Romans 8

This is such a great passage for a world that is eagerly waiting, and living through this messed up world, while seeking out the redemption of our hope!

[Rom 8:18-25 LSB]  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. [19]  For the anxious longing of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. [20]  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope [21]  that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. [22]  For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. [23]  And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. [24]  For in hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what he already sees? [25]  But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we eagerly wait for it.

Our hope is not rooted in this life.  This life is not what it is all about.  Our hope is rooted in the Age to Come!  The next age on the timeline is the Millennial Reign of Yeshua, our God, our Creator here on this earth.

The Day of the Lord is the day when everything done in secret will be revealed.  We each will be rewarded according to the deeds done in this earthly body.  Justice is coming!  Justice doesn't always show up in this current life.  Sometimes bad people, who do evil things, seem to get away with it in this life.  However... Justice, Righteous Judgment, is coming!

We are waiting for the renewal of all creation.

[18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 

So, here in Romans 8, Paul says "Look guys, I know life is hard.  I know that there's suffering in this age.  Sometimes, it can be very overwhelming."

But then he goes "But I consider the sufferings of this present age, this present time, they're not even worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us!"

Sometimes people go through horrific events, life breaking, debilitating accidents, trauma, and diseases, etc..  "Why me?  Why do I have to suffer through this?"

Even Paul went through those sufferings.  He says, these sufferings?  They're real, to be sure, but... it's not even worthy of dwelling on.  The glory that will be revealed is unfathomable and all the pain of this life, this age, will be completely forgotten!  We won't even look back on it... it will literally be forgotten as if it didn't even happen.

[19]  For the anxious longing of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.

When you sit in church and everyone is like "oh, be strong!  Stop being so worried about things!  Stop being so fearful!  Stop being so sad!"  No! You Stop!  All of creation says something is wrong here... this isn't the way things are supposed to be!  All of creation is groaning!  Why are we not groaning?!

It's groaning eagerly for the sons of God!  We are the children of God, we're adopted into His family, but at the resurrection the adoption papers are signed!  We are officially now the sons/daughters of the Birther of all things!  As soon as our decayed and corrupted corpses are resurrected and transformed into our glorious new bodies we are adopted fully!

[20]  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 

Yahweh, Himself, allowed the curse in hope that the creation itself will be set free from slavery.  All of creation will be set free!  Set free from corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Notice also - it was God Himself who "subjected" all of creation to "futility" [VANITY: empty, profitless, vain, transientness [temporary], depravity [wickedness].  

Ask yourself this: Did Yahweh/Yeshua create this perfect Garden of Eden, set the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil in the middle of it, specifically tell Adam & Eve "don't touch it", and then sent in some previously glorious angel (Lucifer), who decided to rebel (of his own accord, becoming Satan), to deceive Eve...?...  c'mon!!!  Seriously!!!  C'MON!!!!

And then, according Christendom God said... "whoops - I didn't see that coming.". 

"If it weren't for the fall, we'd be living in this perfect glorious world sin-free..."  "If only Lucifer hadn't rebelled..."  "If only Eve hadn't been deceived..."   Give me a break!  They paint our Creator as an idiot.  It's blasphemous!

God created evil for the express purpose of forming us into His image!

[Isa 45:7]  I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Lucifer did not decide to turn against God of His own accord... Lucifer is not even one of his names.  Satan (the adversary) did not create himself!  Our Creator created him intentionally.

[Job 26:13]  By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

Stop believing everything "Christendom" tells you... sometimes, they're idiots.  God's creation did not malfunction!

[1Co 3:19a LSB]  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God...

All of creation was unwillingly subjected to vanity by our Creator intentionally.  This is a whole other can of worms that I cover in other blogs.  

Sorry - bit of a rabbit hole there.... back to the post:

In the same way that we will be resurrected and given our glorified bodies, all of creation will be resurrected and renewed.  

[22]  For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 

There's that childbirth analogy again.  All through childbirth are growing pains, and then labor pains begin, and finally we're getting close to the birth.  Those labor pains strike more often and come closer together.  They increase in intensity, and the pain is almost unbearable right up to the end... right up to the birth.

That is the analogy used all throughout Scripture.  It's used for the sufferings of this life and even Daniel's 70th week.  There is suffering, and endurance, right up to the end... when finally... the birth of the next age comes forth.

That's one reason preterists drive me crazy... "Oh, the birth pains are all in 70AD!".  No, you idiots... have you ever experienced the birth of a child?  Birth pains do not occur and end in 70AD.  Birth pains occur right up to the end... and get worse in fact.  You don't have birth pains, and then 2000 years later give birth.

[23]  And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

We know that all of creation is suffering the pains of child birth together with us.  Not only that, but we feel it - because we have the first fruits of the Spirit (because God is in us).  We should be groaning... this world is not the way that it was intended to be.  It won't be this way forever.  It will become what it is intended, but not until it gives birth.

There it is again, in verse 23 - "the redemption of our body".  This is speaking of the first resurrection of our bodies!  Not our souls, not our spirits, but our bodies... when our spirit will be rejoined with our earthly bodies and transformed into the glorious likeness of our risen Savior.

That is our hope!  It's not visible to us yet... we can see it, because God's Spirit lives in us, but it's not really visible to us yet.  It's the same with all of creation... it's discouraged because it knows that it's not right.  We can see it though because we have the first fruits... God lives within us.

[24]  For in hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what he already sees?

Hope can't be seen - it you could see it... it wouldn't be hope.

That's what Paul's getting at here - one of his his little sort of rabbinic, subtle statements. But if we do hope - for that which we don't see yet, with perseverance, we wait eagerly for it.  We don't see it... we see the Word of God, we believe it, but we don't see it yet.

[25]  But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we eagerly wait for it.

There is a perseverance. There is a longsuffering that's involved in waiting for that which we don't see. And long-suffering, that patient endurance, are one of the primary overriding Christian virtues throughout all of the Scriptures. 

The righteous are defined by having longsuffering, patient endurance, but it's hardly ever preached in churches today.  One of the main characteristics of the righteous is that we can suffer for a long time and continue to hold on to hope. 

That's who we are called to be. 

Whatever, you may be suffering today, or are discouraged, or sad, or just feeling blah... that's normal.  All of creation is waiting for Yeshua to set it all right again.  

We can bow our heads and be thankful through anything this world throws at us... it's won't even be worthy of discussion when we're face to face with the Glory that is coming for us.  The Glory that He has designed specifically for us!  Justice will be served and all of this current world's troubles will be wiped from our memories.

Persevere through it with a thankful heart. 

[Heb 11:1 LSB]  Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

[Heb 11:6 LSB]  And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who draws near to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Covenant with Death - Part 2

10/30/2025

In part one we've discussed the covenant.  If you haven't read that yet, you can do so here:

Covenant with Death - Part 1

Scripture is clear - a dictator, patterned after Antiochus Epiphanes, is coming.  

He'll be deceptive and he starts out with some political capital.  He gains a measure of trust and either strengthens a covenant, or confirms a strong covenant (the original language is tricky) with Israel.  This may be a huge deal and is broadly televised and celebrated around the world.  I mean, look at all the hubbub surrounding this peace deal that Trump worked on with the freeing of the Israeli hostages.  It may also be something that is accomplished behind closed doors and will not be made public.  We just need to be watching.

The Antichrist and his empire, his coalition of nations, and his religion, will largely come out of Islam and out of the Middle East.  Believe it, or not, Islam has their own version of end-time doctrine of events and it is very similar (in certain regards) to that of our Bible.  Islam's version fits hand-in-glove with the Biblical mold.

They have what's called the treaty of Hudia and all Muslims are aware of it.  Another term is Hudna.  The technical name is "Treaty of Hudaybiyyah" (also spelled Hudaibiyah or al-Hudaybiya). It's a temporary agreement of cease fire. It was a peace agreement between Prophet Muhammad and the Quraysh tribe of Mecca.

Muhammad lived in Mecca and was part of this Quraysh tribe... most powerful tribe in the region. It was in Mecca that he formed his new religion. He was eventually driven out of Mecca as his new movement began to grow. Muhammad was forced into Medina. In Medina, his movement really gained ground and grew to be much stronger. He then returns to Mecca, conquers the Quraysh, and this is really when Islam took off... they began conquering all of Arabia. But before he returned to Mecca to conquer the Quraysh, he had a personal prophecy that he claimed. He told his followers, "We're going to make pilgrimage" (Umrah). Muhammad had a dream in which he and his followers entered the Ka'bah in Mecca unarmed for pilgrimage (Umrah).

In Mecca was the Ka'bah... and as you're aware - it's stlil there.

Before moving on, notice that Mecca is like a counterfeit of what is to come. Everything Satan does is always mimicking what our Father is doing. All nations will flock to Jerusalem and worship there... Jews and Gentiles alike. We won't be pilgrimaging to some satanic black block in Mecca, but will be pilgrimaging to Jerusalem to worship at the feet of our Glorious King and Redeemer Yeshua.

The house of idols... in the Ka'bah were all these idols and it was a very welcoming, open society where all these different peoples would come and worship together. The would all come in these white robes, naked underneath, basically to show "Hey! We're unarmed". They didn't come with weapons as in - "there will be no problems... we're just coming to worship our god at the Ku'bah". It was like a "white flag"... "we come in peace!".

Inspired by a personal prophecy, he led about 1,400 Muslims (~1,200 men with wives and children) toward Mecca in a peaceful procession, intending only to perform rituals, not to fight. The group halted at Hudaybiyyah, a well about 9 miles from Mecca, when scouts reported Quraysh mobilization. The Quraysh, fearing an attack and still hostile after battles like Badr (624 CE) and the Trench (627 CE), sent negotiators. They told Muhammad... "nope, you're not going."

Muhammad's guys get all pissed off... "Hey! What's going on? You're the Prophet and you said that we were going to make pilgrimage. What's up?!"

Here's what happens with "prophets". You know, they're supposed to be prophets and know everything but now it looks like he's "missed the mark". Muhammad thinks to himself, and what they do is - they move the bullseye and say... "no, this is what I meant".

Muhammed said - "Yeah, I said we're going to pilgrimage, but did I say this year?"

"What? Oh... you didn't mean this year? Then why are we all dressed in these white pilgrimage robes?"

No matter what can be said of Muhammad he was a great military strategist. He goes, "Ok... this is the most powerful tribe in the region, right?" and they offered Muhammad a 10-year ceasefire treaty that was completely weighed against Muhammad.

Basically, what the Quraysh said was:

"If any of our people want to become Muslim, you will reject them and send them back to us. None of our people can become Muslim. And... if any of your people want to join us, you have to let them. Then... we can have a 10 year deal and you and your people can come back to make pilgrimage. Deal, or no deal?"

Muhammad agreed. His people got all upset, "you said we were going to make pilgrimage and now you're changing it?! blah, blah, blah..."

Muhammad says "Allah visited me and gave me a revelation and it's a great victory! I received the revelation that whenever we attack villages, anyone who joins us will get a percentage of the booty, the plunder, and the spoil. With this treaty, we got the most powerful tribe in the region off of our backs!"

From that point forward, he started attacking Jewish villages and within two years they grew from 1,200 men to over 10,000 men. They became pirates of the desert. The new members got a cut of the women, the slaves, the money, gold, property, all of it. Everyone wanted to join.

So, after two years, Muhammad has grown into this massive movement and he's like "forget the treaty...".

He went back to Mecca and the Quraysh were overwhelmed and laid down their weapons. Mecca and the Ka'bah now belonged to Muhammad and Islam.

This is the rise of Muhammad's power in a nutshell. If Muhammad always tied his right shoe first, then you as a Muslim better make sure you also always tie your right shoe first. An actual part of the Sunna... if Muhammad squats down to pee, then you as a Muslim man better squat to pee. Muslims actually still do this. The point is, they're to follow the example of Muhammad no matter what.

Islam achieved one of their greatest victories by entering into a false ceasefire covenant (a Hudna)... and breaking it.

Now, look at all the surrounding countries of Israel... Muslims. They all know about the story told above.. it is part of their being... part of their religion and history. It is the example Muhammad set forth.

Now, the Abrahamic Accords come along (2020), and Trump says "America acknowledges that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel." Joining the agreements were the UAE (United Arab Emirates), Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan all entering into a friendly diplomatic and economic relations with Israel.

Now, just this month you have other nations potentially signing on pending the Gaza ceasefire. Somalia, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, Libya, etc.

Israeli Consul General Ofir Akunis stated on October 26, 2025: "In the coming months, positive announcements are expected from countries in our region and even from more distant ones that will join the Abraham Accords." He emphasized economic opportunities but conditioned progress on Hamas/Hezbollah disarmament. People are losing their minds claiming... "look at this! This is the Treaty! The Covenant! So, Trump must be the Antichrist!"

Nope... this may be the covenant in question, or maybe some version of it that will come about, but Trump 100% does not fit the criteria for the Antichrist.

Scripture tells us where the Antichrist will come from... Ezekial calls him "Gog of Magog". He is the prince of Meshech and Tubal... that's modern day Turkey. That's not the United States.

Daniel calls him the king of the north. Antiochus Epiphanes from the Seleucid Dynasty was a foreshadow of the Antichrist. The Antichrist is referred to as the Assyrian. It's all the same region. Turkey, Syria, Northern Iraq.

Donald Trump is not going to lead a coalition of Muslim nations against Israel.
Abu Mohammad al-Julani... now, for me - he's a person of interest. Someone to keep your eye on.

Covenant with Death

October 2025

I've mentioned this before, but will post it here again.

New Christians tend to get excited about their new found faith in Yeshua and dive right into Bible study.  Where do the majority of them start?  Revelation... if not the Revelation, they'll start with the NT.

You can't do that... well, you can but you may not get much out of it.

You don't sit down to watch a Marvel movie at the last 15 minutes of the movie.  You'll end up watching this awesome battle, the earth has been saved, etc. but... you'll have no idea why the battle was fought, or who the characters are, who are the good guys versus bad guys, etc., etc.

You need to start your Biblical studies on a good foundation.  That foundation is Moses... the Torah.  Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, & Numbers.  The beginning of the story in other words.  The rest of the story is all going to point back to Moses.  The prophets were all like, "Hey!  Don't forget Moses!", the NT writers elaborated on the OT.  Yeshua referred us to the OT.  You need to start at the beginning and your foundation will be set more firmly.

Anyway... moving on in reference to Daniel's 70th Week.

We're looking for some type of security agreement, peace treaty, license to begin daily sacrifices on the Temple Mount... what ever you want to call it.  We're watching for this:

[Dan 9:27 LSB]  “And he [Antichrist] will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will make sacrifice and grain offering cease; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”

Other versions translate it a littler differently:

[Dan 9:27 KJV]  And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week... 

People will say "there's only one verse in the whole Bible that talks about this covenant!"   Ermmm... no.

Let's start with Moses.  Moses is reading all of this to Israel as they are in the process of making a covenant with Yahweh.

Yahweh told Israel, before you go into the land, do not go into any treaties, or covenants, with any others...

[Exo 34:12 LSB]  “Beware lest you cut a covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, lest it become a snare [a trap, with the purpose of trapping and killing you] in your midst. [13]  “But rather, you are to tear down their altars and shatter their sacred pillars and cut down their Asherim [14]  for you shall not worship any other god, for Yahweh, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God— [15]  lest you cut a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they play the harlot with their gods and sacrifice to their gods, and one of them invite you to eat of his sacrifice, [16]  and you take some of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters play the harlot with their gods and cause your sons also to play the harlot with their gods. [17]  “You shall make for yourself no molten gods.

There's the initial warning... no covenants, with the people in that land, or you will end up following and worshipping their gods and end up suffering a spiritual death.  Pretty clear text...

This is why later we read in Nehemiah, on the return to Judah, they find the Torah scrolls, read them to the people, and many divorced their spouses right then on the spot.  They had intermarried with peoples of other nationalities, Arabs, mixed races, etc.  It's not about ethnic, or interracial marriages... it's about preserving a pure  form of worship to Yahweh - the One who had set them, specifically, apart unto Holiness and worship purity.

We have the clear commandment in Torah (above).  The prophets continually telling them... "Remember, remember Moses! remember what Moses said?!..." pointing to the Torah.  The primary word over the Passover is... "Remember!  Teach your children, keep the commandments, do not forget, etc."

So here we have Isaiah... the main context of this passage is the Assyrian (which is a "type" of the Antichrist), and here we see Yahweh rebuking the rulers in Jerusalem:

[Isa 28:14-16 LSB]  Therefore, hear the word of Yahweh, O scoffers, Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem, [15]  Because you have said, “We have cut a covenant with death, And with Sheol we have made a pact. The overflowing scourge [foreign invasion] will not reach us when it passes by, For we have made falsehood our refuge and we have hidden ourselves with lying.” [16]  Therefore thus says Lord Yahweh, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.

Yahweh says, "you think you made a good deal with your neighbors, but in reality - you just cut a deal with death you idiots!"

"You put your trust into lies... you should have trusted in Me alone!  I laid the Foundation here!"

Speaking on the Millennial Reign of Yeshua:

[Isa 10:20-21 LSB]  Now it will be in that day, that the remnant of Israel and those of the house of Jacob who have escaped, will never again rely on the one [Antichrist] who struck them, but will truly rely on Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel. [21]  A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.

Preachers will say "Don't believe anyone that tells you the Antichrist will be a Muslim!  Israel will never put their trust into a Muslim!"

There is literally not a single verse in the Scriptures that claims "Israel will "trust" the Antichrist".  There is the statement above, however, that says Israel will "rely" on the Antichrist.

They will put their trust into these treaties... these agreements.  They will put their trust into this coming covenant, and rely on the agreement for their protection.  They will put their faith into the deception of the Antichrist. 

Never enter into an agreement with Muslims?!  They (Israel) have literally already entered into many agreements with Muslims... ever hear of the Oslo Accords for one example?  Israel has regularly entered into agreements with Muslims for decades.  Why would they not do so in the future?!  So, shut up with that already... stupid "preachers".  Seriously?  How about poking your noses into political history, or the news, once in a while?

Anyway...  In "that day", Israel will no longer rely on the Antichrist... they will put their full trust into Yeshua.

On a related note, we find that Israel will eventually allow a division of their land during those final days.  Again, preachers screaming "Israel will never allow that!".  Well...  I'm here to tell you - they will.  They may be forced into it, or sublet it, two-state solution, or whatever, but they will:

[Joe 3:1-4 LSB]  “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, [2]  I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat [Kidron Valley - Jerusalem]. Then I will enter into judgment with them there On behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; And they have divided up My land. [3]  “They have also cast lots for My people, Traded a boy for a harlot, And sold a girl for wine that they may drink. [4]  “Moreover, what are you to Me, O Tyre, Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you rendering Me a recompense? But if you do recompense Me, swiftly and speedily I will return your recompense on your head.

Israel will enter into some kind of an agreement that will result in their land being divided, their people scattered (or exiled), boys being traded for prostitutes, etc.

Again, Daniel... elaborating on Moses:

[Dan 9:24-27 LSB]  “Seventy weeks have been determined for your people [Jews] and for your holy city [Jerusalem], [a] to finish the transgression, [b] to make an end of sin, [c] to make atonement for iniquity, [d] to bring in everlasting righteousness, [e] to seal up vision and prophecy, and [f] to anoint the Holy of Holies. [six specific things to accomplish by the end of this 70 weeks] [25]  “So you are to know and have insight that from the going out of a word to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince [Yeshua], there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be restored and rebuilt, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. [26]  “Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing [Yeshua crucified], and the people of the prince [Antichrist] who is to come will destroy the city [Jerusalem] and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war [even to the end will be those who resist Antichrist]; desolations are decreed. [27]  “And he [Antichrist] will make a firm covenant [agreement, treaty, etc.] with the many for one week [70th week - 7 years], but in the middle of the week [3.5 years] he [Antichrist] will make sacrifice and grain offering cease; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate [Antichrist].”

Ok, so nutshell - one seven year period is agreed to.  At the midpoint, the agreement will be broken.  Sacrifices will be put to an end, and the abomination of desolation will be evident... until Yeshua returns - 3.5 years after we see this happen.

This is the single, most significant, defining sign, that we are to be watching for.  The ceasing of offerings and the abomination of desolation is setup.  This is the sign!  This is the precise time when the Antichrist will be revealed.  There won't be any more guessing games, etc. as to his identity.  When this happens - all will know!

Believe it, or not... some try to claim that the "he" in 9:27 is Yeshua:

And he [Yeshua?!] will make a firm covenant

...but in the middle of the week [3.5 years] he [Yeshua?!] will make sacrifice and grain offering cease

No... Daniel is clear all throughout, both in Aramaic and Hebrew, that it is the Antichrist who puts an end to offerings and sets up the abomination of desolation.  If you find someone teaching that it is Yeshua, it is usually for one of two reasons:

[1]  To get rid of the Torah involvement, or [2] to set a date for the return of Yeshua. 

If you run into one of these teachers... shut it down.

There are four passages elsewhere in Daniel that speak of the ceasing of offerings, or the abomination, and they are all negatively associated with the Antichrist (or, Antiochus Ephiphanes - a historical "type", shadow, or precursor of Antichrist).  These can be found in Daniel 8, 11, and 12.

Here we see Antiochus Epiphanes but remember - this is a "type" of the Antichrist.  Antiochus actually did this but it's also a picture of what the coming Antichrist will do.  You can read my other blogs for details.  

[Dan 8:9-12 LSB]  And out of one of them came forth a rather small horn [little horn - Antichrist]. And it grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Beautiful Land. [10]  Then it grew up to the host of heaven and caused some of the host and some of the stars to fall to the earth, and it trampled them down [see Rev 12 - ascribed to Satan]. [11]  And it [little horn] even magnified itself to be equal with the Commander of the host; and it [little horn] removed the regular sacrifice from Him, and the place of His [Commander of the Host] sanctuary was thrown down. [12]  And on account of transgression the host will be given over to the horn [Antichrist] along with the regular sacrifice; and it will throw truth down to the ground and do its will and succeed.

Both chapters below... Antichrist.

[Dan 11:31 LSB]  “Mighty forces from him [Antichrist] will stand, profane the sanctuary fortress, and abolish the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation.

[Dan 12:11 LSB]  “But from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.

So this covenant will probably look like some sort of seven year peace deal.  It will probably allow Israel to rebuild the temple, or at least a temporary booth to begin daily sacrifices.  It will probably involve dividing up the land - look at Gaza right now for example.  It will likely involve splitting up Jerusalem, as in allowing multiple forms of worship on the temple mount.  Jews, Muslim, and Arabs will share the Temple Mount... it'll be the "capital of peace", this type of thing... This is what we're to be watching for.

In part two, we'll look at the Abrahamic Accords, Islamic doctrine, Julani the new leader in Syria, etc.

Dispensational Theology is Dangerous

I'll try to keep this brief, but you need to understand all of this - at least at a basic level.

Dispensational Theology is not only dangerous but irresponsible.  It's a teaching that is irresponsible towards Christians sitting in the pews each week, but also an irresponsible twisting of Scripture... the Holy Words of Yahweh.

My main gripe with it is found in their teaching of a pre-tribulation rapture of the Church and rigid stance on the differences between Israel and the Church.

Most don't realize that the pre-trib view wasn't even a discussion until around the 14th century (brother Dolcino).  None of the ECF (Early Church Father's) taught, believed in, or even discussed a pre-tribulation rapture of the Church.

Pre-tribbers will try to say that the early church taught this but they are flat out wrong and often intentionally deceptive.  It's not even closely worthy of debate - it is hands down un-debatable... debunked!  Their views are so easily debunked, I find it hard to believe that anyone would buy into their arguments.  I would use the word "shocked" but sadly most Christians don't dig in and study... they just sit in the pews and absorb the words of these "scholars" as being the truth.  I may create another post on the views of the ECF later, but will move forward with the main point of this post.

Pre-tribulation Dispensationalism is a very common stance within Western Theology as is commonly taught from the pulpit.  It is a system of Theology that is embraced by the Church today but is an extremely dangerous Theology.

"Why fix the brakes?  We'll be out of this vehicle before it reaches the cliff!"

A very simple view of dispensationalism can be viewed as:  the age we're currently living in, and the age to come.

There are many different "ages" defined as to the history of the world.  We are living in this current age.  Most call it the Church age.  Dispensationalists often refer to it as a paranthetical age.  This age is fallen, corrupt, difficult, etc. but... there is an age to come!  We're moving forward through history towards the next age: The Messianic Age... the Millennial Kingdom.  After that will come the New Heaven New Earth Age.  All of history is barreling forward towards a very specific day... a theme that you'll find splattered all throughout Scripture - The Day of the Lord.

This is the history of all of Scripture.  Israel was endowed to Yahweh at Mount Sinai.  Those ten commandments, that Moses brought down as written in stone, were the marriage certificate for Israel.  They are His chosen people.  The Day of the Lord is the expectation of Israel.  As an example, look at a NT passage from Luke.  These are the words of Zechariah - the father of John the Baptist.  This is the expectation of all Jews as written in the OT prophecies.

[Luk 1:67-79 LSB]  And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: [68]  “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He visited and accomplished redemption for His people, [69]  And raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant— [70]  As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old— [71]  Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES, And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US, [72]  To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant, [73]  The oath which He swore to Abraham our father, [74]  To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, [75]  In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. [76]  “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO MAKE READY HIS WAYS, [77]  To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, [78]  Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, [79]  TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To direct our feet into the way of peace.”

Zechariah speaks of this as if it has come - but only in the sense of "this has been spoken so you can take it to the bank!".  The throne of David will be established and Israel will be restored in the age to come.  This has been promised from the Ancient of Days.  This is the hope and expectation of what all of history has been, and is, moving toward!

God is coming to comfort Israel (and all of us) and He will pour out His wrath on our enemies.

[Isa 66:13-16 LSB]  "As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; And you will be comforted in Jerusalem.” [14]  Then you will see this, and your heart will be joyful, And your bones will flourish like the new grass; And the hand of Yahweh will be made known to His slaves, But He will be indignant toward His enemies. [15]  For behold, Yahweh will come in fire And His chariots like the whirlwind, To return His anger with wrath, And His rebuke with flames of fire. [16]  For Yahweh will execute judgment by fire And by His sword on all flesh, And those slain by Yahweh will be many.

This is The Day of the Lord - the turning point of world history when we enter into the next age.  He is coming back to judge the wicked and to redeem His people.  This is coming, and it will happen in the very near future.  Some do not believe this very basic tenet.  They claim it is all allegorical, it's a spiritual meaning, or it has occurred at some point in the past, blah, blah, blah.

The problem the Jews have is... they believe in their apocalyptical dispensation, but they're waiting on His first appearance.  They didn't believe Yeshua was their Messiah.  

[2Co 3:12-16 LSB]  Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness,

[13]  and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the consequence of what was being brought to an end. [14]  But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is brought to an end in Christ. [15]  But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart, [16]  but WHENEVER a person TURNS TO THE LORD, THE VEIL IS TAKEN AWAY.

Yeshua has come once, and He is coming again!

The early Church dominantly believed, and taught, of a historic premillennialism for the first 300 years of the new "Church age".  This was the teaching of the Apostles, and those who came shortly after the Apostles (ECF), for the first 300'ish years of the Church.

If this was the case, then how did the Church get off track?

Personally, I believe that during the Jerusalem persecution, or Jerusalem dispersion, of the early Apostolic church, they were scattered all over the world.  From that point forward, change started creeping in.  Gentile leaders started taking over the churches.  They were not versed in OT Theology as were the Jews and/or Apostles.  They were reading, and teaching, NT letters without any OT background on these teachings.  Quite often, they would bring in their Greek philosophical views into teachings that were in no need of those pagan views to solve their riddles.

This is where replacement Theology comes in.  This view that the NT church was not needing any of the OT teachings to understand the NT letters, and hence... the Church has replaced the blind, non-believing Jews.  In other words, God is now done with Israel and He has moved on to a new people... the "NT Church".  

They taught that Israel has been rejected and the Church is now the recipient of His blessings and favor.  This view is called Replacement Theology, or super-sessionism.  This view was taught very early on in our history and created a hatred for Jews and Judaism.  It was extremely dangerous... it is this view that played a part in Hitler's holocaust.

If you research pagan Greek philosophy and teachings, of which was, early on, creeping into these early church teachings, you'll find that this is where all kinds of issues arise.  I won't go into a lesson about this now, but can elaborate later if you need.

In short, the teaching that Yeshua was going to return to earth, and rule and reign here on earth, deeply conflicts with Greek philosophy.  In fact, so much so that if you ask any Christian today... "what happens when we die?", or "where will we spend eternity?"... they will ALL say - "well... we're going to Heaven!"  Wrong!  BUUUZZZZZZ!!!  This is a teaching based on pagan Greek philosophy!

Yeshua was preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom for a reason... we are to rule and reign with Christ HERE ON EARTH until the the New Heavens and New Earth are brought in at the end of His Millennial Reign.

The Greeks are responsible for the dominant amillennialism (no millennium) theology that reigned supreme for centuries (until ~16th century).  I'm not gonna get into that now... it's basically the belief that there will be no Millennial Reign - we're currently living in a spiritualized millennium.

Then - the Reformation begins to kick in around the 15th century... Martin Luther, etc.  This is when the reformation leaders started returning to the Scriptures - in their entirety... including the OT.  Bibles started getting printed, etc., etc.  Christian's start reading Bibles, and go... "wait a sec... amillennialism is un-Biblical!".  "The Scriptures are full of references to a Millennial Reign!".  This is when they started studying and heading back to a sound Biblical view of the Millennial Reign.

This is when all sorts of crazy ideas started forming new ideas and theologies... as they were studying and heading back to a Biblical view there was a period of almost a mass theological confusion - chaos.

Then came along John Nelson Darby (Ireland in the 1830's)... he was the first to form a system for Theology.  Meaning, a series of beliefs which are all interconnected, forming a specific Biblical Theology - which is called:  

(... we finally made it to) Dispensationalism.

One of Dispensationalism's basic tenets is: Pre-Millennialism.  With which I agree.  In fact, most of dispensationalism is a return to Apostolic teaching... a return to Biblical Truths.

I could even say that I am partially Dispensationalist... almost.  

One of their basic tenets is a pre-tribulation rapture.  We will be caught up in the air to meet Yeshua, and then seven years later He will make a U-turn and come back to reign on earth.  Once again... Wrong!

Dispensationalism is basically a belief that God deals differently, with different people, during different "dispensations" or (ages).  There are different ages in world history and they teach that God deals differently with those people of each age (or, dispensation).  Since Darby, there have been birthed several different versions of dispensationalism (C.I. Scofield, Charles Ryrie, John Feinberg, Michael Vlack, etc.).

You know that I worked construction for a long time.  When we built a house, you always start with the foundation, then move on to the floor, the walls, etc. and finally the roof.  You don't start building a house by building the roof first.  I think you'll all agree with me on this.

The problem is, most Christians start learning from the Bible by reading the "roof" first.  They start with the NT and then work backwards letting the "roof" define and dictate the rules for the "foundation"... which is, of course - the OT.

Yeshua, the Apostles, Paul, etc. all came along and built the roof... elaborating on, filling in the blanks, clarifying, etc. of everything already explained by the foundation, floor, and wall builders... Moses, Isaiah, the major and minor prophets, etc.

God does not change... the NT does not replace, override, or supersede the OT.  It expands upon it - it opens it up for us.  The NT is completely working in harmony with the OT.

Now, we're getting to the problem I have with Dispensationalism.  While it does kind of reject replacement theology (as mentioned above), it still edicts a very rigid distinction between Israel and the Church.  

Yes, there are some clear distinctions between the two but there are also some even more clear overlaps between the two.  The overlaps are profound and some have referred to these overlaps as Olive Tree Theology.  We've been grafted into God's previous project (i.e., John 15:1-6 & Romans 11).

Because Dispensationalists feel so strongly about the difference between the Jews and the Church, they believe that the NT is broken up and portioned out passages.   Some passages deal with Jews only, and some passages deal with the Church only.  

In fact (crazy as this may sound!), they teach that the Gospels are all for Israel only... why?  Because those writings (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John) came before the Church (Acts).  

This is where all of the crazy lunatic teachings come from... for example:

What about the Olivet Discourse though?

"oh, well... we don't have to worry about that.  That's not for us... that's for the Jews".

They do this throughout the entire NT - dictate what is meant for the Jew, and what is meant for the Church.  Some will even tell you that almost none of the NT is meant for us (E.W. Bullinger, "Scholar", Super-Dispensationalist,  for example).

This is the "Theology" from which the pre-trib rapture comes from...

"Oh, well... the tribulation period isn't for us - it's for the Jews."

Nowhere, in all of Scripture is a pre-trib rapture explicitly taught.  Not one verse.  

Yet, they'll say:

"Oh, well - it's inferred.  You have to understand Dispensationalism."

They had to remove the Church from the tribulation in order to make their dispensational system work.  Removing the Church created a pre-trib rapture so that they could create, and pat themselves on the back, for their new dispensational system of Theology.

That's it in a nutshell... and yes, I use the term "nut" intentionally.

 

Hour of Trial

Hour of Trial 

[Rev 3:10 LSB]  ‘Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

Pre-Tribbers often use this passage as a justification for a pre-tribulation rapture of the Church.

Revelation 3:10 is explicitly conditional: “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you…"

If this verse is teaching the rapture, then it can only apply to those who meet the condition— those who "endure patiently".  This directly implies a partial rapture, where only the holiest Christians are taken, and the rest are left behind. Yet pretribulationists themselves reject the idea of a partial rapture. 

If Revelation 3:10 applies universally to all Christians, then so must the other promises and warnings in the surrounding letters.  For example from the mouth of Yeshua:

[Rev 2:10 LSB]  Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Pretrib interpreters selectively apply 3:10 as a universal promise while ignoring equally direct statements that speak of suffering and martyrdom.  This reveals an inconsistent hermeneutic principal to suit their own needs.

Jesus Himself taught in His High Priestly prayer: 

[Joh 17:15 LSB]  I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.

Here the same Greek word tēréō (“to keep, to guard”) is used. Jesus explicitly rejects the idea of removal - He asks not that His disciples be taken out, but that they be preserved while still in the world. 

Similarly, preservation is not escape but protection.  Just as food is "kept" through winter by preservation, so God "keeps" His people through tribulation. 

I could just end this blog here.  The argument is over.

What exactly is "the hour of testing"?  Pre-Tribbers claim it is the entire duration of the 70th week.  Rest assured... it is not.  

First, what is the primary message of this passage?  Endurance and overcoming.

[Rev 3:11 LSB]  I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

That is the overall message to all of the churches in the Revelation.  They are all to be overcomers and endure until the end.

In response to the church’s keeping of His standards, Yeshua promises to keep it from the hour of trial.  Tērēsō ("I will keep") is a form of τηω (tēreō, “I keep, preserve”). This is a verb that at times emphasizes watchful care.

The full expression is: kagō se tērēsō ek tēs hōras tou peirasmou (“I will keep you from the hour of trial”). Understanding "the hour of trial" to be the future period of trouble just before Christ’s personal return to earth at the end of the 70th week.

If He meant, "I will keep you from the tribulation period in it's entirety" don't you think He would have made that clear?  Give me a break!  This is the pre-tribber grasping for straws.

Yeshua reaffirms this to them in the very next verse.  In other words, I will keep you from the hour of trial because:

[Rev 3:11 LSB]  I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

Does Yeshua come at the beginning of the 70th week?  No.

The participle τς μελλoσης (tēs mellousēs, "which is about to") modifies hōras ("hour") rather than πειασμo (peirasmou, "trial"), showing that it is the hour, not the trial, that is prominent in the statement. It is exemption from the period of time that is emphasized.

By implication, this deliverance (from the period of time) will coincide with Christ’s return mentioned in the very next verse: "I will come soon" (3:11).

Identification of tēs hōras tou peirasmou (“the hour of trial”) is not difficult.

It is directed against tēs oikoumenēs holēs (“the whole inhabited earth”), not just Philadelphia.  It is designed to try tous katoikountas epi tēs gēs (“those who dwell upon the earth”).

It is a significant period that will impact the whole world just prior to Christ’s personal return to earth.

This is a company of people constantly in view throughout the Apocalypse as objects of God’s wrath because of their rebellion against Him.

It is the time known to the Jews as the "Messianic woes", as seen in the visions beginning at Revelation 4 as coming upon the world. It is to be a time of distress on the world before the coming of Christ, one known as the Day of the Lord, during the Great Tribulation.

The trials of this period are designed to test the wicked, either to lead them to repentance or to punish them for failing to repent.  These trials/tribulations are also designed to test Christians.

The "hour of trial" does not encompass the entirety of Daniel's 70th week.  We're told time, and time again, throughout Scripture that we will be enduring through, at least, part of the Great Tribulation (second half of the 70th week).

These verses below do not refer to unbelieving Jews or Gentiles.  These verses speak directly to the Church.  Why would unbelieving Jews even heed these messages... He's speaking to His Bride!  The unbelieving Jews, apart from the remnant (144,000 sealed), don't escape the wrath of God - we do!  The Church!  

The wrath of God, the Day of the Lord, etc. does not commence until the seventh seal, which isn't released until well into the Great Tribulation period... towards the end of the 70th week.

All of these events below are well into Daniel's 70th week. 

[Dan 7:21 LSB]  “I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overcoming them

[Dan 7:25 LSB]  ‘He will speak words against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make changes in seasons and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.

[Mat 24:9-10 LSB]  “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. [10]  And at that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.

[Mar 13:9 LSB]  “But see to yourselves; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be beaten in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a witness to them.

[Mar 13:11-13 LSB]  “And when they lead you away, delivering you up, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit. [12]  And brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. [13]  And you will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.

All of the above from Mark is BEFORE the mid-point of the 70th week:

[Mar 13:14 LSB]  But when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION standing where it should not be (let the reader understand)...

Mark 13:14 signals the switch from “Beginning of birth pains” to the “Great Tribulation” period… the second half of Daniel’s 70th week.  But after that tribulation... THEN Yeshua comes to rescue us:

[Mar 13:24 LSB]  “But in those days, after that tribulation, THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT,

Luke tells us the same thing:

[Luk 21:12-15 LSB]  “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. [13] It will result in an opportunity for your testimony. [14] So set in your hearts not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; [15] for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.

Pre-Tribbers will also claim the Church isn't mentioned after Revelation 4:1. Not only is this a strange argument to prove a pre-trib rapture, but it is completely false.  

The reason all of this this matters is because the primary way the Church is consistently described throughout Revelation is as "overcomers", - laying down their lives as faithful witnesses. The pre-trib teaching robs the Church of preparing to be overcomers and faithful witnesses.

The claim that we are removed robs us of the call to prepare to endure patiently, to live as faithful witness martyrs, to lay down our lives for Yeshua and the Gospel.

What about the martyrs and their soon-to-be martyred brothers?

[Rev 6:9 LSB]  And when He opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the witness which they had maintained;

[Rev 6:11 LSB]  And a white robe was given to each of them; and it was told to them that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow slaves and their brothers who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.

Satan went after the woman, but failed.  Who did he turn his attention to?

[Rev 12:10-11 LSB]  Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. [11]  “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their witness, and they did not love their life even to death.

[Rev 12:17 LSB]  So the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have the witness of Jesus.

What about the prayers of the saints?

[Rev 5:8 LSB]  And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

[Rev 8:3 LSB]  And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.

[Rev 8:4 LSB]  And the smoke of the incense went up with the prayers of the saints, out of the angel’s hand, before God.

These are not unbelieving Jews... they're Christians:

[Rev 11:18 LSB]  “And the nations were enraged, and Your rage came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and to give reward to Your slaves—the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great—and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”

[Rev 13:7 LSB]  And it was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.

Again... who does this remind you of?  Maybe the Christians from Jesus Olivet Discourse?

[Rev 13:10 LSB]  If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.

[Rev 14:12-13 LSB]  Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. [13]  And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”

How can one overcome the beast and his image if one has been raptured out of this world prior to the beast even showing up in the world?

[Rev 15:2 LSB]  Then I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who have overcome the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.

[Rev 17:6 LSB]  Then I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered greatly.

[Rev 19:8 LSB]  And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

[Mat 24:13 LSB]  But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.

The pre-trib rapture scenario is a lie straight out of the mouth of Satan.  It is designed to lead believers astray and break their spirit when they find themselves confronted by the beast.  They will be a good portion of those, spoken of by Paul, who fall away from the faith.

[2Th 2:3-4 LSB]  Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, [4]  who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the sanctuary of God, exhibiting himself as being God.

I could literally post a thousand more examples, but this page would again become too long... 

We weren’t promised to be rescued from tribulation - we were promised to be kept through tribulation and rescued from wrath. They are two different things.

[2Ti 3:1 LSB]  But know this, that in the last days difficult times will come. [7]  always learning and never able to come to the full knowledge of the truth.

Little Apocolypse

Olivet Discourse

Matthew 23-25 - Mark 13 - Luke 21

The Olivet Discourse is often called the Little Apocolypse because it is so closely aligned with The Apocolypse - The Revelation of Yeshua.  And why wouldn’t it be?  Both are directly from Yeshua.  The Olivet Discourse not only provides additional details, but also lays out the chronological order of events.  This chronological order is a perfect match for the order of events in the Revelation.  Both of these also align with Daniel in which Yeshua instructed us to take into account.

The first four seals are unique and grouped together representing the “beginning of birth pains”.

The first seal is the only seal accompanied by a “voice of thunder”.  Hōs phōnē brontēs ("as the voice of thunder [speaks]") reveals a coming storm (cf. Rev. 14:2; 19:6).  The first seal deserves such a grand announcement signaling the beginning of 70th week.  The scroll is about to unsealed and opened!

The horse is white because it is a counterfeit of the coming True white horse (at the end of Daniel’s 70th week).  It is a counterfeit righteousness coming for unjust conquest. It is in the spirit of antichrist… meaning, anything that is opposite of Christ.

Everything Satan and the Antichrist do during this time will be a mirror image of the actions of Yeshua.  The Antichrist overcomes the fatal wound (resurrected to life); they sit in the holy place and claim to be God; they seal their followers just as we are sealed and the 144,000 will be physically sealed; they seek worship; as Yeshua and the Father are one, so goes Satan and the Antichrist; the “throne” is shared just as Yeshua and Yahweh; etc..  It’s all smoke and mirrors.

The horse is white under the false appearance of being righteous.

Yeshua cannot be the rider.  He is the One opening the seals and releasing the horsemen.  The four riders belong together as part of archē ōdinōn (“the beginning of birth-pains”).  Yeshua is the rider called Faithful and True in Rev 19:11-16 and He rides out at the end of the 70th week followed by the Heavenly Host.  That is the ONLY time He rides out on the white horse - for the Battle of Aramageddon.

The first seal rider is given a crown… Yeshua rides with many crowns (Rev 19:12) and has a Sword issuing from His Mouth - the Word of God.

The rider of the first seal is a counterfeit… a counterfeit righteousness… a counterfeit time of peace.  This rider is not a rider at all… just like the other three “riders” - it is a growing movement, or force, that will begin setting the stage for the Great Tribulation period.

The First Seal aligns perfectly with the first statement of Yeshua from the Olivet Discourse.  The spirit of antichrist will be upon us.

[Mat 24:4-5 LSB]  And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one deceives you. [5]  “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

Read more: Rapture & Seven Seals

Beast from the Sea

[1]  The Beast from the Sea
Revelation 13:1–10

[Rev 13:1-10 LSB]  And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. [2]  And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. [3]  And I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain fatally, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth marveled and followed after the beast. [4]  And they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” [5]  And there was given to him a mouth speaking great boasts and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. [6]  And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. [7]  And it was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. [8]  And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. [9]  If anyone has an ear, let him hear. [10]  If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.

[1]  And the dragon [Satan] stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I [John] saw a beast [empire] coming up out of the sea [chaos and disorder, abyss], having ten horns [kings] and seven heads [past kingdoms], and on his horns [kings] were ten diadems [authority], and on his heads were blasphemous names. 

[1a]  And the dragon [Satan] stood on the sand of the seashore.

In chapter 12 the dragon had been in pursuit of the woman.

[Rev 12:3 LSB]  Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems.

This great "red" dragon has seven heads and ten horns.  Notice that when John sees him, the crowns are on his heads.  These are the seven empires, throughout history, who have prevailed under his rule.  

[1] Egypt [2] Assyria [3] Babylon [4] Medo-Persia [5] Greece [H3120 - yavan, modern day Turkey] [6] Rome [7] Ottoman Empire

The eighth is the revived Ottoman Empire:

[Rev 17:11 LSB]  “And the beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction.

The ten horns [kings] have no crowns at this point, but they are a part of the dragon.

[Rev 12:17 LSB]  So the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have the witness of Jesus.

Satan fails in his attempts against the woman so he sets his sights upon her seed.  It's here where we see him next... standing "on the sand of the seashore".

Note that there is a textual argument to be made that it is actually John who is standing on the sand of the seashore.  I'm not so curious about that right now as my main focus for these studies are on the beast.

[1b] Then I [John] saw a beast [empire] coming up out of the sea [chaos and disorder, abyss],

The beast comes up out of the sea as do the four beasts of Dan 7.  Some will say that "the sea" represents humanity.  This finds support in:

[Rev 17:15 LSB]  And he *said to me, “The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and crowds and nations and tongues.

Could be the Mediterranean Sea - a literal sea:

[Dan 7:2-3 LSB]  Daniel answered and said, “I was looking in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. [3]  “And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another.

To say the beast ascended out of the actual sea, however, would contradict 11:7 and 17:8 which say he ascended from the abyss.  Unless, we're being shown the distinction between the "man's", who will become the Antichrist, rise to power in the first half of the 70th week - and, the "man" who will later be revived from the fatal head wound and possessed by the demon from the abyss.  Rev. 11:7 has him ascending from the abyss, the source of demonic powers opposed to God.

[Rev 11:7 LSB]  And when they have finished their witness, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them and overcome them and kill them.

So, in pointing this out - does this make "sea" and "abyss" equivalent?  Not necessarily, but notice a commentary note below:

To say that the sea stands for the abyss carries on the OT concept of the sea, that it is the source of satanic sea monsters (cf. Job 26:12-13; Pss. 74:13-14; 87:4; 89:9-10; Isa. 27:1; 51:9-10). Also, Paul equates the sea with the abyss in his Rom. 10:7 citation of Deut. 30:13.  One hesitates to attach such a figurative meaning to the sea, but related texts in the Apocalypse furnish grounds for doing so. In his prophetic state of being "in the spirit", what met John’s spiritual eyes was the sea, but this was a representation to him of what he calls the abyss in 11:7 and 17:8.

This final world empire will embody a satanically empowered individual who will present himself as a counterfeit Christ in order to deceive the earth-dwellers.

[1c] having ten horns [kings] and seven heads [past kingdoms],

This beast resembles the dragon [Satan].  Notice that this time, the horns are mentioned before the heads.  Speaking of the dragon:

[Rev 12:3 LSB]  Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems.

Also notice (below in [1d]), that now the crowns are on the horns versus the heads.  These are ten kings that will comprise the final empire.

There are also now ten crowns (versus seven of the dragon)... the focus has shifted from the dragon to the beast.

This beast (revived eighth empire) is the Ottoman Empire and it's leader will have dominion over these ten kings and use them to suit his purposes.

This is the fourth beast of Daniel:

[Dan 7:7 LSB]  “After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, fearsome and terrifying and extraordinarily 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.

[Dan 7:24 LSB]  ‘As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will make low three kings.

It's important to note that these ten kings/kingdoms are not directly representative of the seven, successive, historical heads.

[1] Egypt [2] Assyria [3] Babylon [4] Medo-Persia [5] Greece/Turkey [6] Ottoman Empire [7] Revived Ottoman Empire. 

These ten are the simultaneous kings/kingdoms that compose the regime of the revived eighth empire... the Ottoman Empire.  These ten horns rise up out of the empire symbolized by the creature from which the horns belong.

The beast can only have one "living" head at a time (17:10).  So they are  historically successive heads.  In contrast, the ten horns exist simultaneously.  They live and rule at the same time.

Later, during the fifth bowl judgment, the throne of the beast will be directly targeted:

[Rev 16:10 LSB]  Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain,

[1d] and on his horns [kings] were ten diadems [authority], 

The diadems (crowns) represent the regal state of the subordinate kings.

[Rev 17:12 LSB]  “And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.

[1e] and on his heads were blasphemous names.

Specifically, these seven heads, involved the assumption of deity by the beast which is tantamount to arrogant blasphemy.

[Rev 13:5-6 LSB]  And there was given to him a mouth speaking great boasts and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. [6]  And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven.

The blasphemy against Yahweh will be evident of this final beast and the horns that his carries.

[2]  And the beast [Antichrist] which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon [Satan] gave him his power and his throne and great authority.

[2a] And the beast [Antichrist] which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion.

The likening of the beast to a leopard, bear, and lion recalls the fourth beast of Dan. 7:3-7, because he is a composite of the first three and their characteristics.

The combined strength and brutality of historical Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece/Turkey is what will comprise the total character of this beast.  This beast is the fourth beast of Daniel:

[Dan 7:7 LSB]  “After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, fearsome and terrifying and extraordinarily 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.

[2b] And the dragon [Satan] gave him his power and his throne and great authority.

Satan is the source of the beast's power and authority.

"His power" refers to that of the dragon as granted to his viceregent Antichrist. It includes power over freedom and life (13:10) and the entire business of mankind (13:17), summed up in the occupancy of a throne that grants to the beast a βασιλεία (basileia, "kingdom") (cf. 16:10). As Jesus is one with the Father and shares His throne (cf. 3:21), so this beast shares the throne of the dragon (cf. 2:13).  "Great authority" (ξoυσίαν μεγάλην [exousian megalēn]) is widely extended control that covers the whole world, because Satan is the god of this world (cf. 2 Cor. 4:4).

[3]  And I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain fatally, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth marveled and followed after the beast. 

[3a]  And I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain fatally

The beast is identified with one of its heads (13:3a = 13:6) who is a travesty of the slain Lamb, ever longing to be a reflection of the True Christ.  Other parallels between the beast and Christ include both wielding swords, both having followers on whose foreheads were inscribed their names (cf. 13:16-17; 14:1), both having horns (5:6; 13:1), both being slain (σϕάςω [sphazō], 13:3, 8), both rising to new life and authority, and both having power over the whole world (cf. 1:5; 7:9; 13:7; 17:12).

This is all part of the dragon’s attempt to counterfeit the death and resurrection of Christ.

This the death of a specific human.

The use of πληγή (plēgē, "wound") and σϕαγμένην (esphagmenēn, "slain") in 13:3, suggest a violent death.

The big weakness of the "empire" proposal is its failure to recognize that the pronoun ατo (autou, "his") in the expression τo θανάτoυ ατo (tou thanatou autou, "of his death") limits the wounding and healing to one of the heads, a king, and cannot apply to the whole kingdom.

However, the healing of the head is the healing of the beast, and the healing of the beast is the healing of the head. The healing is a future, not a past, happening.

There is further information on this in:

[Rev 17:8 LSB]  “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come.

This suggests a future sequence that will be a close counterfeiting of Christ’s death and resurrection.  I can't help but think of the prophet Mohammed being resurrected.  Islam is awaiting their prophesied Mahdi.  One issue with that is that he didn't die a violent death.  He was severely ill but died at home in the arms of his wife.  However, the resurrection of Mohammad would certainly be something to behold and bring worldwide wonder.

Also, the use of language concerning the false prophet (different post) suggests that a violent death need not be warranted.  It could actually be a resurrection of someone like Mohammad.  See note on Rev. 13:14 in which his “healing” is not called a healing but a “return to life”.  The aorist tense ζησεν (ezēsen, “came to life”) looks at the time when the beast first began to live again.  This is the verb and form used to speak of Christ’s resurrection earlier in Rev 2:8.

To me, this is a much more fascinating idea and imagine the implications of Mohammad resurrecting to life to lead the revived Ottoman Caliphate.  The location of burial is well known and considered an Islamic holy site in Saudi Arabia… the mosque of the prophet.  Saudi Arabia is also the city drawn into view with the whore of Babylon.  Imagine the world’s amazement if his mosque were opened and Mohammad emerged as resurrected from the dead.  The worldwide headlines, and television coverage would be insane!

Revelation 2:8 is my second witness for an “epiphany type” thought I’ve been chewing on for a while now.

Could it actually be that the world will be shocked and amazed when Mohammad walks out of his tomb, resurrected back to life, and ready to lead an Islamic Caliphate again?  Sounds absolutely nuts… but doesn’t all of this sound insane on some level?  Exciting times ahead of us.

However!  The Antichrist is said to come up out of the abyss (Rev 17:8).  My guess is that when the fatal wound is healed, he will be demonically possessed by the likes of Abaddon/Apollyon. 

Once again, much like my thoughts on Trump signaling the first seal, I’ve never heard anyone say this.  I'm not sure I buy into this idea fully yet either.  We're told that the little horn emerges during the Ram-Goat conflict of Daniel.  Would a resurrection of Mohammad qualify as the little horn emerging?  Maybe... but likely not - it doesn't really matter.  I'm really just thinking out loud.  Either way, we'll know soon enough.

[3b]  And the whole earth marveled and followed after the beast. 

Whatever the case, his feat in overcoming the fatal wound will win for him worldwide admiration.  This will be the final embodiment of the false Christ.

[4]  And they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” 

They will worship Satan:

[4a]  And they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast,

And they worshipped the beast.  To worship one is to worship the other...

[4b] and they worshiped the beast,

The incomparability of the beast is what provokes people to worship him.  He seems to be immortal and can't be killed - he has seemingly power over the grave.

[4c] saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” 

Verses 5-8 speak to the activities of the beast.

The beast is a persuasive speaker and has authority to continue in operation for forty-two months (3.5 years... second half of Daniel's 70th week, the Great Tribulation period):

[5]  And there was given to him a mouth speaking great boasts and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. 

Verse 6 is an amplification of verse 5a, the blasphemous speech of the beast - an elaboration of the “names of blasphemy” on the heads of the beast

[6]  And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 

[6b] those who dwell in heaven.

There is especially animosity of the beast against heaven’s inhabitants. They are 

members of the angelic army who joined their leader Michael in expelling the dragon from heaven.

[7]  And it was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. 

Anyone not escaping the conflict the rest of the woman’s seed into the wilderness (12:17), will be overcome (killed) by the beast.  He has been given, by Yahweh, authority over all. 

[Dan 7:21 LSB]  “I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overcoming them

It's interesting that John's perspective changes from past to future in verse 8.  The prophecy anticipates the almost universal success the beast will have in attracting worshipers. The only limiting factor will be the refusal of the elect to comply.

His worshippers will be those not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb which has been written from the foundation of the world.

[8]  And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. 

[9]  If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 

The call in verse 9 addresses a different group of the faithful, telling them what their response should be to the awful treatment at the hands of the beast. The call is to endure in their faith and not give in to the oppressor.

[10]  If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.

Yeshua has mentioned this to us before... we're to allow Him to use us during this time as He wills.  We're not to conjure plans for self defense.

[Mat 26:52 LSB]  Then Jesus *said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword."

[Luk 21:12-15 LSB]  “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. [13]  It will result in an opportunity for your testimony. [14] So set in your hearts not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; [15] for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute."

It's not a new concept... Yahweh is in control and His will shall be accomplished no matter what.

[Jer 15:2 LSB]  “And it will be that when they say to you, ‘Where should we go?’ then you are to tell them, ‘Thus says Yahweh: “Those destined for death, to death; And those destined for the sword, to the sword; And those destined for famine, to famine; And those destined for captivity, to captivity.”’

[Jer 43:11 LSB]  “He will also come and strike the land of Egypt; those who are meant for death will be given over to death, and those for captivity to captivity, and those for the sword to the sword.

We are encouraged to accept any outcome as the Sovereign Will of Yahweh.  The suggestion of inevitability implies the supremacy of God’s Will which always promotes the ultimate good and blessing of the redeemed community, though it may include times of temporary hardship here in this life.

Remembrance that God is sovereign over all that happens and that the dragon and the beast have only a short time, will provide fuel to sustain these spiritual qualities.