Category Archives: the beast

Prophecy Practice: Out of Egypt, 9 of 15

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When God’s judgments fall on this world,
there is often no place to hide.

For the wicked that is. Next swarms of flies are over everything in Egypt, Ex 8:21. However, the land of Goshen, where the people of God lived, there were no flies,

“… to the end you may know that I am Yahweh in the midst of the earth.”
Ex 8:22

Some negotiations with Pharaoh do occur, and the flies disappear, completely! But again Pharaoh hardened his heart. Then there was a plague on the cattle of Egypt, and all the cattle died, except for the cattle of the Israelites, Ex 9:6. But still Pharaoh would not relent. Then a plague of boils on man and beast. Even the magicians could not stand before Moses, Ex 9:10-12.

God says He could have already
destroyed all of the Egyptians.

“For now I would have put forth my hand, and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth;”
Ex 9:15

But God wants to show His power, so His name will be honored throughout the earth. Severe hail came next with thunder and lightning, with the hail breaking every tree, the crops which were out of the ground, and unprotected animals and men. However Goshen, where Israel dwelled, was spared, Ex 9:23-26, 31-32. Pharaoh at last said, “I have sinned this time,” Ex 9:27; but it did not last long! Then came the locusts, and mighty hordes of locusts can strip bare even a lush green land. When the clouds of locusts came in they darkened the sky, and ate all that was left.

Again Pharaoh admitted sinning against Yahweh and Israel, and again his repentance did not hold.

Then a plague of darkness fell over ALL the land of Egypt, except for Goshen. This was darkness which could be felt, and no one rose from house, Ex 10:21, 23. Again Pharaoh hardened his heart.

Then came the last plague: the death of all of the firstborn

The first born of every man, the privileged, the heirs, and the first born of every critter that was left. Of course Israel was protected by staying under the blood of the sacrifice, that was painted on the door frames, Exodus 12.

Similarly, you and I must stay under the blood of Jesus, to be spared from the Judgments falling on men for their sins.

God’s saints will be protected from the plagues
falling on the earth just before the end,
much as in ancient Egypt.

In Revelation 12 the dragon (the devil or Satan, Rev 12:9) is thrown out of heaven, and then persecutes “the woman,” God’s people, and it says,

“Two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, so that she might be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.”
Rev 12:14

So while the beast rules, and God’s plagues fall on sinful men who persecute the church, the faithful are “nourished,” one more time IN THE WILDERNESS!

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

Prophecy Practice: Out of Egypt, 4 of 15

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Satan can do his own signs … up to a point.

Satan did some powerful works in Job 1. By God’s permission Satan is is able to hurt Job and all he has. He is able to stir up the Sabeans to make a raid and capture Job’s oxen and donkeys, and kill the men tending them. Then Satan was able to make fire fall from heaven and burn up seven thousand sheep and their herdsmen! Also Satan stirred up the Chaldeans to make a raid on Job’s camels, and take them all, and kill the men tending them. Then he made a strong straight line wind come across the plains of Mesopotamia, and hit the house where Job’s sons and daughters were having a get-together, and knock the house down, and kill all of his children. All in one day. All by God’s permission.

Still Satan has his limitations, He has great influence over many, perhaps even us. Even so, just like you and I, he can only do what God allows him to do!

And Pharaoh could do his own signs … up to a point.

In Exodus 7 Moses and Aaron appeared before Pharaoh and Pharaoh asked them to perform a sign from God. First Aaron threw he rod on the floor and it turned into a snake. Then Pharaoh called for his magicians and sorcerers, and they did the same “with their enchantments,” Ex 7:11-12. But then Aaron’s rod swallowed up the rods of the magicians. But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and he would not listen to the words of God through Moses and Aaron.

Again by God’s command, Moses and Aaron met Pharaoh in the morning as he went out by the Nile River. They told, “Let my people go, that they might serve me …” Then Moses and Aaron struck the waters of the Nile so that they turned to blood, and the fish died, and the water became undrinkable, Ex 7:14-21. Then the magicians did the same with their enchantments. So Pharaoh would not listen.

One day another great champion of evil will oppose God.

Revealing the Christian Age discuses asteroid size bodies hitting our earth, “something like a great burning mountain.” Rev 8:8-9

Someone called “the beast” is given, “Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation,” Further, he is given to “make war with the saints, and to overcome them,” Rev 13:7. This beast is opposed by “two witnesses” in Revelation 11, who “have power to shut up the sky, that it may not rain” and over the waters “to turn them into blood,” Rev 11:6. These two witnesses sound a little like Moses and Aaron, and little like Elijah.

How is this to be? A parallel vision in Revelation 8 says,

“The second angel sounded, and something like a great burning mountain was thrown into the sea. One third of the sea became blood, 9 and one third of the living creatures which were in the sea died. One third of the ships were destroyed.”
Rev 8:8-9

There is more than one reference to waters turning to blood and becoming undrinkable in those final conflicts.

The contest between Moses and Pharaoh is evidently
symbolic also of this final contest in history.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, 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

Watching Changes Behavior: False Christs

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Jesus said there will be many false christs

“For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray.”
Mtt 24:5 WEB

Some religious people act, almost as if there is no such thing as a “false christ” or an “antichrist,” when Jesus says plainly that “many will come … saying, ‘I am the Christ.’” In fact, anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ is an antichrist, 1Jn 2:22. Would not any false christ be an “antichrist,” no matter how you define the term, and Jesus does say that there will be many.

Some of these are locals of hidden origin, who soon fade away. Others have longer runs, but none to date have reached the scope of the “beast” described in Revelation 13, who “overcomes” the church, and has authority all who live on this earth, Rev 13:7. Rome NEVER “overcame” the church! Instead the church conquered the mighty Roman empire as prophesied in Dan 2:44, and many other passages, and as happened in history.

False christs are not just “end of the age” things

Many have claimed the “true” son of David. See “Lab Work ” in Prophecy Principles.

My first volume, Prophecy Principles, points that most of European royalty has been for centuries discreetly claiming to be descendants of Jesus Christ through Mary Magdalene! Some of them have also made claims as if they were the “current” “living Christ,” and examples are given in Prophecy Principles. This sure casts a new light on the phrase, “the divine right of kings.” This is not just about a few occult weirdos, even as Jesus also makes clear.

Christ’s Kingdom is NOT of this world!

This is a key point if you are to keep your bearings among the many outrageous claims which are often made.

“Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn’t be delivered to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here.””
Jn 18:36 WEB.

Rather, it is of the world to come, the new heavens and new earth: heaven. But the false christs are seeking a kingdom in this world. Further, never loose sight of the fact that,

Jesus will never actually be on earth again!

We will meet Him in the air.

“16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, … The dead in Christ will rise first, 17 then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord FOREVER.”
1Thes 4:16-17 WEB emphasis added

You may or may not like these verses, but they not vague. Don’t believe it if they say the Christ is here or there, Mtt 24:23.

“If therefore they tell you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ don’t go out; ‘Behold, he is in the inner chambers,’ don’t believe it.”
Mtt 24:26 WEB

“What I tell you, I tell all: Watch.” Mk 13:37 KJV

Watching changes behavior. You look at events differently. It changes how you act. To not be watching is the caught unawares …

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

Prophecy is Always Moral: Mystery Babylon

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Prophecy is never a neutral entity, devoid of any relationship to life. Now Mystery Babylon the Great is first seen by John in a deserted place in Rev 17:4. Despite that, her operations come to be centered in a particular city, called “the great city,” Rev 16:19, etc.

Yes, Mystery Babylon is a false religion

She is evidently a “mystery religion,” a special type of religion that is either secret or semi-secret. See the earlier post on “Mystery Religions: An Overview.”

Yes, Mystery Babylon is very rich

So rich that she can make kings or other merchants rich, Rev 18:3, and she is dressed in the most expensive finery that can be imagined, Rev 17:4.

Yes, Mystery Babylon is very nasty

She drinks from a golden cup filled with the filthy fluids of fornication, Rev 17:4.

Yes, Mystery Babylon is drunk with the
blood of the saints, Rev 17:6

Yes, Mystery Babylon is ALSO a business entity

Such a success is she, that she can make others rich, as has been shown. I call her a religio-commercial entity. When she falls it says,

“11 The merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise any more; 12 merchandise of gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple, silk, scarlet, all expensive wood, every vessel of ivory, every vessel made of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble; 13 and cinnamon, incense, perfume, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, sheep, horses, chariots, bodies, and people’s souls.”
Rev 18:11-13 WEB

Yes, Mystery Babylon evidently was working
in the first century of our age

Yes, Babylon is in existence until near
the end of our present universe

Mystery Babylon and the beast work together to “overcome” Christianity near the end, Rev 13:7. Then the beast and ten kings work to destroy Mystery Babylon completely within history, Revelation chapters 17 and 18.

Then, the beast is personally destroyed by Jesus Second Coming and thrown alive into hell, Rev 19:20.

So Mystery Babylon exists and works and sells, all through the Christian Age, until very near the end of our present universe.

Yes, evidently many Christians evidently have worked
for Mystery Babylon, age long

Scripture does not seem to indicate that many Christians are part of the Satanic Mystery of Lawlessness. But it does indicate this of Mystery Babylon. I don’t think it is indicating necessarily that they are all part of the secret cult, but rather that they work for her businesses and do not realize of what they have become a part.

Christians are commanded to come out of
Mystery Babylon the Great

“4 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, 5 for her sins have reached to the sky, and God has remembered her iniquities.”
Rev 18:4-5 WEB

Scripture is here assuming that Mystery Babylon is recognizable, and that we can come out of her … unless we are in the dark!

These prophecies are pertinent to the ENTIRE Christian age

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

Strategic Powers of Our Age: Part III, The Mystery of Lawlessness

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Not always the most obvious, but of central importance.

An important man of lawlessness is to come.

The KJV calls him a “man of sin,” but remember that “Sin is lawlessness,”1Jn 3:4, WEB. Paul says that this man has to come before Jesus comes again, and calls this man “the son of destruction” WEB. This man is characterized by “perdition,” destructive behavior, and he brings destruction on many people.

He suppresses all religion except the
worship of Satan and himself.

Both Revealing the Christian Age and Prophecy Principles have more information on the “beast”/ the man of lawlessness and of an occult competition to see who will finally be the “real” beast.

“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 2:4 WEB

This man does not just put himself up as some sort of “god.” He puts himself up as the one and only “god.” He does not just put down Christianity, but will put down ALL religion of any sort, except himself. The only other description that matches this is called a “beast” in Revelation 11 through 20. It says men “worshiped the beast,” Rev 13:4, and that he is “given authority” over all of the earth, and to make war with the church and to overcome it, Rev 13:7.

Before we go any further, I must remind you that Rome and the caesars NEVER overcame the church. Instead, the church overcame Rome and the caesars, exactly as prophesied in Daniel 2.

This man is brought to power by a “mystery of lawlessness”
which “already works.” 2Thes 2:7 WEB

Taken at face value, Paul is describing either the teachings of a mystery religion characterized by lawlessness, or a mystery religion itself (an organization) that is characterized by lawlessness. See the previous post on “Mystery Religions: An Overview.” Paul is writing this around say 51 AD, and says this mystery “already works,” 2Thes 2:7. This teaching, this religion, seems to be the “beast” organization of Rev 13:1-2, 17:7, etc. This religion continues to work until it is able to unveil its exclusive god/man to be worshiped by the entire world. This religion has a ruling council of seven men, and seems to have a power base of ten nations. Mystery Babylon and the Mystery of Lawlessness run private intelligence operations that often dwarf those of many nations. They frequently run Deep State operations jointly.

The beast organization, makes Mystery Babylon a world wide success.

“… I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.” Rev 17:7.

These are competing mystery religions that work together for world domination, and the destruction of Christianity.

The “man of lawlessness” will destroy Mystery Babylon WITHIN history.

This is described in Revelation 17 and 18 as being a total and final destruction. This occurs after the church is “overcome,” and it leaves the mystery of lawlessness as the undisputed master of the entire world.

Revealing the Christian Age has more information the fall of Mystery Babylon.

The “man” of lawlessness is destroyed by Jesus’ Second Coming.

The beast is captured and thrown alive into hell, Rev 19:20. Jesus will kill him “by the brightness of his coming.” 2Thes 2:8. So these are things which come to a climax just before the end of this present universe.

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

Zechariah: A Key Prophetic Book

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Poor, poor, neglected Zechariah. Zechariah is one of the smaller books in our Bible. Also Zechariah is one of the most difficult books of our Bible. Perhaps it is more difficult than the book of Revelation. Even many scholars just avoid the book. On the other hand, I would not say there is any book of the Bible of which I can say, I understand ALL of it. Still Zechariah deals with some central themes.

Zechariah deals with the first coming of the Christ.

It even quotes particulars such as His violent death.

“Awake, sword, against my shepherd,
And against the man who is close to me,” says Yahweh of Hosts.
Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; And I will turn my hand against the little ones.”
Zech 13:7 WEB

There is more about Jesus in Zechariah, but this verse is quoted as such in Mtt 26:31

Zechariah and Revelation often use similar imagery.

There are horns, there four chariots that sort of remind one of some of the images of heaven in Revelation. There are angels ministering to men, and more.

Zechariah deals with the Jews coming to Jesus.

It deals with this explicitly in Zechariah chapters 12 and 13. It seemingly speaks of all of Israel turning to Yahweh and His Christ, and it is discussed in connect with some heavy attacks on both “Judah” and “Jerusalem.” Such a national conversion has not happened to the Jews overall … so far!

Zechariah deals with TWO massive assaults on “Jerusalem,”.

“… and all the nations of the earth will be gathered together against it.” Zech 12:3 WEB

But is this talking about earthly Jerusalem as in Gal 4:24? Or is it talking about the church, Jerusalem above of the “kingdom of heaven,” as in many passages, including:

“But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.” Gal 4:26 WEB

Earthly Jerusalem has NEVER been assaulted this way, nor has the church, EVER, by “ALL the nations of the earth.” Either way, as described, these assaults have NEVER happened in any way. So we are either talking about a false prophecy … or one that is yet to happen.

Zechariah deals with a special “worthless shepherd.”

He is called an “idol shepherd” Zech 11:17 KJV. In a wandering discussion over several chapters Zechariah compares him with the true shepherd (Jesus the Christ). Both are killed by “the sword” according to Zechariah. Both have a recovery from death of one sort or another, according to Zechariah. Could this be speaking of the beast of Rev 13:3, who is “wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed,” KJV, and who is worshiped by the entire world?

There is more to tell, but this is a sampler.

Really, I do not think you can unravel the prophecies of the Christian Age, of Revelation, or of the end of the age, without Zechariah. Really we should not even be trying to do that.

KJV is the King James Versiom, 1611

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