Last Days

"At the time that you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up" (Daniel 3:5-6). The music was played as a prompt or as a means of conditioning the people to bow down before the image of gold. Of course, this is idolatry, and no God-fearing Jewish person should bow down to the idol. Daniel was no doubt protected with his position in the kings court, but Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah we’re not protected and we’re in fact, supposed to lead others into worshiping this idol. Young people need to see that today we are being conditioned that when the music plays, we are to bow down, capitulate and accept without question whatever philosophy or belief is presented to us as normal, no matter how immoral, no matter how anti-Christian, and even no matter if it goes against basic scientific principle or logic. We are being prepared to bow down to whatever the antichrists of this age present to us as truth. To stand against this presentation will eventually mean we are anti-democratic, and in fact terrorist to society. We must compassionately stand today against this “music” that the world is imposing upon all society. Babylon, in last days will have its own form of music, not necessarily literal music, but a philosophy and a system of beliefs that are established in order to eradicate our basic belief in Jesus Christ. Lovingly stand with Jesus, and do not allow yourself to be mystified by the philosophical tunes that are being played today to set us up for a day that we must bow down or face the consequences. Stand now!

"You were watching until a stone was cut out without hands, and it struck the image at its feet of iron and clay and crushed them. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed all at once, and they became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth." (Daniel 2:34-35) This dream was given to the world leader, king of Babylon for a reason. God was seeking to get Nebuchadnezzar’s attention. Daniel was able to see God’s heart and interpret the dream. All kingdoms and governments since creation to Armageddon are included in that image and all will crumble. Do not trust human government!! Daniel sees a Stone cut out of Heaven crushing all the kingdoms of the earth. This Stone is Jesus. He was cut out by the Father to come to mankind, live the human life, go to the cross, resurrect from death and satisfy the Father. He is the stone the Jews rejected and stumbled upon. They were offended at the idea that He was the Messiah. He is the Cornerstone for all believers. We line up with Him and become living stones for His eternal holy habitation that will culminate into the New Jerusalem. And here in Daniel 2 we see Him as a crushing stone that will destroy all kingdoms of the earth which will visibly be gathered at Armageddon. How are you related to this Stone? Are you stumbled, offended by Him? Will He crush you as you stand with mankind against Him? Or are you joined with Him, allowing Him to cut and form you to line up with Him for Gods building?

"I And the king said to them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream." (Daniel 2:3) Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that was from the Lord that stirred his spirit, but he evediently couldn’t recall it’s details. He asks all of his wise men to not only interpret the dream but remind him of its details first! Of course they cannot and the king says, "If you do not make the dream and its interpretation known to me, you shall be cut into pieces and your houses shall be made a dunghill." (Daniel 2:5). What an impossible task!All of the kings wisemen are in trouble including Daniel and his three Jewish brothers. This vision is revealed to Daniel, and he is able to interpret it to the king we see again how important it is to not be for Babylon. He. Daniel was able to see what God is doing. When we are in Babylon and we are of Babylon, our vision is restricted. Spiritual blindness is a significant sign that we are in last days. As a result, we find ourselves, not only in the world, but of the world. The dream that Nebuchadnezzar had is revelation regarding all the human constructed governments of the world. Daniel had eyes to see the consequences of trusting man’s kingdoms. While we are here in these last days let us not hope for a better day in earth, or for a human leader to save us. It all belongs to the god of this world and will topple over in the end. "Do not trust in princes, / In a son of man, with whom there is no salvation." (Psalms 146:3)

"But Daniel set his heart not to defile himself with the king’s choice provision…" (Daniel 1:8). What revelation these young boys must’ve had regarding God’s desire and testimony. Out of all the captives, they purposed to maintain Gods testimony, even while in Babylon. Daniel purposed in his heart! He did not set his affections on the provisions supplied by the king of Babylon. He set his desires on what God needed: His people Israel were to proclaim God to all the nations. Jerusalem was Gods dwelling place in the Temple. His name was there as a testimony on the earth! God is looking for such a testimony today. Saints need revelation that God is determined to have dwelling place and it is in the church. Yet have saints set their hearts upon having such a testimony? Have we purposed not to defile ourselves with the world’s provisions. These young overcomers received this revelation from prophets like Jeremiah and they were determined not to pollute that vision with the provisions from the King of Babylon. We need revelation of Gods purpose. God needs a testimony on the earth today. Who will set their heart upon His purpose rather than the temporal dainties of this world? This is the requirement of overcoming in these last days. This is the calling placed before our young people today. Who will answer such a call? The church needs a Lampstand, a testimony and He will get it irregardless of our personal decision, but Oh how He loves and is longing for our participation. Young Christians, set your heart upon Him! Find His purpose and jump into His desire!

The testimony for the Lord on the earth in Daniels day was Israel, specifically Jerusalem and His house the temple. Humanly speaking Israel failed and Satan had won. God seemingly now has no testimony with their destruction and captivity. So Israel is brought back to the land of Shinar where she was formed out of Abram, out of idolatry. Why? To stir up a testimony for Himself on the earth. Israel had a poor testimony because of their idolatry. These young overcomers are standing in the home of the King of Babylon, Satans choice city, yet they stand boldly and effectively for the Lord. They will not submit to the Devil’s diet. This may seem trivial to us, but the Lord is concerned about what we take in because our daily appetites indicate what we treasure. If we treasure anything but the Lord, this can become idolatry. Daniel and his brothers regained God’s testimony so much so that they were renowned throughout Babylon. They were known as having a name associated with God. In the king of Babylon‘s house, where Satan‘s throne was established God now had a testimony! They tried to attach Babylonish names to them but they were not known as being idol worshipers, but God worshipers. The name of Daniel, which means “God is the Judge,” or “God is my Judge,” was changed to Belteshazzar—“the prince of Bel,” or “the favorite of Bel” (Isa. 46:1). The name of Hananiah, which means “Jehovah is kind,” or “the favorite of Jehovah,” was changed to Shadrach—“enlightened by the sun god.” The name of Mishael means “Who can be like God?” but his name was changed to Meshach—“Who can be like the goddess Shach?” The name of Azariah, which means “Jehovah is my help,” was changed to Abed-nego—“the faithful servant of the fire god Nego.” They may have called them by their Babylonian names, but their character demonstrated names that associated them with the Lord. What are you known for.? An athlete ? A gamer? Miss Social media? Mr. YouTuber? Etc. what do others recognize you as treasuring? This is the name they associate with you. May the person of Jesus be associated with you when your name is said!

"If you have tasted that the Lord is good." (1 Peter 2:3). Have you tasted the Lord and found him to be good? We can make the Bible so complex, perhaps rightfully so, but God often gives us such a simple presentation. He begins in Genesis with our need to have a proper appetite for his life in the garden of Eden. The Bible ends in Revelations with the river of life and the tree of life, supplying food and drink for all the nations. God placed Israel under such dietary restrictions but for spiritual reasons. What is our instruction today? Eat and drink Christ.! Daniel and the other children were instructed to eat and drink the king of Babylon’s food, and drink. If we are going to stand in these last days and overcome, we must not eat and drink what Satan is offering us to eat and drink. This book of Daniel did not start in the lions den or in the fiery furnace, but it started at the dining table. What are you eating ? What are you drinking? As young people the world is so appetizing and it is a challenge to control our appetites, yet this is where the Lord begins in his call to come out of Babylon and stand with him. This simple matter of eating and drinking properly while you are in this Babylonian atmosphere is where we begin. I am concerned that many believers do not know how to eat and drink the Lord. They think this consists of Goodworks, reading their Bible, praying, attending a youth group or fellowship, etc., these are all the products of eating and drinking the Lord. Everyone needs to know that since the ascension of Christ and provision of his Holy Spirit, he now lives inside your spirit as your food supply. We overcome this world, this age, these appetites, by simply turning to him inwardly and eating and drinking him by calling on his name. At every lure and temptation to feast upon the worlds, food and drink, come and dine upon him instead. Daniels proper appetite was the basis of his ability to overcome Babylon. What is your appetite today? Satan has quite a menu for you to dine upon today. Learn how to take Christ in your life moment by moment day by day. This is having a proper appetite while living in Babylon.

It says here in verse two that Nebuchadnezzar was given Jerusalem. He was permitted by the Lord to take it, take the people, take the king, take the temple and all of its treasures. He could not do anything without Gods permission. This will turn out to be an awesome lesson in the book of Daniel. It looks like Satan is winning, because out of hundreds of thousands of Israelites only 4 apparently stood for him in the beginning. 4 young people. We are living in an age in which the king of Babylon, Satan, is about to emerge. We see his influence everywhere. Satan and world powers could not do this, unless God allowed it. He is allowing it in order that he might produce some thing, and that he might bring his eternal purpose to fruition. In the process he is going to call saints to overcome in these last days. Most believers will probably stay engaged with the world, but the Lord is going to get his victory, and bring about his plan by using, maybe just a few Overcomer’s. He needs all of us to overcome, but young people are the vitality, the reality, and the testimony that needs to be seen in these last days. We as parents and grandparents, instead of longing for our children to be successful in this world, economically, professionally, athletically, etc. But if. we need to long for them to overcome this age, find Christ, and forsake all else to be a testimony on the earth for Jesus. He may use all of that other stuff, but if Christ is not the life of young people they will be sucked up into this age . Oh, Lord, give us young people like Daniel, who will stand for you, overcome this, Babylonians age, and bear forth a testimony in the church up until Your coming. When young people clearly stand in such a Babylonish age this is precious to all of us, and it is certainly precious to the Lord. We pray for our children and our grandchildren in these last days. Amen.

In Revelation chapter 17 John speaks of the mystery Babylon. This indicates that Babylon in God’s economy means something. He has kept the meaning hidden, but with the writing of Revelation, we can see what Babylon is all about. Babylon is exposed in the book of Revelation. It is evil, immoral, lawless, adulterous and deceptive, as it falls Jesus crys out and says, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great! And she has become a dwelling place of demons and a hold of every unclean spirit and a hold of every unclean and hateful bird;" (Revelation 18:2) In Revelation it is not just a place. It is the atmosphere that is ruling over the whole earth. It does not only appear at the end of the tribulation, but it is growing right now on the earth into an ultimate manifestation. It is everything that is against God. It is the culmination of every human government throughout the ages, of every human system, and it ultimately becomes a garbage heap, but it is Satan’s pride and joy. There is an atmosphere of Babylon manifesting itself even now. We can now look back because of John’s Revelation and see that Babylon has had an intention. We can see it in Genesis chapter 10 and 11. We can see that God called Abraham out of this atmosphere, and saved mankind through Abraham, who left the plain of Shinar, left idolatry, and out of Abraham, the earth is blessed in Israel. We can see at the end of the old testament. Israel is brought back to Babylon in Daniel chapter 1 This city is located in the plains of Shiner.! This is not just a coincidence because the mystery of Babylon is unveiled. In the book of Daniel, we see that every single human government that has been raised up on the earth since Babylon is a tool of the enemy . Babylon is the head of it all and everything else is connected to it throughout the ages heading all the way into the Babylon we see in Revelation. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, came down and besieged the city of Jerusalem. That word besieged means to corner, trap, and control the people of Jerusalem like Daniel and his brothers. They had no choice it seems. Today our young people are besieged by the spirit and atmosphere of Babylon that is coming upon us. it is inevitable, but saints there is a way for victory. That way is the person of Jesus Christ. In spite of what we see going on around us, God has provided streams in the desert. He has provided protection from the fiery furnace, and he has provided salvation from the mouth of the lions. Praise the Lord it is in Christ Jesus. This is what we see in the book of Daniel. We see Daniel and his brothers were besieged, or trapped on every side., Seemingly with no way out but as Paul said. "We are pressed on every side but not constricted; unable to find a way out but not utterly without a way out;" "Therefore we do not lose heart; but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For our momentary lightness of affliction works out for us, more and more surpassingly, an eternal weight of glory," (2 Corinthians 4:8, 16-17). Paul said we have this “treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not out of us." (2 Corinthians 4:7) May we learn to combat the atmosphere of Babylon with the treasured life of Jesus Christ within us. He is the victory that overcomes the world. Amen.

"Now among these from the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah." (Daniel 1:6) Who among us desire to see our children taken into captivity by our enemies? What young believers among us are excited about having their hopes and dreams for the future come crashing down? This is the situation for these 4 young men, (students of scripture determine them to be between the age of 12-17 years of age) and this is going to be the situation during last days on earth. There will be young believers on the earth whose lives will be turned upside down. This word is for all ages but especially for the Jr High through College age. The Lord needs young overcomers in last days. Daniel and thousands of youth were thrown into Babylon. Our youth are currently being thrown into satan’s Babylonish system. The enemy seeks to take them captive in these Last Days. We can surely see that human governments, educational systems, social media, news and entertainment, sporting industries, the arts, science, medicine, cooperations and economic system, etc are all in the hands of the evil one and are cooperating globally to capture the souls of young people. Daniel is such a wonderful word for all of us but especially our “children” in these difficult times. Daniel and just a few others stood against Babylon. They were in but not of the world. They overcame! Certainly we all need to overcome whatever age we live in and no matter how old we are, but the Lord needs young overcomers! We can try and teach the youth how to survive physically and economically, and how to fight patrioticly against the evil, but are the youth ready to stand as Daniel and his brothers. I’m afraid there will not be many who dare to stand in such a fashion in these last days, but Jesus is not looking for how many, He is simply looking for you! 4 young men stood for God in Babylon and prevaled. This book reveals that Nebuchadnezzar nor any other earthly government that follows his reign will succeed, but all must eventually bow before Him who will reign eternally. Young person, Babylon is coming! Jesus wants you to overcome Babylon and be a precious testimony on earth of His life like Daniel and his few friends May it be you. "Young children, it is the last hour; and even as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come; whereby we know that it is the last hour." (1 John 2:18)

The book of revelation is a revelation of Jesus Christ. The church needs a testimony, or a lampstand of Jesus Christ in these last days. The book of Matthew reveals the kingdom of heaven. There needs to be a testimony of the gospel of the kingdom of heaven, in these last days. These are certainly evil days, and any parent or grandparent would be remiss as a believer if they were not concerned about their children, grandchildren. You can hope for a better day and for things to turn back to the way they used to be. You can teach them how to be stalwart patriots and fight against the system. You can even teach them to be survivalist and outsmart and outlive the enemy. But I think the more things progress on the Earth the more we see that that such thinking is vanity. What we see happening on the earth is an invitation to join Babylon. The Babylonian system is the system of the enemy Satan. In these last days it will have a prevailing atmosphere. And this is why we need to look at the book of Daniel. Daniel gives us great encouragement and instruction to us but especially to young people on overcoming the spirit of Babylon that is emerging on the earth today. This message is so urgent for all of us who are concerned about young people in the days ahead. I would encourage you to listen to these messages on Daniel, absorb them and pray over them for your children. If they’re old enough have them listen to the first half of the book of Daniel especially because Daniel and his brothers share with us the young life that overcomes and stands for the Lord in these last days

"And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having an eternal gospel to announce to those dwelling on the earth, even to every nation and tribe and tongue and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give Him glory because the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who has made heaven and earth and the sea and the springs of waters." (Revelation 14:6-7) it is so good to see these two chapters Matthew 24 and 25 are speaking to three distinct groups of people, (Israel, the church, and the nations) and what’s going to happen to them in the future. Starting at verse. 32. It is clear he is speaking to the nations gathered at the end of the tribulation. He is a good shepherd to the nations, and those that have responded to his eternal gospel by fearing God, and not taking the mark of the beast, and here we see by caring for the little brothers and sisters, that remain on the Earth. God has a way to bring the sheep of the nations into the Millennium and eventually into the new Jerusalem. Many Christians don’t see this … I think because we have a self pleasing view of how the Lord is going to deal with believers in last days. Therefore they don’t study this out. The nations are also part of God’s plan since before the foundation of the world., Verse 34. Have you ever seen this before!? I know Israel is chosen, I know God has a plan for the church, but to see that the nations are prepared from before the foundation of the earth to do such a thing. This is God’s economy. All we can do is say amen! These are all the constituents of the kingdom of heaven on earth, Israel, the church, and the nations. We have a Kingdom! How did these of the nations get there? What’s hard to see here is that they helped the least of the brothers of Christ. The word least means at minimum. Paul said in regard to his apostleshipI am at minimum compared to the other apostles, called an apostle because I persecuted the church. I don’t deserve such a title, but this is what the Lord has called me. At minimum we are all brothers and sisters of Christ, because of the wonderful blood of Jesus Christ. But the Lord wants us to be more than minimal brothers and sisters he wants us to be wise, watchful virgins, and faithful slaves. Again, I say you may not like my understanding here, but do not simply disagree. At least you should live as though it is true! Get into the word of God and consider what he is going to do. We’ve already seen the truth of “one will be taken and one will be left.”These ones who are left are at minimum the little brothers and sisters of Christ. He loves them, but they were not ready when he called and harvested his first fruits. The seventh trumpet in revelation is the last trumpet and at the last trumpet before the wrath of God is poured out the dead in Christ will rise, and the little brothers and sisters on earth will be raptured and we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Then Armageddon will take place and these nations will be judged. This is a judgment of the living at the end of the tribulation. Then there is the judgment of all the dead, and that is at the end of the millennium before the new Jerusalem. Three thrones and three judgments we need to see. Praise the Lord for his supply of the nations who take care of the Saints like they’re taking care of Jesus, giving food, water, medicine, comfort, clothes, shelter, visiting them in prison. These are not words for Christians today, this is not how we are saved. This is the Eternal gospel to the nations. The shepherd is going to care for these sheep. Hallelujah what a eternal gospel and Shepherd. And during the millennium, he’s going to continue shepherding us all to bring us in as that complete bride into the new Jerusalem …praise the Lord, do not become blinded by a teaching, that does not prepare us for what lies ahead. When we submit ourselves to his divine administration , we can lay aside our vain desires and say, just do what you do Lord, Amen.

We have seen two groups of people that are going to manifest the kingdom of heaven. Israel and the church, but there is a3 group that is needed. The kingdom of heaven was initially seen in Israel through the Jewish believers. Christ Ascended and his kingdom was revealed on the earth in Jerusalem. This is not how the religious crowd expected to see the kingdom., But the small band of Jewish believers were hated, persecuted, and even killed for the sake of the true Messiah, Jesus. Since the ascension of Christ, that has happened to all who follow him. There is a reaction from Satan towards the kingdom of heaven’s manifestation. This reaction is seen as wars, rumors of wars, nations battling one another earthquakes, famine, and pestilence. Satan is trying to stop its manifestation. Israel will experience during the last 3 1/2 years of the tribulation such a realization that Jesus is indeed, the Messiah. Satan will be so angry. The abomination of desolation will take place. But Jesus will restore Israel and keep covenant with them and bring them into that millennial kingdom. The second group of people that should manifest the kingdom are the church. The church needs to be ready. They should not be enamored with this age. As in the days of Noah and Sodom and Gomorrah, we should be ready and not living for this world. Do you realize that one will be taken and one will be left behind? Could you entertain the thought that the one left behind could be a believer? Could you consider that the foolish virgins are believers who aren’t ready? Could you consider that the evil and slothful slave is a Christian‘s? Most have not considered this, and do not want to consider this. Let us ask ourselves are all Christians going to be wise virgins and good and faithful servants when Christ returns? Of course not! If this is true, then, who is the foolish? And who is the slothful? This is not in regard to salvation, this is in regard to our having neglected the manifested of the kingdom of heaven in our life. We must deal with these verses, according to their context, and according to the people to whom he is speaking about.. And then the third group of people is the nations. The kingdom of heaven is going to be seen with Christ on the throne, andfaithful slaves, ruling with him, wise, virgins sitting next to him, and the remnant of Israel ministering as faithful priest unto the messiah. Who are we ruling and ministering to? The nations.! Every kingdom must have its subjects, and the nations that have come through the tribulation are the constituents of this kingdom. This is marvelous to see in the remainder of Matthew 25.

What treasures have you received from the Lord? What riches or talent(s) of Christ has He entrusted to you.?
Now, What are u doing with his talents? To those who spend their lives enriching and multiplying His riches in others he says “well done”
But are all Christians going to hear those words!? Unfortunately No. This one slave buried his in the ground and instead the Lord says “you evil and slothful slave…”” This implies that we allow the dirt of living in this age to bury it. Luke 19 is a similar parable. The unfaithful one covers his treasure in a napkin and hides it safely away. This speaks of one who possess his riches objectively but burys it in religious activity. Either way what you you doing with his treasures he has given you !
We see here that there is an expectation to multiply what riches He has given us. This multiplication will call upon our gifts /abilities and will use all our energy to see an increase ..new believers …edifying the church etc.
The slave, with one talent made this excuse:
I know you’re a hard Master with exact and high expectations. Knowing this I did not want to lose it So I buried it so I could bring it to you today intact.
The Lord is a loving, caring bridegroom . But here to the slaves the Lord is serious master and he has a purpose. He is an exacting Lord to us as well. He has a plan. He is unswerving in that purpose. He is exact in his desire is to use all of us to multiply his rich life into the lives of others and to be faithful.
We all, I believe, know this about the Lord but make excuses. Stay busy in the cares of this life, burying our lord’s treasures in the dirt of this world, or we hope a little ceremonial activity will suffice and we hide his treasures in a napkin of religiosity.
What are you doing with the riches the Lord has given you !?
O when we stand before him, will the refiners fire, burn up our works Or will we bear forth fruit.?
If he does not say “we’ll done thou good and faithful slave” he will say “O Evil and slothful slave.”Christians can be evil and lazy slaves. We don’t like to hear this.! We think How can we experience darkness weeping and gnashing of teeth. ? This is not hell but describes what it’s like to not enter into the joy of the Lord. The joy of the Lord is not heaven! We make these two mistakes in our interpretion of this verse. This joy prepared for us is the millennial kingdom. Do not put you hands up to your ears. The scripture describe those that have itching ears meaning ears that seek pleasant speaking only for their own pleasure and enjoyment. only wanting to hear what we want to hear. This is why it says in the last book of the Bible revelation, chapter 2 and 3, turn your ears on! Have an ear to listen to what the spirit is saying to the churches in these last days.. "
So we need to be watchful virgins caring for their inward life ready for their loving bridegroom and we need to be faithful slaves, receiving the Lords treasures and outwardly investing them in in the church, to the lost, until he comes. He’s is a serious and exacting Master! He has placed his treasure in our earthen vessels. This treasure is such a light for the church, and for the world May the Lord break our earthen vessels that we might tell out the virtues of him who called us out of darkness into this marvelous light. Let us use all the gifts and all abilities we have until your last earthly breath to tell Out His riches! Amen!

"His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful slave? You were faithful over a few things; I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master." (Matthew 25:23) These are the words that we all want to hear. Well done. Do you think that all Christians will hear those words? If all Christians will automatically hear these words, then what is the point of the parable.? The parable of the talents reveal the need to be faithful. The virgins were to be wise and watchful caring for their inward love for the bridegroom, staying supplied with oil, constantly at every opportunity being filled up with Christ in anticipation of that day. The slaves are to be Faithful to that which they are called, because we are slaves we are all purchased with a price, and we all belong to him. We are not merely hired servants. All three of these slaves in this parable belong to the master. Each one is given a talent or talents. A talent is not your natural ability or spiritual gift. It is rather the Lord’s riches that he bestows to his slaves to use and invest. Now, He will use your ability, your gifts in order to share and invest his riches, but the word talent simply means the measure of a treasure it’s weightiness. All of us who have been bought by the blood of Jesus Christ, have been entrusted with his riches. Our Christ is so rich he has blessed us with spiritual blessings such as the precious gospel … he has given us a place in his rich body the church and he has deposited his truth in us. What are we doing with all of his riches. are we spreading the glorious gospel of his kingdom? Are we loving and caring and edifying the saints in the church? This is the basis of all of our abilities and gifts. For example: One day as a pastor of many years I saw the rich truth of my human spirit, made by God in order that Christ may come and live in my spirit and express Him. I have not been the same since. I trust I have used all of my ability and gifts to invest this talent in the lives of those around me. I love to talk about Zachariah 12:1, I Corinthians, 15:45, John chapters 4, 7, 14-16, 21, the word to the Ephesians, etc. all extolling the rich virtues of Christ, coming, living and operating in my spirit. Oh, Lord, give me grace and more time to use my abilities and gifts to extol this one talent. Give me more talents more riches. I thank you, that we are slaves that you bought us and purchased us with your precious blood, but Open our eyes and may we see you, see the ripe white harvest, see the reality of the church, and may you give us your riches and allow us to spend our days, investing your riches into the lives of others until you come. And May you say to us well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord. This should be our desire to rule and reign with him in that millennial day. The criteria for doing so is being a watchful and wise virgin, and a good and faithful slave.

"Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord comes. (Matthew 24:42)
We will struggle with this parable if we do not see the church as the audience and being watchful for our Groom as the main truth.
All 10 are virgins, all 10 have oil in their lamps, and all 10 are to be watchful for their bridegroom’s coming. This tells us that they are the Lords possession (virgins), His Spirit (oil) is in all of them, and all of them have the capacity to be ready because He is their possession (their Groom).
Concerning the bride in these last days: Are there any wise ones? Any foolish ones? Of course! Our Groom is coming so let us all learn to be wise watchful virgins.
The wise ones had flasks with extra oil and the foolish had empty. Oil is the supply of the Spirit in our daily life. All believers have oil in their spirit received upon salvation, but His intention is that this Life fills up our whole being.
When the midnight cry announced the grooms coming they all trimmed and lit their lamps. The foolish ones panicked seeing they needed more oil. They did not faithfully and prudently prepare. “Go to the sellers of oil and buy for yourself.” What does that mean? All of life’s environments are sellers of oil and opportunities to call on the Lord, my wife and I are sellers of oil to each other. Your children, your trials, your work, your school , your troubles, etc. pay the price and buy His life. Buying oil is not salvation, which is free. This is paying the price by dying to the self and handling everything with His life which will fill your soul up with Him. This is what it means to be a ready bride in these last days.
To be a “wait till the last minute” foolish virgin has consequence: For the Lord to say I do not know you does not mean they are unsaved, but means they are unapproved and they are not recognized as being able to enjoy this wedding feast. This speaks to all believers to be watchful before we die or before the rapture. We do not want to suffer loss in the kingdom. This means we will not hear the Lord say, “enter into the full joy of the Lord” in that millennial kingdom. Are we busting at the seams like an excited new bride diligently, daily preparing for our Lover, the Groom? Or are we complacent, foolishly fickle, waiting to get serious about this marriage thing when it gets closer? Do we think the Groom won’t notice? The message to this bride is You should have been watching daily, because you do not know the day nor the hour your groom may come!” The Groom does not recognize such a foolish bride! He loves her deeply but she is not ready for the marriage feast, but Oh what a Groom! He will spend a millennia binding her and drawing her with cords of love and will bring her into the New Jerusalem as a prepared, ready wife. (Revelation 21:2-4).
It is very possible to be His bride, his virgin, and not be ready when he comes. Cry with me. “Lord, forgive me and make me ready and watchful!”
"Can the virgin forget her ornaments, / Or the bride her attire? / But My people have forgotten Me / For days without number." (Jeremiah 2:32)

There are two little parables that are related to the household. The household is a picture of the church. These little parables are preceded by the encouragement to be ready.. The first little parable is like any homeowner we are subject to a thief coming in and robbing us of our possessions. Of course, we don’t know at one hour. The thief would come, but if we did, we would triple check and triple lock and put away every prized possession and be on guard. We’d be ready! well Jesus is not a thief, but he’s coming for his treasure, his saints who are ready for him and we do not know the day or the hour, but we are prepared. And then inverse 45 to 51 he gives a parable, describing himself as the master of the household. The household, of course, is the church, the household of faith. The master goes away and places, one of his servants in charge of the household. And notice the charge is simple. Nourish all of the other servants. Provide food for all the members of the household until I return care for them. How happy the master is when he returns and finds that servant nourishing the other members of the household. You see the members are the treasure of the master. Care for them. Then he shares another scenario. He leaves a servant with the same responsibility. It all goes south, when the servant starts to think in himself. This means his focus is not up on the Lord’s charge, but up on himself. This results in not nourishing the other servants , but instead beating them, and then we see him living and caring for the affairs of this life in the world. He still the one over the other servants, but only in pretense, the Masters surprises him, returns and calls him a hypocrite. Oh, Saint, you may attend you may give you may even have a service in your fellowship, are you ministering and nourishing your fellow believers on an organic intimate level. Every brother and sister is the body of Christ, and we are to be found lovingly edifying and building up the Saints. Intimate organic contact that flows the life of Jesus Christ in us to them. I encourage you to look for every opportunity to hug, pray, run to every saint you can find. Not just on Sunday but continuously, this is the charge of the master. Yes, believer if we are found not caring for what he cares for, the body of Christ, that is like beating the Saints. It is hypocritical. We will be separated from future enjoyment. We will weep, and we will gnash our teeth in regret, and the Lord will deal with us if we are not ready. Lord give us the revelation that the brothers and sisters around me are your body and may I handle your body accordingly. Amen.

"For we must all be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done through the body according to what he has practiced, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10) There are three stories or parables that we will see. The householder and servants, the virgins and the bridegroom, and the servants given talents. All of these relate to believers. There is no question there. All of them are encouraging us with keywords to be watchful, ready, faithful, prudent, and wise, servants or virgins. All of these servants and virgins, and again I say, all of them, have a relationship to the primary character, Jesus, who is called their Lord, their master and their groom. All of those who are watchful, ready, faithful, prudent, and wise are rewarded appropriately. Then we see those who are not watchful, ready, etc. will be rewarded negatively. Common teaching associates these as unbelievers. I find my past teaching on this to be arrogant. I asked two questions: 1. Are all Christians before they die or before the Lord comes, watchful, ready faithful, prudent, wise servants? the answer appropriately is “ NO.”. 2) Then I ask what happens to those Christians who are not watching,ready, faithful, prudent, and wise? We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give account to that which we have done in this lifetime. We can associate being watchful and ready to the gold, silver and precious stones. This merits reward for believers. What about those who have Wood hay, and stubble at the judgment of believers ? They will be saved yet, so as by fire, their works are the consequence of not being watchful, ready, faithful, prudent, wise, servants, or virgins. I think we must agree on this matter, yet when we go back to the parables, we don’t like the negative consequences so we attach them to unbelievers. Saints, these stories are not about being saved, or not saved, or getting into heaven, but they are matters pertaining to enjoyment of the kingdom of heaven at its manifestation. This is the millennium. The words are very harsh. They indicate not being approved, they indicate separation , darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth, etc. There is an expectation in preparation for the kingdom of heaven. If we are not ready and watchful, I do not know the details, but we will not enjoy fully reigning, ruling and working in that millennial day. But assuredly the Lord will bring everyone of us into a loving relationship with him during that thousand years and present us as a mature completed bride in the new Jerusalem. These are harsh words to apply the negative consequences to believers, but I will tell you this, you may not like or agree with this understanding …that is fine, but your living ought to be such that it is true. "If anyone’s work is consumed, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." (1 Corinthians 3:15)

"But he (Lot) lingered; so the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hand of his two daughters, Jehovah being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city." (Genesis 19:16) They all lingered. Lot and family are the righteous ones Abraham prayed for God to spare. So the messengers from God grabbed them by the hands and ran them out of Sodom. It’s one thing to linger, we all are prone to linger and languish in the world, that’s why we need the hand of God to save us. But it is something else to look back. To rivet you heart in the world after having tasted His grace is not normal for the believer. Imediately after Jesus said, "Remember Lot’s wife.” He said, “Whoever seeks to preserve his soul-life will lose it, and whoever loses it will preserve it alive." (Luke 17:32-33) . Jesus said the same thing to Peter when he sought to discourage the Lord from going to the cross. He said to Peter, get behind me, Satan! Any attempt to live for this world is to merge with the thoughts of the demons. The life of Christ in you demands death to the self, a crucifixion. This is a hard word, it is a narrow way, but this is what it means to lose your soul life. With Christ in your spirit the soul now has purpose. Your soul is the very conduit from which his life flows. The River in you is meant to erupt from the soul. Therefore what we want, what we think, what we feel must die that this life might live. The outer man (soul) broken so the inner man (Christ) can flow! This should be the normal Christian life. This is why we need to remember Lots wife. She reminds us not to live for this age. What a waste to have His life, His fullness in us, yet allow our soul to be filled up with ourself and this age. That’s not what your soul was made for! Don’t preserve it, lose it, lose it for Jesus Christ that he might live out of it. Amen!

"And even as it happened in the days of Noah, so will it be also in the days of the Son of Man: They were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day in which Noah entered into the ark and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise, even as it happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building;" (Luke 17:26-28) What’s your answer for believers who claim that they are saved but they are no longer living according to the Lord? They are not living a life ready for his coming? I’ve heard many say they are false Christians, or they’ve lost their salvation, or they were never the elect, etc. I know so many confessing Christians who’ve walked away from him, and from the Fellowship of the body of Christ. I am simple and believe the blood of Jesus has saved them to the uttermost. that blood will be effective to bring them into his kingdom eventually. These are the saints that will not be ready either in death or rapture, but contextually the Lord is talking about being ready for the rapture where one will be taken and one will be left. Saints, you cannot live a life full of this earth, and expect the Lord to rapture you out of future judgment upon the earth. If we are not ready when our Lord comes, if we are not full of this Christ, and walking, according to the kingdom of heaven, we will be as Lots wife. She turned to tasteless salt because her heart was full of the things associated with the days of normal comfortable living in Sodom. As in the days of Noah, or of Lot indicates that we are all in for this world, marrying, working, planting, reaping, trading, building our family, etc.. those like Lots wife are living for all of these things , they will die or be left behind in rapture in these last days, because although a believer, they are full of this worlds cares. May we be full of Christ as we are in this world. The Lord is looking in these last days for a testimony of saints who are full of Him, and these will be those Saints that are initially taken. Those left behind did not lose their salvation, or lack qualifications to be elected, they will be caught living as in the days of Noah and Lot loving the world, . Living for this life, and not watching for their Lord to come. Israel will go through the great tribulation and many believers will be right there with them. Then what? Then these saints with Israel will find and see the Lord and will declare their salvation, loud and clear. There is a great harvest harvest, prepared for those believers towards the end of the tribulation before the great wrath of God falls upon the earth. Then 1000 years will be set up on earth for all of us to either reign with him and /or learn to live according to this kingdom life. Saints, God is going to get what God is going to get and you and I need to watch now and be ready and go along with his plans. Much better it will be for us to be filled up with Christ now rather than endure the struggles on earth that will force us to turn and learn of Him.

There is an urgency in these verses for the church to watch, and to be ready because we do not know on what day our Lord will come ( vs. 42). Then we see the parables, such as the 10 virgins, the three with talents, the householder and especially the two brothers that are in the field or the two sisters at the mill grinding (one is taken, and the other is left), these all indicate consequences if we are not watching and ready. We need to remember that Jesus, in general, is speaking of the gospel of the kingdom of heaven. The gospel of the kingdom of heaven is very much related to our enjoyment of the rapture. Both have to do with His coming, or as we’ve learned, His presence. To be a person who is ready for His coming we simply need to be such a one who is living now in his presence. This is how we watch and this is how we are ready. We are full of Christ in all of our living and this fullness becomes the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; Nor will they say, Behold, here it is! or, There! For behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you. Luke 17:21-20) This kingdom is not something outside of us or an event on a prophetic calendar. The kingdom comes with the person of Christ being in our midst. Find Him and you have found the kingdom! In the manger, the kingdom is there; casting out demons, the kingdom is there; on the cross or in the grave, the kingdom is there; resurrection and ascension, the kingdom is there! And now where is He? He’s living in your spirit and the kingdom is there! The day of the rapture is unknown to us, but the Lord is looking for saints who while they are grinding, while they are farming, etc. are just full of Him rather than being full of this age.. He is looking for believers who are just filling up with him daily. This is what it means to preach the gospel of the kingdom in these last days. He’s looking for his presence in the church, and when he finds such a full expression, these overcoming Saints will meet him in the air in the clouds. Those left behind? The Lord is going to get them too, They will suffer loss but He’s going to gather them, and he is going to cause them to live by his life during some difficult days ahead. The Lord will get us all but may we have the revelation in these days to be full of him, living, according to this kingdom on this earth, not filled up with the cares of this age, that we might be ready on that day and not left behind.

Israel provides the church with one of the biggest signs of his coming. "And seeing a fig tree on the way, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only. And He said to it, May there no longer be fruit from you forever! And the fig tree was instantly dried up." (Matthew 21:19) Jesus, called Israel, a unbelieving and perverse generation. "O unbelieving and perverted generation! How long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you?" (Matthew 17:17) that sounds harsh! Actually, this describes Israel over the last 1900+ years. They still have not accepted as a nation Jesus as the Christ. They are that cursed, dried up fig tree. This generation will not pass away, that means this stiffnecked, unbelieving generation, until all the things that we saw in the first 31 verses take place. This is why we need to keep an eye on Israel, because they are a sign to the church that the end is near. In Matthew 21 Jesus rebuked the fig tree, which is typified as Israel, because it did not have any fruit. It dried up. This perfectly typifies Israel. But here in verse 32 of Matthew 24 we see Jesu foretold that she will one day start to show small signs of early growth. This means we will see activity in Israel. In 1948 they became a nation, a tender twig! In 1967 they regained the city of Jerusalem, a green branch! Now we are starting to see them further define their borders, and we are going to see a rebuilt temple, signs that Israel (as far as God is concerned), is having life again! We saw they will go through the great tribulation, and brothers and sisters, it is there that the fig tree will blossom again when they see their Messiah. That unbelieving, perverse generation will die and fruit will abound! Praise the Lord! Watch Israel and look for the twigs and sprouts. Heaven and earth may pass away, but Jesus will keep His word with Israel, which means He will keep his word with you. Get your eyes off of what is passing away. Keep your eyes on what Jesus said, and what He is doing in these last days with Israel. His word will never pass away. Can you see all the little twigs of growth? Then we know that His presence is near, and even at the doors."(Matthew 24:33)

"Lift up your heads, O gates; / And be lifted up, O long enduring doors; / And the King of glory will come in." (Psalms 24:7) Whenever we see the Lord so clearly, we see what his purposes are, we see where he lives, we see who he is…death will follow. We read Matthew 24 it says that the buzzards are going to come and dine upon the dead bodies of His enemies after Armageddon, it says the, sun, moon and stars and heavens have fallen. It says the heavens are shaking. Why?, The revelation of Jesus Christ coming in power and glory! Do you know who else also dies? Israel! They upon seeing His reality after the Abomination of desolation experience death to their religion their temple and rituals, to their ideology, death to themselves, etc., the last 3 1/2 years enable them to see the Christ and death will follow. Here at the end of the 3 1/2 years, they Really see the Son of God coming in power and glory. Death follows real revelation! They mourn meaning they weep and lament, and they beat their chest. But you know the Lord has come not to condemn but gather them, he lifts up their heads and brings them into that millennial kingdom. Praise the Lord. Remember Peter had such a clear revelation in Matthew 16 when he said you are the Christ, the son of the living God, and minutes later, his flesh rose up. Jesus rebuked him and taught the disciples that if you see who I am , that revelation will produce a denying of the self, taking up the cross, and a following of me. Revelation will produce the dying process. Oh saints this is why we need to see Christ clearly in these last days. Did you know we 100% have the Christ living in us today? Do you see Him? Mourn and cry “I want to know you Lord! I want to know your reality and I want you to guide all my living. I deny this self I just take up your cross for this day and I follow you. Oh let the buzzards have the self, have our desires for this world, have our lust for this age and may we long for this Gospel, according to the kingdom of heaven. Amen.
"Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me." (Matthew 16:24)

"For just as the lightning comes forth from the east and shines to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be." (Matthew 24:27) The word “coming” is translated “presence”. To say you are looking forward to the Lord’s coming, may simply means you are anticipating an event. But to understand and say that you were looking forward to his presence has far more intimacy. Actually, the believers enjoyment of his presence right now is what prepares us for his coming or his visible presence. Those of Israel, who survive the last 3 1/2 years will start looking for the Christ, even believing Jesus as the Christ. Their discovery of Christ Jesus, however, will be filled with much deception, much of it like the New Testament Jesus , who was in an upper room or out in the wilderness.,or performing a sign or miracle. These are all attempts by the evil one to keep Israel away from the truth. "Therefore if they say to you, Behold, He is in the wilderness, do not go forth; Behold, He is in the inner rooms, do not believe it." (Matthew 24:26) simply don’t believe it because the appearance of Christ is going to come like lightning. Boom! And there He is. At the end of the great tribulation his presence will be the proof of his coming. Are you ready for his coming? The best way to be ready is to be in his presence today. I don’t know to what degree a Jewish person could know the inner Christ during the last half of the tribulation, but Jesus said, if you seek me, you will find me if you search for me with all your heart. They will not find him outwardly until they see his presence, but perhaps the Lord will supply an inward enjoyment of his presence, as they begin to turn to him, through the testimony of the witnesses, and the missionaries that the Lord has supplied on the earth.

The last 3 1/2 years of the tribulation will be the great tribulation. Read verse 21 and you cannot deny it from the lips of Jesus. This is Satan‘s last gasp to stop the kingdom of heaven from Prevailing. Satan will fail. We see here that Satan even desires to set himself up through the anti-Christ in the holy of holies in Jerusalem, after Israel rebuilds the temple? God’s not in the temple, but that is a symbol of Gods throne, and Satan will setup an image of the Beast there. This is the great abomination that will lead to much desolation or the great tribulation. Satan will cause the antichrist to break his peace treaty which Israel enjoyed for the previous 3 1/2 years. What we see in verse 15 is the revelation of the lawless one. All the stops are pulled. “If I can’t have my kingdom, God can’t have his!” We need to connect this event of great lawlessness with the absolute lawlessness that we cannot understand today. Paul called it the mystery of lawlessness. Everything that you see happening that is so bizarre and evil is connected to this person. This event is the culmination and reason for all the lawlessness. This is why it is so important that we do not tolerate it. We do not give it ground. "For it is the mystery of lawlessness that is now operating, but only until the one now restraining goes out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed (whom the Lord Jesus will slay by the breath of His mouth and bring to nothing by the manifestation of His coming), The coming of whom is according to Satan’s operation in all power and signs and wonders of a lie" (2 Thessalonians 2:7-9). May we confess with the apostle Paul,
"And confessedly, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was manifested in the flesh, / Justified in the Spirit, / Seen by angels, / Preached among the nations, / Believed on in the world, / Taken up in glory." (1 Timothy 3:16). In opposition, there is a mystery of godliness on the earth today. And this is revealed through the Lord Jesus Christ and therefore, through his church. Get ready to stand up for this Christ in the face of increasing lawlessness, which is the manifestation of great godliness, the witness of Christ life in you!

I have struggled with sharing verse 15 and I cannot tell you why, except that the Lord directed me to go back to verse 14 and realize that these are two huge spiritual awakenings on the earth. Israel will have the greatest revelation and revival when they see Jesus Christ as the messiah, it will take 3 1/2 years of a false peace while they are allowed to worship in their rebuilt temple. That temple, and those 3 1/2 years of peace, they will think are a wonderful realization and awakening of Israel for the whole world to see! God is not in any of it! He is not in the temple. He is not in their sacrifices, and he is not in their peace. The antichrist energized and animated by an angry, Satan, will commit the abomination and place an image of himself in the holy of holies. And then there will be desolation meaning destruction of Israel and their temple. Much hardship will follow during the next 3 1/2 years, but God will wake them up. Praise the Lord, he will lead them into his kingdom that he has desired for them from the beginning. There is another awakening here that we need to see in verse 14 and it is awakening of all believers before the midway point of the tribulation. It is the greatest spiritual awakening that the church will ever realize. In verse 14 it says that the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom will be a testimony to all the nations. Then the end will come. This means that as many things wax worse in last days, this will drive a remnant of the church to wake up and be a testimony to the nations. How? The awakening, will happen as believers See their great need in the midst of all this persecution is to deny the self take up the cross and follow Jesus, no matter what it cost. Such a visible desire to live in the reality of Jesus Christ will be seen by the whole inhabited world. This testimony itself will be a preaching to all the nations. I believe it has been quite some time since the United States of America has seen such a testimony or Lampstand. When the nations all see such a testimony, then the end will come. What is happening in Kentucky at Asbury University is full of mixed reviews. The Lord will reveal its true nature. What the Lord is looking for, in his awakening, is surely full of repentance, and a testimony that we are one with Christ no matter the cost, and we stand against the god of this age. This is the needed preaching of the gospel of the kingdom of heaven, this is the real spiritual awakening that will be seen and then the end will come. Amen.

You cannot help but compare the Revelation 6 horsemen with Matthew 24 birth pains. Most teachers agree that Matthew 24 describes a summary of history from the ascension of Christ up until the midway point of the tribulation. However, when one gets to chapter 6 of revelations, many believe that this describes only the first 3 1/2 years of the tribulation. Failure to connect these two passages is primarily due to the fact that most insert a rapture as happening somewhere after chapter 3 and before chapter 6 so therefore the white horse must be the antichrist, and the other three horses are the escalation of things that we do find in Matthew 24, such as war, famine, and death. However, if we see the white horse as the gospel these two passages correlate perfectly. This also helps us understand chapter 5 of revelation, what John was seeing was the freshly slain Lamb right after his ascension into heaven. Of course, all of these things eventually will escalate right before the midway point of the tribulation. Many ask, but what about the 25% of the worlds population dying with the pale horse? Historically this has happened before with a smaller world population, and I believe it could be happening right now all over the world with accumulated deaths as a result of escalating war, famine , and pestilence. Note it says authority was given to death to touch 25%. That’s negative, but let me encourage you! Satan cannot destroy mankind. His desire is to stop the kingdom of heaven from going forward. He is constantly using evil men and women to kill mankind , to decrease the earth population, but no than 75% of the worlds population is not going to die!Satan is not going to win , but since Christ ascension there have been such fervent efforts on his part, and on the part of his minions to stop the kingdom of Jesus from occurring on the earth. Seeing this view of the gospel in revelation 6 will absolutely rivet you to see the battle that is occurring right now and will challenge you to live for this gospel today rather than hoping for a better day, Yes, things are going to escalate right before the midway point of the tribulation, but we’re not waiting for things to happen, they are now happening! God will care for the rapture, He knows when the antichrist will emerge, ours is simply to be watching and ready by spreading and living according to the gospel of the kingdom right now. Amen. (Listen to Season 2, Episodes 22-24 for further discussion on Revelation 6 and the Gospel as the White Horse rider).

"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole inhabited earth for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14) The gospel must be preached to the whole inhabited earth…Then the end will come. It is important to see that this is the gospel of the kingdom. The things we saw in the first 13 verses of Matthew 24 were a response to this gospel. Rejection by religion, the birth pains of war, earthquakes, famine, and pestilence. The persecution, hatred, and even martyrdom of believers. Many false teachers, and antichrists. Divisions amongst believers,, including a falling away and lawlessness abounding in the world. This will lead to the love of the brothers and sisters, growing cold and hopeless. All of these negative things are a response to the gospel, but not simply the gospel of grace but the gospel of the kingdom This gospel is the identical living of early Christians which cost them everything. THIS kind of Christianity is the preaching of the gospel that alerts the world that the end is near.

"And because lawlessness will be multiplied, the love of the many will grow cold. But he who has endured to the end, this one shall be saved." (Matthew 24:12-13). Do not be a defeated believer. Seeing lawlessness will lead to hopelessness. Do not allow your love to grow cold. The kingdom of Heaven gospel is expressed through the the believers endurance in the face of this lawlessness. The temptation in these last days is to have exasperation and desire God to come and just take us out of here and deal with such lawlessness. Jesus says endure, Saints, let us endure in these last days with the Love of Christ prevailing. "But I have one thing against you, that you have left your first love." (Revelation 2:4)

"And at that time many will be stumbled and will deliver up one another and will hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and will lead many astray." (Matthew 24:10-11) These disciples, just by walking with Jesus away from the temple, took steps that are necessary if we are to walk on this kingdom pathway. Walking away from religion and following the King. Then they hear that this path is identical to His: persecution, hatred and even death. Your own family and friends may disassociate from you. Even believers will fall away in last days choosing a softer gospel. Do not be lead astray. This path of the kingdom will always require a cross and denial of the self. Just ask “Christian” in the Pilgrims Progress. He found the broad way much softer and easier. But returned to the narrow path that leads to Life. Praise the Lord for these eleven who followed this Christ even after hearing the cost of following Him.

Matthew 24, the first nine verses are so striking, because Jesus not only turned his back on Jewish religion, but the disciples followed him. Talk about a constricted , narrow way! This was the pathway to the kingdom of heaven on earth. Then he began to explain what this would mean. Many birth pains were described in the first few verses, Then he got personal with the disciples and all of us, and he says, the kingdom of the world, and this age is going to persecute you, hate you, and kill you, just like they are doing with me. And did that not happen to these disciples? Did this not happened to the Jewish people who followed christ? And has this not happened to all believers and will escalate in these last days? Why does this happen? Because of the name of Jesus. This is not just because we say his name, we write his name we read his name or have symbols of his name on our walls or in our fellowship halls and cathedrals. This means all these things happen to them because of the person of Christ. The same warning was given to the disciples in John 15 in the very context that his life would come and abide in them. I will abide in you and you will abide in me. This is not just to know his name, but this is to know his person, to live by his person, to bring this person into every environment. When you call on the name of Jesus who lives in you, you get his person. Saints to live according to the reality of this person in your life today will bring persecution, hatred, and maybe even death. Oh, Lord, may we stay with you with your person and live by your person in these last days no matter the cost this is what it means to live in the kingdom of heaven on earth.

Matthew 24: 8 tells us that all of these things that are retaliating and fighting against the kingdom of heaven are referred to as birth pains. The attack of many antichrists, Wars, earthquakes, famine, even death these are all to be expected as the earth winds down and the kingdom emerges.. All of these birth pains are like a woman giving birth to a child. This means that there is a desire to produce some thing. That’s something is the manchild we read about in revelation 12. Romans 8 calls this the manifestation of the sons of God. The universe is groaning, and the Holy Spirit is in travail to produce saints that are conformed to the image of Christ. All these things you see happening in last days, these birth pains, are seeing to se Christ emerge out of you and out of this church. Oh, may we groan with this Spirit and let it happen!

"For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ, and they will lead many astray. And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for it must happen; but the end is not yet. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places." (Matthew 24:5-7) The gospel of the kingdom of heaven has provoked a response from the kingdoms of this earth. The kingdom of this age is always in opposition to the kingdom of heaven. As Christians, we often try to live in both realms, but it is impossible when the kingdom of heaven has such requirements. The response is similar to Revelation chapter 6 with the first 4 seals. Consider these things will not just happen in the future, but since the ascension of Christ, they have escalated in response to the kingdom of heaven. The king of this earth does not want the kingdom of heaven to succeed. He does not want you to succeed., Therefore, he sends much opposition and many false Christs to distract , confuse, and combat against the kingdom of heaven.

Yes, we know the gospel of grace, but do you know the gospel of the kingdom of heaven? This is what Jesus was preaching to the disciples as they sat there in the mount of olives, and he had been preaching it all along. The disciples needed revelation regarding this kingdom. They followed him and were willing to hear it to see it, and most of them live it. The gospel of the kingdom of heaven is problematic for the king of this earth, who is Satan. It is not easy to live, according to the gospel of the kingdom of heaven, but this is the gospel that is needed in these last days. It’s preaching will bring about the end. It’s preaching is necessary for believers today. Not just to hear it but to live it. "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole inhabited earth for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14)

"Enter in through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter through it. Because narrow is the gate and constricted is the way that leads to life, and few are those who find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." (Matthew 7:13-15) The disciples asked Jesus to reveal the kingdom of heaven. These Jewish men walked away from the traditions and religious mindset with Jesus. They had committed themselves to what he would reveal about the coming kingdom. He says to them. "See that no one leads you astray." (Matthew 24:4). This is an urgent message to all of us. Do not let anyone or anything distract us from the kingdom of heaven. Once we see the kingdom of heaven we are ruined for everything else. It is a constricting path that leads to life. We may be saved, but have we entered the narrow gate and are we walking on the narrow path? Inwardly, we know the kingdom of heaven has such a requirement, but many are led astray by the broad way. Religion says we can have the Christian life and the broad life at the same time. Do not be deceived. The earth will see what it looks like to have Christ on the throne and followers that are solely living for him. This is during the millennium. The kingdom of heaven, however, is inward right now and the church is to be, a lampstand of that kingdom today. Where is such an expression.? This constricted way does not require multiple laws and rules. It is simply finding the reality of Christ within you and living by this Christ- King moment by moment, supplied with his life. Allow the Lord to constrict everything, every thought, every feeling and every decision. This is the way that leads to life. This is the kingdom of heaven on earth today that the world needs to see in these last days.

Forsaking the temple meant forsaking Israel. He opened his arms like a mother hen, receives her chicks, but they would not come underneath this Christ. No! This Jesus is not going to be their Messiah! God has an eternal purpose and unfortunately it includes the rejection of Christ coming from Israel, but we feel the grief as Jesus turns his back and walks toward Gethsemane. The Messiah didn’t come as they expected. What’s your expectations? What if he doesn’t come? According to your expectations? Revelation of the kingdom of heaven shows us what the Lord is going to do and what his expectations are for his constituents. Because of Israel’s rejection, the kingdom of heaven is enlarged according to God’s plan, which not only includes Israel, but also the church, and even the nations of the earth. This is the enlargement of the kingdom of heaven.

Christ is the glory of God. ”Who, being the effulgence of His glory and the impress of His substance and upholding and bearing all things by the word of His power, having made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;" (Hebrews 1:3) "And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us (and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only Begotten from the Father), full of grace and reality." (John 1:14) When Jesus left the temple in Matthew 24:1, the glory of God was departing. This was revelation that we all need to see regarding the kingdom of heaven. The disciples struggled, and sought to distract Jesus with the glory of the temple buildings, but if we are going to enjoy the kingdom of heaven, we must leave religion behind. This is what it means to say that entrance into the kingdom of heaven is a narrow gate or a restricted way. We like religion because it offers us Christianity plus the world. The kingdom of heaven is not in that realm. We need this kind of revelation, and when we see the kingdom of heaven the Lord is able to open up to us a fresh understanding of things in last days.

3 groups followed the King: the Disciples, the crowd and the Religious. The Religionists sought to test and discredit Him. They were the gates of hades that seek to destroy this Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. Jesus muzzled them and cut them off in chapter 23. They are hypocrites, outwardly pretending to be righteous but filthy inwardly. This is where the King is seeking to establish His kingdom, in you! "For behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you." (Luke 17:21) wherever the Savior is, the kingdom is. He was standing in their midst, and they did not even recognize him. "For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17) It is His life dwelling in us! This is the goal of the kingdom, to rule from within us. Religion will always be outward and rob us of this enjoyment. Do not let this happen in these last days.

We all know Matthew chapter 16 verse 18 says that the church is built upon the revelation that Jesus is the true Messiah, or we could say recognizing that he is the rightful king. Isn’t it interesting that the reality of the Messiah, that the Jewish leaders rejected, is now associated with the church? The church is simply built upon the realization that Jesus is the king who has come down to earth, has brought his kingdom from heaven, and that Jew and Gentile can now enjoy. The kingdom of heaven is initiated through the church! Peter‘s recognition of this Jesus as the King granted him the keys of the kingdom of heaven. What are these keys? These keys have to do with the kingdom, so they are the unlocking of the realization to mankind that they can participate in this kingdom. The first key is when Peter lead the way at Pentecost, where the Spirit of God entered into the believers at Jerusalem. The second key was when Peter went to Cornelius and unlocked the Spirit of God, coming into the Gentiles. This means that the kingdom of heaven has come to the church through the Holy Sprit, imparting the King and the kingdom life into our inner being. Yes, the kingdom of heaven is bigger than just the Jewish people, it includes all those who believe in this king Jesus, and live by him as their life. The gates of Hades will try, but Satan‘s kingdom cannot stand against the kingdom of our Lord, and of our Christ. Amen

Did you know that the entire book of Revelation is actually the presentation of the kingdom of heaven coming down to earth ? Before we look at the prophecies in Matthew 24 and 25, we need a quick background of the book of Matthew. Jesus is presented as the king and much of his ministry is presenting the kingdom of heaven to His constituents. The Kingdom of heaven comes with the presence of Jesus Christ. It extends from the completed ministry of Christ when he was on earth until the end of the millennium and entrance into eternity future. The nature of this kingdom is organic, which means it is all about receiving the inward life of Christ. It was not the Jewish idea of the Messiah’s kingdom, and quite frankly, it’s not our typical view. We tend to look for an outward manifestation of the kingdom as well. The kingdom of heaven is on the earth today secretly, and inwardly. It will be manifested outwardly at his second coming and into the millennium. Appreciating and living in the realm of the kingdom of heaven is important if we are to understand the things that will happen and last days. Our living today should certainly be governed by this organic truth that we are citizens of the kingdom of heaven on earth.

Found this little chorus to share. Quit promising God you wil do better. Rest in Him!. “No, more looking at myself, put my failures on the shelf, no more looking at mistakes, it’s a waste of time. For the Lord, he does not see, anything of me. All he sees is the blood that was shed up on the tree. And I don’t have to change myself. It isn’t up to me. No more making resolutions To do better next time. Hallelujah, I am free! "Come to Me all who toil and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

I trust your rest during the Christmas season was enjoyable, yet the holidays of the world have a tendency to draw us back into the worlds system if we are not careful. Remember the book of Revelation ended by saying: "And he said to me, Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this scroll, for the time is near" Revelation 22:10. We can't put the words of prophecy back on the shelf until a more convenient time. The end is certainly near and He also says in verse 12, "Behold, I come quickly, and My reward is with Me to render to each one as his work is." There is an ever present need to watch and be ready. During the First coming of Christ those Jewish leaders who had their Bibles missed Him. Pagan Magi, on the other hand, saw the prophecy concerning the King of the Jews and sought Him and found Him. Let us keep looking for Him and His second coming. Join me for fellowship in the book of Matthew which we will call the "Matthew Prophecies."

At the end of Revelations there is a tremendous conclusion "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come! And let him who hears say, Come! And let him who is thirsty come; let him who wills take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17). To appreciate this we have to remember what was said in the first three chapters. Jesus is walking amongst the churches exposing their lack. In short they were lacking Him. They had sought to add something else to the church. Something of the world, some false teaching, some religious form, or they had just subtracted Him. He was no longer the chief love or He was bottled up and they needed to answer the door and let Him come into the church. We certainly see this in churches today trying to be more relevant or more woke and add some thing, take away something rather than just simply Christ. Saints, Christ is enough for the church. Remember He also said to those churches in chapters 2 and 3 “he that has an ear let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches”. Now fast forward to Revelation 22 : 17. The Spirit and the bride say Come! Finally after having revelation the bride and the Spirit are one! Do you realize and see that the church is just Christ.? Would you agree that Christ is sufficient for the church. Nothing else is needed. The church is Christ! It is Christ plus nothing! May we agree with the Spirit and say one simple word. Come! When this word of Revelation awakens a portion of the bride other believers will see, hear their cry and join in and also say, Come! Not only that, but unbelievers will see such a testimony that they will hear this as a invitation to come and drink of this Living Water. This means that they see something in the church. What they see is the church enjoying and drinking this Christ as their all and in all and they desire this living water. Oh Lord Jesus come! I trust this book of Revelation has revealed to us that He is all the world needs, that the Messiah/Jesus is who Israel needs, and of certainly He is all that the church needs. Amen!

To say that He is the Alpha and Omega is to declare that "in Him all things were created, and all things have been created through Him and unto Him. And He is before all things, and all things cohere in Him; And He is the Head of the Body, the church; that He Himself might have the first place in all things; …And through Him He will reconcile all things to Himself — through Him, the things on the earth or the things in the heavens." (Colossians 1:16-20) By, In, To, Through, and Unto Him, Everything!. 7x’s in 5 verses we see such prepositions pointing to Jesus. We objectively know that Jesus is central to Gods plan, but do we realize how much?! “All things” is quoted 6 x’s in these 5 verses. EVERYTHING from beginning to end on the earth is handled by the Son. Paul saw this. Jesus Himself did not declare this so clearly until the last book of the Bible. “I am the Alpha and Omega.” He can say it clearly because it is true according to the eternal purpose of the triune God who chose us In Him before the foundation of the world, and we see in revelation 21,22 Everything is brought into eternity future By Him and through Him and unto Him! He therefore is able to declare by the authority of the Trinity that He is the Alpha and Omega! Even the Father Himself handles everything with Christ. And the Spirit is only able to operate in us because of Christ. His movement in us is the not only because of Jesus but it is the very life supply of Jesus’ life. He is producing Christ’s life in us, in the church. The Father and the Spirit are thus giving way, deferring to Him that He might have the first place in all things. If the Godhead choses to handle all the universe with Christ and do nothing apart from Him, should we not subjectively in our daily life have such an ongoing experience with every item in our lives ? Yes, whether it be large or small He should be our Alpha and Omega throughout our living.

"Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things written in it, for the time is near." (Revelation 1:3). We have made a mistake in the churches - we have kept this book for our prophetic series and enlightenment. We have reserved it for the ” experts “ to come in and explain it for us. No Saints, it is for you, you are the qualified ones. Praise the Lord for preachers and teachers that bring it to our attention but this book it is for your daily enjoyment, it is there to prepare you not only for his coming but to enable you to see him today. To enjoy him as your life today. He says here “behold I come quickly and I bring my reward with me.” We need this revelation the day after we’re saved! This book is necessary to really understand the entire purpose of God‘s word. After going through it with me I pray that we will make it a part of our Christian living. "And he said to me, Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this scroll, for the time is near." (Revelation 22:10)

These few verses in chapter 22 Symbolically describe eternal life’s enjoyment in that day. How would you describe it? How do you describe the life that is enjoyed between the Father, Son, and the Spirit for eternity? You can’t. It’s indescribable. But it is wonderful. It is perfect love and mutual enjoyment forever. Thus we have images to help us see: A crystal fountain flowing through the lamb from the throne of God supplying the tree of life with its vine along the sides of the river and all the participants expressing this life with his name on our faces. What an image! We will enjoy eternal life. But did you know we are to participate and enjoy this eternal life in this earthly temporal environment. We can start today quite easily. Amen

John chapter 14 Jesus prophesied that he would go and prepare a place for us so that we could be where he is at. Where is Jesus! Religion says that he is in heaven and he will prepare a place in heaven. The scripture says in John 14 I am in the father and the father is in me. And he says I am going to prepare a way for you to be in me and I will be in you. He more clearly said the father and I will come and make our abode in you. This has happened on the cross, it happened in resurrection, it happened in ascension and it is happened by his imparting his life into us through the spirit. And it will be a grand reality as defined here in chapter 21 and 22. Our perfect enjoyment of being in him and the father and they in us. Amen

I realize we are spending much time looking at the new Jerusalem in chapter 21 there is so much to see. There are so many misrepresentations. Even today fellowshiping with saints the references made at looking forward to going to heaven and being in this city. I understand And I do not correct saints, but this is the fulfillment of Jesus‘s prayer : Thy kingdom come thy will be done on the earth as it is in heaven. Do you remember that?! It starts in the millennium and it’s absolutely fulfilled in this kingdom of God on earth dwelling with his people. Dwelling in his people. Here in this city we can see all the people of the earth from the patriarchs to Israel unto all the believers in the church that have come together as one mutual unique habitation. Until then may our fellowship wherever we meet be a miniature representation of that new holy city. May those who experience the church where you fellowship say Christ is there! Everyone you meet just wants to talk about Jesus. May these last days and it’s coming trials drive us to that representation on the earth until he comes.

I hope you are reading this chapter and the next chapter and praying over them. They are a wonderful picture of God’s eternal habitation in the bride the lambs wife. Have you ever considered that this foursquare city is actually the holy of holies that God desires to live in eternally. The tabernacle was Square but small. The temple holy of holies was square a little bigger but inadequate. The church today is certainly the holy of holies of the spirit of God on the earth but she needs to mature and overcome. God wants all his people Gathered together as one as his eternal expression in the holy of holies. This is the dwelling place of the glory of God forever in his bride. Amen

In Revelation 21 we see materials such as gold that is transparent like no one has ever seen. Precious stones like Jasper that are also clear with a greenish hue and other stones. We see giant pearls as the gates of the city. What do all of these have in common? They all were formed out of difficult environments. Gold we know is not naturally gold as we see it, but it is refined in the refiner‘s fire. Pearls are produced from a grain of sand that irritates the oyster until it gives up its prized gift. And precious stones do not come out of the ground like we see them in our jewelry, but rather are selectively chosen chiseled out of rock and cut to perfection. Do you see how in our life in Israel’s life and every believers life that God has brought irritations, fire and testing, and chiseling and cutting that we might be suitable material mature and complete as we march through time, through the tribulation, and through the millennium prepared as a perfect bride for his habitation?Did you know that in the garden of Eden there were four rivers and on the shores of those four rivers these three things could be found: "And the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there." (Genesis 2:12) Bdellium is a pearl like substance along with precious stones/onyx and gold. These are the seeds for God‘s eternal purpose. Do you think this is accidental that these are mentioned in Genesis or just coincidence? By no means. God has an eternal purpose, he plants all the seeds, and he has watched them grow into reality here in Revelations the last two chapters.

"You then pray in this way: Our Father who is in the heavens, Your name be sanctified; Your kingdom come; Your will be done, as in heaven, so also on earth. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." (Matthew 6:9-13)

If you remember back in Revelation chapter 4 a primary characteristic of the God On the throne was Jasper. Is God really made out of Jasper? Of course not. Jesus is not really a lamb with seven eyes and seven horns. Satan may act like a dragon but he’s not a literal dragon. We know that revelation has many signs and symbols. Revelation 1:1 We need to examine from our spirit every aspect of revelation and be open to what the Lord is showing us. The new Jerusalem is primarily composed of jasper stone walls. This is a key verse that tells us that His people have now come to be an appropriate dwelling place for this “Jasper” God. Neither are real Jasper but this is a symbol That indicates we have grown with the growth of God and now match his disposition and are qualified by him to be his habitation. The people of God on earth today are called his church, his building in which he dwells. Today does He really dwell in cathedrals made of brick and mortar? No, WE are his habitation, really! And we will really be his habitation in that eternal city, not an elaborate structure. That reality will not change it will just be Glorious!

God has a desire that will be completed at the end of Scripture. He will obtain His purpose. His final destination is succinctly a bride and a building. These 2 themes have been seen throughout the Bible. They come together as reality in the church: Are we His bride? Are we His building? Of course.! We see them come together as one reality in Revelation. This book, contrary to religious thought remember is not about where we are going but about who we are becoming. To see this requires us to step out of our natural concepts and into our spirit. Get alone with Jesus and pray over these 2 chapters at the end of the Bible. We will see what God Is doing and wanting. He is coming down from heaven to dwell with us, not us going to heaven to dwell with Him.

This means the old heaven and the old earth has passed away. It has fulfilled its purpose and brought about Gods eternal desire: His bride and his building. Both are the same. God wants His eternal habitation and that eternal habitation is the bride of the Lamb. God‘s people have matured to become his tabernacle and his bride. Beyond our time on earth he has used 1000+ years to mature and bring her to his purpose. And then everything comes to this new earth. We are so fixated on going up yet God is determined to come down. He is at last on earth to dwell with us. This is his desire and goal. Do we not want to be after his desire? Of course we do and this is what we will want. Religion and traditional thinking has put our thoughts in the wrong realm. our thoughts are riveted on where we are going. His thoughts are fixed on who we are becoming. May we find ourselves open to what he is doing and what he is wanting in these last days. A mature bride and a habitable city for our holy God.

When it comes to gaining the prize or earning rewards we have to be careful that we do not have such a earthly business like concept. You cannot apply that kind of understanding to heavenly things. In Philippians chapter 3 Paul gives us a clear Appreciation of what it means to gain the prize. By contrast Peter in Matthew 19 Exposes our earthly logic "Then Peter Says to Jesus,”Behold, we have left all and followed You. What then will there be for us?" (Matthew 19:27) . Read the rest of that chapter and then the following parable of the Vineyard in chapter 20. The conclusion is “the first will be last and the last will be first” Then read Philippians chapter 3 and see Paul’s clear understanding of reward. Paul said I count everything as refuse, or dung that I might obtain the prize. The prize is Jesus Christ. Do we realize that there is not one thing we can do, nothing we can forsake for the Lord, no good work at all etc. that could ever earn us any reward. The Lord is going to do what the Lord wants to do. Quite simply Paul tells us that the prize, Christ, is obtained in the future by absolutely pursuing him in all of our living today. This is what we’re after. We are after Jesus in all things Therefore everything else we consider loss. It doesn’t matter when we come into the millennial situation whether we are first whether we are last in the sphere of time we all desire that one reward Christ himself. Amen

“Unto an administration of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth; in Him." Ephesians 1:10 The fullness of times? There are several “times “ or ages in history. The age of creation to Israel is an era of time. Israel to Christ is a time. Christ and the church age to Armageddon is a time. The Millennial reign is the fullness of all times! Then time will be no more. The admistration of God until time is completed (the millennium) is for Christ to Head up all things. The 1000 years is the last era of time on earth for God to complete His eternal purpose through Christ. He will use this period to prepare believers as His wife. "And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." (Revelation 21:2) "And one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, Come here; I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." (Revelation 21:9). Christ and His wife will be one. This will be the suitable dwelling place of God who will come down to dwell on earth eternally. The millennium is the fullness of the times to prepare the wife for this.

When we look at the battle of Armageddon it appropriately conjures up many negative images. Negative because this is a culmination of Satan, the antichrist, the demonic horde, and all those who have taken the mark of the beast. Can you believe it the earth is making war against God.! But did you know that Armageddon is such an intimate affair. Jesus can certainly deal with all his enemies by himself., but he brings an army with him. This army comes bringing no weapons, but wearing their wedding garments. There is such an atmosphere of God‘s unconditional love that is represented by his bride who rides with him. Armageddon happens because the Groom has gotten into the bride due to the unconditional love of God and she rides with him as an eternal testimony to end this earthly age.

Your wedding garment is also your battle uniform. "And the armies which are in heaven followed Him on white horses, dressed in fine linen, white and clean." (Revelation 19:14) The Lord is followed down to Armageddon not simply with an army of redeemed saints, but with those who lived by Him, who intimately loved Him while on the earth. They are wearing wedding gowns. Lovers of Jesus. They are a display of His glory and wisdom to the dwellers of the earth. Those who walked with Him in white now ride with Him in white. Amen.

This is a hard word for Christians. In Revelation 19:7 the judgment seat of Christ has happened and then the marriage dinner of the Lamb. Are you prepared to sit at this table? If you’re a Christian you have the robe of Jesus Christ righteousness. This is the objective truth that his righteousness covers all your sins and you can stand before Him. This was given to you the moment of your salvation and cannot be taken away. Amen. Now, there is a second robe. IT IS NOT YOUR ROBE OF SALVATION! This is the wedding garment and the bride SHOULD (19:8) make herself ready by preparing her wedding garment while she is on earth. This garment is the righteousness’s of the Saints. Righteousness is plural because it indicates opportunity after opportunity after opportunity that we have to weave the righteousness of Jesus Christ subjectively into our daily living! There are helpful parables of the kingdom of heaven in Matthew 22, the wedding garment, and in Matthew 25 the Ten virgins. Believers have a hard time applying them to themselves because of the results of not having a wedding garment and of not having reserve oil for your lamps. Saints, you cannot live this life for yourself, fail to lovingly prepare your wedding garments and foolishly neglect to buy oil and expect post rapture enjoyment in these things. Initially we will experience regret and disappointment. Yet we still have 1000 years of time, think about that , for the Lord to operate His love into us and for us to dry our tears, and lovingly serve him on that millennial throne, until we all ultimately come down out of heaven in Revelation 21 as the Lambs wife. Oh saints you might not like this understanding. We fantastically and improperly think everything is going to be as we imagined heaven would be right after the rapture. No, You are cheating yourselves and need to adhere to the holy scripture and realize Christ wants something, He wants a loving wife, He’s going to get it, and He’s going to get it His way. You won’t have to look very far into your day, but right now start looking for sellers of oil. They are everywhere. Look at every opportunity as one in which you can subjectively embroider the life of Jesus into your living. They are wherever your flesh, your self tries to live. Be a ready bride. Many are called to this wedding feast but few are chosen to enjoy it. Other reading Matthew 22:11-14, 25:1-13

The word “hallelujah” has 2 parts:“Hallelu” is a exhortation for us to offer praise. “Jah” is God. Hallelujah is a response to what we see. We see what God is doing and we respond, Praise the Lord! The 4 New Testament uses are all right here in chapter 19. And what are they regarding? Our heavenly situation? No. They are in response to the final destruction of the Babylonian system. No more will man live by Satan‘s system on the earth. No more dependence on earths economy. Satans tool of deception, the love of mammon, is destroyed. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! This is the Revelation given to John to give to us in chapter 17, 18, and 19. So we need to see Babylon, apply Babylon to our living today and open our mouth and say “Hallelujah!”How many of us have found ourselves tied up with the affairs of this life? This is Babylon . We also need to come out of her, especially her monetary allurement. Our spiritual eyes need to see this and our literal lips need to affirm this revelation with “Hallelujah!” Listen, and may the Lord deal with us regarding this matter in these last days.

A tale of 2 cities. We need to be for one of them. You cannot be for both. Babylon or Jerusalem. Also included is how we handle “signs of the times” as learned by a tale of “88 reasons why the Lord did not come back in 1988.” And finally The new Jerusalem is typically thought of as a place that we are headed towards. It is more of a description of who we are becoming. We will see this as we get into the final three chapters of revelation.

Babylon in revelations 17 and 18 represents the system of the world that Satan will use through the antichrist to draw mankind away from the Lord. He has always used this system. It’s called Babel or Babylon because God will confuse it. He will frustrate it! He has done this throughout the ages. He allows Satan to operate, we know this. He allows war, economic failure and famine, he even allows death. We saw this in the first four seals and we see it today, But he put a parameter over it all. Especially since the release of the gospel he gave authority that not more than a quarter of the earths population could be destroyed by these negative things. Satan means them all for evil but God means them sovereignly for good and they will drive men to the gospel throughout the ages. Satan has always sought to get into mankind, he lures them with the riches of Babylon, and seeks to set up his kingdom against God through this. He’s tried this so many times through all the empires, and He references the Roman empire to John here in chapter 17. All these Cesars were gods upon the earth. But God thwarted all of it. He will frustrate the antichrist in every age. The message here is to say no to Babylon. Babylon speaks to all of us to set up a worldly system and bring glory unto ourselves. Pull away from it. It is impossible for us alone to say no to the system but listen and find out how we have a big NO within us so that we can we can overcome satans temptation.

The term Babylon is not a name identified by Satan or the antichrist, it is a name indicated by the Lord. He marks this system of Satan’s kingdom as of Babel. It means confusion. It started at the tower of Babel when after the flood mankind tried to build something in opposition to God and make a name for themselves. God disrupted this tower and caused confusion thus the name Babel forever marks Satans efforts against God. In chapter 17 and 18 we see the ultimate glory of Satan‘s confusion. Satan is the author of confusion. We see the religious aspect of this in the first seven verses of chapter 17. The religions of the earth will join together with the antichrist and sell their soul like a harlot. The antichrist will use this religious system to coerce the nations of the earth to rise up against God. Their message will be “Look, God is not a God of love but of wrath. Believe in the antichrist, take the mark!” And this religious system will demand the nations fornicate with her and drink the sacrament which is her cup filled with the blood of the Saints. These nations will then root out those who follow Christ and turn them over to the antichrist. What an awful, abominable religion. Religions on the earth today are being groomed to deny Christ alone as our hope, accept all religions as one, join up with world leaders for the good of the planet, and a message to join them and stand against those who think otherwise. This is religious fornication. The church is just Christ. If you are in some thing that is other than Christ come out of it, and receive the inward Christ. "Therefore its name was called Babel, because there Jehovah confounded the language of all the earth, and from there Jehovah scattered them over the surface of all the earth." (Genesis 11:9)

"And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. And I marveled with great marvel when I saw her." (Revelation 17:6) We realize that since creation Satan has attempted to establish himself Over God. His desire is to thwart the eternal purpose of God. Throughout the ages he has been unrelenting in his efforts. In Revelation 17 and 18 we see the emergence of Satan’s empire. This is Satan‘s zenith and this is the best that Satan is going to do after all of his attempts throughout the ages. It is called Babylon. This name represents Satan‘s effort to get into man and cause them to build their towers and make a name for themselves in opposition to God. Satan achieves limited glory, even John is awestruck at this system. But the same angel will take John in chapter 21 and show him the reality of the new Jerusalem. Babylon is fleeting, a fraud, a façade, and just like the Tower of Babel. it implodes upon its self and God utterly destroys it from the face of the earth. The best that Satan can do is in these two chapters and it is exposed For what it is, a dwelling place of demons. "And He cried with a strong voice, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great! And she has become a dwelling place of demons and a hold of every unclean spirit and a hold of every unclean and hateful bird;" (Revelation 18:2)

"(Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he who watches and keeps his garments that he may not walk naked and they see his shame.)" (Revelation 16:15) When we say or hear the phrase “I come as a thief, you do not know the hour” we typically apply that to watching and being ready today. This verse is found in Between the sixth and the seventh bowl of his wrath. This is right before the battle of Armageddon. Tribulation saints, you would think, by this point know every nuance of the prophetic calendar. They see things happening all around them in such horrific fashion that like us they are tempted to focus on events and not on the Lord himself. Even though they may sense his coming is near, kind of like you, he tells them keep their eyes on Him. Behold me, Yes I’m coming but you do not know the hour. I am coming like a thief. I will steal you away from the enemy. Focus on me! If that is the encouragement for the Saints during that time frame, how much more should we overcome in this age by watching and being ready because we don’t know the year, the month, the day, or the hour. Let us behold Him today. "Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and keep it and repent. If therefore you will not watch, I will come as a thief, and you shall by no means know at what hour I will come upon you." (Revelation 3:3)

"Seek Jehovah while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near." (Isaiah 55:6) God has given mankind the capacity to receive him and to know him. Most people walking around on the earth do not Realize that they have a human spirit placed in every human being as a reservoir for the spirit of God. these versus reveal the absolute defiance of mankind and resistance in using their mouth to call on the name of the Lord and receive him and glorify him. "The burden of the word of Jehovah concerning Israel. Thus declares Jehovah, who stretches forth the heavens and lays the foundations of the earth and forms the spirit of man within him," (Zechariah 12:1). "And the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly, and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

Whether it is the negative things we see in revelation or the positive things, we need to say “Lord you are doing what you are going to do according to your purpose.” Yes Lord! We may not like what we see, Yes Lord! We may not agree with even the positive things, the things regarding the rapture, the things regarding the tribulation, the details of how the Lord handles Israel or the church. Yes Lord! Should be our response. And today as we watch what is happening on the earth that negatively affects us we should say, Yes Lord! Even to what you are facing in your personal life and struggle we should sing this song: “I’ll Say, “Yes, Lord, Yes”
To Your Will And To Your Way
I’ll Say, “Yes, Lord, Yes”
I Will Trust You And Obey
When Your Spirit Speaks To Me
With My Whole Heart I’ll Agree
And My Answer Will Be, “Yes, Lord, Yes”

What do yo look like when you are angry? I think we all have experienced those out of control moments when our situation brings out the worst in us. The wrath of God is seen after the 7th trumpet which initiates the release of the 7 bowls of wrath. This vision reveals the Lords fury is measured, necessary, and final. And More importantly it is sacred!

Here in chapter 15 we see Saints standing before the throne on a glassy sea singing the song of Moses and the and the song of the Lamb. Who are these saints?! We have talked about the strongman in chapter 12, the first fruits in chapter 14, and this looks like a different set of believers who died during the tribulation because they did not take the mark of the beasts. All of these Saints have something in common even if we do not agree on exactly who they are or how they got there. They all have overcome their situation on the earth. If anything we’ve learned by these challenging passages it is the principle of overcoming. This was the demand over all the churches in chapter 2-3. Overcome! In light of this principle we can not live nonchalantly regarding the Christian Life and His coming.. May we be overcomers in these last days.

There are three harvests in the book of revelation chapter 14. Two wheat harvests and one grape harvest. I hear many believers urging Christians in light of what’s going on around us to be ready for the Lord. What does that mean to be ready. If the Lord comes tomorrow and I’m not ready today how can I be more ready? And what if I’m not ready what does that mean? This view is not popular that I share. But we need to understand the basic principle that to be ready means to be ripe. God is the farmer and he’s going to reap his harvest. We are wheat and we need to be ripe. For wheat that means we need to be dry, dry from this earth that we live on. Wet wheat can not be harvested. Oh Saints are you dry meaning are we still watered by the world, supplied by the world or are we lovers of Jesus like the first fruits. The first fruits are ripening early and are gathered into the farmers house For his enjoyment.. Then those who remain on the earth will go through a trying time. A literal furnace on the earth that will dry us out. The last trumpet will sound and the Lord will gather saints up because they are dried out from this earthly life. The Lord will make us ready. Let’s not debate the time of the rapture let’s just consider that he is going to gather his harvest, a wheat harvest, and we need to be ready. Dried out from this world. And then he’s going to gather the grape harvest. These are the inhabitants on the earth that have tormented believers both Jew and Christian. They are big fat juicy grapes because they have lived by the world supply. They will be cast into the wine press of God‘s wrath and pressed. This refers to the battle of Armageddon which we will see later. It is placed here in this passage so that we can see the contrast between the wheat and the grape harvest. Let us be wheat , Let us be ready by being ripe, dried out early for the Lords enjoyment.

The word gospel is primarily associated with the good news related to Jesus Christ. He truly is the only way to have fellowship with God. Everything in the Old Testament points to Christ, and everything in the in the New Testament until the new Jerusalem points back to Christ. This I believe is the Eternal gospel. For Adam and Eve it was manifested as partaking of the tree of life and not that other tree, for the Israelites in the wilderness it was look at the brazen serpent or die. All of those things were a type of Jesus Christ. Of course today the gospel message is the epitome of God’s desire. Partake of redemption by the blood of Jesus Christ, and enjoy his life in you. This is the glorious gospel. However, in the last 3 1/2 years of the tribulation the eternal Gospel is manafested as not taking the mark, which is fearing God and worshiping him and giving him glory. What a difficult gospel. To take the mark means to live comfortably. Do not take the mark means probable death. But this is the eternal gospel and it has that basic goal of being able to be with God. It will go forth into the millennium and God will expose those who have a heart that does not want to obey him, And it will ride forth into the new Jerusalem. There will be no heart that is contrary to him. All inhabitants of that eternal city will be drinking living water, eating the tree of life, living by God and the Lamb as their supply. The eternal gospel will prevail.

"Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred sixty-six." (Revelation 13:18). During the last 3 1/2 years of the tribulation those who are on the earth will have to make a choice, take the mark of the beast or endure with the mark of the Lamb. Revelation 13:18 it states we are instructed to have wisdom and understanding that we might be able to calculate the number of the beast. This word Calculate is found one other time in the Bible in Luke 14:28 in the context of considering what it cost to follow the Lord. Here in Revelation 13 it is in the context of counting the cost of following the Beast. If we take this mark we may be able to buy, sell, and live life comfortably for a short season, but those who receive this mark are doomed to be separated from God for all eternity. So, herein is wisdom and understanding: 666 is the number of man who is imperfect and incomplete apart from Jesus, and it leads to destruction and separation from God. It is a number that says I will not follow God I will do that which is right in my own eyes and care for myself. Seeing this, therefore, I will not receive this mark but rather take the mark of the Lamb upon me, The mark of the Father and the mark of the new Jerusalem. Revelation 3:12, 14:1) I will not choose that which is temporary but that which is eternal in the heavens. You do not need to search any further for the meaning of the number 666. To receive it means you are for that which is against Christ. To see this is to have great wisdom and understanding. Do not wait until that day when you must choose the mark of the beast or lose your life. Right now calculate the cost. "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, wanting to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?" (Luke 14:26-28)

"These are they who follow the Lamb wherever He may go. These were purchased from among men as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb." (Revelation 14:4) The first fruits unto God are so precious. They are his early enjoyment before the great harvest. Yes they are virgins, they are blameless, and they are also followers of the lamb. What does it mean to follow the Lamb wherever he goes. We should know that Jesus lived the life of a lamb, the human life, for 33+ years. Look at these descriptive verses of his life while he was on earth : "The Son can do nothing from Himself except what He sees the Father doing," (John 5:19). "I can do nothing from Myself; as I hear, I judge, and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will but the will of Him who sent Me." (John 5:30). "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me." (John 14:24). "Saying, Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet, not My will, but Yours be done." (Luke 22:42) He lived exclusively by the Father. He lived the Christian life. This is the Lambs life. This Life is now in every believer and this is how we can follow the Lamb wherever he goes.

As we go through revelation we tend to draw little denominational lines about how we view things, how we interpret things etc. the first 5 verses of Revelation chapter 14 are very intimate. It doesn’t matter who we think these saints are who are gathered on Mount Zion with the lamb. What matters is that we long to have the disposition thy had while they were on earth. Verse 4-5 tells us that they were purchased from the earth as firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. What does that mean? First fruits are the early ripened fruit that had to be picked before the harvest. The farmer and his workers would take these first fruits in their own home and enjoy them while they waited for the Big harvest. This was an early enjoyment. How did the Saints get there on Mount Zion or how did they become first fruits? They were virgins unto the Lamb. They weren’t perfect but at some point in time on earth they decided they were all in for the Lamb. They didn’t want anything else but Jesus. Where are saints like this on the earth today? Where are believers who want nothing, nothing of this world to fill in their spare time.? That just want to spend time with Jesus? They don’t even care about the rapture so much. They’re spending time seeing Jesus every day! They’re not debating views or varied interpretations. They’re enjoying the Lamb constantly. Where are these saints? They are out there. The Lord of the harvest see them. I am so convicted after looking at these five verses I don’t want anything of the world. I don’t know how I can stop it from coming in my life but I just say “Lord today make me willing to be such a virgin for you. I don’t care so much about when the rapture occurs. I just want to see you today. “Amen

"Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints." (Revelation 13:10) yes, Saints are going to be on the earth during the second half of the tribulation and Satan is pulling out all the stops to make war with the Saints. He calls the beast out of the sea, the antichrist. Displaying the nature of Satan to devour mankind.Then he calls the false prophet, a beast out of the earth who performs wonders with the antichrist to win over the inhabitants of the earth. He even places a image of the anti-Christ in the temple the abomination of desolation. He displays Satan’s nature of deception. There is a demand to worship the beast, and to take the mark of the beast. Follow the beast or you will die. This is the negative side of this chapter. Hallelujah there is the endurance of the Saints. They are filled with their faith in Jesus Christ. There are 144,000 witnesses who are following the Lamb where ever he goes. And there are two witnesses for 3 1/2 years that will encourage the Saints to overcome and follow this lamb. We all are put to a choice in our life to overcome and follow the lamb. Every saint before they die Needs to make the choice to overcome. Saints on the earth and last days before the rapture can Choose to overcome and follow the lamb. And there are those saints who will be on earth during the last 3 1/2 years the encouragement to them is to endure, overcome the deception of that age, and follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen that God gives us choices throughout our life, before we die, before the rapture, and before the His second coming. Whatever situation we find ourselves in May we overcome that age and follow him. "These are they who follow the Lamb wherever He may go. These were purchased from among men as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb." (Revelation 14:4)

There is the nature of the beast revealed in Chapter 13. His nature is identical to the nature of Satan through the ages. His nature is that of all empires that have sought to dominate and control the earth, ignoring God, and degrading mankind. The nature of the antichrist, the beast is to devour mankind and keep God from obtaining his hearts desire. “And there was a fourth beast, dreadful and frightful and exceedingly strong; and it had large iron teeth; it devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns." (Daniel 7:3-7) Praise the Lord there is the Lamb. , The Lamb has an entirely different nature. He is the reality of the Passover lamb, and rather than devouring us his nature is that of being devoured. He wants us to eat him. "As the living Father has sent Me and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also shall live because of Me." (John 6:57) In these last days even during the rising spirit of antichrist all around us, may the Lord protect us from the nature of this beast and may we rather partake of the Lamb.

If we do not care to overcome in this age, we WILL overcome in last days. The Lord will deal with us all. He will obtain His desires. Matthew 6 describes this choice as “laying up treasures on earth or in the heavens”, having a “singular eye for the Lord or an evil eye” for this life, or trying to “serve 2 masters” simultaneously. Praise the Lord if we are saved, but we must really agree with Paul when he said “ I am crucified with Christ therefore I no longer live, and the life I live…”. This “life I live” is more than simply being saved and through rapture or death arriving in heaven. The “life I live” now is crucial. It is to be a life of crucifying the self and living unto Him. So how do I live it? I live by "the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." That means I am living off of His life infusing me with even His faith as I spend time with Him. I live gazing at Him. I live looking away from everything, my troubles , my failures, my foes, my self and instead gaze at this Christ who loves me, who gave Himself for me. He did it all for me. And as I am looking and beholding, He becomes the supply of faith right into me--the faith of the Son of God. This Faith enables me to look away from everything else, to participate in this crucifixion of all these other things and enjoy the life of Jesus on the earth right now in my daily living. This living by Christ as my constant supply overcomes everything else. This is a choice I have as a Christian every day to live by this vast supply. We may not like a differing view other than a pre-tribulation rapture, but th realization of a mid tribulation rapture of His “overcomers ” is sobering. If we see this then we can’t unsee it! It restrains or governs our living. It alters us. It causes us to overcome this old life. If we see this we should be, laying up treasures in heaven, having a single eye only for the Lord, and only serving him as our master. If we reject to live unto the Lord in such a full way the Lord will care for us but He will still demand such a life and we will have no choice but to overcome in those last 3 1/2 years. The events that happened during that time will drive us to long for and live such a life with Christ as our constant supply. Even if we do not see this understanding of the rapture we should live today as though it could be His means of accomplishing His purpose in us. Again, If we do not care to overcome in this age, we WILL overcome in last days.

It’s good to know that Satan is becoming ancient, old, and his time is short. Revelation 12 is a detailed description of how God is going to deal with Satan. This is not something we are detached from, this is something that we can participate practically in right now. "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they loved not their soul-life even unto death." (Revelation 12:11) Jesus and the angels can defeat Satan at any time, however it is God’s desire to use you and me as his body to defeat the enemy. This gives us a clear understanding of Ephesians 6 . Our struggle in this life is real and it is against this invisible enemy. We can realize that our struggle against this enemy is to prepare us for that day in revelation 12. Stand now that you might be able to stand in that day before the throne of God with Christ executing the destruction of our enemy. Ephesians 6:11 Put on the armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the artifices of the devil:
12 because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against principalities, against authorities, against the universal lords of this darkness, against spiritual power of wickedness in the heavenlies.
13 For this reason take to you the Armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having accomplished all things, to stand.

A helpful word on how the Lord dealt with me in my understanding of the rapture. Let the Lord deal with you not in a dogmatic way or in a effort to debate. But rather seeking the Lord especially as we see him moving in these last days. Lord, you are sovereign, and you will handle everything according to your plan and your desires. Cause us to seek You rather than a another View. "Because you have kept the word of My endurance, I also will keep you out of the hour of trial, which is about to come on the whole inhabited earth, to try them who dwell on the earth. "I come quickly; hold fast what you have that no one take your crown. He who overcomes, him I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall by no means go out anymore, and I will write upon him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which descends out of heaven from My God, and My new name." (Revelation 3:10-12)

We see in revelations 12 a Great woman, a Strong man -child and an Old serpent. This great woman is The Lord‘s bride. The Lord desires for us as his bride to produce something, to birth something. What needs to come out of the woman is simply Christ. This is the mark of strength and maturity. Sad to say all believers will not be ready and watchful when the Lord calls us, But in his perfect plan he just needs a strong portion of this woman to be mature in Jesus Christ. These Saints will be caught up to the throne of God and used by the Lord to defeat the accuser of the brethren, Satan, and cast him out of heaven. "But take heed to yourselves lest perhaps your hearts be weighed down with debauchery and drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day come upon you suddenly as a snare. For it will come in upon all those dwelling on the face of all the earth."
"But be watchful at every time, beseeching that you would prevail to escape all these things which are about to happen and stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:34-36)

"And she brought forth a son, a man-child, who is to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne." (Revelation 12:5)
"And he (overcoming believers) will shepherd them with an iron rod, as vessels of pottery are broken in pieces, as I also have received from My Father;" (Revelation 2:27)

"And a great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon underneath her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; And she was with child, and she cried out, travailing in birth and being in pain to bring forth." (Revelation 12:1-2) Who is this great woman in revelation 12? Some say she is Mary others say she is Israel. The context and time of this vision makes those interpretations very difficult. There is a greater woman than Mary, and a greater woman than just Israel. Consider these words from Paul,"But the Jerusalem above is free, which is our mother (Galatians 4:26) this a glorious verse to dig into. We know that the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven is all inclusive in that every single believer from all the ages will be gathered together as the bride. This vision governs us, and is where we are headed. Consider all the verses that refer to Israel in the Old Testament and believers in the New Testament as being joined to the Lord through Jesus Christ. "Return, O apostate children, declares Jehovah, for I am a Husband to you; and I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and will bring you to Zion." (Jeremiah 3:14). …”and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church” (Eph. 5:30-32). "Come here; I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." (Revelation 21:9) These are just a few verses. There is a wooing love that God demonstrates throughout the Bible for His people, as His bride. Even though we may be so unfaithful the Lord is going to bring all believers into this intimate relationship and he’s going to do it HIS way, not our way. This is who we see in Revelations 12 , this great woman at the midway point during the tribulation represents all believers constituting his wife.

Before we look at the second half of the book of revelation let us ask this question again. The very nature of the Lords return invokes a response from all of us. Especially if we truly believe we are in last days. Consider these verses: "For just as lightning flashing from one end of heaven shines to the other end of heaven, so will the Son of Man be in His day. But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. And even as it happened in the days of Noah, so will it be also in the days of the Son of Man: They were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day in which Noah entered into the ark and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise, even as it happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building;" (Luke 17:24-28) Our response to this question hopefully is not just desiring everything to go back to a norm, which means loving the cares of this life. Really believing that we are in last days should make the cares in this life as a hindrance to us. Overcome in these last days. "Remember Lot’s wife." (Luke 17:32)

One day the Morning Star will really come and dispel the darkness that is overtaking the world. Until then Peter reminds us that “we have the prophetic word made more firm, to which you do well to give heed as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;" (2 Peter 1:19) We are waiting for His glorious appearance outwardly by enjoying His glorious appearing inwardly. This is the result of staying in His Word and allowing its prophetic nature to rise up in our being and shine His light in these dark and murky last days. Stay in the Word, stay in this prophetic word of Revelation.

This is the revelation of Jesus Christ. "The revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave to Him to show to His slaves the things that must quickly take place," (Revelation 1:1) We must see Him in this book. Revelations has two major divisions: Chapters 1 - 11 provide a general overview of what Christ is doing from his ascension into eternity future. And then chapters 12 - 22 provide us with details of events that happen during the great tribulation,(the last 3 1/2 years) all the way into the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven in eternity future. I hope you see how the first 11 chapters reveal the completed purpose’s of God through Christ. It’s amazing to see this! In this episode I recount the focus of Christ in each chapter. To receive a blessing from this book I would encourage you to reread these 11 chapters and be able to re-count the events as I have done. What you see may vary a bit but I challenge you to hide THIS word in your heart, remembering these words in Revelation:, "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things written in it, for the time is near." (Revelation 1:3) We will start looking at the second half with 2 reminders: 1. Christ is our focus, 2. Do not let varied views get your eyes off of that focus.

"And there was given to me a reed like a rod, and someone said, Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship in it. And the court which is outside the temple cast out and do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months." (Revelation 11:1-2). John measures 3 things: Inner temple, golden altar, and the true worshipers. To measure means to plan, to mark out. Israel is now making meticulous plans to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, (templeinstitute.org/) however much to their dismay it will quickly be destroyed by the Antichrist. But how wonderful it will be to see that God has marked out His plans of the temple preserved for eternity future. Here we will see Spirit filled worshipers coming to Him in the Holy of holies (His throne) through Christ (our golden alter) This is His plan for that eternal city: "And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple." (Revelation 21:22) "For Christ did not enter into a holy place made by hands, a figure of the true, but into heaven itself, to appear now before the face of God for us;" (Hebrews 9:24) "Let us therefore come forward with boldness to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace for timely help." (Hebrews 4:16) Amen!

Read Revelation 10! What good news we see in this vision. This is the 1st of 3 revelations between the 6th and 7th trumpets. All 3 have to do with hope for the eternal purpose and building of God. This is good news for all! Practically eat this word with John and allow this revelation to saturate your being letting Him take possession and Do it all today! "And (He) swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there shall be delay no longer, But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel when he is about to trumpet, then the mystery of God is finished, as He has announced the good news to His own slaves the prophets." (Revelation 10:6-7)

The focus of this book is The Lamb, not locusts with scorpion tails, horses with lion heads, or Satan or the Antichrist. Look to Lamb and live! Repent! But after 6 trumpets are completed (half way through the last 3 1/2 years) this is the earth’s response to the Lamb. “And the rest of the men, who were not killed by these plagues, still did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship the demons and the idols of gold and silver and brass and stone and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; And they did not repent of their murders or of their sorceries or of their fornication or of their thefts." (Revelation 9:20-21)

"And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having an eternal gospel to announce to those dwelling on the earth, even to every nation and tribe and tongue and people," (Revelation 14:6) This verse reminds us that God still has a purpose that will carry all the way through the tribulation, through the millennium and settle eternally in the new Jerusalem. That purpose is expressed as the eternal gospel. The first 4 trumpets damage the earth but not man directly. This is not like the flood when Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord and only 8 souls were saved in the ark. Jesus is our ark and we are headed to Mt Zion . These first 4 trumpets ruin man’s ability to use the earth for their evil purposes. For Satans purposes. The heathen in general will rage. But will some find grace in the Lords eyes? I believe so. Get in the ark now. Do not wait another day.

Christ at this point, before the seven trumpets start to blow, has done everything he has promised. His life bears witness that he has done it all for mankind! His God pleasing life is an incense that is mixed in with the fire on the altar before the throne of God and He hurls it on the earth. This Declares that he has done it all, and they are without excuse and must receive judgment. But look! Something else is mixed with that incense. Your prayers! God desires our participation to cry out for the coming of the Lord. “O Lord Jesus come!” He is listening for such a prayer as things wax worse. Is it time to utter such a prayer? Or are we still clinging to this life? May we join John, "He who testifies these things says, Yes, I come quickly. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20)

The silence in Revelation 8:1 indicates the solemness of its opening.. This seal initiates the end of God’s eternal purpose going out through the gospel to mankind. The 7 seals have revealed his plan to bring mankind unto himself through Christ. I hope you have seen these 7 seals In such a positive way. They display His care for the earth as he administrates his desire through Jesus Christ. To see the 7 seals is to see Christ revealed. It is to see how God loves you through Christ. In the following verses Jesus warned the disciples that as last days approach to not be led astray. Let astray from what!? Do not be led astray from Christ himself. I enjoy listening to several other podcasts, most of them very positive on how good patriots such as ourselves can turn everything around. After spending time with Jesus one morning I was convicted. “Stop listening to that one”. One specific podcast was leading me astray, causing me to hope in something other than Jesus. Saints do not be led astray by seemingly good things, by seemingly good prophetic analysis, not even by prophetic events like wars, rumors of wars, famine , earthquakes etc. things that you see happening don’t let these lead you astray. Remain riveted on the true Shepherd. Amen “And as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, When will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming and of the consummation of the age? And Jesus answered and said to them, See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ, and they will lead many astray. And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for it must happen; but the end is not yet. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these things are the beginning of birth pangs. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and will kill you, and you will be hated by all the nations because of My name. And at that time many will be stumbled and will deliver up one another and will hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and will lead many astray." (Matthew 24:3-11)

Have you seen Jesus in chapters 1-6? I hope so. I do not know what you have seen before when you read the book of Revelation, but He is certainly the key to enjoying this book. I’ve heard many saints say they can’t understand Revelation so they hesitate to look at it. What if I told you this book reveals the present day Christ? It is a Revelation of the Coming Christ?You know what we see here in chapter 7? We see a pause before the 7th seal. And in this pause we see that our Christ cares for creation (1-3), cares for Israel, (4-8) and He cares for His Redeemed ones from the ages. To read this book of revelation is to see a Christ who cares for the whole earth. No one has ever cared for you, for the earth, or for people on the earth like Jesus. “

When we see this 6th seal we think of the birth pains of the earth and wonder how much more the Lord is going to tolerate before this great event takes place. The temptation is to start counting earthquakes and see if things are getting worse, and start watching the wars and rumors of wars etc. I’m not sure about all that but I do know that there’s no way of easing into this earthquake described in revelation 6. It is going to be massive. This earthquake is an answer to the cry of martyred saints (5th seal), Yet this is not THE answer. That is seal number 7. Here, in His mercy, he silence’s The earth with this massive earthquake causing many to turn to Jesus. The gospel is still going forth but Christ will tolerate no more of the vile wickedness of mankind and executes The 6th seal, His air raid siren, warning that the wrath of the lamb is coming. What does it take for us to hear the voice of the Lord? May we hear him clearly today While he is speaking softly and tenderly. “Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
calling for you and for me;
see, on the portals he's waiting and watching,
watching for you and for me.
Refrain:
Come home, come home;
ye who are weary come home;
earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, O sinner, come home!

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not his mercies,
mercies for you and for me?
(Refrain)
Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
passing from you and from me;
shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
coming for you and for me.” (Refrain)

The Lamb opens the 5th seal. John sees and hears the cry of the martyrs throughout the centuries. “How much longer Lord? “Is their cry! These souls are no doubt the consequence of all the war, famine, and multiple deaths for the sake of the gospel. The Lamb wants us to hear this cry. To “follow the lamb wherever he goes" (Revelation 14:4) will cost something. We need to see that living a life according to the gospel cost something. What price are you willing to pay for following the gospel? Note these verses : For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, both to Jew first and to Greek."
"For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel as we grow in faith as it is written, “But the righteous shall have life and live by faith.” And the wrath of God is revealed from heaven upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold down the truth in their unrighteousness, (Romans 1:16-19)

"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they loved not their soul-life even unto death." (Revelation 12:11)

In Revelation 6:1-8 note the four living creatures one at a time one of them call John to see a horse and it’s rider released upon the earth. The four living creatures represent God’s creation and purpose. Up until the ascension of Christ I believe their job was to fly around the throne of God Worship and represent His earnest hearts desire and eternal purpose towards God’s creation which is to pour out his Life through His Son on the earth. With the arrival of the ascended Christ they now attend to the commands of the Lamb. With the first four seals they all as thunder shout “Come!” Is this an invitation to John or to the four horses? I believe more so an invitation to John which in turn is a loud invitation to us! What John sees we need to see. We need to see this horse race. We need to see it not just in the context of Revelation but we need to see that this is what is occurring on the earth today and will culminate with intensity during the tribulation. Come! Do you see God’s gospel as the most important news in the universe!? Have you seen and are you seeing these other 3 horses riding hard especially in these last days to stop the gospel!? May we have John’s revelation of this Horse Race. "And when He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, Come. And I saw, and behold, another horse, a red one, went forth; and to him who sits on it, to him authority was given to take peace from the earth, and that men should slay one another; and to him a great sword was given. And when He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, Come. And I saw, and behold, a black horse; and he who sits on it had a balance in his hand. And I heard as it were a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, A choenix of wheat for a denarius and three choenixes of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine. And when He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature, saying, Come. And I saw, and behold, a pale horse, and he who sits upon it, his name is Death; and Hades followed with him. And authority was given to them over the fourth part of the earth to kill with the sword and with famine and with death and by the beasts of the earth." (Revelation 6:3-8)

Seeing the Rider on the white horse as the gospel messes up our Prophecy charts. I encourage you to hang with me and let the Bible speak as we look at some verses regarding the gospel : "Those therefore who were scattered went throughout the land announcing the word as the gospel." (Acts 8:4)

"Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel, that is, the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which has been kept in silence in the times of the ages" (Romans 16:25)

"And for me, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known in boldness the mystery of the gospel," (Ephesians 6:19)

"Now I want you to know, brothers, that the things concerning me have turned out rather to the advancement of the gospel," (Philippians 1:12)

"Only, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, that whether coming and seeing you or being absent, I may hear of the things concerning you, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one soul striving together along with the faith of the gospel," (Philippians 1:27)

"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole inhabited earth for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14)

"And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having an eternal gospel to announce to those dwelling on the earth, even to every nation and tribe and tongue and people," (Revelation 14:6)

"And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence." Colossians 1:18 There is practical application to our daily lives when we see this lamb with seven horns and seven eyes in revelation 5. Do you realize that he is the firstborn of many brethren? This means the ascended Christ standing here is the first human being to stand before the throne of God. He is bringing us in through his completed work. And now He is handed the scroll with seven seals and able to open it up which means he is able to head up all things in the universe through the church and certainly through your individual lives. As a matter of fact the way he heads up the universe is through you and me which is the heading up of the church and ultimately the heading up of the universe. This is the unfolding of the seven seals that he might have the preeminence in all things. "And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures and in the midst of the elders a Lamb standing as having just been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth." (Revelation 5:6) "For here is the stone that I have set before Joshua — upon one stone are seven eyes. I will engrave its engraving, declares Jehovah of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day." (Zechariah 3:9)

Our traditional thought is to view the 7sealed book as primarily containing negative things. God‘s wrath being poured out on the earth. However, the benefit of enjoying the book of revelation with a view of seeing Jesus Christ revealed enables us to appreciate why He is absent in chapter 4. We can realize that the unveiling of this major portion of God‘s eternal purpose requires the appearing of an ascended Christ. The ascended Christ is the one who is worthy to take and open this book. The Christ who has conquered Satan and conquered sin is qualified to open the seals. I would encourage you that this seven sealed book is not just about Judgment but it’s contents also contain the steps taken to pour out his eternal purpose on the earth through Christ. Here are some verses referred to in this episode. "Immediately I was in spirit; and behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and upon the throne there was One sitting; And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone …" (Revelation 4:2-3) "And before the throne there was as it were a glassy sea like crystal; (Revelation 4:6). "And one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, Come here; I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb. And he carried me away in spirit onto a great and high mountain and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, as clear as crystal." (Revelation 21:9-11) "And he showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb in the middle of its street." (Revelation 22:1)

"For the anxious watching of the creation eagerly awaits the revelation of the sons of God." (Romans 8:19). This verse comes to mind when I read Revelation chapter 4. Literally all creation is up on tippy toes anticipating The fulfillment of God’s eternal purpose. This is the atmosphere of chapter 4. There is such excitement and electricity in anticipation of God pouring out his good pleasure upon the earth. No wonder John wept when no one could open the book in Gods right hand. God has such a plan! But who is worthy of opening the scroll to administrate his purpose on the earth.? To see and properly understand the “things that are to come “we need to comprehend the throne of God. Even in our own individual Lives what revelation we have when we know that God is on the throne. In these last days Oh what peace is ours to know He is administrating from his throne. This also shows us that God is very particular and purposeful in pouring out his eternal purpose and plan. And we will see next episode that there are not multiple ways of comprehending the eternal purpose of God but there is just one way and that way is Jesus.