Monthly Archives: May 2020

Keys to Prophecy: God Frustrates the Plans of the Wicked

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You can call it a promise, you can call it a prophecy, but Psalm 37 indeed is perspective on how God deals with the wicked in history, and how the righteous should react to evil plans which we often see in history.

Psalm 37 is very much a part of Revelation’s view
of the plans of evil men.

It does view sinful inclinations of men as producing evil plans that are often of monstrous proportions. Revelation concentrates on two principal covert actors in history: Mystery Babylon the Great, and the beast organization (called the mystery of Lawlessness in 2Thessalonians chapter two).

The other side of these things is that such things are often seen and recognized as evil in history. Through crafty manipulation and covert action, great fortunes and power are often amassed in history. Evil men often dominate nations and even continents, and they care nothing about whether they ruin, or hurt or slaughter the innocent. These are continual things in history. Those trying to do what is right are often exasperated by these things, but such things are outside of their power or influence. Should we envy such power and wealth, and seek it ourselves?

What should be the perspective of the
men and women of God?

The theme is announced in the first four verses.

“1 Don’t fret because of evil-doers,
Neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
And wither like the green herb.
3 Trust in Yahweh, and do good.
Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Also delight yourself in Yahweh,
And he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psa 37:1-3 WEB

It continues along such a line for a full forty verses. Should we fear them? Center our lives around opposing them?

“7 Rest in Yahweh, and wait patiently for him.
Don’t fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who makes wicked plots happen.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath.
Don’t fret, it leads only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off,
But those who wait for Yahweh shall inherit the land.
10 For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more.
Yes, though you look for his place, he isn’t there.”
Psa 37:7-10 WEB

All of this life, and ALL of human history is but a little while. This is really advice to those caught in such times, and in the violent storms which will surround the end of life in this universe as pictured in the book of Revelation. It is a commentary and a reminder on on,

“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
1Pe 5:5

“28 For Yahweh loves justice,
And doesn’t forsake his saints.
They are preserved forever,
But the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land,
And live in it forever.”
Psa 37:28-29 WEB

It is talking about heaven, the new heavens and the new earth of Revelation 21 and all the rest.

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

Keys to Prophecy: God Does Sometimes Frustrate Our Plans

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There are many things which we may want, but we really do not need. They may not be things which are wrong in themselves, but they are not what is important. Many of these desires are often the root of terrible crimes and atrocities.

Pleasure gone amuck can ruin us.

“Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don’t they come from your pleasures that war in your members?”
Jas 4:1 WEB

Other translations make more plain that these are not just things of the big picture, but are also of the small things of our lives. The New English Translation, The Translation That Explains Itself, says, “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? …” Some of these conflicts over our pleasures are in our homes.

So why don’t we get the things we want?
As nations, as individuals?

“You lust, and don’t have. You kill, covet, and can’t obtain. You fight and make war. You don’t have, because you don’t ask. 3 You ask, and don’t receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures.”
Jas 4:2-3 WEB

We didn’t really need it. We merely wanted it, and God denied it.!

A focus on this present world is a focus on civilizations
plunging into wrong directions.

We need to realize the impact of focusing on a lost world.

“4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don’t you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
Jas 4:4-5 WEB

God is trying to turn us around, from a life going nowhere, to a life going somewhere good. So sometimes He frustrates our plans, so that perhaps, we can attains goodness and life that lasts forever.

Some of the “unneeded” drains the energy of our lives,
leaving us unable to pursue life that
life indeed.

It is a barrier to our becoming what we should become. Jesus says we need to be in Him to be what we should become.

“I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
Jn 15:5 WEB

If we do not remain in the One who is Life Itself, ultimately we are cut off as a branch and put on the burn pile, Jn 15:6. If we are productive, then God will cut off those parts of us draining our productivty.

“… Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
Jn 15:2 WEB

God is willing to help us, but He resists some,
and helps some.

“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.””
Jas 4:6 WEB

Go in new directions, while you still have room to move. This is part of God’s plan for our age.

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

Keys to Prophecy: Cycles of History

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I think one of the most majestic of the psalms is Psalm 107. It describes the cycles which nations go through, cycles which still exist. This psalm can only be summarized here, but it is well worth reading in detail in multiple translations and being mulled over.

God will lead the humble

Heavy things fall on sinful people. Some of the troubles are built right into our sins. Often we end up in desolate times.

“4 They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way.
They found no city to live in.
5 Hungry and thirsty,
Their soul fainted in them. ”
Psa 107:4-5WEB

Then they cried out to the Lord.

“6 Then they cried to Yahweh in their trouble,
And he delivered them out of their distresses,
7 He led them also by a straight way,
That they might go to a city to live in.
8 Let them praise Yahweh for his loving kindness,
For his wonderful works to the children of men!”
Psa 107:6-8 WEB

Parts of the psalm explicitly mention their sins.

“10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
Being bound in affliction and iron,
11 Because they rebelled against the words of God,
And condemned the counsel of the Most High.
12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labor.
They fell down, and there was none to help. ”
Psa 107:10-12 WEB

But they cried out to the Lord, and He heard them, and broke their bonds, and led them in good ways.

Negative Environmental Changes Sometimes
Happen Because of Sin!

“33 He turns rivers into a desert,
Water springs into a thirsty ground,
34 And a fruitful land into a salt waste,
For the wickedness of those who dwell in it.”
Psa 107:33:34 WEB

You can see this story almost daily on the evening news.

But then are turned around for a humble people

“35 He turns a desert into a pool of water,
And a dry land into water springs.
36 There he makes the hungry live,
That they may prepare a city to live in,”
Psa 107:35-36 WEB

Then it goes on for several verses about the blessings He brings on them.

But then it is implied they turn aside again

“39 Again, they are diminished and bowed down
Through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.
40 He pours contempt on princes,
And causes them to wander in a trackless waste.”
Psa 107:39-40 WEB

It has been so in the past. It is still so in the Christian Age
and in the book of Revelation.

“41 Yet he lifts the needy out of their affliction,
And increases their families like a flock.
42 The upright will see it, and be glad.
All the wicked will shut their mouths.
43 Whoever is wise will pay attention to these things.
They will consider the loving kindnesses of Yahweh.”
Psa 107:41-43 WEB

KJV is the King James Version, 1611.

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

Keys to Prophecy: Sometimes Trouble is Necessary to Discipline Us

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The author of Hebrews asks us if we have forgotten warnings in the book of Proverbs, given to us as sons. He tells us we should not irritated with God’s discipline.

“5 …My son, don’t take lightly the chastening of the Lord,
Nor faint when you are reproved by him;
6 For whom the Lord loves, he chastens,
And scourges every son whom he receives.”
Heb 12:5-6 WEB

If God loves us, He tries to straighten us out
when we are wrong.

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

And if we do not receive any discipline from God? The King James Version is the plainest here.

“But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”
Heb 12:8 KJV

It is only when we have gone so far that we will
NEVER turn back, that destruction
comes upon us.

That is true for both individuals and nations. Satan of course desires such, and tries to get us to harden our hearts and minds. Satan is not about building, only about destroying as many as he can. You can hear this in the Satanic media of today as they promote the vilest of perversions, and declare they will “never again go back into the closet.” These ups and downs in morality throughout the ages are at best temporary. If a society tolerates the very worst for very long, it risks its own destruction. Normally the built-in shamefulness breeds its own backlash, and the worms and insects crawl away to their holes on their own, no longer daring the glare of close examination.

Jewish history is instructive here. Without kings, they went through cycles of debauchery, then under pressure from their enemies, repented and turned back to God. The cycles seem to have been very short in the times of the Judges. Then organized punishment of wickedness came through the kings of Israel and Judah, and cycles were still there, but they were lengthened. Still, when they got to the point that they would not change, no matter what, as in the times of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, then Israel and Judah were removed, their lands were given to other people and the remnant that remained was deported to other countries.

Such is typical for the entire Christian age, so much so that Revelation chapter 6 it describes the world as being turned over to violence, and a pale horse of Death and Hades had authority over one fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword, and famine, Rev 6:3-8.

That is an apt picture not only ancient and medieval history, but also of modern history, until we get to the point where,

“and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores. They didn’t repent of their works.”
Rev 16:11 WEB

A picture of the entire Christian Age.

KJV is the King James Version, 1611.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The greatest tribulation will be right at the end.

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

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

This time Christianity will be “overcome”/conquered.

“It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him. ”
Rev 13:7 WEB

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

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

KJV is the King James Version, 1611.

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

nf is my own translation based on the WEB.

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

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

Jesus of Nazareth, the One and Only
Son of God

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

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

Jesus has complete authority.

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

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

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

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

Mystery Babylon the Great

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

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

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

“In her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on the earth.”
Rev 18:24 WEB

What a staggeringly comprehensive statement!

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

The Mystery of Lawlessness

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The purpose of the Mystery of Lawlessness is:

“3 … the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God.”
2Thes 2:3b-4 WEB

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

“It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him.”
Rev 13:7 WEB

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

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

And Paul said to the Thessalonians,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mystery Babylon is a powerful commercial entity.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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