Judgment Is Coming :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: July 31, 2022 by RR7

The Book of Revelation is a very important book but is very neglected by most Christians. It can be a little mysterious, and many denominations ignore it. Many who teach through it mistake it as an allegory or even try to say it is historical rather than a look into the end of days.

Many people who know nothing else about Scripture have some knowledge about this important book, but the facts are fuzzy. They know that the number 666 is important and try to find a “creepy” meaning whenever that number appears. Scripture says that it is the number of a man rather than a random time on a clock or a string of numbers on a credit card.

“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom, Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six” (Revelation 13:15-18).

If a person takes this mark which identifies them as following the Beast, they will, by their own choice, be forever damned with no turning back. That mark isn’t here yet, but the way is being prepared for people to take that mark. Be careful what you choose to believe and who you follow.

The first verse of Revelation (notice that it is a single revelation, not many revelations) tells us what it is all about.

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John” (Revelation 1:1).

The revelation was given from God the Father to God the Son, then related to the Apostle John, “Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw” (Revelation 1:2).

This isn’t a transcript of a nightmare that John had one night, but it was prophecy from God. Since God revealed it to John, it’s important to study and understand.

“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand” (Revelation 1:3).

The time is at hand and coming quickly. It’s important for every Christian to be able to help those who have little knowledge of what’s coming and let them know that only faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ can bring salvation. Anyone who has placed their faith in Christ won’t face God’s wrath.

Many who read Revelation don’t understand that Jesus dictated seven letters to John, which were addressed to seven churches. Those letters describe real situations in each of those congregations but also describe the Church Age in advance, from the letter to Ephesus (the early days of Christianity had much persecution but, in spite of the troubles, those brave men and women had continued patiently in the faith) to the letter to those in Laodicea (describing today’s congregations where Christ isn’t welcome inside but knocks on the door waiting for someone to answer).

There are few pastors today who teach the pure word of God. They try not to offend the congregation by pointing out sin, nor do they want anyone to think that only Christians will go to Heaven. That is heretical teaching but prophesied as a sign that the end is near. The Book of Revelation contains 22 chapters, but after Revelation 3:14, the word ekklesia (translated church) isn’t mentioned.

What has happened? To whom are the following chapters written?

Something wonderful has taken place. The Harpazō (often called the Rapture) has taken all true Christians to Heaven. Christ has called His bride Home.

“After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter” (Revelation 4:1).

The words “after this” come from the Greek words “meta tauta,” which mean something in sequence. First, something happens, then another thing. So, first, the Church Age happens, then a door opens in Heaven, and a voice says, “Come up hither.” I long to hear that voice, and it will happen soon.

The Apostle John was given a special preview of future events as they would occur in Heaven. John wrote the book of Revelation approximately 2,000 years before the events he was allowed to see would actually occur. Our Lord Jesus Christ allowed this Apostle a very special gift, and John wrote about all He saw as he gazed into the future. That phrase “meta tauta” is used again in this verse and translated “hereafter.” After the Rapture, John sees the events we will experience in Heaven. Then in Chapter 6, he describes what’s happening on earth.

If you haven’t given your life to Christ, you will see those events up close and personal. Right now, it isn’t too late to repent of sin and give your life to Jesus. He loves you and is knocking at the door of your heart. Open the door and let Him enter.

“And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald” (Revelation 4:2-3).

John was looking upon the Throne of God as God sat on His Throne. Wow! How can human words describe the indescribable? John uses the most descriptive terminology possible at that time to provide readers with understanding as he views God’s glory. John gives believers in Christ a most glorious insight into what awaits all those who place their trust, their faith, and their lives in Christ’s hands. He gives us a peek at the wonders awaiting us at the Throne of God.

There are over 800 references in the Book of Revelation to Old Testament Scriptures. Isaiah was given a vision of Heaven, which he describes in Isaiah chapter 6. He describes amazing things, which are in line with what John saw. One thing Isaiah didn’t see is the 24 elders that John saw. These elders represent the ekklesia. When Isaiah saw his vision, Jesus hadn’t been born, and the Church Age was still many centuries from being established. So, when John describes what he saw, it isn’t surprising that he describes things a little differently than Isaiah did.

“And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold” (Revelation 4:4).

I can hardly wait to be there. John was given an awesome gift – a glimpse of Heaven, an advance look into the Throne room of God Almighty.

John goes on to explain what he saw there, and his explanation is what assures all believers in Christ that we will not see the tribulation week unfold. We will be gathered around the Throne, giving Him all glory, honor, and praise.

“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10).

Don’t wait until we’re around the throne to sing His praises. Start today. Jesus Christ shed His blood so that you can be there singing with the 24 elders. He has redeemed you, and that’s truly worth singing about.

“The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:10-11).

Where do we get the crowns to cast before His throne? Our salvation is a free gift from God that we cannot work to earn. When we accept Christ for salvation, our entire life should reflect His grace. Instead of doing things with selfish motives, or grudgingly, our attitude should focus on glorifying God. After the Rapture, Christians will be judged. Not to see if we will spend eternity in Heaven, but to reward our unselfish, God-centered works.

“Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).

Start today to submit your life to Christ. Allow Him to change you from an angry, sinful person into a person who honors Him in all your words and actions. You will be given rewards around the Bema seat of Christ.

From Chapter 6 on, we see the events happening during the Great Tribulation on Earth – God’s wrath. There’s no further mention of the ekklesia. The seven-year tribulation week is the point where God once again turns His attention to Israel. Christians have not replaced Israel; God has not forgotten His chosen people. Even though the majority of the Jewish nation is blinded to the truth of the Gospel during the first half of the tribulation week, their eyes will be opened at the middle point when the Anti-Christ puts the abomination of desolation in the re-built temple and declares himself god.

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:3).

Most people will think the Anti-Christ is their god, but he will show just how evil he is, and many Gentiles will also come to faith in Christ during that final week. The following years won’t be easy.

The Anti-Christ is going to demand that everyone take his mark and worship him. We can see the groundwork is being laid today for that to happen. During the Tribulation, if you don’t take the mark, you will be beheaded. If you do, you will not be able to be saved in the end (Revelation 14:11). The events of the final week are very disturbing, even gruesome. There won’t be any place to hide from the coming horrors; they will be worldwide, fierce to behold, and completely consuming in their vastness. No one on earth during this time will escape God’s wrath. Those who miss the Rapture yet become believers during the tribulation week will fall prey to some of the horrors spoken of in those remaining chapters. Most will be martyred for their faith.

Only by becoming a born-again believer in Christ now, before the Rapture, can we be assured of being in Heaven during the Tribulation. You can’t blame God if you’re left to face the Tribulation. God has given you warning. The first five chapters of Revelation speak of blessings, churches doing well, and churches not doing so well. We read about the glory of God’s throne. After we read of the glory, we are shown what those who reject Christ will face. Does your pride stop you from seeing you are a sinner who needs a Saviour? Being “good” won’t get you to Heaven. Only faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ will allow you to spend eternity with Him.

Judgment is coming, and the question is, how will you respond to God’s free gift of salvation? Will you reject it and face the horrors of His wrath, or will you accept it and spend eternity with Your Lord and Saviour? You make the decision.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com
ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God breathed.

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World Government Accelerated :: By Daymond Duck

Published on: July 31, 2022 by RR7

Concerning world government: on July 19, 2022, UN Sec.-Gen. Guterres and WEF founder Klaus Schwab witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to form a strategic partnership and to accelerate the “Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

The UN and WEF have agreed to cooperate on fast-tracking world government.

It is important that God can slow down or delay world government, or He can also accelerate it if He wants.

The acceleration of world government is good news for many that are concerned about inflation, food shortages, nuclear war, etc., but it is bad news for those that are not saved.

Here are more stories that made the news in the last few days.

One, concerning world government: on July 26, 2022, The Washington Standard published an article by award-winning international journalist Alex Newman, titled “UN & World Economic Forum Behind Global ‘War On Farmers.’”

Newman’s article contains more information than I want to discuss here, but it is extremely important, and I recommend it to those that are interested.

In my words, here are some of Newman’s insights on current events:

>The UN and the World Economic Forum (WEF) are jointly pushing the nations to implement the Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and if they are not stopped, their policies will lead to “economic devastation, shortages of critical goods, widespread famine, and a dramatic loss of individual freedoms.”

>These problems are already impacting millions of people, and they will worsen in the coming weeks and months.

>Resistance to this globalist agenda is growing in some parts of the world, but government officials are cracking down on their citizens instead of trying to solve their complaints.

>The real agenda is not to help people or to save the planet from climate change; the real goal is to reduce the sovereignty of people and nations and to bring everyone on earth under the rule of a world government.

>Globalist leaders believe they can gain control over people and nations by gaining control over their food and energy.

>They are not concerned about food and energy shortages because they believe they have the wealth and means to protect themselves from the shortages they are creating.

>Global control is why small businesspeople, farmers, ranchers, and workers are being squeezed out and made poorer all over the world.

>This is behind the statement that “You will own nothing and be happy.”

(My opinion: In the future, those that are not happy must not say so because many globalists want to reduce the population of the earth.)

(Another opinion: A big difference between this present generation and past generations is the globalist desire to create problems instead of solving problems.)

Two, on Oct. 8, 2018, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a Special Report on Global Warming that said the world had 12 years (until 2030) to limit the rise in global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and prevent a multitude of disasters (health issues, food shortages, economic problems, etc.).

That led to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’ famous remark on Jan. 21, 2019, that “The world is gonna end in 12 years if we don’t address climate change, and your biggest issue is how are we gonna pay for it?”

On July 25, 2022, I heard a commentator on TV say the climate change fanatics have now moved the end of the planet up one year (until 2029).

Climate change is a scare tactic (God controls the weather, uses it to urge people and nations to repent of their sins, and to fulfill His Word; see Psa. 148:8), but many prophecy lovers would love to believe the Rapture is closer than they thought.

Three, on July 19, 2022, the head of the WEF, Klaus Schwab, and the Premier of China, Li Keqiang, held a virtual meeting applauding their cooperation and pledging to work together on climate change, industrial transformation, and social equity in the future.

Critics are concerned that China’s Social Credit Score system will be integrated into the New World Order and be used to determine who can buy and sell, where people live, where their children attend school, and more.

Four, on July 23, 2022, it was reported that the WEF has published a paper calling for an end to private car ownership.

As the WEF sees it, there are too many vehicles in the world, and it takes too much metal and other materials to build them.

Forcing people to share vehicles, ride buses, walk, work from home, etc., will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save the planet from climate change.

Klaus Schwab and some like him believe the world needs to transition from product purchasing (ownership of vehicles) to more efficient usership (renting, sharing vehicles, etc.).

(FYI: It is more than ending the ownership of vehicles. The WEF says you will own nothing and be happy. It sounds like they want your clothes too.)

Five, concerning pestilence: on July 21, 2022, the White House announced that Pres. Biden has tested positive for Covid even though he has been fully vaccinated and had two booster shots.

Just know that the vaccination and booster shots don’t prevent a person from getting Covid, but they can cause adverse reactions that could be dangerous.

(FYI: On July 21, 2021, Pres. Biden said, “You’re not going to get Covid if you have these vaccinations.”)

(Concerning deceit at the end of the age: Afghanistan won’t fall, America’s allies won’t be left in Afghanistan, inflation is temporary, our border is secure, Putin is causing high gas prices, we are not in a recession, etc.)

Six, concerning pestilence: on July 22, 2022, it was reported that anyone can get Monkeypox (from small rodent bites, using linens that someone with Monkeypox used, respiratory droplets, and bodily fluids, skin-to-skin contact, etc.), but it is primarily a sexually transmitted disease (STD) spread by men having sex with men.

Sadly, some officials want to hide the fact that the main problem is gay male sex.

The good news is that an effective vaccine already exists (two doses of Jynneos), and manufacturers have already stepped up production.

(More: On July 22, 2022, the UN WHO declared that Monkeypox is a public health emergency of international concern. One man, Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, overruled nine of the experts on his 15-member panel of advisers to make the declaration. Put another way, one man called the Antichrist will eventually rule the world, and one man called the Director-General of the WHO has just declared a public health emergency that impacts the whole world even though he was opposed and outnumbered by credible opposition.)

(More: On July 22, 2022, the CDC confirmed that two children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with Monkeypox, and both have ties to gay men.)

Seven, concerning famine and food shortages: on July 22, 2022, Ukraine and Russia signed agreements with the UN and Turkey to ship about 22 million tons of Ukrainian grain to other nations.

The agreements will go a long way toward feeding hungry people in the world, and some reports say it should help stabilize grain prices.

(More: concerning food shortages: there have been several reports that the devastating drought in the western part of the U.S. is causing farmers and ranchers to liquidate their herds and get out of the cattle business. One report on July 25, 2022, said the price of a roll of hay in some areas has increased from about $45 to $220.)

(More: On July 26, 2022, it was reported that Canadian Prime Min. Justin Trudeau ignored strong opposition from farm organizations and ordered a dramatic reduction in the use of fertilizer to meet the 2030 sustainable development climate change goals. Some officials were stunned that Canada is drastically cutting food production when the world is facing food shortages.)

Eight, concerning the Battle of Gog and Magog: tension has been growing between Russia and Israel over Israel’s support for Ukraine.

Around mid-July, Russia called for a Jewish agency in Russia that was helping Jews immigrate to Israel to be closed.

On July 24, 2022, it was reported that Israeli Prime Min. Lapid warned Russia that closing the immigration office would be a “grave event” and “would negatively affect diplomatic ties between Jerusalem and Moscow.”

Israel has asked to meet with Russian officials to try to resolve the issue.

The Bible clearly teaches that Russia and many allies will attack Israel at the end of the age, and the relationship between the two nations has soured dramatically since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Nine, concerning the coming hyper-inflation and economic collapse: on July 24, 2022, it was reported that inflation is entrenched and getting worse, so the Federal Reserve will likely be forced to keep raising interest rates to bring it under control.

Some economists don’t believe the Fed can bring inflation under control without triggering a recession.

No matter how we look at it (inflation or recession), excessive government spending and the destruction of America’s energy independence have contributed to the problem.

(More: On July 20, 2022, it was reported that rising interest rates are causing home sales, prices, and construction to plunge.)

(More: On July 22, 2022, it was reported that companies are reducing their workforce, and jobless claims in the U.S. have risen three weeks in a row.)

Ten, concerning immorality and global rejection of the Scriptures: on July 25, 2022, it was reported that the WHO is now officially endorsing the idea of more than two genders.

One man (WHO Director-General Ghebreyesus) may soon have control over the health of everyone on earth, and he based his opinion on politics, not science or Scripture.

It is debatable, but some prophecy teachers believe the Antichrist will be gay (Dan. 11:37; II Tim. 3:3), and Ghebreyesus is endorsing the gay agenda.

Eleven, concerning the Mark of the Beast: the False Prophet will make an image of the Antichrist during the Tribulation Period, give it life, cause it to speak, and demand that people worship it if they want to buy and sell (Rev. 13:12-17).

A reader has reminded me of the well-publicized story of the Google Developer that was recently fired for saying that Google has developed a talking Artificial Intelligence (AI) bot that has gone sentient (able to perceive things or make conscious decisions).

Finally, are you Rapture Ready?

If you want to be rapture ready and go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.

duck_daymond@yahoo.com