September of 2015 is fast approaching and many people are in the church and of the world are fast asleep in a coma of material gain, entertainment, vice, and other cares of this world. September has the potential to bring a major shaking to the world in terms of geopolitics, finance, and prophecy. While I don't like to set dates, it would be foolish to overlook September as being another Y2K or 2012 in light of the convergence of prophetic warnings and events, as well as the fact that these things are happening according to God's calendar. Let's dive into all of these events that will soon take place.
As I mentioned in my last post, Johnathan Cahn has done extensive research on this strange seven year cycle known as the "Shemitah". For the sake of time, I won't go into all of the details, but the Shemitah is a time of release or in some cases, collapse. The ancient Israelites were commanded to work the fields for 6 years and let the the land rest for the 7th year. It was designed to be a blessing. Debts would be forgiven and captives would be freed, but if Israel didn't obey, it would be a curse, which is a primary reason why Israel was taken captive by the Babylonians for 70 years. Interestingly enough, some of America's largest stock market crashes and economic collapses have happened on the day of the Shemitah. For example, September 17, 2001, which is Elul 29 on the Jewish calendar saw the largest stock market crash in US history up until that point. It also fell on Rosh Hashanah. If we fast forward 7 years later, the recession came. On September 29, 2008, which also is on Elul 29 (varies every year) and Rosh Hashanah, an even larger economic crash happened. Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy and other banking institutions such as Fanny Mae, Freddy Mac, Royal Bank of Scotland, etc. had to be bailed out. Even more astounding, the stock market dropped 777.7 points, which is a 7% drop. That was God's way of showing that this is more than a mere coincidence. On September 13 of this year, another 7 year Shemitah cycle will conclude, which also happens to be on Elul 29 and Rosh Hashanah. As we near September, we are seeing financial warning signs with the unstable stock market, Greece's economic catastrophe, China's economic uncertainty, and the U.S. national debt, which is well over 18 trillion. I can almost guarantee a global economic collapse due to the world's already shaky economic situation toppled with the our world's immorality and rejection of Yeshua. This brings us to the Year of Jubilee, which begins this September.
The Jubilee is a period of 49 years, or 7 Shemitah years. Only on Yom Kippur can a Jubilee be declared. Biblically speaking, we see the Jubilee in Leviticus 25. On Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement, Israel was supposed to announce the beginning of Jubilee with trumpets. While Jubilee is a period of 49 years, the 50th year would be consecrated as holy. Liberty would be proclaimed and the theme of "return" would be practiced, meaning that property would be returned, people would return to their families/clans, etc. While we don't have records of the original Jubilee cycle, we do know the Shemitah's. From deductive reasoning and in light of prophetic milestones, we can conclude that the last 2 Jubilee years had great significance. In 1917, the Ottoman Empire fell and the Balfour Declaration was signed, allowing for a Jewish state in Palestine. 50 years later, on June 7, 1967, Israel won the Six Day War, which allowed them to recapture their capital, Jerusalem. Famed scientist, Isaac Newton, believed that the 70 weeks of Daniel were talking about Christ's first and second comings, not just His first coming. Since the seven 'sevens' and sixty-two 'sevens' are distinguished separately, he thus believed that the seven 'sevens' was talking about His second coming, which so happens to be a Jubilee cycle. Interestingly enough, when we count seven 'sevens' (49 years) on a 360 day calendar from June 7, 1967, we arrive at September 23, 2015, the Day of Atonement. Many people view this day as a potential day for judgement to commence. Just as 9/11 was used many times in movies and TV shows prior to the date, September 23 seems to be a popular date used in entertainment. It may be mere coincidence, but it could also be legitimate predictive programming. I firmly believe that a major shaking will occur in September, although I am unsure of what exactly will happen. Regardless, it is still vitally important to be right with the Lord in light of these things.
It is also important to be aware of the signs in the Heavens. In Genesis, God created the sun, moon, and stars to serve as signs. In Joel, as well as in Luke, the sun turning to sackcloth and the moon turning to blood would be signs signaling God's judgement, also known as "The Day of the Lord". Sackcloth suns, also known as solar eclipses, and blood moons are not particularly rare occurrences, but when they happen on Biblical feast days, we should pay attention. For example, the last two times blood moons fell on feast days in a tetrad were 1948 and 1967. These two years gave rise to the reestablishment of national Israel and Jerusalem being reestablished as her eternal capital, which are prophetic milestones. This brings us to September 2015. There will be a partial solar eclipse on September 13, which is Rosh Hashanah, and the final blood moon in a tetrad will occur on September 28, which is the Feast of Tabernacles. Prophetically speaking, the Feast of Tabernacles is a picture of Christ's millennial reign when He will tabernacle among men. Interesting to note, the last blood moon will be visible in Jerusalem unlike the previous three from last year and April of this year. Since the Jews got their homeland back (not all of it) and their capital back during the last two blood moon tetrads, what could happen in the next couple months and years? There is a ton of speculation, but the third temple could very well be built in Jerusalem, which would be an amazing fulfillment of Bible prophecy in light of the Muslim Dome of the Rock boldly sitting on the temple mount. The temple institute has been vigilant in raising support for the building of the third temple and has been searching for the perfect red heifer. How a Jewish temple can be built on the temple mount is anyone's guess, but we know from scripture that there has to be a temple for the antichrist to desecrate. My guess is that the antichrist's "covenant with many" in Daniel 9:27 will give Israel permission to build the temple. For all we know, the temple could be built next to the Dome of the Rock. Another theory suggests that the Dome of the Rock could be turned into an interfaith temple, although I'm not sure how the Muslims would get on board with that. It is hard to say how this will happen, but the Bible clearly outlines the future of Jerusalem and the temple mount.
Also, Pope Francis will visit the United States in September. On September 23 (coincidence?), Pope Francis will meet with President Obama at the White House. On September 25, he will address the United Nations, which will be the 70th UN meeting. Some of this speaking points will include climate change and poverty, although many suggest that he will outline an agenda for a one world government or "New World Order" that many elite such as George H.W. Bush, Henry Kissinger, David Rockefeller, and Joe Biden have pushed for. It is also important to be aware of the prophecy of the popes, a detailed prophecy by 12th century Archbishop, Saint Malachy Morgair. In this prophecy, he gave a Latin phrase for every pope from his time until God's judgement. From Malachy's day, there have been 112 popes, Pope Francis being the 112th on the list. The last pope on the list is known as Petros Romanus (Peter the Roman). He will issue God's final judgement and Rome will be destroyed. Even though Jorge Bergoglio (Pope Francis) isn't named Peter and is of Argentinian descent rather than Italian, these Latin phrases uttered by Saint Malachy don't give actual names. Instead, they gave characteristics or interesting events surrounding a pope's life. Even though Pope Francis seems like a humanitarian who cares for the environment and the poor, the Bible warns of false prophets who are wolves in sheep's clothing. Additionally, the second beast of Revelation, known as the False Prophet, is a religious leader and is described as a "lamb with two horns", but "speaks as a dragon". Pope Francis has made some rather controversial statements about the Christian faith. For instance, he said that atheists who do good are redeemed and he has refused to condemn homosexuality as a sin. In addition, he has warned that a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is dangerous. The Vatican is also warning that the appearance of alien life could make us rethink question the entire Gospel and Pope Francis has even offered to baptize an alien should we come into contact with one. For the record, I don't believe in extraterrestrial life, but I do believe that demons masquerade as aliens to deceive people. Somehow, I believe that the rapture of the church or "catching away" will be tied into the "great delusion" spoken by Paul in 2 Thessalonians. If millions of Christians suddenly disappeared without a trace, the global elite will need an explanation. Since many people are predisposed to believing in aliens because of Hollywood, video games, T.V. shows, etc., I could easily see an alien invasion scenario as a convenient way to explain away the rapture. I don't believe Pope Francis' trip to the U.S. in September is by chance. I believe that the elite know what is on the horizon and are getting ready to unleash their wicked agenda in the attempt to war against God and His saints.
Speaking of wicked agendas, CERN has been a hot topic within prophetic circles. CERN, which is the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is located in Geneva, Switzerland and contains the large Hadron Collider, which is the largest machine in the world, extending miles long. This particle accelerator smashes atoms, hoping to find the Higgs Boson, known as the "God particle". This "God particle" is supposed to hold everything in existence. Their agenda is to recreate the "Big Bang", which of course is just a theory. Brilliant physicist, Steven Hawking, has been outspoken in warning about the dangers of the "God particle" and believes that it could destroy the universe. Basically, CERN is trying to play God. In addition, CERN is playing around with worm holes in hopes of exploring other dimensions. Sergio Bertolucci, director of research at CERN has even publicly stated, "Out of this door might come something, or we might send something through it." With this in mind, we read in Revelation 9 that the Abyss will open, releasing a horde of powerful locusts and their king would be called Apollyon. Back during the time of the Roman Empire, much of the territory that CERN occupies was called Apolliacum. This town was dedicated to the Hindu god, Shiva, the goddess of destruction. Interestingly enough, a statue of Shiva is located outside of CERN's headquarters. It is fascinating that Shiva and Apollyon share the name: Destroyer. Coincidence? I think not. Whether or not CERN finds the "God particle" or extra-dimensional portals, they are playing a dangerous game. Now, what does CERN have to do with September? Well, CERN is prepared to restart the Hadron Collider in September. The weird thing is that if you type in September 23, 2015 in Google Earth, it brings up CERN's location. Whether this is a hoax or not, it is still interesting to consider. Overall, CERN, much like the Tower of Babel, isn't dealing with the natural. This project is supernatural in nature, aided by a demonic level of curiosity and rebellion against God. If CERN achieves what they are searching for, our world could spiral into a level of horror our world has never seen. Our Bible would describe this period as the " Great Tribulation".
Finally, here are some of the overlooked aspects of September. First, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, on May 13, 2014 that "we have 500 days to avoid climate chaos." 500 days later would take us to September 24, 2015. I don't know what to make of this proclamation, but its worth noting because of the time frame. In addition, a vote will be made on France's proposal for a Palestinian state. This time around, President Obama will likely abandon Israel in favor of the measure. With over 130 countries already recognizing Palestine, it is only a matter of time before the UN forces Israel's hand under the guise of "peace and security". Another thing to note is this Madonna concert that will take place in September. Her opening theme is called "Desecration of the Bride" and "Arrival of Fallen Angels". The music industry is one of Satan's major tools and Madonna has definitely showed her allegiance to Lucifer throughout her career. Overall, September should be a very interesting month. I am not saying that the rapture and tribulation will happen in September, but I will sure be watching. Regardless of what happens, there are simply too many things converging all at once for September to be just another month on the calendar.
Sources
1. http://www.geoengineeringwatch.org/500-days-till-climate-chaos/
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9PNdijDJCw
3. http://www.redicecreations.com/article.php?id=8657
4. http://mashable.com/2013/03/14/cern-god-particle-higgs-boson/
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy_of_the_Popes#Petrus_Romanus
6. http://www.religionnews.com/2015/03/26/obama-host-pope-francis-white-house-september/
7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnt_T37YGJg
8. http://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/dec/28/markets-credit-crunch-banking-2008
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CERN
10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmXdT0XIH30
Monday, August 24, 2015
Thursday, August 20, 2015
The Lie of Palestine
"I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling." (Zechariah 12:2) How often do we see well-known college professors and political organizations in western nations holding signs that say, Free Palestine, and all of its variations. Hating Israel seems to be a popular trend, which is understandable in Middle Eastern countries because of their in-bred hatred for Zionism, but most Westerners don't know why they hate the Jews or who's land we're even talking about. I want to clarify this issue historically and see what the Bible has to say. So, are the Jews viciously occupying stolen land or are the Palestinians using Israel for their own gain?
Originally, Palestine derives from the word, Philistines. The Philistines were a chief enemy of Israel throughout the Old Testament. Their territory was a sliver of land right next to Judah and part of Israel. Some of their notable cities include Gath, Gaza, Ashdod, Aschkelon, and Ekron. The Philistines were a pagan people who worshiped Dagon as their chief deity. Two notable showdowns between Israel and the Philistines include David and Goliath and Samson's final showdown with the Philistines when he killed more Philistines in death than when he lived. Additionally, the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant in 1 Samuel. God permitted that to happen because of Israel's wickedness, particularly the corruption of Eli's sons who were priests. Because of their contempt for God's law as priests, many Jews died at the hands of the Philistines. Throughout scripture, God used pagan nations to judge His people. After that, God would judge the surrounding nations. The Philistines were severely judged by God and the head of their god, Dagon, was cut off while many people struck with tumors. The Philistines returned the Ark, but they still refused to turn to God despite the fact that they acknowledged that Israel's God was superior to their man-made gods. Before we get to the modern Israel-Palestine debate, let's go back to the very origins of the so-called Palestinian people.
If we look at the table of nations in Genesis 10, we find that the Philistines are descendants of the Casluhites, who were descendants of Noah's youngest son, Ham. Interestingly, some of Ham's descendants include Nimrod, the Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, and Hivites. All of these people and groups warred against God and His people, Israel. Interestingly enough, Noah pronounced a curse on Ham's son, Canaan, saying, "May Canaan be the slave of Shem." (Gen. 9:26) Shem's descendants include Jews, Assyrians, and Elamites. This conflict between Ham's descendants and Shem's descendants come into play with the story of Jacob and Esau. To summarize, Isaac's wife, Rebeccah became pregnant and gave birth to two sons: Jacob and Esau. God told her that they would be two nations and that the older would serve the younger. This came true when Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for stew. Because of this unwise decision, Esau, father of the Edomites, hated his brother, which is having major implications today. In fact, Esau's son, Amalek, father of the Amalekites, became one of Israel's main enemies in the Old Testament. In Exodus 17:16, Moses states, "The Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation." So, what do the ancient Philistines and Edomites have to do with Palestine? The answer is, nothing.
There has never been a Palestinian state, culture, or language. Many Palestinians are actual displaced Arabs from surrounding nations. In fact, Yasser Arafat, founder of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) was actually Egyptian. The Bible seems to indicate that literal descendants of Esau would continue to plague Israel until the end, though. For example, Isaac said that Esau and his descends would live by the sword and would serve Israel. Then, he gives an interesting prophecy in Genesis 27:40. It states, "But when you grow restless you will throw his yoke from off your neck." This could be interpreted a number of ways, but it could very well indicate a Palestinian state, although I am not dogmatic about this. Obadiah also gives a unique, overlooked prophecy about the descendants of Esau. It states, "The house of Jacob will be a fire and the house of Joseph a flame; the house of Esau will be stubble, and the will set it on fire and consume it. There will be no survivors from the house of Esau." (Obadiah 18) The context of these verses involves God's end time wrath being poured out on all nations. Obviously, Esau's descendants are still around until the end when God judges Israel's enemies. Most likely, the modern day descendants of Esau (Edom) are located in modern day Jordan, but many of them have likely dispersed to other nations including Gaza and the West Bank in the Palestinian territories. It is nearly impossible to physically trace the lineage of the Philistines and Edomites, though.
With this background in mind, why is Palestine such a hot button issue in world affairs? It all started during the Roman Empire when Emperor Hadrian renamed Judea, Syria Palestina. That is where we get the modern name, Palestine, although many Arabs refer to this area as Southern Syria. After squashing the Bar Kokhba Revolt, Hadrian wanted to erase Jewish memory from that region. He added insult to injury by renaming this area after Israel's ancient enemies, the Philistines. In reality, Jordan should be the true Palestinian state, especially since half of the Jordanian population are Palestinians. In reality, though, the Palestinian liberation movement is not concerned about land, borders, or resources. The Arab world controls most of the land and oil in the region. Their primary motive is the eradication of the Jewish state. Israel, in reality, only possesses a small portion of their original promised land, which encompassed their current territory, as well as the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jordan, and parts of Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. Satan knows that Jesus Christ will reign from Jerusalem, the city which God has his name on. Terrorist groups such as Hamas, radical professors, Arab interest groups, and biased media outlets are pawns in Satan's end game, which is to eradicate the Jews and take control of God's territory. Thankfully, Satan's goals with be brought to ruin. In Joel 3:2, it proclaims, "I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgement against them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel, for they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land." Whenever suave politicians try to convince the masses to sympathize with Palestinian causes and persuade Israel to go back to its 1967 borders, don't believe the hype. Israel is already vulnerable despite their state of the art defense systems. They don't need to give up more land, which is theirs in the first place.
According to scripture, Israel will be divided in the future. It is widely believed that the antichrist's "covenant with many" in Daniel 9:27 will be a Palestinian statehood treaty, although I believe it will be more comprehensive than just a Palestinian state. As I mentioned in Joel, one of the catalysts to God's fury is the dividing of not Israel's land, but His land since He gave Israel that land. Also, in Ezekiel 38, Israel is described as living peacefully in a land of "unwalled villages" in the latter days. With all of this mind, we need to be aware of what's happening in September, 2015. France is prepared to submit a resolution, which would recognize a state of Palestine. While the United States has always vetoed bills such as this, president Barack Obama is prepared to support the bill this time around. Considering that over 130 countries including the Vatican already recognize a Palestinian state, it is only a matter of time before Israel is forced into an agreement. There are even reports, which Israel denies, that there are talks of a truce between Israel and Hamas, which could lead to a peace deal. I am not completely buying it, but it is worth keeping track of, especially in light of the month of September. No matter what happens, though, Israel will eventually get all of her land back and Jerusalem, instead of a burdensome stone, will be a blessing for all nations.
Sources
1. http://www.gotquestions.org/Israel-land.html
2. http://think-israel.org/ronen.hadriancurse.html
3. http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/palname.html
4. http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Fatah-Hamas-Israel-agreement-would-lead-separate-Palestinian-state-in-Gaza-412377
5. http://science.co.il/History-Palestine.php
6.http://worldwatchtoday.org/archives/2414
7. http://www.bible-history.com/maps/philistines.html
Originally, Palestine derives from the word, Philistines. The Philistines were a chief enemy of Israel throughout the Old Testament. Their territory was a sliver of land right next to Judah and part of Israel. Some of their notable cities include Gath, Gaza, Ashdod, Aschkelon, and Ekron. The Philistines were a pagan people who worshiped Dagon as their chief deity. Two notable showdowns between Israel and the Philistines include David and Goliath and Samson's final showdown with the Philistines when he killed more Philistines in death than when he lived. Additionally, the Philistines captured the Ark of the Covenant in 1 Samuel. God permitted that to happen because of Israel's wickedness, particularly the corruption of Eli's sons who were priests. Because of their contempt for God's law as priests, many Jews died at the hands of the Philistines. Throughout scripture, God used pagan nations to judge His people. After that, God would judge the surrounding nations. The Philistines were severely judged by God and the head of their god, Dagon, was cut off while many people struck with tumors. The Philistines returned the Ark, but they still refused to turn to God despite the fact that they acknowledged that Israel's God was superior to their man-made gods. Before we get to the modern Israel-Palestine debate, let's go back to the very origins of the so-called Palestinian people.
If we look at the table of nations in Genesis 10, we find that the Philistines are descendants of the Casluhites, who were descendants of Noah's youngest son, Ham. Interestingly, some of Ham's descendants include Nimrod, the Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, and Hivites. All of these people and groups warred against God and His people, Israel. Interestingly enough, Noah pronounced a curse on Ham's son, Canaan, saying, "May Canaan be the slave of Shem." (Gen. 9:26) Shem's descendants include Jews, Assyrians, and Elamites. This conflict between Ham's descendants and Shem's descendants come into play with the story of Jacob and Esau. To summarize, Isaac's wife, Rebeccah became pregnant and gave birth to two sons: Jacob and Esau. God told her that they would be two nations and that the older would serve the younger. This came true when Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for stew. Because of this unwise decision, Esau, father of the Edomites, hated his brother, which is having major implications today. In fact, Esau's son, Amalek, father of the Amalekites, became one of Israel's main enemies in the Old Testament. In Exodus 17:16, Moses states, "The Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation." So, what do the ancient Philistines and Edomites have to do with Palestine? The answer is, nothing.
There has never been a Palestinian state, culture, or language. Many Palestinians are actual displaced Arabs from surrounding nations. In fact, Yasser Arafat, founder of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) was actually Egyptian. The Bible seems to indicate that literal descendants of Esau would continue to plague Israel until the end, though. For example, Isaac said that Esau and his descends would live by the sword and would serve Israel. Then, he gives an interesting prophecy in Genesis 27:40. It states, "But when you grow restless you will throw his yoke from off your neck." This could be interpreted a number of ways, but it could very well indicate a Palestinian state, although I am not dogmatic about this. Obadiah also gives a unique, overlooked prophecy about the descendants of Esau. It states, "The house of Jacob will be a fire and the house of Joseph a flame; the house of Esau will be stubble, and the will set it on fire and consume it. There will be no survivors from the house of Esau." (Obadiah 18) The context of these verses involves God's end time wrath being poured out on all nations. Obviously, Esau's descendants are still around until the end when God judges Israel's enemies. Most likely, the modern day descendants of Esau (Edom) are located in modern day Jordan, but many of them have likely dispersed to other nations including Gaza and the West Bank in the Palestinian territories. It is nearly impossible to physically trace the lineage of the Philistines and Edomites, though.
With this background in mind, why is Palestine such a hot button issue in world affairs? It all started during the Roman Empire when Emperor Hadrian renamed Judea, Syria Palestina. That is where we get the modern name, Palestine, although many Arabs refer to this area as Southern Syria. After squashing the Bar Kokhba Revolt, Hadrian wanted to erase Jewish memory from that region. He added insult to injury by renaming this area after Israel's ancient enemies, the Philistines. In reality, Jordan should be the true Palestinian state, especially since half of the Jordanian population are Palestinians. In reality, though, the Palestinian liberation movement is not concerned about land, borders, or resources. The Arab world controls most of the land and oil in the region. Their primary motive is the eradication of the Jewish state. Israel, in reality, only possesses a small portion of their original promised land, which encompassed their current territory, as well as the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jordan, and parts of Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. Satan knows that Jesus Christ will reign from Jerusalem, the city which God has his name on. Terrorist groups such as Hamas, radical professors, Arab interest groups, and biased media outlets are pawns in Satan's end game, which is to eradicate the Jews and take control of God's territory. Thankfully, Satan's goals with be brought to ruin. In Joel 3:2, it proclaims, "I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgement against them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel, for they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land." Whenever suave politicians try to convince the masses to sympathize with Palestinian causes and persuade Israel to go back to its 1967 borders, don't believe the hype. Israel is already vulnerable despite their state of the art defense systems. They don't need to give up more land, which is theirs in the first place.
According to scripture, Israel will be divided in the future. It is widely believed that the antichrist's "covenant with many" in Daniel 9:27 will be a Palestinian statehood treaty, although I believe it will be more comprehensive than just a Palestinian state. As I mentioned in Joel, one of the catalysts to God's fury is the dividing of not Israel's land, but His land since He gave Israel that land. Also, in Ezekiel 38, Israel is described as living peacefully in a land of "unwalled villages" in the latter days. With all of this mind, we need to be aware of what's happening in September, 2015. France is prepared to submit a resolution, which would recognize a state of Palestine. While the United States has always vetoed bills such as this, president Barack Obama is prepared to support the bill this time around. Considering that over 130 countries including the Vatican already recognize a Palestinian state, it is only a matter of time before Israel is forced into an agreement. There are even reports, which Israel denies, that there are talks of a truce between Israel and Hamas, which could lead to a peace deal. I am not completely buying it, but it is worth keeping track of, especially in light of the month of September. No matter what happens, though, Israel will eventually get all of her land back and Jerusalem, instead of a burdensome stone, will be a blessing for all nations.
Sources
1. http://www.gotquestions.org/Israel-land.html
2. http://think-israel.org/ronen.hadriancurse.html
3. http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/palname.html
4. http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Fatah-Hamas-Israel-agreement-would-lead-separate-Palestinian-state-in-Gaza-412377
5. http://science.co.il/History-Palestine.php
6.http://worldwatchtoday.org/archives/2414
7. http://www.bible-history.com/maps/philistines.html
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Analyzing the Jubilee Prophecy of Judah Ben Samuel
I try to be extra cautious when dealing with extra-Biblical prophecies, but one particular prophecy by Judah Ben Samuel, a late 12th-early 13th German Rabbi, is very intriguing and can't be overlooked. Since prophecy is a true gift of the spirit that still manifests itself even in today's age, it is important to judge prophecies based upon two key principles: do they line up with scripture and do they come to pass? For this prophecy, unlike the famous Rabbi Kaduri, Ben Samuel didn't specifically name the Messiah, so it is unknown whether he accepted Yeshua sometime in his life. However, whether he accepted the messiah or not, God sometimes works through people who don't know him. Nebuchadnezzar, for example, was given prophetic dreams despite being a pagan king. He couldn't interpret his prophecies, though. Interestingly enough, Nebuchadnezzar even wrote Daniel 4. So, let's take a look at the actual prophecy.
During Ben Samuel's life, the Mamluks controlled Jerusalem. Ben Samuel prophesied that once the Ottoman Turks took control of Jerusalem, there would be 8 Jubilee cycles. According to scripture, a Jubilee cycle is 50 years. After these 8 cycles are complete, Jerusalem would be a no-man's land for one Jubilee cycle. After that, the Messianic era would begin. He's not saying the Messiah would return right then, but it would occur during that time frame. So, let's look at the facts.
8 Jubilee cycles is equal to 400 years. The Ottoman Empire overthrew the Mamluks in 1517 and just like the prophecy, ruled over Jerusalem for 400 years. In 1917, under command of General Edmund Allenby, the British took control of Jerusalem. Miraculously, the Ottoman Turkish army surrendered at the request of Allenby because they mistranslated his name. Instead of Allenby, they thought the note said Allah-Beh, which means "son of God" in Arabic. Just like when the Persian army under King Cyrus, another servant of God, took over Babylon without a battle, Allenby and his British forces conquered the Turks without a battle. This was too divine to be considered a mere accident. That same year, 1917, Arthur Balfour issued his famous Balfour declaration to Lord Rothschild with the hopes of creating a Jewish state in Palestine. The fulfillment came in 1948, but Jerusalem remained a "no-man's land" from 1917 to 1967 just like Ben Samuel's prophecy foretold. From 1948 to 1967, Jerusalem was divided between Israel (West Jerusalem) and Jordan (East Jerusalem). Israel finally regained Jerusalem in the 6 day war on June 7, 1967. The Zionist conspiracy theorists will probably go crazy with this, but whether the state of Israel was established by just means or not, God still has a purpose for the people of Israel. In light of the prophecy so far, what happens next?
Even though the original Jubilee cycles are lost to antiquity, we still have records of the Shemitah, which is a cycle of 7 years in which ancient Israel had to work the land for 6 years and they were commanded to rest on the 7th year. The 7th year would be a release of debt or an economic reset. Rabbi Johnathan Cahn is an expert on this matter. I advise you to check out his books, The Harbinger and Mystery of the Shemitah. 7 Shemitah cycles equal 49 years, which leads into the Jubilee, which is sort of like a super-Shemitah, if you will. Where am I going with this? In September of this year, 2015, the Shemitah year will end, which could result in judgement considering that the last two Shemitah cycles (2001 and 2008) ended with judgement. Does 9/11 and the 2008 stock market crash ring any bells? It is said that Shemitah can be a blessing for nations that follow God, but judgment for nations who rebel. It is said that Judah's 70 year captivity in Babylon corresponds to their failure to follow the Shemitah. Anyways, we are also nearing the end of the Jubilee cycle. In fact, September 2015 will lead into the 49th year (2016) in which the Jubilee cycle will conclude. Then, 2017 will begin a new Jubilee cycle, which will 50 year's since the Jews recaptured Jerusalem.
To throw another interesting wrench into all of this, Sir Isaac Newton, one of the most brilliant man to ever live, was a devout Biblical scholar and particularly loved the Book of Daniel. When studying the 70 weeks of Daniel, he concluded that the 62 "sevens" (434 years) were referring to Christ's first coming and the first part, the 7 "sevens" (49 years) were referring to Christ's second coming. Interestingly enough, using a 360 day calendar, when you count 49 years from June 7th, 1967, you get September 23, 2015. This is the Day of Atonement, which is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar and also the only day in which a Jubilee can be declared. While I try not to set dates, I still like to be aware of God's calendar. With all of the other geo-political stepping stones taking place, Matthew 24 signs, and wide-spread apostasy, not to mention the final blood moon taking place in September, there is reason to suggest that the Lord's return is imminent.
Sources
1. http://www.wnd.com/2012/11/12th-century-rabbi-predicted-israels-future/
2. http://www.unpopulartruth.org/miraculousisrael.html
3. http://mfa.gov.il/mfa/aboutisrael/maps/pages/jerusalem%20before%20the%20six%20day%20war%20-1949-1967-.aspx
During Ben Samuel's life, the Mamluks controlled Jerusalem. Ben Samuel prophesied that once the Ottoman Turks took control of Jerusalem, there would be 8 Jubilee cycles. According to scripture, a Jubilee cycle is 50 years. After these 8 cycles are complete, Jerusalem would be a no-man's land for one Jubilee cycle. After that, the Messianic era would begin. He's not saying the Messiah would return right then, but it would occur during that time frame. So, let's look at the facts.
8 Jubilee cycles is equal to 400 years. The Ottoman Empire overthrew the Mamluks in 1517 and just like the prophecy, ruled over Jerusalem for 400 years. In 1917, under command of General Edmund Allenby, the British took control of Jerusalem. Miraculously, the Ottoman Turkish army surrendered at the request of Allenby because they mistranslated his name. Instead of Allenby, they thought the note said Allah-Beh, which means "son of God" in Arabic. Just like when the Persian army under King Cyrus, another servant of God, took over Babylon without a battle, Allenby and his British forces conquered the Turks without a battle. This was too divine to be considered a mere accident. That same year, 1917, Arthur Balfour issued his famous Balfour declaration to Lord Rothschild with the hopes of creating a Jewish state in Palestine. The fulfillment came in 1948, but Jerusalem remained a "no-man's land" from 1917 to 1967 just like Ben Samuel's prophecy foretold. From 1948 to 1967, Jerusalem was divided between Israel (West Jerusalem) and Jordan (East Jerusalem). Israel finally regained Jerusalem in the 6 day war on June 7, 1967. The Zionist conspiracy theorists will probably go crazy with this, but whether the state of Israel was established by just means or not, God still has a purpose for the people of Israel. In light of the prophecy so far, what happens next?
Even though the original Jubilee cycles are lost to antiquity, we still have records of the Shemitah, which is a cycle of 7 years in which ancient Israel had to work the land for 6 years and they were commanded to rest on the 7th year. The 7th year would be a release of debt or an economic reset. Rabbi Johnathan Cahn is an expert on this matter. I advise you to check out his books, The Harbinger and Mystery of the Shemitah. 7 Shemitah cycles equal 49 years, which leads into the Jubilee, which is sort of like a super-Shemitah, if you will. Where am I going with this? In September of this year, 2015, the Shemitah year will end, which could result in judgement considering that the last two Shemitah cycles (2001 and 2008) ended with judgement. Does 9/11 and the 2008 stock market crash ring any bells? It is said that Shemitah can be a blessing for nations that follow God, but judgment for nations who rebel. It is said that Judah's 70 year captivity in Babylon corresponds to their failure to follow the Shemitah. Anyways, we are also nearing the end of the Jubilee cycle. In fact, September 2015 will lead into the 49th year (2016) in which the Jubilee cycle will conclude. Then, 2017 will begin a new Jubilee cycle, which will 50 year's since the Jews recaptured Jerusalem.
To throw another interesting wrench into all of this, Sir Isaac Newton, one of the most brilliant man to ever live, was a devout Biblical scholar and particularly loved the Book of Daniel. When studying the 70 weeks of Daniel, he concluded that the 62 "sevens" (434 years) were referring to Christ's first coming and the first part, the 7 "sevens" (49 years) were referring to Christ's second coming. Interestingly enough, using a 360 day calendar, when you count 49 years from June 7th, 1967, you get September 23, 2015. This is the Day of Atonement, which is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar and also the only day in which a Jubilee can be declared. While I try not to set dates, I still like to be aware of God's calendar. With all of the other geo-political stepping stones taking place, Matthew 24 signs, and wide-spread apostasy, not to mention the final blood moon taking place in September, there is reason to suggest that the Lord's return is imminent.
Sources
1. http://www.wnd.com/2012/11/12th-century-rabbi-predicted-israels-future/
2. http://www.unpopulartruth.org/miraculousisrael.html
3. http://mfa.gov.il/mfa/aboutisrael/maps/pages/jerusalem%20before%20the%20six%20day%20war%20-1949-1967-.aspx
The Sodomite Generation
With the supreme court ruling that came down in June legalizing same-sex marriage across the United States, I can't help but think: how close are we to the end? This is just another prophetic stepping stone that will have major implications down the road. Before I get into the basis of this discussion, I will provide a history of the LGBT movement in America. Then I will analyze what God thinks.
In 1924, Henry Gerber founded the Society for Human Rights in Chicago. While homosexuality was still criminalized, this group shortly fell apart. Nevertheless, it planted seeds that are sprouting all throughout mainstream society. In 1950, Harry Hay founded the first gay rights organization. That same year, the federal government investigated employees in the attempt to weed out homosexuals. Dwight Eisenhower, in 1953, even banned homosexuals from working government jobs. 5 years later, though, in 1958, the LGBT won a court decision titled, One, Inc. vs. Olsen, which gave a famous LGBT magazine its first amendment right to continue publications. 4 years later, 1962, Chicago became the first state to decriminalize homosexuality. Interestingly enough, it happened a year before God was kicked out of public schools.
The gay rights movement took a radical step forward in 1969 in an infamous event known as the Stonewall Uprising. When police raided famous gay bar, Stonewall Inn, located in Greenwich Village in New York, gay youth led a three day riot. This event was memorialized a year later, known as Christopher St. Liberation Day. This became the first gay rights parade. 4 years later, homosexuality was removed as a mental illness by the APA. Up to this point, gay rights organizations were not particularly mainstream, but Harvey Milk's election on San Francisco's board of supervisors in 1977 paved the way for the LGBT agenda to merge with politics. 3 years later is when the democratic party officially endorsed gay rights, which is having major implications on our current political landscape.
Fast forward to the 1990's. In 1993, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, was instituted to protect LGBT members serving in the military. 3 years later, Bill Clinton, unbeknownst to most liberals, signed the Defense of Marriage Act, known as DOMA. This protected marriage as being between one man and one woman. In 2000, though, Vermont became the first state to legalize domestic partnerships between gay couples. It didn't stop there. Massachusetts, in 2004, became the first state to legalize gay marriage, with other states following suit shortly thereafter. In the past several years, we have seen the removal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the end of DOMA, and the Obama administration's unwavering support for numerous LGBT causes. We have even witnessed the White House being saturated with the colors of the LGBT rainbow flag. So, with all these facts in mind, should Christians support the LGBT movement as just another civil rights organization looking for protection?
The answer to that question is an unequivocal, no. The LGBT movement's origins likely had noble intentions: to overcome legitimate discrimination. Nowadays, thanks to the media, politicians, and the Hollywood elite, the LGBT movement is an agenda, plain and simple. It started off with the goal of having basic human rights. It evolved to wanting partnerships, which is fine. When marriage became the topic of the debate, this movement started to get out of hand. The argument for marriage revolves around the word, "love". The problem is, love is a subjective word. In order to redefine marriage, it then become impossible to contain "love" in a box. For example, should NAMBLA members get to marry children? I get that gay rights supporters argue about consensual love. Well, children are often naive. Can't they innocently agree to marry? What if animals or inanimate objects are brought into the equation? Who says that marriage should be confined to two people? My point is, marriage was defined at creation with Adam and Eve. It is not for the supreme court or any person to supersede what God already ordained. Be very wary of pastors who tell you differently. Famous Mars Hill pastor and theologian, Rob Bell, told Oprah Winfrey that "The church is moments away from embracing gay marriage." His book title, Love Wins, became the hashtag to end all hashtags when the supreme court made their momentous decision. Rob Bell and many other pastors, especially in the emergent church community, have forsaken Biblical truth in effort to appease the culture. Throughout scripture, warnings are given about false teachers that they are "wolves in sheep clothing". Sadly, many so-called Christians will be members of the goats when God separates the sheep from the goats at the end of human history. So, what does the Bible actually say about homosexuality?
"Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable."(Leviticus 18:22) People often say that the Old covenant doesn't apply today because we're not under the law. In actuality, laws applying to sin have never changed. Let's look at what Romans 2:26-27 has to say. "Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion." Paul is not trying to be politically correct. Instead, he is conveying the seriousness of sin. In Jude 1:7, we read, "In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire." It would also be a disservice to put homosexuality on a pedestal, though. All sexual sin is an abomination such as fornication, bestiality, incest. The problem today, as well as in ancient Israel is the flaunting of sin. In Isaiah 3:9, it states, "The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them. They have brought disaster upon themselves." Gay pride parades around the world have become public opportunities to mock God and celebrate perversion, much of the time wearing as little clothing as possible. In one particular parade in Brazil, a man dressed like Jesus Christ was seen making out with other guys. So, what should the Christian response be?
Just like every human being, LGBT folks need the blood of Yeshua. In fact, many people have come out of that lifestyle. The key is to keep a repentant heart and instead of judging these people, we need to pray for their souls because they are on a highway to hell with all other people who reject God and His ways. Churches should be welcoming to these types of people, but these people need to be warned of their sin. I urge homosexuals to put off their sinful desires and seek God. Is it really worth it to willfully practice homosexuality or any other sin for a short lifetime and spend eternity in hell? In 2 Peter 3:9, it states, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to repentance." God wants nations and people to turn to Him, but if America and the world continue on their path of rebellion, He will have no choice to judge the nations as He did Sodom and Gomorrah.
Sources
1. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/timeline/stonewall/
2. http://www.christianpost.com/news/former-megachurch-pastor-rob-bell-tells-oprah-the-church-is-moments-away-from-embracing-gay-marriage-134264/
In 1924, Henry Gerber founded the Society for Human Rights in Chicago. While homosexuality was still criminalized, this group shortly fell apart. Nevertheless, it planted seeds that are sprouting all throughout mainstream society. In 1950, Harry Hay founded the first gay rights organization. That same year, the federal government investigated employees in the attempt to weed out homosexuals. Dwight Eisenhower, in 1953, even banned homosexuals from working government jobs. 5 years later, though, in 1958, the LGBT won a court decision titled, One, Inc. vs. Olsen, which gave a famous LGBT magazine its first amendment right to continue publications. 4 years later, 1962, Chicago became the first state to decriminalize homosexuality. Interestingly enough, it happened a year before God was kicked out of public schools.
The gay rights movement took a radical step forward in 1969 in an infamous event known as the Stonewall Uprising. When police raided famous gay bar, Stonewall Inn, located in Greenwich Village in New York, gay youth led a three day riot. This event was memorialized a year later, known as Christopher St. Liberation Day. This became the first gay rights parade. 4 years later, homosexuality was removed as a mental illness by the APA. Up to this point, gay rights organizations were not particularly mainstream, but Harvey Milk's election on San Francisco's board of supervisors in 1977 paved the way for the LGBT agenda to merge with politics. 3 years later is when the democratic party officially endorsed gay rights, which is having major implications on our current political landscape.
Fast forward to the 1990's. In 1993, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, was instituted to protect LGBT members serving in the military. 3 years later, Bill Clinton, unbeknownst to most liberals, signed the Defense of Marriage Act, known as DOMA. This protected marriage as being between one man and one woman. In 2000, though, Vermont became the first state to legalize domestic partnerships between gay couples. It didn't stop there. Massachusetts, in 2004, became the first state to legalize gay marriage, with other states following suit shortly thereafter. In the past several years, we have seen the removal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the end of DOMA, and the Obama administration's unwavering support for numerous LGBT causes. We have even witnessed the White House being saturated with the colors of the LGBT rainbow flag. So, with all these facts in mind, should Christians support the LGBT movement as just another civil rights organization looking for protection?
The answer to that question is an unequivocal, no. The LGBT movement's origins likely had noble intentions: to overcome legitimate discrimination. Nowadays, thanks to the media, politicians, and the Hollywood elite, the LGBT movement is an agenda, plain and simple. It started off with the goal of having basic human rights. It evolved to wanting partnerships, which is fine. When marriage became the topic of the debate, this movement started to get out of hand. The argument for marriage revolves around the word, "love". The problem is, love is a subjective word. In order to redefine marriage, it then become impossible to contain "love" in a box. For example, should NAMBLA members get to marry children? I get that gay rights supporters argue about consensual love. Well, children are often naive. Can't they innocently agree to marry? What if animals or inanimate objects are brought into the equation? Who says that marriage should be confined to two people? My point is, marriage was defined at creation with Adam and Eve. It is not for the supreme court or any person to supersede what God already ordained. Be very wary of pastors who tell you differently. Famous Mars Hill pastor and theologian, Rob Bell, told Oprah Winfrey that "The church is moments away from embracing gay marriage." His book title, Love Wins, became the hashtag to end all hashtags when the supreme court made their momentous decision. Rob Bell and many other pastors, especially in the emergent church community, have forsaken Biblical truth in effort to appease the culture. Throughout scripture, warnings are given about false teachers that they are "wolves in sheep clothing". Sadly, many so-called Christians will be members of the goats when God separates the sheep from the goats at the end of human history. So, what does the Bible actually say about homosexuality?
"Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable."(Leviticus 18:22) People often say that the Old covenant doesn't apply today because we're not under the law. In actuality, laws applying to sin have never changed. Let's look at what Romans 2:26-27 has to say. "Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion." Paul is not trying to be politically correct. Instead, he is conveying the seriousness of sin. In Jude 1:7, we read, "In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire." It would also be a disservice to put homosexuality on a pedestal, though. All sexual sin is an abomination such as fornication, bestiality, incest. The problem today, as well as in ancient Israel is the flaunting of sin. In Isaiah 3:9, it states, "The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them. They have brought disaster upon themselves." Gay pride parades around the world have become public opportunities to mock God and celebrate perversion, much of the time wearing as little clothing as possible. In one particular parade in Brazil, a man dressed like Jesus Christ was seen making out with other guys. So, what should the Christian response be?
Just like every human being, LGBT folks need the blood of Yeshua. In fact, many people have come out of that lifestyle. The key is to keep a repentant heart and instead of judging these people, we need to pray for their souls because they are on a highway to hell with all other people who reject God and His ways. Churches should be welcoming to these types of people, but these people need to be warned of their sin. I urge homosexuals to put off their sinful desires and seek God. Is it really worth it to willfully practice homosexuality or any other sin for a short lifetime and spend eternity in hell? In 2 Peter 3:9, it states, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to repentance." God wants nations and people to turn to Him, but if America and the world continue on their path of rebellion, He will have no choice to judge the nations as He did Sodom and Gomorrah.
Sources
1. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/timeline/stonewall/
2. http://www.christianpost.com/news/former-megachurch-pastor-rob-bell-tells-oprah-the-church-is-moments-away-from-embracing-gay-marriage-134264/
Monday, August 17, 2015
Mystery Babylon: An Overview
How many times have you heard prophecy students and scholars get confused with the end times phrases, "Babylon" and "Mystery Babylon". They often get lumped into one category, which adds to the confusion. Additionally, people either try to make end times Babylon into a metaphorical concept or countries/organizations such as the United States, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, etc. are often given the label as "Mystery Babylon". The key to unlocking this mystery, as alluded by the title, "Mystery Babylon", is to understand John's point of view and also to view scripture as ultimate authority on the matter. Let me be clear. This is nowhere near an essential component of salvation, but it is in the Bible for a reason. Thus, it is an important part of not only prophecy, but history.
"Mystery Babylon", described in the book of Revelation, is characterized as a harlot that rides the beast, not the beast itself. If we make that distinction, our understanding will greatly increase. First, we must understand the word, "harlot", in this context not as a literal prostitute, but as a spiritual fornicator. In other words, the harlot is a religious entity that claims to know God, but actually engages in false worship. As we read more text, the harlot is described as wearing purple and scarlet, as well as "being adorned with gold and precious stones." She is also holding a golden cup in her hand. These are striking clues that lead to the Roman Catholic Church system in Rome. Purple and scarlet are the official colors of Bishops and Cardinals respectively. The golden cup mentioned in Revelation 17:4 may very well refer to the golden chalice often seen held by popes. Traditionally, this golden cup is believed to be the cup used at the Last Supper. Sadly, though, instead of getting drunk on the blood of Christ, the papacy has gotten "drunk with the blood of the saints" as described in Revelation 17:6. I will describe that in greater detail next time. Additionally, Vatican City, despite being the smallest sovereign country on earth, is a multi-billion dollar operation, adorned with valuable artwork and artifacts. Jesus commands us to seek first His kingdom, but the Catholic Church system has chased after power, money, and material riches over the course of its existence. Kings have certainly committed spiritual and political fornication with her system of corruption. As Christ followers, we are not to be loved by the world, but the papacy has wielded tremendous authority over world leaders. John, in Revelation 17:6, wonders greatly at the woman. If pagan Rome under Nero for example, John wouldn't be surprised, but since this is an entity that claims to represent Christ, I can see his level of disbelief.
As I mentioned previously, Revelation makes a clear distinction between the beast and the woman.The beast out of the sea is a political/militarily entity controlled by the world dictator known as the antichrist. The beast out of the earth is the woman we are talking about. She is described as a religious entity that will force everyone to receive a mark on their hand or forehead. Her leader will likely be a satanically inspired pope known as the "false prophet". In Revelation 17:9, John makes a point that the 7 heads of the Beast also connect to the woman. "The seven heads are seven mountains , and they are 7 kings." (Revelation 17:9-10) It is widely known that Rome is situated on 7 hills, although that is not the foundation of this mystery since other cities such as Mecca, Saudi Arabia and Istanbul, Turkey also sit on 7 hills. The 7 kings are a little more tricky, but they are believed to be 7 empires that are critical in scripture and related to end times: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, and the 7th empire, which will continue for a short space before being swallowed up by the antichrist"s 8th kingdom. In Revelation 17:18, it states, "The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth." Obviously, in John's day, Rome was that great city. John might have very well referred to Rome as Mystery Babylon for his own protection. If emperor Domitian knew John was writing specifically about Rome, he would have likely been killed or at the very least, his writings would be destroyed. So, what is the fate of Mystery Babylon?
Before we look at Mystery Babylon's ultimate doom, I want to draw your attention to an overlooked and obscure prophecy in Zechariah 5. The chapter describes a woman called "wickedness" sitting in a basket. A stork, which is an unclean bird, carries the woman to Babylon in modern day Iraq to build a place for her. I am not dogmatic about this verse, but it could very well describe the Catholic Church system moving its headquarters to a literal Babylon in the future. It could, though, just refer to the one world religion, not the Catholics in particular, having its base at Babylon. Putting that aside, the woman will eventually be hated by the beast and the ten kings despite their common bond at first. She will be left naked and burned with fire. In Revelation 17:17, it states, "For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose, by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God be fulfilled." As evil as the beast system will be, they will be used by God, just like God used Assyria and Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, to accomplish His will. Then, God will judge the beast system.
In Revelation 18, we are put in a dicey situation. While it appears to refer to the woman's judgement, it could also refer to political Babylon's judgement or it could refer to both. There is still conjecture whether there will be a rebuilt Babylon on the banks of the Euphrates, although Saddam Hussein spent millions of dollars to rebuild its ruins which could play a significant role. The United Nations is also considering moving out of New York, which could open up a spot in the ancient ruins of Babylon (modern day Hillah, Iraq). Either way, Babylon's ultimate destruction will involve literal cities and entities such as Rome, although it won't be confined to Rome. Babylon represents all evil and idolatry throughout human history. It is said that all false worship originates from Babel under Nimrod and his wife Semaramis. I won't go into all the details, but for example, Semaramis was known as the "Queen of Heaven". This title has been passed on to many different cultures and nations under other names. The virgin Mary, for example, is known by many Catholics as the "Queen of Heaven" and is prayed to. It doesn't matter if we pray/worship Mary or if we are worshiping Satan. We are commanded to worship God alone. I can definitely see why Rome is referred to "Mystery Babylon". This system has perpetuated human tradition and idolatry such as praying to the saints, celebrating pagan holiday's, giving god-like status to the papacy, and enslaving the "souls of men",as Revelation 18:13 suggests. God commands people to "come out of her my people" (Revelation 18:4). Overall, this is not an attack on Catholics, but rather on the system as a whole. There is no historical validity to Peter's apostolic succession or Biblical truth to a papacy, confession to priests, purgatory, prayer to the saints, indulgences, etc. I encourage sincere Catholics to read scripture and study their church history because it will change their whole outlook on what salvation means.
"Mystery Babylon", described in the book of Revelation, is characterized as a harlot that rides the beast, not the beast itself. If we make that distinction, our understanding will greatly increase. First, we must understand the word, "harlot", in this context not as a literal prostitute, but as a spiritual fornicator. In other words, the harlot is a religious entity that claims to know God, but actually engages in false worship. As we read more text, the harlot is described as wearing purple and scarlet, as well as "being adorned with gold and precious stones." She is also holding a golden cup in her hand. These are striking clues that lead to the Roman Catholic Church system in Rome. Purple and scarlet are the official colors of Bishops and Cardinals respectively. The golden cup mentioned in Revelation 17:4 may very well refer to the golden chalice often seen held by popes. Traditionally, this golden cup is believed to be the cup used at the Last Supper. Sadly, though, instead of getting drunk on the blood of Christ, the papacy has gotten "drunk with the blood of the saints" as described in Revelation 17:6. I will describe that in greater detail next time. Additionally, Vatican City, despite being the smallest sovereign country on earth, is a multi-billion dollar operation, adorned with valuable artwork and artifacts. Jesus commands us to seek first His kingdom, but the Catholic Church system has chased after power, money, and material riches over the course of its existence. Kings have certainly committed spiritual and political fornication with her system of corruption. As Christ followers, we are not to be loved by the world, but the papacy has wielded tremendous authority over world leaders. John, in Revelation 17:6, wonders greatly at the woman. If pagan Rome under Nero for example, John wouldn't be surprised, but since this is an entity that claims to represent Christ, I can see his level of disbelief.
As I mentioned previously, Revelation makes a clear distinction between the beast and the woman.The beast out of the sea is a political/militarily entity controlled by the world dictator known as the antichrist. The beast out of the earth is the woman we are talking about. She is described as a religious entity that will force everyone to receive a mark on their hand or forehead. Her leader will likely be a satanically inspired pope known as the "false prophet". In Revelation 17:9, John makes a point that the 7 heads of the Beast also connect to the woman. "The seven heads are seven mountains , and they are 7 kings." (Revelation 17:9-10) It is widely known that Rome is situated on 7 hills, although that is not the foundation of this mystery since other cities such as Mecca, Saudi Arabia and Istanbul, Turkey also sit on 7 hills. The 7 kings are a little more tricky, but they are believed to be 7 empires that are critical in scripture and related to end times: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, and the 7th empire, which will continue for a short space before being swallowed up by the antichrist"s 8th kingdom. In Revelation 17:18, it states, "The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth." Obviously, in John's day, Rome was that great city. John might have very well referred to Rome as Mystery Babylon for his own protection. If emperor Domitian knew John was writing specifically about Rome, he would have likely been killed or at the very least, his writings would be destroyed. So, what is the fate of Mystery Babylon?
Before we look at Mystery Babylon's ultimate doom, I want to draw your attention to an overlooked and obscure prophecy in Zechariah 5. The chapter describes a woman called "wickedness" sitting in a basket. A stork, which is an unclean bird, carries the woman to Babylon in modern day Iraq to build a place for her. I am not dogmatic about this verse, but it could very well describe the Catholic Church system moving its headquarters to a literal Babylon in the future. It could, though, just refer to the one world religion, not the Catholics in particular, having its base at Babylon. Putting that aside, the woman will eventually be hated by the beast and the ten kings despite their common bond at first. She will be left naked and burned with fire. In Revelation 17:17, it states, "For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose, by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God be fulfilled." As evil as the beast system will be, they will be used by God, just like God used Assyria and Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, to accomplish His will. Then, God will judge the beast system.
In Revelation 18, we are put in a dicey situation. While it appears to refer to the woman's judgement, it could also refer to political Babylon's judgement or it could refer to both. There is still conjecture whether there will be a rebuilt Babylon on the banks of the Euphrates, although Saddam Hussein spent millions of dollars to rebuild its ruins which could play a significant role. The United Nations is also considering moving out of New York, which could open up a spot in the ancient ruins of Babylon (modern day Hillah, Iraq). Either way, Babylon's ultimate destruction will involve literal cities and entities such as Rome, although it won't be confined to Rome. Babylon represents all evil and idolatry throughout human history. It is said that all false worship originates from Babel under Nimrod and his wife Semaramis. I won't go into all the details, but for example, Semaramis was known as the "Queen of Heaven". This title has been passed on to many different cultures and nations under other names. The virgin Mary, for example, is known by many Catholics as the "Queen of Heaven" and is prayed to. It doesn't matter if we pray/worship Mary or if we are worshiping Satan. We are commanded to worship God alone. I can definitely see why Rome is referred to "Mystery Babylon". This system has perpetuated human tradition and idolatry such as praying to the saints, celebrating pagan holiday's, giving god-like status to the papacy, and enslaving the "souls of men",as Revelation 18:13 suggests. God commands people to "come out of her my people" (Revelation 18:4). Overall, this is not an attack on Catholics, but rather on the system as a whole. There is no historical validity to Peter's apostolic succession or Biblical truth to a papacy, confession to priests, purgatory, prayer to the saints, indulgences, etc. I encourage sincere Catholics to read scripture and study their church history because it will change their whole outlook on what salvation means.
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