. Texts were later written in small cursive letters. All of the words were run together with no space between them. For example, Mark 16:9 would like the example below, except instead of English letters, they were Greek letters:

Thankfully, translators and publishers made Bible reading more manageable by adding capitalization and punctuation. While this has been a blessed work, we must realize that, unfortunately, their partialities have crept into our translations, and this verse is a prime example.

The verse Mark 16:9 can be punctuated in at least two different ways. The New King James Version and many other modern translations have punctuated it according to traditional beliefs, focusing on Jesus rising early on the first day of the week. It is an apparent mistranslation. There would be a significant discrepancy regarding when the women bought and prepared the spices, and the whole course of actions as specified in the Bible would be erroneous.

Although the Bible was inspired by God and without errors in its original writings, no translation is without errors. Many of these variations do not introduce significant misunderstandings, but King James, as well as the NKJV, and other modern translations of Mark 16:9, does. It is only a matter of punctuation that makes the difference.

If we change the punctuation, it would be in harmony with the rest of Scripture; it would read this way: “Now, when He rose, early on the first day of the week He appeared first to Mary Magdalene.”

As opposed to “Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.” NKJV   Notice the change in the comas. By repositioning the commas, we see that the emphasis is not on when He rose but on when He first appeared to Mary Magdalene.

The only way to know how it should be punctuated is to read it in both its immediate context and the context of Scripture overall. Given the proper order of events as shown above, It is clear now that the emphasis in this verse is not
on when Jesus rose but on when He appeared to Mary. Punctuating it this way is legitimate and is the only way to synchronize this verse with the rest of Scripture.

So, we celebrate a holiday with pagan roots, contrary to God’s Word and based on a doctrine that is dreadfully flawed scripturally. How do you suppose God sees this? Through His prophet, Hosea, He said in Hos. 4:6:

6 “my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “ Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.” NIV

Therefore, let us seek and hold on to the truth; Ignorance is no excuse!

Conclusion

For us to counter the sign Jesus gave (Matt 3:20) is to deny Jesus as our Savior. Hoards of heartfelt individuals have done so without recognizing that they have been misled by traditions passed from generation to generation and propagated in mainstream Christian churches.

We must follow what Paul commanded in 1 Thessalonians 5:21, “Test all things; hold fast what is good,” instead of going along with quaint sentimental customs involving rabbits, eggs, lilies, and pagan deities and days.

Some will say that it is the thought that counts. Since we are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, it is okay. But notice what Jesus said regarding worship in John 4:23: “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.“

To worship the Lord sincerely is essential, but we must also worship Him truthfully, “in truth!”

Amen

Questions, comments, and concerns may be addressed below. You will receive a response.

Blessings!