Christ’s strange warning about an “abomination of desolation” means, literally, “the abomination of the desolater,” which all authorities generally agree meant an idol, or idolatrous apparatus, to be set up in the holy place by the individual who would destroy Jerusalem, or cause it to become “desolate.”

An “abomination” is something God detests, and comes from the Hebrew word shakaz, for an idol; something, or someone who is worshiped in place of the true God.

Christ specifically stated He was referring to the same thing written in the book of Daniel. Daniel’s prophecy mentions this “abomination” several times: Daniel 9:27; 11:31 12:2 are examples. These scriptures identify, in symbol, the perpetrator.

Of Daniel’s prophecy, Kitto says, “This appears to have been a prediction of the pollution of the temple by Antiochus Epiphanes, who caused an idolatrous altar to be built on the altar of burnt offerings, whereon unclean things were offered to Jupiter Olympius, to whom the temple itself was dedicated” (Encyclopedia of Biblical Literature, John Kitto, Vol. 1, p. 22).

Daniel wrote of a “little horn” coming up among the ten horns of the beast a symbol of a government, or ruler, who succeeds in overthrowing three successive kings, then holds sway over the final seven heads of the Holy Roman Empire. We shall see much more of this “little horn” later in this article.

Of the abomination of desolation and the one who puts it in place, Daniel wrote, “Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of the sanctuary was cast down” (Daniel 8:11).

The Critical and Experimental Commentary says, “Though robbed of its treasures, it was not strictly ‘cast down’ by Antiochus; so that a fuller accomplishment is future. Antiochus took away the daily sacrifice for a few years; the Romans, for many ages, and ‘cast down’ the temple; and Antichrist, in connection with Rome, the fourth kingdom, shall do so again, after the Jews in their own land, still unbelieving, shall have rebuilt the temple and restored the Mosaic ritual” (Faussett, Vol. 4, p. 427, emphasis mine).

Obviously, since Antiochus reigned hundreds of years before Christ, his desecration of the temple was only a forerunner of Daniel’s prophecy, which is referring to the time of the end (Daniel 12:4-11).

A second forerunner of this prophesied event took place shortly after Christ’s warning prophecy of Matthew 24:15, at the destruction of Jerusalem by the armies of Titus. “This may with probability be referred to the advance of the Roman army against the city with their image-crowned standards, to which idolatrous honours were paid, and which the Jews regarded as idols. The unexpected retreat and discomfiture of the Roman forces afforded such as were mindful of our Saviour’s prophecy an opportunity of obeying the injunction which it contained, (i.e., Christ’s warning {Mat. 24:16} that they should ‘flee to the mountains.’)” (Kitto, Vol. 1, pp. 22, 23).

There was another later and more specific abomination of the holy place accomplished by emperor Hadrian, who with “…studied insult to the Jews, set up the figure of a boar over the Bethlehem gate of the city which rose upon the site and ruins of Jerusalem (Euseb. Chron., 1, i. p. 45, ed. 1658), but he erected a temple to Jupiter upon the site of the Jewish temple and caused an image of himself to be set up in the part which answered to the most holy place” (ibid., Vol. 1, p. 23).

These abominations, which took place over a vast span of time in history, are not the fulfillment of Christ’s end-time prophecy! Notice again the time setting of Christ’s Olivet prophecy:

“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation…stand in the holy place…then let them which be in Jerusalem flee into the mountains…for then shall be GREAT TRIBULATION such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

“And except those days should be shortened [by Divine intervention God’s heavenly signs, plagues, and the Second Coming of Christ], there should no flesh be saved [alive], but for the elect’s sake, those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:15-22).

The warning concerning the final abomination to be set up in the “holy place” is directly connected to the beginning of the great tribulation, which has as one of its main features the horrible martyrdom of saints (Daniel 7:20-21; Matthew 24:9).

Notice! “All these are be beginning of sorrows [tribulation].”

What IS “The Great Tribulation”?

Christ said the tribulation would be a time unparalleled in all history. Notice what Daniel wrote: “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book…” (Daniel 12:1).

There cannot be two such times, for each is the superlative the worst time of “trouble,” meaning droughts, famines, disease epidemics, the unleashing of horrifying, death-dealing weapons of destruction in war that has ever taken place since civilization began!

But wait. Daniel said, “And at that time…” (Daniel 12:1). At what time? The chapter break interrupts a flow of thought from Daniel 11:40. Read all five verses carefully, from Daniel 11:40 to 45.

The “king of the south” was, anciently, one of the Ptolemys of Egypt, a lesser dynasty of pharaohs who waged war with Syria. Syria and Egypt were but two of the four smaller kingdoms left after Alexander’s death (Daniel 11:4). The “king of the north” was, eventually, the same Antiochus Epiphanes who set up a typical abomination of desolation.

But the prophecy is specifically stated to be for a definite time in history “the TIME OF THE END” (Daniel 11:40).

Therefore, Ptolemy Soter and Antiochus Epiphanes are but types, historical representatives, of the two human leaders who will be used to fulfill this end-time prophecy.

Probably, the man who will fulfill the role of “king of the south” will be an Arab leader. He will “push at” the “king of the north,” who is the same personage as the beast of Bible prophecy, as we shall see. The expression “push at,” seems to fall short of armed aggression. Is it some political affront? Could it be an oil embargo, or threatened disruption of energy to Europe and the world? Because of Saddam Hussein’s occupation of Kuwait, and the resultant concentration of military forces and supplies from about thirty nations in the Persian Gulf region, many are tempted to assign Saddam the role of one of the two, either the “king of the north,” or the “king of the south.”

Certainly, Saddam Hussein is “pushing at” others. But is he “pushing at” someone called “the king of the north,” or any modern day political/military leader who is filling such a role?

No, Hussein is “pushing at” the United States, Britain, France, Germany, the Soviet Union, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia indeed, the whole world! The response to Saddam Hussein is not a sudden occupation of Israel, Egypt, and other nearby countries by some northern power, but the deployment of hundreds of thousands of troops into Saudi Arabia.

Notice that the reaction of the “king of the north” is not protracted economic embargo, or warfare in the Persian Gulf, but a lightning-like attack into Israel, and “many countries” in the region, including Egypt! (Daniel 11:40-42).

It is not Europe, or the United States threatening to invade Israel in this current crisis but Saddam Hussein of Iraq. Study Daniel 11:40-45 carefully, and do not be misled by those who would leap to impossible conclusions, or become hysterical about the nearness of “Armageddon.”

Israel and Egypt are both occupied by this “king of the north” at the end time. Daniel 11:40-45 absolutely precludes the possibility that the “king of the north” could be an Islamic leader, for Egypt is an Islamic nation, the largest in population of all Islam. Egypt is Arabic, and, though currently observing the Camp David accords, is nevertheless staunchly united religiously and emotionally with all other Arab nations in calling for the withdrawal of Israel from the “occupied territories.” No other Arab state would occupy Egypt. This is the final head of the “Holy Roman Empire” which was always a Germanic power! The king of the north is the final beast of prophecy.

Now, when does this northern military power come storming into Israel? “At the time of the end,” says Daniel. And then, reading on to Chapter 12, verse 1, we see Daniel’s prophecy that At that time” Michael stands up, and a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation begins! In other words, the great tribulation. So the tribulation commences at the same time this king of the north invades Palestine.

Christ’s warning about the abomination of desolation included this invasion of Palestine by armies. Those forces are identified in Daniel 11:40-45 as being the forces of the king of the north. Christ said, “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh” (Luke 21:20).

Upon Whom Does This Great Tribulation Descend?

Christ warned, “Then [when the abomination of desolation is set up] let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains…” He continues to say the flight is so urgent; so sudden, that one should not return to retrieve clothing, or household items even food! He warned, “Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house:

“Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes” (Matthew 24:16-18).

Those to whom this warning applies will not read of some impending attack in their weekly news magazines, or see it on nightly television for months at a time it will occur SUDDENLY, with shocking swiftness. The scene set by Christ is of a normal working day where a man might be in the fields, his wife on top of the roof, hanging up washing.

Yet, suddenly, when people least expect it, attacking military forces are seen around Jerusalem.

In the Jerusalem of Christ’s day, houses were set adjoining each other. Roofs were flat, with parapets, and were used for sitting and talking, hanging up washing, play areas for children, even sleeping at night in hot weather. Commonly, families would erect temporary shelters of fronds and branches, and move into these little booths during the Feast of Tabernacles.

The rabbis wrote of the “road of the roofs,” wherein one might walk across several adjoining rooftops, then descend to the street without having to go back inside one’s own house. Christ referred to this practice in His warning.

Daniel’s prophecy says the tribulation is the time when Michael stands up. Michael is identified as “Michael your prince” (Daniel 10:20-21) an archangel who is the prince of Israel. The 12th chapter says Michael is to stand “for the children of Israel,” the children of the people of Daniel, who was a noble of Israel.

Christ’s prophecy specifically pointed out events to take place in Jerusalem; the Middle East, and Palestine! But the Great Tribulation will be global in its effects, for Christ said, as did Daniel, that it will be a “time of trouble such as there has not been from the time there was a nation”! He also said that if God did not cut short this terrible time of global trouble, not a man, woman, or child would be left alive (Matthew 24:2l-22). Therefore, while events in Jerusalem provide a positive sign that the tribulation is beginning, the tribulation is not confined to Palestine, and the city of Jerusalem.

Yet, from Christ’s warnings, we see it is obvious the great tribulation begins in Jerusalem; in Palestine, by the setting up of an “abomination,” which causes desolation, or destruction. Specifically, the abomination is to be set up in the temple, but no temple exists as yet. The terrible loss of life depicted by Christ is to begin in Jerusalem and neighboring areas the modern nation called “Israel.” Christ’s stern warning, together with Daniel’s prophecies, show Jerusalem occupied by a northern military power.

But the Jews in “Israel” are but one tribe, with perhaps increments of two others Judah, together with some of Levi and Simeon. There were thirteen tribes in all, counting the two half-tribes of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh.

The northern ten tribes, with a separate dynasty of kings commencing from the time of Jereboam, and a separate national capitol, were carried away captive by Assyrian kings long prior to the captivity of Judah. The ten tribes disappeared into the bleak steppes between the Black and Caspean seas during the years 721 to 718 BC! It was not until 540 BC, about 178 years later, that Judah was taken captive into Babylon.

The bulk of those deported Israelites never returned to Palestine. They migrated along the river valleys into Europe, and into the British Isles!

Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, was renamed “Israel” after his tenacious encounter with God, which is detailed in the book mentioned above.

Jacob had twelve sons, each of whom became the eponymous ancestor of a large tribe of people. Jacob was called “Israel” from the time of his renaming. Judah, one of his sons, together with major portions of Simeon and Levi, came to be known as the “House of Judah,” while Manasseh, Ephraim, Gad, Asher, Dan, Naphtali, Benjamin, Reuben, Issachar and Zebulun became known as the “House of Israel.” The two are never synonymous in the Bible. There are four books of the Bible detailing the separate national histories of these two distinctly different nations; different dynasties of kings, different territories, different national capitols different languages, cultures, and religions!

The very first time the “nickname” for Judah, “Jew,” is ever used in the Bible, the Jews are at war against Israel!

Not Just the Jews in Israel to Suffer the Tribulation

Now, notice that the Great Tribulation comes not only upon the Jews in the modern nation called Israel, but upon the “House of Jacob,” or “The House of Israel,” as well!

“Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it [an unparalleled time exactly as described in Matthew 24:15 and Daniel 12:1 the same time of the Great Tribulation]: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it” (Jeremiah 30:7).

What is the Great Tribulation? It is a time of horrible suffering; disease, famine, starvation, and the grisly death of millions as a result of terrible warfare featuring the ghastly weapons of modern technology which is to come on the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and several of the democracies of northwestern Europe. It will especially impact the modern nation called “Israel,” the Jews in Palestine!

Titus Was a Forerunner

Read Christ’s somber Olivet Prophecy again. He said, referring to the temple and its great buildings and walls, “…See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down” (Matthew 24:2). Later, He said, “And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness [a witness AGAINST them] unto all nations and THEN shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14).

The Gospel was not preached to but a few prior to Christ’s death. He spoke in puzzling parables to the masses (Matthew 13:10-17), explaining to His disciples that it was not yet given to them to understand.

It was not until after His resurrection, and His appearance to His disciples (Acts. 1:7-8) that He told them to spread out from Palestine, to the “uttermost parts of the earth,” preaching the Gospel.

By 70 AD, only a comparative few had heard the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. It had by no means been preached as a witness to the world. Yet, Christ gave this as a major prerequisite to the setting up of the abomination of desolation. God will not leave this world without a witness.

God will not allow anyone to plaintively cry, “But you never told me!” Just as He sent several of His prophets to loudly proclaim the impending national punishments coming upon the ten-tribed House of Israel long before their destruction detailing their horrible sins; their stiff-necked, God-defying rebellion; their Sabbath-breaking and consequent idolatry; just as He sent several of His prophets to warn Judah of its impending destruction by the Babylonian armies; just as Christ warned His generation (Matthew 24) of the impending destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, SO GOD IS SENDING HIS WARNING AND WITNESS TO THIS WORLD, TODAY!

Most so-called evangelists respond to the cry from people, “preach smooth things; speak deceits!” (Isaiah 30:10). Where, on weekly television, in the thousands of pulpits across our lands, or in religious literature, do you find those who are solemnly telling their audiences that our nations are going to be brutally CONQUERED IN GLOBAL WARFARE unless we repent of our personal and collective sins?

Christ warned, “…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3,5).

When the armies of Titus destroyed the city of Jerusalem, tens of thousands of Jews were slaughtered.

Yet, countless ones among them had heard Christ’s warning, and the warnings of His faithful apostles and ministers in the years that followed! Instead of repenting, they rejected Christ, and soon began killing and throwing into jail His apostles!

Except for a few Jews who fled to Pella after the high priest allegedly heard an audible voice in the temple, telling him to flee (according to Josephus), the bulk of the population experienced a holocaust! Christ’s stern warning had come true!

The soldiers prized loose even the stones atop the walls of the temple. The temple was eventually destroyed. But Christ specifically stated that, immediately following the Great Tribulation, there would come spectacular heavenly signs.

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars [meteorites] shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heaven shall be shaken:

“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven: and then shall the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:27-30).

Therefore, the prophecy in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 is dual; it has a typical, early fulfillment, and a literal, final end-time fulfillment! Jerusalem is destined to be destroyed again unless its inhabitants repent.

There were no heavenly signs at the destruction of Jerusalem by the armies of Titus; Christ did not come in the power of the Almighty God, shaking the heavens, causing the sun to become black as sackcloth of ashes!

Therefore, there is coming, yet, another destruction of Jerusalem! It will be signaled by the emplacement of the abomination that makes desolate.

Now, who is to set up this abomination?

The “Little Horn” of Daniel

The four great, successive world-dominating empires of Babylon, Persia, Graeco/Macedonia and Rome are depicted in both Daniel 2 and Daniel 7. At the conclusion of the description of the final one of these kingdoms, ROME, Daniel says, “But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever” (Daniel 7:18).

Daniel then said, “Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast [Rome], which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;

“And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other [a separate, different “horn,” or government; a ruler] which came up, and before whom three fell” (Daniel 7:19-20).

This prophecy shows the ten “horns,” or governments, were successive, and not contemporaneous. That this “little horn” is not one of the successive ten is equally obvious, for it is “another” horn which was seen to arise.

Notice its description, “I considered the horns [ten of them], and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns [these probably were the Vandals, Ostragoths, and the Heruli] plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

“I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow…a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him: thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened” (Daniel 7:8-10).

This is obvious reference to the Second Coming of Christ, the beginning of His millennial reign, and the final judgment day! Yet, the prophecy commences with the emergence of the “little horn;” separate from the other ten; distinctly different, who succeeds in overthrowing, or uprooting, the first three “horns” or governments, of the fourth beast of Daniel 7.

Faussett says, “Antichrist rises after their rise, at first ‘little,’ (v. 8) but after destroying three of the ten he becomes greater than them all (vv. 20, 21). The three being gone, he is the eighth (cf. Rev. xvii. 11); a distinct head, and yet ‘of the seven’ (Critical and Experimental Commentary, Vol. IV. p. 422, emphasis mine).

Now, what of the “mouth speaking great things”?

Daniel says, “And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up [the “little horn”], and before whom three [the first three, in succession] fell; even that horn that had eyes [of a man], and a mouth that spake great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

“I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them!” (Daniel 7:20-21). So much for the idea of “raptured” saints who are not on earth at the time of the tribulation, or special “saints” who are hiding out in caves. Notice that this applies literally to the final two witnesses, who are killed by the Antichrist power (Revelation 11:7), and also applies to the church (Revelation 13:7).

This “little horn” represents some kind of government which persecutes God’s true church!

Four separate times in Daniel’s seventh chapter, the prophecy commences with visions of the fourth beast (Rome), being controlled by a “little horn” which overthrows the first three successive governments of Rome, but which is still extant at the time of the end, persecuting the true church, to be finally destroyed by Christ Himself, at His Second Coming.

In other words, the Bible “dates” the time of the “little horn,” identifying it as a power, or government, which will be actively persecuting God’s people at the time of Christ’s return!

Now, who does this persecuting what power, or government, is responsible for the martyrdom of God’s true servants?

“And he [this same “little horn”] shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they [the saints] shall be given into his hand until a time [one year] and times [two more years] and the dividing of time [six months, or one half year; three and one half years in all].

“But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end” (Daniel 7:25-26). This shows a period of terrible persecutions and martyrdom of three and one-half years! And it is at the time of the end, from the beginning of the tribulation until the Second Coming of Christ!

This “little horn” symbolizes a human leader who sits in a position powerful enough to assay to change times and laws.

Daniel heard one angel ask another, “How long shall the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation [the abomination of desolation], to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

“And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed” (Daniel 8:13-14).

John wrote, “And they worshipped the dragon [Satan] which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast [extreme nationalism state worship!], saying, ‘Who is able to make war with him?’

“And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies [the same mouth as that of the “little horn,” meaning Antichrist; the great false prophet!]; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months” (Revelation 13:4-5).

The Three and One-Half Years

When the Antichrist establishes himself, setting up the abomination, he will continue for three and one-half years.

Notice further: “And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

“But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not, for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months” Revelation 11:1-2).

During this three-and-one-half year period, all organized preaching of the Gospel is impossible. God’s church is scattered, persecuted. (Amos 8:11). Some are to be martyred many are to be miraculously protected from the Antichrist.

God says, “And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child [the church], “And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle [symbolic of God’s miraculous protection. cf. Exodus 19:4], that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time [three and one-half years!] from the face of the serpent.

“And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

“And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 12:13-17).

Some have seen the “flood” in historical terms; the entire period of the dominance of the “little horn” over the heads of the Holy Roman Empire, and the “flood” of lying doctrines, false charges, and propaganda spewed out of the mouth of the woman who rides the beast.

Some have thought it to be literal; a miracle brought about by Satan, from which God’s people are delivered, like a type of the Red Sea. Whatever its meaning, Satan fails in his attempt to destroy God’s church.

Nevertheless, God’s Word says the great false church, led by its “man of sin” who is Antichrist, will horribly persecute God’s saints. The Great Tribulation includes the martyrdom of many of God’s servants (Matthew 24:9; Revelation 13:7).

Not all of God’s people will be protected. For example, the two witnesses, two human beings who will be specially anointed to be God’s last two prophets warning the beast and false prophet, are to be killed by the Antichrist and the beast.

The work of the two witnesses takes place at the exact same period during which the abomination of desolation sits; the time of the “treading down of the sanctuary.”

“And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand, two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth…these have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

“And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them” (Revelation 11:3-7).

Some have assumed the whole church will be “taken to a place of safety” for the three and one-half years. Obviously not. Are not these two witnesses members of God’s true church? Are they not converted, with God’s Holy Spirit, and therefore members of the spiritual “body of Christ,” which is the church?

Yet, God allows their martyrdom.

Even as God sent the plagues on Egypt while Israel was yet in the land of Goshen, making a “difference” between the Israelites and Egyptians; even as the death angel “passed over” the Israelitish houses and killed the firstborn of Egypt; so God promises, “A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee (Psalm 91:1-9).

God’s captive people Israel are pictured as crying out to Him in the time of their horrible tribulation: “Come, and let us return unto the Eternal: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up.

“After two days [two years? cf. Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6] will He revive us: in the third day [during the third year?] He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight” (Hosea 6:1-2).

This prophecy is set in the midst of God’s stern warnings to ten-tribed Israel, especially the nation of Ephraim, identified by many indications as Britain.

God said, “Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke [tribulation]: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be…I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early” (Hosea 5:9-15).

The Tribulation, Heavenly Signs (Revelation 6-7), and Day of the Lord all fall within the same three-and-one-half year period! Notice that the abomination of desolation is set up, and continues “until the consummation,” or three and one-half years! The two witnesses prophecy for three and one-half years, and are killed only days prior to Christ’s return! The sanctuary is “trodden down” for three and one-half years, and then “cleansed” by Christ’s return!

Now you can see how important it is to watch for the time when the abomination of desolation is set up; why Christ warned those in Judaea to flee when they see it coming! Who is this Antichrist? Who is this final “little horn” with the mouth of a man, speaking blasphemies?

He is the “false prophet” of prophecy the leader of a church!

The Woman Who Rides the Beast:

Symbol of a Great False Church

Now, notice John’s prophecy: “So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy…” (Revelation 17:3).

A woman is used as a symbol of a church. In this case, an apostate church; a church which is under the sway of Satan; a church depicted as wearing the colors of harlotry, full of names which are insults, blasphemous, to God! “…having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication…” (Revelation 17:3-4).

This great false church, ruled by Satan, has concourse with the kings, presidents, premiers, prime ministers of the nations of this world; a political church, which seeks to impose its policies on many nations; many cultures. God calls such politics harlotry!

Continuing, “…And upon her forehead was a name written, ‘MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH’” (Revelation 17:5).

This is a great mother church, who has daughters which came out of her in protest! She wears the colors of whoredom, uses names and titles which are blasphemous, and teaches doctrines cloaked in mystery.

She holds the same old “mystery religion” that dates to ancient Babylon; to the time of Semiramis and Nimrod, the founders of the Babylonish mystery religion, and of organized cities and governments of man.

Her main trappings are the sun; bowing toward the rising sun in the east on the ancient day dedicated to “Ishtar” (Semiramis), pronounced “Easter,” today; worship on Sunday instead of God’s Holy Sabbath; sanctioning the use of purely pagan symbols of sexual reproduction and fecundity like orbs and bulbs, the “Ishtar” lily, phallic symbols, flies, eggs a seemingly endless array of the accouterments of ancient heathenism.

She has always fought God’s truth, and persecuted God’s converted servants. Countless thousands have been put to death for daring to cling to the Sabbath; to God’s sacred Passover, which was always held on the evening of the 14th of Nisan by Christ and His disciples. Notice more of this woman’s description:

And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration [astonishment, not approbation]” (Revelation 17:5-6).

Read the entire chapter, and you will see this great false church rides upon the beast, controlling it, influencing it. She will be instrumental in binding together the final ten nations comprising the beast. It is her influence and doctrine which provides the “clay” for the ten toes of Daniel’s second chapter; a weak bonding agent which is not mixed with the “iron” of the militarily powerful nation which will dominate the ten.

Now, notice how this great false church is the same entity as the second beast of Revelation 13!

“And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb [it appears Christ-like], and he spake as a dragon [as Satan: cf. Revelation 12:9].

“And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, [the first beast of Revelation 13 is the same beast as the fourth beast of Daniel 7; representing Imperial Rome from the time of the earliest Roman emperors, and Romulus who gave Rome its name, to the latter-day rulers of the “Holy Roman Empire”] and causeth the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed” (Revelation 13:11-12).

This deadly wound was the fall of Imperial Rome in 476. Its healing was in 554, when Belesarius, victorious in northern Africa, was instrumental in restoring the power of Rome. Notice that this false religious leader, the “little horn” who thought to change times and laws, who was full of names of blasphemy, and who martyred God’s saints is empowered by Satan to perform miracles.

“And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak [he has a “mouth speaking great things”] and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed” (Revelation 13:11-15).

Where do you find a great, global church whose leader claims infallibility; the authority to change “times and laws,” to establish dogma? Where is the great, multi-lingual, multi-national, universal church which conducts its religious ceremonies in mysteries, in mysterious symbolism, in elaborate rituals with various hidden meanings? Where is there a great church which is a powerful political organization, having vast influence over geopolitics; over political decisions like choice of government for masses of peoples in many different nations?

Where is the great church whose leaders dress in red and scarlet, the colors of harlotry? Where is the great church which boasts it is “eternal”?

Which city is the “eternal” city, according to lore; the city of “seven hills”? John’s vision continued, “The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sitteth” (Revelation 17:9). He went on to say, “And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth” (Revelation 17:18).

Which city can claim to have ruled over “the kings of the earth” down through history? Certainly not Washington, D.C., or London, or Berlin, or Tokyo, or Moscow. Which, then? Where is a church whose leader is courted by the most powerful political leaders in the world a church leader who has the power to incite massive demonstrations, strikes, rebellions which can unseat political systems and bring about revolutions in government?

This same great false church is mentioned by Isaiah.

Notice, “And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it.

“Therefore hear now this, thou that are given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, ‘I am [blasphemy! A name and title of God!], and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:’” (Isaiah 47:7-8).

Which great church is called “mother” by all others? Which church has protesting daughters which came out of her, and which she confidently boasts she will bring back to the fold? (But her daughters will share her fate: Isaiah 47:9).

John’s prophecy shows how this great church uses the power of the state to carry out her wishes: “And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand [symbolizing cooperation, agreement, willingness, commitment to work], or in their foreheads [symbolizing like-mindedness, cooperation, acceptance, agreement]: and that no man might buy or sell, save he had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

“Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man: and his number is Six hundred threescore and six” (Revelation 13:15-18).

The beast is Rome, from the time of Imperial Rome to the present to the end-time resurrection of the same old system in the heartland of Europe, dominated by one great religion, which will hold sway over all ten nations.

The “image” is the church which was designed and constructed along the same lines as Imperial Rome, with the diocese, the great diocese, a “collegia,” or “college of cardinals,” and an absolute ruler, claiming the “primacy of Peter” whose word is unquestioned!

The “image” of the beast is its length and shadow, its replica, its copy. Yet, it is a religious organization, having the appearance of a lamb, but speaking like a dragon, like Satan!

To obey it is to receive its identifying signs and symbols, or its mark.

The image of the beast is, therefore, a great false church organization, patterned after the political structure of ancient, Imperial Rome, with a human leader so revered that many attribute to him virtual divinity (Roman emperors claimed to be god; to be divine, in some instances); a church organization which cloaks many of its rituals and beliefs in mysteries, and a church organization having political influence concourse with governments of the world a church which is at once a state, having full political sovereignty like that of any other nation.

Now you can understand the vision of the ten-horned beast (the final resurrection of the same old system called the “Holy Roman Empire”) being ridden by the great fallen woman.

How the False Church Gained Control

From the very beginning of the New Testament church which Christ founded (Matthew 16:18), elements from both within and without (Acts 20:28-31) sought to rid God’s true church of everything remotely “Jewish.”

This came about as a result of massive numbers of Gentiles joyously embracing Christianity many of them wanting to cling to ancient, pagan traditions.

The New Testament, particularly Paul’s writings and the “letters to the churches” in Revelation 2 and 3, is a story of the erosion of the original faith; of attacks from Judaizers, who could not seem to shake the concept of circumcision, and who wished to impose the principles of Judaism, not Christianity, on new converts (1 Corinthians 7:18-19).

Continually, the fledgling New Testament church is seen struggling against persecutions from government; from the leaders of the Jewish religious sects; from apostasies within and from attacks without.

Paul’s letter to the Galatians marvels at how soon they had listened to “another Gospel,” and heard about “another Jesus” (Galatians 1:6-8). He rebukes the Corinthians, who, reverting to their pagan customs, had turned the Passover into a Bacchian night of revelry; who tolerated incest within their ranks. He continually defends himself against “false apostles” who parade their “Jewishness” to the people (2 Corinthians 11-12).

Jude, the next to the last book of the New Testament, appeals to true Christians to get back to the “faith once delivered,” showing how far the apostasy had progressed. Jude is a clear warning against false teachers who reverted to the pagan mysteries; used gluttony, revelry, sexual promiscuity in their religious services, exactly as heathen priestesses functioned as “temple prostitutes,” claiming that such activities were symbolic of concourse with the deity.

By the time John wrote the book of Revelation, probably about 91 or 92 AD, the apostasy was nearly complete.

In the second and third chapters, in the letters to the churches, you will see the churches plagued with false doctrines, false religious leaders, false practices a church shot through with paganism!

Acts 8 and other scriptures identify a man who may have risen to become the first major leader of this apostasy; a man who may well have masqueraded as the “Peter” of Rome, Simon the Magus, or Simon the Magician. His story would require book-length investigation. However, he passed into history, and is not relevant today, except as a forerunner of the final false prophet.

Paul wrote of the budding apostasy, and made it clear that a false prophet will rise in the last days just prior to the Second Coming of Christ!

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come [the Second Coming of Christ], except there come a falling away [apostasy!] first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

“Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God [a temple which is yet to be constructed in Jerusalem!], shewing himself [claiming] that he is God.

“…And now ye know what witholdeth [withstands; resists. Paul is speaking of himself, as one who was “holding back” this growing apostasy] that he might be revealed in his time.

“For the mystery of iniquity [it was a “mystery” religion; one which condoned sin, or “iniquity”] doth already work; only he who now letteth [restrains] will let [continue to restrain], until he be taken out of the way” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-7).

Here we see a human religious leader who will ensconce himself inside the temple in Jerusalem and actually claim to be divine! claim to be God!

The expression, “be taken out of the way” is the subject of some contention. The Greek verb is ginomai, which carries the connotation “become to be.” The preferred reading may well be, “until he ‘become to be,’” or “become evident for who he is,” rather than a reference to Paul, as one who would be removed by death, or “taken out of the way.” Either way, the meaning is clear that Paul was one of the last restraining influences against virtual total apostasy in the early church; that following his death there would be no one left in the eastern world who withstood it.

Yet, Paul’s writing was also prophetic, for he referred to the end time, and not just the few years following his death.

Gradually, the visible church of the first and second centuries dramatically changed. Little by little purely pagan customs were adopted. Pagans coming into the church carried with them their superstitions, their various holidays and observances.

Liberal clergymen, ever desirous of more money and power, of larger followings, permitted these pagan customs, dressing them up in “Christian” trappings. Some of these power-hungry leaders gained control of the physical properties of the church through exercising autocratic authority over the people. John wrote of one “Diotrephes,” who coveted power, and who “put out” from that local congregation the true believers, retaining only those who had prostituted themselves, spiritually, to corrupt human power (3 John).

Easter finally replaced the Passover. Sunday replaced the Sabbath. Christmas obscured the time of Christ’s conception. By the time of the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, true Christians were solemnly warned against “Judaizing” by continuing to obey God in observing His Sabbaths, or following Christ’s example of observing the Passover on the 14th of Nisan; instead, they were commanded to observe the purely pagan “Ishtar” festival, in honor of the pagan goddess of fecundity and sex; a springtime celebration featuring rapidly-reproducing rabbits, the symbols of eggs, and other “mystical” paraphernalia.

From that time to this, the professing “Christian” world has followed the great apostate church. Millions observe “Ishtar” (pronounced “Easter,” today) with bunnies and eggs; facing the rising sun in the east, and eating “hot cross buns” (from bous, or boun, meaning the symbol of Taurus, the bull Tammuz, or Nimrod), and reveling in a pagan celebration which has been dressed up in “Christian” clothing.

Eventually, the millions of adherents to this pagan “mystery” religion, now masquerading as “Christian,” would bring about the requirement for kings and emperors to acknowledge the power of the church, or suffer the consequences the sure loss of rulership, and perhaps the loss of their lives!

God’s True Church Never in Politics 

God solemnly warned His people never to be part of this Babylonish mystery religion; not to partake of its intrigues, its political goals, its wars, or its political systems.

“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, ‘COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues,’ For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities” (Revelation 18:4-5).

The 18th chapter of Revelation details how the ten-nation beast power shall finally “hate the whore,” and utterly destroy this false church, putting to death countless thousands of its officials and its peoples. God will finally reward this hideous, waddling old madam of religion, this persecutor and torturer of God’s people, with the bitterest dregs of the cup of wrath! That is why God warns His people to forsake this mystery religion that they “receive not of her plagues.

Christ had instructed His disciples, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

“If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (John 15:18-19).

He continued, in His prayer to the Father just before His death and resurrection, “I have given them thy word and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

“I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:14-18). But the false church is very much of this world. It is a political system, sending ambassadors to all nations, functioning as a government. Its leader has always courted favor with kings, premiers, presidents, emperors; has sought to be accepted and liked by them, and has sought to influence them.

But Jesus said, “My Kingdom is not of this world: if my Kingdom were of this world then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my Kingdom not from hence” (John 18:36).

John wrote, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

“And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof…” (1 John 2:15-17).

The word “world” is cosmos, which means the civilization; the communal groupings; cities, governments of the world the society with all its customs, religious and philosophical concepts.

God’s servants are “citizens” of Christ’s soon-coming Heavenly Kingdom, the Government of God! They are like “sojourners” in this world (1 Peter 2:9-12), like “strangers and pilgrims,” as if travelers in a foreign country, having no indigenous citizenship.

Would an American, traveling in Iraq, fight in Iraq’s wars against Iran, or America? Would a Briton, traveling in Africa, vote in African elections, join African military organizations, or observe tribal witchcraft or voodoo?

So, God commands His true church to “submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king as supreme; “Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well” (1 Peter 2:13-14). So God’s servants are to be models in obedience to law, respect for authority; in thankfulness for the freedoms and blessings of the governments under which they live. They are to obey those governments in every case except where such civil government comes into conflict with the higher court of heaven!

In such a case, God’s servants must obey God first, and then humbly accept whatever punishment the civil government imposes.

Peter and the apostles said to the authorities during their day, “We ought to obey God rather than men!” (Acts 5:29).

Christ’s true church was never to become a great political system. It was never to fall under the absolute, dictatorial rule of one man, claiming to be the “direct representative” of Christ; claiming to have no peers on earth, but to be the sole human leader under Christ!

This is one of the many blasphemies of which the great false church is guilty. Any human being arrogating to himself such lofty powers is a stench in the nostrils of God, and will surely answer for the enormity of his folly!

Faucett says, “As Antiochus Epiphanes, the Antichrist of the third kingdom [Daniel 8], was the personal enemy of God; so the final Antichrist of the fourth kingdom [the final “beast” power], his antitype, shall be. The church has endured a pagan and a papal persecution; there remains for her an infidel persecution…He will not merely, as Popery, substitute himself for Christ in Christ’s name, but ‘Deny the Father and the Son,’ {1 John ii.22}. The persecution is to continue up to Christ’s second coming” (Critical and Experimental Commentary, Vol. IV, p. 422).

This false prophet claims absolute authority over his followers! They can have no direct access to Christ, and through Christ to the Father, according to his false doctrine! Only when his people stay in his good graces, remain subservient, unquestioning, blind followers of him can they be considered “in the body,” and considered as having a spiritual relationship with God.

Therefore, this false human leader thinks to usurp the very Priesthood of Christ Himself. He teaches that no man or woman can approach God directly through Christ! They must always be channeled through this one human leader! Finally, this blasphemous and pompous ego will swell to the point that this great false prophet will make the blasphemous claim that he “is God”!

Now, let’s notice how this great false church, the “image” of the beast, will be complicit in bringing about the Great Tribulation upon God’s elect.

The “Yoke” of the False Church

Isaiah’s prophecy identifies the great false church as a major perpetrator of the tribulation; the captivity of ten-tribed Israel: “I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand…” (Isaiah 47:6).

This is the fallen woman; the false church, who boasts that she is “lady of the kingdoms,” and will “not suffer the loss of children” who came out of her, in protest.

No “rapture” pictured here. Instead, just as Christ predicted; as all the prophecies clearly state, the tribulation is accompanied by a vast martyrdom of saints (Revelation 13:7; Matthew 24:9).

To continue, “…thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke” (Isaiah 47:6).

Remember, the beast and the false prophet are complicit in the martyrdom of God’s people, and in the captivity of ten-tribed Israel and Judah!

Notice it is not only the great false church who lays her yoke on God’s people! “O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt…and it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing” (Isaiah 10:24-27).

The “anointing” refers to the Second Coming of Christ.

Isaiah says, “And it shall come to pass in that day [the time of the end; the time of Christ’s coming] that the Lord shall set His hand the second time to recover the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from Assyria…and there shall be an highway for the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from Assyria: LIKE AS IT WAS TO ISRAEL IN THE DAY HE CAME UP OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT” (Isaiah 11:11-16).

But when ten-tribed Israel was taken captive by Assyria in 721-718 BC, your Bible says none returned. There was never a miraculous EXODUS from ancient Assyria. Instead, when Babylon subjugated Assyria, the captive Israelites wandered with their former captors into Europe, and toward Scandinavia and the British Isles.

They disappeared, largely, from history. A few clues remain, and their identity can be discovered, but no such event as that described in Isaiah 11 has yet taken place. Clearly, this prophecy is set at the time of Christ’s return.

Where is modern Israel the House of Israel, not only the Jews? In captivity, under the yoke of both a modern nation who represents the ancient Assyrians, and the false church! In other words, Israel is under captivity to the beast power and the false prophet!

This false prophet is the “little horn” of Daniel the government which finally held sway over the final seven heads of the Roman Empire.

This “little horn” of Daniel’s prophecy is the papacy, which overthrew three kingdoms which had taken over Rome, generally believed to have been the Vandals (429-533 AD), the Heruli under Odoacer, from the fall of Rome in 476 to about 493, and the eastern Goths from 493 to 554 AD, when General Belesarius retook Carthage.

The influence of the papacy was instrumental in overthrowing these kingdoms, and establishing the “Imperial Restoration” of Rome in about 554.

Now, the “little horn,” speaking great things, thinking to “change times and laws” (establish the Sunday calendar, and issue dogmas), dominates the remaining seven heads of the “beast.” These were the successive heads of the so-called “Holy Roman Empire,” culminating in the weak revival of the same system under Hitler and Mussolini during World War II.

Mussolini called his government the re-establishment of the “Holy Roman Empire”! Faucett admits, “The Roman empire did not represent itself as a continuation of Alexander’s; but the Germanic Empire calls itself ‘the holy Roman empire’” (Critical and Experimental Commentary, Vol. IV, p. 419, emphasis mine). The “Holy Roman Empire” was Germanic, not Italian.

Even the first three kings, overthrown by the “little horn,” were “Teutonic” people.

John was told, “The beast that thou sawest was, and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit [a symbolic “abyss,” signifying satanic origin], and go into perdition [so it is the final beast which is ultimately destroyed by Christ’s return]” (Revelation 17:8).

The leader of this great false church is the FALSE PROPHET of Bible prophecy, the ANTICHRIST!

He is the “little horn” of Daniel. He is the “man of sin” of 2 Thessalonians 2. He is the “abomination of desolation” PERSONIFIED, for he is the one who actually will sit in the temple of God, making the blasphemous claim that he is God!

Remember how God says the image of the beast, the false church, will have satanic power to perform miracles to delude and deceive millions?

Notice! “And then shall that Wicked [“Wicked One,” margin] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming:

“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

“And will all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish [are perishing]; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

“And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie…” (2 Thessalonians 2:8-11).

The false prophet will be seated in a temple. He will claim to be “divine.” He will perform such lying wonders, miracles, and mysterious “signs” that millions will be convinced. They will WORSHIP this man, revere him as if he is VERY GOD!

One of the first things Christ will accomplish immediately following His return to this earth is to destroy this great, lying, pompous, blasphemous false prophet. “And the beast was taken [arrested caught], and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone” (Revelation 19:19-21).

What to Watch For

In summary, then, Christ specifically said this great “Abomination to God that will cause terrible destruction and desolation,” will stand in the holy place, where it ought not!

The temple still stood when Christ uttered those words. His listeners knew exactly to which part of the temple He referred: the innermost part of the temple, called the “holy place,” which was the place of the priests’ daily offerings, and the “holy of holies,” behind the vail, into which the high priest entered only once each year, on the Day of Atonement.

Paul clearly said the “man of sin” would sit “in the temple of God.”

But today, there is no temple in Jerusalem.

Yet, major international tensions occur when enthusiastic Zionist Jews march to the temple walls, attempting to lay a symbolic corner stone for the building of another TEMPLE!

The virulent hatred of the Arabs toward the Jews is partly rooted in the intention of many right-wing Jewish sects to destroy the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aksa Mosque, to make way for the building of another Jewish temple.

When such a temple is built, you should be aware that the final events depicted in this article are VERY NEAR!

Consider: Such an event would probably unite the Arab nations as no other single event. A great war could break out in the Mideast a war in which chemical, and even nuclear weapons might be used, for the Arabs might have witnessed the destruction of two of their most revered mosques, holy places to all Islam.

They might unite, as never before, and their leader would probably be the “king of the south” of Daniel 11:40-45.

To “push at” the “king of the north,” who we believe to be the “beast” power, or a United Europe, this Arab leader might cut off all energy to Europe! This would bring an immediate military response as Daniel’s 11th chapter shows.

If you see a ten-nation combine in Europe, probably called “The United States of Europe,” shockingly, suddenly intervene in the Mideast; if you see the head of the great universal church declare that he is going to MOVE THE VATICAN TO JERUSALEM that the “one true church” is going to go back to its BIRTHPLACE; if you see him declaring that Jerusalem should become a corpus separatum, or open, internationalized city, exempt from military action, and then GO THERE HIMSELF TO INSURE IT; if you see miracles performed; major churches, including some state churches returning to the fold of their mother; if you see this man making great and pompous statements, accepting the acclamation of MILLIONS as the man WHO SAVED THE WORLD FROM NUCLEAR DESTRUCTION; if you see him revered almost like Christ, acclaimed as if he were “God,” then BE WARNED!

For, when you see such things happening you should know that the Great Tribulation IS BEGINNING!

Should a famous statue that millions have kissed a blackened bronze statue of a figure with a strangely Byzantine or Grecian cast, one who is supposedly the “Peter” of Rome be moved inside the temple; should this man himself ensconce himself inside the temple, then you will have seen the ABOMINATION SET IN PLACE; and horrifying, unimaginable DESTRUCTION will immediately follow!

The consequences of all this to Americans, Britons, Australians, Canadians, South Africans, the democracies of Northwestern Europe, are unimaginable!

May God help those whose minds are opened to understand, as Christ said. May God help you to call upon Him for the changes you KNOW you need to make in your life, to repent of sins, to call upon Christ as Savior, and to become a part of His own body, the spiritual organism that is His true church!

Christ said “many are called, but few are chosen.” Has God called you? Is it an accident you have read these words of witness and warning? Or is God Himself working in your life for a purpose? Think about it. Then, pray about it, while there is still time.

You may copy and distribute this information only to friends and family without changes, without charge and with full credit given to the author and publisher. You may not publish it for general audiences.

This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man’s word for anything, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible.


The activities of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association are paid for by tithes, offerings and donations freely given by Christians and co-workers who are dedicated to preaching the gospel according to Jesus Christ.

The post Abomination of Desolation first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Something so powerful, so gigantic, that it is worshipped because of its vast military power; something that assays to fight the returning, conquering Christ at His coming is obviously a political, economic, and military power which exists at the very time of the end! But who? Where? The prophet Daniel saw it first, a monster which “devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it” (Daniel 7:7). Then John saw it, at the end of the first century; a seven-headed, ten-horned monster rising from the sea, blaspheming God, and making “war against the saints.” What is the Beast? Where did it first plant its feet? Where did it go? Follow, now, from the annals of history and from the pages of Bible prophecy, the tracks of the Beast, and come to understand its frightening prophetic significance for our time!

The beast John saw in vision seemed to rise out of an ocean. It had seven heads and ten horns. The horns featured ten crowns, while the heads were decorated with names which are blasphemous in God’s sight.

What is the meaning of this seven-headed, ten-horned creature?

John said, “And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear [strange feet indeed, for a leopard-like creature!], and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority” (Revelation 13:2).

John wrote what he saw, without comprehending all the meaning. As a reporter, or a biographer, he was faithfully recounting what he saw in a vision. A strange creature, indeed; terrible in aspect, threatening, powerful. The power and authority from this many-headed, many-horned composite creature came from a dragon.

What is meant by a “dragon”?

Dragons, purely mythological creatures, remind one of serpentine monsters with huge, bat-like wings; fierce heads with blazing, snake-like eyes; heavy, clawed feet like those of a crocodile; and rows of wickedly gleaming, sharply pointed teeth, breathing roaring tongues of fire from their mouths.

But we need not speculate about what is meant by the dragon which empowers the beast, for the Bible plainly tells us what it is: “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:7-9).

The dragon is a symbol for Satan.

Jesus Christ said, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven” (Luke 10:18). Satan is the “prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2), and is “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4) who influences heads of state and leaders of false, counterfeit religions. He is “the accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:10), who, “as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

The many-headed, ten-horned beast is empowered and guided by Satan! As such, it is antichrist, against God, against His holy laws, His Sabbath days, and viciously, hatefully against His people, called the saints. It is against those who are performing the work of God on this earth.

Why did it look like a leopard? Why were its feet like those of a bear, and its head like that of a lion?

For centuries, Bible scholars have known that the prophecies of Daniel and those of John in the Apocalypse are inseparable; that one interprets the other.

To trace the tracks of the Beast from the time it first stood upon the earth until the time of the end, when it is said to “make war with the saints” and to fight Christ at His return, we must know what God revealed to Daniel.

Daniel, a Prophet Beloved of God

Daniel, together with three royal princes of the throne of Judah, were taken captive when Jerusalem fell to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Who is not familiar with the story of “Daniel In the Lion’s Den,” which we were told as children? The book of Daniel contains lengthy pronouncements from Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, who not only fulfilled the prophecy of the first beast, but is symbolic of the whole system of pagan, gentile kingdoms under Satan, called “Babylon the Great” (Revelation 17:5), which is pictured as in collusion with a great false religious system, called the “mother of harlots and abominations of the earth.”

Daniel’s prophecy also contains a lengthy announcement from a heavenly messenger in chapters eleven and twelve; actual first-person quotations from an archangel of God.

The first chapter relates Daniel’s capture and his condition in captivity, and informs us God had given Daniel and the three princes “knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams” (Daniel 1:17).

The second chapter tells us of Nebuchadnezzar dream.

Daniel not only interpreted the dream, but God gave him the secret of what it was Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed: “Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee: and the form thereof was terrible [awesome; overpowering]. This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth” (Daniel 2:31-35).

To Nebuchadnezzar, the image towered into the sky! The brilliant reflections of gold, silver, and brass were dazzling. Like a comet falling, a stone then smashed into the feet of mixed iron and clay. As the image collapsed, the iron, brass, silver, and gold seemed to completely disintegrate, forming a vast pile of metallic dust. The wind blew, and the particles of metal were whisked away. Then, Nebuchadnezzar’s astonished mind seemed to see the stone which had smashed into the feet begin to grow larger until it seemed to literally fill the whole earth!

No wonder this Babylonian king was astonished. No wonder he was overcome with eager curiosity to learn what such a vision could mean!

Daniel said, “This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold” (Daniel 2:36-38).

Notice several important points:

(1) It was the Great Creator RULER God who had allowed Nebuchadnezzar to become a “king of kings,” having subjugated many other surrounding nations; taking their peoples captive, and forcing other governments to bow to his will. Daniel told this Babylonian king that it was God who decided the course of world events; who set up or deposed rulers.

(2) Nebuchadnezzar was the first real world dictator, for Daniel acknowledged that he ruled over the known, inhabited earth.

(3) Nebuchadnezzar was the “head of gold,” which meant that, as king, he stood for and represented the Babylonian kingdom. Notice the proof: “And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth” (Daniel 2:39).

King and kingdom were synonymous.

(4) Babylon epitomizes the Beast power down through history. The Babylonish “mystery” religion, handed down from Nimrod and his mother/wife, Semiramus, continues down through history, masquerading as “the one true church,” which controls the political and military power of the end-time Beast.

(5) The Apocalypse predicts that the final union of church and state that will fight Christ at His coming will be like an end-time Babylon. The “woman,” or false church which sits on the beast, is called “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”

(6) Ancient Babylon was destroyed. Today, its ruins are a tourist attraction near Baghdad, Iraq. Yet, the Apocalypse says that the great city which represents the end-time Beast power and false church is nevertheless called Babylon. “I saw another angel come down from heaven…and he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils [demons], and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird…And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her….Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come” (Revelation 18:1-10).

When John received these prophecies, ancient Babylon had lain in utter ruin for approximately six hundred and thirty-nine years! This prophecy could not refer to ancient ruins, but to an end-time modern city which is called the “seat of the Beast,” or the capital city of the Beast power, which is ridden, or controlled, by the “mother of harlots,” arrayed in scarlet.

Thus, though Babylon, under Nebuchadnezzar, was the first of the four great world-ruling empires, the name of Babylon is permanently stamped upon the whole system, until the time of the Second Coming of Christ.

After predicting another kingdom, inferior to Babylon (the Medo-Persian Empire of history), and yet a third kingdom of brass (the Graeco-Macedonian Empire under Alexander), Daniel described the fourth kingdom, which was Rome: “And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken [“weak”: margin]. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. And in the days of these kings [the final ten kings, as pictured by the toes, cf. Revelation 17:12-14] shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever” (Daniel 2:40-44).

Obviously, though uttered thousands of years ago, this prophecy shows that there will be an end-time combine of ten nations represented by the ten toes of the great image who will be smashed into oblivion by the returning, conquering Christ!

It is called “Babylon the great” in the Apocalypse, yet is the end-time resurrection of what became the “Holy Roman Empire,” which will consist of ten nations. The ten horns of Revelation 17:12 are the same as the ten toes of the great image.

Now, let’s come to understand Daniel’s important seventh chapter, with his depiction of these same world-ruling kingdoms as beasts; three of them known creatures, and the fourth a surrealistic, satanic-looking creature, like no living animal.

Four Great Beasts

These remarkable prophecies, including Daniel’s God-given interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar dream, were uttered and later written long prior to 538 B.C., the time of the collapse of the Babylonian Empire. As the decades and centuries passed, it became clear, as a result of the rise and fall of city-states, nations, and empires, what was meant by the kingdoms of silver, brass, and iron and clay.

First, God revealed to Daniel the meaning of the king’s dream. Later, God gave Daniel a dream, which he carefully wrote down, and which forms chapter 7. This was during Belshazzar’s reign, nearing the end of the Babylonian supremacy.

“In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast also had four heads, and dominion was given unto it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it: and it had ten horns” (Daniel 7:1-7).

As we shall see, the end-time Beast portrayed in Revelation 13:1,2 embodies all the strongest characteristics of these beasts, and represents the culmination of all the gentile world-ruling kingdoms; governments ruled by men with minds like those of wild animals.

The First Beast-Like a Lion

The first beast, like a lion with eagle’s wings, which was “made stand upon the feet as a man,” and which had “a man’s heart” given unto it, represented Nebuchadnezzar, at the head of the first world-ruling empire in all history, Babylon.

Details of the seven years of Nebuchadnezzar insanity are given in Daniel 4.

Nebuchadnezzar became completely insane. The Bible says, “And he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws” (Daniel 4:33).

For seven long years, this man who had been a powerful, war-making king, lived like a savage animal, his beard and hair no doubt matted with filth.

At the end of those seven years, his reason was returned to him by a miracle from God. “And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honored Him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest thou? At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and His ways judgment: and those that walk in pride He is able to abase” (Daniel 4:34-37).

Nebuchadnezzar’s insanity is a type of the infamous “times of the gentiles,” during which God would allow powerful pagan kingdoms to be ruled by men with minds like rapacious, wild, predatory beasts!

Dozens of infamous examples stand out in the history of gentile kingdoms: Atilla, Ghengis Khan, Alexander, the Caesars of Rome, Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin. There are dozens of other, lesser-known examples, like Antiochus Epiphanes, Laomedon, Ptolmey Soter, and Seleucus Nicator. Today, one thinks of despots like Saddam Hussein, Maomar Kadaffi, Pol Pot, Ho Chi Minh, and the late leader of North Korea, Kim Il Sung.

Such men implemented pogroms; committed mass murder and genocide; destroyed cities, villages, homes, and farms; deported helpless civilians. They raped and pillaged, burnt and destroyed, plundered and looted. As the Bible describes, they were more like “beasts” of the jungle than humane, civilized, caring human beings.

The first beast was Babylon, ruled by Nebuchadnezzar.

The Second Beast-Like a Bear

The Babylonian Empire was destroyed by Persian armies under Cyrus, probably in about October, 538 B.C. The second kingdom, represented by the chest and arms of silver in the great image, and by a bear (Daniel 7:5), ruled over the known world.

This was the kingdom of Medo-Persia, ruled by Cyrus “the Great.” Cyrus dated his years from 538 B.C., calling himself “king of Babylon and king of the countries,” meaning “king of the world.”

The remarkable prophecies of Isaiah 44 and 45 were written about 150 years before Cyrus was born, and yet mention him by name (Isaiah 45:1-6). In these two chapters, Cyrus was predicted to set the Jews free to rebuild the Temple, though the Temple had not yet been destroyed when Isaiah wrote the prophecies!

History positively confirms these astonishing prophecies, for it was Cyrus who allowed the captive Jews in Babylon, who had been taken there by Nebuchadnezzar, to return to Palestine.

Josephus, the famous and eminent Jewish historian, writes, “In the first year of the reign of Cyrus, which was the seventieth from the day that our people were removed out of their own land into Babylon, God commiserated the captivity and calamity of these poor people, according as he had foretold to them by Jeremiah the prophet, before the destruction of the city” (Antiquities of the Jews, 11.1.1).

Josephus then quotes a letter from Cyrus to Sisinnes and Sathrabizanes, in which we find preserved the statements of Cyrus himself: “I have given leave, to as many of the Jews as dwell in my country as please to return to their own country, and to rebuild their city, and to build the temple of God at Jerusalem, on the same place where it was before. I have also sent my treasurer Mithridates, and Zorobabel, the governor of the Jews, that they may lay the foundations of the temple, and may build it sixty cubits high, and of the same latitude, making three edifices of polished stones, and one of the wood of the country, and the same order extends to the altar, whereon they offer sacrifices to God” (Antiquities, 11.1.12,13).

Artaxerxes, who ruled over the Persian Empire after the death of Cyrus, issued two decrees using similar language during the days of Ezra and Nehemiah.

The decrees to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple help explain the famous “seventy weeks” prophecy of Daniel. As Halley says, “The date from which the 70 weeks [70 weeks of years, or 70 sevens of years, or 490 years] was to be counted was the decree to rebuild Jerusalem. There were three decrees issued by Persian kings for this purpose….The principal one of these was 457 B.C.

“The 70 weeks is subdivided into 7 weeks, 62 weeks, and 1 week (Daniel 9:25-27). It is difficult to see the application of the ‘7 weeks’; but the 69 weeks (including the 7) equal 483 days, that is, on the year-day theory (Ezekiel 4:6), which is the commonly accepted interpretation, 483 years” (Halley’s Bible Handbook, p. 349).

Halley then makes the mistake of forgetting to add one year in his calculations, for there is no year labeled “0,” and, unless one adds a year to account for both 1 B.C. and A.D. 1, the arithmetic is erroneous. Coming forward from 457 B.C., subtracting 457 from 483 years, one has 26 years, or 26 B.C. But this is incorrect by one year, for there are two years labeled “1” in the arithmetic. Adding the missing year brings us to A.D. 27, the true date for the beginning of the ministry of the Messiah, or the coming of the “Anointed One.”

Halley goes on to say, “Further, within 3 1/2 years Jesus was crucified, that is, ‘in the midst of the one week’ ‘the Anointed One’ was ‘cut off,’ ‘purged away sin and brought in everlasting righteousness’” (ibid.).

To understand the correct date is vitally important, for it was only in A.D. 31, exactly three and one-half years after the beginning of Christ’s ministry in the autumn of 27, that the Passover of Nisan 14 fell on a Wednesday evening, with the first day of Unleavened Bread, the “high day” Sabbath (John 19:31) falling on our Thursday.

The Messiah was to be “cut off in the midst of the week.” He was in two senses: First, He was crucified on a Wednesday, not a Friday, and was to be precisely three days AND three nights in the tomb (Matthew 12:40). He was resurrected on a late Sabbath afternoon, which is why “while it was yet dark, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week,” Jesus’ tomb was already empty (Matthew 28:1).

Second, Christ was cut off after a three and one-half year ministry, out of a prophesied seven-year ministry. The second half of His ministry is waiting to be fulfilled (Isaiah 66:19).

Halley continues: “Thus Daniel foretold not only the Time at which the Messiah would appear, but also the Duration of His Public Ministry, and his Atoning Death for Human Sin” (ibid.).

One of the great proofs that there is a God is fulfilled prophecy. Daniel, who lived during the reigns of perhaps five Babylonian kings, was inspired to foretell the collapse of Babylon; the rise and fall of the Medo-Persian Empire, depicted by the breast and arms of silver, and by the bear-like beast of Daniel 7; the rise of the Graeco-Macedonian kingdom of Alexander the Great, and its disintegration into four separate kingdoms; then the rise of the Roman Empire, with its many successive kingdoms, down through history until our modern time!

Halley says, of the four beasts of Daniel 7, “This is a continuation of the prophecy of chapter 2, which was uttered 60 years earlier: ‘two aspects of one grand scheme of history’: Four World Empires, and then the Kingdom of God. In chapter 2 these are represented by an Image with a Head of Gold, a Breast of Silver, Thighs of Brass, and Feet of Iron, broken in pieces by a Stone. In this chapter [7] these same World Empires are represented as a Lion, a Bear, a Leopard and a Terrible Beast.

“These Four World Empires are commonly taken to be Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome…, representing the period from Daniel to Christ. These Beasts seem to form the basis of the imagery of the Seven-Headed, Ten-Horned Beast of Revelation 13” (ibid., p. 346).

The Third Beast-Like a Leopard

The third, leopard-like beast, which had “four wings of a fowl” on its back, represented Alexander’s Graeco-Macedonian Empire.

A tremendous amount of literature exists about the time of Alexander, who was a student of Aristotle. He was the son of Philip II of Macedon, and his mother, named Olympus, was reportedly a “woman of half-wild blood, weird, visionary and terrible.” A careful study of this infamous man’s life helps one understand, in part, what strange influences drove him to do what he did.

Alexander conquered the known world, leading his Greek, Macedonian, Spartan, and other troops into the faraway lands of modern-day Iraq and Iran, into India, through Palestine, and into Egypt (where the city now known as “Alexandria” was established by him). He was an absolutely fearless general, once leaping over the walls of an hostile village filled with barbarous forces with only three of his men, and suffering nearly fatal wounds as a result.

Alexander besieged Tyre for seven long months. When the city fell, after Alexander had built a causeway to breach its sea-bound walls, he utterly destroyed it, and “had the old Tyrian people scattered to the winds, 30,000 sold as slaves” (Encyclopedia Britannica, eleventh edition, vol. 1, p. 547).

Early in the siege of Tyre, Sanballat, Manasseh’s father-in-law, gathered seven thousand of his subjects in Samaria, who had earlier professed loyalty to Darius, and approached Alexander. He argued that it would be to Alexander’s advantage to have the strength of the Jews divided into two parts, and urged him to build a temple on Mount Gerizzim, the highest point in Samaria, near Schechem.

Alexander granted this request. After the fall of Tyre, Alexander marched on Gaza. Shortly, he turned toward Jerusalem.

The high priest in Jerusalem, Jaddua, was terrified. He ordered the people to make supplications and offer sacrifice to God so God would spare them and the city. After he had offered sacrifice, he had a vivid dream, in which he saw himself and the priests opening the city, decorating it, and advancing to meet the Macedonian general in their priestly robes.

They halted on a high prospect, where Alexander saw them. Josephus writes, “For Alexander, when he saw the multitude at a distance in white garments, while the priest stood clothed with fine linen, and the high priest in purple and scarlet clothing, with his mitre on his head, having the golden plate whereon the name of God was engraved, he approached by himself, and adored that name, and first saluted the high priest” (Antiquities of the Jews, 11.8.5).

Alexander’s army was displeased. Among them were Phoenicians and Chaldeans, as well as other races. Alexander’s highest officer and personal aide, Parmenio, approached him and asked, “How is it, that when all adore you, you adore the high priest of the Jews?”

Alexander replied, “I did not adore him, but that God who hath honored him with his high priesthood; for I saw this very person in a dream, in this very habit, when I was at Dios, in Macedonia, who, when I was considering with myself how I might obtain the dominion of Asia, exhorted me to make no delay, but boldly to pass over the sea thither, for that he would conduct my army, and would give me the dominion over the Persians; whence it is that, having seen no other in that habit, and now seeing this person in it, and remembering that vision, and the exhortation which I had in my dream, I believe that I bring this army under the divine conduct, and shall therewith conquer Darius, and destroy the power of the Persians, and that all things will succeed according to what is in my own mind” (ibid.).

Alexander triumphantly entered Jerusalem, accompanied by the high priest and his entire entourage. He offered sacrifice in the Temple.

This remarkable occurrence, wherein two separate dreams caused the city of Jerusalem to be spared, can only be understood as the divine intervention of God. Alexander treated the priests with “magnificence,” and, when the high priest had showed him how to sacrifice, he also showed him the book of Daniel, “wherein Daniel declared one of the Greeks should destroy the empire of the Persians, he supposed that himself was the person intended” (ibid.).

The prophecy of Daniel shown to Alexander was Daniel 8, in which Daniel saw “an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power. And I saw him come close to the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand” (Daniel 8:5-7).

Later, an archangel told Daniel the meaning of his dream: “Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright. And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be. The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king” (Daniel 8:18-21).

Thus, Alexander read a prophecy about himself that had been written two hundred years earlier. He was no doubt greatly encouraged by his dream and his encounter with the high priest, and having been shown the book of Daniel, he marched unopposed to meet Darius near Nineveh.

“Alexander came within sight of the Persian host without having met any opposition since he quitted Tyre. He had now to settle the most serious problem which had yet faced him, for in the plains the Persian army was formidable by sheer bulk” (Encyclopedia Britannica, eleventh edition, vol 1, p. 547).

But Alexander’s tactics proved too much for the ponderous Persian phalanx, wherein massed troops formed a human wedge, with shields, spears, and swords. Alexander’s horsemen and footmen launched attack after attack against the flanks and rear of the Persians, throwing them into confusion.

This was the famous battle named after Arbela, even though it was some sixty miles distant from the actual battlefield. Darius fled eastward into Media, and Alexander then marched on into Babylon, Susa, and Iran, discovering the treasure houses of the Persian Empire, and looting them.

In his overthrow of the Persian Empire, Alexander was aided by the chance (?) lunar eclipse of September 20, 331 B.C. “In the spring of 331 Alexander could at last leave the Mediterranean to strike into the heart of the Persian empire, for by his occupation of the coasts the Persian command of the sea had inevitably collapsed. Returning through Syria, and stopping at Tyre [from Gaza and Egypt] to make final arrangements for the conquered provinces, he traversed Mesopotamia and struck the Tigris some four marches above the site of Nineveh. It was near Nineveh that Darius [the Mede] was waiting with the immense host which a supreme effort could muster from all parts of the empire. The happy coincidence of a lunar eclipse gives us the 20th of September 331 as the exact day upon which the Macedonian army crossed the Tigris. Alexander came within sight of the Persian host without having met with any opposition since he quitted Tyre” (ibid., p. 547).

Like all despots, Alexander had many officers and governors throughout his kingdom who continually plotted against him. Little did he know that his kingdom would be divided up into four kingdoms even before his body was buried.

As Daniel foretold, “After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl: the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given unto it” (Daniel 7:6). True to this prophecy, Alexander’s kingdom was divided up into four kingdoms shortly after his death.

Always a man with vast and endless vision, Alexander wanted to discover whether there was a connection between the Caspian Sea and the Northern Ocean, and also determine whether there was a maritime route from Babylon (near modern Baghdad, Iraq) to Egypt, around Arabia.

He decided to build a vast fleet for his army to do just that. A great basin was dug at the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, near Babylon, which could contain 1,000 ships.

Finally, after many reorganizations and innovations which would improve his army, all was ready. Alexander intended embarking on the 20th of the month Daesius, with his vast fleet.

But on the 15th and 16th, he “caroused deep into the night at the house of the favourite Medius. On the 17th he developed fever; for a time he treated it as a momentary impediment to the expedition: but on the 27th his speech was gone, and the Macedonian army were suffered to pass man by man through his chamber to bid him farewell. On the 28th (? June 13) Alexander died” (Encyclopedia Britannica, eleventh edition, vol. 1, p. 549).

Alexander’s kingdom disintegrated immediately.

Josephus writes, “Now when Alexander, king of Macedon, had put an end to the dominion of the Persians, and had settled the affairs of Judea after the aforementioned manner, he ended his life; and as his government fell among many, Antigonus obtained Asia; Seleucus [Nicator] Babylon; and of the other nations which were there, Lysimachus governed the Hellespont, and Cassander possessed Macedonia; as did Ptolemy, the son of Lagus, seize upon Egypt” (Antiquities of the Jews, 12.1.1,2).

Then followed a period of protracted warfare between the Seleucid dynasty of Syria, and the Ptolemys of Egypt, a lesser dynasty of Pharaohs.

The Seleucid dynasty began with Seleucus Nicator, a Macedonian, who was one of Philip’s generals. When he was about twenty three, he accompanied Alexander into Asia (333 B.C.).

Daniel 11 is amazingly detailed, dealing with a protracted period of time, from the first year of Darius the Mede to the “time of the end” when the final “king of the north” will invade Palestine. Chapter 12 begins with the time of the Great Tribulation prophesied by Jesus Christ, and concludes with a prophecy of the setting up of the Abomination of Desolation.

Looking back at world history from our modern perspective, we need not indulge in idle speculation or fantastic prophetic scenarios. Instead, we can look at what actually happened from the time of ancient Babylon until the present.

World history proves that which practically all Bible scholars and commentaries agree upon; that Nebuchadnezzar’s visionary image represented the four successive world-dominating empires from Babylon to Rome. These facts are not open to argument or fanciful, imaginary interpretation.

Dozens of historical sources corroborate Daniel’s prophecies. The identity of the four successive world-ruling empires is utterly without question; substantiated by the great events of history. Never forget, then, that the fourth and final beast, which answers exactly to the feet and ten toes of the image, represents ROME, not some backward, impoverished, insignificant Middle Eastern country populated by Arabs. It was to continue down through history until an end-time “resurrection” of the Roman Empire occurred.

The Fourth Beast and the Time Setting of Daniel 7

Now, notice how Daniel’s prophecies of the fourth beast, which is identified as Rome, repeatedly culminate in the setting up of Christ’s kingdom, just as chapter 2 shows how the ten toes of the whole Babylonish system are smashed by the “stone cut out without hands,” which is the returning, conquering Christ:

After describing the dreadful fourth beast with iron teeth, Daniel wrote, “I considered the horns [ten horns], and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man [it depicts a human leader], and a mouth speaking great things. I beheld till the thrones were cast down [some scholars believe this should read “were placed,” referring to Christ’s kingdom (Revelation 20:4)], and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool: His throne was like the fiery flame, and His wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him: thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened” (Daniel 7:8-10).

Horns are symbols of human leaders of governments. Notice that Daniel describes the Ancient of Days almost exactly as does John, who saw the glorified Christ in vision: “And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire; And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters” (Revelation 1:13-15).

Some commentaries think the Ancient of Days described in Daniel 7:8-10 is the Father, rather than Christ, because they see only the Father as conducting the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11). Whether it refers to Christ or the Father, it is obvious it refers to the time of the setting up of the Kingdom of God on earth, after the “little horn” succeeds in overthrowing the first of the ten succeeding kingdoms. Daniel continued, “I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame” (Daniel 7:11).

When is the Beast slain?

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness doth He judge and make war….And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS….And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and against His army. And the beast was taken [seized; arrested], and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone” (Revelation 19:11-20).

This passage, near the end of the Bible, graphically depicts the Second Coming of Christ. One of the very first things He will do is hurl the Beast and the False Prophet¯two evil, demoniacal, cruel human leaders¯into a lake of fire.

The False Prophet is the infamous Antichrist, the head of a great, false religious system, called Mystery, Babylon the Great (Revelation 17:5).

Now, notice how Daniel saw, again and again, how the dreadful fourth beast, which is Rome, and the little horn, which is the papacy, continue until the time of the Second Coming of Christ, and the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth: “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man [Christ] came with the clouds of heaven [cf. Matthew 24:30; 1 Thessalonians 4:17], and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought Him near before Him. And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13,14).

For the second time in only five verses, Daniel 7, which depicts the four successive world-ruling empires, culminates in the Second Coming of Christ, and the setting up of Christ’s millennial reign on this earth.

Notice the next example: “These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever” (Daniel 7:17,18).

Daniel then wrote, “Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass: which devoured, and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet: And the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes [the little horn,], and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them: Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom” (Daniel 7:19-22).

So the fourth beast is a continuing system, along with the little horn with eyes like a man, who speaks great things, and who persecutes God’s true church¯the saints! It continues, along with the little horn, until the setting up of God’s kingdom on earth (Isaiah 2; Micah 4; Isaiah 11; Revelation 20:4).

Now, we have seen three examples in this ancient prophecy, written before the rise of the Persian Empire, of how the prophecy continues until the time of the Second Coming of Christ.

Notice another: “Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him” (Daniel 7:23-27).

Again, here is absolute proof that the little horn which plucks up by the roots three of the first ten horns, continues until the time of the Second Coming of Christ and establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth.

These scriptures also demonstrate that the ten horns of Daniel 7 are ten successive governments¯ten revivals of the Beast system down through history. How remarkable that Daniel’s prophecies, written five hundred and thirty-eight years before the time of Christ, should be so specifically detailed, so accurate! Christ Himself referred to Daniel’s prophecies when He said, “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place…Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains….For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:15-21).

Who, or What, Is the “Little Horn”?

Now, what is the identity of the little horn which had eyes like a man, a mouth speaking great things, names of blasphemy, and which will think to change times and laws; a little horn that terribly persecutes God’s saints, makes war against them¯engaging in every kind of brutality and mass murder?

Referring to this little horn or the “other horn” of Daniel 7, Halley says, “The ‘Other Horn’ (8, 20, 24, 25), which should arise among the Ten Horns, is a combination of the Leopard Beast and Lamb Beast of Revelation 13. The ‘three kings’ which he displaced (8, 24), are thought to refer to Lombards, Ravenna and Rome, which were handed over to the Popes as the beginning of their Temporal Kingdom, (A.D. 754)…The ‘other horn’ (8, 20, 24, 25) possibly refers to Antichrist” (Halley’s Bible Handbook, pp 346-7, emphasis added).

There is much disagreement about which three governments were “plucked up by the roots” by the little horn, which is identified as the papacy. Some believe they were the Vandals, Ostragoths, and the Heruli. The important point is that this little horn, which is seen to have a “look stouter than its fellows,” and which specifically is identified as persecuting and making war against the saints of God, functions as a state. It is a government, with the power to overthrow other governments.

Writing of the little horn of Daniel 7, the Critical and Experimental Commentary by Jamieson, Faucett, and Brown, says, “And the ten horns¯answering to the ten ‘toes’ (ch. ii. 41). out of this kingdom¯it is out of the fourth kingdom that the ten others arise, whatever exterior territory any of them possess (Rev. xiii.1; xvii.12). and another shall arise after them…Antichrist rises after their rise, at first ‘little’ (v. 8): but after destroying three of the ten he becomes greater than them all (vv. 20,21). The three being gone, he is the eighth (cf. Rev. xvii.11); a distinct head, and yet ‘of the seven.’ As the previous world-kingdoms had their representative heads¯Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar; Persia, Cyrus; Greece, Alexander¯so the fourth kingdom and its Antichrists shall have their evil concentrated in the one final Antichrist” (vol. 4, p. 422).

Notice carefully that the time period of “time, times, and half a time” are mentioned in both Daniel 7:25, and Daniel 12:5-7. That a literal three and one-half years is meant is inescapable in the book of Revelation, since its setting is during the time of the end. Some have thought the persecutions of the saints would take place during 1,260 years, on the “day-year” theory (Ezekiel 4:6).

But there is no doubt whatever that a literal three and one-half years is the period of ascendancy for the latter day Beast and the “image of the Beast.”

John wrote, “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy” (Revelation 13:1). It was only after the little horn had overthrown the first three of the ten, leaving seven, that the title “holy” was attached to the whole governmental system.

“And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard [its overall bodily characteristics were lithe, sinewy, powerful, like a leopard¯reference to Alexander’s kingdom], and his feet were as the feet of a bear [referring to the strongest characteristics of a bear; the powerful paws, which can roll over huge rocks, smash logs, or disembowel a large range animal; reference to Cyrus’ Medo-Persian empire], and his mouth as the mouth of a lion [reference to the huge head of a male lion; its powerful jaws¯depicting Nebuchadnezzar Babylonian kingdom]: and the dragon [Satan] gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

“And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death [this was the collapse of the Roman Empire in A.D. 476]; and his deadly wound was healed [the restoration of the Roman Empire in A.D. 554]: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies: and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months [1,260 days, or three and one-half years]. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations” (Revelation 13:1-7).

This is nothing short of state worship; a gigantic socio-economic, military, and industrial power which evokes awe and worship among its citizens; which rises to such power and prestige that it is a true world power.

Thus is the description of John, which he saw in vision of the final, end-time Beast, which embodies all the strongest characteristics of the first three beasts: Babylon, Persia, and Graeco-Macedonia.

But who is the “spokesman” for this system? Who is it who blasphemes God, and persecutes God’s people?

“And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon” (Revelation 13:11). Here is a government, which appears, outwardly, “Christ-like,” for it has lamb-like characteristics. Yet, it speaks as directly motivated by Satan. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him…” (verse 12). So this lamb-like beast, which is counterfeit Christianity, utilizes the economic, industrial, and military power of the civil government; the first beast of Revelation 13, which is the end-time Beast which will fight Christ at His coming (Revelation 19:19,20).

“And causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed [this is state worship]. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast: saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image [a replica; a copy; an exact counterpart] to the beast, which had the wound by the sword, and did live” (Revelation 13:11-14).

This is obviously an ecclesiastical government, under a human leader. It corresponds to the “mystery of iniquity” foreseen by the apostle Paul in his warning to the church in Thessalonica. He wrote, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [restrains] will let [restrain], until he be taken out of the way [or: “until it arise in the midst,” or “become to be”]. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:7-9).

So the image of the Beast is obviously an ecclesiastical government patterned after the Roman civil government, headed by a human leader who will eventually have satanic powers to produce awe-inspiring miracles, signs, and wonders¯thus deceiving countless millions.

This will be a combination of church and state, the two cooperating fully. “And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed” (Revelation 13:15).

The ancient Roman government was organized into political spheres called the great diocese and the diocese. There was the “collegia.” Which great universal church has the same governmental pattern today?

The little horn of Daniel 7 represents the papacy, as does the lamb-like beast of Revelation 13. The “man of sin” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-9) and the False Prophet of Revelation 19:20 are one and the same, commonly called the Antichrist.

Writing of the papacy, Halley says, “The Papacy is an Italian Institution. It arose on the ruins of the Roman Empire, in the name of Christ occupying the throne of the Caesars; a Revival of the Image of the Roman Empire inheriting the Spirit thereof; ‘the Ghost of the Roman Empire come to life in the garb of Christianity.’ The Popes have mostly been Italians.

“The Papacy’s Methods: It brought itself to power through the prestige of Rome, and the Name of Christ, and by shrewd political alliances, and by deception, and by armed force; and by Armed Force and Bloodshed has maintained itself in power.

“Papal Revenues: Through a large part of its history the Papacy, by the sale of ecclesiastical office, and its shameless traffic in Indulgences, has received vast revenues that enabled it to maintain, for much of the time the most luxurious Court in Europe” (Halley’s Bible Handbook, p. 783).

The lengthy article by Halley (pp. 757-804) is well worth reading, for it represents a brief synopsis of the gradual development of the Roman Catholic Church, lists all popes since the bishop of Rome began to assert his sole power over the church in about A.D. 500, and explores the Protestant Reformation.

The Roman Empire

The fourth beast with great iron teeth represents the Roman Empire from its founding until the time of the end when a final, ten-nation resurrection of the same system will fight Christ at His return.

Rome was founded, according to historical legend, by Romulus. Romulus’ name, when adding up the Roman numerical value of the letters, adds up to 666, as does “Lateinos,” which became the common language of the Roman Empire, and the language of the great universal church which has its seat in Rome.

Romulus was represented as the “son of Mars” by the Vestal Rhea Silvia, or Ilia, daughter of Numitor.
Romulus was the twin of Remus, born to Silvia. The legend has it they were placed in a trough and cast into the Tiber River by their grandfather. The trough then ground in the marshes under a wild fig tree, and the two children were, according to the myth, “suckled by a she-wolf” and “fed by a woodpecker.”

There is a massive amount of literature available about the Roman Empire, from the founding of the city of Rome through history until the present. Study the accompanying chart, and notice the names of the leaders of the Holy Roman Empire down through time.

Now, with the many prophecies of Daniel and Revelation 13 in mind, let’s understand the true meaning of the end-time Beast of the Apocalypse.

The Ten-Horned Beast of the Apocalypse

John saw a woman sitting astride a monstrous beast. Notice how he described what he saw: “And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials [of God’s wrath; see Revelation 16:1], and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (Revelation 17:1-5).

The woman symbolizes a great false church; a church which rules over kings and governments; a church which has political intercourse with the civil governments of this world. She has daughters, which came from her, and are also called “harlots.”

As we saw in Daniel 7, the little horn was depicted as continually making war with the saints. Notice that her colors are purple and scarlet¯the colors, traditionally, of harlotry¯and that she is decked with splendor; gold, precious stones and pearls.

John wrote, “And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration [awe]” (Revelation 17:6).

Many, many books, such as Fox’s Book of Martyrs, and Hislop’s The Two Babylons, detail the sickening facts of centuries of murders and vast persecutions which have occurred.

Halley says, of Innocent III (1198-1216), “Most Powerful of all the Popes. Claimed to be ‘Vicar of Christ,’ ‘Vicar of God,’ ‘Supreme Sovereign over the Church and the World.’ Claimed the right to Depose Kings and Princes; and that ‘All things on earth and in heaven and in hell are subject to the Vicar of Christ.’

“He brought the church into Supreme Control of the State. The Kings of Germany, France, England, and practically all the Monarchs of Europe obeyed his will. He even brought the Byzantine Empire under his control. Never in history has any one man exerted more power.

“He ordered Two Crusades. Decreed Transubstantiation. Confirmed Auricular Confession. Declared that Peter’s successor ‘can never in any way depart from the Catholic faith.’ Papal Infallibility. Condemned the Magna Charta. Forbade the Reading of the Bible in vernacular. Ordered the Extermination of Heretics. Instituted the Inquisition. Ordered the Massacre of the Albigenses. More Blood was Shed under his direction, and that of his immediate successors, than in any other period of Church History, except in the Papacy’s effort to Crush the Reformation in the 16th and 17th centuries. One would think Nero, the Beast, had come to life in the Name of the Lamb” (Halley’s Bible Handbook, p. 776).

Writing of the infamous Inquisition, Halley states, “The Inquisition was the main agency in the Papacy’s effort to Crush the Reformation. It is stated that in the 30 years between 1540 and 1570 no fewer than 900,000 Protestants were put to death in the Pope’s war for the extermination of the Waldenses….

“Think of Monks and Priests, in holy garments, directing, with Heartless Cruelty and Inhuman Brutality, the work of Torturing and Burning alive Innocent Men and Women, and doing it in the Name of Christ, by the direct order of the ‘Vicar of Christ’” (ibid., p. 777).

Chillingly, as we shall soon see, God’s Word prophesied an end-time martyrdom of saints; a time in the future when the Abomination of Desolation will be seated in the “holy place” in Jerusalem; Jerusalem will be surrounded with armies, and the Great Tribulation will have begun. For a lengthy, in-depth understanding of the coming events, read our booklet “MIDEAST STRIFE—Will It Lead To ARMAGEDDON?“. It details many events occurring now on the world scene, including vitally important information about Jerusalem and the Middle East; about the potential for the construction of another temple there, and whether or not another major war is coming in the Middle East.

Many prophecies describe martyrdoms which are coming in the time of the end. Yet, millions of people believe there will be a rapture of the saints which will occur before the Great Tribulation, so there will be no martyrdoms! Which is right: Daniel 7, Revelation 13, and the prophecies of Christ Himself, or those who believe in a “rapture”?

John continued describing his vision, “And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not: and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit [an “abyss”], and go into perdition [it will be the last “beast”; going into final destruction, or perdition]: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is” (Revelation 17:7,8).

What a remarkable prophecy! Right now, today, in our time, this prophecy is being fulfilled! Today, the successive “beasts” of history are simply gone! The beast “was,” in the past. It emerged time and time again, from the time of Nebuchadnezzar to Cyrus, to Alexander, to ancient Rome, to Constantine, to Otto the Great, to Bismark, and to Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, and the Holy Roman Empire Mussolini declared during World War II.

But with the defeat of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy in World War II, the Beast power descended into a figurative abyss. Today, there is no great visible coalition of ten powerful governments, situated where the Roman Empire and the Holy Roman Empire was always situated, in the heartland of Europe. Never before in history has there been a time when the prophecy of Revelation 17 was exactly current.

Why?

Daniel heard and saw incredible visions of the great beasts of prophecy. Yet, he did not understand. He wanted to know the meaning of all he saw and heard. He said, “And I heard, but I understood not: then said, I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And He said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end” (Daniel 12:8).

For centuries, men have tried to understand the mysterious symbols of Daniel and the Apocalypse. But the meaning eluded them. God had closed the prophecies; sealed them by “concluding them all in unbelief,” until the time of the end.

Notice further: “Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried: but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand” (Daniel 12:10).

Now is the time for the wise to understand the visions of Daniel and the Apocalypse; for God’s people to watch world events, and to be forewarned (Luke 21:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).

When John was transported forward in time into our day, now, in vision, he wrote, “The Revelation [not the concealing, or the “mystery”] of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him to shew unto His servants those things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John” (Revelation 1:1).

It is astonishing, but true! We are living in the day, right now, when the great BEAST of the Apocalypse “was, and is not, and yet is” (Revelation 17:8). This prophecy could not have been understood in its current relevant sense even during World War II. It would not have been currently relevant at any time in history until our day, now!

Today, the final great Beast of the Apocalypse has not yet emerged. It is ready to form¯to come out of the bottomless pit, which is metaphor¯but it is not yet visible.

Europe has made many major steps toward uniting, as we have continually warned for decades! The pope has called for a “United Europe from the Urals to the Atlantic,” but no such complete political unity has yet been achieved.

Following the defeat of Nazi Germany and Italy, because of the threat of world communism and Red Russia, the United States adopted the Marshal Plan, to rebuild Germany.

For many decades, we warned of where this would eventually lead. We spoke of the reunification of Germany, and the creation of a “United States of Europe,” back in the 1950s, throughout the decades of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Germany would rise from the ashes of defeat, and once again become the dominant power in Europe, we said. That has happened!

Never in history has there been anything like the incredible collapse of the former Soviet Union, and the toppling of communist governments in East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Rumania, and Bulgaria in rapid-fire succession, within only months!

It was a staggering series of events.

When I knew the Berlin Wall was coming down, I rushed to Germany to do special television programs. I began writing, from Berlin, a special edition for our magazine, which was published in January, 1990, entitled “New Order Coming In Germany.”

In that article, I reprinted over fifty quotations from our magazines and radio and television programs over the preceding years, demonstrating how consistently we had predicted the reunification of Germany and the rise, eventually, of a modern-day “Holy Roman Empire,” perhaps called “The United States of Europe.”

As the Western Allies began rebuilding Germany as a bulwark against world communism, the terrible years of the Cold War began. For many years I said, dozens of times, “the last chapter of European history has not been written.” Early on, Europeans began moving toward greater economic cooperation. First came the European Coal and Steel community; then Euromart, then the European Economic Union, which exists today. There is a European Parliament, and the ECU, a Common European Currency. But there are more than ten nations presently allied with the European Community, including Britain.

The final ten-nation Beast will not necessarily include some of the nations of the European Community of today. Likely, it will include mostly the Catholic countries of Europe, and not Britain, which is Anglican, or the Church of England.

As never before, in these increasingly troublous times in which you live, you need to be informed about the coming Great Tribulation; about where in the Bible our peoples in the English-speaking world are identified in prophecy; about what major events we should be alerted to which will mean the Tribulation is almost upon us.

The Beast power could arise and be visible in a matter of only weeks, or months, or a few years! There will be major stimuli which will bring it about; wars, especially another big war in the Middle East, which would threaten European oil supplies; a collapse of the global economic system, which would give rise to violent overthrow of present governments, and the rise of despotism¯dictatorships!

Today, Europe gets 46 percent of its precious oil supplies from the Persian Gulf. Japan gets 70 percent. The United States, while about 50 percent dependent on imported oil, receives 17 percent from the Gulf. A major war in that region would spell catastrophe for the big industrial powers. They would all become involved! They would have no other choice¯just as the Bush government, which put together a coalition of forces to drive Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait.

That war was about oil, as everyone knows. Another war in that region would be about the same thing. Be sure to read our major booklet entitled “MIDEAST STRIFE—Will It Lead To ARMAGEDDON?”  You simply must read this important booklet in order to understand!

Now, notice again John’s prophecies about the final, end-time Beast of the Apocalypse: “And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and of the seven, and goeth into perdition” (Revelation 17:9-11).

The little horn uprooted the first three of the ten horns, or ten governments, revealed in Daniel 7. That left seven. The one that is “yet to come” is the eighth system, yet is “of the seven,” or like them in every respect. The eighth consists of a final ten government system which will coalesce into the Beast power.

“And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast” (Revelation 17:12).

Writing of the seven heads and ten horns, Halley’s Bible Handbook has an interesting comment: “The Dragon had them (12:3). The Leopard-Lamb-Beast had them (13:1). And here the Harlot-Beast, Babylon, has them. They are understood to symbolize World-Government.

“‘Babylon’ is stated to be the great city reigning over the kings of the earth (17:18), which, at the time, was Rome. Rome is further identified in the expression, ‘The Seven Heads are Seven Mountains on which the Woman sits’ (17:9): for Rome, literally, was built on Seven Mountains, and was known as the ‘Seven-Hilled City’….

“‘An eighth is of the seven,’ (17:11). This looks like a Revival of the Beast, after the Seven Heads and Ten Horns have passed, perhaps pointing to the Final Form Antichrist will assume” (p. 731).

The Critical And Experimental Commentary says: “That a personal antichrist will head the anti-christian kingdom, is likely, from the analogy of Antiochus Epiphanes, the Old Testament antichrist, the ‘little horn’ (Dan. viii. 9-12); ‘the son of perdition’ (2 Thess. ii. 3-8), answers to ‘goeth into perdition,’ and is applied to an individual, Judas, in the only other passage where it occurs (John xvii. 12). He is a child of destruction, and has but a little time ascended out of the bottomless pit, when he ‘goes into perdition’ (vv. 8,11)….The eighth [beast] is not merely one of the seven….At the same time, there are not eight, but only seven heads, for the eighth is the embodiment of all the God-opposed features of the seven….He does not fall like the other seven (v. 10), but is destroyed, going to his own perdition, by the Lord in person” (Jameison, Faucet, and Brown, vol. VI, p. 712).

Remember, the woman, which is the great false church, over which Antichrist rules, rides upon, or controls the beast. It is a church-state union which is described by John; the False Prophet using the power of ten kings; meaning their economic and military power, for his own purposes.

Notice that the final ten-nation combine exists for a very short time, called “one hour,” and is the last beast, for it “goes into perdition.” It is the Beast power which will fight Christ at His return (Revelation 19:19,20).

John continued, “These have one mind [one overall strategy; one purpose, or plan they are in complete agreement], and shall give their power and strength unto the beast” (Revelation 17:13).

The power and strength of a king is the total power of his people, his economy, his industrial infrastructure, his raw materials, and his military. It is absolute, despotic power, not limited by the “checks and balances” of a democratic system of government.

“These [the final ten kings, or human leaders over governments] shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him [may God grant that this includes you and me!] are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14).

As we have read in Daniel’s seventh chapter, the final great Beast power exists at the time of the Second Coming of Christ. It is this system, together with the False Prophet, which will perpetrate the Great Tribulation upon the United States, and the British Commonwealth of nations.

Now, think. If you knew absolutely nothing about the book of Daniel; if you knew nothing about the identity of the “Lost Ten Tribes”; if you knew nothing about any other scriptures in the entire Bible except three verses in Revelation 17, you would still know a great deal about major world events!

How so? Read Revelation 17:12-14 again, slowly. Ponder each and every word of this prophecy. Here is what you would come to understand, if you had no other information whatsoever:

(1) There are ten governments which are to receive absolute despotic power “as kings” for a short time with the Beast.

(2) They are in complete agreement, and give their power and strength to the Beast.

(3) They are the last beast of Bible prophecy and world history, for they will fight Christ at His coming, and will be utterly destroyed!

That these are the ten toes of Daniel 2 is simply indisputable.

Now, where on this earth would you look to find the successors to the historical Beast power of prophecy; the Beast power that held sway from the time of Christ, through the Middle Ages, down until the time of World War II?

Remember, you cannot find the answer anywhere in the oriental world. Why? Because the Beast is controlled by the great harlot woman, which is a false Christ! It is a counterfeit Christian system, not a Buddhist, or an Islamic, or an animistic system!

There are those who speculate wildly, imagining that an Arab leader is the Beast, or that perhaps even the United States government is the Beast. This is absolute nonsense, and will not stand the test of the truth of prophecy and history.

Always, from the time of the emergence of the fourth beast, which was Rome, the Beast power has been in Europe! In most of history it was a Germanic kingdom, as is clearly shown in the chart, and proven by history.

The Holy Roman Empire was never Islamic, or Buddhist!

It was always nominal “Christian,” under the popes of Rome.

Notice what the eminent Critical And Experimental Commentary says about the Beast of Revelation 17: “It seems that these ten kings of kingdoms are to be contemporaries with the beast in its last or eighth form, viz., antichrist. cf. Daniel ii. 34, 44, ‘the stone smote the image upon his feet’¯i.e., upon the ten toes, which are, in vv. 41-44, interpreted, ‘kings.’ The ten kingdoms are not, therefore, ten which arose in the overthrow of Rome (heathen), but are to rise out of the last state of the fourth kingdom under the eighth head. Three of the former ten, the fourth kingdom’s little horn, the papacy, starting subsequently, absorbed Daniel vii.8. But the last ten of the fourth kingdom, the ‘ten toes,’ shall tread down the earth as ten simultaneous kingdoms, subordinate to the beast” (vol. VI, p. 712).

It is the system of Anti-Christ, not Anti-Mohammed, or Anti-Buddha.

Remember, the great fallen woman dressed in scarlet is a false, counterfeit “Christian” system, it is not Islamic!

The Great Tribulation¯the Time of “Jacob’s Trouble”

The two most specific events which will indicate to God’s people that the Great Tribulation is about to begin were prophesied by Jesus Christ in His famous Olivet Prophecy.

He warned, “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains….For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened [by God’s intervention], there should no flesh be saved [alive]; but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:15-22). Again, please read our in depth booklet, “MIDEAST STRIFE—Will It Lead To ARMAGEDDON?“.  It covers all the amazing signs Christ said would occur which would usher in the tribulation; droughts, famines, disease epidemics, earthquakes; you will learn how the nations have stockpiled deadly biological and chemical weapons; about nuclear proliferation; about the potential for another war in the Mideast, and European and American involvement.

The Abomination of Desolation has occurred several times in the past, as a type, or forerunner of the final fulfillment. Antiochus Ephipanes desecrated the Temple, dedicated it to Jupiter Olympus, and caused swine to be sacrificed in the holy place. Titus desecrated it when Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 70.

The second very specific sign for which Jesus said we are to watch is armies surrounding Jerusalem. “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh” (Luke 21:20).

The final, end-time fulfillment of these prophecies will be brought about by the Beast power moving into Palestine, overflowing into many other countries in the region, including Egypt (Daniel 11:40-45).

For many years, we have shown how the pope has called for Jerusalem to become a “corpus separatum,” or “internationalized city,” open to people of all faiths, in order to remove it as a political capital for any nation.

The new Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, has said over and over again that Jerusalem will never again be a divided city; that it will remain, in perpetuity, as the capital of the Jewish state. Yet, Yassir Arafat and the PLO, backed by many other virulently anti-Israeli nations, including Syria, Iraq, and Iran, absolutely insist that Jerusalem must become the political capital of the Palestinian state.

As discussed thoroughly in our booklet, “MIDEAST STRIFE—Will It Lead To ARMAGEDDON?”  the policies of the new Israeli government could well spell an end to the tentative “peace process” in the Mideast. Be sure to read that lengthy and very informative booklet for the complete picture.

The next war in the Mideast could bring about massive intervention from Europe. That intervention could come in the form of the movement of vast military forces into Israel, surrounding Jerusalem! If masquerading as the “Prince of Peace,” the pope of Rome could then enter into the Temple, having the power to perform miracles before hundreds of millions over global satellite television! He could claim that the only true church, the universal church, is returning to the place of its birth, Jerusalem! Study 2 Thessalonians 2 in this regard, where the “man of sin” will sit in the Temple of God, claiming to be very God!

Now, the Abomination of Desolation, AND the surrounding of Jerusalem with armies, would be in place!

Meanwhile, the United States and the British Commonwealth countries will be deep into economic malaise; afflicted by shocking, record-breaking droughts in some places; floods in others. Disease will be taking a dreadful toll; starvation will take the lives of hundreds of thousands, as famines grip many countries. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions will cause further, massive destruction.

The Time of Jacob’s Trouble

Make no mistake! In the event of a major war in the Mideast, the United States would be directly involved! So would Europe, and, if such a conflict threatened the oil supplies in the Gulf, so would Japan. These observations are not prophetic¯they are geopolitical; practical economics!

This is important, for many scoff at biblical history and Bible prophecy, which prove the Great Tribulation is to fall primarily on the lost ten tribes of Israel, as well as the Jewish state of Israel.

The Tribulation is to fall upon Britain, the United States, and all those countries which are a part of “Jacob” and “Judah.”

Jeremiah was given a prophecy about this time of terrible national suffering, “For thus saith the Eternal; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it” (Jeremiah 30:5-7).

This is exactly the same time described by Jesus Christ and Daniel¯a time without parallel in horror, in destruction and death; a time worse in disastrous events than there has been “since there was a nation until now”; a time greater than any other time “from the beginning of the world to that time, no, nor ever shall be.”

It is the time of Jacob’s trouble! Jacob’s name was changed to Israel. Israel had twelve children who are the eponymous ancestors of twelve tribes. But dying Israel crossed his hands, deliberately blessing the two sons of Joseph by laying his right hand on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, who was the elder. He said, “let MY NAME be named on them” (Genesis 48:13-21).

Ephraim was to become a company of nations and Manasseh was to become the greatest single nation on earth. This fascinating story is covered in great detail in the book mentioned above¯there is no space to repeat it all here. It is the story of how the Israelite nation was formed; how the house of Israel and the house of Judah are two distinctly different nations in history, with two separate histories; two separate dynasties of kings.

Israel was carried captive in 721-718 B.C. by Shalmanezer of Assyria. The bulk of them never returned. Judah continued in the land until being deported as slaves by Babylon. As you read earlier, Cyrus and Artaxerxes allowed them to return to Palestine and rebuild the Temple, during the time of Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah.

But the vast majority of the tribes¯Gad, Asher, Reuben, Naphtali, Dan, Issachar, Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin, and large portions of Simeon and Levi (who had no inheritance in the land, and were disbursed among all the tribes, including Judah)¯overspread the valleys of Europe, eventually settling all of northwestern Europe and the British Isles.

God’s warning through Jeremiah said the Great Tribulation of the end time would come upon Jacob, meaning Israel. But the biblical term Israel does not mean the modern nation in Palestine by that name, who are predominantly Jews, and therefore of the house of Judah. Remember, the very first time the word Jew is ever used in the Bible, the Jews are at war against Israel (2 Kings 16:6).

Four whole books of the Bible, 1 and 2 Kings, and 1 and 2 Chronicles, are devoted to the separate histories, and the separate dynasties of kings of the two distinctly different kingdoms of the house of Judah, (the Jews) and the house of Israel (who were never called Jews).

Now, notice the time setting of Jeremiah’s prophecy: “For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Eternal of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: But they shall serve the Eternal [Jehovah, or JHVW] their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them” (Jeremiah 30:8,9). Again, here is a prophecy which shows Israel in captivity until the time of the intervention of God, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and the resurrection of the dead!

Israel, meaning Jacob, or the so-called lost ten tribes, are pictured as in captivity until God Himself breaks their bonds. A foreign power, or powers, has laid a yoke upon them, as a man would yoke an ox. They are in bonds which Christ Himself will burst, to set them free.

Now, whose yoke is laid upon them?

God says, “O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few” (Isaiah 10:5-7). Study this entire chapter, for it is God’s prophecy that the northern ten tribes would be removed by the armies of Assyria. And they were, in waves of invading forces from 721 to 718 B.C. But they never returned to Palestine en masse.

Once again, notice the time setting of the prophecy: “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob [Ephraim and Manasseh primarily], shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the Eternal, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. The remnant shall return [this has never yet happened in history!], even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God….And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing” (Isaiah 10:20,21,27).

Time and time again, ten-tribed Israel is depicted as being in a wretched state of captivity, their proud nations having been destroyed and their populations having become slaves, like the millions of forced laborers in Germany and eastern Europe during World War II. When does the Bible picture this terrifying state of affairs?

Isaiah 11 answers this question. Here are a few brief excerpts: “And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse [Christ], which shall stand for an ensign for the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and His rest [His millennial kingdom] shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from Assyria [this has never happened in history!]….And He shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah [notice two different peoples] from the four corners of the earth….And the Eternal shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea [the eastern Mediterranean and Nile Delta]: and with His mighty wind shall He shake His hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dry shod. And there shall be an highway for the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt” (Isaiah 11:10-16).

Never has any such thing occurred in history. Here, modern-day Israel, which does not mean the nation by that name in Palestine, is scattered among many nations, primarily Assyria, which is a modern, super-powerful, industrialized nation.

Notice again that it was Assyria that is prophesied to place a yoke of slavery on God’s people Israel during the Great Tribulation.

Now, notice: “Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate….Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man. As for our redeemer, the ETERNAL of hosts is His name, the Holy One of Israel. Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called, The lady of kingdoms. I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke” (Isaiah 47:1,3-6).

This is the great false church organization, the “image of the Beast,” which is a mystery religion, having its ancient roots in Chaldea. For astounding proof of the direct relationship between the ancient Chaldean mystery religion and modern-day Roman Catholicism, read The Two Babylons, by Alexander Hislop.

Notice, then, that it is both Assyria, the modern nation, and the great “lady of kingdoms,” or a false religious system, which lay their yoke of merciless captivity and persecution on God’s people Israel.

“And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it. Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I AM, and none else beside me [names and titles of GOD, which are ultimate blasphemies in God’s sight!]; I shall not sit as a widow [so she was metaphorically married], neither shall I know the loss of children [she has “daughters” which came out of her in protest]: But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments” (Isaiah 47:7-9).

The Beast power is ridden by a scarlet-colored woman, called the “mother of harlots and abominations of the earth.” God will allow the ten-nation Beast power, at the behest of the False Prophet, over a great false church, to punish His people, who have utterly rejected His laws and His way of life.

But after the Beast power occupied Palestine and Egypt, “tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him” (Daniel 11:44).

The sixth trumpet plague is described: “And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are the spirits of demons, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty….And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon [Har-Meggido, or the hill of Megiddo, about ninety miles north of Jerusalem]. And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done! And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath” (Revelation 16:12-19).

The Beast power will then turn upon the great false church and utterly destroy her!

There was a limerick many years ago which is hauntingly appropriate to the description of the woman who rides the beast, but who is ultimately destroyed by the Beast:

There once was a lady from Niger,
Who smiled as she rode on a tiger;
They returned from the ride
With the lady inside,
And a smile on the face of the tiger.

Notice: “And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God hath put it in their hearts to fulfil His will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth” (Revelation 17:16-18).

The Critical And Experimental Commentary says, “As Jerusalem used the world-power to crucify her Saviour, and then was destroyed by that very power, Rome, so the Church, having apostatized to the world, shall have judgment executed upon her by the world-power, the beast and his allies” (vol. VI., p. 713).

Then follows Revelation 18, which details how the Beast shall “hate the whore” and make her desolate.

Here, she is once again characterized as “Babylon the great.”

God’s warning to the world, and His warning to you is, “Come out of her [the Babylonish “mystery” religion], my people that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues: for her sins have reached unto heaven” (Revelation 18:4).

Now you know who, and what, is the Beast of the Apocalypse! It is a ten-nation combine which will arise in Europe, most probably dominated by Germany, the “fatherland,” in cooperation with the “mother” church!

A “king of the south” will “push at” this huge European power (Daniel 11:40-45), which will precipitate a massive invasion of the Mideast, and the occupation of Palestine.

Perhaps prior to this time, a temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem, or a cornerstone will be dedicated. If the Arab mosques of the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque, which stand on the site of Solomon’s Temple, were to be destroyed, it would precipitate a massive war in the Mideast; such an act would unite otherwise bickering, disagreeing Arab states.

Any major threat to the precious oil supplies of Japan (70 percent dependent!), or Europe (46 percent dependent!), would bring about military intervention.

The stage would be set for a great religious leader to “sit in the temple of God, shewing that he is God,” by performing “miracles in the sight of the beast,” and bringing about massive persecution and martyrdom of God’s true people!

Never forget that the two most important events for which God’s people are to watch were pointed out by Jesus Christ Himself: “When ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet…stand in the holy place where it ought not,” and, “When ye see Jerusalem surrounded with armies then know that the destruction thereof is nigh.”

There are no “secrets” involved in any of these prophetic understandings. No chronologies, no numerology, no secret visions, no special dreams.

Today, geopolitics moves inexorably toward the very events Jesus Christ Himself described. But as evil and horrifying as the Great Tribulation is to be, Jesus Christ reassured His people by saying, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads: for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28).

It is always darkest before the dawn. You and I live in terrible times. We are surrounded by senseless terrorist bombings, street crime, drug abuse, rape, arson, and murder. Daily, we hear of children murdering other children; of parents drowning or shooting their own children; of “drive-by” shootings. We hear of robbery, burglary, auto theft, and every form of violence. We hear of wars and conflagrations from Bosnia to Northern Ireland; from Burundi to Korea.

Our nations are being torn apart by divorce, and the destruction of the family. Like Sodom of old, major political influences now change legislation to permit “same sex” marriages. Millions of helpless, unborn human beings have been slaughtered, many in the ninth month, by the forces of “pro-choice,” who now represent a major political movement, absolutely critical in national elections!

For these, and myriad other sins, God Almighty says He will shortly allow the wrath of the mighty Beast of the Apocalypse, ridden by a scarlet-clad woman, to wreak terrible vengeance upon our peoples!

Speaking of the horrible droughts, famines, disease epidemics, earthquakes, and wars which will afflict us, Jesus Christ says to you and to me, “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that you might be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:36).

As the “watchman” to Israel, Ezekiel cried out, “Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11).

Finally, remember Jesus’ words: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened [by divine intervention from God!], there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened!” (Matthew 24:21,22).

May God grant that you and I be a part of His very elect!

You may copy and distribute this information only to friends and family without changes, without charge and with full credit given to the author and publisher. You may not publish it for general audiences.

This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man’s word for anything, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible.

 

The activities of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association are paid for by tithes, offerings and donations 
freely given by Christians and co-workers who are dedicated to preaching the gospel according to Jesus Christ.

The post The Beast of the Apocalypse: What Is It? first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Does the Bible contradict itself? Skeptics say yes, many times. Does the Bible present us with wholly impossible scenarios; unbelievable historical accounts, and unscientific claims? Scoffers and doubters say yes. Evolutionists, agnostics, skeptics of every sort are quick to challenge the Bible on many fronts.

A favorite attack against scripture is the age-old question, “Where did Cain get his wife?”

Another is why the fifth commandment says “Thou shalt not Kill,” and yet, God commanded the Israelites to kill thousands of their enemies: “Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.

“But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:

“But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee” (Deuteronomy 20:15-17).

“You see?” challenge the scoffers, this “God” you say inspired the Bible says “Thou shalt not kill,” and then turns right around and says, “kill them all, even their little babies!”

Several times a year, I receive angry, challenging letters from such doubters, who are trying to convince themselves there is no God, or, if there is, He did not inspire the Bible to be written.

How about you? Are you equipped to answer challenges from those who point out alleged Bible contradictions, or who say the Bible is uninspired?

The Claims Of Scripture Itself

The Bible claims to be inspired. Jesus Christ said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). Therefore, Christ plainly said the Hebrew Old Testament was inspired, and that it contains information which, if accepted, points the way to eternal life. He said, as recorded only a few verses later, “Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.

“For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me [in the first five books of the Bible].

“But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” (John 5:45-47). Christ therefore placed His stamp of approval on the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. If one accuses Christ of being either ignorant, deceived, or deliberately lying, then one is obviously rejecting Jesus Christ as the Son of God; the Savior of the world; the soon-coming world ruler, and one is perilously close to a blasphemy which will not be forgiven.

After His resurrection, Jesus Christ reminded His disciples of His many Bible-based statements during His Messiahship: “And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

“Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures” (Luke 24:44, 45). Here, Jesus Christ lists the three divisions of the Hebrew Old Testament, commonly called the “Torah” (the first five books of the Bible), or the “law,” the Prophets, including all the major and minor prophets, and the “Psalms,” or “the Writings,” which includes all the other books.

The Bible itself claims to be the inspired word of God. Peter wrote, “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

“For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

“And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:16-21).

John the apostle wrote, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

“Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

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

Paul used the Old Testament scriptures to preach Christ, and salvation. “Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:

“And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

“Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ” (Acts 17:1-3).

Luke wrote that Apollos, a gifted and noted speaker, “…mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures[the Old Testament — the only “scriptures” extant then] that God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him” (Acts 28:23-31). Thus ends the book of Acts, with Luke’s testimony that Paul continually taught from the Hebrew Old Testament; “out of the law [Torah] of Moses, and out of the prophets,” all day long, day after day, week after week, month after month for two years.

One thing is sure. Jesus Christ Himself plainly said the Old Testament scriptures are the word of God. All the disciples believed the scriptures were inspired. Paul believed the Old Testament was inspired. What about the writers of the Old Testament? Did they believe they were writing God’s own words?

Scoffers Were Predicted

Today, evolution is taken for granted by the vast majority. Evolution is the basis of all formal education; inculcated into the minds of youths in western societies from their early childhood. Evolution is palpably evident throughout the “nature” shows which children love; television documentaries about fish, dolphins, whales, lions, elephants, birds, insects — all continually reinforce the concept that there is no God; that all life “evolved” over vast aeons of time.

To evolutionists, the natural forces in place today provide evidence that the earth has always continued as it is, with “resident forces” acting upon the earth, and “natural selection” bringing about the “survival of the fittest” as all forms of life gradually “evolved” from one life form to another.

Thus, man is said to have begun as a “chance strike of lightning in a primal soup of methane and ammonia,” or as a “spark of life in an ancient sea,” or as “green slime,” or “brown scum,” or “cracks in rocks,” or from either supreme heat, or supreme cold. Each of the above postulates can be found in erudite texts and articles written by science writers. The “big bang” theory; that all matter was once contained in one gargantuan “atom” which exploded is commonly accepted today by evolutionists.

All of which says “There is no God worthy of mention.” Evolution directly contradicts the Bible, which says “In the beginning God created…” Evolution says, instead, “In the beginning was the hydrogen atom.”

To evolutionists, any catastrophism is anathema. While many have come to believe that a meteor once struck the earth, which is largely accepted as the reason for the “sudden die out of dinosaurs,” the concept of catastrophes interrupting the gradually changing “resident forces” is generally rejected. For example, the great flood of Noah’s time, mentioned by Christ and the apostles, and set forth in Genesis chapters six through nine, is rejected as pure myth.

Peter wrote, “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

“And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation [everything is cyclical, they say; there have always been droughts, famines, and storms].

“For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

“Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

“But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men” (2 Peter 3:3-7).

In a later section we will deal with the flood of Noah, and various challenges against it by scientists and religionists alike. The point is, Peter’s prophecy has come true! Millions deny the flood of Noah’s time. Yet, Jesus Christ Himself said, “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

“For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

“And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Jesus was Christ” (Acts 18:28). When Paul was under house arrest in Rome, knowing that he was in peril of his life, he nevertheless continued to faithfully preach the gospel of the coming Kingdom of God, using the Old Testament scriptures! Luke wrote, “And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

“And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not….And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of man be” (Matthew 24:37-39). Evolutionists accuse Christ, therefore, of being either ignorant or deceived, because Christ clearly believed in a universal deluge.

Paul wrote that evolutionists have no excuse for denying what their own eyes tell them:

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

“Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them [is evident to them]; for God hath showed it unto them.

“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made [the material universe; all creation], even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (Romans 1:18-20).

Today, many theologians attempt to reconcile anti-God evolution with “theistic evolution,” saying there might have been a “First Cause” or a “God” of some sort who used evolution as His creating method. But this is nothing short of gratuitous; an attempt to give in to evolutionists, and still maintain there is a God.

Such people claim that the “days” of creation were actually thousand, or even million-year periods, and not literal days. The Bible says otherwise: “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

“And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

“And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening [darkness] and the morning [daylight] were the first day” (Genesis 1:3-5).

There has never been a time when the Bible was under such attack as today! From evolutionary classrooms to the pulpits of churches, men scathingly ridicule the Bible as myth.

Peter’s prophecy has come to pass. For several in-depth articles which DEMOLISH the “theory of evolution” be sure to look into our web site at “https://www.garnertedarmstrong.org/,” go to the literature page, and type in “evolution” or “creation.” There, you will find the existence of God absolutely and scientifically PROVED!

Is the Bible a deliberate attempt by dozens of collaborators over centuries to create a myth about a “God,” and form a monotheistic religion? Were the prophets coconspirators in an elaborate scheme to deceive you and me?

Reluctant Prophets

God’s prophets were not arrogant “wannabes” who arrogated to themselves some high “spiritual” office. Instead, they were humble men who felt inadequate for the task appointed them. Isaiah wrote of having seen a vision of the throne of God; of seraphim crying “Holy, holy, holy, is the Eternal of Hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isaiah 6:1-3). Isaiah then said, “Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Eternal of Hosts” (Isaiah 6:5).

Then occurred, in Isaiah’s vision, a seraphim who flew from the altar with a coal from beneath and, laying it upon Isaiah’s mouth, said, “Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged” (Isaiah 6:7). Isaiah was now a vessel sanctified for God’s work. Yet, he was told that the people would not understand or heed his message; that they would be “dull of hearing” until the time of the Tribulation and the Day of the Lord, when God will visibly manifest Himself.

God said to Isaiah, “Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

“Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

“Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,

“And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land” (Isaiah 6:9-12). Jesus Christ emphasized the fact that the vast majority of mankind would be blinded; unable to comprehend spiritual things. He quoted Isaiah, thus giving this prophet his stamp of approval and divine authority, when His disciples asked Him why He spoke to the masses in puzzles, or parables. Christ answered, “Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

“And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

“For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them” (Matthew 13:13-15).

Millions believe Jesus Christ came to save everyone He could! Nothing could be farther from the truth! Instead He plainly said most were BLIND to the truth, and said this was in God’s intent, “LEST” they should be converted; should understand with their heart.

Bear this in mind as you continue through this booklet! It was not then, and it is not now God’s intention to reveal His truth to every human being! Jesus Christ said, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44). Remember this basic principle, and never forget it! It takes a miracle from God to open a human mind to His truth! Mere reading of the Bible by a carnal mind (Romans 8:7) will never bring any person to repentance and salvation. Those who read the Bible with a skeptical attitude will remain skeptics. Why? Because they do not TREMBLE before God’s Word. Isaiah wrote, “Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

“For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word” (Isaiah 66:1, 2).

Isaiah trembled before God. He knew he was unworthy of conveying God’s message. He was a reluctant prophet, not one who vainly arrogated to himself any authority. Notice how Jeremiah likewise felt unworthy: “Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

“Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

“But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

“Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

“Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

“See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:4-10). Jeremiah said he was too young for the job; that he would have no credibility! Yet God sent him as one of his prophets.

Amos wrote, “I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit:

“And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel” (Amos 7:14,15).

Daniel fainted when he saw an archangel who came to commission him as God’s prophet: “And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;

“Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:

“His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

“And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.

“Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.

“Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.

“And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.

“And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.

“Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words” (Daniel 10:4-12). Like so many other prophets, Daniel’s experience with a great archangel so traumatized him that he was left weak and trembling. This was no pompous individual who assayed to become a “faith healer” or “evangelist” parading around in a white suit, claiming to “heal” people! Instead, Daniel was a meek and humble man who was stultified at the calling of God. He was not a volunteer.

It is important to know that each of God’s prophets related that God, no doubt through angelic messengers, spoke to them directly! They did not seek it. They were not volunteers. Instead, they were chosen. Paul wrote, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

“Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds[compare with John 1];

“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:1-3).

The New Testament writers absolutely believed that the Old Testament scriptures were inspired! They believed that God Himself had inspired the prophets! In most cases, they gave their lives, often in the most horrible fashion, for that conviction. This was not mere “belief,” but deep conviction; a knowing brought about by their personal experiences with Jesus Christ during His sojourn in human flesh, and His many miraculous appearances to them following His resurrection!

Reluctant Disciples; Unwilling Witnesses

The Bible is hard on its heroes. Every human being save Jesus Christ is presented to us as eminently human; with human failings, foibles, silly mistakes, false assumptions and sins. David’s sin with Bathsheba; Abraham’s lie to save his wife from Abimelech; Peter’s brazen rebuke of Jesus; Paul’s participation in the martyrdom of Steven and earlier persecution of Christians; Jeremiah’s lamentations — all are obviously humans, subject to normal human emotions.

Did the disciples concoct a “new religion” and foist it off upon unsuspecting masses?

Many sensational books have made just such a charge. Write a book which debunks Jesus Christ as a fraud, and you have an instant best-seller. Write the truth about the Bible, and about Christ, and only a precious few are interested. Many years ago, a book entitled The Passover Plot alleged that Jesus’ “death” was just that; a part of a conspiratorial plot to stage a death, when in fact Christ was not really dead at all.

But consider the record of the disciples themselves. For one thing, as Christ was being led away by the armed guards of the High Priest, having been betrayed by Judas, every one of His disciples forsook Him!

If you have not read my booklet, “The Young Revolutionaries,” it is available on our web site at https://www.garnertedarmstrong.org/. You can print it and read it in hard copy. If you do not have a PC, they are available in most local libraries, and for a small fee you can be given access to the web site, and the librarian will print out any literature you require. I urge you to read this fascinating book.

Consider the case of Peter, the disciple. Bombastic, zealous, rough around the edges, Peter was often abrasive and impetuous. For years, he and the other disciples had assumed Jesus Christ was a revolutionary who would overthrow the Sanhedrin, topple the Herods, and then kick out the occupying Romans. Notice what the disciples thought was the one most important question they could ask Jesus on His final appearance before them: “When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). They did not speak of the “Kingdom of God,” nor did they envision a globe-girdling millennial rule of Christ. Rather, they asked if NOW, at long last, after what had been to them many, many abortive attempts, was He FINALLY ready to “restore the kingdom TO ISRAEL!”

What that meant was they expected Christ to establish a newGOVERNMENT on the throne which was being usurped by the Herods; to restore a greater Davidian or Solomonic Kingdom, from the headwaters of the Tigris-Euphrates in modern-day northern Iraq to the seven streams of the Nile in the Egyptian delta. They did not ask Him anything whatsoever about “religious services,” or about the myriad things which have led to major disputes and divisions among the denominations in “churchianity.” They asked nothing about hair styles or length; about dresses or robes for the clergy; about candles, bells, chants, or holy water. They asked nothing about celibacy, or “orders” for women; they asked nothing about “praise worship” or religious postures.

Instead, they asked, in essence, a POLITICAL question. Would Christ FINALLY, now that He had all power, ascend to David’s throne and RULE ISRAEL right then and there?

Christ answered, “And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

“And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

“Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:7-11). This miraculous phenomenon was the final anchor for their unbounding faith. They SAW Him ascend. They watched until He was a tiny speck, fading from sight into the clouds!

After a period of a month and ten days, during which He had appeared and disappeared many times, these unwilling witnesses; these men who had forsaken Him in bitter disappointment and anger, were deeply convicted!

Space does not permit me to retell the entire story here (please read the “Young Revolutionaries” book), but remember that Peter tried to trigger the revolution when he attempted to kill Malcolm, the servant of the high priest. “And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.

“Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword” (Matthew 26:51, 52; compare with Luke 22:49-62).

All the disciples shrank back into the darkness. Peter followed at a distance, afraid of being discovered. Later, he cursed and denied that he ever knew Jesus.

When the disciples were told that Christ’s tomb was empty, they were doubtful. “It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

“And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

“Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass” (Luke 24:10-12).

Christ would suddenly materialize before their startled eyes, as they were discussing all the stupendous events of the past four days. “And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

“But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

“And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

“Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

“And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet” (Luke 24:36-40).

Christ Himself chastised the disciples for their unbelief. When Mary Magdalene had seen Him first, and related her experience to the disciples, “…she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

“And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

“After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

“And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

“Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen” (Mark 16:10-14).This was no plot to deceive the world, and begin a false religion based on fraudulent claims. Remember, “doubting” Thomas said he would never believe unless he personally saw Christ’s wounds: “But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

“The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

“And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

“Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

“And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

“Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed[does that include you?].

“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book” (John 20:24-30).

Many allegations of fraud have been presented. Some say Jesus’ enemies stole His body. But if so, they would have publicly displayed it, for the entire issue was whether or not He was truly the Messiah, the Son of God. Had the Jews “stolen the body,” they would have openly rejoiced, paraded the body through the streets. Instead, the Jews accused the disciples of having stolen Jesus’ body!

But do men DIE, being crucified upside down, sawn asunder, impaled, burnt alive, or stoned to death, for what they KNOW TO BE A LIE?

Some have said Jesus Christ was only in a “swoon,” that He revived, and removed the stone, and disappeared, in order to keep the myth alive. But I have been inside the tomb where Jesus Christ was buried for three days and three nights. The “door” was formed of a huge slab of rock, shaped like a wheel. There was a channel carved uphill from the opening into the tomb, and the stone was positioned above it, so, when the restraining chocks were taken away, the stone would roll downward into an ever narrowing rock-hewn channel, wedging itself solidly in front of the opening.

It would have required dozens of powerful men, with pick axes and crow bars, laboring for many hours, to remove that huge stone! It was disc-shaped, and much taller than a man. It must have weighed several tons! Could Jesus, after being beaten within an inch of His life, in some alleged “swoon,” have revived, and removed that stone by Himself? Nonsense.

Such allegations mean that those who make them are calling every one of the New Testament writers liars and frauds. They have to explain to themselves how it is that men who were unwillingwitnesses would go to the stake and give their lives in excruciating suffering for what they knew was a fraud!

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is historic FACT, not some kind of hallucination or fantasy. The FACT of the resurrection is not some later invention to justify the “Christian” religion, but the very reason for its beginning. It is the CORNERSTONE of Christian faith; that Christ is alive; that He was resurrected from the tomb, as He said. Paul told the Corinthian church, “I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

“And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third dayaccording to the scriptures:

“And that he was seen of Cephas [Peter], then of the twelve:

“After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

“After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

“And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time” (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). This is a powerful witness, for Paul states to his readers that they can ask nearly FIVE HUNDRED living witnesses, or ask any of the apostles about having SEEN Jesus Christ alive after His death and burial. The Christian religion BEGAN on the fundamental belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ!

Where Did The Bible Come From? How Did We Get it?

Believe it or not, there are more ancient manuscripts available from the Old Testament than there are from the New! It was in 1844 that a German scholar named Tischendorf visited the St. Catherine’s monastery on Mount Sinai. The monks were cleaning up the place, and had stuffed a waste basket full of pages of vellum, or written pages from sheep’s skin, which they were going to burn. The monks were secretive people, and not very good housekeepers. Tischendorf noticed that the vellum pages were in Greek. When he looked at them closely, he found they were parts of an ancient “Septuagint” version of the Old Testament. The “Septuagint” is so called because there were seventy copyists in Alexandria, Egypt, assigned to translate the entire Old Testament from Hebrew into Greek. This was allegedly commanded by the High Priest in Jerusalem at the behest of Emperor Ptolemy II, since so many Jews spoke only Greek, and could no longer read the Old Testament in Hebrew.

Tischendorf managed to salvage 43 such leaves, but an additional search turned up no more. He visited the same monastery again in 1853, and again searched for any more such vellum pages without success. Then, in 1859, he returned again, and this time a steward told Tischendorf he had an ancient copy of the Septuagint. When he brought it out, Tischendorf found it was the remaining pages of the manuscript he had found fifteen years earlier. It contained 347 vellum leaves in all, beautifully written by hand on fine vellum; measured 15 x 13 1/3 inches for each page, and included the entire New Testament. He eventually secured the entire manuscript for the Imperial Library in St. Petersburg, where it remained until 1933. That year, it was sold to the British Museum for half a million dollars.

I have seen this original manuscript, and Ambassador College obtained a very expensive photo copy of many pages, actually reproduced on heavy parchment, which were on display in the library for many years.

The other most ancient manuscripts of the Old Testament are the “Vaticanus,” produced in the 4th century; has been in the Vatican library since 1481, but some fragments of the New Testament are missing; the “Alexandrinus” made in the 5th century in Alexandria, Egypt, which has been in the British museum since 1627. Some fragments are missing, but it contains the entire Bible. Another is the “Ephraem” manuscript, containing about half of the New Testament in Greek. There are, altogether, about 4,000 known manuscripts of the Bible or parts of the Bible, all of which were produced from the 2nd to the 12th centuries. No manuscripts exist prior to that time.

The original letters of Paul, which were kept by the churches to which they were addressed for many years, have all been lost. But copies of these writings were made for other churches, and sent there from the earliest times. As older copies wore out, newer ones were made.

In contrast, there is no known complete copy of Homer dating earlier than AD 1300, and no known copy of Herodotus, the Egyptian historian, prior to 1,000 AD. There are vastly more manuscripts available for the Bible than these ancient writers, but no one challenges either Homer or Herodotus!

For further study into the origin, preservation, transmission and translation of the ancient texts of the Bible, one can obtain vast information from various libraries in the world over the Internet. The many Bible handbooks are instructive. A good layman’s Bible Handbook is “Halley’s,” and a collegiate-grade book is The Angus Bible Handbook, which I have used for many years. It is particularly good for alleged biblical contradictions. I challenge any skeptic to STUDY the Angus Bible Handbook, and to meticulously, carefully attempt to dismantle it, prove it wrong! It is a daunting, and ultimately impossible, task!

Angus includes many, many examples of scriptural anomalies and alleged contradictions, and satisfactorily explains each one.

Biblical Enigmas

Still, there are many thousands who, while they believe the Bible is the word of God, are nevertheless perplexed by seemingly irreconcilable difficulties in scripture.

As mentioned earlier, many demand, “Since Adam and Eve had Cain, and the Bible says Cain had a wife, where did Cain get his wife?” The truth is that Adam and Eve had many, many children — perhaps as many as twenty five or even many more, over a span of a phenomenal nine hundred and thirty years. This is not to suggest that Eve bore children all during such a life span, or that Adam remained virile until his death. However, the great age of the patriarchs is stated again and again in Genesis, and no doubt was due to several factors:

(1) Prior to the Noachian Deluge, or world-wide flood, the Bible states there was a different weather pattern on earth; that the atmosphere contained much, much more moisture then than now.

(2) The earth was very likely protected to a much greater degree from ultraviolet rays from the sun from the time of the creation of Adam until the flood, when the “waters which were above the firmament” (Genesis 1:7) were unleashed.

(3) The intake of Carbon 12 from the sun would have been almost nil, accounting for the errors in assigning vast ages to wood samples from preflood times through radiocarbon dating.

Questions about Cain’s wife stem from people reading Genesis 4:17 prior to reading subsequent chapters. The problem verse says, “And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he [Cain] builded a city, after the name of his son, Enoch.” Notice, however, Genesis 5:1-5, “This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

“Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

“And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:

“And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:

“And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.” When Cain was born, the exclamation from the parents was, simply, “It’s a boy.” The Bible says Eve remarked, “I have gotten a man from the Eternal.” The name: “Cain” means “acquired.”

It is remarkable that after Cain killed his brother Abel, probably at the time when both men were in their 30s or 40s, the next son born elicited a far different response from Adam. Now, he had a son “in his own likeness, after his image.”

Notice that Seth, the third son, was one hundred and five before Enos was born, and that “Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years and begat sons and daughters” (Genesis 5:7).

The simple answer is that Cain married one of his own sisters. As the human family expanded, more and more children of both sexes were born. Each of the patriarchal families may have had fifteen, twenty, thirty or more children, for they were fertile for literally hundreds of years. All the possible color variations of the human race were contained in the body of mother Eve from her creation. God is the Author of the races of mankind, and no race of people exists which are “Satan’s seed.”

The “Loose Brick” Approach To Scripture

There are many who believe the Bible is shot through with errors; with direct contradictions and discrepancies. To many, if they can find just one passage which seems, on its face contradictory, they believe they can dismiss the Bible — especially its moral and spiritual requirements.

One such alleged discrepancy is found in 2 Samuel 24:9, which says, “And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.” Yet, as some point out, 1 Chronicles 21:5 says, “And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.” But this is a discrepancy of 270,000 men!

Or is it? Samuel says the “valiant” men numbered 800,000! But 1 Chronicles says that ALL of Israel’s army numbered 1,100,000 “men.” The simple answer is that there is a difference in soldiers, even as in any army today. “Crack troops” such as Rangers, Special Forces, or Navy “Seals” are reckoned as tougher, better trained and more battle-ready than average soldiers.

So it was in ancient Israel. The “valiant men that drew the sword” numbered 800,000, while there were 300,000 other men, who, while part of the army, were not “elite troops.”

There is an alleged discrepancy between the numbers of the “Men of Judah” (Samuel says 500,000 men, while Chronicles says 470,000 men “that drew sword.” But any army has a large number of noncombatants, such as porters, cooks, clerks, medics, and even members of the band! The simple answer is that there were 30,000 men who were noncombatants, OR that, while they are not included as men who “drew sword” and were expert swordsmen, they may have been spearmen, or bowmen.

Some point out that Matthew made a mistake when he wrote, “And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in.

“Wherefore that field was called, the field of blood, unto this day.

“Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;

“And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me” (Matthew 27:7-10).

But, say the detractors, Zechariah said, “And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.

“And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD” (Zechariah 11:12, 13). The problem is solved when it is realized that some of the earliest and best manuscripts do not include the name “Jeremy” at all, but merely say “spoken by the prophet.” In any event, it is immaterial, for the account in Matthew says it was “spoken” by the prophet, not written.

Now, what about Paul’s alleged “mistake” when he said, “Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand” (1 Corinthians 10:8). But, critics point out, Numbers 25:9 says, “And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.” But the plague lasted for some time! Paul says all but one thousand of the victims fell in one day.There is no contradiction, therefore. The total number of deaths was 24,000, but 23,000 died in the same day!

Did Peter make a mistake about the horrible end of Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Christ? He said, “Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

“And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, the field of blood” (Acts 1:18,19).

But they say Matthew wrote, “Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

“Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

“And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself” Matthew 27:3-5).

So which was it? Did Judas hang himself, or did he fall headlong, and all his bowels gush out? The answer is BOTH occurred. No headlong fall causes a human’s bowels to “gush out.”

But when a corpse has hung for a long time, the body bloats to unimaginable proportions, as putrefaction sets in. Ultimately, the rope broke, and Judas’ body did indeed fall headlong, and his bowels gushed out! There is no contradiction here.

But what about the story of “Jonah in the whale’s belly”? How could ANY fish actually swallow a man? And, once the man was swallowed, how could he breathe? Many doubt the account of Jonah.

Jonah wrote, “Now the LORD had prepared a great fish [note this well!] to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

“Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly [Jonah no doubt prayed IMMEDIATELY. There is no need to assume he waited for hours, or days, to cry out to God, for such is unthinkable, and illogical],

“And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

“For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.

“Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.

“The waters compassed me about, even to the soul [Hebrew: Nephesh, meaning life]: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.

“I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.

“When my soul [life] fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee,

“They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

“But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.

“And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

“And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,

“Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee” (Jonah 1:17; 2:1-10; 3:1, 2).

Most so-called modern “critics” are virtually unanimous in their dismissal of the book of Jonah as a “combination of allegory and myth.” Yet, Jesus Christ Himself said, “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

“The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

“The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here” (Matthew 12:40-42). Thus, Jesus Christ places the historical fact of the visit of the Queen of Sheba to Solomon’s capital alongside the book of Jonah. Did Jesus Christ believe in myths? No, He was the One of Divine Elohim who hadPREPARED the great fish; the One who very likely resurrected Jonah, and who commanded him to preach to Nineveh!

The Century Bible says: “…apart from the fact that the Lord referred to the Queen of Sheba in the very next sentence, and thus places Jonah on the same level of ‘literal validity,’ the question [of Jonah’s authenticity] is placed beyond all controversy by the further fact that seven times in John’s Gospel the Lord declared that every one of His words that He uttered was given Him to speak by the Father. Those who strike at these words of Christ are striking at God Himself, and are making the whole of divine revelation of none effect. All the puerile and fanciful assumptions used for arguments are swept away with one stroke, and are overwhelmed by this decisive and conclusive fact.”

The simple facts are these: There is no proof that Jonah remained alive for three days and three nights! There are other instances of resurrections from the dead in the Old Testament. Further, Jonah is a type of Christ’s DEATH AND BURIAL, not a type intended to imply that Christ remained alive in the tomb! The type is more thorough, and is complete, if Jonah actually died, and was revived when vomited up.

Notice his soulful prayer! These may well be the words of a man who knew he was about to die! It is a prayer of repentance; of chagrin; of self-abasement; of the observation that they which “observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.”

When Jonah cried out “I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me forever,” he was probably referring to the fact that the sailors had BOUND Jonah, very probably with iron chains or bars! There is no evidence that he was not bound.

In any event, the entire matter is resolved when one accepts the fact that God Almighty, who has ALL POWER, plainly said He had “prepared” a great fish (the type is irrelevant, though it may have been a gigantic grouper which weighed several hundred pounds) to swallow Jonah.

One need not argue about the size of the throat of a whale, or how Jonah breathed, with these facts in mind.

The Bible was never intended to be a book about science. Instead, it is the handbook from the Creator of man to tell us what we are, why we are here, and what is our fabulous human potential! As one once said, “A home without a Bible is a ship without a compass.”

Did Angels Marry Women Before the Flood?

Those who espouse the “Satan’s seed” doctrine, alleging that the Devil himself had sexual relations with Eve, are motivated by deep-seated racist prejudices. There is no scriptural basis for angelic beings having intercourse with humans.

Jesus Christ is the final arbiter. When confronted with a trick question concerning marriage in the kingdom, He told the Pharisees “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

“For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven” (Matthew 22:29, 30). Satan is a fallen archangel. Christ said, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven” (Luke 10:18). This not only reaffirms Christ’s pre-human existence as the Logos of the Divine Family Elohim, or Theos (God), but also confirms that Satan was once a “Cherubim that covereth” (Ezekiel 28:14); an archangel next to the throne of God.

The false belief that angels cohabited with women stems from a misunderstanding of Genesis 6:1-4 which says, “And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

“That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

“And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

“There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.” The assumption is that “sons of God” can only mean angels. But Adam himself is called “the son of God” (Luke 3:39). The obvious inference from the emphasis on men taking wives of “all which THEY chose,” shows men were departing from God’s direction, and from their patriarchal parent’s direction. Men began to incorporate references to God in their names at this time. Names such as Enoch (the “E” from “El”ohim),

Jared (the “JA” from JAH, or YAH), and, later “Elijah” (meaning, God, He is God), and “Daniel,” (meaning, God will judge), illustrate this point. Modern names like “Godwin, Goodson, Godoy and Goodpastor show how the same tradition is carried on.

A common error is in assuming these illicit (ill advised) marriages were the CAUSE of gigantism! Not so! Notice that the scripture says “And there were giants in the earth in those days, and also AFTERthat…” So the giants were NOT the result of illicit marriages at all, but came BEFORE the improper marriages.

The giants were men of huge stature, and are found in the fossil record in the form of the Neanderthal skeletons discovered in many parts of Europe; huge, massive bones which indicated human beings of 7, 8, 9 and more feet tall, or men with very thick, wide torsos, very large feet and hands, who must have been extremely well-muscled, and powerful.

Even during David’s time the Bible speaks of giants such as Goliath, who may have measured 10 feet tall, and who carried armor weighing 180 pounds, as well as a spear whose head alone weighed 21 pounds. Goliath had several children who are mentioned in 2 Samuel 21, who were later slain by Abashai and Elhanan. Goliath’s brother had a “spear which was like the staff of a weaver’s beam,” and one of his sons “was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number” (2 Samuel 21:20).

It was AFTER the occurrence of gigantism that the illicit marriages were said to have taken place! Angels do not produce semen. The reproductive organs of humankind are passed down from generation to generation, having commenced with Adam and Eve. Christ plainly said angels neither marry, nor are given in marriage.

When in college, I did extensive research into the skeletons of Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon man. Many skulls showed plain evidence of having been opened by chisel-type instruments; having obvious tool marks around the hole in the skull. Had the hole in the skull been caused by a dull instrument, such as a stone axe or bludgeon, it would have been broken and splintered, and crushed inward. But the skulls I saw pictured were intact except for a fairly neat, round hole. This presented proof of cannibalism, where severed heads were thrown into a fire, and a hole cut into the skull to access the cooked brain inside. Many such skulls, along with other large bones of the human body, were found in the remains of ancient fire circles.

Immediately following the statements concerning illicit marriages and gigantism, God said, “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

“And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

“And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them” (Genesis 6:5-8). This was not merely “sin” in some abstract form, such as being “alienated from God.” This was wickedness and evil on such a scale that it caused God to decide to utterly obliterate the entire human race!

“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Eternal” (Genesis 6:8). It was only ONE MAN who had remained righteous before God; only ONE MAN who had carried on the traditions of God’s righteous patriarchs!

Later, God said, “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

“And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

“And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth” (Genesis 6:11-13.

Noah’s Ark And The Flood — Fact Or Fiction?

Some of the most disdainful of modern-day scoffers leap on the dimensions of the ark, and then bring up many (to them) insurmountable difficulties in an attempt to prove there never was an ark, and never was a universal deluge.

Strangely, thousands of theologians, willing to compromise with misled evolutionary geologists, debunk the Bible account of a universal flood, and insist it was merely local. Was it only a local flood, which “grew with the telling” until a “myth” of a great global flood occurred?

Interestingly enough, there is a UNIVERSAL FLOOD TRADITIONamong dozens of primitive societies. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia lists many of them.

In pagan Babylonian tradition, an ancient king named “Xisuthros,” warned of “one of the gods” of an impending disastrous flood, built a ship, took into it his friends and relatives and all different kinds of animals. The ship was eventually stranded in Armenia, where, upon subsidence of the water, he sent out birds. The third time, they failed to return, whereupon he emerged, built an altar, and sacrificed.

In Greek tradition, a hero named Deucalion was “warned by the gods” that a great flood was coming on the earth due to man’s wickedness. He built an ark, which rested on Mt. Parnassus, and twice sent out a dove.

The Hindus claim that Manu, being warned, built a ship and survived a global flood which destroyed all other creatures.

The ancient Chinese claimed “Fa-He” who to them was the founder of Chinese civilization, survived a flood sent from heaven in punishment for man’s rebellion, and that he escaped with three sons and three daughters.

The islanders of Polynesia have a tradition of a flood in which eight people were saved alive.

Various of the American Indian tribes had a flood tradition in which eight, or three persons were saved in a boat above the waters on a high mountain.

The ancient Druids of Ireland, Scotland and England believed in a destruction of all mankind for its wickedness in which a righteous patriarch escaped and repopulated the earth.

In Mexico, there is a flood tradition in which one man, his wife and children, were saved when a flood overwhelmed the earth. The Peruvians’ tradition said that one man and one woman were saved in a box that floated upon flood waters. Thus, every part of the human race, in all parts of the earth, maintain an ancient flood tradition. Greeks, Druids, Peruvians, Fiji Islanders, Eskimos, Babylonians, Indians, Chinese; every color of the basic human racial strains possess an ancient flood tradition.

How? Why? When God scattered the races following the attempt to build the tower of Babel, the three main divisions of human kind began overflowing the earth in different directions. Ham and hundreds of thousands of his progeny drifted southward and southeastward; Japheth drifted eastward, and Shem drifted into the Mediterranean and northwestwards. Today, the “yellow races” are essentially in Asia, and Japan. The black races are basically found in Africa and India, as well as the central and South Pacific Islands. The so-called “white” races (Caucasians, so called), are found in Europe and the west.

The further these early families, clans, tribes and nations migrated away from original centers of population and knowledge, the more they lost the original truths their forebears had understood. Thus, in the thousands of years following the flood, as the human family repopulated the world, various garbled versions of an original truth which had been handed down from Shem, Ham and Japheth survived in the form of seemingly mythological tradition.

The closer to the original seat of knowledge, the more precise the tradition. For example, in the ruins of ancient Nineveh was found an epic impressed in stone. Obviously, polytheism and myth had colored the tradition by the fifth dynasty after the flood. In brief, the epic said, “The assembly of the gods decided to send a deluge. They said, ‘On the sinner let his sin rest,’ O Shuruppak, build a ship, save your life. Construct it with six stories, each with seven parts. Smear it with bitumen, inside and outside. Launch it upon the ocean. Take into the ship seed of life of every kind. I built it. With all that I had I loaded it, with silver, gold, and all living things that I had. I embarked upon the ship with my family and kindred. I closed the door. The appointed time arrived. I observed the appearance of the day. It was terrible. All light was turned to darkness. The rains poured down. The storm raged, like a battle charge on mankind. The boat trembled. The gods wept. I looked out upon the sea. All mankind was turned to clay, like logs floating about. The tempest ceased. The flood was over. The ship grounded on Mt. Zazir. On the seventh day I sent out a dove. It returned. I sent out a swallow. It returned. I sent out a raven, it alighted. It waded about; it croaked; it did not return. I disembarked. I appointed a sacrifice. The gods smelled the sweet savor. They said, ‘Let it be done no more.’”

As recently as 1929, Dr. C. L. Woolley, conducting a joint expedition on behalf of the British Museum and the University of Pennsylvania, found, at Ur, the site of Abraham’s early life, beneath layers of relics of human habitation, a thick bed of solid water-laid clay. It was a full eight feet thick, and contained no fossils to indicate human habitation. Yet, beneath it was the ruins of another city! Woolley deduced that no ordinary overflow of a river could have piled up sediment to such a depth, but that he had found evidence of a flood such as that detailed in Genesis. Woolley wrote of his experiences in his book, Ur of the Chaldees.

Was there really a worldwide flood? The Bible says yes! Notice, “And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

“But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.

“And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.

“Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.

“And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.

“Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he” (Genesis 6:17-22).

Noah, together with his sons and no doubt many hired laborers, began construction of an ark. For a long one hundred and twenty years, Noah continually preached against the extreme wickedness and sin all around him; proclaimed that a great flood would come in retribution!

Noah, A Preacher Of Righteousness

Noah was prophesied to do what he did. Notice what was said of him by his father, Lamech. It is contained in the lengthy genealogy of Genesis 5, the “Book of the Generations of Adam:” “And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech:

“And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters:

“And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.

“And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:

“And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.

“And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters:

“And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.

“And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth” (Genesis 5:25-32).

What was the “WORK” to which Lamech referred? Was there a work of God being performed among sinning mankind even prior to the flood? Jude, the brother of Jesus Christ, wrote a brief letter which was accepted as canonical, along with Paul’s epistles, as the New Testament was forming in the centuries following Christ’s resurrection. He wrote, “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam[take careful note!], prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

“To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him” (Jude 14, 15). This is nothing less than the proclaiming of the good news of Christ’s coming world-ruling kingdom! This was not merely the promise of a Messiah, but a prediction of His SECOND coming; His invasion of earth to conquer the Beast, and establish His world-ruling kingdom (Revelation 19:11-21).

Was Enoch, one of the ancient patriarchs, the seventh first-born son from Adam?

Note: Adam had Cain, then Abel, who was slain, then Seth. But the genealogical table in Genesis 5 says, “And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:

“And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:

“And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.

“And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos” (Genesis 5:3-6).

So it was SETH, and neither Cain nor Abel, who was reckoned as Adam’s successor in the biblical genealogical tables! Then the genealogy does NOT deal with the first born son, but with some other criterion.

The truth is found in Lamech’s prophecy about Noah, above. Noah would comfort “us,” meaning the patriarchs who were previously named, “concerning our [their] WORK…” Since the “toil of their hands” is mentioned later, and since such a statement could hardly refer to the saving of homes or crops, since all was destroyed by the flood, it is obvious, both from Enoch’s prophecy and Jude’s repeating of it, that a WORK of PREACHING THE GOSPEL of a coming Kingdom of God on this earth was being carried on PRIOR TO THE FLOOD!

Notice what happened to Enoch! “And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch:

“And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:

“And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.

“And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:

“And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:

“And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:

“And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him” (Genesis 5:18-24).

Twice, it is emphasized that “Enoch walked with God.” This could have been both literal and figurative, for the “Spokesman” of Divine Elohim (meaning more than one; see John 1 and Hebrews 1) walked and talked with Adam, and much later with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. There could have been manifestations of the deity, either through an archangel, or by appearances in human form, any number of times prior to the flood.

Where did Enoch go, and why? Where did God “take” him? Paul wrote, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God” (Hebrews 11:5).

Enoch was taken away to a place of protection; concealed by God, because there was a plot to kill him!

For a thorough study of the question: “Are Enoch and Elijah in Heaven?” look into our web site at “https://www.garnertedarmstrong.org/,” and download the booklet on that subject. Briefly, Enoch was not found because people were looking for him, no doubt with intent to do murder! Enoch was a “preacher of righteousness,” as was Noah. Enoch wrote a book which is referred to in scripture.

Later, Lamech was to speak of “our work” and that Noah would “comfort” them concerning that work.

Jesus Christ said Enoch was NOT taken to “heaven”! Notice, “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven” (John 3:13). David, though prophesied to be in the first resurrection, and to sit upon his throne over all twelve tribes of Israel (Jeremiah 30:9; Ezekiel 34:23, 24), is not in heaven. Peter, speaking under inspira-tion of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, said, “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day…For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

“Until I make thy foes thy footstool” (Acts 2:29-35). The word “translated” means the same thing as transmitted, or trans-located. Notice that Enoch is included in Paul’s statement “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13). Therefore, Enoch eventually DIED, just like all the other patriarchs. He is not in heaven!

Noah was not the seventh from Adam genealogically, but was the seventh faithful patriarch, for there was only ONE man in each generation who remained faithful to God, and who carried on the “work” of proclaiming the coming retribution for sin, and the possibility of salvation.

Noah was one of the most unsuccessful preachers of all time! For one hundred and twenty long years, he proclaimed the penalties for sin, and the rewards of righteousness. Yet, in all that time, Noah did not have a single convert! Not even his wife, or his sons, truly believed his preaching.

Not only was Noah a “preacher of righteousness,” he was a builderwho was backing up his work of witness and warning by building an ark which would insure his, and his families’ survival.

Note that it was SETH, and not Cain nor Abel, who is reckoned as Adam’s successor. Look at Genesis 5 again. Cain was the firstborn, hence:

Therefore, as you read through the “Book of the Generations of Adam” in Genesis five, you are not being given the names of the firstborn, but the names of the righteous successors to each patriarch who continued the “work” being done in that wicked pre-flood generation.

Was The Flood Merely “Local” In Nature?

Peter said scoffers would deny that there had been a global deluge. There are such scoffers, just as Peter predicted. That includes many who stand in pulpits, claiming to be the ministers of Christ, who do not believe the Bible is inspired, and who claim the flood was only “local.”

But the Bible says the flood would cover the whole earth, and that all of the high mountains were covered: “And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.

“And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.

“And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.

“Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.

“And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:

“All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died” (Genesis 7:17-22). The “fifteen cubits upward” implied that the tops of the highest mountains were covered by that depth.

It is important to realize that the mountains in the pre-flood period might not have been anywhere near so high as they are today. The flood was not only accomplished by waters from the heavens, but by the gradual subsidence of the land masses, allowing flood waters to cover the land from the oceans. The continents may not have been in their present location prior to the flood. The tectonic plates which form the uppermost part of the earth’s crust may have moved considerable distances as the flood waters covered the earth.

Remember, the flood came on over a period of 150 days! While it rained for 40 days, the water “prevailed” for a much longer time. There was a period of mountain building due to tectonic plate shifts, intrusion of subterranean magma (just as continually occurs around the Hawaiian Islands and Iceland, as well as other areas of the earth, today) occurred both during and after the flood.

The gravitational pull of the moon was not suspended during the rising of the waters, nor during their subsidence, which required many, many years. The present topography of the earth proves there were vast inland basins which contained huge amounts of water. The present “Great Salt Lake” is but a tiny saline puddle at the bottom of what was once “Lake Bonneville,” that once covered much of Utah.

Actual strand lines (ancient shore lines) prove that Lake Bonneville was once 1,000 feet higher than the shore line of the present lake.

The same thing is true of the ancient “Lake Lahontan,” which covered some 8,400 square miles of Nevada and the surrounding area.

I have written before of how I have stood on rocky precipices high in the western Colorado Rockies with millions of little fossil snails and other seabed shells beneath my boots at the nine to 11,000 foot level. The highest mountains on earth contain fossils which were once dwellers in shallow seabeds!

During the incursion of the waters and their subsidence, huge basins, river courses, bays, estuaries, valleys and canyons were scoured out. Massive “islands” of floating vegetation, consisting of thousands of uprooted trees, shrubs, fronts, ferns, grasses and the like were deposited on the shores which began to appear as imagination-defying tidal bores swept across the rising continents.

As turgid tides, bearing billions of tons of mud and sand swept over them, they were buried deep beneath. In Pennsylvania, one finds thick beds of coal, then a bed of shale or sandstone, then another coal bed, then another bed of rock, then another coal bed, and so-on, like so many pages of a book, stacked conformably atop one another. This “cross bedding” or “inter-bedding” of sedimentary strata is a fact of geology. It would have required a floating “raft” of vegetation about forty feet thick to be compressed into a one-foot thick seam of anthracite coal.

As all know, coal is nothing more than ancient plant life, compressed by the weight of the succeeding rock layers. Many coal deposits contain perfectly preserved imprints of ancient kinds of foliage; palms and ferns unknown today.

That the entire face of the globe displays massive and imagination-defying mountain building, faulting, upthrusts, synclines, geo-synclines, hogbacks, huge canyons (such as the Grand Canyon of Arizona), inland seas and lakes (such as the Caspian sea, and the Great Lakes of the U.S.), granitic upthrusts (such as McKinley in Alaska and Whitney in California) and volcanic intrusions (such as “Aconcagua” in the Andes) is well known to geologists.

The rocks of the earth; from the Aleutians to Tierra del Fuego; from the Atlas Mountains to the Andes; and from the Himalayas to the Alps, show massive catastrophes of the past. The rocks cry out “a huge FLOOD did this!”

The “White Cliffs of Dover” of England (and of World War II fame from the song) consist of huge cliffs of solid seashells. Such a massive deposit could not have been accomplished over a vast period of time, for the action of tides and waves gradually tumbles, breaks, polishes, and eventually disintegrates the shells, turning them into sand. The huge cliffs represent a massive deposit which was accomplished in a very short period of time.

Any serious student of the Bible who has sincere questions about the flood should obtain a copy of The Genesis Flood by John C. Whitcomb, Jr., and Henry M. Morris. It is published by Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan. I recently found that it is available from “Amazon.com” on the Internet.

Any doubting scoffer will be turned into a humble BELIEVER by reading carefully this collegiate-grade book of 518 pages which answers ALL the various objections and difficulties concerning Noah’s ark and the flood.

Also completely demolished is the “local” flood theory.

First, why a “local” flood when all the sinning men and women had to do was to move?

Why not tell Noah and his family to simply move? Noah preached, and built the huge ark over a period of 120 years. Men could have moved to any part of the earth in such a span of time; about five generations! A local flood would never have required the building of an ark, nor the collection of animals.

The book also deals with the size and carrying capability of the ark. The sheer size of the ark baffles many. God commanded Noah to make the length of the ark “three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.” A “cubit” was either a “long cubit” of 20.4 inches, or a “common cubit” of 17.5 inches in Hebrew measurements.

Using the smaller of the two, the ark would have been 437.5 feet long, 72.92 feet wide, and 43.75 feet high. God told Noah to build it with three decks (Genesis 6:16). Thus, the ark when completed, would have had a total deck area of 95,700 square feet, or about the square footage of 20 standard basketball courts! Its carrying capacity would have been that of 522 standard railway stock cars! That carrying capacity represents eight, freight trains of 65 cars each, plus two extra cars!

It was not until 1884, when the Cunard Ocean Liner “Eturia” was launched, that man had built a ship as large as the ark.

One major objection is: “How did Noah get all those animals into the ark?”

Some have proposed that Noah would have had to place a total of one million animals in the ark, supposing that the number of speciestoday represents the number of species then! But some doubters insist that Noah would have had to take into the ark 18,000 FISH, 1,700 tunicates, 88,000 mollusks, 25,000 worms, 10,000 coelenterates, 5,000 sponges, 15,000 protozoans, 4,700 echinoderms (like starfish and sea urchins) and the like!

Many and incredibly stupid are some of the “requirements” doubters place on the carrying capacity of the ark! But not a ONE of such creatures would have been required to be aboard, for an adequate number, representing each species, could easily have survived the flood.

Instead, Noah took aboard the GENESIS KINDS of animals and birds. Today, there are HUNDREDS of varieties of dogs, from tiny Pekingese to Irish wolfhounds; from Rat Terriers to Collies. All came from an original “Genesis KIND,” like the wild dogs of Africa or Australia.

If all species of dogs were allowed to intermix, the eventual outcome would be a reverting to one Genesis “kind” of dog. It is man’s selective breeding which has resulted in all the incredible variety.

At the outside, Whitcomb and Morris prove there would have been no need for more than 35,000 individual vertebrate animals on the ark. Remember, the AVERAGE size of animals is that of a sheep! There are comparatively FEW larger animals, such as elephants, rhinoceros, hippopotami, giraffes, and Cape Buffalos and Eland antelope. For every very large animal, there are dozens of much smaller ones, down to the tiny shrew.

Remember, there was no specific command that Noah needed to take old adults, such as huge bull and cow elephants, into the ark. He could have easily taken very young ones.

Since it is proved there was no need to accommodate more than 35,000 animals in the ark, and since the average number of meat animals per railroad stock car (sheep) is about 75 in a single deck, this proves that about 240 animals could be accommodated in a standard two-decked railroad car. Two trains hauling 73 such cars could carry up to 35,000 animals.

But the ark had a capacity up to 522 stock cars of such size.

Whitcomb and Morris explain in intricate detail about the caring for the animals in the ark (including hibernation and estivation), as well as the question of fodder.

God said Noah was to take on board “all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them [the animals]” (Genesis 6:21). It is quite possible that carnivorous animals subsisted on the same kind of vegetation, such as roots, tubers, fruits, nuts, grains, grasses (hay), vegetables, and the like which sustained Noah and his family for the period of the flood.

The reason Noah was commanded to take seven pairs (or, as some insist, three pairs and one supernumerary, making seven), of clean animals into the ark may be for one primary purpose: that of food, and for sacrifice. Remember, Elephants, Giraffes, Hippos, buffalos, or oxen are all herbivorous. Only a comparatively few pairs of “unclean” animals, such as the cat kind, the dog kind (dogs can and do subsist for some time on grasses and vegetation), and a few others. Furthermore, there is reason to suspect, since Christ says He is coming to effect the “restitution of all things,” that the disappearance of carnivorous traits in the millennium among present-day meat eaters may in fact be a “return” to a pre-flood state in which modern-day carnivores, such as lions and cheetahs, will once again become vegetarians. See Isaiah 11:1-9.

One objection to the universal flood and the ark being borne upon its waters until it rested atop Ararat is almost hilariously funny! A man named “Custance,” who wrote in opposition to the flood, mused that the “rarified atmosphere” at elevations above Mount Everest (which he assumes existed at the time of the flood) would “render all but a few creatures insensible in a very few moments for lack of oxygen.” He opined that Noah and his sons would have been terribly taxed to climb up and down three flights of stairs at such a high altitude!

The gentleman forgot that the atmosphere is measured from sea level, and that, as the level of the sea rose, so the pressure remained constant!

Such are the kinds of arguments proposed by those who are of shallow minds, and just a bit in over their heads (pun intended).

The earth was covered with water, not once, but perhaps many times! When you and I are ushered upon the scene in Genesis 1, we learn that the earth was covered with water; that “…the earth was without form, and void;[Hebrew: tohu and bohu] and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:2).

The Hebrew terms mean “void, empty, vain, waste.”

But God says “For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain [tohu], he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else” (Isaiah 45:18). There was an earlier, pre-Adamic creation which was destroyed!

Lucifer’s World And His War Against God

Billions of years ago this earth was a fabulously beautiful place. It had been created as the master jewel of the universe, and placed upon it to rule over the creatures which were created was a great archangel named “Lucifer.” Lucifer means “Shining Star of the Dawn,” or “light-bringer.” Notice what God’s word says of Lucifer and his reign in that long ago pre-Adamic time: Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.

“Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

“Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

“Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

“By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire” (Ezekiel 28:13-16).

Here, the Prince of Tyre is typical of Lucifer, who became Satan, the Devil. None of the descriptions of Lucifer could ever be applied to a mere human.

The “precious stones” listed are minerals, found on this earth. The chemical formula for all such minerals is interesting, for it proves an earth in that far distant past which contained the same elements as our earth, today.

Notice that Lucifer is a created being; that he was one of the “anointed cherubs” who was depicted by the two cherubim overshadowing the mercy seat in the tabernacle—later, in the temple. The mercy seat pictured the throne of God.

This description of Lucifer shows him as perfect in his ways UNTILiniquity, which means “lawlessness,” or sin, was found in him. The expression “multitude of thy merchandise” means “by the abundance of your trafficking; your merchandising,” and refers to Satan’s countless years of influencing his angelic followers with his poison jealousy, enmity, vanity and greed; his desire to overthrow God!

Satan went about as the original “traveling salesman,” murmuring, griping, complaining, influencing his angelic followers until they were fully infected with his vitriol; fully committed to his evil agenda against God. They have remained so to this day.

Now, notice a parallel account in Isaiah’s prophecy: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

“For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars [angels] of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

“I will ascend above the heights of the clouds [proving a watery planet, with an atmosphere]; I will be like the most High.

“Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell [Hebrew: Sheol, as a pit or grave, not implying fiery regions], to the sides of the pit” (Isaiah 14:12-15).

Jesus Christ said, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven” (Luke 10:18).

Christ, in His prehuman state, was THERE when the original “star wars” occurred. Notice what Christ showed John in vision: “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars” [a picture of the “Church in the wilderness,” Israel with twelve tribes, and a figure of the New Testament church with twelve apostles at its beginning]:

“And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered [a figure for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ],

“And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads [a picture of Satan, and the earthly kingdoms he has controlled, plus the final “ten horns” which are the BEAST(Revelation 17:12-14) which will assay to fight Christ at His second coming],

“And his tail [as if the tail of a comet] drew the third part of the stars of heaven [a third of the angels], and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born [Satan influenced Herod, who massacred thousands of babies in an attempt to kill Christ],

“And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne [Christ’s ascension to the Father]

“And the woman [the church during the Middle ages, suffering horrible martyrdom and persecution] fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

“And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:1-9).

Space is filled with debris. When you look at the lifeless face of the moon, you see countless impact craters which were made when huge meteors and asteroids smashed into its surface. The lifeless face of Mars; the poisonous gases surrounding Jupiter, the thick, poisonous atmospheres of other planets and the misshapen moons in their orbits testify to a cataclysm so huge, so gargantuan as to defy human imagination.

Because of such phenomena, the average astronomer today accepts the “big bang” theory for the origin of the universe. After all, he can see vast clouds of dust, huge “belts” of asteroids and meteors; he can detect how tiny grains of rock, hurling through space at speeds far, far in excess of the speed of sound, can impact small rocks, creating perfectly shaped, tiny impact craters.

I have seen lunar rocks through a microscope. I was astonished to see such little impact craters, perfectly shaped, as if a boy had shot a “bb” gun into hardening clay, yet so tiny as to be virtually invisible to the human eye.

On any given clear, dark night, one may see any number of meteorites streaking across the sky, burning up into dust as they are drawn into the earth’s atmosphere by gravity. Yearly, the earth passes through various “belts” of millions of such pieces of rock, most of which burn up, but a few, now and then, impact the ground.

“Meteor Crater” in Arizona is one mile wide. Scientists have never found the meteor remains, which plunged so deep into the earth’s crust as to be inaccessible even through deep drilling.

Our solar system and our galaxy, as well as the entire visible universe, shows WRECKAGE on a scale to defy imagination! The EARTH ALONE shines forth in blue and white beauty; our “spaceship” earth, like a jewel of LIFE amid an endless region of lifeless hulks!

This earth has been covered with water several times, as proved by the topographical features of the entire planet. The “atolls” of the Pacific represent the gradual accumulation of coral polyps over thousands of years, which have created roughly circular or semi-circular rings of islands atop what was once a huge volcanic cinder cone, which, like Krakatoa, once exploded, or was inundated with encroaching waters. The deep lagoons inside many such atolls, such as Ulithi, where an entire fleet sheltered during the final months of World War II, may be the deep remains of ancient cinder cones.

Scientists know the process of “island building” is still going on in places like Hawaii.

For perhaps billions of years, Satan and his demons wandered about over the surface of this lifeless, destroyed planet. Thick clouds and vapors, like a Venusian atmosphere, obscured the sun. Not a bit of light penetrated to the surface of raging, foaming, endless seas, stygian black, with no living creatures.

Christ gives us a clue as to the nature and desire of demons who were THERE during all that time, chained by God’s power to this earth. When He had cast out a dumb demon, and a child, freed from possession, then spoke, the Pharisees accused Him of casting out demons in collusion with “Beelzebub,” or Satan. Christ said they were perilously close to committing the unpardonable sin! He then said, “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out” (Luke 11:24).

But this is only part of the fascinating story. Believe it or not, during the flood of Noah, the One who became Christ testified to Satan and the demonic spirits who are “chained” to this earth that the flood was a TYPE of an impending destruction of the whole earth BY FIRE!

In the beginning of this book, you read Peter’s prophecy; how “…the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men” (2 Peter 3:7).

Now, notice a much-misunderstood part of your Bible: “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell [Greek: Tartaroo, meaning a “place of restraint,” or “incarceration”], and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

“And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

“And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly…The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished” (2 Peter 2:4-9).

Here Peter writes of the ancient “star wars” to which Christ referred, when Satan and his demons were cast out of heaven, and forced by the power of God to remain ON THIS EARTH.

But the result of their rebellion destroyed the earth, and all pre-Adamic life upon it! It was this vast, global destruction which entombed billions of creatures, and billions of tons of vegetation beneath the rocks which were formed atop them, which provides mankind with his “fossil fuels” today!

Crude oil and coal are the result of living matter being buried deep beneath the surface.

Genesis the first chapter shows a world covered with thick clouds, no light penetrating, with nothing save storm-tossed seas! For some vast, indeterminate period, Satan and his rebellious angels, now demons, could only wander endlessly over lifeless oceans, with not a single pinprick of light to be seen!

This is a clue as to their ultimate fate, which is pictured by Jude to be like “…Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever” (Jude 13).

Now read how Christ was active DURING THE FLOOD OF NOAH in witnessing to these rebellious angels: “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness [both literal and figurative, in the sense of spiritual darkness] unto the judgment of the great day” (Jude 6).

Peter, encouraging the faithful that God will avenge every wrong, and reward every good, wrote, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

“By which [by means of the power of the Spirit] also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison [Satan and his demons inTartaroo or chained to this earth by God’s command];

“Which sometime were disobedient [this tells us WHICH spirits; those who were disobedient!] , when [now we learn WHEN Christ preached to them] once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water” (1 Peter 3:18-20).

Instead of seeing this fascinating truth, the major churches teach that Christ was NOT REALLY DEAD when He was in the tomb, but that He was IN HELL!! They teach that Christ descended to hell to preach to the lost! What abysmal IGNORANCE of God’s Word!

The plain truth is, Christ used the time of the flood, which was a powerful reminder of the AEONS the demons had spent wandering over stygian black seas, as a time to witness to the evil spirits of their coming punishment, which will be to become like “wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.” He did this DURING THE FLOOD OF NOAH!

Any geologist who is truly observant knows that this earth was submerged in water, not once, but at LEAST twice, and very probably many more times!

The Grand Canyon of Arizona is a poignant testimony to that fact. All along the Kaibab plateau are huge, thick layers of various rocks, mostly sandstone. They show a consistency of material as if one had mixed them in a blender. Thick seams of rock, with tiny grains of sand now hardened, not infused with large boulders or jagged debris, but smoothly blended, and laid down in succession.

What this displays is tidal action in very shallow seas or inland basins, overflowing the region with monstrous amounts of effluvia, then receding, allowing the mud to harden. Then, another tidal overflow from yet another direction, carrying somewhat different materials, with different colors and characteristics, until, over thousands of years, there was a level plain with stacked strata almost like the pages of a book. The bulk of the rocks on earth are sedimentary, or water-deposited.

Then, at some time, a massive FLOOD scoured the plain, attacking the lowest and softest areas of the rocks, gouging out what is today the Grand Canyon. Along the Colorado River shores are mixed, jumbled rocks, conglomerates and chaotic deposits, featuring huge, house-sized stones, which show evidence of having been rolled and tumbled, interbedded with much smaller rocks, and the whole infused with gravels and sands! This is nothing less than testimony to what happened to all the rocks which once formed a level plain on the Kaibab, where today a gigantic, one mile deep canyon remains!

The rocks of the earth loudly proclaim that they were inundated with waters, not once, but AT LEAST twice! The Bible says the same thing. The continents were completely submerged at the time just before Adam’s creation, and completely submerged again at the time of Noah.

Fulfilled Prophecies, A Proof Of God, And Proof Of The Bible!

There are DOZENS of instances of fulfilled prophecies in the Bible. Many of them relate to Christ Himself, where the Old Testament writers prophesied of specific events surrounding His birth, His ministry, His betrayal, arrest, death, burial, and resurrection.

Here are a few of them: It was prophesied that Christ would be of David’s lineage (Matthew 22:44; Mark 12:36; Luke 1:69, 70; 20:42-44; John 7:42; 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Psalms 89:3, 4; Isaiah 9:6, 7; 11:1).

He would be born of a virgin: Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 7:14. He would be born in Bethlehem: Matthew 2:6; John 7:42; Micah 5:2. He would sojourn in Egypt: Matthew 2:15; Hosea 11:1.

He would grow up in Galilee (Matthew 4:15; Isaiah 9:1, 2. And at Nazareth: Matthew 2:23; Isaiah 11:1. An Elijah-like forerunner would announce His coming: Matthew 3:3; 11:10-14; Mark 1:2, 3; Luke 3:4-6; 7:27; John 1:23; Isaiah 40:3-5; Malachi 3:1; 4:5.

His appearance would result in the massacre of children: Matthew 2:18; Genesis 35:19, 20; 48:7; Jeremiah 31:15. He would perform a healing ministry: Matthew 8:17; Isaiah 53:4. He would teach using puzzles, or parables: Matthew 13:14, 15, 35; Isaiah 6:9, 10; Psalms 78:2. He would be despised, disbelieved, and rejected by the religious leaders and rulers: Matthew 15:8, 9; 21:42; Mark 7:6, 7; 12:10, 11; Luke 20:17; John 12:38-40; 15:25; Psalms 69:4; 118:22; Isaiah 6:10; 29:13; 53:1.

He would make a triumphal entry into Jerusalem: Matthew 21:5; John 12:13-15; Isaiah 62:11; Zechariah 9:9; Psalms 118:26. He would be like a shepherd which had been smitten: Matthew 26:31; Mark 14:27; Zechariah 13:7. He would be betrayed by a friend for exactly 30 pieces of silver: Matthew 27:9, 10; John 13:18; Zechariah 11:12, 13; Psalms 41:9.

He would die alongside criminals: Luke 22:37; Isaiah 53:9, 12. He would be buried by a rich man: Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60. They would torment Him by giving Him vinegar and gall, as a pretense of giving him water: Matthew 27:34; John 19:29; Psalms 69:21;

They would beat Him until He could see His ribs through the flesh: Psalms 22:17. They would pierce His hands and feet: Psalms 22:16. They would pierce His side: John 19:37; Zechariah 12:10. They would gamble over His garments; Psalms 22:18; They would laugh at Him as He died: Psalms 22:7.

He would rise from the dead the third day: Matthew 12:40; Luke 24:46; Johah 1:17.

That a great destruction of Jerusalem would follow His death: Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14; Luke 21:20; Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:1, 2.

His birth, youth, place of dwelling, baptism, and His message were foretold. Dozens of Old Testament prophecies pointed toward Christ, and Jesus Himself KNEW he was fulfilling them as they occurred. Because the prophecy said he would be “numbered among the transgressors,” He told the disciples only two swords were “enough” (Luke 22:38), meaning enough to fulfill the prophecy, and certainly not enough to fight off a large group of armed men.

His betrayal, death, burial and resurrection were foretold. In fact, as seen in the types and shadows of God’s annual Holy Days, the entire Old Testament points toward the need for a Redeemer; a Savior, who would atone for the sins of the world, and become the future world ruler!

Not only do the Old Testament prophecies abound with specific, detailed prophecies of Christ, they also sketch the entirety of world history from the most ancient empires to the present, and the future just ahead of us now!

Daniel prophesied of the rise and fall of the four world-ruling kingdoms which prevailed from his time until the collapse of the Holy Roman Empire! He also foretold a future RESURRECTION of the same system in the end time! His prophecies, particularly in Daniel 4, 7, and 11, depict an end-time revival of the so-called “Holy Roman Empire” which will embody ten nations called the “Beast” by both Daniel and the Revelation, which system will assay to FIGHT CHRIST at His second coming!

Several times in Daniel’s 7th chapter, he begins with the various ancient world-ruling kingdoms, and concludes with the second coming of Christ, and the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth! Notice them: “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

“I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

“I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened” (Daniel 7:7-10). The “little horn” was an ecclesiastical system with succeeded in overthrowing the Vandals, Ostrogoths and Heruli who had successively occupied Rome.

The fourth beast depicts Rome, which succeeded the Greco-Macedonian Kingdom of Alexander the Great. The Romish kingdom, then, is prophesied to become once more extant until earthly kingdoms are destroyed, and the “Ancient of days,” Jesus Christ, sits on his throne, and the final judgement begins!

Notice further: “As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.

“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

“And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:12-14). Again, the earthly kingdoms are to be taken away, and Christ is to return and set up His kingdom.

Notice the third time in the same prophecy that the final ten-horned beast power is to prevail UNTIL the time of the second coming of Christ: “I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

“These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth [they did; Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome].

“But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

“Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;

“And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

“I beheld, and the same horn [the “little horn” which is a great false church, which: “thinks to change times and laws”] made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;

“Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom” (Daniel 7:16-22).

Daniel began predicting these four world-ruling empires in about 605 BC, during the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, the King of Judah, when he was captured by Nebudchadnezzar.

Daniel lived through four successive kings’ reigns in Babylon. He was a contemporary of Ezekiel, who was in “Khabour” (probably a refugee camp named “Heber”).

Daniel was for seven years the actual vice-regent of Babylon, while Nebudchadnezzar was a raving maniac, rooting around in the palace grounds, completely insane (Daniel 4). For seventy years, Daniel occupied a very high office in Babylon, until it was overthrown by the Medes and Persians, just as he had foretold.

After Daniel’s death, just as he predicted, the Medo-Persian empire became the dominant world power. He had predicted that Alexander the Great would overthrow Medo-Persia, and that Greco-Macedonia would become the next world-ruling empire. Then, he predicted that Alexander, depicted as the “rough goat” of Daniel 8, would be succeeded by FOUR kingdoms. This occurred! Even before Alexander was buried, his kingdom was “broken” (Daniel 8:22). Rawlinson says of Alexander: “Cut off unexpectedly in the vigor of early manhood, he left no inheritor, either of his power or of his projects…” (Daniel 8:22 says, “Now that [the king of Grecia] being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power”), Rawlinson continues, “…The Empire which he [Alexander] had constructed broke into fragments soon after his death; and his plans, whatever they were, perished with him” (Rawlinson’s A Manual of Ancient History From the Earliest Times, p. 237).

Thus, Daniel, who died somewhere near 534 BC, laid out future world history for the entire period of time from the overthrow of Babylon until the second coming of Christ, yet ahead of you and me in this “end time.”

Babylon, Persia, Greco-Macedonia and Rome; all came and went, exactly as Daniel predicted!

The four divisions of Alexander’s kingdom were those of Syria (called “The Kings of the North”), Egypt (the Ptolemies; called “The King of the South”), Greece, and Asia Minor.

Daniel’s prophecies about the kings of the North and South were delivered 200 years before the Greek empire arose, and 400 years before the kings of the North and South existed!

In Daniel’s 2nd chapter, contained in the interpretation of Nebudchadnezzar’s dream, is a sweeping preview of world history from the time of ancient Babylon until the time of the end, when Christ is to set up His kingdom. Each world-dominant empire came and went exactly as Daniel predicted; Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome.

But the most detailed, and the lengthiest prophecy in all the Bible is Daniel’s 11th chapter. In it, the minutest machinations of scheming men and women are foretold. They were accomplished during the period of the “Seleucidae” of Syria and the lesser line of Pharoahs in Egypt, called the “Ptolemies.”

These two powers represented two of the four governments which succeeded Alexander’s kingdom. Notice how detailed are the prophecies, and the incredible proofs from history of how they came to pass exactly as Daniel had written, so many hundreds of years earlier:

“And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.

“And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity[Alexander left no heir], nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those” (Daniel 11:3, 4). The “mighty king” is Alexander, and the four generals who carved up his kingdom are as listed above, Greece, Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt.

“And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion” (Daniel 11:5). This was Ptolemy I of Egypt.

“And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king’s daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times” (Daniel 11:6).

Eventually, Berenice, the daughter of Ptolemy II, was given in marriage to Antiochus II in an attempt to form a political alliance, and was subsequently murdered.

“But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail:

“And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north (Daniel 11:7, 8). Rawlinson says, “Ptolemy Euergetes invades Syria, B.C. 245, to avenge the murder of his sister, Berenice, and her infant son, who had been put to death by Laodice, with the consent of Callinicus [the surname of Seleucus II]. In the war which follows, he carried everything before him” (ibid. P. 252).

Next, notice Daniel 11:10-13: “But his sons shall be stirred up [the two sons were Seleucus III and Antiochus III], and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress.

“And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north [Ptolemy IV defeated Antiochus III with great loss in the battle of Raphia, 217 BC.]: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.

“And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it.

“For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches.” In almost incredible detail, verse after verse of Daniel 11, which was given to Daniel by the archangel Gabriel (See Daniel 10:4-11, with 10:21), the individuals identified played out the scenarios exactly as prophesied!

Of this period Rawlinson says, “On the death of Seleucus III., Antiochus III. [his brother], surnamed “the Great” ascended the throne. His long reign, which exceeded thirty-six years, constitutes the most eventful period of Syrian history…at first, the cruel and crafty Carian, Hermeias, is all-powerful with the young prince. At his instigation Antiochus makes war upon Egypt, BC 223, while he sends his generals to put down the revolt of Molo. When his generals, however, are defeated, he proceeds in person against the rebels, defeats and crushes them, BC 220, makes a successful expedition into Atropatene, and, having caused Hermeias to be put to death, returns in triumph to Syria. Achaeus during his absence has assumed the diadem and title of king. Antiochus remonstrates, but does not march against his rebellious relation, preferring to resume his schemes against Egypt. An important war follows with Ptolemy Philopator, BC 219, in which Antiochus is at first completely successful; but the battle of Raphia, BC 217, deprives him of all his conquests, except the maritime Seleuceia, which he retains. Antiochus, having made peace with Egypt, turns his arms next against Achaeus, BC 216, and, assisted by Attalus, defeats him, besieges him in Sardis, and finally obtains possession of his person by treachery, BC 214″ (ibid. P. 253).

Now, notice verse 17: “He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him.” Antiochus gave his daughter Cleopatra to Ptolemy V in a treacherous marriage alliance, hoping to get control of Egypt. But (Daniel 11:18, 19) she remained loyal to her husband instead!

Antiochus then invaded Asia Minor and Greece, but was defeated by the Roman Army at Magnesia in 190 BC. He returned to his own land, and was slain (verse 19).

Now comes a fascinating example of the DUALITY of Bible prophecy; how an earlier, “typical” fulfillment can presage a later, literal fulfillment. In this interesting case, there may yet remain an end-time repetition of the same chain of events!

The final King of the North who is mentioned in the archangel’s lengthy prophecy, set down by Daniel, is Antiochus “Ephiphanes” whose name brought forth a cynical aspersion, “Epimanes,” or a play on the name which meant “crazy.” Apparently he was just that.

Seleucus was murdered by a man named Heliodorus, who was a “treasurer,” or “tax-collector.” This occurred in 176 BC. Heliodorus seized the throne from Seleucus. But, as Rawlinson records, “…it was not long before Antiochus, the brother of the late king, with the help of the Pergamene monarch, Eumenes, recovered it. This prince, who is known in history as Antiochus IV, or, more commonly, as Antiochus Epiphanes, was a man of courage and energy. He engaged in important wars with Armenia and Egypt; and would beyond a doubt have conquered the latter country, had it not been for the interposition of the Romans. Still, the energy of Epiphanes was of little benefit to his country…his religious intolerance raised him up an enemy in the heart of his empire, whose bitter hostility proved under his successors a prolific source of weakness. the Jews [in Palestine], favored by the former kings of Syria, were driven to desperation by the mad project of the self-willed monarch, who, not content with plundering the Temple to satisfy his necessities [gold and silver], profaned it by setting up in the Holy of Holies the image of Jupiter Olympius” (ibid. P. 255 emphasis mine).

Thus came to pass of Daniel 11:31 and the first previous type of the “Abomination of [that causes] desolation” prophesied by Christ (Matthew 24:15). 2 Thessalonians 2 is also a prediction of a yet future abomination of desolation in the “Temple of God.”

Antiochus was an evil genius. Rawlinson says, “He astonished his subjects by an affectation of Roman manners — his good-natured profuseness.”

His predecessor was a “tax collector.” Antiochus was predicted to be a “vile person” “…to whom they shall not give the honor of his kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably [in a time of peace], and obtain the kingdom by flatteries” (Daniel 11:21).

The Kaiser [German for Caesar] of Germany, Wilhelm, was of the “Hohenzollern” family. The name means “tax collector.” The word “Zoll” means “Customs” and was common at border crossings in Europe prior to the creation of a United Europe, and the virtual dismantling of national border checkpoints. Adolf Hitler came to power by “flatteries.” He told the German people they were destined by God to be the leaders of Europe, and the leaders of the world. He hated the Jews, and initiated pogroms against them, murdering them in their millions.

He was a “vile person,” who was not given the “honor of the kingdom.” Bismarck did not trust him. The Prussian General Staff considered him an “upstart corporal,” and the old German aristocracy disdained him. But, true to the prophecy, Hitler, as well as Antiochus, “…shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people” (Daniel 11:23).

Once Antiochus Epiphanes is introduced as the “King of the North” in Daniel 11, no other leading personality is introduced.

The prophecy then concludes with predictions of a future desecration of the temple; of an attack into Palestine, which results in its occupation [read my booklet, Mideast Strife — Will It Lead To Armageddon?].

Thus, from profane history, we learn that the longest prophecy in the Bible, Daniel the 11th chapter, not only knew intricately detailed fulfillment in the past, HUNDREDS of years after Daniel wrote it, but that it is YET to be fulfilled in its literal meaning in the future!

The booklet mentioned above details what will occur as prophesied in Daniel 11:40-45.

History corroborates the Bible! The spade of the archaeologist corroborates the biblical record! Bible prophecy is history, written in advance! In the case of Daniel 11, a great archangel appeared to Daniel, gave him a very detailed prophecy, which Daniel wrote. Over the hundreds of years and even thousands of years, those prophecies came to pass, just as they were written.

No mere human could have foreseen the rise and fall of the great empires. No mere human could have predicted the four-fold breakup of Alexander’s kingdom, or the detailed machinations of the Ptolemies and the Seleucidae in their many wars.

Fulfilled Bible prophecy is great PROOF of the veracity of the Word of God! God says, “Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?

“With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and showed to him the way of understanding?

“Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.

“And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.

“All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.

“To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?

“The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.

“He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.

“Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?

“It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:

“That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.

“Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.

“To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.

“Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth [See Romans 1:18-32].

“Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?

“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

“Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:12-31).

Those who approach the Bible with suspicion will never understand it. Those who demand of God in haughty disdain that each part of the Bible measure up to their carnal human expectations WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND it! They are blinded, spiritually, and are in rebellion against God. Paul wrote, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:7).

He also said, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

“In whom the god of this world [Satan!] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3, 4).

What is your attitude toward the holy, inspired word of God? God says, “Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

‘For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word” (Isaiah 66:1, 2). Remember, we must adjust ourselves to the Bible, not the Bible to ourselves!

Don’t criticize the Bible! Let it criticize YOU!

May God lead you to approach His word with humility and awe!

You may copy and distribute this information only to friends and family without changes, without charge and with full credit given to the author and publisher. You may not publish it for general audiences.

This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man’s word for anything, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible.

The activities of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association are paid for by tithes, offerings and donations freely given by Christians and co-workers who are dedicated to preaching the gospel according to Jesus Christ.

The post The BIBLE, Fact or Fiction? first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Read, in this simple, yet profound booklet, How You CAN UNDERSTAND BIBLE PROPHECY!

Can anything be more fascinating, more mysterious than some of the prophecies of the Bible? The book of Daniel, with its great image composed of various metals and miry clay; the beasts with their many horns and the “little horn” which came up among them to uproot three other beasts; the book of Revelation with its mysterious seals and trumpet plagues, great dragons, a woman clothed with the sun, a symbolic “bottomless pit”—surely there is much in biblical prophecy to fascinate, puzzle and mystify!

Approximately one THIRD of all the Bible is prophecy! The major prophets” include Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, and the minor” prophets (so-called because their prophecies in the Bible are of lesser duration) include Hosea to Malachi.

Few realize that Jesus Christ was the greatest prophet of all; that His “Olivet prophecy” (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21) provides a vital KEY to the understanding Of ALL prophecy.

Believe it or not, there are prophecies found from Genesis to Revelation; some of the Psalms are prophetic in nature, and it is truly impossible to understand the very purpose for human life on this planet; impossible to understand why you were born without understanding PROPHECY!

Can Just Anyone Understand Bible Prophecy?

At the end of the book of Daniel, Gabriel the archangel is concluding his exposition of the longest single prophecy in the Bible by explaining to Daniel that Palestine will be occupied by a great northern military power. In the twelfth and final chapter, following Daniel 11, the longest, and one of the most detailed prophecies in the Bible, Gabriel said, “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:1, 2). In Jesus’ famous “Olivet prophecy” He said, “for then shall be great tribulation [a time of trouble], such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:21, 22). Obviously, the prophecy of Jesus Christ and this prophecy delivered to Daniel by the archangel Gabriel are speaking of the same time!

Jeremiah said “Alas! For that day is great, so that NONE IS LIKE IT: It is even the time of JACOB’S TROUBLE; but he shall be saved out of it [meaning he shall go THROUGH it, not be saved from it!] For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Eternal of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: But they shall serve the Eternal their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them” (Jeremiah 30:7-9).

This is the famous GREAT TRIBULATION of biblical prophecy! Notice that Gabriel said to Daniel, “At that time THY PEOPLE shall be delivered!” Remember, Daniel was in captivity, together with many thousands of his Jewish brethren, in Babylon! The northern ten-tribed HOUSE OF ISRAEL had been taken captive many decades earlier by the armies of Shalmanezer, king of Assyria!

It is obvious, then, that the great tribulation of biblical prophecy is a time of trouble upon God’s people of ISRAEL (remember, Jacob’s name was changed to Israel!).

Surely, millions are familiar with the term “the Great Tribulation.” It is a common expression understood to connote a time of great, global WARFARE; a time of unparalleled trauma, suffering, heartache, disease, earthquakes and tidal waves, destruction and loss of human life in WAR!

Now, notice what happened!

“But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even TO THE TIME OF THE END; Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Daniel 12:4).

Notice that Daniel’s prophecies were to be shut Up, CLOSED. But for how long? Were they to be closed so that no human being could ever understand them? No! They were to be shut up and sealed “even to the time of the end”!

You are living in “the time of the end”! Later, Daniel asked “How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?” (Daniel 12:6).

“And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and swear by Him that liveth forever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished, And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end! Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand!” (Daniel 12:6-10). So the prophecies of Daniel are to be understood—but not UNTIL “the time of the end”!

Eschatologists and students of Bible prophecy have known down through many centuries that the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation are both interrelated. It is as if Bible prophecy were like one of the picture-type puzzles one may buy in a game store. In order to fill in the complete picture, you must have, not only the book of Daniel, but the book of Revelation, together with many other prophecies, not the least of which is Christ’s Olivet prophecy, to complete the picture!

It is for this reason there have been any number of books published by theologians over the years concerning both Daniel and the Revelation.

Notice what John said of his book of Revelation: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to SHOW unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John” (Revelation 1: 1). The book of Revelation was given to SHOW, not to hide or conceal. But, notice it is given to show unto “HIS SERVANTS” those things which are to happen!

Now, turn to Amos 3:7: “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets!” God says His true servants on this earth WILL understand Bible prophecies!

He says, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another PROPHECY…” (1 Corinthians 12:7-10).

The apostle Paul revealed that “God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers…” (1 Corinthians 12:28).

Therefore, a gift of the Holy Spirit of God—that of understanding Bible prophecies—was predicted to be in God’s true church! He plainly says that He will give that gift of prophetic understanding, uniquely, to a certain few of His true ministers! Others, who may be called to perform other functions, either pastoring a local congregation, or being sent by others to preach the gospel (as were Peter and John; Acts 8:14) may not necessarily have this gift of understanding prophecy.

Therefore, we see that Almighty God has deliberately guarded the prophecies of the Bible! They are NOT given as a curious “plaything” for various would-be spiritual leaders or the organizers of cults. They are not for those like the ancient Babylonian soothsayers, astrologers, stargazers and dealers in witchcraft; not given to provide a plaything for speculators, fanatics, self-proclaimed “prophets” and would-be religious leaders!

The gift of understanding prophecy, so says your Bible, would be a PART of the very true Church of God!

What is Prophecy?

Prophecy is history—written in advance!

Prophecy is the outline of the overall plan of God as He KNEW it would work out, according to the vagaries of human nature—coupled with those interventions of God which He requires from time to time, in order to fulfill His plan!

Almighty God is not engaged in playing games. His biblical prophecies are not to merely arouse curiosity, titillate the mind, or give away “secrets” to a few so that they may claim divine revelation.

Actually, the prophets of God usually brought both a WITNESS and a WARNING. They were sent to indict God’s people, reminding them of their great SINS, nationally and individually; to remind them of the consequences of those sins, and to call upon them to repent!

Notice an outstanding example: “Hear O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil-doers, children that are corrupters; they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. Why should ye be stricken any more? Ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers … Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah” (Isaiah 1:2-9).

Here, Isaiah contrasts the dumb ox who knows its way to the barn and the precise stall where its feed is waiting, as opposed to sinning Israel which has completely forsaken God!

Then, the analogy of the body is given; the “head” would stand for the heads of government, industry, business, education, science and the military; and God says the “whole head is SICK!”

Perhaps the heart is the national conscience, will and resolve; the muscle and sinew of the body the labor force; the nervous system and circulatory system air and surface transportation and communications; and so on.

God shows that from the “sole of the foot even unto the head” there is nothing but “wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores.”

Then, the people are seen as crying out that, except God had spared a very small REMNANT, God’s own peoples would have been utterly destroyed just as were Sodom and Gomorrah! The prophecies of Isaiah contain many indictments against the national SINS of Israel! Could anything be more specifically accurate, or cogent to the modern nations of the United States, Great Britain, some of the democratic nations of Northwestern Europe, including Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, as Isaiah 3:12?

God says, “As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.”

Today, this prophecy of Isaiah has special poignancy.

None of the Prophets Volunteered

Jeremiah was especially called of God even before he was born (Jeremiah 1:5), and like all the other prophets, did not volunteer for the job!

Rather, when the Word of God came to Jeremiah he said, “Behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the Eternal said unto me, say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak” (Jeremiah 1:7).

Now, notice the indictments against God’s people Israel commencing in the second chapter. Jeremiah says, “I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination…” He asks, “Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the Eternal” (Jeremiah 2:11-12). Even Ezekiel, though he prophesied from a condition of captivity (Ezekiel 1: 1), was given a message of terrible indictments against God’s people Israel!

“Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads…” (Ezekiel 3:4-9).

Ezekiel was also given a special commission to the House of Israel! He was told, “Son of man, I have made thee a WATCHMAN unto the House of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them WARNING from me. When I say unto the wicked, thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou has delivered thy soul!” (Ezekiel 3:17-19).

Thus, God placed a heavy, personal responsibility on the shoulders of His prophets! Their performance in the carrying out of their individual callings related directly to their own salvation! If they failed to warn the wicked, and the wicked died, God held the prophet accountable!

If they succeeded in WARNING the wicked, even though their message was spurned and rejected, the prophet would be spared.

NONE of God’s prophets volunteered!

Isaiah said he was a man of “unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5), but God, through a vision, caused Isaiah to see “one of the seraphim” who, “having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said [Isaiah!], Here am 1; send me” (Isaiah 6:5-8). In each case, God’s prophets had to be made willing to carry the message!

Surely the most outstanding example of this is the prophet Jonah as he attempted to flee from the responsibility God was imposing upon him. Jonah became shipwrecked and was swallowed by a specially-prepared giant fish that vomited him up onto the shore. Jonah was humbly willing after the ordeal.

Notice what Amos said to his antagonists after he had been ordered to get out of his immediate country and not speak anymore of God’s judgments!

“Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit: And the Eternal took me as I followed the flock, and the Eternal said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel. Now therefore hear thou the Word of the Eternal: thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac. Therefore thus saith the Eternal; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land!” (Amos 7:14-17).

Thus, God specially called certain men from various previous occupations, gave them His message and commanded them to go to His stiff-necked wayward, rebellious, God-rejecting people with a MESSAGE.

Always, they were rejected! Rebellious Israel spurned the message and warning of God, as she continues to do unto this day!

Jesus referred to this in His blistering indictment of the Pharisees. He said, “Wherefore behold, I send unto you prophets. and wise men and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify, and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, all these things shall come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate” (Matthew 23:34-38).

Perhaps the summarization of all the prophets could be found in God’s words through Jeremiah to Israel: “Thus saith the Eternal of hosts, the God of Israel; put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh. For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: But this thing commanded I them, saying, OBEY MY VOICE, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart and went backward, and not forward. Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them: Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers … thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the Eternal their God, nor receiveth correction; truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth!” (Jeremiah 7:21-28).

Because of the great sacrifice made by these great men of God; because of their enormous contribution to biblical literature, and their example for us today, Jesus Christ said they are a part of the very foundation of the New Testament CHURCH OF GOD!

Notice! “For through Him [Christ] we both [Jews and Gentiles alike] have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles AND PROPHETS Jesus Christ being the chief Cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:18-20).

Prophecy is Dual

Much of Bible prophecy is dual—that is, it consists of pronouncements which are both thesis and antithesis; type and antitype, or a prior (usually immediate) fulfillment and a final, latter-day fulfillment.

As a matter of fact, type and antitypes, “shadows” of reality, figures of speech, metaphor, simile and analogies are used liberally throughout the Bible, just as they are in much of our literature and everyday speech.

Perhaps one of the greatest examples of duality is in the prophecy of the imminent destruction of Jerusalem, given by Jesus Christ in Matthew 24 (also read Mark 13; Luke 21).

Notice that at the very beginning of the prophecy Jesus said,

“Verily I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down” (Matthew 24:2).

Then follows the Olivet prophecy of false Christs and false prophets; wars and rumors of wars; global conflict, famines, pestilences, earthquakes; all of which are described as “the beginning of sorrows,” or the commencement of the Great TRIBULATION (Matthew 24:21).

Following the tribulation is a description of the heavenly signs (Matthew 24:29), followed by the appearance of the “sign of the Son of man in heaven” (verse 30) and the Second Coming of Christ (verses 30, 3 1).

The chapter concludes with Christ’s warning: “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only…” (verse 36), and His admonition that at the time of His imminent return human beings would be living as if they hadn’t a care in the world, completely oblivious to the meaning of the times (verses 37-39) and His examples of those who were not watching and who were caught unawares (verses 48-51).

Applying the simple test of truth to this prophecy, you can easily see it was dual in nature.

For, Jerusalem was destroyed approximately forty years after this prophecy! Josephus writes of the most bestial and hideous bloodletting one can imagine; the protracted siege, horrible famine and starvation, the ultimate conquest of the city, the impaling and torturing to death of tens of thousands of Jews; the prizing apart of the very stones of the upper portions of the wall surrounding the city and the leveling of its buildings, together with the desecration of its famous temple.

True to the predictions of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, that living generation did not pass before the things of His Olivet prophecy came to pass!

But there were no “heavenly signs”! The “sign of the coming of the Son of man” did not appear in heaven! Jesus Christ of Nazareth did not return at that time! Furthermore, while the city was destroyed, there were thousands of stones which were left intact, and which are there yet today, if one is to take Jesus’ prediction that there would “not be left one stone atop another” literally!

It is obvious to serious students of the Bible and Spirit-filled believers that Jesus’ Olivet prophecy was DUAL. It had a previous “typical” fulfillment in the sack and destruction of Jerusalem by the armies of Titus of Rome in A.D. 70-71. Shockingly, there is to be a yet future destruction of the city of Jerusalem—yes, the modern city—according to Bible prophecy!

A couple of other examples of duality are found in the descriptions of the King of Babylon (Isaiah 14:4) and the Prince of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:2).

All the Bible commentaries are universal in their acceptance of the duality of these two chapters in their description of human, physical kings of empires or city states, and a description of Satan the devil!

The King of Babylon is a type of Satan the devil, who is described in Isaiah 14:12-14. The Prince of Tyre is a type of Satan the devil, who is described commencing in the middle of verse 12 of Ezekiel 28 and concludes in the latter part of verse 17 of that same chapter.

There is a third shadowy meaning in both of these chapters, in that both the ancient King of Babylon and the Prince of Tyre are shadowy types of the famous “beast” of a coming military dictatorship in Central Europe; the “King of the north” of Daniel 11:40, etc.; the great future world dictator who is in alliance with the “false prophet” and who will be destroyed at the Second Coming of Christ (Revelation 19:20).

There are many Bible examples of shadows and types, as well as duality.

Thus, there is the Old and New Testament, the Old and New Covenant, the first man Adam (Adam of the flesh, in the Garden of Eden) and the “second man Adam” (Jesus Christ, 1 Corinthians 15:45,46). Pharaoh was a symbol of Satan the devil; Moses and Aaron are typical of the “two witnesses” of Revelation 11; Egypt was a type Of SIN, and the physical Israelites a type of God’s spiritually redeemed.

The plagues that fell upon ancient Egypt at the time of the Exodus are typical of the great trumpet plagues to be poured upon the beast power; the release of the Israelites from captivity is typical of a yet future regathering of God’s people at the Second Coming of Christ (Isaiah 10:20,21; Isaiah 11:11,12; Isaiah 11:15,16; Isaiah 19:23,24; Jeremiah 50:18,19; Ezekiel 11:17-20; Hosea 1:10,11; Joel 2:18-20; Zechariah 1:17; Zechariah 8:3-8: etc.).

The escape of the children of Israel through the parted waters of the Red Sea is symbolic of baptism (1 Corinthians 10: 1-4), and their sojourn in the “wilderness of sin” is symbolic of the life of overcoming confronting the newly-baptized Christian.

The crossing of’ the river Jordan into the “promised land” is a symbolism of the Christian inheritance of the Kingdom of God; and the forty years’ wandering (forty is a number symbolizing trial or testing in the Bible) symbolic of the life of trials and tribulation confronting each newly-begotten Christian (John 16:33). There are literally dozens of types in the Bible which are shadowy examples of God’s plan.

Thus, each of the annual holy days are shadows of the reality of God’s purpose; they are prophetic, in that sense:

(1) The Passover (Lord’s Supper) and the shedding of the blood of the paschal lamb was symbolic of Christ’s sacrifice. In the New Testament, Christ’s substitution of unleavened bread and a sip of wine (symbols of His broken body and shed blood) replaced the paschal lamb, but symbolized the same thing (Matthew 26:26-28). The Christian’s partaking of the Passover symbolizes his acceptance of the shed blood of Jesus Christ as his personal Savior to atone for his sins (1 Corinthians 11:23-30).

(2) The Days of Unleavened Bread symbolize living a life of overcoming; leavened bread symbolizes being “puffed up,” or filled with the baser elements of human nature such as vanity, ego, jealousy, greed, etc. The eating of unleavened bread for seven days (originally, in direct connection with the Passover in Egypt and the Exodus) is symbolic of the Christian’s life of overcoming after acceptance of Christ and baptism (1 Corinthians 5:2-8; Leviticus 23:5, 6).

(3) The Feast of Pentecost (Acts 2; Leviticus 23:9-16) is the feast of “firstfruits” and is a shadowy type of the fact that God is not trying to save the whole world NOW; that He is calling but a “firstfruits,” unto the Lord; that Jesus Christ is the “first” of the firstfruits, and that the great, latter-day harvest of human lives is yet to follow. “Pentecost” merely means “fiftieth,” and is an anglicized version of the Greek name for the “Feast of Firstfruits” which fell fifty days after the weekly Sabbath during the Days of Unleavened Bread.

(4) The Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:23; Numbers 29: 1) is a festival which primarily focuses on the “last trump” (1 Corinthians 15:52), which sounds at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, although it includes the meaning of all of the “trumpets” connected with the plagues of God revealed in the book of Revelation (Revelation 8:6, 7, 8, 10, etc.) and symbolizes an ANNOUNCEMENT, a WARNING to the inhabitants of the earth of the imminent arrival of Christ. As such, the Feast of Trumpets is also a celebration connoting the WORK OF GOD which is to be accomplished on earth; that of preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God as a witness and a warning (Matthew 24:14).

(5) The Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27-29) contained many shadowy types and examples in its original observance, and is still observed today by fasting (Acts 27:9, margin). It is a day which symbolizes “at-one-ment” with God; and portrays the time in the future when the whole world will ultimately be reconciled with God.

(6) The Feast of Tabernacles symbolized the sojourning of ancient Israel, and the fact that they “dwelt in booths” (tabernacles) as a temporary dwelling-place. The Christian is, today, “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people … as strangers and pilgrims…” (1 Peter 2:9-17). Primarily, however, the Festival of Tabernacles is the “feast of ingathering” in the fall of the year; a festival celebrating the great harvest. It foretells the coming of the Kingdom of God to this earth; it was a time of great rejoicing (and is still so celebrated by those who understand that these days are to be observed) portraying the soon-coming Kingdom of God on earth.

(7) The Last Great Day (Leviticus 23:39), falling immediately after the Feast of Tabernacles is the seventh of God’s annual holy days, and portrays the “great white throne judgment’ (Revelation 20: 11) and the second resurrection (Revelation 20:5) when, during a period of an apparent one hundred years (Isaiah 65:20), a time of judgment (not sentencing!) will take place for all those who were never called and never given a true opportunity for salvation during their lifetimes.

Thus, in the seven annual festivals or annual holy days is seen a complete type or shadowy representation of the very PLAN OF GOD!

There are literally dozens of shadowy types in the Bible. A few are: Abraham, as a shadowy type of God the Father being willing to offer His own Son, Jesus Christ, when Abraham was commanded to sacrifice Isaac, and, when God found him willing, a ram was provided instead. Moses is, in a sense, typical of both God the Father (in the giving of the law) and Christ the Son (as an intermediary between God and Israel). Moses and Aaron together are typical of the two witnesses of Revelation I 1. Jannes and Jambres, the two “magicians” of Pharaoh’s court, are symbolic of the two witnesses who are saying “let my people go.” David is a type of Jesus Christ. Ezra, Nehemiah, and Zerubbabel, all of whom figured prominently in the delivery of the Jews from their Babylonian captivity, are symbols of Jesus Christ.

Poetic Illustrations

Remember, too, that a good deal of the Bible was written as poetry. There are many poetic books (such as Psalms, the Song of Solomon, etc.) and many passages in some of the major prophets are poetry.

A few examples of poetic meaning would include the placing of the live coal upon Isaiah’s lips as if to cleanse him from being, as he claimed, a man of “unclean lips” (Isaiah 6). Other notable examples are Jeremiah 13: 1-10; 25:15; 27:2,3; Ezekiel 3:2,3 and 4:4-6. Some of the examples of the poetic expression of the joy of deliverance are found in Isaiah 35:1-7; 55:12,13; and Joel 2:21-30.
Biblical Symbolism

Often, the Bible uses symbols to express thoughts and ideas. The Holy Spirit is likened unto some of the physical manifestations of power. Examples include water (John 3:5; Ephesians 5:26; 1 John 5:6; Revelation 22:1,17), fire (Acts 2:3; 1 Peter 1:7; Revelation 3:18; etc.), and wind (John 3:8; Acts 2:2; etc.).

Water, the life-giving substance which is essential to life; wind, or air, which is also essential to life; and fire, which both purges and cleanses (in the case of metals, etc.), or is capable of destroying, are thus used typically of the powerful SPIRIT Of God!

Also, “light” from the sun and the stars is likewise used. Perhaps, had the Bible been written during our day, God would have used nuclear energy and lasers as typical of His awesome power and might.

Notice a few more biblical symbols: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Eternal’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Eternal, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the Word of the Eternal from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:2-4).

Here, as in many other prophecies, it is obvious that the mountain” is symbolic of God’s government. It is probably both literal and figurative, in that the Bible predicts that God’s temple, His headquarters on earth, will be on the “Mount of Olives,” which will actually cleave in two during the great final earthquake (Zechariah 14:4-9).

When it says the Eternal’s house will be established “in the top of the mountains” it means above all of the so-called “great powers” or great nations, and “exalted above the hills” means exalted above all the lesser nations!

Stars are used as symbols for angels (Revelation 9: 1). In the vision of Jesus Christ which John saw (Revelation 1) there were “in His right hand seven stars…” (Revelation 1: 16). Here is an example of how the Bible interprets the Bible. By merely reading on through the description of all that John saw, you come to verse 20 which says, “The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the churches…” (Revelation 1:20).

Jesus Christ is referred to as “the bright and morning star” (Revelation 22:16, Revelation 2:28).

A BEAST, or wild, ravenous creature is usually used to connote a Gentile government, or kingdom. In Daniel’s seventh chapter, for example, are pictured four great beasts. Notice the description: “The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. [This refers to Nebuchadnezzar’s insanity and cure.] And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool: His throne was like the fiery flame, and His wheels as burning fire” (Daniel 7:4-9).

Now, notice how the Bible interprets the Bible in revealing the meaning of these various creatures. Continuing to read through the same chapter, we come to verse 17: “These great beasts. which are four, ARE FOUR KINGS, which shall arise out of the earth.” That a king stands for his kingdom is absolutely conclusive by reading the second chapter of Daniel. Here, we see the vision of Nebuchadnezzar, and the great image described in Daniel 2:32-35.

Daniel, through a miracle, was given the interpretation of the dream and revealed it to Nebuchadnezzar. He said, “Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdoms shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever” (Daniel 2:37-44).

Can anything be plainer? The head of the image stood for Nebuchadnezzar, but it is obvious that king and KINGDOM are completely interchangeable, and mean the same thing.

It says, “And after THEE shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee and another third kingdom of brass…” (Daniel 2:39). Biblical scholars and historians are universal in their acceptance of the obvious succession of the four world-ruling Gentile kingdoms of the Babylonian, Medo/Persian, Greco/Macedonian, and Roman Empires.

What many have missed in these obvious prophecies is the fact that both the great image of Daniel’s second chapter and the fourth beast of Daniel’s seventh chapter culminate in the Second Coming of Christ. Therefore, it is obvious that the fourth beast, which is the Roman Empire with its many revivals and resurrections down through history, will be extant at the final moments before the Second Coming of Christ!

It is “in the days of these kings” (Daniel 2:44) that Jesus Christ returns! In this case “these kings” refer to the ten toes of the great image of Daniel 2.

Notice the biblical corroboration: “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:12-14).

That there will be ten nations united together in a super-dictatorship in Central Europe, probably called a “United States of Europe” by the time of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, there can be no doubt.

“Horns” on the creatures are symbols of the leaders of the state, either civil or religious. It is obvious that the “little horn” of Daniel 7 refers to the papacy which overthrew various governments during the Middle Ages.

Physical Israel (including both the House of Israel and the House of Judah) is always pictured as a woman. Actually, Almighty God pictured Israel as the bride, and God as the suitor in proposing the Old Covenant. God “proposed” by giving Israel His laws and promising to become Israel’s protector, sustainer, and provider. When Israel accepted the terms and conditions of God’s law, it constituted a COVENANT or an agreement, between them.

God used the analogy of a “marriage agreement” and said “I was an husband to them” (Jeremiah 31:31-32).

When Israel broke the terms and conditions of the covenant, God called it whoredom, or harlotry. Read the entire chapter of Ezekiel 16, where God depicts Israel as a young, beautiful woman whom He found as an abandoned child, caused her to “multiply as the bud of the field” (Ezekiel 16:7), but who forsook Him and “did trust in your own beauty, and played the harlot…” (Ezekiel 16:15). Ezekiel 23 is another important chapter, where the House of Israel (the northern ten tribes) is called “Aholah” and Jerusalem, symbolic of the House of Judah, “Aholibah.”

This chapter again depicts their harlotry in forsaking their covenant with God and having concourse with Gentile nations.

The church is depicted as a woman “clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars” (in this case, symbolic of the twelve apostles Revelation 12: 1). One must be cautious, in reading some of the prophecies of the Old Testament, for the description of a female called “the daughter of Zion” or “the daughters of Zion” does not always mean the church.

An example is found in Isaiah 3: 1: “Moreover the Eternal saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go…” This obviously refers to the women of the physical nation of Israel!

God also uses the symbol of a harlot, or a fallen woman to depict the great false, universal church! Notice it: “Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called, the lady of kingdoms. I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke. And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it.

Therefore hear now this, thou that are given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children: But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments. For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me” (Isaiah 47:5-10). See also Revelation 17:5.

Understanding Time Sequences

God gives certain, specific keys to understanding biblical time sequences.

Notice: “And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcasses be wasted in the wilderness. After the number of days in the which you searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years…” (Numbers 14:33, 34).

God plainly tells us that the number of days in which the advance scouts of the nation of Israel searched out the promised land would represent the number of years in which they would wander in the land of Sinai.

Now, notice Ezekiel’s fourth chapter. Ezekiel is told to portray a map of the city of Jerusalem on a tile, as a “sign to the House of Israel.” He was to depict, like a child playing in the sand, a walled fortified city, depict armies advancing against it, with all of the siege mechanisms of the day, and then to lie first on one side and then on the other to depict the number of years Israel would bear their iniquity.

“For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the House of Israel. And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the House of Judah forty days: I HAVE APPOINTED THEE EACH DAY FOR A YEAR” (Ezekiel 4:4-6).

To see a practical application of this important key in understanding Bible prophecy, turn to Revelation 12 and 13. Here, you see the woman (which you have learned stands for God’s true church) given “two wings of a great eagle” (a symbol of God’s protection—Exodus 19:4), that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times and half a time, from the face of the serpent (Revelation 12:14).

Later in the thirteenth chapter, we read that the duration of this persecution under the false prophet and the beast is “forty and two months” (Revelation 13:5).

Yet, in Revelation 12:6, the same period of time is called a thousand two hundred and threescore days. Simple arithmetic shows us, using the key that a day stands for a year in fulfillment, that there was, in fact, a period of one thousand two hundred and sixty years during the Middle Ages when God’s true church experienced terrible persecution; and it tells us, further, that a prophetic year consists of three hundred and sixty days of thirty-day months!

Thus, for prophetic purposes, we can come to understand the meaning of the biblical “time.”

A time is a year in Bible prophecy. Thus, “time, times and half a time” means exactly three and one-half years. Three and one-half years consists of forty-two months of thirty days each. Thus, we have twelve hundred and sixty days, forty-two months, or three and one-half years.

Apparently, the great tribulation, heavenly signs and Day of the Lord will fit into this three and one-half years.

CAUTION: Do not attempt to “set dates” in biblical prophecy! Many have learned, sometimes to their bitter disappointment, that it is a grave error to think you have worked out some specific key or other; some table of figures, numerical values to Greek, Hebrew or English letters, etc., and then arrive at a specific date for the fulfillment of some great prophecy!

Biblical Prophecy Deals in the Overview

The prophecies of Jesus Christ on Mount Olivet are the most Important for us, during this time! It is these prophecies (Matthew 24, Mark 13. Luke 2 1) which interpret the time Sequence of events outlined in the book of Revelation, specifically beginning with chapter 6 and 7, and following the general theme of tribulation, heavenly signs and day of the Lord as it is developed through the remainder of the book of Revelation.

Notice another major key to understanding the sequence of these great events. Read Joel 2:31, compare it carefully with Matthew 24:29, and then read the sixth and seventh chapters of Revelation.

By this brief study, you will see that the great tribulation (Matthew 24:21, 22), or the time of Jacob’s trouble, comes BEFORE the heavenly signs. You see that the heavenly signs come AFTER the tribulation. You see that the Day of the Lord Comes AFTER the heavenly signs!

By this simple understanding, you can come to understand that those who preach a “secret rapture” where the church is allegedly taken away from the earth prior to the “great tribulation” is a complete error.

Rapturists generally confuse the tribulation and Day of the Lord, making them the same thing.

A suggested simple study you might do on your own to aid you in what you have learned is to read the brief description of the great events to befall this earth given by Jesus Christ in the first half of Matthew 24.

As you do so, read Revelation 6 and 7. Notice that the first thing Christ predicted was there would be “false Christs and false prophets.” Now, notice the first of the “four horsemen of the Apocalypse” (Revelation 6) is a being who appears Christ-like, but who, instead of carrying a “sharp two-edged sword” carries a bow. He goes out conquering and to conquer. Many are CONFUSED about this prophecy. Does it mean Christ? Let Jesus Christ Himself do the interpreting! Remember, “No prophecy is of any private interpretation.’

Notice the next of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, the red horse which connotes war. And what did Jesus say would be the second of the great events? “There shall be wars and rumors of wars!”

Once you have established the sequence of events, you can come to understand the meaning of each of the “four horsemen” of Revelation 6; i.e., (1) false Christs and false prophets; (2) wars and rumors of wars; (3) famine; (4) death and destruction.

The fifth seal symbolizes the tribulation, the sixth seal the heavenly signs, and the seventh seal is comprised of seven trumpet plagues.

Notice carefully that the 144,000 and the “great innumerable multitude” (Revelation 7) are not to be sealed of God in their foreheads until during or after the great tribulation (Revelation 7:14). Therefore, they are still on this earth during that time!

Dr. Bullinger, in his Companion Bible (Zondervan Press) has an interesting chart which compares Revelation 6 and 7 with Matthew 24 in the Appendix.

As a sample study, read carefully Revelation 17. Ask yourself which church sits upon a city of seven famous hills? Which church has ruled over many of the great Gentile kingdoms, including the many revivals of the “Holy Roman Empire”? Which church has become “drunken with the blood of the saints”?

Notice that this great false church will actually help form a coming union of TEN NATIONS (verse 12), which will fight Christ at His coming! Which great church resides in a “great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth”?

Think about it.

Believe it or not, careful study of just this one chapter in your Bible, Revelation 17, will give you a much greater understanding than is possessed by many, including some who have authored books about Bible prophecy!

Naturally, the subject I have briefly covered in this booklet could easily be expanded into several large books! There is neither time nor space to do so here. Using what you have learned in this booklet as a guide, perhaps you can now better comprehend and understand many portions of Bible prophecy!

You may copy and distribute this information only to friends and family without changes, without charge and with full credit given to the author and publisher. You may not publish it for general audiences.

This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man’s word for anything, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible.

The activities of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association are paid for by tithes, offerings and donations freely given by Christians and co-workers who are dedicated to preaching the gospel according to Jesus Christ.

The post Can You Understand Bible Prophecy? first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Where I live, only a few hundred yards from a non-denominational church, I can hear church bells all through the week. On various days, religious songs ring out across the landscape from a modern “bell tower,” equipped with loudspeakers. Come Thou Almighty King is played, along with The Old Rugged Cross, and other religious favorites.

East Texas is festooned with churches. New ones are being built as I write. Along my route to town, I can easily count more than fifteen churches.

It is the same all over the United States—especially in the “Bible Belt.”

But not all churches are so benign as they might seem. Here and there are small groups of survivalists, dressed in camouflaged military clothing, listening to their leaders invoking the names of Samson, King David, and Jesus Christ, yet preaching survival and resistance. They are armed with semiautomatic rifles, deer rifles, and shotguns. They believe they will be the very last defense against a “new world order” they believe is poised to take over the United States. The “sermons” they hear are talks about resistance; about tactics and fighting. Are these groups, though few, also bona fide churches?

In addition to all the church buildings, there are thousands of groups meeting in rented halls, private homes, or tents. Why all these churches? Why are they different? Do they all offer the same thing, but by a different method, or system of belief? Are all their members “going to the same place”? Is a church a halfway house to heaven? Must you belong to a church in order to be saved? Can you be saved no matter which church you attend? Is church attendance required for salvation, or can a person forego attendance at any church, and live his own life quietly, and still be admitted into God’s kingdom?

You will be astonished when you read the plain truth about WHY Jesus Christ said He would build His church. Millions of churchgoers flock to the pews each week, and yet do not know the real reason Jesus Christ commissioned His disciples!

It will astound them to learn that Jesus Christ trained His disciples to become future kings and priests, rulers with Him in a coming new government, which will indeed be a “new world order.” But it will not be the result of Christ’s people trying to physically overthrow existing governments!

Organized Confusion

Everyone knows about religious differences. From our earliest recollections of our own church experiences, or from our civics and history books in school, we learned that Jews and Christians are different; that the Jewish race, generally speaking, reject Christ as the Messiah, while nominal Christians believe Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Savior of the world.

We know there are Buddhists, Shintoists, Taoists, Confucianists, Hindus, and adherents of Islam. We know about most of the major denominations; Roman Catholicism, the Anglican Church, the Dutch Reformed Church, the Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists, Episcopalians, Nazarenes, Church of Christ, First Christian Church, Pentecostal churches, and dozens more. It requires a sizeable book or a large section in an almanac just to list them all.

It is plain, from simply informing oneself about how many different churches there are, that they are not all together. They hold different beliefs and customs. Does any one of them believe they are wrong? When thousands of people find their way to their neighborhood church building each week, are they entering a building and participating in a worship service they believe is wrong? No, of course not.

But can all of them be right?

Obviously not, for they are deeply divided, and ne’er the twain shall meet. There is deep-seated division between the Anglican Church and the Roman Catholic Church. Division which caused the shedding of much blood; division which tore nations apart. Very large history books detail how and why the Church of England rejected the primacy of the popes in Rome, and how the Anglican church was formed. There is a vast amount of literature available about the Protestant Reformation; how many millions of members in dozens of denominations refused to submit to the popes in Rome.

Clearly, if any one of these churches is 100 percent right, then all the others are wrong. There simply cannot be different churches, teaching different doctrines, with different customs and practices, who are part of an undivided church.

Some believe in baptism by immersion. Others believe in “baptism” by sprinkling, or pouring a little water over the repentant believer. Some believe in the “christening” of a tiny infant, and others refuse to baptize children. Some believe the only proof of the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues, while others completely reject this doctrine.

How many believe they are in an intensive training program to help Jesus Christ rule the world for one thousand years? How many believe they will soon be involved in abolishing crime, carrying out the death sentence for murderers, outlawing divorce and abortion, and effecting massive, revolutionary changes in nations all over the world? How many believe they are learning how to govern under Christ?

After all, one of the important prophecies about Christ was that a future government would be on His shoulder: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David [an earthly throne], and upon His kingdom, to order it [to set up Christ’s new world order], and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Eternal of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9: 6,7).

Christ is prophesied to inherit an earthly throne, and to rule this world with a rod of iron: “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him

the throne of His father David: And He shall reign over the house of Jacob [ten-tribed Israel] for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:30-33).

Christ’s end-time disciples are looking forward and praying continually for Jesus Christ to return to this earth, and to set up His world-ruling government here below. They know this will be done by divine miracles, and the awesome power of God, not by any human governments, or by any human organizations of any kind. Some, however, believe they will bring about these massive changes by force of arms; that they will be the only survivors following a holocaust, the collapse of all civilization, and the death of hundreds of millions.

They are wrong. A new world order is coming, but it will not be brought about by human governments, or human churches, or human organizations such as militias. It will come about only as a result of direct, divine intervention of God; by the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Meanwhile, there is nothing but confusion among the churches. Few see themselves as trainees for the Kingdom of God.

Many years ago I was told the following story by a young man from Canada. It seems he lived in one of the prairie provinces, and was trudging down a country road one Sunday morning, headed toward his neighborhood church, which was perhaps a mile or two away. A neighboring farmer came along in an old automobile, stopped, and asked the lad if he wanted a ride.

Grateful, the boy hopped in, When his neighbor pulled into the church yard and allowed the boy to get out, the boy looked at him curiously. Obviously, he was dressed in his “Sunday-go-to-meeting” clothes, and was intending to go to church.

Here they were in front of a church.

“Aren’t you going to come in?” the boy asked.

“Oh, I couldn’t do that,” the neighbor replied. “My church is a couple more miles down the road.”

The boy thanked his neighbor for the ride, and then, puzzled, watched him as he drove out of sight. It was some years later before the boy came to understand there were differences between those two churches out on the Canadian prairie—differences wider than the few miles that separated them by road.

Is the church of which Jesus Christ is living Head divided?

Most, including the leadership and the members of dozens, if not hundreds, of churches and religious organizations would say, “Absolutely not!” Most of them know the scriptures about division in the church. But, deep down inside, there are reasons why they are not unified with other churches or religious organizations. In each case, they feel those reasons are more than ample to justify their separate existence. Their reasons may range from minor doctrinal disagreements to administrative policies, to anger or miff over personalities.

God’s Word asks, “Is Christ divided?” (1 Corinthians 1: 13). Thousands of professing Christians, divided into dozens of different churches and religious organizations, answer “No!” Yet, they belong to groups that have split off from other groups that may have split off from still a larger group, or they belong to a group that was formed as a separate church or ministry. Of course, each will be allowed to explain the rationale for such divisions to Jesus Christ at His return, but don’t believe for a moment that they do not have a ready-made answer concerning division in the church—why they are “independent,” or why they will never reunify and cooperate with the group from which they came.

It is all a bit puzzling, a bit confusing. Continually, I receive letters and telephone calls from people who want to know how to find the true church. A few years ago, it was somewhat simpler for these searchers to find what they believed to be the true church. Today, it is a bit more difficult, for the choices are many.

One True Church Built On A Rock

Jesus Christ did not build two churches, or three, or five. He built one true church. He said, “And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter [Greek: Petros, a pebble, or stone], and upon this ROCK [Greek: Petra, a large rock] I will build my church; and the gates of hell [Greek: hades, the gravel shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).

As you will read later on, Jesus called Simon by this “nickname” only twice in all the Gospels. The name was not a lofty title connoting great strength, but a name placed in opposition to the ROCK which was Christ; a name meaning “little pebble” by comparison; a name connoting weakness, not strength.

This one verse is easily the subject of a very thick book. Millions believe Christ was building His church on Peter as the first pope, the “chief apostle.”

Millions more know better. The Rock upon which Christ was to build His church was Jesus Christ Himself Jesus Christ is the living Head of His church, and not any man.

Jesus Christ was set at the right hand of God the Father, “Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the church, Which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:21-23).

Paul wrote to the Colossians, “And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist [study John 1 with Hebrews 1]. And He is the Head of the body, the church: Who is the beginning, the Firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1: 17,18). Peter did not have the preeminence, and was not the head of the church. Jesus Christ constituted His church, and has always been, as He is today, at this moment, the true Head of that church!

The “Rock” of which Jesus spoke was Himself, not Peter. The word He used for “Peter” is Petros, which means a pebble, or a stone, like one might pick up along a stream bed. Because Peter was to become one of the chiefest (not the chief!) apostles; because he had dynamic personality, and was a leader among the three leading apostles, Jesus Christ endowed him with an affectionate “nickname,” Petros. His given name was Simon.

The Greek language has masculine and feminine gender, as do the Romance languages. In Spanish, “a table” is feminine, la mesa, introduced by the feminine la, and ending in the letter a. “The roof” is masculine, el techo, introduced by the masculine el, and ending ino.

Petra, in Greek, means a very large rock, a mountain of rock, or even a mountain range, whereas Petros means “pebble.”

Jesus was saying, “You [Peter, or Petros] are a stone; but upon this ROCK [Myself! Petra] I will build my church!”

Christ is the Rock, not Peter.

“He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He” (Deuteronomy 32:4).

“Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee” (verse 18).

David wrote, “The Eternal is my Rock, and my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my Strength, in whom I will trust” (Psalm 18:2). Later, in the same chapter, “For who is God save the Eternal? or who is a Rock save our God?” (verse 31).

David refers to the Divine Sovereign God as His Rock more than fifteen times throughout the Psalms.

He wrote, “He only is my Rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved” (Psalm 62:2).

When God caused Israel to trek through the wilderness for a testing period of forty years, He performed awesome miracles to feed them, and provide them drink. He brought water out of a rock for them. Paul wrote, “Moreover, brethren. I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were baptized unto Moses and in the cloud and in the sea [this is spiritual metaphor, a type]; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10: 1-4).

Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the “Rock” upon which He built His church. No human being has ever been given headship over the true church. Halley’s Bible Handbook, speaking of the Catholic claim of Peter’s “primacy,” says, “The Roman Catholic tradition that Peter was the First Pope is Fiction pure and simple. There is no New Testament hint, and no historical evidence whatever, that Peter was at any time Bishop of Rome. Nor did he ever claim for himself such Authority as the Popes have claimed for themselves. It seems that Peter had a divine foreboding that his ‘successors’ would be mainly concerned with ‘Lording it over God’s flock, rather than showing themselves Examples to the flock’ (1 Peter 5:3)” (Halley’s Bible Handbook, P. 768).

Church history proves that many centuries passed before any claim was made that one man was head of the church. “Silvester I (314-335) was Bishop of Rome when, under Constantine, Christianity was virtually made the State Religion of the Roman Empire. The Church immediately became an institution of vast importance in World Politics. Constantine regarded himself as Head of the Church. He called the Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325), and presided over it, the First World Council of the Church. This Council accorded the Bishops of Alexandria and Antioch full jurisdiction over their Provinces, as the Roman Bishop had over his, with NOT EVEN A HINT that they were subject to Rome” (ibid., p. 769).

Peter was never the head of God’s true church. Paul, who was the apostle to the gentiles, wrote to the church in Rome. The book of Romans makes no mention whatever of Peter; his name is not included in the lengthy personal greetings Paul includes in the sixteenth chapter.

Paul insisted that he was in every way Peter’s equal! He wrote, “For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles [note the plural!]” (2 Corinthians 11:5). He said, “I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing” (2 Corinthians 12:11).

Who were the “very chiefest” apostles” They were James, Peter, and John. It was these three who were allowed to see the Transfiguration. James made the final decision at the Jerusalem conference about circumcision (Acts 15:13-19).

Peter was an apostle among equals, as the Bible makes clear. Notice how, when Philip preached the gospel in Samaria, and great miracles occurred, word reached Jerusalem. “Now when the apostles [note the plural!] which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, THEY SENT unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8:14,15).

Notice who was sent. Peter and John were sent to Samaria. By whom? By other apostles who were at Jerusalem, without doubt including James, who was Jesus’ half brother. Peter did not do the sending. He was not the “chief apostle” at all. He was sent by others.

The word apostle is not a lofty title. It connotes no special authority, or “rank.” It is a very humble word which connotes a function of service, not an “office.” The word merely means one sent.” Bear this in mind when remembering the commission Jesus Christ gave to His disciples. He SENT them into all the world to preach the gospel.

What IS the Church?

To ask “What is the church?” seems elementary. Yet, look at all the confusion concerning the answer to such a question.

To millions of human beings the church is a building, such as a cathedral, a basilica, or a lofty structure of stone with tall steeples and signs of the cross. When one says, “I am going to church,” he implies he is going to go to services in a building called a church.

To millions more, a “church” is a denomination, or a religious organization.

But the original Greek word means no such thing.

Jesus said, “I will build my ekklesia…” In the Latin languages, the similarity to Greek is more obvious. In Spanish, the word for “church” is iglezia. In French, it is Iglize. A more obvious English word is “ecclesiastic,” or having to do with the “ecclesia.” The original word means nothing more than “assembly,” or “group.” As Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance explains, it also connotes a “calling out.” The expression “called-out ones” is entirely appropriate.

How different this expression is from our commonly-used English word church.

Jesus Christ did not intend to build a large, political organization which would become involved with the governments of this world.He had called His disciples out of this evil world for a great purpose: “I have given them thy word; and the world [the present evil society, or social system] hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:14-16).

Jesus promised His disciples they would be persecuted in this world: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Christ’s fledgling group of “called-out ones,” who were to form the nucleus of His church, were continually warned about false apostles, false teachers, persecutors, and detractors. They were warned that performing Christ’s commission might result in their deaths in some cases.

“They shall put you out of the synagogues [churches]: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service” (verse 2).

One of the main thrusts of Jesus’ message to His disciples was to avoid being part of the world. John wrote, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world. the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now there are many antichrists; whereby we know it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us” (1 John 2:15-19).

Paul warned the Ephesian elders with similar words: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the church [assembly of called-out ones] of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:28-30).

Always, Jesus Christ described His church, or His fledgling group of specially-called disciples, as a “little flock,” which would be persecuted by the world. He said, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). The Bible characterizes the great, politically powerful churches as “Babylon the Great” (Revelation 17:15). He commands His people, “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4).

As Halley says, “The Church was founded, not as an institution of Authority to Force the Name and Teaching of Christ upon the world, but only as a Witness-Bearing institution to Christ, to hold Him before the people. Christ Himself, not the Church, is the Transforming Power in Human Life. But the Church was founded in the Roman Empire, and gradually developed a form of Government like the Political World in which it existed, becoming a vast Autocratic organization, ruled from the top” (Halley’s Bible Handbook, p. 767).

There is a vast amount of literature available in libraries and bookstores about “Babylon the Great,” or the apostate, visible church. Hislop’s The Two Babylons is among the best, but the Critical and Experimental Commentary by Jamieson, Faucet, and Brown is also a good source, as is Halley’s Bible Handbook.

Never did Jesus Christ intend for His true church to become involved in politics. Never did He intend for it to become a powerful geopolitical organization, wielding control over people’s individual lives, and over governments. Rather, His group of called-out ones was to carry the message of Christ’s soon-coming, world-ruling government—the Kingdom of God—as a witness and a warning! His group would be like “ambassadors” of a yet future government which would bring this world peace at last.

What is the church? It consists of a group of people called out of this sin-sick, evil world; a group of people who will be engaged in fulfilling the commission Jesus Christ gave to His original disciples! It is only possible to understand what the church is when one understands what Jesus Christ told the church to do—what it was to accomplish!

How Jesus Christ Trained His Disciples

Jesus Christ trained His disciples for three and one-half years for a vitally important purpose. His time with them was not merely for their personal inspiration. It was not because He wanted to enjoy their company, or because He was lonely, or because He wanted protection.

He called and specially chose each of His disciples, including Judas Iscariot, for a great purpose.

He said, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give it you” (John 15:16).

Every parable, every healing, every example, every lesson, every rejoinder or rebuke, every miracle during those three and one-half years was intended by Jesus Christ to be remembered by His disciples so they could put those teachings and examples to work!

Christ’s teachings and examples were not for their “spiritual benefit”! He did not intend for them to bask in His friendship, enjoy His fellowship, and then sink down into their own narrow lives and go nowhere and do nothing! He did not call His disciples so they could begin twelve different, bickering, disagreeing, competing church organizations!

No, He was training a special cadre of men for a great purpose, for a transcendental calling and commission!

From time to time, perhaps more than two hundred men followed along with Jesus Christ. Even after many left Him during His ministry, there were still one hundred and twenty who were His disciples at the time of the choosing of Matthias (Acts 1: 15-26).

Peter said, “Wherefore of these men which have companied with us at the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that He was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of His resurrection” (verses 21,22).

Since there were still one hundred and twenty disciples who had faithfully companied with Jesus from the beginning, and yet many “went back,” as we shall now see, that means a much larger group of men were accompanying Jesus Christ than most have understood.

Christ sent out His twelve disciples (Matthew 10: 1; Luke 9: 1), giving them power to heal, and power over demons. This was for their training, for their experience. They would learn many important lessons during this arduous journey. Read both chapters in their entirety. Matthew’s account refers not only to the journey of the disciples then, but to the time in which we live, now, for he wrote, “Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come” (Matthew 10:23).

Shortly after having sent out the twelve leading disciples, “the Lord appointed other seventy, also, and sent them two and two before His face into every city and place, whither He Himself would come” (Luke 10: 1).

Christ was preparing His disciples—eighty-two of them in these accounts. He was training and teaching them, and sending them out so they would gain invaluable experience.

What were they to do? “Therefore said He unto them, ‘The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth labourers into His harvest.…and into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you’”(Luke 10:2-9).

Jesus Christ mapped out extensive trips in which He would visit many, many towns and villages. He sent out disciples in advance of His arrival so they would preach the good news of the coming Kingdom of God!

Christ was building His church. He was teaching and training those who would become part of the foundation of His church (Ephesians 2:19-22), and teaching many other disciples who would help form the nucleus of that church on the Day of Pentecost. Some of these men are mentioned in Acts 6:5: “And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch….”

When we read of the great hearings and miracles of Philip and Stephen, we need to remember that these men knew Jesus Christ personally, and were no doubt among the seventy disciples He sent out a year or two earlier.

Jesus knew that many of His disciples were accompanying Him for the wrong reasons. He knew Judas would betray Him, and He understood how God would allow Satan to bring about His death on the stake. He knew Matthias and dozens of others.

For the first part of His ministry, Jesus knew that many of those who followed Him were disloyal; that they had their own ideas and concepts. Read the entire chapter of John 6. When Jesus spoke metaphorically of eating His flesh and drinking His blood, some of His detractors began to talk among themselves:

“Many therefore of His disciples, when they had heard this, said, ‘This is an hard saying: who can hear [believe] it?’ When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples murmured at it, He said unto them, ‘Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where He was before? It is the Spirit that quickeneth [makes alive]; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not.’ For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray Him. And He said, ‘Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.’ From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him” (John 6:60-66).

There is much insight available in this account. First, Jesus Christ was not precipitating a crisis among His disciples by calling a special meeting and informing them He knew that there were many who were merely “camp followers,” or who were “hangers-on,” following Him about because of their own vanity, or their own hidden agendas. That this is true requires no great grasp of history or human relations.

No, Christ was contending with the Jews—some of the same people from among the five thousand who had been miraculously fed only the day before! Study John 6:1-52.

Jesus did not precipitate a defection among His disciples. They reacted to some powerful statements He made to the general public, the Jews.

But some of those who followed Jesus Christ were smitten with their own grandiose ideas of their special relationship with God. Some of them wanted to get close to Him so some of His luster would “rub off” on them. Perhaps they could then go out and enjoy the power they felt when large crowds gave them their undivided attention. Perhaps they could become a prophet, or a prophetess. Perhaps they would soon lead a group, and bask in the admiration of followers.

Instead of going humbly to Christ and asking Him about His statements concerning His flesh and His blood, they murmured among themselves, talking, reasoning, drawing aid and comfort from seeing there were others who felt the same way they did. Now, they had their excuse!

Now, think about what you know of human nature. Do you suppose these disaffected disciples simply went back to their homes, hitched up the mule, and started to plant crops?

Oh, no. These people were following along with Christ for apurpose. But their purpose was selfish, vain, carnal! They wanted to share in the “limelight” for a time, but in hopes they would be center stage at some time in the future.

It is far more logical to assume these dissident disciples went about telling everyone they could, “Oh, Him! Yeah, I was with Him—I knew Him well! Why, I’ve talked personally with Him many a time. I remember one time, I really put some hard questions to Him! But when He started in on that flesh and blood thing, well, I knew right then I couldn’t stay with that man. So I voted with my feet. I just got up and left.”

Don’t think for a moment that all those dissident former disciples simply went back to their homes and said not a word about their experiences, or did not attempt to justify their positions or explain why they left Jesus Christ!

Today, it is so very much easier for people to justify “leaving.” Today, one can become angry with a mere man, or become “upset” over some corporate policy, or the real or imagined sins of human beings, and easily Justify their decision to get up and leave this or that church, or religious organization, or small, in home fellowship group.

Many search high and low for a perfect human leader, one who has never sinned, or, if he has, he repented long, long ago, and they do not know how he sinned, or what particular sin, other than a “bad attitude,” he may have committed.

Many cling to a human leader only insofar as they can believe he is better than they are, intellectually and spiritually; that he is closer to God than they are, or probably ever can be.

Most of us believe we would never have left Jesus Christ Himself! Most, perhaps all, of us firmly believe, no matter what decision we may have made concerning this or that church or religious organization, that we have not really departed from Christ.

No, we believe we have merely left a group which was not as close to Christ as we are, or as is the human leader of our new group.

For decades, I have received letters and telephone calls from, and have spoken personally to, people who have been members of many different churches; have gone from denomination to denomination searching for something that satisfied their feelings—their search for a “church home.” This is commonplace throughout Protestant nominal Christianity. Like the “drifters” of the old West, many people drift from this group to the other, searching, comparing.

Most are looking for a man, a human leader, to follow. To many, associating themselves with a man requires a deep spiritualendorsement of that man. Should that man ever disappoint them, they fail to look to Jesus Christ directly; to look past a fallible human leader to Christ, but instead decide to go look for another man to follow.

How instructive it is to realize there were those who followed Jesus Christ personally; who looked into His eyes, heard His voice, saw His examples. They knew exactly what He looked like, how He conducted Himself They were familiar with His stature, the color of His hair, His walk; and yet, in spite of all this, they turned away from Him, and left Him in scorn.

Most of us would believe, in our heart of hearts, that we could never turn away from Jesus Christ personally! We believe that if we had been there we would not have abandoned Him the way some of His own disciples did. Would God that were true but, sadly, in every case it is not. Familiarity, after all, does breed contempt.

Today, you and I can understand that Jesus Christ was speakingmetaphorically about His fleshly body, and about His blood. We know He said, “I am that bread of life,” and that He is symbolized by the unleavened bread we eat during the Days of Unleavened Bread. Not only this, but we see many scriptures which tell us we must take in Christ, and allow Him to live His life over again within us, as well as deeply understand that He said the “bread” from heaven was “my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:51).

Today, we know the blood of Jesus Christ was shed on the stake for the sins of all mankind; that the “life is in the blood thereof” (Leviticus 17:11,14), and that Christ died by the shedding of His blood. We can see and understand the type of the Passover lamb, and how Christ is called the “Lamb of God.”

But then, many, not a few, of His disciples seized on this “hard saying” to abandon Jesus Christ. They simply left Him on the spot!

Jesus turned to the twelve, and asked, “‘Will ye also go away?’ Then Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?’ He spoke of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray Him, being one of the twelve” (John 6:66-71).

Nothing hurts quite so much as rejection. Most of us want to be loved. We do desperately wish to be liked, admired, accepted. When people we love reject us, the pain we feel is like the stabbing of a knife deep into our vitals. The most painful rejections come from close family members, or from a spouse, or from close friends and associates. When you have known and loved someone, shared many hundreds of hours with them, traveled together, enjoyed wonderful meals together, played sports together, talked together, and then they reject you, and never speak to you again, it hurts.

Is anything more painful than a divorce? When two people, who used to look into each other’s eyes and say, “I love you,” are now hateful, angry, spiteful, bitter—when love has been replaced with rage—it is painful beyond our ability to describe. When a beloved family member turns against a father, or mother, a sister or brother, a son or daughter, it hurts worse than any physical wound.

When you have known someone intimately, and that person completely abandons you—shunning you when you need him or her the most—it causes one of the deepest, most agonizing pains. This is true suffering. It does not truly dull with the passage of time—it is something that lasts for life.

Our Savior has been there. He suffered all these things for us, to set us an example. His church was founded through suffering, not through happy, ebullient committee meetings, or board resolutions, or organizational conventions.

“Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Eternal revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted” (Isaiah 53:1-4).

Jesus Christ poured out love upon His disciples! He loved this world enough to die for it! He lived a sin-free, flawless, perfect life. Yet, He was despised and rejected of men! Is it perhaps a requirement Jesus Christ lays upon His disciples that, unless they, too, have experienced the suffering of rejection, of hatred, of having beloved brethren turn away, they cannot be truly qualified for His work?

The hammer, the anvil, and the forge that pounds malleable human character into a useful instrument in God’s hands is sometimes the hammer of hate, pounded out on the anvil of rejection, in the fiery forge of trial.

Is it because Jesus Christ knows that His true servants will need the courage of David, the patience of Job, the wisdom of Solomon, and the love and mercy of Jesus Christ to overcome the terrible trial of martyrdom, if that is to be their fate?

Must they be tempered like the finest steel through fiery trials and suffering to be prepared for what awaits them?

Jesus Christ said, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than His Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you: if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also … He that hateth me hateth my Father also … but this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause’” (John 15:18-25).

Jesus Christ was hated without a cause. But suppose you or I provide haters with what they believe to be a cause? Are they then justified in their hatred?

God hates sin, but He loves sinners! Thank God, and great praise to His Holy Name, that when we go to Him in heartbroken repentance, with tears streaming down our faces, and bodies wracked with sobs and crying, He does not say to us, “Well, I have no problem with forgiving you. I just don’t trust you anymore. I want nothing further to do with you.”

What if God Almighty were to say that to every human being who ever sinned after being baptized? Would there be any who would make it into God’s kingdom? What if God Almighty applied the kind of selective judgments to we stumbling, failing, fallible human beings as that are applied by the modern Pharisees of today?

Jesus Christ prepared His disciples for rejection.

How? By causing them to deeply repent of their own rejection of Christ!

Why They All Forsook Him and Fled

If you were the president of a company that manufactured a special product that could save human life, like an artificial heart or a breathing machine, wouldn’t you want the engineers and designers, the specialists working on the various parts, and the salesmen who demonstrate your product to know the product? Would you want them to be meticulously careful in the delicate manufacture of each part, because you knew that some day a human life would depend on the functioning of your machine?

How would you find such people? You would be especially selective in looking at their resumes, would you not? Wouldn’t you want to know about their education and former work experience? Wouldn’t you want to know if they were highly skilled and capable of being trained to manufacture this new machine you had thought out and designed?

Wouldn’t you want those who were going to the clinics and hospitals and doctors’ offices to really believe in the life-saving capabilities of your machine, and to enthusiastically sell it to them?

What if you had a worker on the assembly line who was very careless; who was only there for the money; who was indolent and lazy; and who allowed defective parts to slip by? What if you had a salesman who was selling a machine of his own in direct competition with your machine, when you were paying him to sell your machine?

You would weed out such people, would you not? Yes, you would, especially in today’s environment of gigantic malpractice insurance settlements. If the family of a loved one who died sued and won a judgment against you for millions of dollars because your machine proved defective, your entire business could go bankrupt and you would be ruined.

Jesus Christ was carefully training His disciples. Like a Master Builder, He was painstakingly building into each one of them special qualities, unique experiences, poignant memories, knowledge of the Scriptures, which would cause them to fulfill the great commission He would lay upon their shoulders.

Jesus did not “fire” a one of them! No, some of them left Him, and even the most loyal eleven disciples, following Judas’ betrayal, fled out of sight on the night of His arrest; utterly forsook Him! Why?

There were many times when Jesus Christ saw carnality among them; jealousy, spite, many different human weaknesses, including being overcome with sleep. He saw them angry, wanting to cause fire to come down and destroy people in a horrible death; saw Peter’s lack of faith when he nearly drowned; saw their tears at Lazarus’ tomb; saw them openly arguing over who would be “the greatest” in His kingdom—just when He was greatly burdened with the nearness of His own torture and death.

He saw all their carnality, all their vanity and ego, and all their mistakes. Yet, His Word tells us, “Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end” (John 13: 1).

Then follows the account of the “Lord’s Supper,” Judas’ betrayal, and all the events of the night of Christ’s arrest, His torment, and His death on the stake the following afternoon.

Each disciple saw and heard the events of that night from his own perspective, from his own point of view. Each sat in a certain place. Each saw and heard what took place from a different vantage point.

Have you ever been out to dinner with a group of at least thirteen? If so, then you know that such a group will tend to break up into smaller groups for conversation; that some will be talking together about one subject, and others will be discussing other subjects. Not everyone can hear all the other conversations at once. We cannot know all that was said and done at the Last Supper, but God’s Word informs us of the essential knowledge we need to know about that great historic night.

Two days earlier, Judas’ constant influence with others of the disciples resulted in a minor disagreement, one which Jesus had to settle: “Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, There came unto Him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on His head, as He sat at meat. But when His disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, ‘To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.’ When Jesus understood it, He said unto them, ‘Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always”‘ (Matthew 26: 6-11).

When He said she had used the ointment in anticipation of His burial, Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests, and agreed to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver!

When the night of the Lord’s Supper came, Judas had already covenanted with the priests to betray Christ. Now, he was merely waiting for the right opportunity.

Jesus spoke aloud of the fact that there was a traitor in their midst. John leaned over on Jesus’ bosom, and Jesus told him, as he dipped slivers of meat and juice into a sop, that it was the one to whom He handed the sop. He then handed it to Judas.

Just before this happened, Christ had said, “‘But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom He is betrayed!’ And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing” (Luke 22:21-23).

As Jesus handed Judas the sop, Satan entered personally into him. Jesus then said, “That thou doest, do quickly!” (John 13:27).

The others, further away, did not know what had happened. “Now no man at the table knew for what intent He spake this unto him. For some thought, because Judas had the bag [carried their common purse], that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor” (John 13: 28,29).

Of course, Judas was a thief. He was entirely dishonest about money, and so, to quiet his own conscience, continually complained about Jesus’ “extravagance,” and attempted to influence the other disciples about how money was being wasted.

You and I both believe we would never have judged or criticized Jesus Christ! We believe, from our vantage point of history, that we would have been in awe of Him; loving, respecting, worshiping Him as the very Son of God!

But familiarity breeds contempt. After describing demonic men who were “crept in unawares,” and who were “ungodly men,” Jude wrote, “These are murmurers [some of the disciples, led by Judas, murmured against Christ!], complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaking great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of [in order to gain] advantage” (Jude 16).

Sycophants “cuddle up” to people in positions of authority—those who have power, or money—in order to gain advantage. There has never been a powerful politician, a wealthy man, or a religious leader who has not experienced Sycophants trying to flatter him in order to gain advantage for themselves.

Judas judged Jesus, because Judas himself was a thief! His screaming conscience could only be quieted when he pointed the finger away from himself—at Jesus Christ!

He was envious of Jesus. He wanted His power, His position among the disciples. A typical sycophant, Judas continually attempted to solidify his position with Christ, all the while undermining Him, criticizing Him, vilifying Him before the others!

Christ knew what Judas was, and that further galled Judas, because Judas knew that Christ knew!

At the Last Supper, when Jesus spoke openly of his impending betrayal, Judas snippily spat out. “I suppose it is I!” (Matthew 26:24,25). Jesus calmly said, “You have said it,” indicating that the language would have been more like our English retort, “I suppose it is I?” as said sarcastically.

But Jesus also knew that all His disciples would forsake Him at the last moment.

“Then saith Jesus unto them [on the Mount of Olives, following the Last Supper], ‘All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, “I will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.” But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee” (Matthew 26:31,32).

Why should the disciples be “offended,” when it was Jesus Christ who would be arrested, and beaten nearly to death, and then hung on the stake? This is a vitally important point!

These men had eagerly anticipated Jesus Christ taking over the government, overthrowing the Sanhedrin, raising vast armies from among the masses, ejecting the occupying Romans, and seeing Christ ascend to the throne of Judaea, and all the provinces of Palestine.

Only when you understand the attitudes of these young, would-be revolutionaries can you truly comprehend the events of the night of the Last Supper, their watch in the garden, Jesus’ arrest, and why they all forsook Him at the last minute.

During the supper, as an example, Jesus had spoken of selling one’s cloak and buying a sword, saying “that this that is written of must yet be accomplished in me, ‘And He was reckoned among the transgressors’: for the things concerning me have an end” (Luke 22:37).

They did not understand that He was saying there needed to be swords present among the disciples to give His persecutors and murderers an excuse to call Him an armed criminal. to reckon Him among the transgressors.”

There was not a one of them who did not know of Judas Maccabaeus, or of Theudas, who gathered a band of four hundred insurrectionist, only to be hunted down and killed, and his disciples scattered; or about Judas of Galilee, who led a tax revolt at the head of many people, who was also killed, and his followers scattered (Acts 5:36-38).

Attempts against the government were not so unusual. Those men lived in the “here and now” so far as their lives were concerned. At the feeding of the four and five thousand, an attempt was made to hoist Christ upon the shoulders of the crowd, and march on Jerusalem. Christ put a stop to it, much to the disappointment of the crowd and the disciples.

At the triumphant entry into Jerusalem, when Jesus rode on the white foal whose hooves were not allowed to touch the ground; with vast crowds shouting that He was the King, His disciples must have believed this was, at long last, the final moment; that He would ascend to the Temple, overthrow the religious leaders, the puppet government, and then eject the Romans (Luke 19:28-46).

Their spines must have fairly tingled when He went into the Temple and cast out the moneychangers for the second time (Luke 19:45,46). But instead of setting up His kingdom right then, He merely “taught daily in the Temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy Him” (Luke 19:47). This was not the only occasion when His disciples thought the moment had come.

Continually, for three and one-half years, His disciples assumed the moment had come for Him to establish His kingdom over Israel. They saw His powerful miracles; saw how vast crowds gathered, and were astonished by what He did. To them, it would be at the next Passover, when huge masses of people from all over the Mediterranean world would be collecting in Jerusalem; or it would be at the Feast of Tabernacles, when the same thing would happen. Jerusalem had a population of about 100,000, which was swollen to twice that size during major annual feast days.

They argued over which one would have the highest office in His government! Not for a moment did their minds interpret His statements about His kingdom as a very distant prophecy, not to be fulfilled for perhaps two thousand years!

No, to them, it was here and now! To us, from our modern vantage point, it was “then and there.” We tend to think of the apostles as elderly men with long beards, probably because of religious art and sculptures. But this is a totally false concept. They were called in their prime, in their late twenties and early thirties. Some were professionals, like Luke the physician, or Levi (Matthew), who was a tax collector. Some were working men, like Peter, who was a commercial fisherman.

They lived in a time of terrible oppression and overtaxation. Their land was occupied by a foreign power. Poverty, squalor, sickness, and disease were rampant. When Jesus Christ called them, they believed they were part of something which was destined to replace the existing government in Jerusalem! He continually spoke of His kingdom, and they did not for a moment expect to live into their 80s or 90s, die as old men, or as martyrs, and then molder in their graves for over two thousand years while the Dark Ages came and went; as the Renaissance occurred; as the Industrial Revolution took place; as the world struggled through World War I and World War II: as nuclear weapons were invented.

Not a one of them foresaw such a scenario. No, they fully expected to become co-rulers with Christ over an earthly kingdom during their physical lifetime The absolute proof of this is inescapable, as you shall see.

When Jesus spoke enigmatically of His disciples buying swords, some of them, not named, said, “Behold, here are two swords. And He said unto them, ‘It is enough… (Luke 22:36-38).

One of those who spoke had to be Peter, for he used his sword in an attempt to kill the servant of the high priest only hours later.

Obviously two swords were not “enough” to fight so much as the palace guard, let alone an army! He said it was “enough” so that the prophecy, would be fulfilled that He would be “numbered among the transgressors.”

Now, think! Remember! During the famous Last Supper, Jesus had spoken of a traitor in their midst. He had given Judas the sop, and Judas, with a spiteful remark, had suddenly gotten up and departed.

Jesus Christ was becoming increasingly burdened as the hour of His arrest and horrible scourging approached. True to human nature, His disciples failed to see His terrible heaviness; were unable to truly empathize with Him in His hour of great trial. Instead, they thought of themselves.

“And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And He said unto them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship [domineering autocracy—headship] over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at meat? But I am among you as He that serveth. Ye are they which have continued with me [many had left!] in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel”‘ (Luke 22:24-30).

This gentle rebuke about “lording it over” one’s subjects did not dissuade them from assuming He was speaking of a kingdom which would be set up very soon!

It is only with this understanding that one can comprehend why His own beloved disciples, including John, the “disciple whom Jesus loved,” would flee into the night and utterly forsake Him after He was arrested!

To them, Jesus had let them down! To them, He could have used His mighty power as did Elijah upon the captains of fifty (2 Kings 1:9-13). Instead, He meekly allowed them to arrest Him.

“As Jesus returned the third time [from His agonizing sessions of prayer to His Father], He heard the clatter of an approaching group, and saw the torches they carried as they forded the creek below. He cried, ‘Get up! We’d better be going, because the one who will betray me is right here!’ He had no sooner finished the statement to Peter and John when Judas materialized out of the dancing light of the torches held by the nearest of the group, followed by a large number of others, including the chief priests and elders, a number of soldiers, the officers of the Temple, all of them obviously heavily armed, carrying the lengthy lances, Roman short-swords, and some wearing helmets and breastplates.

“It was well known among the disciples that Jesus resorted to the area of Gethsemane, and Judas knew precisely where to find Him since he had heard Jesus discussing His plans for the later evening.

“Jesus stepped out from the gloom into the flickering glare of the torches and lanterns and said, ‘Who are you looking for?’ “Those in the nearest ranks answered, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ “Jesus said, ‘I am He!’

“When those words came out of His mouth, the strangest phenomenon you could imagine occurred!

“Several ranks of the group seemed to quickly stumble backward and actually toppled over and fell to the ground! A babble of excitement went rippling through the crowd as they tried to disengage themselves from each other. One or two leaped about, slapping wildly where a torch had touched their garments!

“While reasonable order was being restored to their ranks, Jesus waited. He then asked them again, ‘Who are you looking for?’

“Again, one of them said loudly, ‘Jesus of Nazareth!’

‘Fine,’ He said, ‘I told you I am He, so if I’m the One you’re looking for, then let these others go,’ indicating His frightened disciples standing nearby. ‘Let these go their way.’ John later wrote that Jesus said this to fulfill the word that He had spoken in His prayer when He said, ‘Of those whom you had given me I lost not one.’

“About that time, Judas came directly up to Jesus and in the most cheerful possible fashion said, ‘Hello, Rabbi!’ And, taking Him by the shoulders, kissed Him quickly on the cheek.

“Jesus stood rigidly, looking at Judas in scorn and hurt, and said, ‘Judas, do you mean to tell me you would betray the Son of man with a kiss?’

“Peter and some of the other disciples had drawn protectively about Jesus, as if to try to conceal Him from the leaders of the mob; Peter said, ‘Lord, shall we attack them with these swords?’ “Several of the soldiers leveled their pikes and spears, and one of the officers of the high priest made as if to seize Jesus. Peter took a step backward, and the whisper of his sword coming out of his sheath had barely been noticed when the flashing blade descended with a vicious arc through the air!

“The servant of the high priest dodged nimbly, or Peter’s Roman sword would have split his head open like a ripe melon! The priest’s officer stumbled backward, and Peter’s blade barely sliced through his ear, completely severing it from his head! Peter was raising the blade for a second blow as a wild yell went through the crowd behind.

“Jesus quickly spoke with great authority, saying to Peter, ‘Put your sword away into its sheath! All those that take the sword will perish with the sword! Don’t you think that I could turn to my Father and beseech Him and that He could send me more than twelve legions of angels?’ Saying this, Jesus stooped down to the ground, picked up the officer’s severed ear, and touching it to his head, spoke briefly. The officer, amazed, put his hand to his ear and found it as whole as the other! Peter, mumbling, put away his sword and stepped back with the other disciples.

“Jesus said, ‘Have you come out here to arrest me as if I were some robber? Do you believe you have to be heavily armed with swords and spears to seize me? Here I was, sitting daily with you in the Temple, teaching, and you didn’t arrest me; but this is all being allowed to happen that the scriptures the prophets wrote might be fulfilled: but this is your hour and the power of darkness and desolation shall prevail. However, your time will be short.’

“The mob moved forward with several of the soldiers trotting quickly left and right with their spears at the trail, intending to surround the whole group. Quickly, the disciples all melted into the darkness, and fled as fast as they could.

“Years later, young John Mark (the author of the second Gospel), admitted that he had been among the group when he wrote about a ‘certain young man’ who had followed along after them, being clothed only with a linen cloth about his naked body, and when they mistook him for one of the disciples, grabbing at his clothing, he left the linen cloth and fled away naked (Mark 14:51,52).

“This took place probably either a little before or a little after midnight.”

Peter’s actions in attempting to kill Malchus, the officer of the high priest, are only understandable in the context of Peter’s frustration at seeing Jesus allowing Himself to be arrested. Always boisterous, brash, displaying a rough and ready bravado, Peter had vowed He would go to the death with Jesus if necessary! Peter had been frustrated time and time again when it seemed as if Jesus would seize a certain, wonderfully appropriate moment to begin His coup d’etat, and set up His kingdom.

His actions are also understandable when one considers the words of Christ only hours earlier, just after the disciples’ argument over who would be greatest in the kingdom.

“And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have You, that he may sift you as wheat [a satanic winnowing,” in opposition to the “winnowing of the chaff” accomplished by the Holy Spirit; this in reference to Satan’s desire to completely corrupt Peter]: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted [Peter was yet carnal; he did not have God’s Holy Spirit], strengthen thy brethren.’ And he said unto Him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with Thee, both into prison, and to death.’ And He [Christ] said, ‘I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me”‘ (Luke 22:31-34).

This is exactly what took place (Matthew 26:69-75). Three times, Peter cursed and swore, denying that he had ever known Jesus.

“Then began he [for the third time] to curse and to swear, saying, ‘I know not the man.’ And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, ‘Before the cock crow, thou shall deny me thrice.’ And he went out, and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:75).

Each one of the disciples experienced his own broken-hearted chagrin after Christ’s resurrection. Remember, “then all the disciples forsook Him, and fled” (Matthew 26:56). Even John, that “disciple whom Jesus loved,” forsook Jesus and fled.

As Jesus Christ was dying, He saw John and the others standing well back in the crowd. Mary, His mother was there, as was her sister, and “Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved [John], He saith unto His mother, ‘Woman, behold thy son!’ Then saith He to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home” (John 19:25-27).

What was going through John’s mind? What were the thoughts of all His disciples? We can well imagine the feelings of guilt, remorse, and self-doubt, as well as their conflicting feelings of fear, for they did not want to be arrested and murdered. We can imagine their terrible shame, for they must have felt that they had shown themselves cowards.

So it was that Jesus Christ called, shaped, molded, trained, and tested His disciples. He knew the terrible trials they would face. He knew, and plainly prophesied, that some of them would meet horrible deaths, even as they would kill the Savior of the world.

By all these tests, Christ was hammering, shaping, tempering the spiritual character that would form the building blocks of His “church,” or group of specially “called-out ones.”

The Great Commission To the Group

At the time of Christ’s resurrection, the disciples were incredulous. None of them truly believed He was alive. They were unwilling witnesses, having to be truly convinced that Jesus Christ had indeed risen from the dead.

The evening of the first day of the week following His resurrection, Christ materialized before His disciples inside a room where the doors had been shut, because they feared discovery and arrest.

“Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and said unto them, ‘Peace be unto you’”(John 20:19).

Later, when Thomas heard of it, for he had not been there when Jesus appeared, he said, “Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe. And after eight days again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut [He was now born of God by the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20,23; Romans 8:29), and was able to literally dematerialize into spirit, or materialize into His physical form!], and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace be unto you.’ Then saith He to Thomas, ‘Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.’ And Thomas answered and said unto Him, ‘My Lord and My God!’ Jesus saith unto him, ‘Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed”‘ (John 20:26-29).

Jesus had appeared earlier to Mary, near the sepulcher. He appeared to two of the women, one of whom was Cleopas, on the road to Emmaus. They sadly related to Him all the events of the past days, not knowing Who He was. “Then He said unto them, ‘O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?’ And beginning at Moses [the first five books of the Bible] and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:25-27). When He opened their eyes to understand who He was, He “vanished out of their sight” (verse 3 1).

Christ instructed them to go to Galilee, saying He would see them there (Matthew 28:10). The account of this third appearance to a sizeable group of them is given in John 21. Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James and John, and two others were offshore in the Sea of Galilee, fishing. “And that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said unto them, ‘Children, have ye any meat?’ They answered Him, ‘No.’ And He said unto them, ‘Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.’ They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes” (John 21:3-6). Read the entire chapter slowly. Peter finally recognized Jesus, cast himself into the lake, and swam rapidly to shore, to find Jesus standing over a fire, with fish already cooking.

Then follows the moving account of Jesus asking Simon Peter three times whether Peter loved Him, and three times saying to Peter, “Feed my sheep!” Christ also prophesied that Peter would be martyred (verses 18,19), and that John would live into his old age (verses 20-24).

Later, on a mountain overlooking the Sea of Galilee, perhaps the site of His “Sermon on the Mount” three and one-half years earlier, Christ appeared to His group of men, and gave them the Great Commission.

“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him: but some doubted [not all had been present in the boat; not all had seen Him each time—some few still doubted, even now]. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ‘All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach [enlist as students: make disciples of] all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son. and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world [Greek: aeon, meaning age”], Amen”‘ (Matthew 28:16-20).

What had He taught them? A massive amount of information’ Notice, “And He said unto them, ‘These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled,which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms [writings], concerning me’” (Luke 24:44).

The books of the Old Testament are arranged in this precise order in the “Hebrew Old Testament.” The Law, or the “Torah,” the Prophets, and the Writings. The proper ending of the Old Testament should be 2 Chronicles, not Malachi.

How many churches and religious organizations pay any attention to the Old Testament today? Yet, these were the only Scriptures extant during the life of Christ, and for about twenty-four years after His resurrection.

Christ opened their understanding concerning all the prophecies in the Bible about Him! That means He expounded to them such prophecies as Daniel 2, 4, 7, 11, and 12; Isaiah 2 and 11; Micah 4 and Zechariah 14, as well as many other prophecies in which Jesus Christ and His coming world-ruling government are the central theme!

He showed them that He, Jesus Christ, is the “Stone that was cut out without hands” that is to smash the final, ten-nation, world power at the time of His second coming (Daniel 2:44). He showed them that He will rule all nations with a rod of iron; that He will put an end to war (Isaiah 2:1-5; Micah 4:1-5). He would have expounded to them the wonderful good news of how the whole world would be changed during His millennial reign on earth (Isaiah 11: 1-16); how He would gather all the ” outcasts of Israel” from around the world, and how all the gentile nations would seek Jesus Christ (Isaiah 11:10-12). He would have expounded Daniel 12, about the Great Tribulation and the resurrection of the dead; about the “abomination of desolation,” and the time of God’s intervention into human affairs.

Christ’s commission to His group of specially called-out ones was not a brief statement. It may have consumed many hours of intensive instruction! There is a great deal of information concerning Christ and His kingdom in the scriptures He expounded to them!

These men knew the true meaning of the “GOOD NEWS” Christ was instructing them to preach. They had been trained, educated, tried, and tested. They had been shamed and humbled by their rejection of Him at the moment when He needed them most. They had been made deeply repentant as a result of their experiences. Remember, these men never heard the word gospel. Jesus spoke to them in Aramaic, not in English. The English language was not to emerge for many centuries. Our English word gospel comes from two old Anglo-Saxon words. It means, simply, “good news”!

Notice Mark’s account of the Great Commission: “And He said unto them, ‘Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned [Judged, or condemned] “‘ (Mark 16:15,16).

Today, the word gospel is almost universally misunderstood. To millions of professing Christians, it means the story about Jesus Christ; that Christ died to save sinners; that we must believe on Him to be saved.

But this is only a part of the good news Christ brought. There is a vast difference between the message Christ brought from His Father, and a message about the Person of Christ! Neither can be left out!

Jesus Christ commissioned His disciples to preach the message He had delivered to them. What was that message?

The Real Gospel

After John’s ministry, when he had been cast into prison, Jesus Christ began to preach. “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, ‘REPENT: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”‘ (Matthew 4:17).

Mark’s account says, “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel [good news] of the kingdom of God, And saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: REPENT ye, and believe the gospel [good news]”‘ (Mark 1: 14,15).

Luke wrote, “And He said unto them, ‘I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent”‘ (Luke 4:43).

Mark, Luke, and John all use the term Kingdom of God, while Matthew used the term Kingdom of Heaven. All wrote of the same thing. Jesus Christ spoke of His coming kingdom, which is to be a world-ruling kingdom (Isaiah 2; 11; Micah 4).

Briefly, any kingdom must consist of at least four major parts. It must have a king who rules over his kingdom. The King of kings and Lord of lords who will rule for one thousand years is Jesus Christ (Revelation 20:4). It must have territory over which the king rules. Christ’s territory will be this good, green earth (Isaiah 2; 11; Micah 4; Zechariah 14:4; Revelation 2:26; 5:10; 20:4). Many chapters of the prophecies of your Bible describe conditions which will prevail on this earth when Jesus Christ sets up His kingdom. His kingdom will indeed be a new world order, for Christ will completely reorder civilization!

Next, it must have subjects over which the king rules. The subjects of Christ’s kingdom will consist of all nations of the entire world! “And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall RULE them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:15,16).

“And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south … And it shall be in that day, that living waters [Ezekiel 47:1-12] shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea [Mediterranean], and half of them toward the hinder sea [the Dead Sea]: in summer and in winter shall it be. And the Lord shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD and His name one” (Zechariah 14:4-9).

There are dozens of scriptures—whole chapters of your Bible—describing the millennial reign of Jesus Christ as King of kings on this earth. It will be a totally autocratic government, but in the hands of very God, Jesus Christ of Nazareth and His born-again brothers and sisters, members of His own divine family, who will be ruling over towns, cities and countries with Him (Revelation 2:26). It will be a kind and gentle government, yet a government which will enforce its laws—one which will bring true justice for all.

Finally, a kingdom requires a king who rules over His subjects by law. What will be the laws by which Christ rules?

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain [a symbol of a government] of the Eternal’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills [lesser nations]; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many peopleshall go and say, ‘Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Eternal, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths’: for out of Zion shall go forth the LAW, and the word of the Eternal from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:2-4).

There will be no more nuclear weapons. No chemical and biological weapons. No SCUDs or long-range nuclear bombers or intercontinental ballistic missiles! There will be total world disarmament! The King of kings will outlaw all war, and all war-making technology will be destroyed, and forever banned!

God will punish the sinning nations of this world because they have broken His laws! Jesus Christ will govern and rule by imposing God’s holy and righteous LAWS upon all of mankind.

“Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto My words, nor to my LAW but rejected it” (Jeremiah 6:19).

The good news Jesus Christ taught His disciples was a vast, globe-girdling message of mind-boggling, awesome proportions! He spoke of a time of the complete destruction of civilization as we know it; the time of the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21,22), the Day of the Lord, and His second coming to rule all nations with a rod of iron!

It is the good news that Jesus Christ died to save all mankind from the penalty for sin, which is death by Gehenna fire! It is the good news that God is a loving, merciful God, who will forgive us when we repent, who will beget us as His children, who will admit us into His great, world-governing kingdom when Christ returns.

What good news it is to the teeming populations of Zaire, China, India, Sudan, Iraq, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, Germany, Russia, Bangladesh, Bosnia, the United States—all the nations of the world—that Jesus Christ of Nazareth is soon going to return to this earth, this time in the power and majesty of Almighty God!

You cannot think of a terrible problem Jesus Christ will not solve! Today, we live in a world of tragedy, accidents, infant mortality, crime, drugs, divorce, sickness and disease, squalor, poverty, brutality, and war! Our daily news is heartbreaking! The problems of the world are simply too big to be solved by any government of man!

But none of this world’s problems are too big to be solved by Jesus Christ! He has unlimited power. He told them, ‘All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world [age]. Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Christ’s great commission to His group of called-out ones came in two important parts. First, they were to announce the good news—meaning preach the gospel—to all the world as a witness. Second, they were to feed the flock, to care for the church that would be formed as a result of repentant believers.

The book of Acts is a history of the growth and development of the early church

It details how they were virtually overwhelmed with thousands of newly converted believers on the Day of Pentecost; how there had to be organization to care for these people, especially the widows and the elderly (Acts 6:1-7).

Today, God’s church continues to perform both of the two-part commission Jesus Christ gave it. We strive to preach the good newsof Christ’s soon-coming kingdom as far and as wide as possible, within the means God Himself makes available.

Then, we strive as best we humanly can, with God’s loving and patient help, to care for the church.

God’s true church has come out of this world. It is “apolitical,” in the sense that it does not attempt to influence government; it has no lobbyists in Washington or anywhere else; it does not attempt to influence the outcome of elections: it does not plot to intervene in the human governments of this world.

God’s true church will never be involved in violence! It will never stockpile arms, or engage in “paramilitary” maneuvers, or be involved in any attempts to overthrow the government by force, whether local, county, state, or national governments!

God’s people are commanded to pray for their leaders, not become engaged in conspiracies to overthrow them by force! Even during the cruel days of the Roman Empire, Paul, writing to the church in Rome itself, said, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers, for there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation [judgment]. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same. For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister [servant] of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil” (Romans 13:1-4).

The heart and core of Christ’s teaching was to love even your enemies, to “turn the other cheek,” and to pray for those that would despitefully use you and persecute you.

Jesus Christ did not come to forcibly, overthrow the governments in Palestine during His physical life. He has never intended His own “called-out ones,” who form His true church, to be involved in armed violence of any kind!

Instead, He commissioned His apostles to go into all the world and announce the good news (preach the gospel) that Jesus Christ Himself will return to this earth, and rule it with a rod of iron!

As such, God’s church is the instrument in His hands to do His work!

Finally, when Jesus Christ decides His witness and warning message has reached enough people—when He decides to intervene in human affairs—He will return to this earth in all the power and glory of God.

John saw this happening in vision: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns, and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself. And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall RULE them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS … And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and against His army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were case alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of Him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of His mouth [by divine fiat, or command]: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh” (Revelation 19:11-21).

Jesus Christ is coming back to this earth at the head of vast millions of angelic hosts. He will catch up His saints to meet Him in the air(2 Thessalonians 4:17). His feet will stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4). He will smash the ten-nation combine (Revelation 17:12-14) that is the beast power, and establish His kingdom on this earth, in His new world capital, New Jerusalem!

The work of His church is to prepare the way for this globe-girdling, awesome event; to announce this great, wonderful, good news to the suffering millions of this earth!

Never forget that our Savior commanded us, “WATCH ye therefore, and pray always, that ye might be accounted worthy to escape all these things [the things of the Great Tribulation] that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:36).

He told us we are to pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.”

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

You may copy and distribute this information only to friends and family without changes, without charge and with full credit given to the author and publisher. You may not publish it for general audiences.

This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man’s word for anything, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible.

The activities of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association are paid for by tithes, offerings and donations 
freely given by Christians and co-workers who are dedicated to preaching the gospel according to Jesus Christ.

The post The Church and the New World Order first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

It is the job of THIS WORK; this group of AGENTS who are already committed to this new government; already having established citizenship, to WARN the world of what is coming!

What you are about to read is incredible. Most will not believe it. But that doesn’t matter — it will happen anyhow. We do not need to “believe” in the inevitable to make it happen! Whether you believe it or not, a NEW WORLD GOVERNMENT will soon be established, which will be an ABSOLUTE MONARCHY. It is not coming from any human leader; not coming from any coalition or alliance of human governments. It is coming as the result of an INVASION FROM OUTER SPACE!

It will rule from one world capital; will impose a one world economic system, one world language, one world flat tax, and a massive resettlement program; moving tens of millions of people representing the various ethnic groups onto their own lands! It is a program which will be ENFORCED with unheard-of “super weapons,” far more powerful, more accurate, more immediate and more devastating than any of the destructive weapons in human arsenals today! Such forces will be used against any nation attempting to resist the new government!

What will this globe-girdling new world order mean to YOU and your loved ones? WHO is behind it? HOW will it succeed? WHEN will it be set up? WHO will try to prevent it?

Imagine, if you can, some of the following HEADLINES being written within the near future:

“MASSED EUROPEAN ARMY OF 20 MILLION MEN WIPED OUT IN SINGLE BATTLE!” “NEW SUPER WEAPONS DISINTEGRATE ARMIES OF MILLIONS INSTANTANEOUSLY!” “WITNESSES SAY `ONLY SKELETONS ARE LEFT!’ AS MILLIONS OF SOLDIERS’ FLESH DISINTEGRATES IN SECONDS!”

“MILLIONS OF AMERICANS, BRITISH AND AUSTRALIANS RELEASED FROM SLAVE LABOR CAMPS.” “WORLD-WIDE SEARCH FOR SURVIVING JEWS UNDERWAY.” “NEW SUPER-GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED IN JERUSALEM.” “HOLY CITY DECLARED `CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.'” “RUSSIA ANNOUNCES CONSTRUCTION OF MASSIVE NEW FACTORIES FOR CONVERTING THOUSANDS OF TANKS INTO SMALL, SOLAR-POWERED TRACTORS.” “NEW SUPER-HIGHWAY LINKS GERMANY, ISRAEL, SPANS BOSPORUS.” “GLOBAL `UNLEARNING’ PROGRAM ANNOUNCED: REEDUCATION OF MILLIONS UNDERWAY.” “TEN PERCENT `FLAT TAX’ IMPOSED WORLDWIDE!”

Sound IMPOSSIBLE? But WHY? Do not millions, in this day and age of the super thrillers in motion pictures imagine, again and again, that great “star wars” will take place; that great evil empires in SPACE will be slugging it out with ray guns, lasers, and neutron bombs in the future?

Do some of the headlines above sound like “big brother”? Believe it or not, just such headlines will be seen by tens of millions of shocked, dismayed, bewildered populations following the greatest wars in history within a few more years!

Hitherto secret documents, which had been closed and sealed are now opened up for public understanding! They reveal a plan so vast in scope as to stagger the imagination — the plan of BEINGS FROM OUTER SPACE TO INVADE THIS EARTH!!

MILLIONS know nothing about it. The CIA, the FBI, the KGB, MI-5, Naval Intelligence, the NSC — all remain IGNORANT of the plan, which is proceeding HOURLY, now, toward execution.

There is a COUNTDOWN now taking place in outer space! As the seconds tick off, the moment of the final launch of GIGANTIC ARMIES OF SUPER-BEINGS — D-DAY FOR EARTH — edges ever closer! These super-beings have a PLAN; a strategy for conquering earth! This many-faceted, detailed plan has been in plain sight for thousands of years, but was deliberately written in such a way that only a precious FEW could understand it. It was carefully crafted by super-powerful, super-intelligent Beings from OUTER SPACE; delivered to human beings, copied, translated, distributed, published to millions, in dozens of languages.

Yet, the real truth of the vast plan for a coming NEW WORLD ORDER has remained incomprehensible! Why? Because it was deliberately SEALED to human understanding by great forces and powers from outer space. If it had been made plain long ago, the nations of the world would have allied together to try to prevent it. Other super beings, headed by a great, evil one; a wicked, perverted, desperate spirit, have been doing everything in their evil power to PREVENT this invasion from space — primarily, they have worked to KEEP THE TRUTH ABOUT THE COMING INVASION FROM THE WORLD! Mostly, they have succeeded! The vast majority of people — far more than 90 percent of the entire population of the world, SCOFFS at the warning! They simply do not believe it!

Whether scoffers believe it or not, messengers from an unknown source brought top-secret information to selected agents; those chosen to write down and preserve what they said. Yet, these messengers from space told the human agents they visited that their messages would remain CLOSED until what they characterized as “the TIME OF THE END” of human civilization as we know it.

One such human agent was selected because of his humble and contrite heart, and because of his native intelligence; his race; his position at the time (close to the throne of an ancient world-ruling empire). His character; his humility; his contrite heart resulted in intensive communication with these Beings in outer space, who tuned in to his prevailing attempts to get in touch with them. He had discovered the perfect “wave length,” by which to communicate. His name meant, “God [the All-powerful; All-knowing; All-seeing; Everywhere-present; Eternal One] will judge,” or, “God will discern.” His name was Daniel.

The first visit he received so shocked and stunned him, that he fainted! Even though he had been crying out to be heard; to get in touch with the great Power in space, when it happened he sank down, prostrate on the ground, completely overcome by what he saw! He probably thought he was as good as dead! Here, in his own words, as he might tell it in our modern English if he were being interviewed today, is his account of his sighting: “It was the 24^th of Abib, the first month, when I was standing there by the side of the Tigris River in Babylon [modern-day Iraq], when I looked up and there was a man wearing a linen garment, with a brilliant gold sash. His body looked like beryl, and his face was so bright it was like looking at lightning! His eyes were like shooting flames, and he had arms and feet like burnished brass. When He spoke, His voice was so powerful it was like hearing a vast crowd of people.

“Although there were some men with me, it was only I who saw this vision. Even so, they began to tremble and shake, so much that they ran away and tried to hide! So there I was, alone, seeing this incredible vision! I found I was weak; all my strength seemed to drain away, so much so that I sank to the ground, with my face in the dirt — I passed out!

“Yet, at the same time a hand touched me; it was him! He lifted me up on my knees and hands, and said, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, I want you to understand what I say to you. Stand up, because it is to you I am sent!

“When he said this, it was as if I could stand. But I was still trembling. Then he said,

“Don’t be afraid, Daniel, because from the first day you set your heart to understand; from the time you confessed sins of yourself and your people, your words were heard, and I am here because of them.

“But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me for twenty-one days, until Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and so I stayed there with the kings of Persia. Now, I am come to make you understand what is going to happen to your people in the last days, because this vision is for long, long in the future.

“When he said all this, I set my face toward the ground, and became completely speechless! But then, one like any other man touched my lips, and I found I could open my mouth! So I said to this great one who stood there, O my Lord, by seeing you, I am filled with shame, and I am terribly weak. How can such an one as me assay to talk to someone like you? I have no strength, and I can’t get my breath!”

“Then, for the second time, one like a man came and touched me, and I felt strength returning. He said, O man greatly beloved, fear not! Be strong! Be strong!

“And when he had said this to me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my Lord speak — I’m alright now; you have given me strength.

“So then he said, Do you know why I have come here to you? So now, I must return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I have gone, the prince of Grecia will come. But I will show you that which is noted in the scripture of truth: that there is no one who stands with me in these things except Michael your prince.

“It was in the first year of Darius the Mede that I stood to confirm his rule, and to give him strength. Now, I’m going to show you the truth about what will happen: Look, there will yet arise three kings in Persia, and the fourth will be far richer than all the rest, and because of his strength and power he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece…” (Daniel 10:1-21; 11:1, 2, paraphrased).

Daniel was amazed. He had no idea these great and powerful spirit beings were actually struggling against each other to influence the minds and policies of world leaders! He had never known before about any “Prince of Grecia,” some exalted spirit from another dimension who could have such power that it required TWO other great and powerful spirit beings named Gabriel and Michael to overcome him! Daniel soon learned that the being who spoke to him was one of the two remaining loyal archangels, Gabriel! Gabriel then continued to tell Daniel the entire sweep and scope of history; from the fall of Babylon to the fall of Persia and rise of Alexander; from the disintegration of Alexander’s empire into four lesser kingdoms to the rise of Rome, and from the ancient Roman empire to the time of a yet future invasion of Palestine by a fabled “King of the North.”

Rawlinson’s history, along with many other histories, such as Dorothy Ruth Miller’s Ancient History in Bible Light give a verse-by-verse description of how Gabriel’s prophecies delivered to Daniel came to pass EXACTLY as he said they would!

After the lengthy prophecies, Gabriel told Daniel that there would come a time when once again Michael, who is the other of the two loyal archangels, would “stand up,” meaning he would visit this earth in great power, and cause major events to occur, exactly as predicted. But let Gabriel tell Daniel in his own words. He was, after all, the eyewitness: “And at the end time, the king of the South will engage in a shoving match with the King of the North, who will come against him like a tornado, with armored vehicles, soldiers, cavalry, and with many ships. He will invade many countries, and pass over many borders. He will enter into the land they call glorious, and attack many countries, which will fall before him. But these shall escape out of his hand; Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.

“And he shall stretch forth his hand; sending his military forces into many countries, and even the land of Egypt shall not escape.

“He will seize all the gold and silver, and all the national treasures of Egypt, and Put and Cush will be at his borders.

“But intelligence from the East and the North shall trouble him: because of this he will go forth with great fury to destroy, and to uproot and deport many.

“And he will plant the tabernacles of his palace; his headquarters, between the seas in the mountain of delight of holiness; the holy mount; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

“It is at this time that Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never before in all history; since as never was since there was a nation, and at that time your people will be delivered; every one that shall be found written in the book.

“And many of them that are sleeping in the ground shall awake; some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

“And they that are wise teachers shall shine as the brightness of the heavens: and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

“But you, O Daniel, must shut up the words, and seal the scroll, even until the time of the end: many will be running back and forth, and knowledge will be increased” (Daniel 11:40 to 12:4).

From the time Daniel wrote down all his experiences, the exact sequence of events just as Gabriel had predicted began to occur. Babylon fell on a night of a drunken debauch, just as Daniel wrote in his fifth chapter. Persia became the dominant world-ruling empire, as he had predicted. Then Alexander toppled the Persian empire, as Daniel had written in his fourth and seventh chapters. At his death, his four generals divided up the Greco-Macedonian kingdom, exactly as Gabriel said it would be (Daniel 11:4). Then came the long period of the Ptolimies in Egypt and the Seleucidae in Syria, detailed in the lengthy discourse of Gabriel, recorded in Daniel’s eleventh chapter. For centuries, the prophecies continued to be fulfilled exactly as Gabriel said they would be!

The astonishing sighting by Daniel of an archangel was a direct result of his humble desire to learn of God’s plan — it was also a result of God’s desire to communicate with those men and women who would humble themselves before Him, and who were willing to act as His agents on earth to communicate His words to others.

Daniel was not the only human being who had a visit from Beings from outer space. Adam and Eve both saw One who said He was Elohim, and who spoke openly with them. Abraham entertained THREE beings from space; two of whom were angels, and the other of whom was the one who became Christ! Study Genesis 18 and 19 for the eyewitness account.

Jacob wrestled with the one who was to become Christ! Study Genesis 32 for this strange occurrence.

Men divided the ancient scrolls into chapters and verses. The quotation from Gabriel, however, continues unbroken from the beginning of Daniel 10:20 until the end of chapter 12.

Daniel’s curiosity was overwhelming. He wanted to know what the final outcome would be of all these amazing prophecies. He said, “Then I looked, and, behold, there were two others, one on my side of the bank of the river, and the other on the other bank. And one of them said to the man clothed in linen, who appeared to be standing over the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?

“And I heard the man clothed in linen, who appeared to be standing on the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and swore by Him that lives forever and ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things will be finished.

“And I heard, but I didn’t understand. So I said, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?

“And he said to me, Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end.

“Many will be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked will do wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand; but the wise shall understand.”

Daniel did not complain or argue. He was so overwhelmed emotionally that he found himself so weak it was all he could do to function. But in due time he WROTE all that had occurred, telling every detail of the circumstances; the appearance of the great Beings from space who had spoken with him; their exact words — even their rejoinder that he was to “close up” and “seal” the words. This he did. When he had finished the scroll, he closed it tight, sealing it carefully. Little could Daniel know that, following the Babylonian captivity, others would collect all the archives of the writings of other prisoners; that they would be especially interested in Daniel’s writings, because he was acting premier for a time, and was close to the throne during four successive Babylonian administrations. As the centuries passed, it was recognized that Daniel had indeed experienced some remarkable visits from extra-terrestrial beings, and that his writings should be copied, and made available to the world.

Still, true to Gabriel’s predictions, even though the words themselves were now brought out into the open, they were not deciphered by those who read them. Even today, millions of people read portions of what Daniel wrote, and still do not understand it!

But the great beings from space had a PURPOSE in closing and sealing the meaning of the prophecies!

The Purpose Of Bible Prophecy

Prophecy is like an OUTLINE of the PLAN OF GOD. It is a detailed analysis of the course of human history according to the carnal, natural impulses of human nature. Human nature is primarily composed of vanity, jealousy, lust, and greed. At the center of human vanity is EGO. Self-worship, self-determination, self-justification, self-perpetuation; these are at the root of man’s religions and man’s wars. The prophecies delivered to man from great Visitors from space contain not only the humanly guided course of history, but those special interventions in human affairs necessary to insure the final outcome.

As was seen in Gabriel’s communication to Daniel, the great Elohimin His space abode called “heaven” (the “third heaven” of 2 Corinthians 12:2), sent both Gabriel and Michael to insure the transition of government in Persia, and to withstand fallen Lucifer, who is now called “Satan” from his attempt to thwart God’s prophecies.

Therefore, prophecy is not only predictions of God’s divine interventions into human affairs, but it is also HISTORY, WRITTEN IN ADVANCE — before it happens. It is concerned with human EVENTS, as well as their causes. Prophecy is also a warning to individuals, nations, and the world, conveying CHOICES. God sets before us the choice of two opposite ways of life; the way of obedience to God, and His laws, or the way of rejection of God, and following the wiles and deceits of Satan.

God expressed it this way: “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

“In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

“But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

“I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:15-19).

This is both a promise and a threat. The choice involves an entire life span, and is therefore FUTURISTIC in nature; a prophecy! As a loving parent might warn, “If you disobey me, I will take away your allowance for six months, but if you are a good boy, I will give you an extra allowance,” so God urges mankind to make the RIGHT CHOICE, but promises horrible consequences if we make the wrong choice.

About one-third of the Bible is prophecy. All of the prophets are included as a part of the spiritual foundation of the church (Ephesians 2:20). In the transfiguration, James, Peter, and John saw Moses and Elijah (Luke 9:28-31) as if spirit beings, together with Christ in the kingdom of God. Moses was a great prophet, and a type of Christ. Elijah (whose name meant, “God, He is God”) was a great prophet. As Elijah was sent to evil kings to warn them of the consequences of their dastardly deeds, so Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel were commissioned to WARN world leaders of the coming intervention of God in human affairs.

But prophecy is not a “religious” exercise. It does not belong to the realm of nones and vespers; of guttering candles, silent nuns, shaved priests, stained glass windows, chants, repetitive prayers uttered in unison, wailing songs, steepled hands, or sanctimonious, posturing, self-righteousness! There is nothing “religious” about a drought, a major earthquake, a famine, or a massive disease epidemic!

Prophecy is analogous to a warning from a loving parent toward his children, who might say, “If you do so and so, I am going to have to punish you until you repent, and do what you should.” Therefore, prophecy has, as its ultimate goal, the objective of causing people to REPENT OF SIN, and then receive and accept the witness of God, and become a member of His coming new government; a member of His ever-expanding family!

Prophecy is inseparable from Christ’s gospel for the simple reason that the gospel is prophecy! It is the GOOD NEWS about the coming super world-ruling government which Christ will establish on earth. It is also the BAD news about man’s wars, ethnic cleansing, pogroms, mass murder; about violent, upset weather; about disease epidemics and attacks by wild animals; about earthquakes and floods; about signs in the heavens; all of which are designed to CAUSE MEN TO REPENT! Christ said, “REPENT YE, and BELIEVE the good news!”

One of the most important prophecies of all is Christ’s “Olivet” prophecy. He said: “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet [there is nothing “religious” or “sanctimonious” about a war, except that oftentimes posturing “religious” men cause them],

“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

“All these are the beginning of sorrows [troubles, trials: tribulation].

“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake,”

“And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

“And this gospel [good news!] of the kingdom [the GOVERNMENT of God] shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

“Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains…For then [at the time of the setting up of the “Abomination of desolation”] shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved [ALIVE! He was speaking of human survival, not spiritual salvation]: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:5-22).

The ultimate climax of all prophecy is the coming of the KINGDOM OF GOD — the second coming of Jesus Christ! The primary purpose of Bible prophecy is to WITNESS to mankind the following:

1) God is the CREATOR; the Maker of man himself, and the entirety of the physical universe.

2) God is the RULER, who has all power to act upon His creation.

3) God decides the course of nations. It is He who sets up or deposes world leaders; presidents, premiers, prime ministers; kings (Daniel 2:21, 37).

4) Mankind is lost in SIN as a result of Satan’s deceptions (Romans 3:23) and man’s surrender to his own physical appetites and emotional compulsions. Sin is the transgression of God’s law, the Ten Commandments (1 John 3:4).

5) Jesus Christ, who was God in the flesh, and is the CREATOR; the creating Agent who made the universe, the solar system, the earth, and all life upon it (John 1; Heb. 1), and whose ONE life is worth more than all human life combined, came to die for the sins of the world; for all mankind; for His own creation.

6) To those who repent of SIN, Christ will create a “new creature” by the begettal of the Spirit of God with the human spirit, thus forming a cadre of spiritually-begotten members of His spiritual body, the church.

7) Since the church is the AGENCY through which Christ will perform His WORK of witness and warning, it is the commission of the church to COME OUT of spiritual Babylon (Revelation 18:4), and to PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS of that coming Kingdom to the world!

Many, many times throughout history, the divine Family member of Elohim whom we know of as “Jesus Christ” visited this earth. He did so following billions of years of lifelessness; stygian darkness and tossing seas, resulting from Satan’s original “star wars” in which the solar system was wrecked, and the space around it filled with debris; in which gigantic asteroids flew about, smashing into the planets, pock-marking them with huge craters, knocking them into different orbits. He came down to see a Venusian-like atmosphere thickly swaddling the earth, permitting no light to reach the raging seas.

By His omnipresent power, and by divine fiat, He said, in a thundering, booming voice, “LET THERE BE LIGHT!” Immediately, the clouds parted and began to burn off. He then commanded, “LET THE DRY LAND APPEAR,” and immediately, in only twenty-four hours, with ear-splitting roaring which would have deafened any human ear, the tectonic plates heaved to the surface, stretching, expanding, colliding, moving about on a viscous underground sea of molten magma. The waters collected in gigantic basins which would become the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian and Arctic Oceans, as the continents crumbled, heaved, reared into the skies, with pinnacles of solid granite thrusting through to soar into the sky, folding and then collapsing, folding again, as continents shoved against each other, then collapsing again, to form tortured shapes of twisted rock. But you can read all of this in Genesis, the first two chapters.

This divine Being from space soon knelt on the ground by a stream in the land we now call Palestine, and, with His own hands, shaped and sculpted a clay model of Himself. When it was perfect, he stood the reddish clay upright, took its lifeless cheeks in His hands, placed His lips on its mouth, and, blowing hard, caused it to breathe! Suddenly, the turgid, lifeless clay turned to flesh! Suddenly, the sightless blobs of clay became intelligent eyes, shining with life! The two divine Beings had said, in complete agreement, “Let US make man in OUR IMAGE” (Genesis 2:26).

John was inspired to write in some detail about this miraculous occurrence: “In the beginning was the Word [Greek: logos, meaning “Spokesman”], and the Word was with God [Theos, meaning more than one; the Greek equivalent of Elohim], and the Word was God.

“The same was in the beginning with God.

“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

“In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

“And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

“The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

“He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

“That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

“He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

“He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name;

“Which were born [Greek: gennao or “begotten”], not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt [Greek: TABERNACLED,meaning dwelt temporarily] among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-14).

To this day, not only have “His own,” the Jewish race as a whole, rejected Him, and received Him not, but MILLIONS who profess the name “Jesus Christ” are IGNORANT of this great, yet simple and inescapable truth, that it was the Member of Divine Elohim who said “LET THERE BE LIGHT” who came to this earth to be born as a human being, and to die for the sins of His own creation!

If they understood only those few verses, millions of God-defying, law-breaking, believers in “grace,” (by which they mean they DO NOT HAVE TO OBEY THE TEN COMMANDMENTS) would know that God DOES NOT CHANGE, and that the One who wrote the Ten Commandments with His own finger is the SAME person of the Divine Elohim who died on the stake! They would come to know, truly, that He is “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8); that He CHANGES NOT (Malachi 3:6).

Professing nominal Christians REJECT John’s first chapter because the consequences of accepting it are ENORMOUS! It would mean abandoning their false doctrines about observing the day of the sun, and keeping God’s SABBATH days, instead! This, they will NEVER do! They will DIE first! And, unfortunately, truer words were never spoken, as you shall see when you learn of the stupendous events to befall this earth in only a few short years when the WRATH of that same great Visitor from space falls upon rebellious mankind!

All the foregoing is why prophecy can never be relegated to a dry study of yesteryear; of “eschatology,” as separate from the WAY OF LIFE laid down by the Creator and Savior of all mankind. It is the very outline of His great PLAN being worked out here below; of the PURPOSE for human life in the first place! But prophecies are only UNDERSTOOD by those who, like Daniel, have yielded to the divine will of the great Being in space through broken-hearted repentance! It is only when we truly COMMUNICATE with Him through humble, contrite, self-effacing PRAYER that we establish contact through the spiritual wavelength of His omniscient mind.

There are many analogies set forth in the Bible to help the repentant, yielded ones to understand about the coming new world order; the government of the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Military And Political Analogies

God’s Word uses many analogies to portray the truth. An analogy is not the truth in itself, but a representative story which illustrates a truth, even as a shadow is not the substance, but the shadow of the reality, or the substance.

The Bible speaks of the “armor” of each individual who is called; speaks of the enemies from which each person needs protection; speaks of the weapons of the struggle, which is termed “warfare.”

Notice, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood [analogy of a wrestling match, requiring great exertion; grappling, struggle], but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth [as if cloaked in the word of God], and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

“And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace [so that your “walk” each day is directed toward the WORK of proclaiming the good news of Christ’s coming Kingdom to all the world as a witness];

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Obviously, each of these pieces of armor are analogies of spiritual “armor” coming from God’s Spirit; supplied through prayer, study, meditation, fellowship; communication between one’s self and God, and communication with fellow citizens, agents and representatives of the same kingdom.

The bulk of the pieces of armor are defensive in nature. The only offensive weapon is that of TRUTH; the “Word of God,” which is described as the “sword of the Spirit.”

And that word includes a very LARGE amount of PROPHECY FOR THE FUTURE!

Christ’s Return Commonly Misunderstood

Because of FALSE DOCTRINES such as the pagan notion of the “immortality of the soul” and the very popular concept of the “secret rapture,” the powerful, earth-shaking events associated with Christ’s return at the helm of a vast angelic ARMY are completely misunderstood.

How many times have you seen pictures of a figure in loosely-flowing robes, with a beatific expression on his face, probably bare-footed, with a halo, wreathed in clouds and bright rays of light, seemingly descending from the skies? To millions of deceived, misled people, the second coming of Christ is a vast RELIGIOUS experience! They imagine people weeping with joy; people transported with delight; people making steeples of their hands, kneeling in prayer; people holding up their arms toward heaven in joyful acceptance.

All this is so much religious nonsense — spiritualized fluff and fancy! Ominously, it means that those who hold with such a completely false, nonsensical idea will NOT RECOGNIZE the real Jesus Christ at His coming, and will actually FIGHT against Him with every weapon they can lay their hands on! Most professing Christians would exclaim, “Stuff and nonsense! I would NEVER fight against Christ!” And yet, the very MOST RELIGIOUS are the very ones who, according to the prophecies of your Bible, will do just that!

It will be the ones who believe MIRACLES ARE THE TEST OF TRUTH who will be deceived! They will joyously leap into the arms of Satan’s representative on this earth; will be DECEIVED by the Beast and the False Prophet, as you shall soon see.

Christ Is Coming To MAKE WAR!

Christ is not coming to this earth in an ecstatic, emotional, sanctimonious posture to “catch up” His saints in a smarmy, sentimental spiritual experience! Instead, He is coming back to wreak VENGEANCE upon His adversaries — especially those who will have been murdering His true followers!

Notice what prophecy says will happen: “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

“These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

“These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:12-14). The “Beast” of this prophecy is the end-time resurrection of the fourth “Beast” described in Daniel’s 7^th chapter. Notice the description: “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

“I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

“I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

“A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened” (Daniel 7:7-10). All biblical commentaries and histories agree that the first three beasts describe the first three great world-ruling empires which preceded Rome; Babylon, Persia, and Greco-Macedonia, under Alexander the Great. The fourth beast is describing Rome and its legions, and then describing how another “little” government (the horns symbolize governments) came up from among them, with eyes “like a man” and a mouth, “speaking great things.” Thus, we see a prophecy which spans the vast period of time from the rise of the pagan Roman empire to its takeover by the papacy, to the time of the end and the second coming of Christ.

There can be no mistaking the fact that Christ is the “Ancient of days,” who comes to “cast down thrones” (subdue and conquer the world, as King of kings and Lord of lords), and who comes in the power and splendor of His throne seen by Ezekiel (See Ezekiel 1 and 10), nor can there be any question about the fact that Christ will JUDGE the world according to the word of God, and the deeds of all mankind.

The fourth Beast of Daniel’s 7^th chapter is the SAME as the first Beast of Revelation 13. Read the account: “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea [symbol of many peoples; nations], having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy [this government was called “holy”]. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon [Satan and his false church] gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

“And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death [The Roman empire fell in 476]; and his deadly wound was healed [The empire was restored by General Belesarius in 554]: and all the world wondered after the beast.

“And they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

“And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies [the same “little horn” of Daniel 7; an ecclesiastical government within the ten-nation Beast power]; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

“And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

“And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them [this describes PERSECUTION – MARTYRDOM – not escape to a desert, or being whisked away to heaven before the tribulation!]: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

“If any man have an ear, let him hear.

“He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints” (Revelation 13:1-10).

The patience and faith of the saints is that “vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord!” It is the knowledge that those who persecute and murder Christ-worshiping, Bible-believing, God-fearing people will themselves be put to death in like fashion!

The Beast Will “Hate The Whore”

The ten-nation Beast power, enraged when it sees its own destruction imminently upon it, will turn upon the great fallen woman and destroy her!

The “woman” who rides, or controls the Beast and his ten-nation army boasts that she is the “lady of kingdoms.” She is described in Revelation 17 as the “great city which ruleth over the kings of the earth.”

There is a very old Irish limerick which seems almost prophetic concerning the relationship between the false church and the Beast.

“There once was a lady from Niger
“Who smiled as she rode on a tiger
“But they returned from the ride
“With the lady inside,
“And the smile on the face of the tiger.” 

Isaiah prophesied of this boasting “lady of the kingdoms” who bragged that she would be an “eternal” church; that she would never see the loss of her “daughters” who came out of her. Notice! “Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called, The lady of kingdoms.

“I was wroth with my people [ten-tribed Israel and Judah], I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst show them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.

“And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it.

“Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me [total blasphemy; the very name and title of God!]; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:

“But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments” (Isaiah 47:5-9).

Even though the boasting “lady of the kingdoms” rides the beast; controls it; even though the “little horn” has “eyes like a man” and a “mouth speaking great things” which brings about the most horrible wars in all history, the great fallen woman will not prevail. Instead, the very governments she used to fulfill her evil agenda will turn upon her in fury, and destroy her totally!

This horrible retribution is described in the 17^th and 18^th chapters of Revelation when, after the Beast power has been conquered, the fallen woman who misled the ten nation Beast will be viciously set upon; tens of thousands will be cruelly put to death! God says, of the ecclesiastical power who rides the Beast, “And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues [it is a supra-national coalition of states; ten nations].

“And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

“For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

“And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth” (Revelation 17:15-18). What great “eternal” city is it which has, for centuries, “reigned over the kings of the earth?” Which city is the city of seven hills? Is it Baghdad? Washington, D.C.? London? Berlin? Tokyo? Teheran? No, none of these are cities where a great religious leader crowned kings, or ruled over many kings and nations at one time, nor are any of these described as “the eternal city.”

Physical Flight — Not A Spiritual Rapture

Jesus Christ described a nightmarish time of droughts, famines, disease epidemics, earthquakes, awesome, frightening signs in the heavens and WARS just prior to His return! By no stretch of the imagination did He say there would be an “en masse” spiriting away of His people prior to the tribulation!

Instead, He said, “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

“Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

“Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

“Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes [this is something SO IMMEDIATE there is not time to collect personal belongings; take extra clothing, gather food, or survival equipment].

“And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

“But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:15-22). This is no “secret rapture!” These people are not suddenly “snatched up” through the roofs of their cars, or out of airplanes, or through the roofs of their homes or office buildings. This is a specific WARNING to those “in Judaea,” meaning the former Roman province of Judaea/Samaria, encompassing Jerusalem, to FLEE into the mountains nearby. They are to go ON FOOT, or by whatever means available! There is not even 10 minutes’ time to gather up personal possessions! They are PRAYING people — SAINTS of God — as Jesus Christ plainly indicated. They are NOT “spirited away” at all, but urged to pray their flight does not take place in snow, sleet, and freezing drizzle; that it NOT take place on God’s Sabbath day!

This flight is because they see the great tribulation beginning THEN AND THERE. They are told to walk away; not to turn back. This is plainly a command to go immediately so as to save their lives, and a command to WALK AWAY from danger! It is NOT a “rapture” or a “rapturous” event, but a picture of people who were WATCHING as Christ commanded, so that when the indications are that the Tribulation is about to begin, they INSTANTLY flee for their lives!

Apocalupsis, Ephinea, And Parousia

The three Greek words translated as “arrival,” “presence,” “revealing,”or “coming,” are apocalupsis, epiphanea, and parousia. Those who teach the “rapture,” and therefore the FALSE hope of a mass disappearance of the saints prior to the tribulation, seize upon the Greek word parousia and attempt to put meaning and significance into certain verses where the exact opposite is true.

The word parousia, according to Strong’s concordance, means: “a being near, i.e., advent (often, return; spec. of Christ to punish Jerusalem, or finally the wicked; (by impl.) Phys. Aspect, coming, presence.”

In Christ’s famous “Olivet prophecy,” He outlined the many globe-girdling, mind-boggling events which will take place just prior to His coming; prior to God’s intervention in human affairs. He spoke of “wars and rumors of wars”; of horrible droughts, famines, disease epidemics; of earthquakes and such awesome signs in the heavens that men would drop dead of heart attacks where they stood.

NONE of these events are done surreptitiously; in secret; or as a “snatching away” of the converted members of God’s true church! As you just read, Christ said His people who were WATCHING world conditions; who KNEW when the “Abomination of Desolation” was placed, and when “armies surrounded Jerusalem” (John 21:20), they should flee for their lives!

Notice that Christ, in describing His coming invasion of earth at the helm of His angelic forces uses the word parousia, the very word seized upon by advocates of the “secret rapture.”

He went on to warn, “And except those days should be shortened [by God’s intervention], there should no flesh be saved [alive!]: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

“Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

“Behold, I have told you before.

“Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

“For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming [Greek: parousia. This is not in the context of a SECRET RAPTURE at all, but an event the WHOLE WORLD will see!] of the Son of man be.

“For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming [parousia] in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

“And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:15-31.

His disciples had asked Him, “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming [parousia], and of the end of the world [age]?” (Matthew 24:3).

Christ immediately launched into some grave WARNINGS about false Christs and false prophets who would hoodwink people into believing lies! He said, “Take heed that no man deceive you.

“For many shall come in my name, saying I am Christ [saying that Jesus Christ is the Christ, as well as some who would claim THEY are the Christ!]; and shall deceive many.

“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

“All these are the beginning of sorrows [troubles; trials; tribulation!]” (Matthew 24:4-8). Not one word did Christ say about His disciples watching for some kind of a clandestine “snatching away” or a “secret RAPTURE!” Instead, He described the greatest time of violence; of wars and loss of human life in all history!

It is because millions FALSELY hope in a “secret rapture” that they have the TIME SEQUENCE OF EVENTS all mixed up, and will not believe the second coming of Christ is really occurring! Millions will be firmly convinced they are to be “snatched up” PRIOR to the tribulation! Therefore, many will be deceived, bewildered, confused!

The basic premise of the rapturists is that no “saint” should have to go through the great tribulation! In this most bizarre of all the “escapist” theories, the entire “church” (which many interpret as dozens of bickering, disagreeing, sparring denominations) will be spirited up to heaven, there to look down on the horrors of the tribulation, but already whisked away! Such a doctrine completely denies Christ’s own prophecies about the resurrection of the dead!

Christ said, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

“And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:28, 29).

He inspired Paul to write, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed [living Christians will be changed instantly, in the “twinkling of an eye” AT THE LAST TRUMP!].

One might well add, “and not one moment before!” Since it is obvious living Christians are still on this earth ALL DURING THE TRIBULATION, the heavenly signs (when millions more will become Christians; will be suddenly CONVERTED), and the Day of the Lord, it is obvious none have been secretly “raptured” away!

The last trumpet is described in Revelation 10:7; 11:15-19 as well as in Matthew 24:31. Notice Christ’s description of this event: “And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:31).

One enterprising preacher, whose mind was made up, and deliberately CLOSED to all you have just read, decided to misinterpret this and many other verses which show the absolutely tumultuous, ear-shattering, mind-boggling events surrounding Christ’s return in such a way as to completely twist the scripturesout of all reason.

He wrote that ONLY THE ELECT would hear the trumpet — that the trumpet would be on a “secret wave length” which he characterized as “Radio Station BLOOD.” This is utterly ludicrous, of course, but some men will resort to any artifice possible to cling to their false THEORIES, instead of believing the word of God exactly as written! The tragic consequences of clinging to the false doctrine of the “rapture” is that when Jesus Christ INVADES THIS EARTH at the helm of His army of millions of angels, many will believe He is the “antichrist” or will assume it is an invasion from some other planet, and will FIGHT Christ at His coming!

Now, carefully take note of the exact sequence of events which utterly DISPROVE the false doctrine of the “rapture.”

The “Saints” Are NOT “in heaven” During The Tribulation 

The primary motivation for the various “escape to a place of safety” and “rapture” theories is the desire to avoid the prophesied Great Tribulation. Did Christ promise His people they would always be spared from persecution?

Here are only a FEW of His very strong statements to the contrary: “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

“But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues [churches; places of “worship”];

“And ye shall be brought [under arrest! Not “invited”]before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

“But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

“For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

“And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 10:16-22). He was speaking of the horrible persecutions His servants would have to endure, not only in that first century, but at the very time of the end!

Notice further: “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

“Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12). Here, in the famous “Sermon on the Mount,” at the end of the well-known “beatitudes,” Christ promises persecutionwill be the lot of those who remain faithful to His truth!

A major part of His “Olivet Prophecy” dealt with persecution and martyrdom: “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

“All these are the beginning of sorrows” [Great Tribulation! — and where are the SAINTS during this time? Not in heaven, but right in the middle of events!]

“Then [WHEN? “Then!” right during the horrible wars, famines, disease epidemics and massive loss of life!] shall they deliver you[WHO? Evil people; the wicked, or the saints?] up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations [obviously, the saints are WORLD FAMOUS by this time; they will be hated of ALL NATIONS!] for my name’s sake.

“And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another [to ecclesiastical and governmental authorities, for persecution and martyrdom!], and shall hate one another.

“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

“And because iniquity [lawlessness!] shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

“But he that shall endure unto the end [the end of his life, or the end of the age, whichever comes first], the same shall be saved” (Matthew 24:7-13). This prophecy is concerning the Great Tribulation, the heavenly signs, and the Day of the Lord.

Notice what Christ said to His disciples during His famous “Last Supper”: “These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

“They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service” (John 16:1, 2). It is the RELIGIOUS people who will murder God’s servants, just as it was the religious, self-righteous Pharisees and their ilk who instigated the murder of Christ Himself.

Those who preach the false hope of being “snatched away” by a “rapture” believe there will be NONE OF GOD’S SAINTS LEFT on earth during the tribulation! Those who preach the false doctrine of a great escape to the Jordanian desert believe only members of a certain group; nearly always identified as the “Philadelphian era” of the church, will be somehow transported to the Jordanian desert, to Petra, Jordan’s most popular tourist site.

Such beliefs are based upon the concept that God would surely not allow His people to undergo the Great Tribulation; that the Tribulation is reserved for lethargic Christians and evil people. Now, look into your own Bible to see the TRUTH about whether or not there are any SAINTS of God alive on this earth, vulnerable to persecution and even martyrdom (just as Jesus Christ SAID they would be) during the Tribulation, and right up until the moment of Christ’s return.

The Prophetic Sequence of Events

Now, notice the TIME SEQUENCE of these great earth-shaking events, and notice carefully where the saints are, and what they will be doing!

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken” (Matthew 24:29). These are the great “heavenly signs” described in many other scriptures, among them Revelation 6:12-17, where the heavenly signs are described.

The final events to occur prior to Christ’s invasion of earth are: (1) The Great Tribulation; (2) The heavenly signs; (3) The Day of the Lord. The entire period will consume slightly more than three and one half years. The “rapture” theorists assert that the saints will be whisked away to heaven; some believe to a place of safety on earth; in order to keep them safe from all persecution or martyrdom. No such thing will occur, as all the plain statements of Jesus Christ clearly prove. Notice it is IMMEDIATELY AFTER the tribulation when the “heavenly signs” appear.

Now, notice the relationship between the heavenly signs and the ensuing Day of the Lord; the Day of God’s wrath: “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

“The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered [repentance and salvation is still available to people on earth!]: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call” (Joel 2:30-32). So it is the heavenly signs, which occur AFTER the tribulation, which CAUSE countless thousands to “call on the name of the Eternal,” and to receive deliverance and God’s calling to salvation!

Of course! This is EXACTLY what John wrote of the 144,000 and the great innumerable multitude: “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held [this metaphorical reference to the dead is reminiscent of the metaphor of slain Abel’s blood “crying unto God from the ground” — again, notice they are MARTYRS; saints of God, converted Christians, who were NOT whisked away to heaven, or taken to a Jordanian desert, but murdered for their convictions and practice]:

“And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

“And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were [this does not promise PETRA, nor HEAVEN in a mass mysterious disappearance — but MARTYRDOM!], should be fulfilled.

“And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood [we have already seen that the heavenly signs come immediately AFTER the tribulation; the fifth seal depicts the religious persecution and martyrdom phase of the tribulation];

“And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

“And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

“And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

“And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

“For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Revelation 6:9-17). This is hardly the picture in people’s minds of a caricature of what they suppose to be “Christ,” standing in a flowing, copious white robe, a shepherd’s crook in His hand; a halo around His head, descending from the heavens in a “religious” and “rapturous” ceremony! This is a FURIOUS Christ; an ANGRY Christ, coming at the helm of vast angelic armies to MAKE WAR against the defiant, blasphemous, hating, murdering, cursing, bestial human beings who will FIGHT against Him at His coming!

Now, what is the major PURPOSE for God’s great display of the “heavenly signs”?

Read it, in your own Bible: “And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

“Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads [This is BEFORE the Day of the Lord; the falling upon mankind of the trumpet plagues; and AFTER the GREAT TRIBULATION. Yet, there are still millions of human beings who will be CONVERTED as a result of the heavenly signs!].

“And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel..After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

“And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

“And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

“Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

“And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

“And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation [They were IN the tribulation, but came THROUGH it; lived through it until this shocking event, which results in their conversion!], and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

“Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

“They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

“For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes” (Revelation 7:2-17).

This huge number of people, including 144,000 from the tribes of Israel, will not repent and cry out to God for forgiveness from their sins UNTIL they go through the GREAT TRIBULATION, and then see the heavenly signs! They will have been DECEIVED earlier; embracing the FALSE DOCTRINES and FALSE HOPES of false teachers! Many will have believed the LYING WONDERS of the Beast and the False Prophet (2 Thessalonians 2:3-11), instead of the plain word of God.

Millions are DECEIVED into picturing, in their mind’s eye, Christ’s coming as a velvety soft, rapturous, joyous event to be received as if in a staid religious ceremony! This is why so many will THINK that His second coming is an INVASION FROM OUTER SPACE by a foreign enemy, either terrestrial or celestial — why they will, ludicrously and futilely, attempt to “shoot down” Jesus Christ as He appears over earth in the clouds!

Notice what the Bible says about the Beast power who will attempt to resist Christ’s invasion of earth: “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

“These have one mind [one policy; one plan], and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

“These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:12-14). In only these three verses, you learn a vast amount about what to expect in the very last times prior to Christ’s invasion of earth.

You learn there are ten kings; ten sovereign nations, which, allied together, comprise the “Beast” power described in so many prophecies. You learn they have one policy; that they are in complete agreement; that they give the strength of their nations, such as their economic, industrial and military capacity, into a common coalition of states for a short time; that they will FIGHT CHRIST when He returns, and that they will be SMASHED into ignominious defeat!

How utterly LUDICROUS, and how BLASPHEMOUS it will be when MILLIONS of professing “Christians” who have been DECEIVED by the false hope of the “rapture” will actually BELIEVE THE LIES of the false prophet, who will cause the “image of the beast to speak,” and think Christ’s invasion of earth is, instead, an invasion by some enemy, either terrestrial or celestial (millions believe in “extra-terrestrial” beings), and will actually try to RESIST Christ at His coming!

Notice the graphic description of Christ’s coming, and what He will do as His very FIRST ACT after standing on the Mount of Olives: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.” This is hardly the description of Christ which is in the minds of millions of church-going, professing Christians. Many would shrink in horror from any suggestion that their “Lord” would MAKE WAR! Yet, this is precisely what He will do!

John SAW, in graphic, close-up, technicolor vision, the INVASION of this earth by Christ at the head of His army from space. He said, “His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

“And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God [Read John 1].

“And the armies [countless millions of powerful angels!] which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

“And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword [metaphor for His commands], that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God [Christ is coming in FURY to pour out unrelenting JUSTICE upon evil nations].

“And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

“And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

“That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great [this gruesome “supper” is a carnage field of countless thousands of vain, arrogant, merciless military men, including generals and top-ranked officers! Christ will KILL them in His blazing fury; their bodies will lie unburied, to become fodder for carrion eaters!].

“And I saw the beast [the dictator who will rule over ten kings and who will invade Palestine at the behest of the great “False Prophet”], and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

“And the beast was taken [arrested! seized!], and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

“And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh” (Revelation 19:11-21).

This shocking prophecy plainly says Christ will personally execute the Beast and the False Prophet by casting them into GEHENNA FIRE, which will be ignited at His second coming!

Christ is coming at the helm of armies of millions of powerful ANGELS. There are no “raptured saints” with Him until He arrives close to this earth; close enough to be down into the atmosphere where the clouds form! Instead, the saints will be caught up to meet the conquering Christ as He returns, at the same moment that the DEAD are raised from their graves!

Read the plain truth of this from your own Bible: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christshall rise first [This is an expression which means CHRISTIANS; converted, praying, studying, overcoming Christians who have died! They are NOT “up in heaven” at all, but soundly ASLEEP in their graves!] :

“Then [When? THEN! At the LAST TRUMP, which comes at the very end of the Day of the Lord, and not a moment before!] we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17). The air is a part of this earth; the “atmosphere” which is material, physical; the mantle of life-giving gases which cloak the earth, protecting it from meteorites; the air in which clouds form. He is coming “with CLOUDS” and “every eye shall see Him.” The clouds are generally from the surface up to about 40,000 feet, and sometimes higher.

As an analogy, the lacquer finish on a desk-sized globe is thicker than the actual mantle of air which surrounds our earth. Christ is coming all the way back to this earth! He is NOT going to “snatch up” His saints and take them to heaven! They will MEET Him AS HE RETURNS HERE!

Nortice further: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken [Never forget the sequence of events: (1) Tribulation, (2) Heavenly signs, (3) Day of the Lord],

“And then shall appear the sign of the son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

“And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:29-31).

Again, notice that the angelic hosts GATHER Christ’s elect, both the dead in Christ, who are instantaneously resurrected to SPIRIT LIFE, and living saints who will be INSTANTLY CHANGED to Spirit life, and bring them up to meet the returning, conquering Christ. Paul wrote of this exact same stupendous event: “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep [a term used many, many times in the Bible for the state of the dead] , but we shall all be changed,

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump [WHEN? AT THE LAST TRUMP, which is the SEVENTH trumpet of which you just read, in Christ’s Olivet prophecy; the trumpet blast which signals the last of the seven last plagues, and the second coming of Christ]: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raisedincorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:50-52).

Notice how often the term “sleep” is used to describe the condition of the dead. Paul, describing Christ’s resurrection, said, “After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:6); “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

“Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished” (1 Corinthians 15:17, 18); “For he that eateth and drinketh un-worthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep” (1 Corinthians 11:29, 30).

As Christ’s invading army nears the earth, a vast host of MILLIONS will rise from the earth! Tombs will open; the dead will rise from the sea; from nations all over the earth! Instantly, those who are converted, praying, overcoming Christians will be CHANGED! In a flash, their mortal, physical bodies will be changed into SPIRIT BODIES!

Paul wrote of this astonishing event: “All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.

“There are also celestial bodies [gigantic stars; super nova, some so large that, if they were moved into the position of our sun, they would absorb the entire solar system!] , and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

“There is one glory [brilliance; magnificence; splendor] of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

“So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

“It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

“It is sown a natural body [mere human flesh]; it is raised a spiritual [spirit essence!] body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body” (1 Corinthians 15:39-44).

Of course! Jesus Christ plainly explained this wondrous phenomenon to Nicodemus, a highly-placed member of the Sanhedrin. He told him, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

“Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” There is not the shadow of a doubt that Nicodemus knew Christ used a word for “born” which implied actual BIRTH, much as would be used in the birth of a child, or a litter of kittens! Nicodemus was not being bawdy, or impolite. He was astonished by Jesus’ statement. He knew nothing of the spiritual rebirth; being CHANGED into actual SPIRIT!

“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water [both a symbol of baptism, and the “washing of water by the word”] and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

“Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

“The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: SO IS every one that is born of the Spirit” (John 3:3-8).

Those who twist this scripture to imply Christ was speaking of a “pentecostal” experience, or speaking of “receiving Christ” in an ecstatic moment of conversion are utterly ignorant of the plain meaning of scripture! The wind is INVISIBLE! It MOVES. It has POWER. It is LIFE GIVING! Christ used the wind as an analogy so Nicodemus would understand He was speaking of a complete CHANGE from flesh to spirit; from mortal to immortal; from human to divine! This is EXACTLY what Paul wrote in his famous “resurrection chapter” of 1 Corinthians 15.

Now, review what you have learned. Following the Tribulation and the Heavenly Signs, Christ will pour out the vast, awesome TRUMPET PLAGUES of Revelation 8, 9, and 10; and then the horrifying LAST GREAT PLAGUES of Revelation 16! Like the sun shining seven times brighter, He will appear in the heavens at the head of countless millions of powerful angels! A great trumpet blast will split the skies like a piercing, deafening sound! (Matthew 24:31).

The second coming of Christ will probably consume one whole DAY. He is coming as “the sun shineth in his strength,” and the ENTIRE WORLD will see Him, which means His coming will take place during one full rotation of the earth on its axis.

The Beast and his armies will believe He is either an extra-terrestrial ENEMY, or think He and his army represent some super-weapon of space-launched vehicles from some other earthly enemy. They will launch their missiles, point lasers, cannon, guns of all kinds to the heavens, and attempt to FIGHT CHRIST and His armies (Revelation 17:12-14).

But Christ, by His awesome, limitless, divine POWER, will speak a command, and these vast armies will suddenly be CONSUMED as they stand! Their hair and clothing will burn off in an instant! Their eyes will disappear in their sockets! Their flesh will melt from their bodies, and they will fall to the ground in a pile of nothing but bones! God says, “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south…And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth” (Zechariah 14:4-14).

No “collateral damage” here. No missed targets. Instead, the most awesome, instantaneous, effective killing power ever imagined!

Millions of professing, church-going nominal Christians, deceived by those who “speak smooth things,” cannot IMAGINE Jesus Christ of Nazareth meting out the DEATH PENALTY to human armies who would dare to resist Him. Millions will be SHOCKED, astonished, when they learn that Christ is coming back to this earth in blazing FURY; in the WRATH of God, to exact vengeance upon His enemies!

The three and one-half years prior to Christ’s return will consist of the Great Tribulation, the Heavenly Signs, and the Day of the Lord. The greatest loss of human life in all history will occur. Just as Christ predicted, it will be a time of “wars and rumors of wars,” of droughts and famines, of massive disease epidemics. Then, as a result of the MARTYRDOM of thousands of His saints, Christ will come back to this earth in divine fury and wrath.

The Saints Are On Earth, Not Up In Heaven

It will be the “Beast” and the “false prophet” who will “make war with the saints, and overcome them.” While Christ promised that SOME of His faithful followers will be spared; that “not an hair of your head shall perish,” He also said that others, selected for their great spiritual strength and courage, would be killed for their testimony.

He said the time would come when those who murdered Christ’s servants would “think they do God a service.” Just as the GREATEST of God’s servants were martyred; Peter, Paul, James, Steven; Christ Himself; SO will the greatest of all prophets, the last TWO WITNESSES be martyred! By the time of the ministry of these two prophets, all organized preaching of the gospel will have been shut down! There will be such horrible conditions, even among the free nations, that utilizing radio, television, and the printing press; maintaining a mailing list, sending out literature, conducting church meetings or evangelistic campaigns, will become impossible, probably punishable by DEATH to those who are caught attempting such things.

The two witnesses are two human beings who have not yet appeared on the world scene. Their ministry begins when the WORK of God, being accomplished by converted, dedicated members of God’s Church, is put down and out!

Notice it: “And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.” This period of three and one-half years is the SAME period as the duration of the “treading down of Jerusalem” by the Gentiles; the SAME three and one half years of ten-tribed Israel’s captivity during the tribulation; the SAME three and one half years of the persecution of the true church.

“These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

“And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed [therefore, these two great prophets, just as Elijah, who slew the groups of fifty soldiers and their captains with fire, will have the power to mete out God’s judgements against armed men who would seek to kill them].

“These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

“And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

“And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

“And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves [this will only be possible via satellite television and the “Internet,” instant, global pictures and communication].

“And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

“And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

“And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them” [this is a special resurrection just prior to the arrival of Christ. They ascend up into the clouds, where they can be SEEN, not to the “third heaven” of God’s throne].

“And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven [the earthquake is no doubt the same one which will occur just before Christ’s return, mentioned in Zechariah 14].

Those who cling to the FALSE HOPE of the “rapture” seem to think that no righteous person will be called upon to be a martyr for Christ; that none of the “saints” shall suffer any persecution during the great tribulation. This is totally false.

Notice the proof from Christ’s revelation to John about the Beast and the false prophet; how they will viciously persecute God’s true church: “And they worshipped the dragon [symbol for Satan] which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? [this is STATE worship; worship of military power]

“And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies [the “mouthpiece” of the Beast is the “little horn” of Daniel 7; the false prophet]; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months [the same three and one-half years of the two witnesses’ prophecies].

“And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

“And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations” (Revelation 13:4-7). The saints are NOT “up in heaven” as the result of a “rapture.” They are not in a cave in the Jordanian desert. They are on earth, accessible to the Beast and the false prophet and their military forces. Notice Daniel’s prophecy of the same thing: “And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things [the false prophet; the “mouthpiece” of the Beast], whose look was more stout than his fellows.

“I beheld, and the same horn [the “little horn” that had eyes like a man, and a mouth. The false prophet, at the head of a great false church] made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;

“Until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom” (Daniel 7:20-22). The time setting of this prophecy, just as in John’s vision in Revelation, is just prior to the second coming of Christ! Jesus Christ Himself said the saints would be horribly PERSECUTED, even MARTYRED because of their work of preaching the good news of His coming kingdom! He warned, “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

“All these are the beginning of sorrows [tribulation].

“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.

“And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

“But he that shall endure unto the end [the end of his life, or the end of the age], the same shall be saved.

“And this gospel [good news!]of the kingdom [the coming super world-ruling GOVERNMENT OF GOD] shall be preached in all the world for a witness [it is a witness AGAINST them] unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:7-14).

Christ’s prophecies are SURE! The good news of His coming government WILL be preached to ALL THE WORLD before He launches His multi-million member angelic army toward earth.

While millions have heard the NAME of Christ; have heard a message ABOUT Him; about His person; most have not heard the powerful, dynamic message He BROUGHT to deliver to His chosen servants! Instead of the PLAIN TRUTH you have read above, most have heard a sentimental message about Christ; about His death, burial, and resurrection, but have not understood the fact that He will soon stand on this earth to RULE it with a rod of iron!

The average church-going, professing Christian would never think Christ would personally carry out the DEATH penalty upon sinning, warring, murdering men!

One of the major reasons Christ will administer the death penalty is because the ones He will put to death have themselves murdered many of His saints.

Luke’s account of this same Olivet prophecy says, “For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

“And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.

“But there shall not an hair of your head perish” (Luke 21:15-18).

The nations of the earth do not hate that which they do not know. To be hated of “all nations” and by “all men” the people of God will have to be KNOWN because of the GREAT WORK of witness and warning they will be accomplishing!

Christ’s Special Agents

Jesus Christ called His disciples to be His emissaries. They were to be His eye witnesses; His “ambassadors” to the world, to deliver the great, all-encompassing MESSAGE He had delivered to them; that He is coming back to RULE this world with a rod of iron for 1,000 years.

He delivered to them His GREAT COMMISSION. He said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:

“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Christ had prophesied, “And this gospel [good news] of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14).

In one of His “kingdom parables,” Christ likened the Kingdom of God to leavening. He said, “Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened” (Matthew 13:33).

Leavening, such as yeast, baking soda, or baking powder, is an AGENT. It brings about a dramatic CHANGE in the dough into which it is introduced. An agent is that which CAUSES something which produces an EFFECT. A dictionary definition is: “A person or company having the authority to act for another…any power or cause which produces an effect by its action; representative, deputy, intermediary.”

As a disciple was a “student,” so an “apostle” was “ONE SENT.” When Christ SENT His apostles to proclaim the vast, awesome, great good news of His coming kingdom, He told them he was establishing them as the foundation of His “group of called-out ones,” or His “assembly” of individuals in whom God would place His spirit.

The Holy Spirit would then EMPOWER them to act as His AGENTS on this earth; His representatives; His deputies; His ambassadors!

Their calling is set forth again and again in the Holy communication from the Divine Beings in heaven we call the “Holy Bible” which merely means “Holy books, or scrolls” when translated from the Greek.

Just as the prophecies delivered to Daniel during his lengthy encounter with his visitor from space, whose name is Gabriel, came to pass exactly as stated, so will the prophecies of all the prophets come to pass exactly as stated.

Amos said, “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). What you have read is REAL. It is SURE. It WILL HAPPEN exactly as Christ said, exactly in the sequence of events He predicted! This blood-soaked, disease-ridden, crime-filled, war-torn world will finally be CONQUERED by the King of kings, who will soon INVADE THIS EARTH FROM SPACE!

Woe, woe, woe to those who refuse to RECOGNIZE Him when He comes, and who assay to FIGHT against Him and His armies. But great JOY, BLESSINGS, and ETERNAL LIFE to all those who not only BELIEVE His good news message, but who are actively working as His special agents to proclaim that good news to all the world!

You may copy and distribute this information only to friends and family without changes, without charge and with full credit given to the author and publisher. You may not publish it for general audiences.

This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man’s word for anything, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible.

The activities of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association are paid for by tithes, offerings and donations freely given by Christians and co-workers who are dedicated to preaching the gospel according to Jesus Christ.

The post Coming Soon-An Invasion from Space! first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Surely, if Bible prophecy is relevant to our times, NOW, then it MUST mention the United States! Many small, insignificant nations are mentioned: Ethiopia, Libya, Syria, Egypt. Students of prophecy know that many Middle-Eastern nations are identified; some of them by their modern names. What about Great Britain, Canada, Australia; the Commonwealth? For that matter, what of the nations in Europe?

The breathtaking rise to power and national greatness of the United States is unparalleled in all history! The course of world history has been dramatically altered by the rise of the United States.

Today, we are a major superpower. American astronauts have walked, driven a vehicle about on the surface of the moon. In two world wars, Americans have lent decisive support to their brothers in England and France, as well as other nations, emerging victorious in global struggles which led directly to America’s super power status.

Think of world history for the past one hundred years! How much influence has America exerted? How important has been England’s contribution?

It is absurd to believe the prophecies of the Bible could be accurate; that they could be up-to-date, portraying events to occur in our times, NOW, if they OMIT mention of the United States and Britain! This would be an oversight, an error so gross as to challenge the very credulity of the Bible itself!

But the United States is mentioned in Bible prophecy—believe it or not, more often than any other nation!

Are Bible prophecies merely the literature of a bygone age—fireside tales of seers and sages of yesteryear; wrathful pronouncements of indignant prophets? Are they merely the dead, ancient fragments of literature from a forgotten race; histories, genealogies, myths?

Or is the one full third of the Bible which is prophecy actually relevant—meaningful to US; to our children and grandchildren in this modern nuclear age?

One Man’s Family

In many ways, the Bible could be called the story of “one man’s family.” In only a few short chapters, one sixth of all the history of the world is covered; from creation until the flood of Noah, a period of approximately one thousand years.

Then follows the account of the overspreading of the earth by Noah’s children; the attempt at racial amalgamation and the tower of Babel; the dividing of the nations and confusion of their languages—all within but a few chapters. By the twelfth chapter of the first book of the Bible, Genesis, we begin reading of a man named “Abram,” who was called of God for a great mission in life. Turn to this vital twelfth chapter, and read it with your own eyes.

“Now the Eternal had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee:

“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:1-3).

What a promise!

This was a promise of recognition from God Almighty. It meant Abram would have a great name. Do not millions strive for recognition; for “fame” as well as fortune? Do not millions hope to make a “name for themselves”? Here was a promise of great wealth; of fame, and of a reputation so great that those who appreciated and “blessed” Abram would themselves be the recipient of great blessings!

What follows is an outstanding example of one man’s obedience to God. Without argument, Abram did exactly as he was told. He obeyed God!

Later, in scriptures throughout the Bible, Abraham, as he will become known, is called the “father of the faithful.” He is an example of unquestioning OBEDIENCE to God! Abraham came to understand that when God speaks, one instantly, without equivocation, doubt, or argument, OBEYS! This was a quality of character that endeared this great man to God—a quality of character almost totally lacking in mankind today!

“And the Eternal said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look fromthe place where thou art, NORTHWARD, AND SOUTHWARD, AND EASTWARD, AND WESTWARD: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever.

“And I will make thy seed [your children—your progeny to follow] as the dust of the earth [numbering hundreds of millions]: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered” (Genesis 13:14-16).

God is not promising that Abram’s children would become but a small, struggling nation in the Middle East! This is not a description of “Israel” of this modern time—a nation surrounded by hostile Arab nations, struggling for survival.

The Jews in modern Israel hardly comprise a nation so large; a people occupying all points of the compass who number “as the dust of the earth.”

Later, God expanded on this marvelous promise to Abram! He promised Abraham’s grandson, Jacob (whose name was changed to “Israel”), “And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed!”

Obviously, this great promise clearly stated that Abraham’s children would “spread ABROAD” from the ancient land of Palestine; that they would ultimately be found in all directions; north, east, south, west, from Palestine! They would be numbered in the countless MILLIONS—”as the dust of the earth” in number!

This promise transcended the narrow national boundaries of ancient Palestine! This promise was GLOBAL!

Fix firmly in your mind, and never forget, that Abraham and his children were promised multiple millions of progeny—time and time again! There are those who attempt to deceive and confuse, claiming the promise of the world being blessed by Abraham’s seed meant only Christ! As we shall see, there is definite reference to “that ONE SEED,” which was Christ; and it is true there is a duality to the promise “in thy seed shall the earth be blessed.” But fix firmly in your mind how God made the promise, again and again, of countless seed, as the “dust of the earth” to Abraham and his son and grandson; that they were to overspread the earth in all points of the compass!

Abraham did exactly as God commanded. As a result, God reconfirmed His promise to Abraham many times. He said, “…look now toward heaven, and tell [count] the stars, if you be able to number them: and He said unto him, so shall thy seed be.

“And he believed in the Eternal; and He counted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:5, 6).

This promise of multiple millions of progeny occurs two chapters prior to the final “covenant” between God and Abraham; prior to the change of name; from “Abram” to “Abraham,” which meant, “father of many nations.”

J. H. Allen has written perhaps one of the best-known of the many books attesting to the identity of modern-day Britain and America in Bible prophecy. In his forward of his well-known book, Judah’s Sceptre and Joseph’s Birthright, Allen says, “Although it is not generally known, it is nevertheless true that God made two covenants with Abraham, or, rather, that He made one with Abram and another with that same man after his name was changed to Abraham. This change of name was made that it might harmonize with the new character and the new order of things as they pertain to the covenant man.

“The first, or Abram, covenant was made when the man was ninety years old; but the second, or Abraham, covenant was not made until this man was called upon to make the one great sacrifice of his life.”

We shall see this great test required of Abraham a little later.

Now, notice this second, or “Abraham” covenant God made: “And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly . . . as for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be [become] a FATHER OF NATIONS!

“Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

“And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations [PLURAL! MORE THAN ONE NATION!] Of thee, and kings [PLURAL! MANY KINGS!] shall come out of thee.

“And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed [plural! multiple, national seed—like the dust of the earth and the stars of heaven for number!] after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed [millions of them] after thee.

“And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

“And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations” (Genesis 17:1-9).

Does this leave any doubt whatsoever in your mind about God’s promises to Abraham of multiple MILLIONS of progeny? How many grains of dust are there? How many stars can you see? Scientists tell us there are something like two hundred BILLION stars just in the milky way. Though this is obvious metaphor, and not intended to predict a finite number, God is absolutely promising that Abraham’s seed would eventually become many nations; that whole dynasties of kings would be among his descendants; that, eventually, MULTIPLE MILLIONS of human beings would have descended from Abraham!

Anyone who attempts to interpret these facts as applying only to “that one Seed,” which was Christ, is wresting, violently, the sacred Word of God! Notice carefully; let this burn deeply into your mind, and never forget it!

(1) “Abraham,” the new name for Abram, means “The father of MANY NATIONS.”

(2) God promised: “…I will make NATIONS of thee…”

(3) God promised: “…KINGS [plural! More than one!] shall come out of thee.”

(4) God promised: “I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed [plural!] after thee in THEIR [plural!] generations!”

(5) God promised: “I will give unto thee and thy seed [plural!] the land…”

(6) God promised: “I will be THEIR [plural!] God!”

(7) God promised—over and over again, that Abraham was to become the progenitor of many nations; that whole dynasties of kings would come from him; that his progeny would eventually become “as the dust of the earth” and as “the stars of the heavens” in number.

Yet, as in many cases in the Bible, especially in prophecy, there is oftentimes DUALITY in God’s Word. Later, as we shall see, the children of Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel) were given specific, prophetic declarations: Each one of Jacob’s twelve sons (thirteen in all, for Ephraim and Manasseh were the two sons of Jacob’s favorite son, Joseph) were given a specific national prophecy—an outline of the future; showing the national characteristics; the ultimate inheritance of each.

An Unconditional Promise

At first, God told Abraham, “Walk thou before me, and be thou perfect, and I will be a God unto thee.” He made the promises to Abraham conditional, based upon Abraham’s obedience. But later, as we shall now see, God made those promises absolutely unconditional.

Read Genesis, the 22nd chapter. This is the account of how God instructed Abraham to do something which seemed utterly unthinkable—impossible!

Though Abraham and Sarah had been childless through all their adult life until they were very old, God repeatedly promised Abraham would become a father—that through his son, he would become the progenitor of many nations. “And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.

“And I will bless her, and give thee a son of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.

“Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? And shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

“And Abraham said unto God, 0 that Ishmael might live before thee! (Ishmael was Abraham’s son through his handmaid, Hagar.)

“And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. . . my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee in this set time in the next year” (Genesis 17:15-21).

God repeated the promise in Genesis 18, where you read the account of God’s messenger reconfirming the promise to Sarah and Abraham of parenthood; of Sarah laughing incredulously, believing herself to be much too old for childbearing.

Then follows the account of the rescue of Lot and his family from Sodom; the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by fire (and powerful testimony as to God’s attitude toward homosexuality!).

Genesis 21 contains the account of Isaac’s birth. “And the Eternal visited Sarah as He had said, and the Eternal did unto Sarah as He had spoken.

“For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

“And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac” (Genesis 21:1-3).

Now Abraham knew God had kept his promise! At last he had a son of his own loins; a son of his own beloved wife, Sarah! More than one hundred years old at Isaac’s birth, Abraham must have been greatly delighted with the lad; saw in him the fulfillment of God’s many promises; realized that Isaac would become the progenitor of many kings, nations, hundreds of millions!

Then came a grueling test!

Abraham must have been nearly dumbfounded when God commanded him to sacrifice his own son—the very son God had promised. By this time, Abraham had sent Hagar and Ishmael away to settle family difficulty; jealousy and resentment between Sarah and Hagar. God had saved Sarah from Abimelech, a pact was made between them, and Abraham had the well at Beersheba dug and designated “the well of the oath of seven,” to connote the agreement between Abraham and Abimelech.

Then, as if like a bolt out of the blue, God said to Abraham, “Take now thy son, thine only son, Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.”

Was this possible? Was it even thinkable? Here God had promised again and again Abraham was to have a son; that, through this son, he would become the progenitor of hundreds of millions; that lines of kings would come from him. Now, it seemed God was changing His mind! God now commanded him to sacrifice Isaac! To kill the son he loved above all else—loved more than his own life!

What follows is an example of faith and obedience virtually unparalleled in history! Centuries later, Paul was to write, “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory [boast]; but not before God.

“For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Romans 4:1-3).

In this chapter is one of the best Bible descriptions of faith coupled with and exemplified by OBEDIENCE! God said, “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and BEING FULLY PERSUADED THAT, WHAT HE HAD PROMISED, HE WAS ABLE ALSO TO PERFORM!” (Romans 4:20, 21).

God had promised Abraham would become the father of many nations; that he would become the progenitor of hundreds of millions; kings! Then, He gave him Isaac. Now, he commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac! Then what was God now planning to do?

The carnal mind; a mind influenced by Satan, would begin to DOUBT God at this point! It would be filled with self-pity; with the seeming illogicality of it all! It would be filled with resentment! “What is God doing?” The carnal mind would think, in self-pity and doubt, “But this isn’t fair, God gives, and then He snatches away!”

The carnal mind would think, “Why, that would be murder! Does not God say, in His own law, `Thou shalt not kill?’ Now, here He is, telling me to kill my own son”! A torrent of outrage, self-pity, anger, hostility, resentment, incredulity and doubt, would rage through the carnal mind—a mind that had never become “fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform!”

But Abraham? What did HE think?

We cannot know perfectly, but here is a very logical, fair assumption! He must have thought:

(1) Then God is going to immediately resurrect Isaac! He will not allow His word to fail! He has promised, and, since He is God, and cannot lie, He will not go back on His word. Therefore, He intends resurrecting Isaac; bringing him back to life!

(2) Or, if not, then God will give me another son! Perhaps two, or three, or five, or ten! But God will surely perform His word unto me, as He has promised!

(3) Besides, what do I owe God? I owe Him my life; all that I have. I owe Him Sarah’s freedom; my wife could have been taken away from me—I would never have seen her again had she been made a part of Abimelech’s harem! But God helped me; He spared Sarah, who gave me Isaac. She can give me yet other sons!

Whatever Abraham’s thoughts, the Bible says, “And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and claved the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.”

What an example of faith and obedience! When God originally called Abraham in his own country, the Bible simply says, “So Abraham departed.” Simple. God commands. Abraham obeys. At the very last moment, as Abraham would have sacrificed Isaac, God called out! “Abraham! Abraham!” He answered, “Here I am.”

“And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

“And Abraham lifted up his eye, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took up the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son” (Genesis 22:1-14).

Here is a shadowy type of God, the Father, being willing to offer His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, for the sins of the world (John 3:16).

Before, God had told Abraham, “Walk thou before me, and be thou PERFECT, and I will make thee a father of many nations…” Now, Abraham had passed the utmost and final test! God knew, now, that Abraham would obey Him unquestioningly! He knew Abraham BELIEVED GOD! Today, millions “believe on” Christ. They “believe” He was the Son of God; they “believe in Him.” But they DO NOT BELIEVE HIM! They refuse to believe WHAT HE SAID! Christ said, “Think NOT that I am come to destroy the law…” Millions believe He DID come to destroy it! Christ said He would be three days and three nights in the tomb (Matthew 12:40), and millions believe He was in the tomb only from Friday sunset until Sunday morning at sunrise, two nights, and one day! He said, “If you will enter into life, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS!” (Matthew 19:17) and millions believe He did away with His Father’s law!

Millions believe “on” Christ! But they do not believe His gospel message; a message about the soon-coming Kingdom of God; the world-ruling, 1,000 year reign of Christ ON THIS EARTH! (Revelation 20:4; 2:26; 3:21).

Abraham did not merely have a “belief,” like millions of professing Christians today. He KNEW! There is a difference!

Therefore, God said to him, “By Myself have I sworn, saith the Eternal, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as thestars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice!” (Genesis 22:15-18).

Once again, note well that Abraham’s seed were to become in-numerable! They were to possess the strategic land and sea “gates” that would ensure their prosperity, protection from their enemies!

These fabulous promises were reconfirmed to Isaac; and then to Jacob. Later, the birthright promises were passed on to Jacob’s sons; his two grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph, Jacob’s favorite son, by aged Isaac, as he lay dying.

But, as we shall see, God said, “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah!” Though God allowed human nature and human reasoning to fulfill His great purpose; allowed Rebekah and Jacob to deceive Isaac in the matter of passing on the birthright blessing to Jacob, instead of Esau, He nevertheless determined that the “sceptre”; the promise of that “one seed” which was Christ, would not depart from JUDAH, who was yet to be born; one of the twelve sons of Jacob, and the progenitor of the “Jews,” which is merely a “nickname” for “Judah.” As we shall see, there became a necessary breakdown in the dual covenant; one of RACE and one of GRACE. Much later in history, after centuries had gone by; after two whole nations, embodying thirteen tribes in all had emerged; after the northern ten tribes had been removed from their land and disappeared from history, one of God’s chosen apostles was illustrating to disbelieving gentiles the validity of Christ’s credentials as the promised “seed” of Abraham; the GRACE promise; the fulfillment of God’s prediction that “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah!”

Many, seizing on this scripture, attempt to set aside and negate all you have read; all the repetitious promises of God Almighty to Abraham concerning MULTIPLE SEED; NATIONS, KINGS, POPULATIONS AS THE DUST OF THE EARTH AND THE STARS OF HEAVEN!

Now notice! When the apostle Paul was arguing concerning the promise of GRACE (not RACE) with the gentile Galatians, he said, “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ” (Galatians 3:16).

But notice the difference between the promises of national, racial, inheritance, and the promise of the inheritance of grace.

“The sceptre shall not depart from Judah…” (Genesis 49:10). God prophesied, “For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him comes the chief ruler [prince]; but the birthright is Joseph’s!” (1 Chronicles 5:2).

The birthright is something which was to be Joseph’s (Ephraim and Manasseh were Joseph’s two sons, upon whose heads the dying Jacob [Israel], said, “Let my name be named upon them”) BY RIGHT OF BIRTH! It had nothing to do with “grace.” It was not something to be earned, or deserved—it was the BIRTHRIGHT of Joseph. The Word of God makes it clear that, while the lineage which was to culminate in Christ would come through JUDAH, the promise of multiple seed; kings, nations, millions of progeny, would be continued down through JOSEPH!

A sceptre is the official baton, or staff, of a king. It connotes kingly office. Christ was to come through JUDAH! Notice, “For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood” (Hebrews 7:14).

Think, for a moment of the dual meaning inherent in the expres- sion, “In thee shall all nations be blessed.” As you will come to understand as you read; as you will come to know, if you have studied recent world history, the entire world has been mightily blessed because of the two nations of Great Britain and the United States of America! The statement is so obvious that it needs no magnification.

But think of the global community of nations; of the colonizing British—of the development of underdeveloped, backward, impoverished nations through trade and commerce. Think of what the world might have been like if there had never been a Britain or a United States! Hundreds of nations have been blessed, materially, as well as spiritually, by those two great nations!

And what is the meaning of the word, “nation”? Usually, you think of a nation as a political entity; a country on the map, having a name. But today, the use of the word has changed from its original intent. Originally, the term meant a family of people gathered together into one political entity, or country.

It comes from the same root as “birth,” or “nativity,” “natal,” and “native.” Its meaning pertains to birth, or family.

However, in modern times, any number of racial strains; “families” of people having common genealogical origins, may be incorporated inside a given national boundary. Modern-day Belgium, for example, is one political entity referred to as a “nation.” Yet, there are two distinct racial stocks within Belgium; the Flemish and the Walloons. As in many other nations today, those two racial strains do not always get along. The same thing applies to Yugoslavia; to former Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic and Slovakia), and to the former Soviet Union, which is made up of more than a dozen different racial stocks; Mongols, Georgians, Ukrainians, Azerbaijanis, Uzbeks, Russians, and many more. Switzerland is made up of three distinct cultures; German, French, and Italian.

Knowing that many modern nations have become racially mixed does not set aside the promises of God concerning the many “nations” that were to come out of Abraham. Even though the political borders have become confused; even though many nations have become of mixed racial stocks, a virtual “melting pot” of racial strains, God’s promises have not been thwarted! His word still stands!

The Birthright; Sold and Transferred

Now, let’s understand the vast difference between the birthright promises and those of the kingly sceptre which was to be fulfilled in the coming of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

The fascinating story of how the birthright blessing was transferred from Joseph to his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, is found in Genesis 48.

“And Israel [Jacob] beheld Joseph’s sons and said, Who are these? And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.

“Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he [Joseph] brought them near unto him [Israel]; and he kissed them, and embraced them.

“And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath showed me also thy seed.

“And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.

“And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near unto him.

“And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly [“making his hands wise”; margin]; for Manasseh was the firstborn.

“And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my lifelong unto this day, the Angel [“messenger”; Hebrew] which redeemed them from all evil, bless the lad; and LET MY NAME BE NAMED UPON THEM and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

“And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head.

“And Joseph said unto his father, not so my father, for this is the first born; put thy right hand upon his head.

“And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become A MULTITUDE OF NATIONS!”

WHAT A PROMISE!

These two sons of Joseph were to become two great peoples—the elder, Manasseh, a single, GREAT NATION, and the younger, Ephraim, a GREAT GROUP OF NATIONS—a “multitude of nations.”

And WHO, down through history, was to bear the name of ISRAEL? You read it plainly! Aging Israel (Jacob) said, “LET MY NAME BE NAMED ON THEM” and he also said the names of Abraham and Isaac would be upon them.

Millions of Americans and Britons are blissfully unaware of their ancient roots. They have not the faintest conception that the great community of nations called the British Commonwealth; including Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, comprise the peoples of Ephraim. Nor do countless millions in the United States understand that they are the Manasseh of Bible history—and Bible prophecy!

Instead, millions believe, erroneously, that the names “Israel” and “Jewish” are synonymous. This is a gross error; a complete false assumption, yet millions are completely ignorant of it. More on this later. But for now, let it be firmly fixed in your mind that dying Jacob, whose name was changed to ISRAEL, plainly said that name was to be indelibly affixed to EPHRAIM AND MANASSEH!

The only two tribes of which much of the world is aware are those of Judah and Levi. One finds many, many names among those commonly called “Jewish,” which in fact are “Levite.” In Hebrew, the name “Cohen” means “priest,” or “Levite.” The names Levi, Levine, Levinson, Levy, Kahn, Kuhn, Cohan, Kohane, Cohen, Kohn, Levitz, Lewitz, Lewis, Lewison, Liebov, Leibowitz, and many, many others are derivations of “Levi” and “Cohen,” or “priest.”

And how many know, even among the Jewish people, where the tribes of Issachar, Dan, Zebulon, Naphtali, Reuben, and others are located? Most have not the slightest clue! Millions believe the terms “Jewish” and “Israelite” are synonymous! What gross error! What ignorance!

Joseph’s two sons were brothers. These two brother nations were to eventually become a great, single nation, and a “company of nations.” Where, in the world today, does one look to find nations matching these descriptions—brothers enjoying a long, enduring relationship (even though brothers sometimes fight, and do not always agree)—two great peoples possessing between them much of the wealth of the world?

You may search history; study ethnology, geography, geopolitics—and you will find that the ONLY peoples who suit this biblical description are the peoples of the United States of America and the British Commonwealth!

“The Gates of Enemies”

The British colonized, developed, expanded around the globe, finally reaching the status of EMPIRE. Study any pre-World War II map of the world. Maps and globes of that period usually colored the British Commonwealth red; her territories and protectorates pink.

One could look anywhere on earth, and find British possessions; dominance and influence.

First, one would see the British Isles, lying like a dominating lion offshore Europe; secure behind the famous English channel, yet guarding the gateways to Europe; the Kategat and Skagerrak; the ports of Holland and France. The position of the British Isles has been absolutely decisive in the course of history—has influenced dramatically the outcome of many, many wars, including the first and second World Wars!

Then, one thinks of the vast territory, natural resources and physical wealth of Canada; the continent “down under,” Australia; the island nation of New Zealand. There is South Africa, with some of the richest deposits of minerals and natural wealth on earth.

During the last of the nineteenth century and much of the twentieth, Britain controlled many, many other nations, including India, Egypt; the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, as it used to be called; many of the nations of East Africa, including those lost by Germany following the Treaty of Versailles. Britain had possessions all over the globe! Here are some of them:

Palestine, Trans-Jordan, Gibraltar, Malta, Crete, the Suez Canal, The Khyber Pass, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Ceylon, Rhodesia, Kenya, and Tanganyika; Singapore and the Straits of Malacca; Hong Kong, Brunei, the Gilberts and Solomons, New Georgia and New Guinea; Santa Cruz. In the Atlantic, Britain controlled the Hebrides, the Falklands, Bermuda, Bahamas, Barbuda, Antigua, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Barbados, the Cayman Islands, and British Honduras, as well as British Guiana.

The major sea and land gates of the world were possessed almost entirely by the British and the United States.

For our own part, the strategic location of the United States itself, protected from Europe’s wars by the vast Atlantic and Pacific oceans, has played a vital role in the preservation of freedom in America. We possessed vitally important sea gates and strategic island defenses in the Panama Canal; Guantanamo on Cuba, the Hawaiian Islands; Midway, Guam, and Wake. We possessed the frigid island chain of the Aleutians with Dutch Harbor. Only a cursory knowledge of history would serve to impress upon anyone the vital, all-important strategic value of these areas.

Britain possessed Gibraltar and Suez, thereby bottling up the Mediterranean, and with Malta, Crete and Cyprus available as naval bases, not to mention Alexandria, in Egypt, as well as the Bosporus-Dardanelles between European Turkey and the Anatolian Peninsula, bottling up the Black Sea. Britain stood astride the most vital sea lanes in the world.

Add to this the huge naval base at Singapore and the Straits of Malacca, Hong Kong on the Chinese littoral, together with Brunei, and one gets a picture of how and why Britain was able, together with the Dutch (who are the descendants of Zebulon, another of the so-called “lost ten tribes”) who possessed the East Indies, to maintain a powerful naval and military presence in the Far East.

This is the fulfillment of a prophecy uttered by the parents and brethren of Rebekah, wife of Isaac. It is another reconfirmation of, and enlargement upon, the promises God gave Abraham, which were passed on through Isaac and Jacob. The story of the search for Isaac’s wife is often given romantic emphasis in Bible literature; is a favorite subject for children’s classes. But the point is hardly romantic. Let’s notice it:

“And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the Eternal had blessed Abraham in all things.

“And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

“And I will make thee swear by the Eternal, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

“But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.

“And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?

“And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.

“The Eternal God of heaven which took me from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.

“And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again” (Genesis 24:1-8).

Abraham was seriously intent that his servant not allow Isaac to leave the land of Palestine; not return to the land of Abraham’s ancestors, lest it negate God’s promises. Further, he was determined Isaac would marry among his own race; from his own kind, even among distant kin.

The story continues throughout the 24th chapter of Genesis.

The servant arrived in Mesopotamia, was in need of water; Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, who was Nahor’s son, who was Abraham’s brother—meaning Rebekah was Isaac’s third cousin, came to the well with a pitcher on her shoulder; gave a drink to the servant of Abraham; drew water for his camels.

The servant knew the meeting was providential; gave her expensive gifts: possibly tokens of betrothal, and went to lodge with her parents. In the ensuing account, he identified himself, spoke to her parents. She agreed to go with him to become married to Isaac. Now, notice the strange prophecy God caused her own parents to utter!

“And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them” (Genesis 24:60).

Rebekah became the mother of Jacob and Esau, and was instrumental in ensuring the birthright promise was passed on to Jacob. Though God allowed human nature to fulfill His purpose, and the selling of Esau’s birthright for a pottage of lentils has oft been told as an example of contemptuous disregard, on Esau’s part, for something of inestimable value, God nevertheless intended that Jacob become the rightful heir.

Aged Isaac, deceived by both Jacob and Rebekah, blessed Jacob, assuming it was Esau. He said, “Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven [rains in due season], and the fatness of the earth [bounteous harvests] and plenty of corn and wine: let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be everyone that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee” (Genesis 27:28, 29).

Now, even though God allowed this to occur through human subterfuge, Jacob was possessor of both the birthright and the blessing.

The next several chapters are concerned with Jacob’s life; his work for Laban; Laban’s deception, and Jacob’s wives and children. Notice how God reconfirmed the promises He had made unconditionally to Abraham—showing Jacob was now the rightful heir: “And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and He called his name Israel.

“And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a NATION and a COMPANY OF NATIONS shall be of thee, and KINGS [plural! More than one! A dynasty of KINGS over MANY NATIONS! This is not referring to that “one seed, which is Christ”; not referring to the sceptre part of the two-fold promise of race and grace; it is referring to the birthright portion; the promise of national greatness!] shall come out of thy loins;

“And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land” (Genesis 35: 10-12).

Jacob set up the famous “pillar stone” there, anointed it with oil, and named the place “Bethel,” meaning “God’s house.” It later became an important city in ancient Palestine.

Jacob’s Pillar Stone

Isaac, following the pattern set by his father Abraham, forbad his son, Jacob, to marry among the Canaanites. He “…called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.

“Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother’s father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother’s brother.

“And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave to Abraham” (Genesis 28:14).

Esau also disdained marrying among the Canaanites, knowing it would displease his father (Genesis 28:6-9).

“And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.

“And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

“And, behold, the Eternal stood above it, and said, I am the Eternal God of Abraham thy father and of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed” (Genesis 28:10-13).

There are those who attempt forcing the interpretation that God was promising only the land of Palestine to Jacob; that He meant “the land on which you lie—ONLY,” and did not mean to grant to Jacob the promise of seed which would overspread the earth!

But how ridiculous! Was God promising merely a patch of rocky ground about six feet by two and a half feet? The “land whereon thou liest” was only the patch of rocky ground actually touched by the body of Jacob! Such an assumption would be sheer nonsense! Do those who quote this verse only, attempting to negate the promises of God to Abraham, Isaac, and here reconfirmed to Jacob, have a case of terrible “tunnel vision”? For, note carefully the very next verse!

“And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt SPREAD ABROAD TO THE WEST, AND TO THE EAST, AND TO THE NORTH, AND TO THE SOUTH: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed!” (Genesis 28:14).

The families of the earth would be blessed because the seed of Jacob would ultimately be living everywhere among them—scattered AROUND THE EARTH!

Again, it is absolutely proved that God promised Abraham’s seed would ultimately be hundreds of millions; that they would spread abroad FROM the land of Palestine; that they would be found in all directions of the compass from Palestine!

Jacob awoke from his vivid dream and said, “Surely the Eternal is in this place, and I knew it not…How dreadful [awesome; overwhelming, not terrible] is this place! This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

“And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar [stood it on end, like a monument, or marker], and poured oil on the top of it.

“And he called the name of that place `Bethel’ [the house of God]: but the name of that city [which it later became] was called Luz at first. And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the Eternal be my God:

“And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee!” (Genesis 28:16-22).

Like his grandfather Abraham, who had tithed to Melchizedek, the Priest of the most high God, Jacob understood the law of tithing. He knew God has a prior claim on the first tenth of the income He freely gives to those who obey Him! Note well that these references to God’s law of tithing occur in the Bible LONG BEFORE any Levitical priesthood; long before the birth of Moses; long before any laws given at Sinai.

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob OBEYED God. They did not merely think “nice thoughts” about God; they did not offer Him lip service. Their quality of character was not merely a “good attitude”; they PROVED their love and obedience to God BY THEIR WORKS! James wrote, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith BY MY WORKS. Thou believest that there is one God? [or, “that God is one”]; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and tremble!” (James 2:17-19).

The devil is a great BELIEVER! He KNOWS God exists, for he has SEEN GOD! His fallen angels, called “demons,” also “believe”! Like millions of professing Christians, they “believe on” Christ! Oh, don’t doubt for a moment that the demons KNOW JESUS IS THE CHRIST! They KNOW He died for the sins of the world; that He is the Saviour of mankind! Was not Satan the devil personally inside of Judas Iscariot at Christ’s betrayal?

But “belief” is NOT ENOUGH!

Notice! “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

“Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works [deeds-action!] was faith made perfect?

“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith Abraham BELIEVED GOD [he didn’t merely “believe on” God—HE BELIEVED GOD] and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God” (James 2:17-23).

As a result of Jacob’s vow of obedience, God continued to bless him throughout his long life. More on his famous “pillar” stone later.

Now we come to a Bible truth so simple, and yet so profound, that it is surprising that millions of churchgoing, professing Christians do not understand it! That has to do with the identity of “the House of Israel,” and “the House of Judah.”

Few seem to understand that not all Israelites are Jews!

Just as all Americans are not Texans, yet all Texans (legal residents) are Americans, so it is true that all Jews are Israelites! But all Israelites are not Jews!

The term “Jew” is a nickname for the progenitor of the Jewish race, “Judah.” Judah is one of the children of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel.

With the division of the tribes following the death of Solomon, Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, controlled the southern portion of the land with its capital, Jerusalem. Levi was scattered throughout the other tribes and had no inheritance in the land. The “House of Judah” included, primarily, the tribe of Judah, with portions of Levi and Simeon, and perhaps a small portion of Benjamin, with which Judah shared a common border to the north of Jerusalem.

The northern kingdom, with its capital at Samaria, embodied the remainder of all the tribes of Israel, numbering ten in all, under a completely separate dynasty of kings!

Why is it that few churchgoing professing “Christians” know and understand that there were two separate nations, twoseparate capital cities, two separate dynasties of kings, and that there are four whole books of the Bible devoted to the separate national histories of these peoples; that one of them was called “the House of Israel,” and the other “the House of Judah”?

Jacob had twelve children.

The story of Jacob’s two wives, Leah and Rachel, is found in chapter 28 through chapter 31 of the book of Genesis.

Leah was the mother of the following children: Dinah, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun.

Rachel’s maid, Bilhah, bore Jacob two sons, Dan and Naphtali.

Zilpah, Leah’s maid, bore Gad and Asher.

Finally, Rachel, Jacob’s choice for a wife and the one for whom he had labored so long, bore Jacob two sons, Joseph, and Benjamin.

After the saga of Jacob and Laban, his marriage to the two sisters, the births of their many children and the expiration of many years, the Bible shows how greatly Jacob was enlarged and blessed, materially.

In his prayer, because of fear of his brother Esau, Jacob said, “Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.

“And thou said, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude” (Genesis 32:11, 12).

How Jacob Became “Israel”

Then follows one of the strangest accounts in all the Bible.

“And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with Him until the breaking of the day.

“And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched [struck, Hebrew] the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with Him.

“And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

“And he said unto him, what is thy name? And he said, Jacob. “And he said, thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel [he who strives, perseveres, or overcomes with God] for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hath prevailed.

“And Jacob asked him, and said, tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.

“And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

“And as he passed Peniel [the face of God] the sun rose upon him, and he halted [limped] upon his thigh.”

This mysterious account shows that Jacob wrestled most of the night with a person whom he later referred to as God.

Perhaps in some strange way Jacob realized the challenge of this person had to do with the birthright. To Jacob, he may have understood that if he could just persevere, prevail, hang on and overcome in this personal test of rugged endurance, physical strength and prowess, he would win great rewards.

To Jacob, it might have been as if he had an opportunity to find Aladdin’s lamp, possess the goose that laid the golden egg, storm the castle wherein all the king’s treasures were stored, and gain a great prize if he prevailed and persevered with this personality who challenged him to a contest of physical strength!

One sees the struggle as if lasting for hours, and, because the personality Jacob referred to as “God” had manifested himself as a physical human being, Jacob’s tenacity was such that the only way this Person could overcome him was by striking a blow not unlike that of a karate champion which partially disabled Jacob and resulted in a pronounced limp!

In any event, it was following this strange occurrence that God changed the name of Jacob to ISRAEL!

later, God appeared unto Jacob, “And God said unto him, thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but ISRAEL shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.

“And God said unto him, I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply; a nation [singular] and a company of nations [multiple nations!] shall be of thee, and kings [plural] shall come out of thy loins!

“And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac to thee I will give it, and to thy seed [multiple seed—millions!] after thee will I give the land” (Genesis 35:10).

The promises which had been made unconditional to Abraham now passed on to Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel! Much of the remainder of the book of Genesis is taken up with the story of how the jealous brothers sold Joseph, Israel’s favorite son, into Egypt; how God allowed this to happen in order to provide a place for the family to endure the searing drought which would take thousands of lives in Palestine, and how the result was the birth of a new nation in captivity.

Toward the end of the book of Genesis is a fascinating chapter (chapter 49) giving strong clues as to the modem identity of the many tribes of the “House of Israel.”

In the preceding chapter (Genesis 48) is the vitally important account of how the name of Israel passed upon Ephraim and Manassseh, Joseph’s two sons!

But the most important verse is verse 16. Read it again!

“The angel [messenger] which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lad; and LET MY NAME BE NAMED ON THEM, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

Which tribes, then, according to your Bible, should wear the name of Israel? Judah? No. Simeon or Levi? No.

The name of the House of ISRAEL was very clearly passed down to the two sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, in that order!

Ephraim was prophesied to become a company of nations, and his brother, Manasseh, a great single nation!

These two brothers were to possess the names of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, or ISRAEL!

They, uniquely among the other children of Jacob, were to have the name of “ISRAEL” upon them!

Yet millions of professing Christians remain blissfully ignorant of these vitally important scriptures which clearly identify the “lost ten tribes,” or the “covenant people,” prophesied to inherit the national greatness promised the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!

How Could the Jews Go to War Against Israel?

As mentioned previously, the term “Jew” is merely a nickname for a person of the House of Judah. The term never appears in the Bible until 2 Kings 16:6.

Turn to and read this important scripture: “At that time, Rezin King of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.” Read the whole chapter in its correct context.

Ahaz, who was 20 when he began to reign (verse 2), was accused of causing the southern kingdom of the House of Judah to sin in the same way as did the kings of Israel (verse 3), causing his own son to “pass through the fire,” and descending into idolatry.

Pekah, the son of Remaliah, was the king of Israel.

As a result of Judah’s idolatry, God used Israel, together with its ally, Syria, to attack Judah, the Jews.

Note verse 5, “Then Rezin King of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him.”

In this account. the 10-tribed nation of Israel, allied with the Syrians, is waging war against the “House of Judah” under King Ahaz in Jerusalem.

Here, then, is a clear account of war between Israel and the Jews!

This is sure biblical proof that the term “Jew” and the term “Israelite” are absolutely not synonymous.

Any reading of the four historical books of I and 2 Kings and I and 2 Chronicles will convince even a casual student of the Bible that these four books of the Old Testament are devoted to the separate national histories of the 10-tribed “House of Israel” to the north, and the “House of Judah” (the Jews) to the south.

For generations this situation prevailed.

God’s Covenant With David

A vitally important thread of the story of the national identity of the American and British peoples is found in God’s promise to David.

Why? Remember! God promised “the sceptre shall not depart from Judah.” David, as the grandfather of Rehoboam, the first king in a long line of rulers over the southern kingdom, was given an unconditional promise from God.

The covenant with David had nothing to do with the birthright promise; the promise of RACE. Instead, it concerned the sceptre promise, the promise of GRACE; the lineage through which Christ would be born.

For a full understanding of the covenant God made with David, turn to and read all of 2 Samuel the seventh chapter.

Notice particularly verses 12 through 17: “And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

“He shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

“I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity. I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

“But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.

“And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established forever before thee: thy throne shall be established forever.

“According to all these words, and according to this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.”

The genealogy of Jesus Christ proves how God kept this promise to David. Read Luke 3:23 to the end of the chapter and you will read of Jesus’ “legal” genealogy through His foster father, Joseph, back to Adam. Verses 31 and 32 include Jesse, David’s father, and David himself.

Each year, at “Christmas” time, little children are schooled in repeating the angelic enunciation of the birth of Jesus Christ. Millions hear these words repeated each year, yet none seem to understand what they mean.

The angel said to Mary, “Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.

“And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His name JESUS.

“He shall be great, and shall be called the son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: and He shall reign over the House of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:30-33).

What does this scripture tell you?

It tells you, in incontrovertible and plain language from the inspired Word of God, that the throne of David will still remain as a viable throne—meaning a position of rulership over a nation—right up until the second coming of Christ!

Notice! “Behold the days come, saith the Eternal, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a king shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

“In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel [a different nation] shall dwell safely: and this is His name whereby He shall be called, THE ETERNAL OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Jeremiah 23:5, 6).

Jeremiah’s prophecy depicts the second coming of Jesus Christ to rule for 1,000 years over the earth. The language is unmistakably concerned with Jesus inheriting the throne of His father David. It emphasizes the lineage from David until Jesus Christ, and speaks of the fulfillment of Paul’s prophecies concerning the salvation of the Jews (Romans 11), which will only occur after the second coming of Christ!

Read Jeremiah 30, verse 7 through 11!

Here you see God promising to “break the yoke” of Israel’s captors from Israel’s neck, and a prophecy of the resurrection.

“I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:

“But they shalt serve the Eternal their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.

“Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the Eternal; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob [Israel] shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.

“For I am with thee, saith the Eternal, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee…”

David’s throne will still be extant at the time of the second coming of Christ. David himself will be resurrected at that time, and sit on a throne over the 12 tribes of Israel, yet under authority of the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is prophesied to come to “inherit the throne of His father David,” proving that throne still exists.

The Ten Tribes of Israel Removed

For generations, God pled with stiff-necked, rebellious ten-tribed Israel. God had given them His weekly Sabbath day as a perpetual sign between Himself and His people (Exodus 31). He had revealed His annual Sabbaths (Leviticus 23) to them, commencing with the solemn Passover, which was instituted at the time Israel was constituted as a nation; brought out of Egyptian slavery, sent into their own land.

God shows the Sabbath was made for MAN, not “the Jews” (Mark 2:26, 27). The Sabbath was created when God rested on the seventh day, and hallowed (sanctified, set apart for holy use and purpose) it (Genesis 2:1-3). It was the great TEST commandment (Exodus 16:28), revealed, enforced upon the Israelites long before the giving of the decalogue at Sinai!

That’s why God said, “REMEMBER the Sabbath day, to KEEP it holy…” (Exodus 20:8-11). The Sabbath was holy time. God MADE it holy when He rested upon that day; gave it to Israel as a great blessing; a day of complete REST out of every seven; a day of rejoicing, prayer, study, worship of God, relaxing, rejuvenation—a day where one ceasedfrom his workaday job; acknowledged God as Creator!

God shows the Sabbath day looks back at Creation, and looks forward, to the millennial reign of Christ. It is a picture of the seven-thousand year plan of God, wherein six thousand years are given to man, to write the lesson in human suffering, sickness, squalor, poverty, disease and war; to etch the indelible lesson in human blood that man is utterly incapable of governing himself apart from his God! God will show sinning mankind how God will rule and govern in the seventh one-thousand year period, a type of the Sabbath rest; the millennial rule of Christ! (Revelation 20:4).

Typically, the first thing evil rulers did was to reject God’s Sabbath; to ignore His annual holy days—the annual Sabbaths, numbering seven in all, which portray the great PLAN of God; the great PURPOSE He is working out here below!

When God revealed the Passover to Israel, He did so amid great plagues upon Egypt! He broke the back of the greatest nation on earth financially and militarily—Egypt has never been a great nation since those days in antiquity—to demonstrate what happens to any nation who turns to idolatry; away from God toward Satan and his evil hosts; drifts into infant sacrifice, every form of perversion.

God’s laws, if obeyed, would guarantee His people remained free from disease; free from debt! They would have successful businesses; good jobs, healthy, happy marriages, good crops, rain in due season, healthy babies! They would have PEACE in their lands; free from fear and worry about voracious neighbors; would-be attackers! Study Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26, where the two opposites; great blessings for obedience to God, and great cursings for disobedience, are plainly listed!

The history of God’s new nation is unfolded in the books of Joshua when they entered into the promised land; Judges; the period under God’s system of Judges, like a theocracy under God, culminated in the rebellious call for a KING to rule over them in I and 2 Samuel, like other nations. That king was Saul.

Under Saul, Israel found itself heavily taxed; military conscription of young men occurred, warfare ensued, and the people had no real peace.

The books of I and 2 Samuel detail the reign of Saul; his evil character. While issuing a royal decree that any witch was to he put to death or expelled from the land, Saul sought to the infamous Witch of Endor in an attempt to receive a message from Samuel, then dead. He continually tried to kill David, becoming jealous of him because of his military prowess; his popularity.

Then comes David’s accession to the throne, and the enlargement of the kingdom. David is followed by his son, Solomon, and the temple is built; the kingdom further expanded, until it reached its zenith; a prosperous, wealthy, vibrant nation which was the greatest known on earth at that time.

Under Solomon metals were mined from far away England; Solomon’s ships sailed into the Atlantic; circumnavigated Africa. They brought strange and exotic birds, like peacocks; strange animals from India, and from Africa. The Queen of Sheba, probably Hatshepsut of Egypt, was overwhelmed at Jerusalem, with its terraced gardens, fountains, magnificent temple and buildings; splendid homes, great treasuries of gold, silver, and precious stones.

But Solomon became corrupted in his old age; he built temples to the pagan gods of his many wives and concubines, neglected the affairs of government, allowed other forces to prevail. As a result, one of Solomon’s servants, Jereboam, brought the northern ten tribes to the brink of civil war with Judah, and those associated with the Jews in and around Jerusalem, including Levi, Simeon, and portions of Benjamin, who had contiguous borders.

The kingdom was divided; Jereboam set up a provisional government in Samaria, to the north, and Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, continued on the throne in Jerusalem, as the king of Judah.

Now, there were two distinct nations; The House of Israel, to the north, with capital city of Samaria, under Jereboam, and the House of Judah, consisting mostly of those of the tribe of Judah, together with many Levites and Simeonites, with their capital city of Jerusalem. Never were those of the ten tribes to the north called Jews! The “Jews” were of Judah, from which the term “Jew” derives.

Now, notice what happened immediately after Israel rebelled against Rehoboam’s wicked reign: “And Jereboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David [the lineage God promised through the sceptre covenant; the promise of GRACE, not race]: If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the Eternal at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam King of Judah” (1 Kings 12:26-27).

Jerusalem was the cultural, financial, spiritual capital of the former nation! The temple was there—the most magnificent structure in all the world! Hundreds of thousands of these people counted it the trip of a lifetime; a veritable pilgrimage, to he able to visit the temple; to offer sacrifice, and to worship God. And, WHEN did they make such pilgrimages? ON THE ANNUAL SABBATHS, when they could use their festival tithe (like a “second tithe” which the people saved FOR THEMSELVES: FOR THEIR OWN FAMILIES—TEN PERCENT OF THEIR ANNUAL INCOME WHICH THEY WERE COMMANDED TO SAVE FOR THAT SPECIFIC PURPOSE!) (Deuteronomy 14:22-26).

Jereboam realized the spiritual, social, cultural and economic ties of the people were in Jerusalem. So what did he do? He purposely turned to IDOLATRY! Like a charlatan “spiritual” leader, “…the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold; and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: for behold your gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

“And he set one up in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.

“And this thing became a SIN: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan. And he made an house of high places [these were to worship beneath the symbols of Astarte and Ishtar (pronounced, “Easter”); phallic symbols arranged in “groves,” usually utilizing upright trunks of trees, or stone or metal obelisks] and made priests of the LOWEST of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.

“And Jereboam ordained a feast in the eighth month” (1 Kings 12:26-32).

Whatever Jereboam did, he did for political expedience. Here was a cynical man; a man who did not for one instant believe in or wish to obey the true God! Why?

In the beginning, Jereboam was singled out because of Solomon’s sins; told he would inherit the ten northern tribes! Read it, in 1 Kings the 11th chapter. After God’s prophet rent his garment twelve ways, giving Jereboam ten pieces, he said, “…behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee: (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:) Because they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth [Ishtar; Astarte—pronounced “Easter”; the pagan goddess of sexual reproduction and fertility]…and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father…I will take the kingdom out of his son’s [Solomon’s] hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes… and it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did: that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee (1 Kings 11:30-38).

Here was, once again, a conditional covenant. If Jereboam would remain true to God’s laws; setting the right example for God’s chosen peoples of Israel, he would receive God’s blessings! His progeny could continue on the throne.

Instead, he resorted to politics, human reasoning. He didn’t truly believe God, as had Abraham. He thought only of power, position, money—material things! His mind was on the SELF; on his ego and vanity!

Like all would-be despots, he was paranoid! Fearful of placing anyone of real intelligence in positions of potential “power” because of a possible threat to him and his office, he set up the very least intelligent: the least qualified in the land as his priests!

Now, the northern ten-tribed Israel was securely in the hands of a power-mad, dishonest, egocentric politician! Now, their leaders were “his men,” specially chosen for their banality; their brutish lack of education, character, or qualifications. Realizing he would lose power if the people remained spiritually attached to Jerusalem, he sought to negate any possible reason for their pilgrimages. He set up golden calves: idols—abominations in God’s sight, in both Dan and Beersheba. But still, he was not satisfied. Reasoning that the people were accustomed to the great Feast of Tabernacles in the seventh month, he sought to alter even this commandment of God—he set up an alternate festival, one dedicated to Ashteroth, not to the living God, in the eighth month.

Shortly thereafter, God sent a powerful witness to Jereboam of his enormous sins. He sent his prophet to warn Jereboam, whom he found standing at his pagan altar of incense. When the prophet spoke against Jereboam and the altar, saying, “…O altar, altar, thus saith the Eternal; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee” (Kings 13:1-9).

Read the account in these verses! When Jereboam imperiously stretched out his hand against the prophet, pointing toward him, commanding his servants to arrest him, his hand withered up like a dried stick! He shrieked in dismay! Suddenly, the altar disintegrated; ashes flew everywhere! The altar had been supernaturally destroyed!

Jereboam was shocked, cowed, frightened! He pled, “Intreat now the face of the Eternal thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me again” (verse 6).

Like many sinners, he knew about God! When he was in trouble from his own sins, he desperately called out to God! He was perfectly capable of SELF pity! Notice he did not say, “the Eternal MY God,” but “thy” God, referring to the prophet.

His hand was restored. Yet, even after the prophet was killed by a lion after the lying subterfuge which caused him to disobey the voice of God, the Bible says, “After this thing Jereboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places. And this thing became sin unto the house of Jereboam, even to cut it off and to destroy it from off the face of the earth!” (1 Kings 13:19-34).

Imagine it! Though God had allowed the near civil war to develop; had prophesied Jereboam would be given the northern ten tribes; had cautioned him to obey God, and walk in His commandments; though God had sent a prophet to warn him of his perfidy—still, he refused to repent!

Now, God determined he would be removed. Instead, God would fulfill His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! He would fulfill His promise to David! Never would there fail an heir of King David who would be available to sit on the throne of Israel!

Jereboam’s calloused politics caused him to appoint wastrels; drifters, vagabonds; the dregs of society to the ranks of thepriesthood! Now, the people of Israel had a wholly corrupt leadership!

Jereboam reigned twenty-two years, and was succeeded by Nadab, his son, who continued in his idolatrous ways. The history of Israel is replete with continual pleadings from God to return to His laws; to keep His commandments, that it might be well with them, and with their children. There were a few righteous rulers along the way; Jehu destroyed the prophets of Baal, and was congratulated for it by the Eternal, but he did not destroy the golden calves from Dan and Beersheeba.

Time and time again, God would have totally destroyed the sinning, stiff-necked Israelites! Why did He not do so?

Listen! “But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.

“And the Eternal was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them. and had respect unto them, BECAUSE OF HIS COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB, and would not destroy them, neither cast He them from His presence AS YET!” (2 Kings 13:22).

God had made His promises to Abraham UNCONDITIONAL! His mercy in sparing Israel from removal from their land “as yet” was NOT because of any righteousness on their part; it was because God would not go back on His word to Abraham!

But ultimately, God carried out His judgments against sinning, rebellious, stiff-necked Israel—judgments He had repeatedly pronounced to them through His prophets for literally many generations.

God had warned, “But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments [which were given for their good]; and if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgements, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant:

“I will also do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, [anxiety, fear, worry—a lack of mental peace and tranquillity] consumption [diseases like pneumonia, flu, tuberculosis, emphysema, lung cancer], and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes [various diseases like smallpox, chickenpox, and especially measles, which can cause loss of eyesight], and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.

“And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.

“And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins” (Leviticus 26:14-18). Four times, God repeated this solemn warning—that He would punish Israel seven times for their national crimes and sins! Read the whole chapter! The companion account, in Deuteronomy 28, is worth-while reading, as well. God first details the marvelous blessings He will lavish upon His people Israel if they will but live in the ways which will reap every RIGHT RESULT; the way of God’s law, which is GOOD for them!

He promises bounteous crops; the plowman overtaking the reaper in the fields; healthy, happy babies, sound, loving marriages, good, successful employment; an absence of taxation and military conscription—and PEACE; no fear from enemies, no war!

God showed His people that His laws CAUSE all these marvelous things to happen, for they are living laws, vital principles which, if applied, bring about the result of all those wondrous blessings! In a sense, they are AUTOMATIC. Yet, God promised to intervene actively—directly bringing about the great blessings He had promised for obedience!

What does every human being want but success, prosperity; happiness, fulfillment, a sense of well-being; contentment—LOVE, joy, excitement, GOOD HEALTH and a long life to enjoy it? To Israel, God promised all these things—the things every sensible human being REALLY WANTS.

But if Israel abandoned God’s laws; broke His Sabbaths, abandoned His commandments; set up heathen idols, followed the abominable practices of the pagan nations around them, then God said He would punish them seven times for their sins!

What is a “Time”?

When God sent the spies into the promised land to search it out, prior to Israel crossing over Jordan to possess it, they were gone, searching, for forty days.

Later, after God rejected Moses from entering the land; deprived the complaining, murmuring, rebellious older generation of Israelites from entering the promised land, He announced they would be delayed in possessing their promised inheritance for forty years!

He explained He had set each day that the spies had wandered in the land to stand for one year. “But as for you, your carcasses, they shall fall in this wilderness.

“After [according to] the number of days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, EACH DAY FOR A YEAR, ye shall bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my [opposition, alienation] breach of promise!” (Numbers 14:32-34).

Plainly, God caused them to endure forty years of additional hardship; wandering, deprivation of privilege—of inheritance—to teach them a bitter lesson!

Now, notice! When God told His prophet Ezekiel to portray the coming siege against Jerusalem on a piece of tile, He said, “Moreover take thou unto thee an iron plate, and set it for a wall of iron between thee and the city: and set thy face against it, and it shall be besieged, and thou shalt lay siege against it. This shall be a sign to the House of Israel!

“Lie thou also upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the House of Israel upon it: according to the number of days that thou shalt lie upon it thou shalt bear their iniquity.

“For I have laid upon thee the YEARS of their iniquity, ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF THE DAYS, three hundred and ninety days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the House of Israel” (Ezekiel 4:2-5).

He went on to say, concerning Judah, “…and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the House of Judah [a separate nation, distinct from the House of Israel!] forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year” (verse 6).

As a key to understanding prophetic chronology, God tells us He reckons differently than the heathen calendars of this world. Read Revelation 12:6, 14 and 13:5. Here, we have three values: “A thousand, two hundred, and threescore days” (1,260); a “time, times, and half a time,” and “forty and two months.”

These verses deal with a span of time in ancient history of 1,260 years as well as a literal three and one-half years which are yet future! Simple mathematics show that God reckons prophetic time as follows:

(1) Each prophetic year has exactly 360 days.

(2) Each prophetic month has thirty days.

(3) Each prophetic day symbolizes one year in fulfillment.

Forty-two months, 1,260 days, and three and one-half years are all the same length of time.

This is the key to understanding the meaning of the “seven times” during which Israel would bear their iniquities—being deprived of the national greatness; the bounteous inheritance God had promised the seed of Abraham!

As we shall later see, there have been remarkable fulfillments of those mysterious seven times national punishments—many of them quite recently in world history!

Now, back to the REASON God ejected Israel from the land!

One must read the entire chapter of 2 Kings 17 in order to gain true perspective. I will quote portions here: “In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea, the son of Elah to reign in Samaria [the capital city of the northern ten tribes; Israel] over Israel nine years.

“And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Eternal, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him.

“Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant [they capitulated quickly, surrendered at the overwhelming military strength of the Assyrian empire, and became like a `satellite state,’ vassals] and gave him presents [paid monstrous ransoms; emptied state treasuries; gave up the economic strength of the nation!].”

During this time, Hoshea turned to every conceivable source for help EXCEPT THE ETERNAL GOD! He was desperate, and sought foreign alliances (as does the United States and Britain, as a matter of course); pacts, agreements; mutual assistance treaties; nonagression pacts, organizations of states which could somehow stave off the terrible exploitation of Israel by Assyria!

“And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present [extortion money; tribute] to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison!” (2 Kings 17:1-4).

Imagine! The leader of the nation God had said would cause five thousand to flee before but five of them; the great nation God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the “House of Israel” was now reduced to but a minor power; craven, trembling, cowardly, fearful, they prostrated themselves before the military might of the Assyrians! Their king, after a weak attempt at asking for the help of pagan, heathen Egyptians (not God!), was jailed! What ignominy! What disgrace!

All this occurred in the year of 721 B.C. For the next three years, from 721 until 718 B.C., the Assyrian armies besieged Samaria.

In the ninth year of Hoshea’s reign (718 B.C.), after successive waves of invading Assyrian armies had conquered increasingly larger amounts of Israel’s territories; taking massive numbers of captives, transporting them into Assyria; into the land between the Black and Caspian seas, Samaria, capital city of the northern ten-tribed Israel, fell.

“In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Havor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

“For it was so, that the children of Israel had sinned against the Eternal their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods, and walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the Eternal cast out from before the children of Israel, which they had made.

“And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the Eternal their God, and they built them high places in all their cities [places for the worship of Asherah, phallic symbols; upright pales and obelisks, as seen in the modern `steeples’ adorning churches today], from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.

“And they set them up images [Heb., `groves,’ meaning; groupings of upright pales; phallic symbols] and groves [Heb., Asherim; the pagan sex symbols of the nations around them] in every high hill, and under every green tree and there burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the Eternal carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the Eternal to anger: “For they served idols, whereof the Eternal had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.

“Yet the Eternal testified against Israel [ten-tribed Israel, to the north], and against Judah [the nation to the south; capital city of Jerusalem: the `Jews’], by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways [repent!], and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.

“Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the Eternal their God… and they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire [infant sacrifice! An abominable practice] and used divination [soothsaying; seances, seeking after evil spirits, witches, demons—the use of tarot cards, water witching, star gazing, crystal balls, palm reading; all assorted forms of necromancy and satanic practices] and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Eternal, to provoke Him to anger.

“Therefore the Eternal was very angry with Israel, and REMOVED THEM OUT OF HIS SIGHT: there was NONE LEFT but the TRIBE OF JUDAH ONLY!” (1 Kings 17:1-18).

How many people know this? Believe it or not, there are thousands and thousands of “ordained ministers”; those who talk about “Jesus” and “salvation” who know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about the identity of the United States and British Commonwealth nations; who simply DO NOT KNOW that Israel and the “Jews” are NOT THE SAME; but that Israel was taken into captivity—wholly removed from the land; that Judah, the Jews, was the only tribe remaining in the land of Palestine, back in 718 B.C.; over SEVEN HUNDRED LONG YEARS BEFORE CHRIST!

Thousands are COMPLETELY IGNORANT of biblical history. Therefore, they are ignorant of PROPHECY! They lack the single most important KEY to understanding Bible prophecy—the knowledge of the identity of the greatest nation in the world; the United States of America!

Best selling books purport to inform the millions about what they can expect to happen in the future; millions have read books with titles concerning “the Apocalypse” and the “Book of Revelation” and “Armageddon” and about the “image and the mark of the beast.”

Millions believe they know what the future will bring. Some believe the “beast” is the UNITED STATES (a ludicrous, woeful error!). Millions believe our peoples are gentiles of the tribe of “Gomer”!

Not one percent of the ministers know about the separate national histories of Israel and Judah; about the removal of Israel into captivity; about the subsequent loss of their identity down through history; about the seven times which would expire while they were deprived of their national inheritance.

Therefore, they cannot know of the actual identity of Britain and the United States in the Bible; cannot know of God’s repeated warnings to our peoples.

Remaining IGNORANT of this profoundly important knowledge—they cannot preach the truthful message of God’s Word—cannot be engaged in the work of the WATCHMAN to God’s people!

Tens of thousands preach “about Jesus.” They can preach eloquently about Christian living; various doctrinal concepts; philosophies; about social values. They can quote wonderful preachers of the past; inspire and electrify audiences with wonderful words. Many become famous preachers—speaking about “success,” and emphasizing how to “think positively.” Some, perhaps much, of what they say is helpful in a day-to-day sense. But being ignorant of the most important KEY that unlocks all of Bible PROPHECY to their understanding, they cannot WARN our peoples about what is coming! Most do not preach what is sin; that it is the violation of God’s TEN COMMANDMENTS (1 John 3:4); that the wages of sin is DEATH for all eternity!

Somehow, God is bringing now to your mind knowledge that has been LOST; information that has been HIDDEN from millions! Will you listen? Will you heed? Will you prove all things (1 Thessalonians 5:21) as God commands; searching your own Bible, coming to understanding, at last?

The 17th chapter of 1 Kings is a terrible indictment against the corrupt leadership of the Israelitish nation, as we have seen. God said they did nothing but continual evil, “…Until the Eternal removed Israel out of His sight, as He had said by His servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.

“And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof” (2 Kings 17:23-28).

The Assyrians practiced massive deportation; massive resettlement, reasoning that displaced populations could not form any cohesive guerrilla forces; could not attempt to form a significant underground; that Assyria would not be threatened from within. Ultimately, when one comes to understand who are the modern Assyrians, one comes to grasp a far broader picture of recent history, and of the future.

Now, WHY did God remove the sinning Israelites?

He had sent His prophets to them for literally generations! He had pled with them to return to His laws; His statutes and judgments; the principles of life that were given for their GREAT GOOD!

Instead, they continually practiced the pagan abominations of the heathen nations around them! Their break-away nation was founded on the concept of a false priesthood, made up from among the malcontents, wastrels, totally unqualified of the nation! Their first king, Jerehoam, set up two golden calves (cherubim) as idols; changed God’s annual holy days, set up a feast in the eighth month, instead of the seventh!

They revered the SUN god; observed the phenomena of nature; such as the winter solstice (December 25th; the birthday of Tammuz; accompanied by pagan symbols of sex and fertility, like little trees decorated with orbs and bulbs); the vernal equinox, called after Ishtar (pronounced “Easter”) and accompanied by symbols of sex and fecundity, like rabbits, and eggs, and the lily flower, which the pagans thought looked like a sex symbol.

They abandoned God’s SABBATH day; the day which would keep them mindful of His existence; that He is the great CREATOR. They abandoned His annual festivals, which were given to the “church in the wilderness” (Acts 7:38); which portrayed the great purpose and plan God is working out—would have kept them in the knowledge of the very reason for their human life on this earth!

They embraced filthy, abominable customs; allowed, and even fostered sodomy, homosexuality, licentiousness of every sort. Their marriages were being destroyed; their homes dismantled. God’s laws, which would protect the home; preserve marriages, were abandoned! Now, they drifted into infant sacrifice!

Finally, they became so wholly perverted; so completely evil that God removed them from the land. Their criminal practices brought privation, hardship, poverty, squalor, sickness and disease! God took away His blessings. He took away His protection.

Now, they were broken as a kingdom. They were annihilated as a nation; taken into captivity—deported as slaves.

Wandering Israel—How They Became “Lost” to History

Decades passed, while the lands formerly belonging to Zebulon, Dan, Gad, Naphtali, Benjamin, Asher, Issachar, Ephraim, Reuben, and Manasseh—the northern ten-tribed HOUSE OF ISRAEL were lying in ruins; occupied by pagan dregs, deported there from Assyria.

But in the ancient plains of Babylonia, a rising power was building, expanding, developing. The fertile lands between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers were occupied by the peoples of the Babylonian Empire, now in the ascendancy. Finally, the Assyrian empire was overcome; the mixed peoples of the ten-tribed Israelites joined with their former captors in fleeing far to the north in order to escape the might of Babylon.

When King Omri was on the throne in Samaria, he expanded trade with many of the northern gentile kingdoms. His name was pronounced “Humri” and “Khumri” by many of them. The name for “people” or “house of” Omri, was “Beth-Omri” in Hebrew, mispronounced “Bit-Khumri” by the Assyrians.

Many began to refer to them as the “Samarians,” after their capital city of Samaria. This was corrupted into “Simirians” and “Cimmerians.”

The tribe of Dan was noted for their custom of naming significant places; cities, mountains, rivers, peninsulas—any important geographical place—after their progenitor, Dan. For instance, very early in the history of Palestine, the tribe of Dan took the northern city of “Laish”; a part of their inheritance when Israel was first settled in the promised land. They immediately renamed the place “Dan,” and so it remained, down through history. You will recall that Jereboam, Solomon’s servant, and the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, set up one of his golden calves in “Dan.”

The Danites left their name wherever they went. J. H. Allen details many of them. A few are important: The two main rivers in the region between the Black and the Caspian Seas are the DNeister and the DNeiper, draining the vast plains of western Russia and Poland, into the Black Sea. The major river system of Europe, flowing eastward, emptying into the Black Sea, is called “The river of DAN,” which is what DANUBE means in Latin. There is the UDON and the DON river, as well.

Near the northern shore of the Sea of Azof, part of the Black Sea, is the city of DONetsk. The peninsula of “Crimea” may well be a corruption of “Cimmeria” or “Samaria.”

Not only did the Danites name significant rivers and land features after themselves, they also left the name of their ancient forbear, “Eber” (from which “Hebrew” derives), and “Dan” in areas from the Mideast to Spain and Portugal, and to the British Isles and Ireland. Half the tribe of Dan were seafarers, living along the Palestinian coastland. In the triumphal song of Deborah and Barak after God’s deliverance, a poetic chronicle of the tribes of Israel is given. Of Dan, they sang, “…and why did Dan abide in ships?” (Judges 5:17).

Danites were among the very first to arrive in Ireland, which was settled by the Tuatha de Danaan (Tribe of Dan). The river “Ebro” (the Spanish pronunciation for “Hebrew” is “Ebreo”; phonetically, “Eh-brahy-o.” “Ebro” is pronounced, “Eh-bro”) empties into the Mediterranean south of Barcelona, in Spain. The Spanish peninsula was anciently called “Iberian;” (Once again; “Heber”; or “Eeber” is obvious).

One of the ScanDINavian nations today is “DANmark,” meaning, “the mark of DAN.” There is strong reason to believe, notwithstanding the many “waymarks” left by the seafaring, migrating Danites in other regions, that Dan is Ireland, today. If so, the protracted hatred between Ireland (which, unlike England and most of northwestern Europe nations and the United States, remained almost 100 percent Catholic) and England; past, present and future political realities may help explain why Dan is omitted from mention of the sealing with God’s spirit of the 144,000 during the time of the Great Tribulation. Instead, Dan’s share is given to “Joseph,” meaning Ephraim and Manasseh.

As the ancient Babylonian kingdom gained the ascendancy, the wandering peoples of Assyria and the ten-tribed captives among them were pushed ever northward, and westward. The leading tribe of the Assyrians was called the “Halmanni.” The Latins called the land of Germany “Alemannia.” Today, Mexicans and Spaniards call Germany “Aleman.” A German is “Un Aleman.”

“Teuton” merely means “spear warrior”; a name given to the Germanic peoples by the Romans. “Deutschland” is the Germanic pronunciation of “Teuton,” and has no ethnological origins, but refers, instead, to the ancient names applied to the warlike peoples encountered by the Romans in northern and central Europe.

Finally, the southern House of Judah was conquered by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylonia, many, many decades; over ONE HUNDRED YEARS after the northern ten-tribed nation of ISRAEL had gone into captivity; after the nation taking it captive, Assyria, had been subjugated, ceased from being a world power; after they had all been driven out. Now, the “Jews” were to endure seventy year’s captivity! But, unlike the ten-tribed House of Israel, now LOST from history, the Jews were prophesied to RETURN to the land of Palestine. They did, following the decree of Cyrus, under Ezra and Nehemiah, and Zerubbabel.

Eventually, some few Israelites must have made their way back to Palestine. Of course, people visit across tribal lines; cross national boundaries. Further, the Babylonians may well have captured some fragments of Israelitish families, which subsequently could have intermingled with the captives of the House of Judah during their seventy years in Babylon.

In any event, it is a mistake to insist that not one single human being from the ten lost tribes EVER returned to Palestine, for Anna was a “prophetess of Asher,” and Paul clearly claimed to be a Benjamanite. But a few exceptions are not the rule. The vast majority of the ten tribes disappeared from history. Most remain ignorant of their location and identity, even today.

But now, what of God’s promises to Abraham? What about the dynasty of kings God promised would not fail? Would God go back on His word? Would Israel disappear forever? Or would they be deprived of their prophesied national inheritances AS GOD HAD SAID; until SEVEN TIMES passed over them? We shall see.

Jeremiah’s Strange Commission

When God called Jeremiah, He revealed to him his special calling.

“Then the word of the Eternal came unto me, saying: “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee; and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations” (Jeremiah 1:4, 5).

God then commissioned Jeremiah with these words: “See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to BUILD, and TO PLANT” (Jeremiah 1:10).

Like Ezekiel, God told Jeremiah he was not to fear the persecutions against him, but remain faithful to the message of God.

One of the most fascinating portions of Jeremiah’s personal history is found in chapters 36 through 38.

Here, Jeremiah faithfully recorded in a scroll the prophecies of God against the nation of Judah. Baruch, his scribe, did the writing. You read of how Jehoiakim burned the words of Jeremiah’s prophecy, and how God inspired Baruch to write not only the original prophecy but “many like words” (Jeremiah 36:32).

Later, Zedekiah succeeded Coniah, the son of Jehoiakim, on the throne. Jeremiah remained faithful to his warning message and was accused (Jeremiah 37:13) of being a subversive—”falling away to the Chaldeans.”

For insisting he was a patriotic man who was called of God to warn his nation, Jeremiah was beaten and put in jail (Jeremiah 37:15).

Later, Zedekiah secretly asked Jeremiah if there was any new word from the Eternal (chapter 38:17) and as a result of his conference with the king was put “into the court of the prison… that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the baker’s street, until all the bread in the city were spent. Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison” (Jeremiah 37:20, 21).

Still later, some of the princes of the city urged the king that Jeremiah be killed. And the king, unable to totally withstand them, compromised by allowing them to throw Jeremiah into a dungeon (Jeremiah 38:6).

Ebedmelech, one of the king’s eunuchs, heard of the situation, prevailed upon the king, and Jeremiah was rescued from the dungeon (Jeremiah 38:7-13).

Consequently, “Jeremiah abode in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken: and he was there when Jerusalem was taken.”

True to Jeremiah’s prophecies, Zedekiah was blinded and carried into captivity to Babylon (Jeremiah 39:7).

Jeremiah was given diplomatic immunity (Jeremiah 40:4) and released from his captivity by the captain of the guard of the Babylonian army.

Now it was time for the second part of Jeremiah’s commission to be fulfilled!

He had been used of God to warn of the rooting out, pulling down and destruction of the House of Judah.

Now, because God had promised there would never lack of the seed of David to sit upon the never-ending Davidic throne, it was time for Jeremiah to “build and to plant.”

How did this happen? Read Jeremiah 40 and 41. Gedeliah, the son of Ahikam, set up a provisional government in Mizpah. Jeremiah went to be with him (Jeremiah 40:6).

It wasn’t long until the Ammonitish king plotted with Ishmael to assassinate Johanna. Gedeliah, informed of the plot, refused to believe it.

However, a short while later Ishmael and his cohorts assassinated a large number of persons, including the governor, several of the Babylonians who were there, and a number of the Jews.

Apparently Gedeliah hoped to take these remaining refugees into Ammon as captives, thus increasing the strength of the Ammonites.

Unbeknownst to all the participants in these intrigues, Almighty God was allowing them to provide a means for Jeremiah to fulfill his mysterious commission of “to build and to plant.”

Notice! “Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people that were in Mizpah, even the king’s daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, had committed to Gedeliah, the son of Ahikam; and Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the Ammonite” (Jeremiah 40:10).

Notice carefully!

Almighty God had promised David by an unconditional promise that his progeny down through the generations would always sit upon David’s throne.

Zedekiah was now dead. Also, the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before Zedekiah’s own startled eyes, then blinded him, and carried him to Babylon, where he later died.

Now only the king’s daughters of the royal seed remained.

Was God’s promise to David going to fail?

Not at all! Remember, Jeremiah had been commissioned to “build and to plant” as well as to root up and destroy.

Now the “building and planting” part of his commission began.

Baruch was Jeremiah’s personal scribe, companion and friend. Historical evidence suggests that Baruch was also related to the king’s daughters—possibly an uncle.

Why is the strange prophecy of the shortest chapter in Jeremiah given? Read chapter 45! In this brief prophecy, God shows Baruch was grieving because of the catastrophes befalling his nation and, to shore up his sagging spirits, God promised him that his own life would be spared.

“…Behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the Eternal: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest” (Jeremiah 45:5).

At this point, it is important to include a substantial quotation from J.H. Allen’s book, Judah’s Sceptre and Joseph’s Birthright: “Hence we find in the prophecy as it continues the following: “Behold I shall watch over them for evil, and not for good; and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them. Yet a small number that escape the sword shall return out of the land of EGYPT.’

“Remember that the masses of the house of Judah, of the Jewish people, were in captivity in Babylon, where they were to stay for seventy years. Also remember that this remnant which came into Egypt were only the ragged end of the nation, i.e., the poor of the land, and a few captains of small military forces. Now, the Lord proposes to destroy this rag-tag remnant, out of which `a small number shall escape.’ Now, let us take our bearings.

“1. We have in this company, which has come down into Egypt from Judah, `the king’s daughters.’ Since the plural form of speech is used there are at least two of them—history says there were three. These are the royal seed of the house of David, who are fleeing from the slayers of their father, Zedekiah, the last king of the house of Judah, and the slayers of their brothers, the sons of Zedekiah and princes of Judah.

“2. In company with these princesses is Jeremiah, their grandfather, whom also the Lord has chosen to do the work of building and planting. In the princesses the prophet has royal material with which to build and plant.

“3. In company with Jeremiah and his royal charge we have Baruch, his faithful scribe, whom expert genealogists prove to have been uncle to the royal seed.

“4. God has promised that the lives of this `small number,‘ only five or six at most, shall be to them a prey (reward) in all lands whither they shall go.

“5. Prior to this, at a time when Jeremiah was greatly troubled, when in his great distress and anguish of heart he cried unto the Lord, saying: `Remember me, visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors’; then the Lord said, `Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction… And I will make thee to pass with thine enemies into a land which thou knowest not’ (Jeremiah l5:11-14).

“Note the expression `thy remnant,’ i.e., Jeremiah’s, for it is he who must build and plant that royal seed. Understand also that Jeremiah and his little remnant were well acquainted with Egypt, and since it was well known to them it could not have been their final destination. Hence, this escaping royal remnant must journey back to Judea, and then—whither?

“`Into an unknown land!’ Why? `For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of Mount Zion (on which were the royal dwellings). The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah (royal line) shall again take root downward and bear fruit upward’ (Isaiah 37:31, 32).

“Hear it! O hear it! Ye men of earth, HEAR IT! `Shall again take root downward’—be planted! `and bear fruit upward’—be builded! Where? God should tell us where in His Word, and He does” (Judah’s Sceptre and Joseph’s Birthright, pages 197, 198).

History records that the 10-tribed northern kingdom of Israel, with its capital at Samaria, was completely subjugated in successive waves of invading Assyrian armies, and carried away into captivity.

The Assyrian Empire was finally conquered by the Babylonian Empire. God used Nebuchadnezzar to subjugate the nation of Judah, with its capital in Jerusalem, and, true to the prophecies of Jeremiah, King Zedekiah’s sons were murdered, Zedekiah’s eyes put out and the king was carried away into Babylon into captivity, to languish and finally die.

But wait!

God had made an unconditional promise to David that one of the royal seed of his own lineage would sit on his throne until the time of the second coming of Christ!

God provided for a “remnant” of the royal seed to ESCAPE!

Jeremiah had been commissioned to take a witness and a warning to King Zedekiah; God had told him he would be used of God to oversee the pulling down of that ancient kingdom, but that he would also be instrumental in building and planting in a new and different land!

There is historical evidence that a remnant of the royal seed did arrive in the British Isles, that a wedding took place, and that children were born—thus fulfilling God’s promises to David (the scepter shall not depart from Judah) that David would always have one of his own line sitting on the throne God confirmed to him.

A Breach; and a Healing

J.H. Allen, in his well-known book Judah’s Sceptre and Joseph’s Birthright, devotes considerable time to the “prince of the scarlet thread” and “the royal remnant” united (see chapters 6 and 7).

Remember that the sceptre, symbolizing a never-endingdynasty of kings which was promised unconditionally to JACOB (Israel) and reconfirmed to David, belongs specifically to the Davidic line.

Allen correctly points out the distinction between the Judeo-Davidic family and the kingdom which bore the name of “Judah,” which of course has been corrupted into the nickname “Jew” today.

At this point in Allen’s book (chapter 6 and 7), he thoroughly expounds the story of the first “overturning” of this promised throne, explains the “riddle and the parable” of the great eagle and the highest branch of the cedar tree, as well as the healing of the breach between Pharez and Zarah.

First, turn to and read Ezekiel 21:22-27.

“And thou, profane, wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come when iniquity shall have an end, thus saith the Lord Eternal: remove the diadem, and take off the crown; this shall not be the same; exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn it; and it shall be no more [overturned] until He come whose right it is; and I will give it Him.”

This prophecy, like so many others in the Bible, is DUAL in nature.

Its first application most certainly applied to Zedekiah, the “prince of Israel” occupying the throne during the very day of Ezekiel’s prophecy.

Obviously, God was going to “remove the diadem,” meaning take away the position of rulership from Zedekiah (take off the crown—”this shall not be [upon] the same”).

God would then “exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high.” Zedekiah, being “high,” that is, sitting on the throne over Israel, would be brought down.

God said, “I will overturn, overturn, overturn it; and it shall be no more until He come whose right it is; and I will give it to HIM”!

Obviously, then, the expression “it shall be no more” implies (as Allen correctly infers) NOT that it shall cease to exist, or it could not remain to be given to “He whose right it is,” but that it would be NO MORE OVERTURNED!

These three distinct “overturnings” of that throne were prophesied to happen!

By removing that kingly line from Jerusalem in Palestine to a distant land, the first overturning, or transfer, would be accomplished.

Allen says, “Furthermore, the expression, `this shall not be the same,’ taken together with the prophecy concerning the overturns, lead us to expect a change of dynasty, at least on the side of the male line, and also a change in the territorial or geographical situation. This is still more apparent when we note that there are to be three overturns, and that, after the third overturn shall have been accomplished. there are to be no more until another certain person comes. Also, after the diadem has been removed from the head of the prince who wore it at the time of the first overturn and placed upon the head of `him that is low,’ it is to he noted that then either this man, who is the person understood as the antecedent of the personal pronoun, `him,’ or his lineage, is to he dethroned by the Lord in favor of that other person, who is designated as `He whose right it is,’ to whom it shall then be given” (Judah’s Sceptre and Joseph’s Birthright, pages 202 and 203).

To discover the answer to the question “Whose RIGHT is the throne?” and “WHO is `him that is low’?” you must turn to Genesis 38 and read the story of how Tamar, determined not to remain childless and, outraged by Judah’s refusal to give unto her Judah’s son, Shelah, posed as a harlot and became pregnant by Judah.

The midwife, somehow (probably by divine Providence) knew that twins were about to be born.

Remember, God had said, “The sceptre [symbol of a kingly line-and symbol of the promise made later to David] shall not depart from JUDAH.”

The two babies about to be horn were of a princely line, not-withstanding human plots and subterfuge.

Allen says, “The never-to-be-forgotten manner in which Judah was forced to acknowledge that those children were his offspring and that their mother was more righteous than he, does most certainly place the fact of their royal lineage beyond the possibility of cavil.”

“When the mother was in travail and after the midwife had been summoned, there was the presentation of a hand. Then, for some reason either human or divine, the midwife knew twins were in the womb. So, in order that she might know and be able to testify which was born first, she fastened a scarlet thread on the outstretched hand. Since Judah’s was the royal family in Israel, and the law of primogeniture prevailed among them, it was essential that this distinctionshould be made so that at the proper time the firstborn or eldest son might ascend the throne.

“After the scarlet thread had been made secure on the little hand it was drawn back and the brother was born first. Upon seeing this the midwife exclaimed: `How hast thy broken forth?’ then, seemingly, she was filled with the spirit of prophecy and said: `This breach be upon thee,’ and because of this prophetic utterance he was given the name of Pharez, i.e., `a breach.’ Afterward his brother, who had the scarlet thread upon his hand, was born, and his name was called Zarah, i.e., `the seed'” (Judah’s Sceptre and Joseph’s Birthright, J.H. Allen, pages 203, 204).

Looking in subsequent history, we see that David was of the Pharez branch of Judah’s family—that Zedekiah was also of the Pharez branch, and that biblical genealogies list even Jesus Christ as a descendant (as reckoned through his physical foster father, Joseph) of the Pharez line of Judah’s family.

Notice that none was of Zarah.

God was going to ultimately “heal” the breach that occurred by “abasing” him that was “high” (meaning the Pharez line, including David and Zedekiah), and by “exalting” him that was “low,” meaning the Zarah line.

How was the breach to be healed?

Consider!

God had promised that the sceptre—the kingly badge of office –would not depart from Judah. It was now firmly in possession of the lineage that came through David, the Pharez side of the family, and God’s covenant with David assured that David would never fail some of his seed to sit on that throne—that it was a perpetual covenant.

The “breach” would not be healed by taking the throne away from Pharez (David’s progeny) and giving it to the Zarah (him that was “low”). for this would merely be perpetuating the breach.

No, it would be healed by bringing both sides of the family together again through marriage, making both one, thus healing the breach.

The story of how this was accomplished is contained in a “riddle” and a “parable” contained in Ezekiel’s 17th chapter.

Allen says, quoting Ezekiel, ” `And the word of the Lord came unto me saying, son of man put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel; and say, Thus saith the Lord God,’ etc.

“The Hebrew word here translated riddle is defined as `a puzzle; hence a trick, conundrum, dark saying, hard question,’ etc. These definitions correspond to our English thought of an enigma, or something proposed which is to be solved by conjecture, a puzzling question; or an ambiguous proposition. A parable, on the other hand, is more like a fable or an allegorical representation of something which is real in its relation to human life and thought, and is represented by something real in nature” (Judah’s Sceptre and Joseph’s Birthright, chapter 7, page 207).

But wait! Complete the chapter, noticing very specifically verses 22 through 24!

Remember, you have been told you are dealing with a “riddle,” and a “parable.” Now, notice the significance attached to this riddle and parable by J.H. Allen and others.

Allen points out that the cedar of Lebanon is a symbol of royalty. Also, he says, “It is true of twigs that they must he set, grafted, or planted, in order that they may grow and bear fruit…”

Read the whole chapter carefully, and notice that it is not a prophecy to Judah, or the Jews of today—but is a prophecy to “the house of Israel.”

The first portion of the riddle is fairly easily explained by the succeeding verses. The “great eagle” that came to Lebanon and took away the highest branch of the cedar obviously represents Nebuchadnezzar’s siege, the destruction of Jerusalem, and Zedekiah’s captivity.

Very likely, the cutting off of the “young twigs” of the cedar and carrying them to “a land of traffic” has to do with the carrying away into captivity of the king’s sons.

But remember, Jeremiah’s commission consisted of TWO PARTS! First, he was commissioned to “throw down”; meaning he would be God’s prophet carrying a witness and a warning message to the leader of the nation of that day, and if the prophecies went unheeded (which they were) he would see the destruction of the nation.

The second part of Jeremiah’s commission was “to BUILD and to PLANT”! Now read the all-important last three verses!

In different language, God says, “I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one and plant it upon a high mountain and eminent.”

The Bible uses mountains as symbols for nations. Smaller hills are used for smaller nation, but a “high mountain” or “eminent” mountain certainly represents God’s nation of ISRAEL!

If the “young twigs” represented Zedekiah’s sons, then the “tender one” represents a daughter or daughters!

The riddle goes on to say that this “tender one” would be PLANTED upon this high and eminent mountain, meaning in the nation of ISRAEL!

Allen says, “Where was she planted? `In the mountain of the height of Israel,’ is the divine reply. `What, ISRAEL?’ Yes, Israel, national Israel. Israel as a nation; but not Jewish-Israel, that kingdom is overthrown; the people are gone into the Babylonish captivity; the king, with his eyes put out, is doomed to die in chains in a Babylonish prison; the princes are dead; the king’s daughters have escaped out of Jerusalem; and the topmost one of these tender twigs is planted here in the height of the mountains of Israel, i.e., the THRONE” (Judah’s Sceptre and Joseph’s Birthright, J. H. Allen, page 213).

Remember the distinction between the “HOUSE OF ISRAEL” and the “HOUSE OF JUDAH”!

The “House of Israel” always refers to the 10-tribed NORTHERN kingdom, which capital city at Samaria, which was never JEWISH!

Think of it! Where, in all this world and throughout all of history, can you find two BROTHER NATIONS; looking much alike, speaking the same language, possessing the same general outlook on life; having nearly identical religious, historical, sociological and cultural beliefs, who, between them, would possess much of the WEALTH of the whole world?

Actually, the mysterious story of the “prince of the scarlet thread” and the “breach” that occurred is nothing more than intriguing insight into HOW God would fulfill His great PROMISE to BOTH Joseph (to whom went the BIRTHRIGHT) and DAVID, who was promised that his lineage would always remain on his throne (the sceptre shall not depart from JUDAH).

The first overturning of that throne was in the destruction of Jerusalem, the captivity and the escape of Zedekiah’s DAUGHTERS, to he taken to a new and different land in what the Bible describes as the “HEIGHT of ISRAEL.”

In the third part of Allen’s book, chapter 1, pages 228 and 229, he sets forth the following facts:

“(1) About 585 B.C. a `notable man,’ an `important personage,’ a patriarch, a saint, an essentially important someone, according to their various ways of putting it, came to Ulster, the most northern province of Ireland, accompanied by a princess, the daughter of an eastern king, and that in company with them was one Simon Brach, Breck, Brack, Barech, Berach, as it is differently spelled; and that this royal party brought with them many remarkable things. Among these was the harp, an ark and the wonderful stone called Lia-fail, or stone of destiny, of which we shall have much to say hereafter.

“(2) This eastern princess was married to King Herremon on condition, made by this notable patriarch, that he should abandon his former religion, and build a college for the prophets. This Herremon did, and the name of the school was Mur-Ollam which is the name, both in Hebrew and Irish, for school of the prophets. He also changed the name of his capital city, Lothar—sometimes Cothair Croffin—to that of Tara.

“(3) The name of this eastern princess is given as Tea-Tephi, and it is a well-known fact that the royal arms of Ireland is the harp of David, and has been for 2,500 years” (ibid., pages 228, 229).

It is well known that various groups that propound the “British-Israel” theory (so-called) believe the stone which rested beneath the seat of the coronation chair in Westminster Abbey is, indeed, that same stone—the “Lia-fail” allegedly brought to Ulster by this ancient patriarch, accompanied by a princess and his scribe, “Brack.” This stone is now in Scotland, but will be returned to the abbey for any future coronations.

Was it Jeremiah, Tea-Tephi and Baruch?

Some say the coronation stone may well be “Jacob’s pillar stone,” but believe it cannot be the fabled “Lia-fail”—which was like an “inauguration stone” used in the ceremony of the coronation of ancient kings, and which tradition said “screaming aloud” or “groaned” as if with an audible voice upon the occasion of a coronation!

Dozens of ancient stone monuments—many with obscure and entirely mysterious purposes and origins—are found in the British Isles.

One of the most famous is, of course, “Stonehenge.” Any number of theories have been advanced as to its builders and its purpose read the interesting article in the Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th edition, for further information.

There is only one mention in inspired history of the anointing of a stone.

Significantly, the anointing of that stone comes at a time when God appeared, through a vivid dream of Jacob (the supplanter), whose name was to be changed to ISRAEL (overcomer; one who prevails with God).

You have already read the account (pages 22-24).

I would urge you to read Judah’s Sceptre and Joseph’s Birthright, by J.H. Allen. His chapter on “Jacob’s Pillow-pillar Stone” (page 230) is particularly interesting.

He makes a strong case for the carrying of that same stone into Egypt which bears reading.

He said, for example: “This brings us to a vital point concerning the subject in hand, namely: “That not only Bethel, the city, or place, but also that Bethel the pillar-rock was given to the birthright family; and that Israel carried that rock with them into Egypt and in their subsequent journeyings in the wilderness.

“Proof: Jacob died in Egypt, and his posterity were in Egypt at the time. When dying, `Jacob called unto him his sons and said, gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.’ When his sons, in response to this call, came together, he gave a prophecy concerning that which the posterity of each of them would he in the last days. But while he was making the prophecy concerning Joseph and his house, to whom he had just given the birthright, he stopped in the midst of his prophetic utterances, and used the following parenthetical expression: `(from thence is the Shepherd, the stone of Israel:).’

“`Thence,’ as herein used, is an adverb used as a noun, and is equivalent in value to that place, or the place to which it refers. The phrase, from thence, means `out of there, out from thither, (or) out of that place.’ Thus, the very fact that Jacob, when dying in Egypt, made use of those words in reference to that Bethel stone, carries proof on its very face that the stone was not, at that time, in the place where it had formerly been, but that it was with them there in Egypt, and had previously been committed to the care of the house of Joseph.”

Allen also cites the occasions wherein a special rock was apparently carried by Moses and the Israelites. For example, he reminds us of the occasion when “the Eternal said unto Moses, saying: Take the rod, and gather the assembly together, and speak unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. And Moses took the rod from beneath the Lord, as He commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them: hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: And the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.’ ”

Further, Allen cites several occasions proving that later kings of the promised dynasty which was to reign stood by a “pillar” rock in making a solemn oath; proclamation, or, even a coronation ceremony. (Read 2 Kings 11:13, 14.)

Dr. Adam Clark translates the account as follows: “And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the Lord. And when she looked, behold! The king stood on a pillar.” Clark goes on to explain this was “the place or throne on which they were accustomed to put their kings when they proclaimed them.” And in a revised version it reads: “Standing by the pillar as was their custom.”

Now turn to and read 2 Kings 23:3: “And the king stood by apillar and made a covenant before the Lord.” The article “a” can easily he rendered “the,” meaning a specific pillar-stone,one which was commonly used in coronation ceremonies, or when the leader of the nation made a particular proclamation, law, edict or vow.

In a later chapter, Allen delves deeply into the story of the origin of the name of Princess “Tea-Tephi” and her escape to Ireland.

“This little company disappeared from Egypt, but surely they reappeared in Ireland, for, marvel of marvels! they brought with them a pillar-stone, which has ever since been used as the coronation stone of the kingdom.

“Later Tea (sometimes spelled Teah) Tephi herself was crowned upon this pillar-stone, and the name of Erin’s capital was changed from Cathair Crofin to Tara, which is also another Hebrew word. But at this juncture history comes to our help, and with unquestioned authority declares that, from that time until the present, every king and queen who has reigned in Ireland, Scotland or England has been crowned upon that selfsame pillar or coronation stone. Queen Victoria herself was twice crowned upon that stone, the first time as Queen of England, and the second time as Empress of India.

“On the occasion of Queen Victoria’s coronation, June 28, 1837, an article appeared in the London Sun, which gives a description of the coronation chair and the coronation stone, as follows: `This chair, commonly called St. Edward’s chair, is an ancient seat of solid hardwood, with back and sides of the same, variously painted, in which the kings of Scotland were in former periods constantly crowned, but, having been brought out of the kingdom by Edward I, in the year 1296, after he had totally overcome John Baliol, king of Scots, it has ever since remained in the Abbey at Westminster, and has been the chair in which the succeeding kings and queens of this realm have been inaugurated. It is in height six feet and seven inches; the breadth of the seat within the sides is twenty-eight inches, and the depth eighteen inches. At nine inches from the ground is a board, supported at the four corners by as many lions. Between the seat and this board is enclosed a stone commonly called Jacob’s, or the fatal Marble, Stone, which is an oblong of about twenty-two inches in length, thirteen inches broad and eleven inches deep; of a steel color, mixed with some veins of red. History relates that it is the stone whereupon the patriarch Jacob laid his head in the plains of Luz.’ This, as you see, was published more than sixty years ago [now more than 164!] before it was thought possible that the Anglo-Saxons were descendants of Joseph, the inheritor of the birthright blessing which God gave to his fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

“This article further says that `this stone was conveyed into Ireland by way of Spain about seven hundred years before Christ. From there it was taken into Scotland by King Fergus, about 370 years later; and in the year 350 B.C., it was placed in the Abbey of Scone, by King Kenneth, who caused a prophetical verse to be engraved upon it of which the following is a translation: “`Should fate not fail, where ere this stone is found, the Scots shall monarch of that realm be crowned.'”

Allen points out that, prior to the time King Kenneth had his verse engraved on the coronation stone, there was a prophetic verse attached to it which Sir Walter Scott rendered as follows:

Unless the fates are faithless grown,
And the prophets’ voice be vain,
Where ere is found this sacred stone
The wanderers’ race shall reign.

Continuing, Allen says, “Think of it! For more than seven hundred years this stone has been in Westminster Abbey. Dean Stanley, in his `Memorials of Westminster Abbey,’ says: `The chief object of attraction, to this day, to innumerable visitors to the Abbey, is probably that ancient Irish monument of the empire known as the coronation stone.’ He calls it a `precious relic,’ and says that King Edward I said that `it is the one primeval monument which binds together the whole empire.’ The Dean further adds: `The iron rings, the battered surface, the crack which has all but rent its solid mass asunder, bear witness to its long migrations. It is thus embedded in the heart of the English monarchy, an element of poetic, patriarchal, heathen times…(which) carries back our thoughts to races and customs now almost extinct, a link which unites the throne of England with the traditions of Tara and Iona, and connects the charm of our complex civilization with the favors of mother earth, the stocks and stones of savage nature. Faithful or foolish, the sentiment of the nation has, through three hundred generations of living men, made it felt that Jacob’s pillar stone was a thing worth dying for in battle'” (Judah’s Sceptre and Joseph’s Birthright, pages 251-255).

Yes, indeed—think of it!

This famous stone was certainly the first thing I wanted to see when I visited England in 1956! Each time I have been back, if I had occasion to show first-timers around London a bit, I would never fail to go directly to the coronation chair and show them the stone with its famous sign.

Of course, in later years thieves absconded with the stone and it was subsequently rediscovered by Scotland Yard and taken back to its place. I have been given to understand that the coronation chair and stone are kept more securely now, and do not know whether they are in fact visible to visitors to the abbey.

It is exactly as that ancient newspaper article described it, and leads one to wonder, as you gaze at it; if it has in fact reposed for hundreds of years beneath this one coronation chair from earliest antiquity, how were the handles so worn?

Obviously, that stone was carried and carried for a considerable period of time, over perhaps great distances. There is no other way whereby the metal handle at each end of it could become so worn.

Now, ponder some obvious questions for yourself.

WHY should the modern queen of a space-age nation, a nation which is the very cradle of so-called “Christian civilization,” and which is the mother country of all the English-speaking countries of the Western world, be coronated as queen while sitting on an ancient rock?

Even as ancient kings of Judah stood upon the rock, or “stood by the pillar” when either being coronated as king, or making a proclamation, so, today, the queen of a modern nation, Britain, is coronated while being seated in the famous coronation chair, beneath which rests what many believe fervently to be “Jacob’s pillar-stone”!

Coincidence? Fable?

The heir to the throne, Prince Charles, will be crowned, probably sometime within the fairly near future, as KING OF ENGLAND, and, you can be sure, he will be crowned as king sitting on a stone!

In fact, God HAS fulfilled His ancient covenant to David—there has never lacked of the seed of David’s own line to sit upon the throne, NOT of just “any nation” in the Western world, but a modern nation of ISRAEL! That nation is EPHRAIM, Great Britain, and in that nation is an ancient, scarred coronation chair, with an exceedingly ancient rock beneath its seat.

It is very likely that rock is the same one upon which Jacob laid his head so many centuries ago; the same one carried back up out of Egypt by the children of Israel; the same one which was struck by Moses at Horeb; the same one which was stood upright, or was stood upon, in coronations of kings of Judah for centuries; the same stone which was carried by Jeremiah and his scribe Baruch, together with the king’s daughter, to Ireland; the same stone upon which kings of Scotland, and England, have from that time been crowned—indeed, the same stone that was in Westminster Abbey for many centuries, and is in Scotland today.

Those who have carefully studied history know that the United States of America was an insignificant, struggling, minor power in 1800.

The great empires of the world were in Europe and feudal Asia. Great imperialistic, colonizing powers (the British, the Dutch, the Spanish, the Portuguese and the French) had laid claim to possessions from the East Indies to Africa; from Central and South America to Macao and India; then from Southeast Asia to North America. Britain had waged wars against France and her allies, defending herself against Napoleon Bonaparte, who was finally defeated at the Battle of Waterloo (1815). Britain had been struggling mightily to retain her freedom against virtually all of Europe, either allied with, or occupied by, the French.

Three years earlier, the United States had fought its second war with its mother nation, Britain, the War of 1812, which ended for all time further British attempts at regaining her lost colonies on the North American continent.

The fascinating history of the 19th century showed the United States emerging from a roughshod, homespun country of former colonists and European immigrants into, eventually, the greatest single power the world has ever seen!

Significantly, the largest single territorial acquisition in the history of the United States took place at the exact end of a prophesied “seven times” national punishment, delaying until comparatively modern times the prophesied bequeathment of the BIRTHRIGHT promises!

Only 10 years before the turn of the 18th century, in 1790, the total size of the United States was 888,862 square miles.

France, desperate for money in her protracted struggle against Great Britain, offered the United States government the sale of territories extending from the mouth of Mississippi River clear to the Canadian border, a huge chunk of territory embodying 827,192 square miles!

This NEARLY DOUBLED the size of the United States by 1803, bringing the total to 1,716,054 square miles.

Remember, all Bible prophecy is dual!

Study Matthew 24, the famous “Olivet” prophecy, and apply every word Christ spoke to the actual histories of what happened in 70 A.D., as Jerusalem was besieged and destroyed by the armies of Titus.

Christ did not return at that time, though this prophecy leads directly to the second coming of Christ!

Though the Roman soldiers did prize the very stones of the buildings and the walls surrounding the temple from their moorings, toppling them into the valleys below, and though terrible havoc was wreaked upon the city, with tens of thousands slain and the city destroyed, archaeological excavations of these modern times absolutely prove the prophecy that “not one stone would remain atop another” was not yet fulfilled.

What happened to Jerusalem in 70 A.D. was a forerunner; an historical “type” of a yet prophesied FUTURE destruction of the city of Jerusalem, just prior to the second coming of Christ! The prophecy is dual.

By the same token, in the sobering prophecy of Leviticus 26, God says a time of TERRIBLE national calamities and punishments was (and is, yet in the future) to befall the peoples of Ephraim and Manasseh!

Through successive generations the great birthright blessings promised the progeny of Jacob (Israel) were withheld from the two nations upon whom aged Israel had pronounced the name “ISRAEL”; Ephraim (Great Britain) and Manasseh (the United States).

Turn to and read the remarkable dual prophecy of Leviticus 26!

The chapter begins with the marvelous BLESSINGS God would bestow upon His people if they would adhere to His laws, statutes and judgments.

IF the people chosen of God for a great destiny on this earth were to OBEY God, then boundless blessings of great national wealth and resources, minerals, precious metals—seemingly endless energy supplies—together with bounteous crops, salubrious climate, healthy children, an absence of wars, military conscription, heavy taxation, and disease—the promises of GOOD HEALTH (something everyone earnestly covets, and yet which no one can BUY)—these and other phenomenal blessings would be the promised rewards of OBEDIENCE.

Then, swiftly, occupying the remainder of the chapter, come the thunderous warnings of the sledgehammer blows; the shocking punishments which would befall these peoples if they turned their back on the one true God, despised His laws and His way of life, and descended into paganism and heathenism.

The great blessings are enumerated through the first few verses of the chapter, showing that IF the people obeyed God’s laws—especially the great “test commandment,” the Fourth Commandment, keeping the weekly SABBATH DAY, then God would not withhold His blessings—the bounty that would fall upon them would be so great there would virtually be no room to receive it!

Conversely, if the Israelites did not obey, God said, “If ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments…I will appoint over you terror, consumption [consumptive disease such as TB, etc.], and the burning ague [such as influenza, pneumonia, colds and fevers] that shalt consume the eyes [measles and other diseases which cause blindness] and you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. [Shockingly, though this prophecy does not specifically imply grain sales to great enemies—the United States trades with its nuclear enemy, Russia, sending millions of metric tons of wheat, corn and other vital staples to other countries.] And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall rule over you…” (Leviticus 26:14-17).

The historical chapters of the Old Testament, particularly the books of I and 2 Kings and I and 2 Chronicles, tell the story of repeated, flagrant IDOLATRY on the part of the Israelites!

The story of the Exodus itself (Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, principally) catalog an incredible account of hostility, resentment, rebellion and idolatry on the part of “stiff-necked” Israelites who continually disparaged Moses’ rule over them, “murmured” (meaning carping, criticizing, griping and condemning), and yearned to go back into slavery, rather than OBEY GOD, and experience the marvelous blessings He had in store for them!

Perhaps one of the bloodiest books in all the Bible is the book of Judges—and, in reading the final verse of this incredible history of wars, murders and rebellions, one is given the divinely revealed REASON for all the bloodshed: “In those days there was no king in Israel: EVERY MAN DID THAT WHICH WAS RIGHT IN HIS OWN EYES” (Judges 21:25).

God terminated the rule of “the judges” at the end of the reign of Samuel. The Israelitish people told Samuel: “…Make us a KING to judge us like the nations [like the GENTILES!]” (1 Samuel 8:5).

Even though Samuel was hugely angry, God told him: “… Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have NOT REJECTED THEE, but they HAVE REJECTED ME, that I should not REIGN over them”! (1 Samuel 8:7).

Samuel then warned the people that the king who would reign over them would be despotic, dictatorial, arrogant and completely unconcerned with the welfare of the people!

Samuel prophesied military conscription, wars, heavy taxation and annexation of personal and private property, even the drafting of women into auxiliary military service, but, in spite of the warnings, the people said, “…Nay, but we will have a KING over us; that we also may be like all the nations…” (1 Samuel 8:19, 20).

Then follows the history of the reign of Saul, his disgraceful, arrogant behavior and disqualification as a king over Israel, and the final anointing of David as the king over Israel.

From the time of David’s reign until the close of the Old Testament, we read of how the nation followed the king. As the king went, so went the nation.

If the king was righteous, even to certain degrees (such as several who did not “cut down the high places” but nevertheless followed basically in the way of God), the nation was blessed accordingly.

If the king was thoroughly evil and wicked (as in the case of evil King Manasseh), the nation suffered greatly.

Finally, by 721 through 718 B.C., the sins of the nation of Israel (cataloged in Ezekiel 16 and Ezekiel 23) had become SO GREAT in the eyes of God that He was determined to “remove them out of His sight.”

It is a fact of history that the northern 10 tribes, with their capital city in Samaria, were utterly decimated, completely overpowered, the kingdom destroyed, and the vast BULK of the inhabitants of the land transported into captivity!

Now, what you are about to read you should keep in proper perspective!

Keep in mind the overview of the identity of the United States of America and the British Commonwealth of nations in prophecy!

It is all too easy to approach one particular part of the story, which may in fact be merely a supportive “twig”—not truly essential to the “TRUNK OF THE TREE” of the Bible; attempt to twist, lop off or do away with that “twig,” and then believe one has destroyed the whole trunk of the tree!

That unshakable trunk of the tree happens to be the unconditional promises given to ABRAHAM, reconfirmed to Isaac, made completely unconditional to JACOB, and the transference of the name of Jacob (ISRAEL) upon his two grandsons, EPHRAIM and MANASSEH!

In a nutshell, somewhere, somehow, on this earth at this time, one must find a “company of nations,” or some grouping or recognizable aggregation of brother-nations, who would appear to be the same people—thus fulfilling the divine promise concerning EPHRAIM, who was to be “greater” than his brother!

One must also find closely tied (for they are BROTHERS, ethnically) with this “company of nations” a nation which would be the GREATEST SINGLE NATION the world has ever seen!

One cannot read the eloquent, magnificently bounteous promises of the prophecy of Genesis 49 concerning JOSEPH (the father of Ephraim and Manasseh) without understanding that these great blessings could never have applied only to a narrow strip of land somewhere between the Sea of Galilee and the mountains around Jerusalem!

Read that prophecy again: “Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall [implying spreading out to the four points of the compass, even as God repeatedly promised the progeny of Isaac and Jacob]:

“The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:

“But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the Shepherd, the stone of Israel:)

“Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of the breasts, and of the womb;

“The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of him that was separate from his brethren” (Genesis 49:22-26).

Verse 26 should read, as the Oxford margin correctly supplies, “…Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was prince among his brethren.”

The great blessings to the two sons of JOSEPH are thoroughly documented in the divine Word of God.

If God’s promise is not to fail—if you can trust the very written Word of the Eternal Creator God—then somewhere, on this earth right NOW, you must find a great single nation experiencing the very bounteous blessings prornised those two tribes which were to emerge from Joseph; and another “collection” or “company” of nations—obviously brothers, who, together with that great single nation, SHARE much of the wealth of the world!

No amount of arguing, reasoning or attempting to pull down “twigs” or pointing out the errors of Allen, or other writers who have treated the subject, will suffice to chop down the TRUNK of the tree—God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!

Of course, some will scoff at listing the names including the letters DN for “Dan” and other such names—turning to other parts of the world, where one may find a few cities or towns such as Denver, Colo.; Danville, Ill.; etc.

But all such scoffing aside—it is nevertheless a FACT that the ancient Danites, half of whom abode in ships and were a seafaring people (Judges 5:17), are revealed in the sacred Word of God to have followed the practice of naming (or renaming) important areas after the name of their father, Dan.

In one case, there are two significant names attached to one of the important Scandinavian countries, Denmark.

Again, the spelling “Denmark” is Anglicized; the Danes (notice the word Dan in the name of these peoples) call their northern peninsula by the name “Danmark.” This name means nothing more than “the mark of Dan.”

Anciently, however, the peninsula now occupied by the Danes was called Jutland.

As we have already seen, the multiple seed of Abraham were to be scattered to the four winds—spreading out to the east, the west, the north and the south. Consider the fact that the two great brother nations, the United States of America and Great Britain, together having come into possession of two thirds of the WEALTH of the world, are also kindred peoples!

Together, they comprise the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the two sons of Joseph. Remember, the two sons of dying Jacob (Israel), in placing his hands on the heads of his two grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh, said, “Let my name be named on THEM.” The two brother nations who were to become (1) the greatest single nation on the face of the earth and (2) a great company, collection, grouping or commonwealth of nations, were to bear the name of ISRAEL!

From the “riddle and the parable,” and the puzzle of the “scarlet thread” (the famous “breach” between the Pharez and the Zarah line), we learned that God intended cropping off a “tender twig” of the royal tree representing the lineage of David—and that this represented one of the king’s daughters, who would be “planted” (according to Jeremiah’s commission) in a new land.

Thus, Almighty God intended healing the breach between the two lines; fulfilling His promise to David until the time of the second coming of Jesus Christ, until “He come whose right it is”! (Ezekiel 21:25-27).

Also, we know that neither Simeon nor Levi had an inheritance in the land; and that, while they were grouped with the southern “House of Judah” with their capital City at Jerusalem, they were dispersed throughout the other tribes.

The Jewish people have been, uniquely among all human races, a dispersed people! Even today, they dwell in communities all over the world—throughout the United States, Canada, the nations of Europe; and, of course, in the Middle East.

Few realize that one of the first major deportations of Jews occurred prior to the final collapse of the southern kingdom—PRIOR to the removal of the Jews to Babylon!

Notice! “Now in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them” (2 Kings 18:13).

Only a few verses earlier, you learn how Shalmaneser, the previous king of Assyria, besieged and finally captured Samaria, “And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel [the northern HOUSE OF ISRAEL] unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes: because they obeyed not the voice of the Eternal their God, but transgressed His covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the Eternal commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them” (2 Kings 18:9-12).

From the ancient monuments, the details of Sennacherib’s campaign against the Phoenician cities, plus Jerusalem itself, come clear.

Sennacherib’s Assyrian armies captured Sidon and many other Phoenician cities, while Tyre held out, though its king, Lulia (Elulaeus), fled to Cyprus. Ashdod, Ammon, Moab and Edom submitted to Assyria, but the king of Judah, Hezekiah, depending upon help from the Philistines of Ashkelon and Ekron, plus believing his fortified city of Jerusalem and Egyptian help could withstand the Assyrians, refused to submit.

In a frantic attempt to buy off the Assyrian invaders, Hezekiah paid Sennacherib 30 talents of gold, 800 talents of silver, precious stones, couches and ceremonial furniture, including thrones inlaid with ivory, many concubines and servant eunuchs, after 46 fortified towns and cities were taken by Sennacherib, and, note this well, 200,150 Jews were carried away into captivity.

What happened to this more than 200,000 Jews who were removed from Judah SEVENTEEN YEARS after the last Israelite from the northern 10-tribed House of Israel hadbeen removed?

No doubt they were intermingled in the towns and cities ofAssyria, just as the refugees (slaves) from the 10-tribed House of Israel had been deported, and placed in the cities of the Assyrians, or sold to neighboring countries to the north, as slaves.

No wonder, then, that not only do we find the name of Dan (and, as we shall see, other Israelitish names as well) from the area between the Black and the Caspian seas into northern Europe, Scandinavia and the British Isles, but we also find the “land of the Jews,” or “Jutes’ land”—the peninsula called Jutland.

Ancient Explorers and Tradesmen

Few realize that, as early as the kingdom of Solomon, active trade was carried on with nations far beyond the “Gates of Hercules” (Straits of Gibraltar). Solomon’s ships brought to the land of Palestine peacocks, native only to India; exotic trade flourished under Solomon which brought riches of nations from as far away as the British Isles, where tin was mined in Cornwall; apes, ivories and peacocks from India, Pakistan and the East African highlands, where it was said King Solomon had fabulous mines.

Solomon maintained a port at Ezion-geber (the site of present-day Eilat at the northern head of the Gulf of Akaba, north of the Red Sea) as well as his seaports on the Mediterranean, principally at Joppa.

Remember, it was a full 860 years before Christ that Jonah went to Joppa, which was one of the most important seaports on the Mediterranean coast (incidentally, within the borders of Dan), and there boarded a ship going to Tarshish. “Tarshish” was so far away Jonah thought he would literally flee from the very presence of God!

How long had the ships of Tarshish been trading with Palestinian seaports? Historians place the time as early as 900 B.C.!

It is obvious that, if our nervous prophet could easily take passage on a ship of Tarshish to go to the isles and coastlands far beyond what he believed was the province of the God of Israel, any number of other wayfarers of that ancient time also took ships to faraway colonies which were important to the trade which sustained their nation!

Notice this important quote from Allen’s book. In Judah’s Sceptre and Joseph’s Birthright (pages 267-269), Allen says there was abundant time for a royal prince from the family of Judah “…to have preceded Israel to the isles, and to have had a large colony even before the birthright went to Assyria, an event which did not occur until 721 B.C. (referring to the removal of the “birthright people” by Shalmaneser) that one of those princes did precede Israel to the isles of the sea is evident; first, because God says he did, and, second, because it is recorded in the Milesian records of Ireland that the prince, Herremon, to whom Tea-Tephi was married, was a prince of the “Tuatha de Daanans.”

“Mark this! If that prince was a prince of the tribe of Dan—and authentic history declares he was—then he was a prince of the family of Judah, for there can be no prince of Dan other than a prince of the royal family of HIS RACE, and that family has but one fountainhead, i.e., Judah, the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, to whom pertains the sceptre blessing.

“But this rule seems to have worked both ways, for the family ensign of Judah is a lion, and since one of his whelps [young lion] went to the northwest isles with Dan, as a matter of course the ensign of his family, the royal family, went with him. Thus it became associated with the `Tuatha de Daanans,’ the tribe of Dan, and in time found its way into their national seal.

“The figure on the seal (which is illustrated in an accompanying cut) is described as `A Lion’s Whelp with a Serpent’s Tail.’ The largest of these represents Denmark, and the other two Norway and Sweden, which were at the time under the dominion of Denmark.”

Strange Names

Remember, even as we read in 2 Kings 18, Almighty God cast away Israel for having broken His laws; broken His covenant; and, especially, having descended into idolatry, and having forsaken God’s weekly and annual SABBATHS!

God had said the great identifying sign between Him and His people (Exodus 31) was the Sabbath!

When His people lost that sign, they finally lost their very national identity.

They adopted, in place of the name of Almighty God, the names of Baal!

The name of Baal was virtually plastered all over ancient maps of Palestine. We read in the Bible of places named “Baal-peor,” and “Baal-zephon”; and remember that even some individuals were named after this false god, such as “Baalam” (which merely means the plural—”many Baals”).

Now, notice this incredible list of the names of Baal found inIreland!

Baal-y-Bai, Baal-y-Gowan, Baal-y-Nahinsh, Baal-y-Castle, Baaly-Moni, Baal-y-Ner, Baal-y-Garai, Baal-y-Nah, Baal-y-Con-el, Baal-y-Hy, Baal-y-Hull-Ish, Baal-Nah-Brach, Baal-Athi, Baal-Dagon.

Howlett, a pastor in the 19th century in that region, says, “These certainly are memorials of the Baal worship once prevailing in Ireland. In them we have not only the name of Baal but its conjunction also with other Hebrew names. How can this be accounted for, except as they were so called by immigrants from Phoenicia and Palestine?”

The Celts

The ancient Celts, the bulk of whom, history says, inhabited the central and western parts of Europe, were in fact, Israelites whose origins are traced from that region in Europe through which flows the River Danube, and from the Near East.

The Anglicized “Celt,” or “Kelt,” is nothing more than the generic name of the ancient people who inhabited Northern and Western Europe. They were regarded, by ancient writers, as “all the fair-haired peoples dwelling north of the Alps,” and the name “Celt” comes from the Greek language, for the Greeks termed them all Keltoi. The Kelts were classified as falling into two loosely divided groups, which shaded off into each other. The first was distinguished by “a long head, a long face, a narrow aquiline nose, blue eyes, very light hair and great stature,” and these lighter-complexioned “Kelts” were usually termed “teutonic” by early writers.

The other group was marked by “a round head, a broad face, a nose often rather broad and heavy, hazel-gray eyes, light chestnut hair, and were said to be thick-set and medium height.”

It is fascinating that the ancient “Teutons,” whose name is generic for “Germans,” appear in history along with the Cimbri, universally held to be Celts, but coming from the same region as the Guttones (Goths, which was a Roman name for these peoples) by the shores of the Baltic and North Sea.

The Belgic tribes in northern France were the Cimbri, and had, according to history, migrated into the region from east of the Rhine.

The dominance of the Celts in northwestern Europe and the British Isles is well known.

Ancient writers spoke of the Gauls, who gave their name to modern-day France, as the Cimbri, and identified them with the Cimmerians of an earlier date, who are mentioned by Homer.

They are identified as migrating through the mouth of theDanube, and early Celts are said to have been “continually moving westward.” The “Belgae” were also Cimbri in origin. They spread across the Rhine and gave their name “to all northern France and Belgium” (Encyclopaedia Britanica, 11th edition, Vol. 5, page 612).

Even in language the ancient Celts were identified as having come from the Near East.

In 1831, James Pritchard was one of the first to demonstrate the true relationship of the Celts in his publication Eastern Origin of the Celtic Nations. A famous Bavarian historian, J.C. Zeuss (l806-I856), demonstrated conclusively the Indo-European origin of the Celtic dialects. Rediscovering old Irish manuscripts, he published a striking study in Celtic philology, called Grammatica Celtic, publishing the work in1853.

But who were these Cimbri, or Khummee, who were migrating along the river valleys of the Caucasus and the Carpathians?

Omri began to reign in 929 B.C., having been placed on the throne by the army, during the siege of Gibbethon, a Levitical city in Dan.

The death of Elah and the usurpation of Zimri led to the declaration by the army that their general, Omri, was now king of Israel. His “…chief [achievement] was the foundation of Samaria, which thenceforth became the capital city of the Kingdom of Israel” (Encyclopedia of Biblical Literature, John Kitto, Vol. 3, page 365).

Omri, while appearing from biblical records to be one of the lesser kings of Israel, nevertheless became one of the most important to the Assyrians, the Moabites, and other kingdoms to the north and east of Palestine.

In Hasting’s Bible dictionary under the article Omri, the Assyrian spelling is given as Humri or Humria with the comment that the equivalent of the Hebrew-Canaanite y with the Assyrian h is illustrated by Schrader; Cot 2 i p.179.

Several other examples are given, including the identification of Ammi-rabi (Amraphel) with Hammurabi, demonstrating how some languages pronounce the h like a k while others leave it silent.

An extensive inscription from the Moabite stone published in Hasting’s Bible dictionary (Vol. 3, page 621) reads “Omri was King of Israel and oppressed Moab a long time (lit. many days), for Chemosh was wroth with his land. And his son succeeded him (i.e., Omri), and he too said `I will oppress Moab’ in my time (i.e. of Mesha) he said thus. But I saw (my desire) on him and his house, and Israel perish with an everlasting destruction.” (This merely implies that Ahab, who was a son of Omri, was finally compelled to relinquish his hold on Moab and is an exaggeration.)

“So Omri obtained possesion of the land of Mehedeba, and dwelt therein during his days and half the days of his son, forty years…”

Hasting’s says, “These dates (following information on difficulties in the chronology of Omri’s reign) harmonize better with the results of Assyriology, with the deep impression which Omri had produced in western Asia by his military prowess.” This impression was no fleeting one, but extended over a very long period. We have clear indication of this in the fact that Palestine was called Bit Humri or `land of the house of Omri,’ from the time of Shalmaneser II (860) to that of Sargon (722-705). `The usurper Jehu is called on Shalmaneser’s black obelisk Ja’ua agal Humari, “Jehu, son of Omri.” And no less deep was the impression produced in Israel and Judah. `The reference to the “statutes of Omri” in Micah 6:16 is an indication of this, his name being coupled with that of his son Ahab.'”

Bit Humri is the equivalent of Beth Omri in the Hebrew, or the House of Omri, which was the name applied to all Israel by the ASSYRIANS!

Thus, when Shalmaneser’s army brought hundreds of thousands of captured Israelites as slaves into the land of Assyria, the Assyrian army and local populace only knew them as Bit Humri. And never referred to them as Hebrews, Israelites, or by any other Israelitish or Jewish term!

In any number of languages, the h is silent. However, in other languages the h has a hard sound, pronounced by forcing the sharp sound against the hard palate, as in the English word “how.” In some languages, such as German, the h can be pronounced quite similarly to the English k.

Thus Bit Humri was pronounced by some “Kumri” and by the Greeks “Kimri,” “Cimri” or “Gymri.”

These peoples are also found in history as the “Cimmerians.”

The Bit Humri, or the Kumri, who were known by the Greeks as the Kimbri, are said to be the progenitors of the Celts!

The Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th edition, Vol. 20, page 105, says: “The inscription of Mesha throws welcome light upon his conquest of Moab; the position of Israel during the reign of Omri’s son Ahab bears testimony to the success of the father; and the fact that the land continued to be known to the Assyrians down to the time of Sargon (after Shalmaneser, who carried away the hulk of the northern ten tribes into captivity) as `the house of Omri’ indicates the reputation which this little-known king enjoyed.”

The Cimbri are identified as a “teutonic tribe” who first make their appearance in Roman history in about 113 B.C., and who had been “wandering along the Danube for some years warring…”

The Encyclopaedia Britannica says, “The original home of the Cimbri has been much disputed. It is recorded in the Monumentum Ancyranum that a Roman fleet sailing eastward from the mouth of the Rhine (about 5 A.D) …at the farthest point reached the [region] of a people called Cimbri, who sent an embassy to Augustus.”

Several early writers agree in saying that the Cimbri occupied a peninsula, and in the map of Ptolemy JUTLAND appears as the Cimbric Chersonese. Under the article “Cimmerii,” the Britannica 11th edition says they were “an ancient people of the far north or west of Europe first spoken of by Homer.”

Herodotus, the famous historian (Herodotus iv. 11-13) regards them as the “early inhabitants of south Russia, driven by the Scyths along by the Caucasus into Asia Minor, where they maintained themselves for a century. This authority also reveals that “later writers identified them with the Cimbri of Jutland, who were probably Teutonized Celts…”

The Encyclopedia Biblica says of Assyrian reference to Omri: “On inscriptions from the time of Shalmaneser II (854) down to Sargon (720) we find the northern kingdom designated as Mat Bit-Humri, `the land of the house of Omri’; or simply Mat Humri, `Land Omri,’ Jehu even is called `son of Omri’ (Schrader Kat 190 ff.). The use of this phrase shows great was the reputation which Omri enjoyed abroad.”

The Encyclopedia Biblica also lends support to the very great possibility that the captured Israelites, who had already become corrupt while they were yet in the land, carried the names of Baal with them in their migrations, explaining the many names of Baal persisting in Ireland until modern times!

It says, “The dynasty which the [Omri] founded lasted for half a century, and was only overturned by the hatred of the prophets to the worship of Baal” (Encyclopedia Biblica, 3500).

Scythia

The ancient Scythians were a “nomadic” people who come from “the steppe from the Carpathians to the Don” (Encyclopaedia Britannica, Vol. 25, page 526).

The Egyptian historian and chronologer Herodotus (iv. 1-42) deals with the Scyths, showing that their original language came from the area of Persia, or Iran.

However, though Herodotus records that a number of Scythian words preserved were from the area between the Black and Caspian Sea, other words, especially the names of their deities, found no satisfactory explanation in any Indo-European language.

It is fascinating that the oldest inhabitants recorded by history in the area of Scythia were the Cimmerii, which is nothing more than a slightly corrupted form (as is common in philology) of Omri, or the ancient names for the people of Bit-Humri, or “the house of Omni.”

“…The nature of the country makes it probable that some of them [Scythians] were Nomads, while others no doubt tilled some land in the river valleys and in the Crimea, where they left their name to ferries, earthworks and the Cimmerian Bosporus. [The narrow passage between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean is called the Bosporus Dardanelles.] By the time of the seventh century B.C., a warlike people harassing the northern frontiers of what is today modern Iran were called the Sake (Sacae), and are considered by some historians as being synonymous with the Scyths.

Who Were the Saxons?

Ptolemy says that about the middle of the second century the “Saxons” (Saka, Sacae, Scythia) inhabited the neck of the “Cimbric Peninsula” (which is Jutland, or the peninsula occupied by the “Cimmiri” or “Cimbri”), together with three islands lying off the western coast of what is today Denmark.

They are next heard from in history in connection with periodical expeditions in the North Sea about the year 286. By the beginning of the fifth century, the northern coast of Gaul (modern-day France) and the southeast coast of Britain were known as Litora Saxonica. Latin for the “littoral of the Saxons,” owing, as is obvious, to the establishment of colonies of the Saxons.

The Saxons virtually disappear from history from the sixth century onwards, and it is assumed by historians that the Saxons who invaded Britain, while maritime peoples, had either voluntarily or by conquest gradually become incorporated into the Frisian Kingdom, occupying those lands to the north and the west of Westphalia, in northwest Germany.

To this day, one of the states of Germany is identified as “Saxony.” Early inhabitants of Britain, the Angli, together with the invading Saxons, gave their name to the modern term “Anglo-Saxon” for a Briton.

“It is now a well-authenticated fact that the word Saxon is derived from the Hebrew name of I-saac, together with an affix which means `sons of.’ Prof. Totten says: `In most of the Eastern languages `sons of’ is written sunnia. It is equivalent to the Scottish `Mac’ and the English and Irish `Fitz’—MacDonald, son of Donald; Fitz Henry, son of Henry. So, in the distant home of our ancestors, Saac-Sunniameans sons of Isaac. Stambul is formed of Istanbul by dropping the prefix I, and so the Saxon is a direct descendant of our father Isaac. Dr. W. Holt Yates accepts this derivation of the Saxon name as positive, and the Rev. W.H. Poole, D.D., speaks of it as follows: `It is a little curious to glean from the ancient nations and from the stone monuments of the early times the various forms in which this word is to be found. I will here insert a few from a list of my own gleaned from ancient history, thus: Sons of Isaac, Sons of Saac, SaacSunnia, Saac-Suna, Saac-Sena, Saac-pena, Esakska, Sacae-Amyrqui, Beth-Sakal (House of Isaac), Sunnia Sakai-Suna, Saca-Suna, Sacae-Sunnae, Sackisina, Sacka-Sacia, Saca-Cine, Saka-Suna, Sacas-Sani, Sakas-Saeni, Saxi-Suna, Sach-Suni, Sachi, Sacha, Sa-kah, Saa-chus, Saa-cus, Sa-cho, Saxo, Saxoi, Saxonia, Sax-ones, Saxae, Sach-sen, Sack-sen, Saxe-sen, Saxone, Saxony, Saxon‘” (Our Race, Judah’s Scepter and Joseph’s Birthright, page 294).

Many ancient historians agree on the origins of the “Saxons” (son of Isaac): Ptolemy says the Saxans were connected with the Scythians, and were called Sakai, and that they came from the land of the Medes!

One of the most important historians of the Saxons was Sharon Turner, who said, “The Saxons were a Scythian nation, and were called Saca, Sachi, Sacki and Sach-sen.” Pliney says, “The Sakai were among the most distinguished people of Scythia, who settled in Armenia, and were called Sacae-sani.” Albinas claims that “the Saxons were descended from the ancient Sacae of Asia.”

Another historian, Prideaux, says that the Cimbrians came from between the Black and Euxine (the Caspian) seas, and that with them came the Angli!

In the book Our Scythian Ancestors, by Gawler (page 6), “The word Saacae is fairly and without straining our imagination translatable as Isaacites.”

Even today, the Hebrew name “Isaac” is pronounced Eetsaak. To force this pronunciation, insuring that the letter i is given the sound of the English ee, one would use a y, as do those using the English language in spelling the name “Isaac” from the Hebrew, rendering it Ytsak.

These “sons of Isaac” became the Saakea, or the Saka, and their names are found coupled with the same origins as the Danites and the Bit-Humri, or the sons of Omri, from the area of ancient Media, and along the river courses, principally that of the Danube, into northwestern Europe, and the British Isles!

These few clues to the identity of the most ancient inhabitants of northwestern Europe, the Scandinavian countries and the British Isles are by no mean all the evidence available!

The fact that ancient Israelitish explorers (not only those who circumnavigated Africa, sailing to India and to the British Isles in the time of Solomon, but later Danites, as well) left their names at principal sources of supply (such as food, fresh water, etc.) along their routes of trade and discovery is obvious.

Remember, God utterly removed the northern 10-tribed Israelites from the land of their original inheritance!

Because they had already rejected the one great sign that would continually remind them of their Creator, keep them in remembrance of just who was their Protector, Provider and their God, they became lost, spiritually!

God rejected them.

Adopting the pagan names of Baal, descending into the pagan rituals of idolatry and even infant sacrifice, they became a stench to God’s nostrils.

Through a succession of prophets, He warned them in blistering indictments that the monumental punishments for their individual and collective national sins would be enormous.

Evil, perverted, twisted and sadistic rulers refused to heed; the pagan idols were not removed, and God finally carried out His threatened punishments; removing massive numbers—hundreds of thousands—10-tribed Israelites as refugees into the lands of their captors!

Later, at the final collapse of the Assyrian Empire, the progeny of these early slaves, reduced to a virtual “stone-age,” barbarian, uncivilized level of living; like wandering nomads; began to spread out in the lands between the Black and the Caspian sea; wandering along the fertile river valleys into the foothills of the Carpathians and the Caucasus, giving names to prominent features, rivers and tributaries, mountains and mountain passes along the way.

Since their captors called them Bit-Kumria, or the Khumri, and the Romans called them the Cymri, is it any wonder we find not only these names sprinkled across Europe, leading us to the British Isles—but the names of Dan, as well?

One thing is sure: God’s Word shall stand! God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were absolutely unconditional!

Though deprived of their national inheritance for generations, 10-tribed Israel, finally arriving in the lands which were to become their perpetual possession, became, as the centuries passed, the GREATEST of all nations (the British Empire at its zenith), and the greatest single nation the world has ever seen, the United States of America!

Seven Times Punishment

Now we come to a fascinating part of the story; the remarkable fulfillment of God’s promises—long delayed, but nevertheless FULFILLED, to the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Remember, God had warned Israel that if they did not keep His commandments and His statutes; SEVEN TIMES national punishment would pass over them! He would punish SEVEN TIMES for their sins!

Seven “times,” meaning seven prophetic years consists of seven times three hundred sixty days; 2520 days—meaning a time span of two thousand, five hundred and twenty YEARS.

Israel was not removed from the land all at once. During the reigns of several kings, God sent Assyrian armies to punish them, hoping the leaders would recognize that it was God’s doing, as His prophets repeatedly warned; that they would turn from their abominable pagan practices, repent, and turn to God.

Pul, king of Assyria, came into Samaria against Menahem, king of Israel, and exacted heavy tribute, yet did not deport slaves, nor occupy the land (2 Kings 15:19). Years later, Pekah was king over Israel and “…did that which was evil in the sight of the Eternal: he departed not from the sins of Jereboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

“In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbeth-maachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria” (2 Kings 15:28, 29).

Tiglath-pileser wrote “The people of the land of Omri [which the Assyrians called `Bit-Khumri’] I deported to Assyria, with their property.” The year given in Ussher’s Chronology for this deportation is 734 B.C. However, Usshur is off by one year because of a miscalculation, omitting erroneously the year’s duration of the Noachian Deluge. Subtracting 734 (actually 735) from 2520, we have 1785. However, when subtracting A.D. from B.C., we must remember there is no year “0”; that we are dealing with both “1 B.C.,” and “1 A.D.,” each being a year. Our figures would not allow for the extra single digit, so we must add one year. Exactly seven times from this major (but not the largest, nor the final) deportation of Israelitish slaves in 735 B.C. brings us to 1786, when delegates from five U.S. states asked the Congress to call a special convention in Philadelphia to write a practical Constitution for the thirteen states! Only two years earlier, Britain had signed a peace treaty with the United States.

Obviously, this event; the signal to write the Constitution, would be a major signpost in the establishment of some of the peoples of Israel in their own lands. However, the exact year Tiglath-Pileser conquered major parts of northern Israel is much in dispute. Kitto says, “Much uncertainty has arisen about the date of his accession, because he states that he took tribute from Menahem in his eighth year, which would make it [his accession] B.C. 767 or 768 [received chronology], whereas it is more likely that it was connected in some way with the change of events in Babylon that gave rise to the era of Nabonassar, or 747.

“However, as LXX [the Septuagint] give the reign of Manasseh thirty-five years instead of fifty-five, this diminution of twenty years would exactly rectify the discrepancy, or else it is possible that in the said inscription Menahem may be by mistake for Pekah, since he is joined with Rezin, whom scripture always couples with Pekah” (A Cyclopaedia of Biblical Literature, John Kitto, Vol. 1, p.248, 249).

No matter the precise dates, and some of them can be determined with precision, the successive waves of invading Assyrian armies came into northern Israel over a period of decades; transcended the reigns of several Assyrian kings, and several Israelitish kings.

Haberman wrote, “The real captivity of Beth-Sak, the Phoenician name for the `House of Israel’ [Haberman pointing out correctly that the heathen neighbors of Israel did not use the names of inspired scripture; but names of their own derivation, such as those like the Habiru, Habiri, or Abiri that appear on the Tel-el-Armarna tablets, obvious corruptions of “Hebrew” and that “Beth-Sak” means “House of Isaac,” even as the term “Saxons,” as it eventually came to be used, connoted “Sons of Saac,” or “sons of Isaac.”] began in 745 when Tiglath-pileser came and took large portions of the tribes of Asher, Zebulon, Issachar and Gad into Assyria, as recorded in 2 Kings 15:29.”

Others subscribe to this date as well. Using our prophetic figure of 2,520 years, and subtracting 745 from it, remembering to add one year because of 1 B.C. and 1 A.D., we have 1776! Is there any American who wonders what happened of any significance during that year? However, as a caution, let us note that it was not Manasseh which was included in the captivity imposed by Tiglath-pileser, but other members of other tribes, albeit a significant number.

A great deal of research would be required to link key events among various northwestern nations to the captivity under Tiglath-pileser, 2,520 long years before. However, remember it is primarily Ephraim and Manasseh; Britain and America, with whom we are concerned, for dying Jacob (Israel) said, “Let my name be named on them.” The peoples called “The House of Israel” in those specific biblical prophecies concerning the last days; the time just before and during the Great Tribulation (called the time of “Jacob’s trouble”), are the peoples of Ephraim and Manasseh!

Haberman also quotes Davidson’s The Great Pyramid’s Prophecy concerning the British Empire and America, asserting that, the great pyramid “…has shown that [its] chronology fixed the 10th of January, 1776 as an epoch-making date in the history of Israel in America. It was on the 10th of January, 1776, that Thomas Paine published his pamphlet Common Sense, in which he called upon the people of the colonies to rebel against the mother land” (Tracing Our White Ancestors, Haberman, p.176).

I want to make it clear that I do not believe in pyramidology. I reject the “pyramid inch” as being an artificially contrived, inaccurate unit of measurement from which to derive prophetic truth. While I believe there may be some significance to the pyramid beyond that of an Egyptian tomb; believe its place on the great seal of the United States may have some significance; that it may be a border marker for a millennial redisposition of national borders, I leave all of this to the future, believing it is highly suspect to assign major events to measurements obtained long after the events have occurred. This is not prophecy; it is interpretive archaeology and history. It is not necessary to grasp at straws to support the facts that America and Britain are, indeed, the latter-day descendants of Manasseh and Ephraim.

Make no mistake! There were hundreds of events spanning dozens of years that resulted in the colonizing, eventual independence, and gradual expansion of the United States. It is not necessary to fix exact dates, for the entire period during which such independence and expansion occurred fits very neatly into the entire period of the conquering and deportation of the ten tribes of northern Israel 2,520 long years before.

Let it be plain that many “interesting sidelights” to the central theme of this book may be presented. Those interesting points merely elaborate upon, and may give interest, color, or some slight credence to the overall truth presented. But the main trunk of the tree is God’s irrefutable promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; that Jacob’s grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh, would eventually become a “company of nations,” and a great single nation; that between them they would possess the choicest places of earth; possess the gates of their enemies; that they would multiply as the “stars of heaven” and the “sand of the seashore.”

Now, notice a date which bears no refutation—a date about which there can be no controversy!

The largest number of Israelites were removed by Assyrian forces in 718 B.C. This represented the largest loss of territory, citizens, and plunder in the successive waves of Assyrian invasion against the northern ten-tribed House of Israel. It included all of Ephraim and Manasseh! Exactly seven times, or 2,520 years from 718 B.C. (adding one year to account for both 1 A.D. and I B.C.) brings us to 1803.

And what occurred of any significance in 1803?

In 1803, the emperor of France, Napoleon, in return for bonds, and a cancellation of $3,750,000 in claims of U.S citizens against France, sold all of Louisiana, plus French-held territories as far north as the Canadian border to the fledgling nation of the United States of America!

The famous “Louisiana Purchase” more than doubled the size and territories of the United States! By the stroke of a pen, the U.S. more than doubled! Strikingly, this occurred exactly 2,520 years from the time Israel lost the major share of her national territories!

From the late 1700s into the early 1800s, as any tyro of history knows, the United States realized independence; adopted a Constitution and Bill of Rights, successfully concluded a war of independence from Britain, emerged as a sovereign nation. The year following the Louisiana Purchase, President Jefferson ordered Lewis and Clark to explore the entire region from St. Louis to the Pacific northwestern coast—thus opening the way for the flow of trappers, hunters, traders; the famous mountain men, who were followed by settlers, miners; a never-ending flood of emigrants who poured into the vast, unsettled lands of the American west over the next 100 years.

The Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark expedition were catalytic to the exploration and settlement of the west; absolutely pivotal events which eventually led to the union of the contiguous 48 states and the emergence of the United States as a world power.

There may be dozens of isolated events which led to significant fulfillment of prophecy; events which have been lost to history. The plain facts are that the northern ten tribes were dispossessed of their national inheritance in the land of Palestine over a period of many years, from about 767 B.C. to 718 B.C. They became intermingled with the fleeing Assyrians as the Babylonian empire forced them northward. God told Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that their seed would spread abroad; to all points of the compass, from the land of Palestine!

Wherever one looks, from the far north to the far south, and in all directions east and west, one finds the progeny of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The “Northmen” (Norsemen) of Norway and other Scandinavian countries may well represent Dan, Issachar, and Naphtali. France, at least the northern portions, appear to represent Reuben.Incontrovertible evidence links Holland with Zebulon (see bibliography). “Berith” in Hebrew means “covenant.” “Ish” was the name for Adam in Hebrew. It means, simply, “man.” Eve was called “Ishshah,” which means “of man.” “Berith-ish,” or covenant man, becomes “British”; the people of “Brit” or “Berith.”

Haberman says, “The race that came to Britain was the race of the Angles; not the Anglo-Saxons, a term only introduced from the continent after the Norman Conquest. The name given to the country was England, i.e., Angle-land. The church was Anglican. There were subdivisions named East Saxons, West Saxons, etc., but these were merely territorial designations brought by the Angles from their German localities. `An inhabitant of Wessex would call himself indifferently either a West Saxon or an Angle; but none of the Angle kingdom called himself a Saxon,’ writes Major B. de Weldon in his Origin of the English.

“There are very few names in England connected with the Saxon name; most of the Saxons remained in Germany, northern France, Switzerland, and Scandinavia, where their descendants still are. The term of Saxon belongs to the whole house of Israel, for, `in Isaac shall thy seed be called [named],’ Scripture tells us in Genesis 21:12 and Romans 9:7. They were to be called the `sons of Isaac,’ and have been so through the centuries, the Beth-Sak, Saki, Sacae, Sakasani, Saxones, Sachsen, and Saxons. All the Angles were Saxons and so were the Danites, Catti, Getai or Goths, and even the Brits; but it was the Angles who gave England her name, in the same way that the covenant race, the Barats or Brits previously gave Britain her name (Tracing Our White Ancestors, Frederick Haberman, 1934, p.143).

The British Isles, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, France, Switzerland—all represent major portions of the tribes of Dan, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Zebulon, Issachar and Ephraim, with those of Simeon, Levi and Judah interspersed among them.

As an aside, it might be interesting to determine the origin of the word “Angle.” As I have pointed out, the northern kingdom of Israel began under the worship of golden calves; idols symbolizing cherubim; the calf of an ox. Exactly as did Aaron during Moses’ absence to receive the law, Jereboam set up idols approximating the familiar representations of the “host of heaven.”

The calf of an ox was familiar to the Israelites, being the “god” of many surrounding heathen nations. This blatant idolatry led God to send His prophets repeatedly with condemnations of Israel’s idolatry, Sabbath-breaking, and ignoring of His annual Sabbaths. Hosea said, “Thy calf, 0 Samaria [the capital of northern Israel; the ten tribes] hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency? For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God; but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces” (Hosea 8:5,6).

The Hebrew word for calf is “Egle” or “Engel.” Professor Waddell in his book Aryan Origin says that in the Gothic Runes the letter “A” is pronounced asa or ace, meaning “the one,” or “the first one,” which may explain why the “Ace” is the first in a pack of playing cards. Our English letter “A” is derived from the Phoenician letter aleph, which means bull. Originally, it lay on its side, representing the horns of a bull; referring to the fall equinox in Taurus the Bull, at which time Creation took place.

Is there any significance to the reference to Britain as “John Bull,” or that they became world renowned as breeders of the finest of cattle; that Moses prophesied of Ephraim, “His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh”? (Deuteronomy 33:17).

Often, the heathen neighbors of various nations referred to them according to their gods, or religion. Thus, the worshipers of the “Agels” or “Angle” became the “Angles,” pronounced and spelled variously, according to the tongue extant among those tribes in the vast, mountainous areas through which the ever-westward wandering covenant people went.

Over a period of centuries, God guided the peoples of His promises unerringly to their ultimate possessions, prophesied to be at the four points of the compass; all the corners of the earth.

To the far South, one finds Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the many possessions of Britain for which she fought so hard—as recently as the Falkland Islands war! The most recently-settled part of the earth was the American West. And so, exactly as God had promised, Israelitish tribes were finally settled around the world to the North, and the South, and the East, and the West. God had destroyed the original inheritors of the promised land for their horrible national and personal sins; Sabbath-breaking and idolatry prominent among them.

Seven biblical times passed over their wandering descendants.

Finally, God’s time had come to fulfill His promise to Abraham, for his seed to inherit lands in all points of the compass; to become “as the sand of the seashore” and as “the stars of heaven.” They were to “inherit the gates of those that hate them,” and “possess the gates of their enemies.”

Into the 19th and 20th centuries, Britain and America became the greatest powers the world had ever seen. Between them, they possessed ALL the strategic land and sea gates that controlled world trade; that proved strategically decisive in two global wars!

Israel was removed by successive waves of invading Assyrian armies over a span of many years involving the reigns of several different kings. God continually sent His prophetic warnings concerning their abominable national and personal sins; all to no avail. One king after another persisted in the same sins of Jereboam: the worship of Asherah, which were symbols of the “host of heaven,” including cherubim, and abandoning God’s feast days for a substitute feast in the eighth month.

As a mirror image, Israel inherited her national blessings over a span of a number of years, in many significant instances achieving large-scale conquests or receiving massive increments of land exactly seven biblical times from being dispossessed thus fulfilling the unconditional promises to Abraham.

Who Were the Original Europeans?

Curiously enough, when one studies the origins of the peoples of Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany and England, one continually comes across the same peoples as having been among the earliest known inhabitants of all these countries.

For centuries, there was no political distinction, no specific geographic distribution of the peoples who inhabited the river valleys and plains of Europe and the British Isles. They were merely the “Keltoi” (Celts), or “Teutons,” or “Gauls,” or “Saxons,” or “Gimri,” or “Cimmerians.” As the centuries passed, languages changed significantly. New dialects arose and faded from use; whole new tongues gradually developed.

By studying both the history of the peoples and their languages, as well as their art forms and especially their religions, one can come to a better understanding of the commonality of the origins of most northwestern Europeans.

The most ancient records extant speak of the peoples inhabiting northwestern Europe and the British Isles as the “Celts.”

Who were the “Celts”?

The Encyclopedia Britannica replies, “CELT, or KELT, the generic name of an ancient people, the bulk of whom inhabited the central and western parts of Europe… the ancient writers regarded as homogeneous all the fair-haired peoples dwelling north of the Alps, the Greeks terming them all Keltoi. Physically they fall into two loosely-divided groups, which shade off into each other. The first of these is restricted to northwestern Europe, having its chief seat in Scandinavia… Those are the peoples usually termed Teutonic by modem writers. The other group [of “Celtic” peoples] is marked by a round head, a broad face, a nose often rather broad and heavy, hazel-grey eyes, light chestnut hair; they are thick-set and of medium height. This race is often termed “Celtic” or “Alpine” from the fact of its occurrence all along the great mountain chain from southwest France, in Savoy, in Switzerland… [and] is commonly supposed to be Mongoloid in origin and to have come from Asia, the home of the round-skulled races” (Ibid. vol. V. p.611, 612).

Notice carefully that the so-called “Celtic” peoples came from Asia, and that it is admitted they were not of just one tribal origin. Remember that the Babylonian empire drove out the Assyrians (whose main tribal group were the “Halmanni,” from whence comes “Aleman,” which is the Latin root for “German.”) along with their former captives, ten-tribed Israel! These mixed peoples spread out into Europe from the region of the steppes of Russia; the Crimean (Gimrian, or “Khumrian,” from “Bit-Khumri”) Peninsula, and along the Danube valley (“River of Dan”) into Europe.

The ancient historians regarded the peoples occupying the river valleys of the Danube; the mountains of Switzerland and Bavaria; the broad plains of northern Germany and the coastlands of the northwest as “Ke1toi”; as “homogeneous,” meaning—the same peoples!

Remember the ancient Assyrians called the captive peoples of ten-tribed Israel after their famous king, “Omri,” making it “Khumri,” in their own tongue. These peoples are found throughout the region from the Black and Caspian sea; the Crimean (Khimbrian) peninsula; central Europe along the Don, Udon and Danube rivers, to northwestern Europe and the British Isles! The “K” sound became silent, or the harsh “H” sound, in some cases. Today, we find the “Humber” estuary on the East coast of England; draining two important rivers. “Northumberland” is merely the land of the north “Humbers,” or “Khumbris.” One finds similar clues in place-names all over Britain, including “Cambria” and “Cambridge.”

The “Gauls” gave their name to much of France, and even to far away “Galatia,” in Asia Minor, a region to which the apostle Paul directed one of his letters; to the churches of Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. Even today, France is sometimes called “Gaul,” and who does not remember its famous post-war President, Charles deGaul, or Charles, of Gaul? The westward migrations of the ten-tribed Israelites did not necessarily continue incessantly westward over the centuries, for there were regional wars, conquests, long periods of time when some of these peoples pushed back southward and eastward, coming into contact with the Romans in northern Italy; with the Greeks and Macedonians.

Notice the admission of history, “Ancient writers spoke of all these Gauls as Cimbri [Khumbri, Gimry, Cimmeria, Cimmerians, etc.], and identified them with the Cimmerians of earlier date, who in Homeric times dwelt on the ocean next to the Laestrygones, in a region of wintry gloom, but where the sun set not in summer” (Ibid. vol. V. P. 612). In other words, to the far north, where the days were very long in summer, and the winters very dark.

The same source says, “They passed eastward to the Danube mouth and into southern Russia, as far as the Sea of Azov, mingling with the Scythians, as is proved by the name Celtosyths… the Celts had continually moved westward also. The Belgae, who were Cimbric in origin, had spread across the Rhine and given their name to all northern France and Belgium. Many of these tribes sent colonies over into southeastern Britain, where they had been masters for sometwo centuries [as long as the United States has been a nation] when Caesar invaded the island” (Ibid. vol. v. p. 612, emphasis mine).

There are other clues as to the origin of the peoples who settled the northwestern European nations and Scandinavia, not the least of which is philological. Julius Caesar observed there was little difference between the speech of the Gauls and the Britons in his day. Jerome says the speech of the Galatians in Asia Minor bore a strong resemblance to the speech he heard in the neighborhood of Trier. Trier is one of the most ancient cities in Europe, in Germany. It was the favorite residence of Constantine, and derived its name from the most powerful peoples among the “Belgae,” who have been proved to be the “Celts,” or those mixed peoples who inhabited Europe from several centuries before Christ. Julius Caesar conquered the “Treviri,” a tribe of the “Belgae” in 54 B.C. Some have attempted to show that these “Belgae” were of Germanic origin, but the Encyclopedia Britannica says, “…although they were doubtless subject to German influences, they spoke a Celtic language” (Ibid. vol. 27, p.268, emphasis mine). As the most important city in Germany for a long time, Trier became the capital of “Belga Prima” during the reign of emperor Diocletian, who also named it the seat of the Diocese of “all of Gaul,” which later included “Gaul” (France and part of Germany), England, and Spain.

The foremost authorities on the origin of European languages admit to a commonality among them; especially the tongues of the northwestern European river valleys. The earliest Roman writers found a number of tribes west and south of the Rhine who “…belonged to a non-Germanic race, and who, closely related to the Belgian tribes (the Belgae, Goths and Visigoths), spoke a language belonging to the Celtic group… we do not know anything about their being mixed with or subdued by the intruding German tribes. We can only guess it” (Encyclopedia Britannica, vol. 8, p.717, article “Dutch language”).

Like most European nations, true written histories do not commence until about the 8th or 9th centuries. Beyond that, one is left with the writings of the earliest travelers to those regions, such as Pliny, Strabo, Herodotus, Julius Caesar, and others. Of Danish history, it is admitted Pliny is the most ancient contributor. “Our earliest knowledge of Denmark is derived from Pliny, who speaks of three islands named `Skandiai,’ a name which is also applied to Sweden. He says nothing about the inhabitants of these islands, but tells us more about the Jutish peninsula [named after the `Jutes,’ or Jewish emigrants following their captivity under Sennacherib, 2 Kings 18:13], or Cimbric Cheronese as he calls it. He places the Saxons on the neck of the Jutish peninsula” (Encyclopedia Britannica, vol. 8, p.28, article “Denmark”).

Notice again the name “Cimbric,” derived from the ancient Assyrian “Bit-Khumri” for “House of Omri.” Time and time again, the ancient writers tell us of mingled peoples called “Jutes” (Jews), “Cimbri” (from Omri, a king of ten-tribed Israel), “Saxons” (from “Sons of Saac,” or Isaac), and the “Teutons” (from the Roman word for `spear man”), who inhabited northwestern Europe. Remember the practice of the Danites, half of whom lived “in ships,” of naming lands, rivers, significant topographical and geographical sites after their progenitor? Listen to what the Encyclopedia Britannica (11th edition) says about the origin of the name for “Denmark” (spelled and pronounced “Danmark” by the Danes): “Jutland was acquired by Dan, the eponymous ancestor of the Danes!” (Ibid. p.28, emphasis mine).

Many myths have been perpetrated concerning the earliest Scandinavians. It is commonly believed the “vikings” were a race of warriors who were the inhabitants of much of the western Scandinavian area, and who settled Iceland and Greenland. But the term “viking” was not an ethnic term at all. “During the saga age (900-1050), in the beginning of Norse literature, vikingr is not as a rule used to designate any class of men” (Encyclopedia Britannica, vol. 28, p.62).

The vikings were so-called because of raids carried out by pirates against the “Christian” countries of England, Scotland and Ireland during the Frankish empire. “The word `viking’ in the sense in which it is used today, is derived from the Icelandic (Old Norse) vikingr, signifying simply a sea-rover or pirate… the reason for using `viking’ in a more generic sense than is warranted by the actual employment of the word in Old Norse literature rests on the fact that we have no other word by which to designate the early Scandinavian pirates of the 9th and beginning of the 10th century” (Ibid. p. 62-63).

The peoples of Scandinavia are most likely the peoples of Issachar, Dan, and Naphtali.

Now, what of the Islands called “Britannia”? Of the name it is admitted, “The Greek and Roman forms [of Britain, Britannia, etc.,] are doubtless attempts to reproduce a Celtic original, the exact form of which is still a matter of dispute. Brittany [Fr. Bretagne] in western France derived its name from Britain owing to migrations in the 5th and 6th century A. D. The personification of Britannia as a female figure may be traced back as far as the coins of Hadrian…” (Encyclopedia Britannica, vol. 4 p.583).

It has been suggested by enthusiastic supporters of the “AngloIsraelitish theory” as some call it, that `’British” is really nothing more than “Berith-ish,” “Berith” meaning “covenant” in Hebrew, and “ish” meaning man; hence, “covenant-man.” This is difficult to prove beyond reasonable doubt, and remains an open question. It is not necessary to grasp at straws to demonstrate the veracity of God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, nor is it difficult to establish beyond the shadow of a doubt that the peoples who were among the earliest known inhabitants of northwestern Europe and the British Isles bore the names, even if somewhat altered by enemies, neighbors, and linguistic changes, of ancient ten-tribed Israel and its forebears. Actually, the authorities admit they do not know the actual origin of the term “Brithon” for the earliest peoples who inhabited England, so the matter remains conjecture.

As to pre-Roman Britain, the same source admits, “Geologists are not yet agreed when and by whom Britain was first peopled” (Ibid., p. 5S3).

It is admitted that the first real evidence of Britain’s earliest in-habitants begin with the two Celtic invasions; with the arrival of the Belgae and the “Brythons.” These peoples lived under a tribal system, governed by royal princes; they gathered in walled cities, made of earth or stone, with forts built atop the hills. This was the custom in ancient Palestine.

Their religion was Druidic, which was a mystical, magical order of “priests” who practiced barbarous rites, including human sacrifice. Who were the Druids? From when did they come? What is the origin of their religion? Can we derive any tangible clues as to the ancient origins of the earliest inhabitants of Britain from their religion?

The Druids-Magicians and Astrologers

The Druids were a caste of erudite, learned men who were regarded as the most gifted and powerful teachers, physicians, astrologers, judges, soothsayers and magicians among the peoples of pre-Christian Europe and England.

It is admitted they were “Celtic” in origin. They worshipped in groves of oak trees; erected stone monuments; altars and/or astronomical observatories (as Stonehenge is alleged to be, although it is admitted Stonehenge may have been built by pre-Druidic peoples), claimed to possess magical powers, and practiced human sacrifice.

From the time of Pliny the elder, the term “Druid” was said to have been etymologically derived from the Greek word for “oak.” Huge groves of oak trees figured prominently in their worship. They resorted to such groves for magical rites and prayers, and regarded them as sacred places.

Another etymological derivation of the name suggests it came from ancient Gaulish and Irish, and meant “very knowing,” or “wise.” It is used in the Irish annals as “Magi.”

Though the information contained in the following lengthy quotation from Julius Caesar is considered but recent in Druidic history, for they are said to have been in Gaul and Britain for as long as several hundred years before Christ, it is nevertheless significant, and is quoted by all histories and encyclopedias as a primary source:

Caesar wrote, “They attend to divine worship, perform public and private sacrifices, and expound matters of religion. A great number of youths are gathered round them for the sake of education and they enjoy the highest honor in that nation, for nearly all public and private quarrels come under their jurisdiction, and when any crime has been committed, when a murder has been perpetrated, when a controversy arises about a legacy or about landmarks, they are the judges, too. They fix rewards and punishments; and should anyone, a private individual or a public man, disobey their decrees, then they exclude him from the sacrifices. This is with them the severest punishment. The persons who are thus laid under interdict are regarded as impious and wicked people… All these Druids have one chief, who enjoys the highest authority among them…The Druids take no part in warfare; nor do they pay taxes like the rest of the people; they are exempt from military service and from all public burdens…” (Julius Caesar approx. A.D. 54).

Where did the Druids learn of this concept of a priesthood; a powerful class of leaders who were arbiters in disputes, and who practiced augury, soothsaying, magic arts, claimed the gift of prophecy, and had the power to excommunicate anyone who disobeyed their decrees? We shall see.

“Besides being priests and teachers of religion the Druids appear also to have been adept astrologers and magicians, and were versed in the mysterious powers of animals and plants; the oak tree, the mistletoe when growing on the oak… their mysterious rites were usually performed in the depths of oak forests…” (Encyclopedia Americana, vol. 9, p.350-351).

Not so surprisingly, the Druids are linked to the “Magus” or the “Magi” of ancient history. Notice, “The Irish Druids seem to have had a peculiar tonsure. The word drui is always used to render the Latin magus, and in one passage St. Columba speaks of Christ as his Druid” (Encyclopedia Britannica, vol. 8. p.598, some emphasis mine).

The Catholic Encyclopedia says, “The etymology of this word [Druid] from the Greek `oak’ has been a favorite one since the time of Pliny the Elder; according to this the Druids would be the priests of the god or gods identified with the oak” (vol. V. p.162).

Why the oak? What is significant about priests worshipping beneath groves of oak trees? And what about the claim of being “wise men,” or “magi,” meaning, “magicians”? The same source says, “…it is clear that there were the most striking resemblances between the Druids of Ireland and those of Gaul [France]. In both lands they appear as magicians, diviners, physicians, and teachers, and not as the representatives of a certain religion… in the earliest Christian literature of Ireland the Druids are represented as the bitterest opponents of Christianity, but even the Christians of the time seem to have believed in their supernatural power of prophecy and magic” (Ibid. vol. 5, p. 164).

Speaking of the Celts of England, the Encyclopedia Britannica says, “In religion, the chief feature was the priesthood of the Druids, who here, as in Gaul, practised magical arts and barbarous rites of human sacrifice, taught a secret lore, wielded great influence…” (vol. 4, p. 583).

How did these peoples—the mixed peoples of ancient Israelitish and Assyrian parentage who gradually occupied western and northwestern Europe, Scandinavia and the British Isles, come to have a “priesthood” who worshipped in groves of oaks; who practiced magic and soothsaying, divining and prophecy, and who were exempt from taxes and military service?

Though referred to as a “priestly caste,” they were not born to the office, but aspired to it because of its obvious benefits; power over the people, and money. “…Caesar’s account is as follows: On those who refused to submit to their decisions [they were the judges of their societies] they had the power of inflicting severe penalties.. .as they were not an hereditary caste and enjoyed exemption from service in the field [military] as well as from payment of taxes, admission in the order was eagerly sought after by the youth of Gaul” (Encyclopedia Britannica, vol. 8, p.597).

As we have seen, when Jereboam revolted against Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, he turned to idolatry, changed God’s annual Feast of Tabernacles into a different feast, held in the eighth month, in order to keep the northern ten-tribed Israel from making annual pilgrimages to the temple in Jerusalem. Calf worship was a natural for them, for it was commonplace among their neighbors, who worshipped some of the “host of heaven.” The first idol Israel set up was a golden image of the calf of an ox, or representation of a Cherub, under Aaron.

At the giving of the law at Sinai, God had said, “Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Eternal spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any beast that is on the earth...and lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them,… take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the Eternal your God, which He made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the Eternal thy God hath forbidden thee” (Deuteronomy 4:14-24).

God’s Word shows there are innumerable “hosts” in the spirit world, also referred to as the “host of heaven”; they include the twenty-four “elders” seen about God’s throne, the cherubim and seraphim, or the “living creatures,” seen by Ezekiel (Ezekiel I and 10) as well as countless angels. Only three archangels are mentioned by name in the Bible: Michael, Gabriel, and Lucifer. Lucifer was one of the original exalted archangels who became corrupted, rebelled against God, taking his one-third of the angels with him in his rebellion (Revelation 12:4-9; Luke 10:18; Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28). He was originally called “the anointed cherub that covereth” (Ezekiel 28:14).

As we learn in Ezekiel 1 and elsewhere, each cherub had four distinct visages; each appeared as if four separate creatures. They appeared as a man, a lion, an eagle, and an ox. Everywhere in ancient mythology; in the altars, religious inscriptions, statuary and icons, and in the writings of the pagan nations of the near and middle east, one finds the worship of these four faces of the cherubim. How did it all start?

Remember, God placed two cherubim to protect the way into the garden of Eden after Adam and Eve were expelled. For approximately one-sixth of all human history, those creatures guarded the way to the garden, frightening any who would venture too close. When the Israelites were told to decorate the tapestries of the ancient tabernacle with “cherubim,” Moses was given no instructions whatsoever concerning their visage. He already knew what they looked like. How many times, over a period of one thousand long years, generation after generation from the time of Adam, had sojourners, wayfarers, wanderers, attempted to enter the region where the garden of Eden was being preserved? After all, we are told God did not destroy it when Adam was expelled, but preserved it, guarded it with cherubim! It would not have been destroyed until the Noachian deluge!

An important principle to remember is that as tribal groups became scattered, more widely dispersed, knowledge suffered! The arts, sciences, literature, knowledge; these are found only among large concentrations of peoples in civilized groups. Some ancient mythology no doubt began as true stories, told innumerable times around the evening fires of scattered peoples. How many tales are there about dragons, huge beasts, giants and the like, who guard castles on remote precipices which are filled with inestimable treasures? What about Jack and the Beanstalk; Jack and the Giant Killer, St. George and the Dragon, and so many more? Are not these but modern versions of ancient myths—some of which may have originated with the tales of sojourners who had been turned away from the entrance to Eden by a roaring cherub, which may have appeared as a many-visaged beast, or a fire-breathing dragon?

The characterizations of these creatures are found everywhere in ancient mythology. The Sphinx of Egypt is a man-headed lion. The winged bulls on Sargon’s palace walls; at the gates of ancient Assyrian and Babylonian temples and public buildings, feature the head of an Assyrian king, the body of a huge bull, the wings of an eagle, and the claws of a lion. Sometimes, the entire bull is featured, and sometimes the lion, or the eagle, or the man. Man is supreme among all creatures on earth. The lion is called the “king of beasts” and has no natural enemies save man. The eagle is the absolute king of the skies. The ox is the largest, most useful of all domesticated cattle.

Ancient Egyptian monuments show many characterizations of mythological creatures which contain two or more features of the cherubim. When Aaron made a golden calf for the Israelites to worship, he did so because he was completely familiar with the calf-worship of the Egyptians; the worship of one of the four faces of the cherubim, the ox. Even today, the worship of domestic cattle is extant in one of the most populous nations on earth, India.

When Jereboam revolted, he “…said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the House of David: if this people go up to do sacrifice in the House of the Eternal in Jerusalem then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.

“Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold [Oxen! A representation of cherubim!], and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And he set the one in Bethel [House of God], and the other put he in Dan [renamed by the Danites from Laish]. And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship… and he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi” (1 Kings 12:26-31).

Jereboam’s “priests” were volunteers. “After this thing Jereboam returned not from his evil way, but made again the lowest of the peopIe priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places” (1 Kings 13:33).

One of the most enduring of all sociological phenomena is religion! Languages may change, customs, habits; people may emigrate from one place to another, but religion has a habit of enduring. Look at the ancient histories of Japan, China, India! See how their religions have endured for thousands of years.

It is not in the least surprising that the ancient writers found a caste of priests holding power and influence over the earliest, pre-Christian inhabitants of northwestern Europe and the British Isles who were volunteers, and not of any specific ethnic or tribal origin; who worshipped the symbols of the bull (Taurus); whose chieftains wore the horns of a bull (many archaeological finds substantiate this—the “vikings” used such, and it was common among ancient Celts); who worshipped in “groves” (asherah); who practiced the mysterious rites of the ancient Babylonish mystery religion!

“It is therefore not surprising that the people of Odin, the Asa, or Angles, should in their homeland in Ariana, in Asaland and also in North Germany, wear the horns of a bull as their headdress, either brazen helmets having the ears and horns of an ox or else actually wear the horns of one, as shown on pictures of Odin and his Asa or Angli” (Tracing our White Ancestors, Haberman, p.135).

Now, what were the “high places”?

When God sent the twelve tribes of Israel into the promised land, He knew they would encounter many pagan groups, including Perizzites, Jebusites, Hivites, Hittites, Phoenicians (Philistines) and Canaanites, among others. These peoples traditionally worshipped the signs of the seasons, astrological phenomena, animals and birds, symbols of the “host of heaven,” such as cherubim, and especially phallic symbols, and other symbols of sex, fertility, and reproduction. The Hittites burnt children to “Chemosh,” and “Baal” worship was prevalent among the Canaanites.

God warned Israel, “Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, [an “high place”] and upon the hills, and under every green tree [it was their custom to gather amidst “groves” of trees]: and ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars [upright columns of stone, or wood; sometimes, the trunks of trees left rooted in the ground, stripped of branches, and carved, representing phallic symbols], and burn their groves [they worshipped in oak groves!] with fire; and ye shall hew down [as in cutting down a tree trunk!] the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place” (Deuteronomy 12:2, 3).

Jereboam built “high places.” Throughout the idolatrous reigns of many kings of Israel, the issue of the “high places” was continually brought before them by God’s prophets, who condemned this idolatrous practice, and, with it, the practice of worshipping in groves of trees, called asherim. A single upright pale, or tree, was an asherah, coming from ashtoreth, which was “astarte” (silent “te” on the end of the word), among the Babylonians. The trappings of sex, fecundity and fertility were rife among the ancient middle-eastern peoples, and featured the symbols of the original goddess of the Babylonish mystery religion, Simiramus (Semurammut), the mother-wife of Nimrod, founder of ancient Babylonian cities. She was “Ishtar” (astarte, ashtoreth), pronounced “Easter,” to the peoples of the entire region. The origin of the yule log is wrapped up in the pagan mythology of Nimrod’s death and “resurrection” characterized by a fallen tree trunk, from which, according to pagan tradition, sprang up, overnight, a little green tree—an evergreen, which symbolized the risen Nimrod. Symbols of the egg (as in the orbs, bulbs, egg-shaped ornaments on “Christmas trees”) were worshipped as symbols of life. The lily was seen as a picture of the act of copulation, and revered by the pagans as a sign of reproduction.

Speaking of the many “high places” and “groves” in ancient Israel, Kitto says, “The system set up by Jereboam was partly an imitation of the national religion, partly of the idolatry of Egypt and Canaan. From this time we find the high places yet remained in use, the people still sacrificing and burning incense at them. It is said of Asa that he took away the high places [2 Chron. xiv. 5], but it appears that this reform was not successfully accomplished, at least in Israel [xv 17; 1 Kings vx. 14], of which he held cities [2 Chron. xv. 8; xvii. 2]. Jehosaphat, again, is said to have taken away `the high places and the grove out of Judah’ [ver. 6, comp. xix. 3]; but it seems that he was not fully successful, for we read in a later place that `the high places were not taken away’ [1 Kings xxii. 43] (Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature, Kitto, vol. II p 301, 302).

And what were the “groves”? The word in Hebrew is “asherah.” Kitto says, “The word asherah and its plural [asherim] [is] rendered in the A.V. [and is] constantly mentioned with high places. At first sight the common LXX [Septuagint] rendering, followed by our version, seems to carry conviction with it, from the connection of high places with worship under the trees, and the prevelance of nature-worship in Palestine; but a closer examination shows something of the character of an image must be intended” (Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature, Kitto, vol. 11, p. 302).

Kitto also says, “It must be remembered that the grove is constantly connected with Baal” (Ibid. p.302).

The authorities connect ashtoreth with the asherah, or groves of the ancient Israelites. Solomon, when he became an old man, left the worship of the true God and worshipped the gods of his many concubines and wives. God said, “For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with the Eternal his God, as was the heart of David, his father.

“For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites…then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon” (1 Kings 11:4-7). And who would have been on the scene—perhaps instrumental in carrying out the instructions to the builders, the artificers, stone masons, craftsmen, and casters of metals and hewers of wood? Jereboam! Jereboam was Solomon’s most loyal and trusted servant; the one to whom the northern ten tribes were given! Was it any wonder Jereboam set up high places; groves, asherah, and a low-level caste of priests who adopted the idolatrous rites of the pagans around them?

The ancient priests of the Babylonian mysteries were astrologers, as were the “Magi,” like, Simon, the Magus, who tried to purchase an apostleship from Peter (Acts, 8th chapter). Ashtoreth was the “queen of heaven” mentioned in Jeremiah 7:18! Notice, “Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven [Simiramus, Isis], and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.”

The cakes they made contained a symbol of the sun, formed by an X, like the solar wheel worshipped by Constantine. Among the Teutons of medieval times, these cakes were called after the symbol of “Taurus” the bull, and were called “bous,” or “boun,” for “bull.” The word “boun” is the origin of our English word for “bun,” and is seen today in “hot-cross buns,” baked and eaten on the day of “Ishtar” (pronounced “Easter” today, as then), in honor of the queen of heaven, whose symbols were fecundity and sexuality, like rabbits, eggs, and the lily. Since the Druids believed in the immortality of the soul, it was an easy transition from Druidism to so-called “Christianity,” especially when the newly-arriving “Christians” in Britain and northern France observed the days of the pagan Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, such as the winter solstice (the “Brumalia” of the Romans, and “Saturnalia” of the Greeks, on December 25th), with their traditional trees, commemorating Nimrod’s “resurrection,” yule logs, orbs and bulbs symbolizing eggs, and sexual reproduction, and especially the mistletoe, which was such an important feature of Druidism; that they also worshipped on “Ishtar,” at the Vernal Equinox, as a symbol of new life springing forth; baked cakes to the queen of heaven, used eggs, decorated with serpents, symbols of Taurus the bull, and in all cases observed customs familiar to the pagan Druids.

For centuries, the peoples of the lost ten tribes had retained the pagan religion of their forebears, complete with “volunteer” priesthood, worship in groves of trees and on high places; human sacrifice, astrological and magical rites, and the annual festivals associated with the ancient Assyrians and Babylonians.

The Druids were worshipping Ashtoreth, just as their forbears had done! Kitto says, “Ashtoreth is the name of a goddess of the Sidonians (1 Kings xi. 5, 33), and also of the Philistines (1 Sam. xxxi. 10), whose worship was introduced among the Israelites during the period of the judges (Judges ii. 13; 1 Sam. vii. 4), was celebrated by Solomon himself (1 Kings xi; 5), and was finally put down by Josiah (2 Kings xxiii. 13). [A king of Judah, long after the northern ten-tribed Israelitish nation had gone into captivity.] She is frequently mentioned in connection with Baal, as the corresponding female divinity (Judges ii. 13); and, from the addition of the words, `and all the host of heaven,’ in 2 Kings xxiii. 4 (although Asherah occurs there, and not Ashtoreth)… it is probably that she represented one of the celestial bodies. There is also reason to believe that she is meant by the `queen of heaven,’ in Jer. vii. 18; xliv. 17; whose worship is there said to have been solemnized by burning incense, pouring libations, and offering cakes” (Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature, vol. 1, p.242, 243, article “Ashtoreth”).

Speaking of the worship of reproduction in connection with this pagan goddess, Kitto says, “As for the power of nature, which was worshipped under the name of Ashtoreth, Creuzer and Munter assert that it was the principle of conception and parturition—that subordinate power which is fecunded by a superior influence, but which is the agent of all births throughout the universe…Ashtoreth was worshipped as the moon, and the transition from that to the planet Venus (which we will immediately notice) was unquestionably an innovation of a later date. It is evident that the moon alone cannot be properly called the queen of heaven; as also that the dependent relation of the moon to the sun makes it a more appropriate symbol of that sex, whose function as female and mother, throughout the whole extent of animated nature, were embodied in Ashtoreth [BAAL].

“The rites of her worship… in part agree with the few indications in the Old Test., in part complete the brief notices there into an accordant picture. The cakes mentioned in Jer. vii. 18, which are called in Hebrew Kavvanim, were also known to the Greeks… and were made by them in the shape of a sickle, [to this day, one of the most popular French breads is the `croissant,’ or `crescent,’ keeping alive this ancient practice] in reference to the new moon… The most prominent part of her worship… consisted of those libidinous orgies, which Augustine, who was an eye witness of their horrors in Carthage, describes with such indignation… In Canaan she was probably represented as a cow. In Phoenicia she had the head of a cow or a bull, as is seen on coins. Sanchoniathon states that `Astarte adopted the head of a bull as a symbol of her sovereignty’; he also accounts for the star (Cyclopedia of Biblical literature, Kitto, vol. 1, p.242).

Not so strangely, the Druids of Britain retained some of the practices of the ancient Levitical priesthood. For example, they constructed altars (these are found in great abundance all over Britain, Ireland, and northwestern Europe) of unhewn stone, because according to Druidic law, no axe could touch a stone intended for an altar of sacrifice. Why? Where did this prohibition originate?

Notice, “If thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar…” (Exodus 20:25, 26).

The best-remembered practice of the Levites was the ritual of sacrificing animals as a picture of the need for the shedding of blood to atone for sin. The Druids practiced the same thing! Remember, the ancient Passover included animal sacrifice, as well as a feast featuring bread and wine. Is it so strange that the Druids of ancient Gaul (France) and England practiced nearly identical rituals?

Study the histories of the northwestern European nations, and you will find again and again an admission of ignorance on the part of the foremost authorities as to the actual origin of the earliest waves of settlers who were called “Teutonic,” or “Brythonic,” or the “Belgae,” the “Gauls” and the “Celts.”

Notice! “As to the origins of this stock [the earliest inhabitants of France] we are again in complete ignorance and it would be idle to linger upon the many conjectures of migrations of an `Aryan race'” Encyclopedia Americana, vol. 11, p.718).

However, again and again the admission is made of a commonality of religion! “The inhabitants of Gaul had in common from the earliest times a national character and a religion…” (Ibid. p.718).

This same authority says, of the dogmas of the Druids of ancient France, “Among these dogmas…[was] the necessity for sacrifice, and, presumably, a universal God… a sacrament of bread and wine distinguished this cult, and a ritual holiness attached to certain objects and shrines, as the mistletoe among vegetables and the Grotto of Chartres among places” (Ibid. p.718, emphasis mine).

Please remember that any one clue as to the identity of the nations of northwestern Europe, the British Isles and the Commonwealth, and the United States of America, when isolated and studied by itself could hardly be said to be conclusive. Remember, the real trunk of the tree is God’s infallible promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the promise He made to David that of his seed there would not fail one to sit upon the throne that is to be Christ’s at His coming. However, when dozens of historical facts; facts from philology, ethnology, archaeology, history, and from religious history as well, form a positive picture which lead unerringly to the same conclusions, then those facts deserve careful study, not contemptuous dismissal.

The Druids wore priestly garments; the high priest wore a breastplate, exactly as did the ancient Levitical priests. After all, Jereboam’s selected and volunteer priesthood was merely a counterfeit, standing in place of the Levites.

And what of the Levites who were so dispossessed? It is perfectly logical that any number of them would have striven to attain to the new, counterfeit priesthood. Jereboam wished to interdict those Levites who would insist upon the worship of the true God, Yahweh, Yaveh, or Jehovah, as His name may have been pronounced, and who would insist on worshipping on His prescribed festivals, where He had placed His name, in Jerusalem. Any of the Levites who abandoned these tenets, and who joined the ranks of the volunteers for the priesthood would have been admitted, without a doubt.

British historians have been struck by the amazing similarity between Druidism and the rituals of the Levitical priesthood of ancient Israel. “Many other authorities have noted the resemblance between the Druidic religion and that of the Old Testament. To quote Charles Hulbert, a noted British scholar: `So near is the resemblance between the Druidic religion of Britain and the patriarchial religion of the Hebrews, that we hesitate not to pronounce their origin the same'” (Stonehenge and Druidism, E. Raymond Capt., p.75).

Is it so strange, then, that we find nearly identical practices and beliefs among the most ancient Britons and Irish as were instituted by Jereboam, and continued by nearly all the kings of ten-tribed Israel, which resulted in their expulsion from their land? And is it any wonder that later additions and refinements of the pagan worship of the northwestern Europeans bear strong resemblance to the worship of the ancient Babylonians and Assyrians; that they worshipped before the “winged bulls” (cherubim), and in “groves” of oak trees, revering the same pagan “gods” as Israel’s neighbors?

Remember, Israel and Assyria were driven out together. No wonder, then, the close affinity between the “Teutonic” races of northwestern Europe; the affinity between the “Dutch” (a philological derivation of “Teutch,” from “Teuton”), and the Germans.

Britain in the “Dark Ages”

Any student of history is familiar with the “dark ages.” The reason they are called “dark” is simply because there is such a paucity of information available, especially written information, such as histories, annals, chronicles, epics or sagas which would detail the life and customs of the peoples of northwestern Europe and the British Isles in those centuries prior to the Roman conquest.

For example, “Geologists are not yet agreed when and by whom Britain was first peopled” (Encyclopedia Britannica, vol. 4, p.583, article “Britain”).

The authorities agree that the “Brythons” and “Belgae” were among the earliest known inhabitants, and that they “brought Celtic civilizations and dialects. It is uncertain how far they were themselves Celtic in blood and how far they were numerous enough to absorb or obliterate the races which they found in Britain. But it is not unreasonable to think that they were no mere conquering caste, and that they were of the same race as the Celtic-speaking peoples of the western continent” (Ibid. vol. 4, p.583).

Concerning the origin of the word “Britain,” this foremost authority admits the word is an “anglicized form of the classical name of England, Wales and Scotland, sometimes extended to the British Isles as a whole (Britannicae Insulae). The Greek and Roman forms are doubtless attempts to reproduce a Celtic original, the exact form of which is still in dispute” (Ibid. p.583).

As was mentioned earlier, there are those who have insisted the term derived from “berith,” which is Hebrew for “covenant,” and “ish,” for “man.” If this is supposedly fanciful, let us re-read the above, and remember that the earliest Romans who came into contact with the “Celtic-speaking” peoples of pre-Christian Britain attempted to write, in their own tongue, an approximation of the name by which the early Britons called THEMSELVES! One may argue this way or that, and the matter will still be unresolved. However, there is equally as much reason to suspect those peoples may have retained such an expression as “covenant people.” Remember, the names of “Khumbri” and “Cimmerian” have been amply proved to be foreign corruptions of both “Omri” and, if not the same term, “Samarians.” In each case, these were names applied by others, and not the name these peoples applied to themselves. As an example, there is no such city in Italy as “Florence.” This is an anglicized word, and the phonetic sounds produced by Englishmen and Americans in pronouncing it bear only passing resemblance to “Firenze,” pronounced “Pheer-ERN-tsay” by the Italians. An American asking an Italian about “Florence” would be stared at in puzzlement—the Italian simply would not recognize the name.

Is there any significance to place-names? Of course there is! Men have always named cities, rivers, significant promontories and mountains, bays, estuaries, river valleys and other geographical locations after themselves or their progenitors.

“Heber” was the progenitor of the Hebrews. In many languages, the “H” was silent, and the “e” was given the long sound, hence, the “iber” (ee-ber) in the various Latin tongues. It is not strange that the earliest inhabitants of France and Spain were called “Iberians.” Even today, the peninsula of Spain and Portugal is called “Iberian.” It is the name of the Spanish national airlines. One of the most important rivers in Spain is the “Ebro” (notice the similarity to “Hebrew”). In the Arabic (Moorish) tongue, a wadi is a river, or dry rivercourse. The Wadi-al-kebir or river of the Hebrews became Quadalquivir, which is one of the main rivers of Spain. The seafaring Danites passed through Spain; explored its rivers, and left place-names.

We have already mentioned place-names like the major river systems of eastern Europe; the Don, Udon, Dniester, Dnieper, the Danube. Allen catalogues many, many place-names in England and Scandinavia which include the “dun,” “don,” “din” and “dan” sounds, some of which may be purely conjectural. Those who object to such comparisons strive to find similar sounds in other nations, of course, and to do so is not terribly difficult. However, the preponderance of evidence leans heavily toward the place-names of northwestern Europe and England as relating to the ancient Israelites, as they were known by others—and not necessarily, in every case, as they called themselves.

The very large area of ancient eastern England called “Northumbria” is unmistakably from the Khumbri, Kimriand etc., as the Assyrian captors corrupted the “House of Omri.” An important estuary on this coast is the “Humber.” “Wessex, Sussex and Essex” are merely West, South, and East “Saxons.”

It is futile to scoff at place-names, for historians admit to their importance. “Our earliest information about the land and its people is derived from geological, ethnological and archaeological studies, from the remains in British barrows and caves, Roman roads, walls and villas, coins, place-names and inscriptions. The writings of Caesar and Tacitus, and a few scattered notices in other Roman authors, supplement this evidence” (Encyclopedia Britannica, vol. 9, p. 583, article, English History, emphasis mine).

Attempting to trace the earliest known roots of the English language, one finds the following admission: “The Angles, Saxons, and their allies came of the Teutonic stock, and spoke a tongue belonging to the Teutonic or Germanic branch of the Indo-Germanic (Indo-European) family, the same race and form of speech being represented in modern times by the people and languages of Holland, Germany, Denmark, the Scandinavian peninsula and Iceland, as well as those of England and her colonies. Of the original home of the so-called primitive Aryan race, whose language was the parent Indo-European, nothing is certainly known…” (Ibid. p. 588, emphasis mine).

Time and time again, one finds the strongest indication that the birthplace of the peoples of northwestern Europe and the British Isles was in “Asia,” including the “Crimea” (from Gimri, Kimbri, Cimmerian, etc.) and the steppes of southern Russia; the region between the Black and Caspian seas—the precise region into which the ancient Assyrians and captive ten-tribed Israelites were driven by the Babylonian empire.

The Anglo-Saxons; Who Were They?

The disintegration of the idolatrous northern kingdom of Israel was not accomplished in a matter of days or weeks; not even in the course of several years—but over decades.

As early as the reigns of evil king Ahab and Jehu, many of Manasseh and Reuben, as well as those of Gad, were driven from their lands; others slaughtered. In comparatively recent times, archaeologists have confirmed the biblical accounts of the successive removal of ten-tribed Israel from their lands. Annals of Assyrian kings have been found and deciphered in which the names of ten of the Israelitish kings occur. They include Omri (called “Khumri” in the Assyrian tongue), Ahab, Jehu, Menahem, Pekab, Hoshea, Uzziah, Ahaz, Hezekiah and Manasseh.

One of the important finds was the “black obelisk of Shalmanezer,” which I have seen, and which is in the British museum. It is a block of very dense, hard black stone, completely covered with writing and pictorial scenes. In the second line from the top on one of its four sides is a figure kneeling before the Assyrian king and the inscription, “The tribute of Jehu, son [successor is implied by the Assyrian expression] of Omri [Khumri], silver, gold, bowls of gold, chalices of gold, cups of gold, vases of gold, lead, sceptre for the king, and spear-shafts, I have received.”

One of the very earliest removals of Israelites occurred before 800 B.C. Notice, “In those days the Eternal began to cut Israel short: and Hazael [king of Syria] smote them in all the coasts of Israel; from Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the river Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan” (2 Kings 10:32, 33).

This was prior to 800 B.C., yet, the bulk of the ten-tribed kingdom was not finally removed until 720-718 B.C., about 100 years later, another two to three generations. What became of these tens of thousands who were removed from sinning Israel so early?

Remember, God had said, “In Isaac shall thy seed be called.” Amos wrote, “Now therefore hear thou the word of the Eternal: Thou sayest, prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac.” The Syro-Phoenician name for these peoples was Beth-Sak.

Remember, the captive peoples were in no position to collect in centers of learning; to establish a highly-developed civilization, promote language, literature, the arts and sciences. Refugees do not concern themselves with erudition. The traces we find of the many tens of thousands of displaced ten-tribed Israelites are necessarily among the literature (which is exceedingly fragmentary) of their conquerors; of those peoples through whom they passed in their ever-westward and northward migrations. Bristowe, in his The Oldest Letters in the World, page 32, refers to the Tel-el-Armarna tablets, and their references to peoples who conquered Palestine under Joshua as the Habiru, Habiri, or Abiri, also calling them the Saga or Saka. The obvious corruption from “Hebrew” and “saak” or “Isaac,” is seen.

One of the most massive deportations of the Beth-Sak or the Sacae, as they were called, came when Tiglath Pileser attacked Israel in about 745 B.C. “In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbeth-maachah, [Able’s house at Maachah] and Janoah [Noah’s God] and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee [these included areas inhabited by Gadites, Reubenites, and Manassites] all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria” (2 Kings 15:29).

Amos said, “Behold, the eyes of the Lord Eternal are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth [Heb. ehrets, meaning land, partitively or commonly, not the whole world]; saving that I will not utterly destroy the House of Jacob, saith the Eternal.

“For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the House of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth” (Amos 9:8, 9).

Wandering Israel became intermingled with Syro-Phoenicians, with Assyrians, with peoples who were to later bear names given them by Romans, Greeks, and many others. For centuries, these peoples were in fact “sifted among the nations” as they wandered along the river valleys of eastern and central Europe until they came to the coastlands of northern Europe and the British Isles.

To some, it seems incredible that the United States could be “Manasseh,” for they point out that the citizens of the United States are a “melting pot” of many races. It is true, especially in the last half of the 20th century, that massive influxes of foreign refugees have come into the United States. Koreans, Vietnamese, Cambodians, Laotians, El Salvadorans, Cubans, Nicaraugans, Mexicans, Costa Ricans; those of dozens of races and nationalities have sought America as their asylum. But the original inheritors of the land during the establishment of the colonies and the subsequent massive migrations under such as William Penn were primarily from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Secondarily, they were from the Lowlands, Scandinavia, and from Germany. How many millions of Americans claim “Scotch, Irish and Dutch” ancestry? How many millions more claim British progenitors?

The point is, God was able to “sift through” the peoples of Ephraim to England and the commonwealth countries; to see to it, even as He promised, that “…not the least grain [shall] fall upon the earth.” That Americans have Teutonic, French, Dutch, English and Irish names, among many others, is not strange at all. The late General Dwight Eisenhower carried a German name; but he was not “German” either in his genealogical roots, nor his racial temperament. Millions of those of Judah, who are Jews carried German names; names like “Weiz,” and “Weitzman” and “Lieverman” and “Lieberman” and “Loeb” and “Gelt” and “Birnbaurn,” and “Bauer” and so many, many others. Yet, they were of the House of Judah, and were never “German” except in a political, nationalistic sense. Racially, they did not stem from ancient Assyrians, as do the core of the German peoples of central Europe.

No, Manasseh was contained in “holding areas” scattered throughout other races; intermingled just as God said they would be with their brethren of Gad, Asher, Zebulon, Reuben, Issachar, Simeon and Levi, and Ephraim. Furthermore, they were intermingled with their former Assyrian captors, the “Halmanni,” who because of their warlike nature, were called “spearmen” (“Teut-ons”) by the Romans. This later became “Teutonic.”

By 721, when Shalmanezer had carried away the final remnants of all of the ten-tribed House of Israel, there were tens of thousands of their brethren from various tribes (but all were “sons of Isaac,” since Isaac was Jacob’s [Israel’s] father) who had already been intermingled with the peoples of eastern and northwestern Europe, some nearly one hundred years earlier.

Of the final conquest of the remaining Israelites, Sargon II, who was Shalmanezer’s successor, had inscribed on his palace walls, “In the beginning of my reign I besieged, I took by the help of the god Shamash…the city of Samaria. Twenty-seven thousand two hundred and eighty of its inhabitants I carried away …I took them to Assyria and put into places people whom my hands had conquered. I set my officers and governors over them, and laid on them a tribute as on the Assyrians.”

As the Bible affirms. “And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel into Assyria. and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes” (2 Kings 17:5, 6; 18:11).

The river Gozan has been identified as the Uzen river which flows northward from ancient Media into the Caspian Sea. Israel was banished into one of the hintermost portions of ancient Assyria. It is likely that “Habor” was an Assyrian corruption of “Heber” just like “Habiri,” and “Iber,” and was nothing so much as a vast refugee camp which was given its name by the arrival of the wretched prisoners, rather than an established city of Media.

From Sargon’s own admission, they were not assimilated into the mainstream of Assyrian life, but sent into an outlying border area; more than 400 miles from Nineveh, capital of Assyria. There, they were expected to till the land, raise cattle, ply their various crafts and trades, and pay annual tribute to Nineveh. This was Assyrian custom. Conquered peoples were invariably deported to “labor camps” in outlying territories.

As you will recall, the rising power of Babylon finally subjugated Assyria, which faded into history. For centuries, the peoples of Israel and Assyria were intermingled in their migrations ever northwesterly. Of this period Haberman writes, “It was at this period, 700-600 B.C., that the Runic characters developed from the Phoenician script, which characters we find engraved in that region as far east as Lake Aral, where the Massagetai lived, and all across Russia to northern Germany, Scandinavia, England, and Iceland. In those Runic characters the sagas of the Saghs [`Saacs’] and Goths were written, the Gathas of Zoroaster and the Eddas of the Norsemen, which again are derived from the earlier Vedas of the Indo-Aryans. All of these ancient sagas, though considered today only as fictitious literature, contain the legendary lore of the heroes of ancient times, who were the forefathers of the Goths and Scythians, the Getai or Guti of Tyrkland or Turkestan, and the Saks of Sakland, south of the Caucasus. There in that region south of the Caspian Sea was the cradle of the so-called Nordic races, and there also the cemetery of ancient Israel. Where Israel disappeared from the pages of history the Anglo-Saxons and the Goths were born.”

The Encyclopedia Britannica, eleventh edition, admits, “The origin of this title [Anglo-Saxon] is not quite clear.”

Yet. the article, “Anglo-Saxon” in the eleventh edition goes on to say. “It is generally believed to have arisen from the final union of the various kingdoms under Alfred in 886. Bede (Hist. Eccl. i. 15) states that the people of the more northern kingdoms (East Anglia, Mercia. Northumbria, etc.) belonged to the Angli, while those of Essex, Sussex and Wessex were sprung from the Saxons (q.v.) and those of Kent and southern Hampshire from the Jutes” (Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th edition, vol. 2, p.38).

The term “Jutes” is from “Judah,” and is found not only among the pre-Christian peoples in the British Isles, but is found in the “Jutland Peninsula,” the name for “Danmark” on many maps, even today.

Of the Saxons, the same source says, “…a Teutonic people mentioned for the first time by Ptolemy about the middle of the 2nd century. At that time they are said to have inhabited the neck of the Cimbric [note the name; from “Khumri,”” Gimry,” “Gimiri” and “Cimiri,” as well as “Cimmerian”] peninsula, by which we have to probably understand the modern province of Schleswig, together with the three islands lying off its western coast” (Ibid. vol. 24, p. 264).

Admitting the connection with the “Angli,” the same source says, “it is doubtful how far the Saxons who invaded Britain were really distinct from the Angli, for all their affinities both in language and custom are with the latter and not with the Saxons (old Saxons) of the continent” (Ibid. vil. 24, p.265).

Wales and the Welsh

Throughout the British Isles, philological origins bear testimony to the fact that the ancient people who began their migrations from between the Black and the Caspian Sea; i.e., the steppes of southern Russia and the area presently inhabited by Ukrainians, Afghans and Iranians, finally arrived in extreme northwestern Europe, the Scandinavian nations and the British Isles!

One half of the tribe of Dan was wandering along these same routes with the others of the dispossessed Israelites, including members of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh (who bear the name “Israel” more than any others), Zebulun, Naphtali, Issachar, Reuben, Gad, Benjamin, Simeon, and many from Levi, who, while considered “Jews,” were dispersed throughout all tribal lands.

Also, remember the more than 200,000 Jews departed from northern Judah into the same lands as captives prior to the final capitulation of Judah!

Philology is a fascinating study! The origin of words and languages can be very cloudy and obscure; taking strange twists according to the customs of the peoples. While most Americans are familiar with “the `Apache’ Indians,” this was merely the name applied by other Indian tribes to a warlike group of Indians in the southwestern desert regions, and the term “Apache” merely meant, in the Indian tongues, “enemy.”

Actually, the word “Welsh,” from which the area of Wales in England is derived, merely meant “strangers.” It is a teutonic term applied to the people of Kymry, who were the last remnants of the “Kimmerioi” spoken of by Homer and of the Cimbri (Kymry) from northern Germany.

Saville says: “This name Kymri, or Cymry, as it is more commonly written, is in reality the plural of Kymro, meaning a Welshman, and the country of the Kymry is called by themselves Khymru, which has been Latinized into the well-known Cambria.

“The letter V in the Welsh language has two powers, and both these powers are active in the word Kymry. This letter `V’ sounds as `U,’ except when it stands in the last syllable of the word, and then it has the sound of the Italian `i’ or the English `ee’! Hence, the correct pronunciation of the country of Wales, or the land of the Cymry, in its ancient tongue would be as near as possible to the names Kumree, Khumree or Kumri.”

Who Were the Goths?

What traveler to Europe is not familiar with the pointed arches, soaring spires and baroque decorations of ancient cathedrals, castles, mansions and public buildings which are said to be “Gothic”? Yet, history tells us the term is a misnomer, which came to be applied to all architecture featuring a “pointed arch” rather than a rounded one, not unlike those of ancient Egypt, Assyria, and the Mideast.

History tells us the Goths were a people who allegedly came from ancient Sweden, poured into the central regions of Europe north of the Danube, finally came against the northern frontiers of Rome, and eventually reached as far as Asia Minor and Greece; conquered and sacked Rome, and had one of their kings sitting on the Roman throne. There is no doubt the peoples called “Goths” by others were in and around Sweden, but the assertion they originated there before spreading southward throughout Europe as far as northern Macedonia is much disputed. The island of “Gotland” off Denmark bears their name. At the height of their power, the Goths ruled over vast regions of Europe; one of their kings occupied the throne of the Caesars, and another sat on the throne of Spain, the richest part of Gaul at that time.

Yet, in but another 250 years from this time, when the Goths were the most powerful people in Europe, they disappear from history. What happened to them? Who were they?

A foremost authority says the Goths were “…a Teutonic people who in the 1st century of the Christian era appear to have inhabited the middle part of the basin of the Vistula…” (Encyclopedia Bnitannica, 11th edition, vol. 12, p.272).

The word “Teuton” was the Roman word for “spearman,” and was applied to those barbaric and warlike peoples with whom they came in contact north of their famous “limes” or lines of defense, along their northern borders, roughly following the alpine regions of central Europe. In later times, historians invariably refer to any peoples, irrespective of tribal distinctions, as “Teutonic,” if they come from the region occupied, at various times, by literally dozens of different tribal groups, or, contemporaneously, by many of them at the sane time; central and northwestern Europe. The word was corrupted into “toitch,” with the “t” giving way to a “d” sound, or “doitch,” “deutch” and so-on. The ancient “Teutons” with whom the Romans came in conflict are called those of “Deutschland,” or the “land of the Teutons” today. The origin of the word “Dutch” is obviously similar.

Some refer to the Goths as barbarians. Yet, they had a well-developed language, and their degree of civilization was remarkable. The Goths were probably not “barbarians,” except in their descriptions by others. Tradition says they came from ancient Scandinavia, and it is pointed out “Gotland” may have been named by them. In this is a peculiar item of interest. Of the name, “Goth” there is little etymology. The previous source says, “Gotones, later `Goths’ ” in reference to the name.

But notice the origin of our English word for “God.” The Germanic word is “Gott,” and the old Gothic word was “Guth,” pronounced “Goeth,” as with an umlaut. The “Goths” were a people who worshipped their concepts of “God,” or “Guth.” That they were pagan, rather than Christian, is well established. But remember that the Israelites under Jereboam worshipped golden calves. Jereboam, borrowing a line from Aaron at Sinai, said, “These be the gods, 0 Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.” The “gods” were the calves of an ox, or a representation of one of the four aspects of a cherub. Satan was one of the cherubs that “covered” the throne of God, originally (Ezekial 28:14), and the Israelites were worshipping the “host of the heavens,” rather than the true God.

The New English Dictionary traces the roots of the English word “God” back to two Aryan roots, both of the form “gueu,” one of which means “to invoke,” and the other “to pour.” The Encyclopedia Britannica says, of this word origin, “It has been also suggested that the word might mean “a molten image” from the sense of “to pour.” (Ibid. vol. 12, p.169, article “God”).

Was the word “Guth,” then, an obvious origin of the “Goths,” or the peoples who worshipped their concept of “Guth,” or “Gott,” which concept was contained in calf or bull-worship? The likelihood is impossible to ignore. For example, Alexander the Great pushed the peoples called the “Getae” (pronounced “Ghetay”) out of northern Macedonia, across the Danube (the river of Dan) and toward the Baltic Sea. Pytheas of Marseilles called them “Gutones,” but they called themselves Guita-thiuda, meaning, “The people of the Guths,” or Goths. In other words, the people who worshipped before the sign of the bull, or the cherub; the ox, who is found as “Taurus” among the Nordics. The horns of the bull are common among the peoples of northwestern Europe, particularly the Scandinavians and the Vikings.

The Gothic peoples were divided into many sub-tribes, not necessarily all distinct, but named, usually, by their neighbors or enemies. Some of them were the Gretungi, Teruingi, Austrogothi (Ostrogoths, meaning “Eastern Goths”), and the Taifali (Ibid. vol. 12. p.272). The Goths were heralded by all the other Teutonic races, and recorded in their annals and traditions. The literature from the Anglo-Saxons (Engle-Saaks, of the bull-worshipping “Saaks” or sons of Isaac) claims the supremacy of the Goths reached as far west as Holstein, one of the provinces of Germany just below the Jutland peninsula, and Danmark.

Researching all known literature concerning the origin of the Goths, one invariably comes across the earliest known mention of them, found in the memoirs of a traveler from the Greek colony of Marseilles. His name was Pythias, and he wrote about 300 B.C. about a people called the “Guttones” (the people of “Goot,” or “Gute”).

The single most important piece of literature coming down to us from the most ancient old English and Germanic language is the famous “Beowulf,” preserved in a single manuscript (now in the British Museum), written about A.D. 1,000. The epic poem is about the exploits of Beowulf, who is the son of Ecgtheow, and nephew of Hygelac, king of the Geatas (Goths). Of the etymological origin of the term, the Encyclopedia Britannica says, “Geatas, i.e., the peopIe, called in Scandinavian records Gautar, from whom a part of southern Sweden has received its present name Gotland” (Vol. 3, p. 758, article “Beowulf”).

The epic poem is a mixture of profane history and mythology, and includes many particulars of the “…history of the royal houses, not only of the Gautar [Goths] and the Danes [Danites], but also of the Swedes, the Angles, the Ostrogoths [eastern Goths], the Frisians and the Heathobeards…” (Ibid. p.759).

Who, then, were the Goths? They were a people of many tribes, occupying, over vast periods of history, lands from as far east as the area between the Black and Caspean seas; the Crimea and northern Greece; as far west as Spain and Normandy; and as far north as Sweden, Danmark and the Baltic shores, and all of central and western Europe! Did these people simply disappear? Far from it. Over the centuries, their language, which is one of the ancient tongues which gave rise to all the Teutonic languages, and English itself, gradually changed, as did old German, old English, and Gaelic, as well as others, falling into disuse.

Speaking of the origin of the Teutonic languages, the Encyclopedia Britannica says, …. a comprehensive term for a number of languages, most of which are still spoken at the present time, namely English, Frisian, Dutch, Flemish, German (both High and Low) and the various Scandinavian languages (Swedish, Danish, Icelandic and the Norwegian dialects). The course of time has tended very largely to obscure the affinities between these languages, and in several cases they have been mutually unintelligible for many centuries. In their earliest known forms, however, they betray the most unmistakable traces of a common origin. To the languages enumerated above we have to add the now extinct Gothic, which in the 5th and 6th centuries was spoken over a large part of Europe” (Ibid. vol. 26, p.673).

And who were the Teutons? They were “…a tribe of northern Europe, who became known to the Romans in the year 103 B.C., when, according to the Epitome of Livy, together with the Ambrones they reinforced the Cimbri [Gimiri, Gymri, Khumri, Bit-Humri, or house of Omri!] after their repulse from Spain by the Celtiberi.” (Notice the name: “Celt-iberi” where the Celts and the “Haberi,” or “Hebrew” are commingled in the identification of these peoples by the Romans.) “… Their name is Celtic in form, and many writers suppose that the Teutoni [merely a name applied by the Romans, meaning “spear-men,” not the name they applied to themselves] were really a Celtic tribe, it is possible that their name may have been preserved in that of the district called until recently Thyland or Thythsyssel in the extreme northwest of Jutland [Denmark]. (Encyclopedia Britannica, vol. 26, p.673).

There is no doubt many Israelites were at one time called “Teutons” by the Romans, even as they were known by many, many other names. After all, there were millions of them; tens of thousands representing ten different tribes, all to eventually inherit lands according to the ancient prophecies of God revealed in Genesis 49.

The “people of Saak,” or sons of Isaac came to be known by many different names over the centuries of their gradual migrations from their original land of captivity in the forbidding wastelands of northern Assyria; the region between the Black and Caspean seas. Notice the admissions of various authorities concerning the history of the “Scythians.”

The Egyptian historian, Herodotus, (iv. 142) wrote about the country over which the “Scythae” were lords as being the steppe from the Carpathians to the Don River, a part of Europe along which the migrating Israelites traveled, and a river which still bears the name of one of their tribes, “Dan.”

There are at least three different theories as to the identity and origin of the Scyths. In each case, they are linked with the “Cimmerians”; either because they drove the Cimmerians out of their lands, or because they were driven into the land of the Cimmerians. Herodotus said the Scyths ruled over the land of Media. Remember, it was into the land of the Medes, along the major rivers, over 400 miles northeast of Nineveh, that the captive Israelites were taken.

The Encyclopedia Britannica says, “The Assyrian evidence [concerning the Scyths] is in the main a confirmation of Herodotus, though most writers think that the Scythians who troubled Asia were Sacae from the east of the Caspean sea” (Ibid. vol. 24, p.527).

The Scythians were said to have been driven over the river “Araxes” (Gk., “Oxus,” referring to “the ox”) by a people called the “Massagetae.” The term merely means “the people of Massa.” Remember, one of the largest tribes removed from Israel, possessing a double portion of land, split east and west by the Jordan river, was Manasseh! And who were the “Massagetae”? Herodotus says they were an ancient warlike people dwelling beyond the river of the Ox. “Probably the name [Massagetae] denoted no ethnic unity, but included all the barbarous northeastern neighbors of thePersians [meaning the peoples between the Black and Caspean seas]” (Ibid. vol. 17. p.864, article, “Massagetae”).

Interestingly enough, the peoples known as “Scythians” by Herodotus had a tribal division he called the “Royal Scyths,” and who claimed dominion over the others! Historians divide the Scyths into various sub-tribes according to their way of life. The Britannica says, “Herodotus expressly divides the Scythians into the Agriculturalists, Callipidae, Alazones, Aroteres and Georgi in the western part of the country, and the Nomads with the `Royal Scyths’ to the east. The latter claimed dominion over all the rest.” Then, it is admitted, “The question arises whether we have to do with the various tribes of one race in different states of civilization, or with a mixed population called by foreigners after the ruling tribe” (En-cyclopedia Britannica, vol. 24, p.526, emphasis mine).

The point is that the people inhabiting much of Europe of whom later historians wrote are always said to have come from the “IndoAryan” regions of ancient Persia; the region of ancient Assyria and Babylonia! No matter the many names applied to them by Greeks, Egyptians, Romans and others, these were the peoples of Assyria, together with the peoples of ten-tribed Israel, whose identity gradually became lost, confused in history; peoples whose language underwent the same gradual changes as did the tongues of all other peoples over the course of time; peoples who were named by their enemies, neighbors, or by historians of other nations; peoples who worshipped the ox, and whose names contained clues linking them with the “Bit-Khumri” (House of Omri) as they were called by their captors; with “Dan,” one of their progenitors; with “Isaac” (Saka, Sacae, Saki, Saaks, Saxons, Saxones), and with other names (such as “Sarmatians,” a corruption of “Samarians”).

Haberman writes, “The Hebrew-Phoenician inscriptions found in the Crimea and vicinity indicate that the Saki, who left those inscriptions there, were not a heathen people and were conscious of their Israelitish descent, while on the other hand the mythology of the Goths shows that they were pagans. The enigma thus presented can only be explained by the fact that most of the Gothic sagas center around Odin, who, although made a deity in later years, was nevertheless a man and leader of the Aesir, Asen, Asa, or Asia men, whose capital was at Asgard in Asaheim, where his castle, the Valhalla, was located” (Tracing Our White Ancestors, Haberman, p.133).

Haberman proposes that the term “Asia,” which ultimately became attached to the entire continental mass from the Urals to the Japanese Islands, came from the bull-worshipping Israelites who dwelt, anciently, along the Black and Caspean seas. He points out that the first letter of the Phoenician alphabet (Hebraic in origin) is Aleph, and is depicted as the symbol of a bull. The people of the man Odin, who later became worshipped in Nordic mythology, were called the “Mighty Asa,” or the “Primary Ones,” or the “First Ones.” The Gothic runes contain the letter “A,” which was pronounced “Asa,” or “Ace.” It is likely that is the reason our modern playing cards contain a card called the “Ace,” which is the principal, or first, card.

Because the Hebrew “Egle” or “Engle” (ox) is linked to the symbol of “Aleph” (which was a bull), Haberman sees a connection to the pagan practices of the ancient ten-tribed Israelites, who worshipped the sign of the “Taurus,” or bull. He wrote, “It is therefore not surprising that the people of Odin, the Asa, or Angles, should in their homeland in Ariana, in Asaland and also in north Germany, wear the horns of a bull as their headdress, either brazen helmets having the ears and horns of an ox or else actually wear the horns of one, as shown on pictures of Odin and his Asa or Angli” (Ibid. p.135).

Who Are The Germans?

Who are the Germans? Can the modern German peoples be located in the pages of your Bible?

The identity of the Germanic peoples must, of necessity, deal with a question of race, not merely nationality.

Many nations are composed of two or more races; they do not necessarily encompass only one race of peoples.

The principal races in Yugoslavia, for example, are the Serbs and Croats; in Belgium, Flemish and Walloons; in Switzerland, those of Germanic, French and Italian descent; and in Germany, Thuringians, Hessians, Swabians, Bavarians, Austrians, and many others.

In order to identify modern peoples we must first establish the names under which they were known by ancient historians, and, even more anciently, the names applied to these same peoples in biblical histories and prophecies.

A passing acquaintance with some foreign languages is helpful. For example, there is no such word in the Latin tongues (Spanish, French, Italian, etc.) for “Germany” or “German.” To the Spaniards, Germany is “Alemania,” and a German is un Aleman. Actually, the word “German” was a name applied to the warlike tribes migrating from the region between the Black and Caspian seas into central Europe and meant “warlike” or “men of war.” Some of the other important tribal names applied to the Germanic peoples by the Romans were, “Hatti,” “Alemani,” (Halmanni) and “Saubi,” the “Casuari,” the “Quadi,” etc. (See Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th Edition, article “Germany.”)

Surprising claims are made in ancient German histories. The oldest city in Germany is Trier, allegedly founded more than twenty centuries before Christ. In a German textbook Indeutschen Landen, author Josef K. L. Bihl says, “The inhabitants of Trier maintain that their city is the oldest in all Europe.” He says, “Trier was founded by Trebeta, a son of the famous Assyrian King Ninus. Ninus stood for Nimrod, the founder of NINEVEH, capital of ancient Assyria. In fact, one finds… in Trier the inscription reading, `Trier existed for thirteen hundred years before Rome was rebuilt.'” Surprising?

But why? Remember, the footprints of mankind lead away from the Middle East! The spade of the archeologist always confirms and corroborates the biblical histories and divine record—never refutes it!

Every great modern nation represents sometimes multi-racial tribal groups who are descendants of the three sons of Noah: Shem, Ham and Japheth.

The “tables of nations” are found in the tenth chapter of Genesis. There, you will read of the children of each of the three sons of Noah; basically, you are reading tribal names which in many cases still remain indelibly stamped upon modern peoples!

You will notice that one of the sons of Ham was Cush (Genesis 10:6). Now, reading verse 8, “And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty hunter before [in place of] the Eternal: Wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Eternal. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar” (the land of “Shinar” is nothing else than the land occupied by the ancient Assyrians between the Black and the Caspian seas!).

The next verse is a little confusing in the King James English, but the marginal comment in the Oxford King James Bible clears it up, as do other translations. It should read, “Out of that land he [Ninus, or Nimrod!] went forth into Asshur [Assyria] and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah” (Genesis 10:6-11).

Nimrod, known in history as “King Ninus” was the founder of both Babylon and Nineveh! It is significant that German historians claim their most ancient city (pre-dating Roman times!) was founded by the son of the Assyrian king “Ninus”!

The ancient Assyrians had some outstanding racial characteristics. First, they believed themselves the “master race,” and believed that there was nothing more glorious than conquest by war. Assyrian kings and heroes were invariably shown in war chariots, astride horses, with the enemies over whom they had gained victory being trampled under-foot. Kings were shown accomplishing feats such as the subjugation of whole armies, or single-handedly killing lions and other beasts.

The Assyrians were the first builders of major, paved roads, not merely for commercial purposes, but with the specific purpose of logistical support of armies in mind! A network of paved roads led outward in various directions from the ancient Assyrian capital, Nineveh!

The Assyrians revered women, and were apparently the very first to use iron in their chariots (mechanized vehicles of war).

The Roman historian Pliny claimed the “Assyriani” (the Assyrians) inhabited the region north of the Black Sea (Natural History, IV, paragraph 12, p.183).

German historians are united in their description of an hostile, warlike people inhabiting central Europe who came into confrontation with the expanding Roman Empire, causing the Romans to build their famous “limes” (defensive positions and walls) and station legions along their northern borders to stop the advancing warlike hordes.

Histories of Germany are unfailingly unanimous in their description of these tribes.

Bear in mind that one of the most important names of the wandering lost ten tribes of Israel was bit-khumri (which derived from “Beth-Omri,” meaning “the house of Omri”) or other derivations of that name such as “Humri,” “Gymri,” “Cimmiri,” “Gymbri,” and “Cimbri.”

Please bear further in mind that you are reading these various descriptions in the English language, which finds its roots in the central European tongues of these very same peoples, including the Franks, Celts, Angles, Saxons, and others. Actually, “High and Low German,” Dutch, Old English and modern English all stem from the same basic origin—that of the Indo/European tongues of the aforementioned tribes.

Bear in mind, too, that we tend to identify various racial and tribal groups by the names attached to them by the most literate of the ancient civilizations with whom they came in contact.

Thus, it is to the Roman historian, Tacitus, as well as to others, that we are indebted for a description of some of these wandering tribes.

It is obvious that the dispossessed Assyrians, removed out of their lands between the Black and the Caspian Sea by the invading armies of the expanding Babylonian Empire, freely intermingled, during their wanderings and successive expansions northwestward, with the hundreds of thousands of their own former slaves.

Thus, it is no wonder that the Romans spoke of the invading tribes in central Europe as being two distinct groups of peoples, both the “Cimbri” and the “Teutons.”

Sabine Baring-Gould, in his book, Germany, (page 1) says, “These invaders called themselves the Cimbri and Teutons.”

Later, speaking of the modern Swiss peoples, Sabine Baring-Gould explains, concerning the bilingual and biracial character of Switzerland, “This is because two distinct races live together in Switzerland now, as they did one hundred and thirteen years before Christ. The French-speaking people represent the Cimbri and the German-speaking people represent the Teutons” (Ibid., p.2). Interestingly enough, even the name “Germany” and “Germans” derives from a name attached to these warlike tribes by the Romans. Baring-Gould says, “The Germans were so-called from the spears they carried—the name means `spear-men'”; (emphasis mine). The Romans, whose unaccustomed ears tried to translate into their own tongue the names of these fierce “Germanic” peoples, rendered the “Deutschen” as “Teutons.”

Actually, the “t” in their tongue could be pronounced very similarly to the “d” in English.

The Encyclopedia Americana, under the article, “Germany,” says, “In 113 B.C., when the first Germanic tribes, the Cimbri and the Teutons, attempted to break into the Roman Empire, the Germanic frontier became a major problem for maintaining the security of the Roman world.” It is quite logical that the displaced Assyrians, driven from their vast plains between the Black and Caspian seas, would be found wandering along the major river valleys, together with remnants of the “lost ten tribes” of Israel. 

But for all their wanderings and tendency to settle in areas where they were either adjacent to, or intermingled with each other, as the decades and the centuries passed, the linguistic, cultural, religious, social, racial, economic and philosophical differences of these peoples tended to cause them to settle separately according to their original old tribal patterns, and to avoid those of other racial stocks.

Of the mingled peoples migrating ever westward, the Americana states, “…Germanic tribes…with the exceptions of the Scandinavian tribes, settled for some time in the lands between the Rhine and Vistula but moved on to the west or south. The Anglo-Saxons (sons of `Saac,’ or `Isaac’s sons’) went to England, the Goths, and Vandals into Mediterranean countries, the Lombards into northern Italy, the Burgundians into the Rhone region, the Franks into Gaul (France)” (Encyclopedia Americana, article, “Germany”).

One of the chief distinctions between these wandering Assyrians, called “Teutons” by the Romans was their warlike character. In 98 AD., only 67 years after the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, Publius Cornelius Tacitus published his “Germania,” reporting them to be a “warlike people,” and stating that, “war was their chief industry.” In battle, he said, “It was considered to be a disgrace to have survived the death of one’s chief, and to have returned alive from the field. The height of loyalty, on the other hand, was to have defended, protected and supported the chief, and to have ascribed one’s own brave deeds to the leader, so that the tribal aspirations and goals were seen to be channeled into the will of one man, the chieftain. Even if one of the tribes sank into prolonged peace,” Tacitus said, “Its young men would seek service under some other chief who was engaged in war” (emphasis mine).

Tacitus also mentioned martial music among the German tribes, relating how “noisy warrior’s choruses” were utilized before and after battles.

The Americana says, “It is safe to assume that most of the German tribal songs were sung by pagan priests, and that they were chiefly choruses designed to inflame the martial spirits of the warriors.”

We know the Assyrians were great builders. Their magnificently-fortified cities, palaces and monuments and great statuary are among the finest of antiquity. That they were superb warriors; that they used the most advanced techniques of engineering and technology of their day in both their domestic industry and in waging war is also documented.

From such monumental achievements in building came Rawlinson’s conclusion that, “…the Assyrians had made considerable advances in mechanical knowledge and were in fact acquainted with most of the contrivances whereby heavy weights (as massive columns, building blocks and stones set in place with pulleys, etc.) have commonly been moved and raised among the civilized nations of Europe. (They possessed)… skill in the mechanical processes of shaping pottery and glass, of casting and embossing metals, and of cutting intaglios upon hard stones… the secrets of metallurgy, of dyeing, enamelling, inlaying, glass-blowing, as well as most of the ordinary manufacturing processes, were known to them” (The Seven Great Monarchies of the Ancient Eastern World, chap. VI, p.240, 241, Rawlinson).

The same author states that the Assyrians followed “… the practice of borrowing skilled workmen from the conquered states…” (Ibid. chap. IX, p.507).

The conclusion that the modern Germans are, in large part, descendants of the ancient Assyrians is not an hysterical indictment. It is not to say that the German people of today “glory in war,” or that they are waiting, poised, to hear the rantings of another Hitler to march off, lemming-like, soaking Europe in blood, to another horrible holocaust.

God’s Word says of Assyria, “Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so…” concerning conscious plans of conquest. However, in the same prophecy, “…but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few” (Isaiah 10:7).

There may be no such thing as the remotest dream, in the mind of a living German, that a reunited Germany, at the head of a future United States of Europe, could ever conquer the United States of America. But, even as many Germans understand, the current world situation is not the last chapter, either in European history, or in American history. The future will too soon be upon us.

Once you know the identity of modern nations in biblical language, it is comparatively simple to understand what Bible prophecy says will happen to them in the future.

Has America’s Pride Been Broken?

God said our people would experience a terrible weakening of, WILL; of the PRIDE of our power! Notice, “And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you. And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. And I will break the pride of your power…” (Leviticus 26:17-19).

That prophecy has already begun to be fulfilled!

We don’t know why we are. America has no great cause. There is not great goal toward which we unitedly press. There is no great single unifying bond, no common spiritual dedication, no deep, transcendental purpose for which we strive.

During World War II, we had the goal of putting an end, once and for all, to oppressive dictatorships and attempts by madmen to rule the world. Our goal was not only to “make the world safe for democracy, ” but to fight the war to “end all wars.”

We won the war—but we lost the peace.

There were progressive stages through which America’s pride was broken!

The Cold War; the Berlin Wall; the arms race; Korea; Gary Powers and the U2 incident; the Pueblo; Vietnam; Watergate; the Iranian hostage crisis, Nicaragua, and the “Contra” hearings, all played their part.

Following the return of the hostages from Iran, national attention was brought to focus by the media on the bitterness of tens of thousands of Vietnam veterans. Their sad homecoming from the most unpopular war in history to an indifferent public left wounds of the spirit perhaps as ugly as those of the flesh of patients in VA hospitals.

Vietnam veterans decorated with the medals of heroism, consigned to spend their lives in wheelchairs as helpless paraplegics, do not lightly return their medals as one last defiant act against government policies they could never understand.

Where went our patriotism? Did something kill it? Did it just gradually die? Patriotism is, after all, a deep, prideful love of one’s father country, a thankful appreciation for the freedoms and liberties bought at such a dear cost by the tens of thousands who paid the most horrible of prices. Patriotism is love of country. But, like the love within a tight-knit family, a completely patriotic American can become very, very angry at trends within his country. Parents, who dearly love their children, become angry when they witness the child making a decision they know will harm him.

Patriotism can never be blind flag waving, a flag-shrouded refusal to admit family difficulties, a blind determination to remain studiously ignorant of deep family sicknesses.

Most Americans have forgotten how to sacrifice.

We’re sick. Our greatest sickness is our stubborn refusal to acknowledge our own moral and spiritual poverty. To diagnose our many illnesses is to invite sneers from a rising number of superpatriots whose stock-in-trade is the big-business, chamber-of-commerce attitude of “let’s talk about what’s right about America.”

Fine. Let us do so. We are the greatest single power the world has ever known. We have risen to dizzying heights of technological development and scientific achievement. American footprints dot the moon. Our language, our culture, our products have girdled the globe. We have been blessed with the most fabulously rich piece of real estate on the good earth. Our standard of living has risen to opulent heights never imagined in the science fiction of yesteryear.

But where did we get our wealth?

Let Abraham Lincoln answer:

“We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown; but we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own…” (Presidential Proclamation, April 1863).

Those words are truer today than they ever were before!

That famous president recognized that our fantastic wealth was given to us directly by the Creator God. It came because of Abraham’s obedience!

The fabulous lands of our peoples, our mineral resources, our stands of timber, our sprawling grazing and farmlands, our coastlines, our strategic sea gates, our favorable climate—all were given to us by the God we—in this generation—have forgotten.

To understand what’s been happening to us, you need to look back as far as 1950, and Korea. We lost in Korea. Since then, we have lived through the Gary Powers incident, the Bay of Pigs, the Hungarian Revolution, the Pueblo, the years and years of the Berlin Wall, and a decade of horror abroad and frenzied protest at home over the futility of war in Vietnam, and the hostages in Iran.

We have lived through eight years of utter shamelessness, blatant hypocrisy, and moral degradation in the highest office in the land.

Just as Abraham Lincoln said, we forgot the God who gave us our liberties! We forsook the Creator who blessed and enriched us above all peoples who have ever walked the earth.

Our laymen plunged into materialism with greedy delight, and our churchmen gave them all their blessing, calling the breaking of God’s Ten Commandments a “new morality.”

And that God says to us, “…And if you will not yet for all this listen to Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.

“AND I WILL BREAK THE PRIDE OF YOUR POWER.”

It’s been broken. We don’t keep the Ten Commandments. Can you, in good sense, deny the connection?

“And I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass, and your strength shall be spent in vain…” (Leviticus 26:18-20).

We have spent our strength—oh, how we’ve spent it. We have wasted our energies, our vast wealth, our young, strong men—we have spent enormously, vastly, prodigiously.

And we have done it all in vain.

We have spent our homes and families, our farms and produce, our factories and their products. We have spent our time and our concern. We have spent dearly.

In vain.

Something terrible has happened to America. What is being destroyed is the keystone of a healthy, viable people. Some leaders have recognized what made America great.

Prosperity and Decay

President Eisenhower said, in his State of the Union message, Jan. 7, 1960: “America did not become great through softness and self-indulgence. Her miraculous progress and achievement flow from other qualities far more worthy and substantial: adherence to principles and methods consonant with our religious philosophy; a satisfaction in hard work; the readiness to sacrifice for worthwhile causes; the courage to meet every challenge to her progress: the intellectual honesty and capacity to recognize the true path of her own best interest.”

It was only a few days previous to this outstanding speech, which seems in retrospect prophetic, that the late economist, Roger Babson, said: “The test of a nation is the growth of its people -physically, intellectually, and spiritually. Money and so-called `prosperity’ are of very little account…

“Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, Spain and France all had their turn in being the richest in the world. Instead of saving them, their so-called prosperity ruined them.

“Our nation is now rated the richest, but it could easily become a second-class nation and head downward: Money will not save us. Crops will not save us. Stock exchanges and banks will not save us. Already our gold at Fort Knox is diminishing. Only a sane spiritual revival which changes the desires of our people will save us. We must be filled with a desire to render service, to seek strength rather than security, to put character ahead of profits. Even the democracy for which our fathers fought and bled could result in our downfall.”

It was only two weeks previous to these prophetic statements that another famous American, historian George Kennan, said before a Washington audience: “If you ask me—as an historian—whether a country in the state in which this country finds itself today, with no highly developed sense of national purpose, with the overwhelming accent of life on personal comfort and amusement, with a dearth of public services and a surfeit of privately sold gadgetry—with a chaotic transportation system… with insufficient social discipline even to keep its major industries functioning without grievous interruptions—has over the long run good chances of competing with a purposeful, serious and disciplined society such as that of the Soviet Union, I must say that the answer is `no.'”

Coming at the beginning of the 1960s, such words now seem prophetic.

The Moral And Spiritual Decline of Britain and America

From the beginning of the 1960s, both Britain and America began a toboggan-slide into spiritual and moral degradation. Our “cultures” began to drift toward more and more hedonism, materialism, and even nihilism. We abandoned those deep-seated patriotic sentiments of the war years, and embraced the concept of self satisfaction.

Every facet of our societies reflected our moral and spiritual decline.

Think of the incredible difference between the decades of the 30s, 40s and 50s with those of the 60s to the turn of the century. Back then, “Gone With The Wind” was banned in Boston because of Clark Gable’s infamous and daring use of the slang term “damn.” Today, millions flock to the theaters to hear “rap stars” mouthing hideous obscenities and blasphemies out of a mouth resembling an open sewer. His spittle-flecked, hip-gyrating, glazed-eyed screeches are laced with urging the killing of cops, or the raping of one’s mother.

Such “stars” (an incredible appellation for sputum and vomit) earn megabucks, and win the adulation of millions of adoring “fans” as they receive top-notch “awards” at Hollywood’s myriad number of award shows.

It all began with the Beatles and Elvis, who while outrageous to the older generation during their time, seem benign in retrospect.

A brief survey into the dramatic change from the big bands and “swing” to the “rock and roll” and “heavy metal” suffices to convince anyone of the plunge into the sounds of demonism and death.

Television, that one-eyed monster of sex, sadism, violence and inane “soaps” contributed massively to the moral and spiritual toboggan-slide. Britain led in the rush to knock down moral barriers, allowing full frontal nudity on television in the 1960s. America dutifully followed suit. Eventually, movie moguls were convinced they needed cautionary “ratings” for the never-ending flood of filth they purveyed. Along came “G” and “PG” and “R,” while “X” stayed in the sleazy movie theaters and drive-ins in the disintegrating pockets of communities long since taken over by pimps, prostitutes, drug pushers and gays.

Today, X and XXX have moved into American and British living rooms.

Now, the most hideous displays of perverted sexual activity from sodomy to sado-masochism are beamed to millions of living rooms from space, and available to 10 and 12 year olds on the family computer. There are no further restraints. Hedonism reigns.

Whether you review the covers of the various and sundry scandal rags available near every supermarket checkout stand, or the covers of the dozens of magazines in the magazine rack, you will see almost nothing but sex, sex, and more sex; who is divorcing who, who is having whose illegitimate bastard child, who has “come out of the closet” and pronounced he or she is “gay,” or the latest case of murder, wife beating, drug addiction, or pederasty. All this, of course, written about the “stars” who are worshiped at the box office and on television.

God says, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.

“Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these [saying “We are God’s People; This is God’s country”];

“For if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour;

“If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt:

“Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.

“Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit [witness many Supreme Court decisions on everything from abortion to school prayer to pornography].

“Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;

“And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? (Jeremiah 7:3-10).

Today, there are “gay” (read “perverted sodomites and lesbians) churches in America! Several of the most formal and staid old denominations have authorized the ordination of openly homosexual ministers and priests. Not only this, but openly “gay” men are in dome of the highest offices in the land. Read Genesis 19 for God’s attitude toward homosexuality. God produced a miniature Gehenna Fire to consume Sodom and Gomorrah as His perpetual witness against “abusers of themselves with mankind” (Romans 1:24-27). Now, even such American institutions as the Boy Scouts, traditional teachers of strong moral principles, are beset with legal moves to force America’s young boys to go on camping trips with homosexuals!

The youth of our country is being denied youthful innocence. Instead, they are plunged into the cesspool of pornographic slop, slime, swill and vomit forced upon them by the judiciary and legislative bodies of government itself, not to mention the incredible examples set during the 90s by the executive branch.

For decades, simpering apologists, leftists all, have argued that there is no connection between the non-stop violence and sexual promiscuity seen in movies and television, and now on video games, and violent crime.

Even when it is known that the video games of recent decades, such as “Dungeons and Dragons” and others which are (if possible) even more Satanic, were continually viewed and practiced by young boys who then attacked their own schools, murdering their own helpless classmates, the hair-shirted, breast-beating apologists whimper that there is no connection.

They are fond of pointing out that “many others play the same games, and they do not turn violent.” And so there are no restraints. Modern video games are in 3-D, appear REAL to the youngsters who play them. They see bullets splashing into simulated flesh, arms and legs flying in dismembering blasts, bodies twitching, blood oozing.

Then, distraught parents throw up their hands in pretended innocence and say, “I can’t understand it. I gave him everything he wanted! He was always such a GOOD boy!” Yes, they gave him all he wanted, but they did not give him discipline, nor did they teach him right from wrong! 

Think for a moment of youthful crime and suicides; of youthful alcoholism and drug addiction; of all the vomit-laden, garbage-strewn filth that is poured into children’s minds, and then think of the feminist movement, women “preachers,” women in government, and the incredible number of women voters. Think of all this as you read what your Creator God said through Isaiah about our societies today — both Britain and America: “As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths” (Isaiah 3:12).

Yes, it is “they which lead thee,” from judges to legislators, and from the clergy to the teacher who set the trends, display the examples, and work to expunge from Britain and America the last vestige of moral restraint. Millions want an orgy, and God is going to give it to them!

God inspired Ezekiel to write, “Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.

“Wherefore I will bring the worst of the heathen, and they shall possess their houses: I will also make the pomp of the strong to cease; and their holy places shall be defiled.

“Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none.

“Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.

“The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled: I will do unto them after their way, and according to their deserts will I judge them; and they shall know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 7:23-27).

You need not look very deeply into the trends in our societies in the last fifty years to admit to yourself that our peoples are deserving of these powerful indictments from God.,

When we are no longer worthy to inhabit our lands; no longer worthy of God’s mercy and protection; no longer fit to survive, God will PUNISH our heedless, God-defying, lawbreaking, hedonistic societies!

It’s not too late for Britain and America—not too late, yet, for inspired leadership, clarity of goals, unanimity of purpose, dedication to great cause, and collective sacrifice to push the world’s greatest single power into broad avenues of peace, into a bright new tomorrow, into a utopian era of the realization of man’s fondest dreams. It’s not too late for America to see the vastness of her wealth. It is not too late for a spiritual answer to our deepest problems of the spirit.

But it’s much, much later than you think!

The measure of a nation’s greatness is not its industrial capacity, not its natural resources, not its GNP. It is the quality of the character of its people.

America is losing character.

Is there any willpower left? Any spirit of sacrifice? Any dedication to great cause?

Have we forgotten how to repent?

Needed—National Repentance

Can you envision government leaders dropping to their knees in real heartfelt REPENTANCE before God, crying out to Him to deliver us from our awesome national problem?

“Ridiculous!” some would say.

And, because such a picture of national repentance is so “ridiculous” to even imagine, our peoples are headed for perhaps the greatest national punishment that ever came on any nation.

Notice this striking prophecy from the biblical book of Ezekiel:

“The iniquity of the House of Israel [our modern English-speaking peoples] and Judah is exceeding great and the land is full of blood [America leads the world in crime] and the city full of perverseness [our cities have become asphalt jungles of crime, immorality, drug addiction and sensuous pleasure-seeking], for they say, The Lord hath forsaken the earth, and, the Lord seeth not” (Ezekiel 9:9).

And isn’t that exactly what millions say today: “God doesn’t exist,” “He’s gone way off somewhere,” “He’s gone into retirement”?

But God is not in retirement. He really does exist. And He does say in His Word—the Bible—that He punishes people who are constantly breaking laws and bringing all the awesome problems we see everywhere around us today upon themselves. It does matter to Him how we live!

He says, “I… will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations [our national crimes and sins] and mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee” (Ezekiel 7:3, 4).

Does this sound a little vague—perhaps a little archaic—a little too much like some “Old Testament fire and brimstone”?

Don’t delude yourself! God is going to punish our peoples severely for our national and individual crimes and sins—unless we really repent—and turn to Him.

Our Own Ways

So far, God is not yet directly punishing our peoples. He is merely letting us begin to kill ourselves. He is letting us suffer the automatic consequences of our own ways. We abuse the earth He gave us: polluting our rivers and streams with pesticides and chemicals; killing the nutrients in the soil, striving by our own humanly devised mechanical means to produce crops.

God says, “Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee…” (Jeremiah 2:19), and “O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself but in Me is thine help” (Hosea 13:9).

Our Creator says, It’s not too late for Britain and America yet. We could still repent—and He would help us.

Notice the conditions:

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place… For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor; if ye oppress not the stranger [minority groups], the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood [brutal murders are commonplace in America today], neither walk after other gods to your hurt: Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your Fathers, for ever and ever” (Jeremiah 7:3-7).

Otherwise a national captivity and scattering of our peoples to the four winds is foretold in the book of Ezekiel, chapter 5, verses 11 and 12.

God says He’s willing if we are. He wants us to repent. He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11).

Prayer and Fasting

Can this nation follow the example of Abraham Lincoln? Continue with his presidential proclamation quoted earlier “…Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace [apparently Abraham Lincoln understood the real meaning of grace], too proud to pray to the God who made us.

“It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness:

“Now, therefore, in compliance with the request, and fully concurring in the views, of the Senate, I do by this proclamation designate and set apart Thursday, the 30th day of April, 1863, as a day of national humiliation, fasting and prayer… All this being done in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in the hope authorized by the divine teachings, that the united cry of the nation will be heard on high, and answered with blessings no less than the pardon of our national sins, and the restoration of our now divided and suffering country to its former happy condition of unity and peace.”

I wonder if a president today could get away with calling a national day of humiliation, prayer, and fasting?

There Is a Way of Escape

But, even if the nation stubbornly continues on its present course—does not repent—there is a way out for you personally. You as an individual can repent and escape the direct future punishments of God Almighty.

Yes, there is a way of escape for you—even in this modern age—if you’re willing to heed—if you’re willing to seek your God.

Read the 33rd chapter of Ezekiel. Read how God says any who will really heed the voice of His watchman will be protected from these perilous times ahead! Read His promises in Psalm 91.

True to the prophecies—the pride in our power has been broken. Unless we repent, it is only a matter of time until our nation will be broken, our cities destroyed, our peoples taken captive by powerful enemies we do not presently suspect.

The Time of Jacob’s Trouble

Irrefutable evidence absolutely proves that Britain and the United States are a part of the so-called “lost ten tribes” of Israel! Most of the peoples of Scandinavia and Northwestern Europe make up the remainder of ten-tribed Israel.

Utterly ignorant of our identity, most students of Bible prophecy are left with nothing more than wild speculations about the scenario for the future—blissfully unaware that the prophecies of Christ Himself concerning the coming GREAT TRIBULATION are directed PRIMARILY against the United States and Britain, then against Northwestern Europe, and the Jewish state in modern-day Palestine, called “Israel.”

The Great Tribulation is described as a time of terrible national calamities brought on by a myriad of causes—drought, famine, disease, crime, pollution, overpopulation, wars—a time when the military might of Britain and America will not save us from the most unthinkable disasters!

Millions of Israelites were slaughtered during World War II; Many Israelitish nations were subjected to enemy occupation, deportation, slave labor, unthinkable privation. Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, France—all fell before the Nazi armies, just as ancient Israel succumbed before waves of invading Assyrians seven hundred years before Christ. Finland was bled in a war with Russia. Britain suffered horribly from 1939 until the end of the “Battle of Britain,” and continued to lose men and equipment, was wounded so deeply, financially, that she would never completely recover, as a result of World War II. Following that great war, Britain began a slide downward. The once-proud British Empire was dismantled, and Britain became known as the economic “sick man” of Europe; finally joined the Common Market as an economic necessity.

The Commonwealth countries; Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada, though unoccupied and unattacked, except for the Japanese bombing of Darwin, and occupation of part of New Guinea, left tens of thousands of their sons and fathers to rot in foreign lands, or beneath the seas.

The United States suffered 407,316 deaths in the military; 670,846 non-lethal wounded, from Dec. 7, 1941 until Dec. 31, 1946. The cost to the economy was $360 BILLION!

At the end of World War II, the United States was at its zenith. She had 8,266,373 men in the Army, 3,380,817 in the Navy, 2,372,292 in the Air Force, for a total of FOURTEEN MILLION, one hundred ninety-four thousand, four hundred eighty-two in all services combined!

Yet, by 1946 the Air Force had shrunk to but 455,515; the Navy to 381,538 by 1950; the Army down to 67,784 by the same year.

Anciently, God said He would BREAK THE PRIDE OF OUR POWER if we did not observe His laws.

Today, millions of Americans have swallowed the fable that America is “the world’s only remaining super power!” They forget that MANY other countries possess the atom bomb, among them France, China, India, Pakistan and Israel. Suspected to possess nuclear weapons, or to be working on them, are Germany, Brazil, Iraq, North Korea, South Africa and Iran.

Many nations possess sophisticated ICBMS and IRBMS. Russia is still in possession of thousands of missiles and nuclear warheads, along with nuclear armed submarines. Ukraine instantly became a nuclear power when the USSR split up. China has purchases advanced AEGIS type cruisers and missile-carrying submarines from Russia.

Many nations have satellite-launching capabilities, among them Britain, France, China and Japan. Dozens of nations have nuclear reactors humming away daily, the by product of which is material used in producing nuclear bombs.

Many nations have deadly chemical and biological stockpiles.

Today, both Britain and the US brace themselves for further horrifying terrorist attacks. From the bombing of the marine barracks in Lebanon in the 1980s to the bombing of US forces barracks in Saudi Arabia in the 90s, and highlighted by the bombing attack against the USS Cole in 2000, the US has become aware of the virulent hatred of the Islamic nations against us. Because we have become a mentor and protector of Israel, we are termed “The Great Satan” by the likes of Iran and Iraq, along with other nations of Islam.

The truth is we are NOT the “world’s only remaining super power.” There is a major power forming in Europe which I have predicted for more than 45 years now, which will SHOCK its builders! It will eventually become a fully nuclear-armed “United States of Europe,” with an all European air force and army, and it will eventually OCCUPY THE MIDDLE EAST!

Bible Prophecy—A Warning!

One third of the Bible is prophecy. Jesus Christ was the greatest Prophet of all time. His famous “Olivet Prophecy” is the CORNERSTONE of all prophecy for the time of the end—the time of the GREAT TRIBULATION, the Day of the Lord, and the Second Coming of Christ to RULE all nations!

Armed with the knowledge of the identity of the modern nations of the United States and Europe, you can come to UNDERSTAND, at last, the overall picture of future events.

As we shall see, the prophesied GREAT TRIBULATION is to come primarily on JACOB! It is the “time of Jacob’s trouble,” meaning the time of great national trauma for England, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and the United States, as well as others of ten-tribed Israel. Remember, EPHRAIM AND MANASSEH were the recipients of the NAME OF ISRAEL! Dying Jacob (Israel) had said, “Let MY NAME be named ON THEM!”

Now, let’s notice the prophecies of Christ Himself.

The Prophecies of Christ

A partial understanding of Bible prophecy is possible without the knowledge of the identity of the Lost Ten Tribes. For example, a careful study of Daniel 2, 4, 7; together with Revelation 13, 17, 18 and Christ’s Olivet Prophecy gives an overview of world events in the immediate future, but only if one is armed with knowledge of the true meaning of the beast, the image of the beast, and the identity of the false prophet and the antichrist! Even then, one remains ignorantof how those prophecies will affect the United States of America if one is missing the most important KEY to prophecy; the identity of the United States and Britain!

The proofs concerning the identity of the world-ruling empires depicted by the fabled image of Nebudchadnezzar (Daniel 2) are too numerous to mention. Most Bible commentaries include ample references to historical sources correctly identifying the kingdoms of Babylon (the head of gold), Persia (the chest of silver), Graeco- Macedonia (the belly and thighs of brass), and Rome (the feet and toes of miry clay and iron). That Daniel could have successfully predicted the rise and fall of all these kingdoms, including the successive resurrections of the same system (the Roman Empire) down through the centuries, is one of the great testimonies to the inspiration of scriptures; the accuracy of God’s Word.

Today, millions of amateur theologians muse about the “beast,” leap to incredible, fantastic conclusions based on whimsical theories. Some think the beast is the United States. Some claim it is the Catholic Church. Some think it is a group of Jewish money-lenders involved in a vast conspiracy. Opinions and theories are rife, as Christ predicted they would be. “Many shall come in My Name, saying I am Christ [not necessarily that they are Christ, but that HE is Christ! “Preaching Christ!”] and shall deceive many!”

But the identity of the beast has never changed. The culmination of the ancient kingdoms was Rome. Its many revivals down through history are documented. A weak revival of the “Holy Roman Empire,” embodying the same races of the heartland of Europe as the days of the Hapsburgs and Otto the Great, occurred during World War II, under Adolph Hitler and Benito Mussolini, who declared the central European alliance the “Holy Roman Empire.”

The second beast of Revelation 13 is “lamblike,” that is, masquerades as a Christ-like organization, yet “spoken as a dragon,” that is, like Satan!

Bullinger’s Companion Bible includes a comparison between Christ’s Olivet Prophecy and the seven seals of Revelation. It can be proved conclusively that the “four horsemen of the apocalypse” represent the progressively worsening human condition predicted by Christ in Matthew 24. The white horse indicates false christs, false prophets; the rise of the final “false prophet” (11 Thess. 2) who will have the power to perform miracles; sit in the “temple of God, shewing that he is god,” and cause millions to “worship the beast and his image.” In other words, the white horse of the 1st seal means the unveiling of the false prophet and antichrist, at the head of the “Image of the Beast” (the Babylonish mystery religion) in the time just prior to the Great Tribulation.

The red horse is synonymous with Christ’s predictions of “wars and rumors of wars,” of the Olivet Prophecy. Bullinger correctly shows the exact parallels between the two prophecies; that the grey horse depicts famine, and the black horse death.

Christ looked beyond His time into ours; foretold the future, the time in which we live; the times just ahead of us! Even if one did not know the identify of the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel, one can be sure we are living in the biblically-prophesied “time of the end,” like the “day of Noah,” when all mankind pursues the passions of flesh; heedless of the catastrophes that lie ahead.

The difference is, those who know the identity of Israel know how their own people are going to be involved; they recognize the horrifying national punishments soon to come, and they are equipped to have a part in the work commissioned to give powerful WITNESS and WARNING to God’s people before it is too late!

Yes, millions know about the prophesied “Great Tribulation!” But those same millions do not know the tribulation is prophesied to fall upon the peoples of the HOUSE OF ISRAEL FIRST!

Let’s see the proof!

Christ said, “For then shall be GREAT TRIBULATION [a time of terrible trouble], such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matt. 24:21). An unprecedented time, absolutely unique in the horrors it shall bring, without parallel in all history! That means the Great Tribulation is a time of human suffering that happens ONLY ONCE! There are not TWO such times! Only ONE! Notice what that means!

At the conclusion of the longest prophecy in the Bible, Daniel 11, the archangel Gabriel said to Daniel, “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people [Israel!]: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book” (Dan. 12:1, 2).

Obviously, this great time of trouble is the SAME as the Great Tribulation predicted by Christ. There cannot be TWO such times, one canceling out the other—the description of the greatest time of trouble IN ALL HISTORY means the UNIQUE time of the Great Tribulation!

Now, notice! “Thus speaketh the Eternal God of Israel, saying, `Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.

“For, lo, the days come, saith the Eternal, that I will bring again the captivity [bring back the captives; return them from captivity] of my people Israel AND JUDAH…”

Notice! TWO DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PEOPLE! Israel, meaning ten-tribed Israel; the “House of Israel,” and “Judah,” the Jews!

But remember, Israel DISAPPEARED from history! They were NEVER brought back from the land of their captivity between the Black and Caspean Seas, but wandered across Europe, became lost to history in the centuries that passed. Today, the Jewish people have their own nation, “Israel.” As we shall see, as horrifying as it is to contemplate, a future captivity for the Jews is prophesied in your Bible!

Now, back to our scripture, “…and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.

“And these are the words that the Eternal spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah.

“For thus saith the Eternal; we have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.

“Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? Wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces turned into paleness?” Here, Jeremiah sees in vision people so shocked, so terror-stricken, that they are doubled over in pain because of the horrors their disbelieving eyes behold!

“Alas! for that day is GREAT, So THAT NONE IS LIKE IT…” Note that well! Once again, we read of the SAME TIME; the “Great Tribulation” prophesied by Christ; the SAME TIME described by Daniel; a time of trouble SO GREAT that it is absolutely unparalleled in all the earth’s history! And UPON WHOM IS THAT GREAT TIME OF NATIONAL TRIBULATION TO COME?

“It is even the time of JACOB’S TROUBLE…” (Jer. 30:1-7).

Ah! The time of JACOB’S trouble! And who was Jacob? His name was changed to ISRAEL! As he lay dying, he crossed his hands, as you have read, blessing Ephraim over Manasseh, said, “Let MY NAME BE NAMED ON THEM!” Among all the tribes of Israel, only Ephraim (Great Britain) and Manasseh (the United States) have the right to be called “Jacob,” or the “House of Israel!”

So the Great Tribulation spoken of by Christ; the horrifying time of Satan’s WRATH on the earth, is to come PRIMARILY AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES, and incidentally against the remainder of the lost ten tribes of Israel! Now, notice the remainder of this remarkable 30th chapter of Jeremiah:

“…but he shall be saved OUT of it [meaning Jacob; the U.S. and Britain, shall have to go through it, but shall not be completely destroyed; shall be saved `out’ of it!]. For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Eternal of hosts, that I will break HIS YOKE from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him…” (Jer. 30:7, 8).

And what is the time setting of this prophecy about impending national captivity for the House of Jacob; of Israel? “But they shall serve the Eternal their God, and David their King, whom I will raise up unto them!” (Jer. 30:8, 9).

Are the U.S. and Britain serving God, today? Is the nation of “Israel,” in Palestine, “serving God?” NO! The time setting of this prophecy is the SAME as that of Matthew 24, Revelation 6, and Daniel 12. It is just before the Second Coming of Christ; just before the time of the resurrection, when God will raise David, together with all His righteous saints and patriarchs who have died, to be caught up to meet Christ (1 Thess. 4:17) when He returns to this earth (Rev. 1:7; Acts 1:11; Rev. 19) to stand, in that same day, on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem (Zech. 14:4).

Now, whose yoke will be laid upon our peoples?

The Woman Who Rode the Beast

John saw, in vision, a great harlot astride a many-headed beast. Christ’s prophecies, together with those of Daniel and Revelation, leave no doubt as to the identity of this church-state system. Notice, “And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgement of the GREAT WHORE that sitteth upon many waters:

“With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

“So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

“And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

“And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (Rev. 17:1-5).

The woman is a great, universal, false church! She “sits on” a “beast,” meaning she holds sway and influence over the ten-nation union in central Europe. She CONTROLS the beast!

Clearly, the ten nations exist at the very last days of man’s governments on this earth, just PRIOR to the Second Coming of Christ! Notice, “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings [absolute autocratic power] one hour [a very short time in prophecy] with the beast.

“These have one mind [one policy; one purpose on which they are in complete agreement], and shall give their power and strength unto the beast [they will pool their national economies, raw materials, industry, and their military into one].

“These shall make war with the Lamb [they will assay to FIGHT CHRIST at His second coming — the time setting of this prophecy is impossible to ignore], and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:12-14).

It is necessary at this point to remind you of a critically important geopolitical FACT. Suppose, for a moment, that all that you have read about the origins of the United States and Britain is mere fantasy. Suppose that all history is askew, and that none of the facts concerning Dan, or Judah, or Ephraim and Manassah, really apply.

Then, REMEMBER! Jesus Christ’s Olivet prophecy concerned JERUSALEM primarily! It was uttered in full view of the world’s most famous skyline of the time, from the Mount of Olives, in full view of the Temple of Christ’s day. His prophecy was only “typically” fulfilled, as a preliminary forerunner, in 70 AD when Titus’ armies destroyed Jerusalem.

But the literal, end-time fulfillment is YET AHEAD!

Now, think! Do you believe for one moment that if Israel is attacked by combined Arab armies; if SCUDS and SILKWORM missiles come raining down on Tel Aviv, Haifa, Lod, and other Jewish cities; if chemical and biological weapons are killing HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of Israeli citizens, that the US and Britain will be UNINVOLVED?

It would be the height of stupidity to assume such!

You KNOW we would be immediately involved if the specter of the wholesale slaughter of Jews in modern “Israel” were to occur!

Daniel’s 11^th chapter shows that the BEAST power, not the US and Britain, will immediately descend into the Middle East like a “whirlwind” and OCCUPY all the nations from Lebanon to Saudi Arabia, including Israel and Egypt! Likely, this will be a move to PROTECT surviving Jews as much as it will be to STOP A MAJOR WAR FROM ENGULFING THE WHOLE WORLD!

But it will be in vain! Notice that “tidings out of the north and the east” bring news of a coming massive intervention by RUSSIA and CHINA! (Daniel 11:40-44). It is this finally great battle — called the “Battle of Armageddon,” which will bring about the heavenly signs and the Day of the Lord!

Remember, at the return of Christ, the Beast power, which will then be ensconced in Jerusalem, together with the great “false prophet” who is the ANTICHRIST, will attempt to FIGHT CHRIST!

This is an exact parallel of Daniel 2:44, and preceding verses, where God says the symbolic STONE (Christ) that is seen coming down from heaven like a meteor, smashes the ten toes of the great image. The image represents all the Gentile world-ruling kingdoms from the time of ancient Babylon down to the time of our modern age, the ten toes representing the ten kings (nations) of Revelation 17.

That great false church which has concourse with national governments is identified again in Isaiah 47. Notice it, “Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called, the lady of kingdoms.

“I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; UPON THE ANCIENT HAST THOU VERY HEAVILY LAID THY YOKE.

“And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it.

“Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:

“But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.

“For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me.

“Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not he able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know” (Isaiah 47:5-11).

Notice that it is the great false church, under the FALSE PROPHET, who is the antichrist, that CONTROLS the ten-nation combine that is to PUNISH our peoples!

And the principal nation that will be one of the ten? Read Isaiah l0! Notice what is says about the nature of the modern-day Assyrians! “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the REMNANT [There will be only about TEN PERCENT LEFT ALIVE (Isaiah 6:13)] of Israel, and such as are escaped of the House of Jacob [Ephraim and Manasseh], shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the Eternal, the Holy One of Israel, in truth!” (Isaiah 10:20). This is describing their deliverance at the time of the Second Coming of Christ!

Notice further, “And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and HIS YOKE FROM OFF THY NECK, and the YOKE shall be destroyed because of the anointing!” (Isaiah 10:27).

Notice, then, that the YOKE, symbolizing SLAVERY, captivity, is laid upon our peoples by both the universal church AND ASSYRIA, and that YOKE is in place until the Second Coming of Christ; until our peoples begin to “stay upon the Eternal,” and until “the anointing”!

Notice the following proofs concerning the CONDITION OF OUR PEOPLE at the time of Christ’s coming: “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

“And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

“The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim” (Isaiah 11:11-13).

“And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.

“And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt” (Isaiah 11:15, 16)

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

“In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

“Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that they shall no more say, The Lord liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;

“But, The Lord liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land” (Jeremiah 23:5-8).

Notice that the coming exodus from the NORTH countries will pale into insignificance the ancient exodus under Moses! Now, see the time setting of Jeremiah 3:17, and succeeding verses: “At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Eternal; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it [compare with Zech. 14:16-21], to the name of the Eternal, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after imagination of their evil heart.

“In those days the House of Judah shall walk with the House of Israel [NOTICE! TWO SEPARATE `HOUSES’; TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLES!], and they shall come together out of the land of the north [this never happened in history! Ten-tribed Israel had disappeared, in the main, long before the Babylonian Empire sacked Judah!] to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers.”

Finally, notice this prophecy: “…And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown [see 1 Cor. l5:50-52], and they shall come which were ready to perish in the LAND OF ASSYRIA and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, AND SHALL WORSHIP THE ETERNAL IN THE HOLY MOUNT AT JERUSALEM” (Isaiah 27:13).

Every time you encounter prophecies concerning ISRAEL and the SECOND COMING OF CHRIST, Israel is found to be in a state of CAPTIVITY, horrible slavery, privation, suffering, starvation! The time setting is OBVIOUS, impossible to ignore!

Not only is the modern nation of Israel in the land of Palestine to suffer YET ANOTHER TERRIBLE HOLOCAUST—SO SHALL THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND BRITAIN UNLESS WE REPENT, AND TURN TO OUR GOD!

God commands, “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord” (Isaiah 55:6-8).

Jesus Christ commanded, “REPENT, and believe the Gospel!” On the Day of Pentecost, Peter cried out, “REPENT, and be baptized, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit!”

To those who heed God’s commands; who accept the invitation of Jesus Christ, God says, “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I will also keep thee from the HOUR OF TRIAL [GREAT TRIBULATION], which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth” (Revelation 3:10).

David cried out, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust. Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways” (Psalm 91:1-11).

What about you? Have you settled the BIGGEST question of your life—what will happen to you in the future? Are you safe and secure in the arms of God; under His Divine PROTECTION? Make no mistake! What you have read in this book is truth! Read the many, many books in the bibliography! Study the voluminous amount of literature available which PROVES beyond the shadow of a doubt, our national identities! But remember, whether you believe the truth about our identity or NOT, the Great Tribulation is SURELY COMING!

The next world war will mean the use of NUCLEAR weapons; biochemical weapons like botulinis toxin, nerve gas, horrifying, unimaginable weapons! TENS OF MILLIONS will die! It is not a matter of WHETHER a terrible war will rock the world—threaten human annihilation—it is a matter of WHEN!

Thanks be to God for His TRUTH; for an understanding of prophecy: for His calling to be a PART OF THE WORK OF HIS WATCHMEN, preaching witness and WARNING to a sin-sick, dying world! May God give you the personal conviction to act on what you know.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

A History of the Habsburg Empire, 1526-1918

Heritage of the Anglo-Saxon Race (chart)

Illustrated History of Britain

Israel Identity Concordance & Chronology

Paul & Joseph of Arimathea, To Gentiles

Prehistoric London

The British Isles

The Palace of Westminster-Levitical

The Story of the Irish Race, All About Tara

Allen, J.H., Judah’s Sceptre & Joseph’s Birthright

Armstrong, Herbert W., The United States and Britain in Prophecy

Ashe, G., The Discovery of King Arthur

Bain, Robert, Clans & Tartans of Scotland

Barber, Richard, The Arthurian Legends

Bennett, W., Symbols of our Celto-Saxon Heritage

Blake, R., The English World

Bord, Janet & Cohn, Mysterious Britain

Campbell, The Anglo-Saxons

Capt, Raymond, Abrahamic Covenant

Capt, Raymond, Jacob’s Pillar

Capt, Raymond, Missing Links Discovered in Assyrian Tablets

Capt, Raymond, Our Great Seal, Symbols of our Heritage

Capt, Raymond, Stonehenge & Druidism

Capt, Raymond, The Scottish Declaration of Independence

Capt, Raymond, The Traditions of Glastonbury

Casson, Lionel, Mysteries of the Past

Cavendish, Richard, Prehistoric England

Chadwick, Nora, The Celts

Chant, Joy, The High Kings, King Arthur’s Celtic Ancestors

Comparet, Bertrand, Your Heritage

Coolican, Don, Story of the Royal Family

Cotterell, Arthur, The Encyclopedia of Ancient Civilizations

Cyr, Donald, Stonehenge Viewpoint

Debrett’s, Royal Scotland

Del Mar, Alex, Ancient Britain Revisited

Dickey, C.R., One Man’s Destiny

Elder, Isabel, Celt, Druid and Culdee

Fairbairn, N., Kingdom of Arthur

Ferguson, I.M., Heraldry of U.S.A.

Ferguson, I.M., Lifting up an Ensign to the Nations

Fox, J., The World’s Greatest Throne

Gaunt, B., Stonehenge, a Closer Look

Gawler, Col. J., Dan-Pioneer of Israel

Goodrich, Norman, King Arthur

Gottwald, N.K., The Tribes of YAHWEH

Gurney. Gene. Kingdoms of Europe

Haberman, F., Tracing our White Ancestors

Haggart, The Story of Lost Israel in Folklore

Hanson, Richard, Sonship & Israel

Harris, Leo, Israel in History

Heridson, Alf, Through the Ages, From 2000 B.C. to Present

Heslip, Who & Where are the Lost Ten Tribes

Hines, H., Identity of Lost 10 Tribes of Israel

Holand, H.R., Norse Discoveries & Explorations in America

Hoskins, Richard Kelly, Our Nordic Race

Jefery, K,, Northern Ireland-Divided Province

Johnson, Stephen, Later Roman Britain

Jones, Gwen, A History of the Vikings

Jowett, George F., Drama of the Lost Disciples, Early Israelites to the British Isles

Koppejan, Helen, Strange Parallel-Zebulon, Tribe of Israel-Holland

Kramer, S.N., Sumerians

Laing, Lloyd, Anglo-Saxon England

Laing, Lloyd, Celtic Britain

Laing, Lloyd, The Origins of Britain

Lawler, C.F., The Lineage of the Scarlet Thread Lewis, St. Joseph of Arimathea at Glostonbury

Maltwood, K.E., A Guide to Glastonbury, Temple of the Stars

Maltwood, K.E., The Enchantments of Britain, or King Arthur’s Round Table of the Stars

Milner, W., The Royal House of Britain, an Enduring Dynasty

Morgan, R.W., St. Paul in Britain

Newark, Tim, The Barbarians, Warriors & Wars of the Dark Ages

Olson, G., The Incredible Nordic Origins

Piggot, Stuart, The Druids

Powell, T.G.E., The Celts

Rand, Howard, The Covenant People

Ritchie, G., Scotland, Archaeology & Early History

Roman, C., Lost Discoveries

Rose, Dr. Anne, A Guide to Celtic Britain

Rowse, R., Heritage of Britain

Savage, Anne, The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles

Stoker, The Legacy of Arthur’s Chester

Stuart, Sir Ian, The Pedigree of King Arthur

Taylor, Gladys, Our Neglected Heritage

Totten, A.L., The Story of Old Glory

Waddell, L.A.. Egyptian Civilization, its Sumerian Origin & Real Chronology

Waddell, L.A., Phoenician Origin of Britons, Scots & Anglo-Saxons

Waddell, L.A., The Indo-Sumerian Seals Deciphered

Waddell, L.A., The Makers of Civilization in Race & History

Williams, How the Gospel Came to Britain

Williams, Brian, Britain’s Royal Throne

Wilson, The Northern World

Wilson, David, The Vikings & Their Origins

Wright, History of the World- Last 500 Years

Zink, David D., The Ancient Stones Speak

The Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association
P.O. Box 747-0747
Flint, TX 75762
Phone: (903) 561-7070 • Fax: (903) 561-4141

COPYRIGHT © 1984, 1994, 2001, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

PUBLISHED IN U.S.A.

 You may copy and distribute this information only to friends and family without changes, without charge and with full credit given to the author and publisher. You may not publish it for general audiences.

This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man’s word for anything, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible.

The activities of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association are paid for by tithes, offerings and donations freely given by Christians and co-workers who are dedicated to preaching the gospel according to Jesus Christ.

The post EUROPE and AMERICA in Prophecy  first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

For her part, the German chancellor claimed that controlling financial markets is their (Germany and the Vatican) number one challenge and their number one goal! None of this has seen any mainstream attention, and likely wouldn’t even if it weren’t in the middle of some of the biggest scandals in American history.

What makes a Catholic pope think he has anything to say about money one way or another? If you’ve noticed, government lately thinks it has all kinds of say over matters of conscience, matters with relevance to faith and the practice of Biblical principles. We’re all having our taxes applied to after the fact “contraception,” and gay nonsense, and anti-Biblical educational formats complete with socialist dogma. Our national leaders don’t seem concerned that their  socialist agenda conflicts with our Constitutional right to practice religion free from state interference.

But the pope attacking money? That turns the whole thing around and seems to make the temporal matter of currency and its exchange the business of the world’s largest “Christian” church. To be blunt, what business is it of the pope? And why would Germany participate in this ridiculous charade?

Everybody knows the euro is in big trouble. Europe’s southern nations have been spent into ruin, requiring bailouts and long term arrangements to make it appear that there’s some  chance the whole thing will somehow work out in the long run. But then again maybe not. When the euro’s German founder says the currency must be dismantled before further damage is sustained, you know things are bleak.

So the pope comes out to declare money is inherently evil, just as it becomes apparent the euro may well collapse. The incredible spending spree that has diluted the value of the American dollar is also placing our currency at risk. Who’s going to come to the rescue? The Vatican Bank, with some new unit that automatically credits papal authority with every transaction? It sounds just like something out of the book of Revelation.

Maybe the rhetoric here is getting a little ahead of actual events. But the reader will be reminded that the Church of God in general, and Garner Ted Armstrong in particular have been way ahead of world events for decades as we’ve viewed the succession of world events through the lens of Bible prophecy. The following article, written in 2001 shows that history and also shows that these new developments are right in line with the witness and the warning that is part of the commission of the church.

For more than four decades, I have warned that a “United States of Europe” would eventually emerge in the “heartland” of Europe, and that such an organization of states would loom as the most dangerous enemy of the United States and Britain. I have said that such a power would eventually move into the Middle East as a “peacekeeping” occupying power, and that a great world religious leader would intervene in the protracted struggle between Israelis and Arabs over Jerusalem.

All during the Cold War, I was preaching on radio, television, and before tens of thousands in live audiences that the eventual fulfillment of Revelation 17:12-14 would NOT necessarily occur as a result of the current move toward a united Europe of more than fifteen states; that it would NOT arise from the NATO alliance. Instead, it would arise from the shattered remains of the present attempt at a European union, just as Germany, like the fabled Phoenix, arose from ashes of World War II.

Also, I have said for decades that Britain would NOT be a member of the final ten!

Today, as the “EU” (European Union) slowly forms, all is not well. Various flagging economies and vast disparities in population and gross national product make the entire system appear as a shaky structure without solid footing.

Recently, Germany’s Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder demanded that Germany be given a larger say in things. He said, “I cannot agree (to) a system that gives Spain or Poland – just think of the relative gross domestic product – just as many votes as Germany, which has double the population.”

Consistent Predictions for Decades

When I first visited Germany, the signs of the destruction of World War II were everywhere. But, for all the many shattered and shell-shocked buildings I saw, I also noticed the incredible beehive of activity. I have read extensively about Germany; not only its fascinating history, but dozens of books about the rise of Hitler, Nazism, the Second World War, and the aftermath, when Marshal Plan dollars were pouring into Germany to rebuild.

During one trip to all the nations of Central America, I spoke with the regional sales manager for the Ford Motor Company. He told me “The Germans are coming in the windows down here,” and referred to the hardy little Volkswagens, which are air-cooled, and which held up much better than the Fords. There was a saying there, and in Mexico that “Ford” was an acronym in Spanish which stood for Fabricacion Ordinaria, Reparacion Diaria, or, Ordinary Manufacture, Daily Repair.

It was in Columbia where I first heard the slogan, “Other people work to live; Germans live to work.” When I learned that workers in Wolfsburg, the site of the only working Volkswagen plant shortly after the war, had literally broken up their furniture to get the furnaces going so they could produce cars for export; when I heard lusty singing in the streets out my hotel window in Dusseldorf at 5:00 a.m., and looked out to see dozens of German workers, singing as they carried their lunch pails to work, it made an impression.

In my many visits since, I continually marveled at the incredible progress being made.

Within the past few decades, Germany has risen from the ashes of defeat into a glittering, modern, powerful nation – the most vibrant, successful, powerful nation in Europe!

Back in the mid-1950’s, I knew this would be so. I knew then, and said so many times, that the eventual United States of Europe would include such nations as Poland, Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia (now divided into the Czech Republic and Slovakia) and the Balkans.

I knew this because of the history of the old “Holy Roman Empire” and the fact that the “Beast” power in central Europe had in most cases been a Germanic empire.

I had read about the Hapsburgs; about Otto the Great, and Bismarck. I knew the aspirations of famous German leaders down through the centuries; that they, as did Hitler, believed there was a kind of “Divine Destiny” for Germany to fulfill; that the Germans were destined to “save the world from Bolshevism,” as well as lead the world in “Christian culture.”

As shocking as it may sound, there were those among the German High Command in the closing moments of World War II who actually thought they could convince the Western Allies to sign an armistice in return for the Germans helping the Western powers to defeat Russia!

Among them was Herman Goering! The US and Britain refused all such overtures.

Some of the significant books which were published shortly after World War II included Fire in the Ashes by Theodore White; Fragebogen, by Ernst von Solomon, and Watcher Along the Rhine by Brian Connells, who was a 20 year veteran writer for Reuters.

Even during the depths of the Cold War, when well-known American televangelists were telling their audiences that RUSSIA (the Soviet Union) would attack Palestine; that RUSSIA was the “beast” of Bible prophecy, I was saying that the nations of Eastern Europe (and I named them all) would come out from behind the “Iron Curtain,” unite, and become part of a U.S. of Europe.

For decades, I said repeatedly that Germany would be reunited!

Now, all that has HAPPENED!

Watch, now, as more and more controversy erupts between leaders in NATO and those who want an all new German dominated “European Army.” Watch as Britain becomes more and more disenchanted with the EU. Watch as Germany begins to swing its weight around – using its economic and military strength to play a much larger political role  – not only in Europe, but in the Mideast, and in the world.

As recently as December of 2000, Britain’s Prime Minister Tony Blair was quoted as being very concerned about the “political impact of Germany emerging as the country with the biggest clout in the community [the EU] in the future.” Many Britons have a long memory. So do the French. When Schroeder spoke out about Germany having a larger role, the French Prime minister, M. Chirac, said, “It’s not possible to overturn the founding principle of the Franco-German pact, which was one of inviolable equality… the postwar leaders of France and Germany – De Gaulle and Adenauer – sealed a reconciliation agreement after a tragedy of wars, killings, atrocities and reckless conduct, and we cannot go back on that.”

Was he merely being hopeful; even plaintive?

Schroeder was adamant. He said, “We can’t have a situation in an enlarged union where Germany, with more than 80 million people, has only 10 votes, while 19 small states with fewer than 80 million between them, have 57 votes.”

All is not well in the present shaky EU. Eventually, you will see a global economic collapse; the rise of virulent nationalism; despots, dictators, and then the forging together of the final ten nations.

Speaking of the nature of the modern German people, Isaiah prophesied, “I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

“Howbeit, he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few” (Isaiah 10: 6, 7).

Democracy is still an “experiment” in Germany. Their natural tendency is to look for a powerful, magnetic, inspiring LEADER; a “Fuhrer,” who will rise up like a Bismarck or a Hitler, and lead them to their perceived rightful place – a pinnacle of power over all Europe, and eventually the world.

Millions of Americans are utterly ignorant of Europe; ignorant of European history, and of the prophecies of your Bible which detail a step-by-step series of events which will soon SHOCK this nation, and the world! For decades, I have said Watch Germany! The warning is even more poignant today!

You may copy and distribute this information only to friends and family without changes, without charge and with full credit given to the author and publisher. You may not publish it for general audiences.

This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man’s word for anything, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible.

The activities of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association are paid for by tithes, offerings and donations freely given by Christians and co-workers who are dedicated to preaching the gospel according to Jesus Christ.

The post Germany Europe’s Biggest Power first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Millions have heard a gospel “about” Jesus Christ, but they have NEVER HEARD the gospel HE BROUGHT to this earth, and delivered to His disciples! Jesus Christ came preaching the “Gospel of the Kingdom of God.” Few know WHAT He preached! As shocking as it may sound; as INCREDIBLE as it may seem, millions of professing Christians have NEVER HEARD the real Gospel!

How many times have you heard it? “If you will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart, you may be saved!” Thousands of times, in hundreds of radio and television programs each Sunday, and in thousands of pulpits across the land, people hear a story ABOUT THE PERSON of Jesus!

They hear His name praised; they hear about how He died to save sinners. All this is TRUE, of course, and there is nothing whatsoever wrong with telling ABOUT Jesus Christ, so long as you do not completely ignore the message He delivered to His disciples —the message He commanded them to proclaim and publish to all the world!

As astonishing as it sounds—millions of professing Christians who “BELIEVE ON” Christ (they really do!) have NEVER HEARD the message He BROUGHT!

Suppose you were expecting a message from a relative about an inheritance. Suppose a bicycle-riding Western Union telegraph boy came to your door, waving a yellow slip of paper in his hand. You then began to exclaim about what a “clean-cut, nice-looking young man” he was; commenting on his neat hair cut, and his clean and pressed uniform. You noticed how he had combed his hair, and that his nails were clean. You congratulated him on his mild, gentle manner. Then, you couldn’t WAIT to tell all your friends about the “nicest young messenger boy” you had ever met; what a fine example of a hard-working young American man he was!

But you utterly neglected to ask him about the MESSAGE he had come to deliver; a message that said a new and different GOVERNMENT would soon be set up; a message that said you were an HEIR to a FORTUNE BEYOND YOUR WILDEST DREAMS!

Wouldn’t you say such a scenario would be RIDICULOUS?

Why is it, then, that you have heard endless, repetitive stories about the MESSENGER who came to deliver a message, but have never heard the MESSAGE He brought? Like the familiar old hymn, “Tell Me The Old, Old Story,” the “gospel” millions have heard seems to them something old, something ancient. Those who believe they are hearing the “gospel” from radio and television preachers, or from the pulpits of local churches, hear about “Jesus and His love” again and again. They believe they are hearing a very old story; something that took place about two thousand long years ago.

Far from being only the story about Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, the gospel is the message He brought; the astonishing GOOD NEWS He painstakingly taught His disciples; the HAPPY ANNOUNCEMENT He commissioned them to take to all the world!

Believe it or not, the gospel Jesus Christ preached has to do with our day, now, and with the immediate future. The word “gospel” itself conveys afuturistic message; a description of the world in the next century, and on into the future for all eternity.

The good news Christ delivered includes the answers to the most perplexing questions confronting mankind: who are we, what are we, WHY are we here? Are we a conscious “soul” inside of an aging body; a “soul” which lives on consciously after the body dies? Do we live on a soul factory, where thousands of “souls” are coming into existence each day all over the world, as other thousands, whose bodies have died, are flitting up to heaven, or going down to “hell”?

Is God like an “absentee Landlord,” who set all this in motion, and then departed into the “great beyond,” or the great somewhere “up there,” having delegated to “St. Peter at the pearly gates” the task of welcoming incoming souls, while the devil dances with glee as he welcomes those who descend to “hell”?

The Good News About The Kingdom

If I were to write about the Kingdom of Great Britain, or the Kingdom of Holland, or the Kingdom of Jordan, you would know immediately that I am writing about a GOVERNMENT; a specific country, or empire; a king or queen; a system of law; subjects who live in that kingdom, and who are subject to that royal throne.

But instantly, when I speak of the “Kingdom of God,” it is as if the mind goes “tilt”! Suddenly, all is ethereal, vague, nebulous, “other-worldly,” spiritual, mystical, UNREAL! To most, the expression “Kingdom of [not “in”] Heaven,” as Matthew alone, among the gospel writers, expressed it, or the “Kingdom of God,” as Mark, Luke and John expressed it, is not real, but imaginary; fantastic; something that belongs in the realm of the surreal.

Few know WHY that is! There is a reason, however, and the reason involves a deliberate plot to obfuscate, pervert and distort the message Christ brought to this earth into a completely different message—”another gospel,” which is NOT the gospel of the Kingdom of God.

God’s Word reveals that a great arch-demon, called Satan, has deceived all nations with lies and impenetrable “mysteries,” thus wholly obscuring the clear, plain TRUTH of the gospel! God says, “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

“And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him (Revelation 12:7-9).

If you are a nominal Christian; Catholic or Protestant, you firmly believe that all Hindus are deceived! You believe Shintoists, Animists, Confucianists, Buddhists, and Orthodox Jews are deceived. Catholics believe Protestants are deceived, and Protestants believe Catholics are deceived. The point is, most people are willing to concede that a deceivedperson is a sincere person; that deception has nothing to do with honesty, integrity, or moral values.

To believe that another is deceived is to believe they are sincerely mistaken, not that they are a bad person. Notice! Paul wrote how he had not resorted to clever trickery or deception, as he preached the truth to the people in Corinth, but that he had “…renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the Word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

“In whom the god of this world [Satan!] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:2-4). The expression “are lost” is in the present progressive, or aorist tense in the Greek, and means “are being” lost.

Millions are deceived! They are spiritually blinded to the truth. Christ Himself said, in answer to His disciple’s query about His habit of speaking to the crowds in puzzles, “Therefore speak I to them in parables [puzzles; conundrums]: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

“And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

“For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them” (Matthew 13:13-15).

This plain statement of Christ is almost NEVER quoted from the pulpits of Catholic and Protestant churches. Why? Because it flies directly in the face of the underlying belief of all evangelicals; the underlying premise upon which they base their “old, old story” about Jesus! They mistakenly assume Christ tried to convert everyone He could. They assume He never turned anyone away; that he was trying to “get the world saved” during His 33 and one-half years on earth. Not so. Even His own disciples did not understand until AFTER the day of Pentecost, when they were imbued with the Holy Spirit.

Just prior to that stupendous event, they saw Jesus Christ for the last time on earth. He had appeared to them many, many times over the span of a month and ten days. Notice the account, “To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

“And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

“For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence.

“When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

“And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:2-8).

Notice that His disciples asked about the restoration of an Israelitish nation; the KINGDOM OF ISRAEL! They had no idea of a globe-girdling kingdom which would encompass all nations. They expected the restoration of the kind of greatness Israel had enjoyed before the death of Solomon—a kind of greater Davidian or Solomonic kingdom, extending from modern-day Syria to the Tigris/Euphrates River, to the Nile Delta.

For years, Christ’s disciples believed He would set up His kingdom THEN AND THERE! Many, many incidents during His three and one-half year ministry convinced them of it; at the feeding of the four and five thousand; at the overthrow of the moneychangers in the Temple; at the triumphal entry into Jerusalem; they believed He would cause a popular uprising, overthrow the corrupt Sanhedrin, expel the Roman occupying forces, and mount a throne. It was not until the miraculous manifestation of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost that they began to perceive the truly world-wide scope of their calling. Even then, they believed His kingdom; His earthly government, would be set up within their own lifetimes!

Even Paul thought so. He wrote, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:50-52). Paul said “we,” including himself and those who worked with him, as well as the brethren in Corinth.

We tend to think in terms of “then and there” when we read the Bible. The Protestant and Catholic churches have tended to make the “old, old story” an ancient one; a musty, dusty, “story” that belongs to the distant past—two thousand and more years ago. But you and I know we are living in the “here and now.” The trouble is, we rarely apply the scriptures in the same sense; realizing that the apostles were living in the “here and now” so far as their daily lives were concerned.

NEVER did Paul, Peter, John, Luke, or any of the New Testament writers believe they would all die—molder in their graves— while century after century passed; while the 4^th, and the 7^th, and the 13^th, and the 19^thcenturies dragged slowly on. NEVER did they realize that Christ would NOT return to this earth until early in the TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY!

Think how cruel it would have been had they known! Such knowledge would hardly have been calculated to inspire zeal, enthusiasm; an urgent zest for doing the work of God! Instead, it would have led to defeatism!

However, insofar as their lives were concerned, since they have been lying in their graves absolutely oblivious to the passage of time, the resurrection will occur, just as Paul said it would, and, in a “moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (so far as their consciousness is concerned) they will be in the Kingdom of God!

These men were, indeed, “young revolutionaries.” Just like millions in ages past; and so many today, who form cliques, parties, bands, militia, groups, juntas, clubs or gangs; just like misguided organizations who seek to overthrow incumbent governments, they believed they were part of something which would SET UP A NEW AND DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT very soon in their own lifetimes!

Their question, quoted above from Acts 1, absolutely proves it!

They did not ask about the centuries to come. They did not ask about far off lands; about Britain, or Spain, or Africa—they asked only about restoring the kingdom (government) to ISRAEL; to their native land.

Paul’s Message Was About The Kingdom of God

The apostle Paul continually preached about the KINGDOM OF GOD! Not only this, he preached the gospel of the kingdom from the Old Testament, which constituted the only scriptures extant during his day.

Christ had set the stage for exactly this kind of preaching when He instructed His disciples. Luke wrote of how the women and the disciples were reluctant to believe Christ had been resurrected, and how He expounded to them FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT all the scriptures about Himself; about His great eternal past; about His impending suffering, death, burial and resurrection; about His glorious second coming as King of kings and Lord of lords: Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

“Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:25-27).

Have you ever gone to church, and heard a modern-day preacher PREACH CHRIST exclusively from the OLD TESTAMENT? Christ did! Paul did! Peter did! John did! All the apostles, evangelists, pastors and teachers of the New Testament church did!

They did not possess a single scrap of the “New Testament” of the Bible until Paul wrote to the Thessalonians in about 52 AD. By no stretch of the imagination did they attach the importance of “inspired scripture” to Paul’s letter! Furthermore none of the other apostles were ever aware of such a letter, and very likely, not a single one of them ever read it! Yet, 1 Thessalonians, together with Matthew’s book of the gospel, comprise the first two pieces of New Testament literature!

Notice a few examples of some of the scriptures Christ used when He expounded to them about Himself: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

“Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:6, 7).

This prophecy about Christ was NOT “the first Noel,” or a beddy-by story about a “Little Lord Jesus.” It was NOT a syrupy, sweet, sentimental story ABOUT THE PERSON of Christ, but about His awesome POWER; about His great COMMISSION; about who He was; what He was; why He came; what He taught; why He died; why He was resurrected, and the fact that He is going to return to this earth at the head of millions of CONQUERING ANGELS to set up His WORLD-RULING GOVERNMENT!

Notice how Paul continually emphasized the Kingdom of God! “And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening” (Acts 28:23).

Just as Christ had expounded to His disciples about His great mission on this earth from the “law of Moses,” or the first five books of the Bible, as well as from Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and all the other prophetic books, so all the apostles did the same. Remember, these were the only “sacred books,” or “Holy Scriptures” extant at the time!

Under house arrest, awaiting trial before Caesar, Paul remained steadfast to his calling. Notice, “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,

“Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him” (Acts 28:31). Luke deliberately chose this phrase to close his lengthy treatise to his friend, Theophilus. These words were written in the latter 60’s AD, or about thirty years after the resurrection.

What Is A Kingdom?

As mentioned previously, none of us have any problem understanding when we speak of the “Kingdom of Great Britain.” Yet, when one speaks of the “Kingdom of God,” it seems all the spiritual deception and confusion comes into play. Not one out of ten thousand church-going professing Christians truly believe in, or expect, the establishment of a new world order under Jesus Christ right on this good, green earth!

Instead, they think of “going to heaven.”

But such is sheer nonsense, and will not stand the test of inspired scripture.

To constitute a kingdom, there must be a KING. The KING of His Kingdom, soon to be established on this earth, is Jesus Christ of Nazareth!

Remember the scripture in Isaiah 9 quoted above. Now, notice what Christ said to Pilate, when He was on trial for His life: “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

“Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice” (John 18:36, 37).

The Greek word “world” comes from the word cosmos, meaning “society,” or the worldly system. Notice Christ said His kingdom was not a part of “this world” THEN!

Now, notice John’s description of Christ at His second coming, as He vanquishes the armies of the Beast power which will fight His return: “These [the armies of the Beast] shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14).

Now, notice the description of Christ’s second coming: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

“His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

“And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

“And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

“And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

“And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:11-16).

How can ANY professing Christian doubt the plain meaning of this tumultuous, awesome prophecy? Christ is COMING BACK TO EARTH to RULE it with a rod of iron!

The KING of His Kingdom is Jesus Christ! The “good news of the coming government of God” is the same thing as “The gospel of the Kingdom of God.” It is not vague, nebulous, ethereal nonsense, but a powerful advance message about a super, world-ruling government!

A Kingdom Must Have Territory

The kingdom of Great Britain is no longer the “British Empire,” as it once was, but today is called “the United Kingdom.” It includes England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. A king rules over TERRITORY!

Christ’s Kingdom is not a nebulous “kingdom” in the “heavens,” as many imagine it to be. Instead, it is to be set up HERE on this earth!

Notice the prophecy of the archangel Gabriel to Mary, announcing the coming birth of the Savior of all mankind: “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

“And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

“And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:30-33).

Where is David’s throne? It is here, on this earth! Notice how God sent Nathan to confirm an unconditional promise to David of a perpetual earthly throne: “Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:

“And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.

“Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,

“And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.

“And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

“He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

“I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

“But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.

“And thine house [lineage; seed] and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever” (2 Samuel 7:8-16). With some of his last words uttered on earth, David said, “…yet He hath made with me an everlasting covenant…” (2 Samuel 23:5).

For an in-depth study of the perpetual covenant God made with David, and the astonishing TRUTH about the identity of the British Royal Family and the British people, as well as the identity of the United States in Bible prophecy, write or call immediately for your copy of Europe and America in Prophecy.

God promised David his EARTHLY throne would never cease! Christ is returning to this earth to inherit an EARTHLY throne! Notice how John saw, in vision, the very throne of God descending FROM heaven down to THIS EARTH: “And 1 John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:2-4).

THIS EARTH is the territory which will be ruled by Jesus Christ and His resurrected saints, who will then be BORN of God; changed instantaneously into SPIRIT BEINGS (1 Corinthians 15:50-52). Notice it: “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations [nations of human beings are on this earth, not up in heaven!]:

“And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father” (Revelation 2:26).

Jesus Christ continually spoke to His disciples of an EARTHLY kingdom to come. Notice His parable of the young nobleman: “He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

“And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

“But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

“And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

“Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

“And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

“And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

“And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

“And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:

“For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

“And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

“Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

“And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

“(And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)

“For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him” (Luke 19:12-27).

Christ is the young nobleman. The “far country” depicts heaven. His servants are given sums of money, analogous to talents and abilities; responsibilities and callings. Each is given responsibility according to his own natural ability. Notice that the reward is RULERSHIP over CITIES! Notice that Christ continually emphasized HIS RETURN to THIS EARTH—the servants did not go up to heaven!

As the saints cry out, Thou “…hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

“And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth“(Revelation 5:9, 10).

Read the entire chapter of Isaiah 11, which depicts conditions to become extant ON THIS EARTH during the millennial reign of Christ. Here are a few excerpts: “But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

“And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

“And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

“And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ [adder’s] den.

“They [ravenous beasts; predators; poisonous snakes] shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:4-9).

Later, God says, “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands [coastlands: margin] of the sea.

“And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble theoutcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from thefour corners of the earth” (Isaiah 11:11, 12).

Can anything be plainer? Again and again, in entire chapters of the Bible, we are told that Jesus Christ is going to RETURN TO THIS EARTH to rule it with a rod of iron for 1,000 years! Notice! “Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle [this is the great battle depicted also in Revelation 19, at the time of the second coming of Christ].

“And his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south” (Zechariah 14:3, 4).

Now, notice the prophecy about His disciples and His saints: “And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

“That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Luke 22:29, 30). These words were spoken by Jesus Christ during His famous “Last Supper,” when some of His disciples began arguing about who would be the “greatest” in His kingdom. Remember, they expected Him to set up His earthly government THEN AND THERE. They had no idea more than two thousand years would transpire before this prophecy would be fulfilled.

Christ, then, is the KING over His coming kingdom, and the TERRITORY over which He will rule is THIS GOOD, GREEN EARTH!

As an aside, there are many tens of thousands of Sabbath-keeping people who believe the earth will be totally “desolate” during the Millennium; believing that the saints will be “up in heaven” during that time, while Satan wanders about the “desolate earth” in violent rage.

They believe this because of a deliberate, calculated distortion of Scripture by a woman some of them held to be a “prophetess.” But God’s Word says, “If they speak NOT ACCORDING TO THIS WORD it is because there is no light in them.”

The pivotal scripture used by the lady in one of her major books is Isaiah 24. If you were to compare this chapter with the lady’s prophetic book about The Great Controversy, you would find one of the all-time classic examples of deliberate wresting of Scripture in order to make it say something it does NOT say, or to OMIT the portions which directly contradicted her theory! You need to read the entire chapter slowly and carefully! It declares God’s judgments upon the land of Israel, as well as other nations. Notice especially verses 3 through 6, which read as follows (I will include the numbers of the verses for your reference): “3 The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word.

“4 The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.

“5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.

“6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.”

Now, notice the same passage, with the portions highlighted in bold, which the would-be prophetess DELIBERATELY OMITTED in her attempt to prove a “desolate earth” theory:

“3 The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word.

“4 The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.

“5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.

“6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left”

Would YOU deliberately omit the words highlighted in bold type above? They include such phrases as “…the haughty people of the earth do languish,” and, “The earth is defiled UNDER THE INHABITANTS thereof,” and “…FEW MEN LEFT!”

Notice a few more verses from this same chapter, which were deliberately omitted by the would-be prophetess: “13 When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done.

“14 They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD, they shall cry aloud from the sea.

“17 Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.

“21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.

“22 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.”

This is most embarrassing, to see how someone would deliberately OMIT statement after statement in the sacred Word of God in order to cling to an assumed notion, and deceive readers! It is true that Isaiah 24 is a powerful and horrifying witness against God’s people Israel; that it shows great loss of life and destruction. But it does NOT show a “desolate earth” without a single inhabitant, and it does NOT show saints “in heaven” for 1,000 years!

How utterly DISHONEST it would be to place a period where a comma appears in your Bible, as in the case of verse six, where the lady ended her quotation with the word “burned” and OMITTED the phrase “…and few men left!” Did you notice the three little dots between the first quotation marks and the word “and?” Honesty in journalism REQUIRES those little dots to be inserted, which indicates to the reader that some preceding or succeeding words have been omitted. The three dots invite the reader to turn to the source of the quotation, and see what went before, or came after. To omit them is to pretend the remainder of the verse does not exist.

Now, notice the final capstone of the whole chapter, which refers to the heavenly signs (Revelation 6) to appear just before the Day of the Lord and the second coming of Christ: “Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously” (Isaiah 24:23).

The Great Tribulation occurs BEFORE the heavenly signs, and the heavenly signs occur BEFORE the Day of the Lord. Notice the proof: “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come” (Joel 2:31). “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken” (Matthew 24:29).

Therefore, the great events depicted in Daniel and the book of Revelation occur in the following order: (1) The GREAT TRIBULATION (Matthew 24:21, 22); (2) The HEAVENLY SIGNS (Rev. 6; Joel 2:31); (3) The Day of the Lord (Joel 2:1; Revelation 16).

God’s Word issues stern warnings against either adding to it, or taking from it. It is a GREAT SIN to deliberately TWIST SCRIPTURE.

Read again all the scriptures in this section which absolutely PROVE, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that Jesus Christ will set up His Kingdom ON THIS EARTH, and rule over the nations for 1,000 years with His reborn saints!

A Kingdom Requires Subjects Living Within The Kingdom

Time and time again, we have seen references to the SUBJECTS who will be within the TERRITORY ruled by Christ and His reborn saints. Many of the scriptures quoted above not only include statements about the EARTH being the realm of Christ’s Kingdom, but include statements about Israel, Judah, and many, many other nations.

Notice a few more references as to the SUBJECTS of the kingdom: “And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time [the first time was when He delivered them from Egypt] to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

“And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah [called the diaspora]from the four corners of the earth” (Isaiah 11:10-12).

Now, notice how ALL NATIONS will be forced to recognize the new, world-ruling government of God: “But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.

“And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

“And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

“But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.

“For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever” (Micah 4:1-5).

Clearly, this is describing the beginning of the millennial reign of Christ! It speaks of “MANY PEOPLE,” and “STRONG NATIONS,” not of “heaven,” nor of a “desolate earth!”

A parallel passage is found in Isaiah 2: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house [symbol for Christ’s new world-governing capital in Jerusalem]; shall be established in the top of the mountains [biblical symbol for nations; governments], and shall be exalted above the hills [lesser nations or governments]; and all nationsshall flow unto it.

“And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

“And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:2-4).

Today, a black veil of ignorance and superstition blankets the minds of tens of millions. Satan has deceived all nations (Revelation 12:9). Only a precious FEW truly understand the great purpose and plan of God. As we have seen, Christ spoke to the masses in puzzles, riddles, and “parables.” When His disciples asked Him about it, He quoted a passage from Isaiah the 6^th chapter, which says, “And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

“Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

“Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate…” (Isaiah 6:9-11).

The blanket of ignorance and deception will remain in place until AFTER the intervention of God in human affairs.

Perplexed by this prophecy, Isaiah asked, “Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,

“And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.

“But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof” Isaiah 6:11-13). This strongly implies there will be only TEN PERCENT of God’s people Israel left ALIVE by the time of the second coming of Christ.

A “tithe” of God’s people will be gathered, and settled on their “old estates”; Americans to America; Britons to Britain; Canadians to Canada; Australians to Australia. Notice the description of this time: “But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come.

“For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn unto you, and ye shall be tilled and sown:

“And I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it: and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be builded:

“And I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 36:8-11).

The expression “ye shall know that I am the Eternal” (from YHVH, or Jehovah) does not apply today, for MILLIONS do not truly know the Eternal, and they DO NOT KNOW that Jesus Christ of Nazareth was the member of the Godhead who said “Let there be light,” or who said, “Let US make man in OUR image” (Genesis 2:26 with John 1).

Notice how God shows the regathering of His people to their “old estates” in the beginning of the Millennium will result in their spiritual CONVERSION: “For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

“Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you” [symbol of baptism, and the “washing of water by the word”].

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

“And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

“And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God” (Ezekiel 36:24-28). Notice which kinds of LAWS will govern all the nations of the world when Christ sets up His millennial rule.

A Kingdom Requires A System Of LAW

Read again the thundering pronouncements of God through Isaiah (Isaiah 2) and Micah (Micah 4); how the LAW SHALL GO FORTH OUT OF ZION!

The “law of the land” for the whole world will be the TEN COMMANDMENTS, as magnified by Jesus Christ in His famous “Sermon on the Mount.”

There will be no further arguments, then. No bickering, arguing, debating, reasoning among men who strive to use the Bible to DO AWAY with God’s laws because they HATE THE SABBATH! Then, they will be FORCED to obey, and the penalty for sin will be imposed swiftly, and sternly, if men refuse to repent!

Now, notice how not only the WEEKLY SABBATH will be ENFORCED upon mankind during Christ’s government, but also the ANNUAL Sabbaths will be kept!

“And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.

“And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.

“And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

“This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles” (Zechariah 14:16-19). It does not matter who a person is; it does not matter their race, color, language, or religion, they WILL BE KEEPING THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES in Christ’s world-ruling government.

Notice what God says about His weekly Sabbath: “And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

“And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh” (Isaiah 66:23, 24). This horrifying picture describes the bodies of those who have broken God’s laws; who have resisted Christ at His coming. The expression “their worm shall not die” refers to maggots, feasting on rotting human flesh, which do not die, but become newly-hatched flies.

Notwithstanding the clever attempts to do away with God’s Ten Commandments by thousands of theologians who teach that Christ “nailed it all to His cross,” there is simply no getting around the fact that these Old Testament scriptures are plainly referring to God’s Ten Commandments; His weekly Sabbath (the fourth commandment), and His annual Sabbaths!

Review what you read earlier, from Isaiah 2 and Micah 4; how “THE LAW shall go forth from Zion!” By no remote stretch of the imagination does this mean anything but the holy, righteous TEN COMMANDMENTS OF GOD!

Notice some of the MANY scriptures in the New Testament which uphold God’s Ten Commandments: Jesus Christ said in His sermon on the mount, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Matthew 5:17, 18). To “fulfil” means to “do, or perform.” If you have an obligation to keep a promise; to fulfil it, you must do or perform the acts required by the promise, not abrogate the promise!

When a young rich man came to Jesus Christ to ask what he need DO to inherit eternal life, notice what Christ told him: “And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

“And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17). When the young man wanted to know which specific ones, Christ cited several of the Ten Commandments, making it clear exactly which law it was to which He had referred.

Millions of professing Christians—church-going, believing people—adamantly REFUSE to believe they must KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS! Their pastors have been deceived; taught by worldly seminaries that the “law has been done away!”

Read all the powerful scriptures listed above about how Christ will administer HIS LAWS; the TEN COMMANDMENTS from His future world capital of Jerusalem!

Do you think the One who GAVE the law in the first place—who was the One who BECAME CHRIST (read John 1 with Hebrews 1) would give His people a law which He knew He would CHANGE?

Would God put people to death for Sabbath-breaking in Moses’ day, and then CHANGE His law, allowing MILLIONS of people to break it today, and then CHANGE IT AGAIN, imposing it during the millennium? How utterly stupid would be such an assumption!

Let God answer: “For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch [this is the “Day of the Lord” just prior to Christ’s second coming].

“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall [depicting the return of Christ; His peaceful reign for 1,000 years].

“And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts [we already read how this will occur “from Sabbath to Sabbath” in the millennium].

“Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.” (Malachi 4:1-4)

These closing words of the Old Testament deal with the coming of Christ, and the establishment of His new world order! They command all mankind to REMEMBER GOD’S TEN COMMANDMENTS!

Did God CHANGE them? “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed” (Malachi 3:6). Paul wrote, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8).

Millions do not know the Bible definition of SIN! They do not know what sin IS. God says, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4).

The penalty for breaking any one of the Ten Commandments is DEATH. It is not the FIRST death, for it is “given for men once to die,” but is the SECOND death — death by Gehenna fire, from which there is no resurrection! It is total annihilation; destruction; BY FIRE! You have already read how the righteous who will be in the Kingdom of God will tread down the ashes of those who rebelled against God.

Paul wrote, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Here are two opposites! DEATH on the one hand, and ETERNAL LIFE on the other! But God will not save a single person He cannot GOVERN! We will either surrender our will to God; in unconditional surrender, becoming willing to OBEY Him in everything, or we will not be in His kingdom!

Notice how Paul held the law of God in such awe: “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good” (Romans 7:12).

John, the disciple who Jesus loved, was inspired to write much about God’s Ten Commandments, which he loved. He said, “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. (1 John 2:3).

“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4). Obviously, one who says “How nice it is to `know the Lord,'” yet refuses to KEEP THE VERY LAW HE WROTE WITH HIS OWN FINGER, is guilty of a great lie! You cannot “love Christ” Who WROTE THE LAW, and reject the law He wrote, or turn your back on the fact that sin is the BREAKING of that law, and that Christ died to SAVE SINNERS—those who BROKE HIS LAW! The very reason for Christ’s sacrifice was because of LAWBREAKING!

John also wrote, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:2, 3). What is “GRIEVOUS” about the command to love God; to have no other Gods before us; to honor and love our parents; to refrain from stealing that which does not belong to us; to refrain from committing adultery; to refrain from lying?

Each one of NINE of the Ten Commandments are BELIEVED by millions of professing Christians, even if they are not always followed. But the FOURTH commandment is singled out for special wrath! Millions absolutely DETEST the Sabbath day, calling it “Jewish!” To them, anything “Jewish” is an abhorrent thing, and the word is spat out of countless professing Christian mouths as an epithet. But Jesus said, “…The Sabbath was made for man [He did not say “made for the Jews”], and not man for the Sabbath:

“Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:26, 27). Which day, then, is “The Lord’s Day”? It is the day of which Christ is LORD! The SABBATH day!

David, a man after God’s own heart, said, “Oh how LOVE I thy law, it is my meditation all the day!” (Psalms 119:97). David, who repented bitterly when he broke God’s law, will be YOUR KING and mine in the millennial reign of Christ!

Ezekiel prophesied: “And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.

“And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it” (Ezekiel 34:23, 24).

God says that a fragment of refugees; the “remnant” of all the nations of ten-tribed Israel will be delivered by the intervention of God by the heavenly signs, the seven trumpet plagues, the seven last plagues, and the second coming of Christ! It will be a HORRIBLE time—a time when perhaps NINETY PERCENT of the populations of many nations will die!

God told Jeremiah to write this stupendous warning in his book: “For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah [bring them out of captivity again, for the second time], saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.

“And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah.

“For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.

“Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?

“Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it [“Jacob” is ISRAEL; ten-tribed Israel, as distinct from Judah, the Jews. They are to be saved “out of” the Great Tribulation, but they shall go THROUGH it].

“For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck [the “yoke” of the Beast and false prophet: Read Isaiah 47:5-11], and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:

“But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.

“Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid” (Jeremiah 30:3-10).

Can anything be BETTER NEWS than to hear that CHRIST IS COMING AGAIN? Can there be any more GREAT, ENCOURAGING, GOOD news than the Gospel of Jesus Christ; the “Good News of the coming KINGDOM OF GOD” which is to RULE this world for one thousand years?

And can you think of any greater promise than to be given an opportunity to RULE WITH CHRIST over nations such as America, Britain, Germany, Russia, China, and Japan? Notice! And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

“And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father” (Revelation 2:26, 27).

We must OVERCOME this evil world under Satan’s sway; OVERCOME our own human natures through the power of God’s Holy Spirit!

Peter commanded the shocked, frightened perpetrators of Christ’s death, “…Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

The GOOD NEWS Of The Coming GOVERNMENT OF GOD

The “gospel” is a message of great, good news about the coming intervention of God in human affairs! It is a “NOW” message about world-shaking events of such imagination-defying magnitude that it boggles the mind!

Christ’s Olivet prophecy, as recorded in Matthew 24 and Luke 21, speaks of massive earthquakes; of droughts and famines; topsy-turvey weather; of WARS and rumors of wars; of terrible religious persecution!

He said, “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet [the end of man’s civilization as we know it].

“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

“All these are the beginning of sorrows.

“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.

“And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another” (Matthew 24:6-10). Truer words were never spoken! We are now living in the time just before the events he depicted here; just before the remainder of this astounding, tumultuous chapter. He said, “And because iniquity [lawlessness — sin] shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

“But he that shall endure unto the end [either the end of his life, or the end of the age], the same shall be saved.

“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

“Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

“Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

“Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

“And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

“But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day [Christ would never have issued such a warning about the TIME OF HIS SECOND COMING if the Sabbath day were not STILL A COMMANDED Sabbath!]:

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:12-22).

How utterly DIFFERENT is the REAL TRUTH about the dynamic good news of the coming GOVERNMENT OF GOD to rule on this earth from the “old, old story” about the PERSON of Jesus Christ, while ignoring the message He brought!

Now, you have seen with your own eyes, in your own Bible, the real TRUTH about the gospel! It is the strategic plan for the future. It is the map for the 21^st century. It is the program of God Almighty and Christ His Son, to bring PEACE to this sin-sick, plague-ridden, war-torn, poverty-stricken, hate-filled world of Satanic confusion at last!

May God give you the gracious mercy to HEED His witness and warning, and to REPENT before Him. As Peter cried out, “…Save yourselves from this untoward generation” (Acts 2:40).

In the near future, Almighty God is going to INTERVENE in human affairs! He has commissioned His servants to proclaim that advance good news! It is a VAST message; one which explains the very purpose for human life; WHY God placed mankind on this earth; WHY Jesus Christ died for the sins of mankind; WHY He is coming again! All those who God calls are expected to HAVE A PART in that great WORK of preaching the good news to the world!

Are YOU one who God is calling? If you wish a visit by an authorized representative of the Intercontinental Church of God, which is in close affiliation with the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association, please call (903) 561-7070, or write or send E-mail to the addresses below.

You may copy and distribute this information only to friends and family without changes, without charge and with full credit given to the author and publisher. You may not publish it for general audiences.

This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man’s word for anything, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible.

The activities of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association are paid for by tithes, offerings and donations freely given by Christians and co-workers who are dedicated to preaching the gospel according to Jesus Christ.

The post The Gospel… A Message for the Next Millennium first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

But when? He said, “For then…,” referring to the globe girdling events of His famous Olivet prophecy He had just explained to His disciples. He had spoken of drought, famine, wars, religious persecution, disease epidemics, and earthquakes—of nature in chaos, and nations struggling in massive wars. Are we about to enter that terrible time? Just where are we, now, in Bible prophecy?

What is going on? The news reports we receive daily are about a never-ending series of floods, drought, famines, wars, terrorism, arson, racism, crime, drug abuse, murder—a horrifying tale of human tragedies—accounts of man’s inhumanity to man, and nature in chaos!

Governments are in upheaval in Korea, Japan, Russia, Thailand, and many other countries.

The narrow victory of Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel immediately triggered renewed vicious terrorist attacks in Southern Lebanon and Israel. Hezbollah guerrillas ambushed an Israeli army patrol, killing five young men, and injuring eight others. A man and wife, recent immigrants to Israel from Russia, were machine-gunned to death in their car north of Jerusalem.

Major weekly news magazines at home and abroad trumpeted warnings that the peace process was dead. Netanyahu’s narrow victory was a severe setback to the Clinton administration, which had heavily backed Shimon Perez.

Major Arab summits take place, and in the immediate aftermath, the largest terrorist bomb in history shatters a U.S. Air Force building in Saudi Arabia, killing nineteen young Americans, injuring hundreds more!

Are we in the beginning stages of the Great Tribulation Jesus prophesied?

One thing is sure. We are living in frightening times! Jesus Christ astonished His disciples when He foretold the complete destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. When they came to Him privately, atop the Mount of Olives, they asked Him, “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the [age]?” (Matthew 24:3).

Many suppose Jesus talked about the end of the world. He did not. He specifically promised mankind would not perish from the earth (Matthew 24:22), but that God would cut short the horrible time of world wars and the threat of nuclear annihilation.

What Christ talked about was the end of civilization as we know it. The Greek word means “age,” or the “cosmos,” the societies of man.

They did not ask only about the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, but about the sign of His coming, and of the end of the age!

Jesus then gave them the most important prophecy in all the Bible the Olivet prophecy. It is lengthy, detailed, specific!

Millions “believe on” Jesus Christ. Millions claim Him as their Lord and Savior. Yet, many do not believe what He said; they do not believe Christ!

Like a newscaster Who looked far beyond His time, down into our time, now, Jesus Christ foretold the major events which would rock the world, ending in the time of God’s intervention through the Tribulation, Heavenly Signs, and Day of the Lord. 

Religious Deception

First, He predicted religious deception. He said, “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in My name, saying I am Christ; and shall deceive many” (Matthew 24:5). He elaborated on this prophecy as He continued, saying, “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many,” and, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:11,24).

Today, there are thousands who preach “in the name of Jesus.” Millions believe their messages; believe they are “saved” if they only believe on Jesus Christ. At the same time, they do not believe they must obey Christ, or believe what He said!

Christ’s warning about false ministers was not only for the time in which we live. From the very beginning of the New Testament church, there have been false Christs and false prophets. Today, complete religious confusion reigns. Hundreds of disagreeing denominations and thousands of small, independent churches all claim to preach only the truth. Yet, each disagrees with all the others.

Churches and religious organizations divide, split, then divide again. New churches spring up. This is true in every religion, from Judaism to Islam, from Buddhism to nominal Christianity.

Religion generally is a babylon of confusion, with thousands of sincere searchers wondering, “Where is the true church today?” Many wonder if Daniel’s prophecy is occurring right now; if a “falling away” (2 Thessalonians. 2:3) is taking place. Daniel wrote, “and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be accomplished” (Daniel 12:7). This was in response to Daniel’s question to a powerful angel, “How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?”

Daniel was asking, just as many of us are asking today, about the Great Tribulation.

The heavenly messenger had said, “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time” (Daniel 12:1).

The duration of this great time, which is the exact same time as the “Great Tribulation” spoken of by Jesus Christ, is “a time, times, and an half” (Daniel 12:7), or three and one-half years.

The tribulation upon Israel is to last for three and one-half years. Jerusalem shall be “trodden down of the Gentiles” for three and one-half years, and the ministry of the two witnesses (Revelation 11) is to last for three and one-half years.

Obviously, once the Great Tribulation begins, this world is only about three and one-half years away from the second coming of Christ!

Jesus said, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matthew 24:36).

On the one hand, Christ went to great lengths to explain to His disciples the general trends and conditions on earth prior to His second coming. On the other hand, He said we cannot know the exact time.

He said people would be living life as usual; unaware, oblivious to the danger. “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” (Matthew 24:37-42).

He is not describing riotous drinking, or gluttonous eating. He is describing life as usual—people going about their everyday lives as if completely unaware of what is about to happen to them! Yet, they had no reason to be unaware then, for Noah was a “preacher of righteousness,” who not only preached for one hundred and twenty years, but produced the evidence of his message of witness and warning as the great ark took shape before the eyes of his generation.

Tens of millions of people in the United States, Canada, Britain, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and many, many other countries have heard the message of witness and warning the gospel of the Kingdom of God, since the early 1950s, and even before!

People often comment: “I used to listen to you and your father on radio back in the 1960s!”

But only a few have truly heeded the message. Only a comparative few have truly taken warning, and made the changes necessary in their lives. But a few have become a vital part of the work of God for this age.

The vast majority of those who have heard, and who are viewing the telecast or reading our literature today, take no action. Some ridicule. Some completely reject God’s truth.

Peter said people would actually be sneering and scoffing at those who would warn them of the impending intervention of God in human affairs—the Day of the Lord—”Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking in their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation'” (2 Peter 3:3,4).

Many people argue, “Oh, there have always been droughts! There have always been disease epidemics. There have always been floods, and hurricanes, and earthquakes. These things come in cycles!”

But God’s word says, “For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was [during the time of Noah], being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men…but the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and their works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Peter 3:3-10).

Willingly ignorant? Does God mean people really don’t want to know?

Callused Disregard

Christ said the influence of society would be a major factor on people’s attitudes. We know Satan the devil hates God! He hates God’s people, and he hates God’s work! It follows that he will do anything he can to attack those who are doing God’s work.

Notice: “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate on another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity [lawlessness!] shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matthew 24:9-12).

Today, the climate that is created by the wretched trash shown on television and in motion pictures—the incessant din of mayhem, murder, violent explosions, and crimes of every description—wears callouses on the consciences of many of God’s people.

Like a continuous barrage, the news media and what passes for “entertainment” assaults decency, sympathy, empathy, and consideration for others. Millions are cold, heartless, aloof toward the suffering of others.

Hatred reigns. Dozens of racist hate groups meet together, plot their next drive-by shooting, or arson. Hundreds of thousands of youths form gangs, spray graffiti all over every bridge, overpass, wall, or building they can reach, and plan how to murder their rivals. Drive-by shootings and murder are initiation rituals among many gangs in the United States!

The cacophony of violence wears upon the conscience and attitude of God’s people. Christ said so!

As the cruelty and heartlessness increase; as people become colder, more dispassionate and nihilistic, so the God-ordained traditional values of family, home, the church, and patriotism wane. Anyone who does not know America is in serious trouble from within is simply uninformed, or living in a dream-world.

Now, let’s look at the step-by-step series of events Christ said would lead into the Great Tribulation and Day of the Lord.

False Christs; False Prophets

As we have read above, Jesus Christ especially warned His true followers to beware of counterfeits. He said that many—the majority of those who claimed to be His representatives—would be false Christs and false prophets.        He said some of them would have demonic power!

“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect!” (Matthew 24:24).

The very elect are those specially called and chosen of God; those who have been granted repentance and conversion; those in whom God has placed His Holy Spirit.

They are the ones of whom Christ spoke when He said, “I am the Good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine” (John 10:14). He said, in His parable of the sheepfold, “And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice. And a stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers” (John 10:4,5).

Are you one of those? Have you been so deeply convicted by God’s word, and have you so thoroughly proved to yourself the truth of God, that it would be impossible for a false prophet to deceive you? If you have never heard it, write, or call immediately for a free sermon tape entitled, “How Not To Be Deceived!” It will be a real eye opener.

Actually, Satan had attempted to confuse the world by sending “false Christs” to masquerade as the true Messiah long before Jesus was born. From the time of His ascension into heaven, false Christs and false prophets accomplished their deceitful work.

They were so numerous in the first century that much of the New Testament was written in an effort to keep the church free from false doctrine! Paul continually resisted those who wanted the early church to go back into rituals such as circumcision, or pagan “converts” who espoused hedonism.

The letters to the churches of Revelation 2 and 3 reveal the terrible conditions that had become extant as a result of false teachers. They represented every extreme, from asceticism to bacchanalian orgies.

Simon Magus was one of the first (read Acts 8:5-24). But there were many others. Finally, near the end of the first century, Jude, the brother of Jesus, wrote, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

Already, before the last books of the Bible had been written, false teachers were leading God’s people into false doctrines.

Those words might well be heeded by thousands of God’s people today, who have been led into incredible error and apostasy!

Jude continued, “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace [undeserved forgiveness] of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 4).

When false doctrines and deception failed to stamp out God’s true church, Satan inspired the apostate church to attempt to murder all who remained faithful to God’s truth.

As the centuries passed, horrifying persecutions took place against those who clung to the truth of God. The large, visible church had become completely apostate. Eventually, countless thousands were martyred in the most vicious manner!

Before the close of the first century, the Emperor Domitian pursued a violent persecution against Christians. Literally thousands were killed! He even killed his own cousin, Flavius Clemens.

Many of the most famous of the so-called “church fathers” were killed. Polycarp, who was a student of the apostle John, was burned alive. Ignatius, who lived from about A.D. 67 to A.D. 110, was thrown into an arena to be torn to bits by wild beasts upon the orders of the Roman emperor, Trajan. Justin Martyr (whose name has ever after meant death for a cause) was murdered in Rome. Iranaeus was martyred. Origen was imprisoned and tortured until he died upon orders from the emperor Decius.

There were hundreds of others who were viciously killed for their faith; thousands, over the years. Fox’s Book of Martyrs is not good bedtime reading, for it recounts the most heart-rending details of deliberate murder in the “name of Jesus.”

Thousands died as the great false church sought to exterminate those who dared to continue to observe God’s Sabbath days, or to keep the Passover on the 14th of Nisan.

Religious persecution continues in many, many nations today! In nations all over the world, religious and ethnic hatreds boil over; regional wars break out; “ethnic (read, “religious”) cleansing” in Bosnia was carried out in the same way Hitler’s SS massacred helpless civilians in Poland, Russia, and many other countries. Thousands have died, many brutally shot down where they stood, to be buried in mass graves by bulldozers.

Within recent weeks, the sickening sight of UN investigators uncovering moldering bones, shoes, bits of clothing, soiled driver’s licenses and personal identification has appeared on national television.

Why were these people killed? Because of the hatreds between nominal “Christians” and Muslims!

As horrifying as it sounds, and as unlikely as it may appear, given our comparative time of peace and safety in the United States and the western world of Christianity today, Jesus Christ said terrible martyrdom is going to afflict the people of God before the time of the end.

Millions believe they will be “raptured” away to heaven before having to give any personal witness. Many thousands believe they will be whisked away to a “place of safety,” so they will not have to be involved in God’s great work during the horrendous times of the “Great Tribulation.” It is vitally important that we understand the role of each individual Christian during the years ahead.

Wars and Rumors of Wars

A fundamental truth needs to be understood about Christ’s famous Olivet prophecy. That is simply this: that each of the signs leading up to Christ’s return to rule this earth began almost immediately!

There were “false Christs” long before Jesus Christ Himself walked this earth, just as there were wars, droughts, famines, earthquakes, and other calamities.

Jesus Christ was not saying the very first false prophet in history would not begin to preach until just before the Great Tribulation, any more than He was saying the first war to ever be fought would occur then. Rather, He was showing how each of these events would begin to develop in greater intensity and that they would overtake and overlap each other, until all these terrible events would be occurring at the same time.

False Christs and false prophets cause racial, religious, and political hatred. They become a root cause of human societies waging war against each other.

Wars cause famines, because they destroy infrastructure, transportation, water and food supplies, and the means of peaceful productivity, hygiene, and good health. Massive dislocation of whole populations, thousands of refugees without food, shelter, clean water, and the means of survival bring about terrible disease epidemics and wholesale starvation.

One only needs to remember World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, and, more recently, Bosnia, to understand how warfare usually kills more helpless civilians than soldiers.

Droughts are not always “acts of God.” By man’s voracious rape of forests, grasslands, and important watersheds, underground aquifers are depleted, soil erodes and blows away in great dust storms, and regional and national temperatures and climatic conditions are altered by man’s interference.        Diseases are not always “acts of God.” Bacteria are capable of virtually infinite variety and adaptability. There were no “AIDS” viruses lurking under rocks in the Garden of Eden.

Today, “super bugs” gradually develop immunity to man’s most powerful chemicals. Many reading this have experienced any number of infectious diseases, from an infected sinus to chronic bronchitis, and found that the antibiotics which seemed to “work” only a few years ago are no longer effective.

Warfare is certainly not an “act of God,” but the insane means used by humans to enforce their wills on others. Wars are the result of human lust, ego, vanity, jealousy, and greed.

James wrote, “From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” (James 4:1-3).

Describing our times; the times just before the Great Tribulation, Heavenly Signs (Revelation 6,7) and Day of the Lord, Jesus warned, “And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:6-8).

Since the end of World War II, during which about forty-five million people died, there have been more than sixty-five wars. Korea, Vietnam, and the war in the Gulf were major wars involving the United States. Then there was Grenada, Panama, and Haiti, not to mention Somalia, which was a massive troop movement under the aegis of humanitarianism.

Today, U.S. troops garrison hot spots the world over—in Bosnia, Korea, Germany, Haiti, Japan, and many other countries.

The mere “rumor of war” when Saddam Hussein ordered his army to conduct “war games” near the southern Iraqi border caused the dislocation of tens of thousands of U.S. troops, and the ordering of several U.S. carrier attack groups to the gulf.

The price tag for this, certainly soaring into the hundreds of millions if not into the billions of dollars, will probably never be known. Yet, it was another blow to an already shaky U.S. economy, merely because of a “rumor” of war.

The potential for violent war exists all over the world. Bosnia could erupt again at any time, especially in the harsh winter months. It could widen into a struggle between Serb-backed Russia and Iranian supported Muslims. If Turkey became involved, Greece would respond. Token U.S. troops are presently garrisoned in Macedonia, along the northern border of Greece with Bosnia. Greece and Turkey are ancient enemies; have warred over Cyprus and other areas. Again, religion and race are behind the hatreds. The Greeks are essentially Greek Orthodox, and nominally “Christian,” and the Turks are Muslims.

A widening war in the Balkans is the last thing the pentagon or the U.S. government wants. It was a calculated risk to send U.S. troops into Bosnia, and “advisory” groups into Macedonia.

War could erupt at any time between China and Taiwan; between North and South Korea. Either event could bring about global repercussions, with Japan being deeply involved.

Massive civil war could erupt in Russia over recent elections. Millions of Russians remember the “good old days” under Stalin; want to return to total communism.

Of critical importance to the whole world, and of vital concern for any Christian who is truly watching, as Christ commanded, is what might take place in the Middle East in the near future. Few know how narrowly the powers involved in the Gulf War averted the nuclear destruction of Baghdad, and a widening war, in which the coalition forces would have disintegrated, and all arab nations would have turned on Israel.

It has been revealed by high-ranking Iraqi officials who defected that Saddam Hussein had chemical warheads fitted to some of his Scuds. Had he unleashed them on Israel, the Israeli Air Force was prepared to drop atomic bombs on Baghdad!

Frantic calls by then President George Bush averted it! Had not the U.S. immediately shipped Patriot anti-missile batteries to Israel; had not the major thrust of the air war against Iraq been shifted from bombing the Republican Guard to Scud-hunting in the western Iraqi desert, Israel may well have attacked Iraq, with unimaginable consequences. More on these possibilities later.

As I write, I know it will be several weeks, if not a couple of months, before you will be reading these lines. By that time, any number of wars could have broken out, possibly civil war in Russia, possibly war in the Mideast!

True to the prophecies of Jesus Christ, just as many other calamities are occurring on this earth, we are living in a time of increasing “wars and rumors of wars.” 

“And There Shall Be Famines”

Massive famines grip many countries in the so-called “third world.” Can anyone forget the major military effort made by the U.S. and UN forces to alleviate famine in Somalia?

As mentioned earlier, warfare causes famine and starvation, because it destroys infrastructure, brings about massive dislocation of populations—fleeing civilians who have no food or water. Famine and disease are automatically related.

Famine can occur from any one of several causes. Drought destroys crops, or prevents them from maturing and producing; floods destroy crops, and prolonged wet weather, as has occurred in the spring and early summer of 1996, prevents planting at the proper time. In Somalia, thousands died of starvation because the distribution of emergency food grains never reached remote areas.

There is also simple economic famine. millions of people in the so-called “developing” countries are chronically undernourished, which causes low resistance to disease and infant mortality.

The World Press Review, quoting from the prestigious Guardian in Britain, November, 1995, trumpeted, “Next, Wars over water!” The facts presented were shocking. Eighty countries are already experiencing water shortages that are threatening health and national economies, and nearly half of the population of the world has no access to clean water, or proper sanitation.

The demand for water because of exploding populations, has been doubling every twenty-one years. The water situation across North Africa and the Middle East was characterized as “precarious.” Currently, serious drought grips Northern China, western and southern India, parts of Pakistan, and South America.

In some of the most populous cities in the world, water supply is becoming critical. The water table providing water for up to fifty large Chinese cities drops from three to six feet each year.

Even a cursory investigation of water supplies and management in the world would require several very lengthy articles. Waste, mismanagement, pollution, water disputes involving international borders, increased salinity, disappearance of underground aquifers all play a part in a mounting global water crisis.

The World Bank, on the eve of a “water conference” in Stockholm, Sweden, warned, “Wars of the next century will be over water.”

To emphasize their warning, they cited how Egypt now fears appropriation of the waters of the Nile river by upstream Sudan and Ethiopia; how both Syria and Iraq are anxious over Turkish construction of dams along the headwaters of the Euphrates; how Hungary and Slovakia are arguing over a huge hydroelectric dam proposed on the Danube River, which is their common border.

As mentioned earlier, the Middle East and northern Africa are both critical water shortage areas. After Israel diverted much of Jordan’s water source, the famed River Jordan, the underground reserves of Jordanian water have been pumped virtually dry.

Cited by the World Bank as stark examples of waste were the fact that most city supply systems leak from 30 to 50 percent of their water underground; that most urban sewage all over the world passes untreated into rivers, thus not only polluting surface water, but wasting vast potential in recycled water.

They reported that “in Jordan 56% of water put into urban supplies does not reach customers,” and said, “The Middle East is the likeliest crucible for future water wars.”

The Economist, in Britain, in its issue of August 12, 1995, said, “The working assumption seems to be that it [water] is an unlimited public resource, and the result is that few consumers have any incentive to use it sparingly.”

They warned that, “the time is coming when water must be treated as a valuable resource, like oil, not a free one like air.”

Within only a few years, America’s wheat and corn belt has gone from terrible floods to drought, and sometimes both have devastated farm and ranch lands at the same time, as occurred during the spring months of 1996.

Severe drought has gripped the “wheat belt” in some places for three straight years. Western Kansas, Nebraska, the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles and eastern Colorado experienced early freezes shortly after the 1996 crop was planted, then fifty-mile-per-hour winds caused further damage. The region has had only about one quarter the normal amount of rainfall, and the topsoil is dry. The effect is devastating to farmers.

There is a strong demand, worldwide, for the hard red winter wheat of America’s wheat belt. The grain is used for bread, rolls, and all-purpose baking flour. As a result of increased demand and failing crops, wheat prices have almost doubled. The drought has a double effect on cattle growers, with ranch-land grasses turning brown and brittle, and the price of grain soaring.

In a domino-like effect, ranchers sell off cattle that are too expensive to raise; stockyards bulge with an oversupply, and beef prices drop to a nine-year low.

The drought may drive up to ten thousand farmers and ranchers in Oklahoma alone into bankruptcy, and the impact upon banks and state and federal governments is obvious.

In a recent special ABC television report, viewers were warned that “the Great Plains could turn into sand dunes.” On the same program, scientists warned that “vast areas of farmland are vulnerable to becoming desert,” and said “dust bowl days might be on their way back.”

One-fifth of the United States was affected by the infamous “dust bowl” conditions of the 1930s. The program was chilling in its warning that this dry spell may be the “beginning of a mega-drought.” Pictures were shown of Falcon Lake in southern Texas, which is forty-seven feet down; and of the ruins of whole towns, such as old Padilla in Tamaulipas, Mexico, which was abandoned so the waters of lake Vincente Guerrero could form a huge lake. The lake has so shrunken that old Padilla is now completely dry; buildings which were inundated now standing like ancient ruins in a parched landscape.

Former businesses such as fishing docks and marinas stood abandoned above the dry, cracked earth where a beautiful lake once lapped the shore.

“The drought is one of the worst on record,” said Ray Motha, of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. One official of the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau said “there was more rain during the Dust Bowl than they are getting in Roosevelt County.” The county is in the eastern plains of New Mexico, hard hit by drought.

Already, the extremely dry conditions have brought about earlier-than-usual fires in New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado.

When a devastating fire raced through northern New Mexico’s Carson National Forest recently, an official of the U.S. Forest Service said, “We have kiddingly called the Carson the asbestos forest because it is always so wet and at such a high elevation that it never burns. With the Carson burning, and so early, that told us this was going to be a rough summer.”

Every major weekly news magazine in the United States carried stories about the drought; about corn, wheat, and cattle prices. Is it only a passing phenomenon? Is it only “cyclical”? Perhaps. There have surely been droughts before; there have been floods before; there have been forest fires before. But when world conditions are added together; when every aspect of Christ’s Olivet prophecy is taken as a whole; when we consider the implications of geopolitics and the condition of all nations politically, militarily, economically, and socially; when we truly watch world news, and observe the entire panorama of events, it is obvious all is not well with the world. major events are taking place which could well mean we are on the very brink of the Great Tribulation.

The prophecies of Amos could well be printed as today’s news in many areas of the United States, and in many other countries, as well.

He said, “And I have also given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto Me, saith the Eternal. And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered. So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto Me, saith the Eternal. I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto Me, saith the Eternal” (Amos 4:6-9).

Plainly, God says He controls the weather. God can bless those who obey His laws and live according to His word, and curse those who do not.

Massive famines have occurred in the past, true. But Jesus Christ of Nazareth said all the events of the coming tribulation would happen at the same time. Make no mistake. Great drought and famine are in the offing, and it will not always be something Americans, Canadians, Britons, and others in the British Commonwealth will read about in their newspapers in some far away, overpopulated, third-world country like India or Bangladesh.

“And Pestilences…”

Christ said, “For there shall be wars and rumors of wars…and there shall be famines and pestilences…” (Matthew 24:6,7). Pestilences refers to any disease that spreads rapidly, and causes many deaths, such as smallpox, yellow fever, or the plague.

As was mentioned earlier, warfare often brings the terrible consequences of famine, disease, and starvation. When a nightmarish civil war erupted in Rwanda, terrified refugees fled to bordering Zaire; more than one hundred thousand died of cholera, resulting from the pollution of surface water by human waste. For the better part of fifty years, the developed nations have believed medical science had almost eradicated such diseases as typhoid fever, smallpox, cholera, and the plague.

Yet, such diseases are making a comeback. Always, it is the helpless civilians who suffer when maniacal despots wage war, just as occurred in Rwanda and Bosnia.

Who has not heard about the Ebola virus and AIDS? Public awareness about pestilence was such that a motion picture starring Dustin Hoffman was made in the mid-1990s entitled Outbreak, and a made-for-TV thriller called Virus was created by Robin Cook. A documentary was produced about the same time called The Hot Zone, which is about the Ebola virus deaths in Zaire.

Only a few quotations from The Hot Zone are chilling: “Ebola was unpredictable. An airborne strain of Ebola could emerge and circle around the world in about six weeks, like the flu, killing large numbers of people…Ebola is a rather simple virus—as simple as a firestorm. It kills humans with swift efficiency and with a devastating range of effects.”

Ebola crops up suddenly, and its victims bleed to death in a very few days. It was first identified in Germany, then, later versions of the virus cropped up in the Sudan, then in Zaire, then, shockingly, in Reston, Virginia.

The Hot Zone said, “The virus [the strain identified in Zaire] was not airborne—it traveled in blood, and the bleeding victim did not touch very many other people before dying, so the virus did not have many chances to jump to a new host. Had people been coughing the virus into the air [like the flu]…it would have been a different story.” Frighteningly, when the leaders of a bizarre cult in Japan, responsible for releasing deadly Serin (a nerve gas) into crowded Tokyo subways, were arrested, it was revealed they had sent representatives to Zaire to deliberately cultivate the Ebola virus.

Would biological warfare be contemplated by demonic human leaders in waging war against others?

It has already been proven that such methods would be used by hate-filled despots. Such is the virulent hatred that motivates some human leaders that they would resort to any means, no matter how cruel, how heartless, in order to destroy any who would oppose them. Who can forget the pictures of the bloated bodies of Kurds—women, little children, helpless civilians—against whom Saddam Hussein of Iraq had used mustard gas? Such satanic cruelty is beyond the ability of any Christian person to contemplate.

Many countries have stores of biological weapons. Saddam Hussein was working on biological weapons. Robert Wright, who wrote an article entitled “Be Very Afraid” in The New Republic said, “Biological weapons are essentially devoid of international control, yet they’re the scariest of the three [nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons]…Not futuristic, genetically engineered, genocidal viruses, though these may be along eventually, [but] plain old first-generation biological weapons…are the great unheralded threat to national security in the late 1990s.”

U.S. intelligence documents released following the Gulf War prove that not only did Saddam Hussein possess biological and chemical weapons, but that his extended-range Scud missiles and aerial bombs had actually been loaded with biological agents and deployed on the battlefield.

Captured Iraqi documents and recently-released U.S. Intelligence reports prove that not only did Saddam possess such chemical and biological agents, but that he had ordered his field commanders to use them against Allied forces. His orders were not obeyed.

U.S. spy satellites had located no less than twenty-four chemical and biological decontamination sites installed by the Iraqis in southern Iraq and Kuwait. These were large washing sites for tanks, trucks, and personnel, should the Iraqis experience “blowback” from their own biological and chemical attacks, or should the Allies retaliate with their own biological and chemical weapons.

Some Gulf War veterans groups believe some 70,000 veterans and their dependents may be suffering today as a result of Allied bombing of Iraqi chemical and biological weapons sites. They believe such agents were released into the atmosphere and dispersed over wide areas, and that low-level exposure resulted.

As early as June 1988, the U.S. government knew that Iraq was developing biological weapons; knew that Iraq was receiving toxic strains from a company in Rockville, Maryland, with export licenses approved by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Swiss and Italian firms were supplying Iraq with large-scale fermenters needed to grow toxic agents.

By the winter of 1990, the Pentagon knew that Iraq had succeeded in packing anthrax and botulinum toxins into aerial bombs. American commanders were warned that they might encounter such weapons on the battlefield. Network news featured pictures of U.S. tanks and troops fitted with anti-chemical and biological coverings; bulky, incredibly hot full-body suits and masks were shown being worn by some soldiers.

When the United Nations began inspecting Iraq after the war, they wanted to know what had happened to seventeen tons of biological growth media that Iraq had purchased in 1988 and 1989, but could no longer account for.

The New Republic reported in its January 29, 1996 issue, “The missing seventeen tons of media [biological cultures] could have grown enough biological agent to ‘kill every man, woman and child on the face of the earth.'”

The Iraqis claimed the media had been destroyed during the Allied bombing. Had it? Of have the Iraqis successfully hidden it and other weapons of mass destruction?

It is scarcely crying “wolf! wolf!” to acknowledge the facts that have emerged from captured Iraqi documents, from Iraqi defectors, from U.S. intelligence spy satellites, and from UN specialists on the ground.

And which nation is more keenly aware, disturbed, concerned, and perhaps frightened about such a threat? Israel, naturally! It was Israel upon which Saddam Hussein unleashed a rain of Scud missiles. Had they contained chemical or biological warheads, the results would have been unimaginable! Hundreds of thousands or millions would have died! Israel would have dropped nuclear bombs on Baghdad and other Iraqi cities!

World War III, featuring all the horrible panoply of weapons—nuclear, chemical, biological—would have spread around the world. Perhaps some day we will learn just how close we came to such an event.

Germ warfare is without a doubt just over the horizon. Such would create a biological holocaust if ever unleashed. Both Time magazine and the prestigious British Economist reported in their July 1995 issues that Iraq had admitted to producing large quantities of biological weapons in 1989 and 1990. Be reminded that Saddam Hussein has already used nerve gas and mustard gas against his own citizens.

Newsweek, a couple of months later, reported the enormity of Saddam Hussein’s plans: “For several days at the end of 1990 and the beginning of 1991, the world stood on the brink of the first holocaust ever caused by biological weapons…”

They said the Iraqi arsenal contained “at least 25 missile warheads carrying about 11,000 pounds of biological agents, including powerful botulism poisons and the germs that cause anthrax. An additional 33,000 pounds of biological agents were placed into bombs to be dropped from airplanes…the result could have been as horrifying as Hiroshima or Nagasaki,” wrote Newsweek’s Christopher Dickey.

He said, “Anthrax and botulism were not the only germ weapons at Saddam’s disposal…seven principal biological agents were actively tested for possible use, including viruses.”

In 1993, the U.S. Office of Technology Assessment reported that 220 pounds of anthrax spores released from a plane flying over Washington D.C. might kill as many as 3 million people. A single Scud missile can carry twice that amount.

Time reported, September 4, 1995, “The Pentagon estimated that just one Scud missile filled with the toxin [botulinum] could contaminate 1,430 square miles.”

John Donnelly of the Knight-Ridder Tribune News noted that “Anthrax is so infectious and lethal that it’s stockpiled by several armies as a biological weapon. An accidental release of anthrax spores from a Soviet research center in 1979 killed hundreds: the Pentagon called it perhaps the world’s most deadly biological agent.”

Since Haiti is one of the hottest areas for infectious anthrax, perhaps it not so illogical that the government sought to stop illegal Haitians, many of whom were known to be HIV positive, from landing on America’s shores.

Those who discount the frightening conditions on this earth today, who argue “there have always been diseases,” or, “there have always been droughts and floods,” simply miss the point.

Yes, there have “always been” diseases, droughts, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and other “natural” disasters. But have there “always” been nations feverishly working on stockpiling deadly toxins, anthrax spores, and viruses? Have there always been intercontinental ballistic missiles, and shorter range missiles, like the Chinese silkworm and the Scuds, which can deliver biological warheads hundreds, or thousands, of miles distant?

Meanwhile, the AIDS epidemic continues to spread, most recently making vast inroads into Asia. In the past twenty years, the virus has infected about twenty million people, most of whom are in Africa, but by the year 2000, it is estimated over forty million people will have AIDS!

There is no American who does not know there are political, racial, sociological, and religious consequences to the terrible scourge of AIDS. Too many famous people have died from the disease; too many famous living people have been reported as “HIV positive,” and too many gay rights demonstrations have occurred for anyone to be completely ignorant of the spread of AIDS.

“AIDS was unique. It touched every nerve that polarized Americans: sex, homosexuality, race, Christian family values, drug addiction, and personal versus collective rights and security” (The Coming Plague, p. 319).

The same book reported, “By 1992, they [the World Health Organization] estimated 12.9 million worldwide had been infected with HIV, 2.7 million of whom had already developed AIDS. By the year 2000 a minimum of 38 million [other authorities estimate 40 million] people would have been infected with HIV, according to the Global AIDS Policy Coalition, but a more realistic projection is that this figure will be higher, perhaps up to 110 million. In that scenario, 24 million people would have died of AIDS between 1980 and 2000” (ibid. p. 486).

Today, AIDS is growing more rapidly among Asians than any other race. It is spreading more rapidly in southeast Asia than in any other part of the world.

The World Health Organization in Geneva “estimated the number of AIDS cases worldwide has risen by 60 percent…land predicted a continued explosive increase in Asia.”

Shocking as it may sound, there were those who began spreading the absurd charge that AIDS was being deliberately spread by the government! Some few minorities began saying that the white race was spreading AIDS among them in order to exterminate them! Such is the illogical panic that such dread diseases produces.

It is neither the government nor members of other races who force drug abuse and casual sex upon minorities. These are the two principal causes of the spread of AIDS; actual exchange of human bodily fluids and blood. If both of these major causes were removed; if mankind turned to God, and God’s laws; if all casual sex, homosexuality, and drug abuse were halted tomorrow, then tomorrow would be the last time any new victim contracted AIDS.

Has AIDS always stalked mankind?

Have there always been enough nuclear weapons stockpiled to annihilate over twenty times the population of earth?

As mentioned earlier, the prophecies of Jesus Christ strongly indicate that all the things He said would come upon mankind during the Great Tribulation come at the same time.

“And Earthquakes, in Divers Places”

Christ said the Great Tribulation would also feature earthquakes in different places. We have been in a time of unusual earthquake activity all over the world. Who does not remember the massive quakes that have struck Los Angeles, collapsing major freeways and buildings; San Francisco, where many died, fires burned out of control, freeways collapsed, killing those underneath; in Kobe, Japan, where thousands died, and hundreds of thousands are still homeless.

Earthquakes have struck in Turkey, Peru, the Philippines, the United States, and in many other countries. Today, the “ring of fire,” the continuous volcanic chain of mountains that stretches completely around the world, is becoming very active.

Mount Saint Helens was a major disaster. Other mountains along the American coastal Cascade range are showing signs of restiveness, including famed mount Rainier, overlooking Seattle.

References to Christ’s predictions in His Olivet prophecy are not meant to be like childhood stories of “chicken little,” who ran about saying, “The sky is falling, the sky is falling!” After all, there is nothing anyone can do about an earthquake, even though thousands have moved away from active faults, such as the famed San Andreas fault in California.

Actually, there is little, if anything, that anyone can “do” about any of the chilling warnings Jesus Christ issued except look into one’s own life and make sure we are one of God’s very elect!

God can, and will, protect His own elect from the nightmarish things coming upon this world; specifically, those things to come upon Jacob, the “lost ten tribes” of Israel.

One thing we must not do is set dates, try to engage in elaborate chronological schemes, decide we know within a month or two in advance when major events will occur, and then make foolish decisions, like fleeing to some remote place and becoming “survivalists.”

Religious people have forecast very elaborate prophetic scenarios in the past. Some have actually attempted to foretell the day of Christ’s return, and then, when the “great disappointment” occurred, many people turned away in disgust.

Religious fanatics have caused people to sell their homes and businesses, gather together in some hideout or retreat, and then await some great event—all to no avail.

Christ encourages His servants to watch and to pray always, “that ye might be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:36). His emphasis was on watching, on praying, and on being accounted worthy. It is up to God Almighty to provide deliverance or escape.

Near the end of the Olivet prophecy, Jesus said, “And when these things begin to come to pass [all the terrible things He had predicted in this lengthy prophecy], then look up, and lift up your heads [don’t hang them down in terror, fear, or deep depression]; for your redemption draweth nigh!” (Luke 21:28).

The Great tribulation is coming as a result of man’s governments, man’s attempts to govern himself apart from the laws of God. There is nothing “religious” about terrible droughts, or floods, or tornadoes, or hurricanes, or earthquakes, or famines, or disease epidemics. There is nothing “religious” about warfare except that hate-filled religious fanatics sometimes precipitate wars.

There is nothing “cultic” about reading your daily newspapers, watching major television news, reading weekly news magazines, and watching world events, comparing how all this might lead into events Christ said would bring about the Great Tribulation, the Heavenly Signs , the Day of the Lord, and His glorious return to this earth as King of kings and Lord of lords.

Yes, Christ’s prophecies contain a lot of bad news. There is nothing good about droughts, disease, famine, and war! But there is great, wonderful good news beyond it all—the best news mankind could ever hear; that God will intervene in time; that because of the “very elect” of God, mankind will not perish from this earth; God will stop the terrible wars that are coming, saving mankind from himself!

No one in the Intercontinental Church of God, believes we must gather together in some place and “flee” somewhere or other. God was able to protect Israel in their own homes in Goshen!
The main purpose for Christ’s servants to watch is so they can warn others! The warning of Ezekiel, as the “watchman” of Israel, was directly from God, Who said, “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11).

Jesus Christ does not want His servants doing the exact opposite of what He taught! He said, “Therefore take no [anxious] thought, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or, ‘Wherewithal shall we be clothed?’ (For after all these things do the nations seek:) for your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness: and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:31,32).

He said His people should face each problem as it comes, on a daily basis, living one day at a time. “Take therefore no thought [anxious thought] for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Matthew 6:34). 

Christ did not contradict Himself!

He said, “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not [when you least expect it!], the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when He cometh shall find so doing” (Matthew 24:42,46).

What wondrous words! This is the crux of the matter! Jesus Christ does not reveal His plans to His servants so they will flee like bleating sheep in all directions; so they will get “spooky” about signs, or chronology, or history, or elaborate prophetic scenarios, or imagined evils! No, He expects them to be engaged in patient continuance, in “so doing” His work, just like a faithful servant who is over his Lord’s household!

There is no concept here of preparing a cadre of Christ’s “very elect” so they can creep into caves and sit on the sidelines while their families, their friends, their communities, their cities, their states, their nations, and the rest of mankind are enmeshed in the horrors of the Great Tribulation! Christ is not training people so they can retire!

His warning about the terrible things to happen is so we will be watching, praying, living a life of overcoming (Revelation 2:26), and “so doing” the Lord’s work!

His warning is not meant to terrorize His own servants, but to inform them! It is not meant to make them feel time is closing in on them, but to make them understand time is opening up before them; that Christ’s Kingdom is soon to come; that their children and grandchildren will have a fabulous, peaceful, joyous, happy life in the world of tomorrow!

So remember, as you read of the terrible news of man’s misrule; of man’s vanity, jealousy and greed; as you read of the many events which will finally coalesce into the Great Tribulation and Day of the Lord—the end result of it all is the second coming of Jesus Christ! Now, armed with those positive thoughts, take a look at more of this present evil world, and why we may be on the very cusp of the Great Tribulation which is to come! Nuclear Proliferation

With the end of the “cold war,” millions in the western world breathed a collective sigh of relief. At last, a moment-by-moment threat of nuclear annihilation seemed over.

The Soviet Union and the United States signed a series of test-ban treaties. Notwithstanding this, France continued with its nuclear testing in the South Pacific, and China has been conducting nuclear tests all along.

The problem is that as Russia and the U.S. downsize their nuclear arsenals (to about 3,500 warheads each), there is the difficulty in dismantling all those ICBMs and IRBMs—what to do with the deadly materials.

As The Economist reported in June of 1995, “Ways must also be found to get rid of Russia’s 170 tons of weapons-grade plutonium. Russia would like to build a plant to make it into mixed-oxide fuel (MOX) for use in reactors. An alternative idea is to send it to Germany, which has a MOX plant standing idle because of local opposition to it. Might the locals feel better about their plant working for the disarmament cause?” (emphasis mine).

In the spring of 1995, U.S. negotiators finally persuaded 170 countries to sign agreements that would extend indefinitely the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). However, what worries many western intelligence communities is what happens when a nuclear power, like Russia, begins to disintegrate economically and politically. What happens then to all the tens of thousands of nuclear weapons and thousands of tons of bomb grade plutonium?

U.S. experts in the civilian Ministry of Atomic Energy charge that security is so lax in the former Soviet Union that theft of weapons grade nuclear materials is happening with frightening regularity.

Nearly every U.S. specialist dealing with the issue has his own horror story to tell. When Charles Curtis of the U.S. Energy Department was visiting a building of the Kurchatov Institute in a Moscow suburb, he saw that about 160 pounds of weapons-grade uranium cast into tiny spheres was stored in high-school type lockers, and secured only by a small chain on their handles.

Newsweek magazine reported in July, 1995, that “William Potter, who tracks nuclear thefts for the Monterey Institute of International Studies in California, was transfixed by a Russian Navy investigator’s report on the theft of almost 10 pounds of enriched uranium from one of the Russian Navy’s main storage facilities for nuclear fuel, the Sevmorput shipyard outside Murmansk. The thief had climbed through one of the many holes in the wooden fence surrounding the fuel-storage area, sawed through a padlock on the warehouse door, lifted the lid on a container and broken off three pieces of a submarine reactor core.” The investigator told Potter, “Potatoes were guarded better.”

The article went on to reveal that the CIA has documented thirty-one cases of thefts or seizures, most involving low-grade Russian materials found by German police.

“In Prague last December, police found almost six pounds of highly enriched uranium in the back seat of a Saab; also in the car were a Czech nuclear scientist and two colleagues from Belarus and Ukraine.”

Charles B. Hanley, special correspondent for the Associated Press, reporting from Prague, wrote, “What Czech police seized that day last December, along with three alleged smugglers, was a pair of metal canisters, crudely fashioned, wrapped in plastic, tossed in the Saab’s back seat. They were loaded with six pounds of granulated doom—2.73 kilograms of nearly pure uranium 235, one-third of a Hiroshima bomb’s worth” (reported Sunday, March 26, 1995 in the South Bend Tribune).

Germany has been increasingly in the news as a hot bed of illicit nuclear smuggling. There were 182 cases in Germany alone involving illegal dealing in radioactive materials in 1994. Louis Freeh, FBI director, said nuclear smuggling presents “the greatest long-term threat to the security of the United States.”

Obviously, police and other officials (Germany established a “nuclear office” with a staff of twenty in November, 1994) know they are intercepting only the “top of the iceberg.” Just as in the U.S. drug trade, for every arrest much more material gets through than is intercepted.

Where does it go? The police don’t know. A top German investigator admitted, “In these cases, for this kind of material, there could be buyers. But we don’t know who they are.”

What the government does know is that Libya’s Kadaffy has repeatedly tried to purchase nuclear material; that Iraq may still have secret stores, a secret program; that Pakistan may have material and equipment to produce up to twenty-five nuclear bombs, some within hours; that North Korea may have enough material for two or three nuclear bombs; that Argentina, although a signitor to the non-proliferation treaty, had a nuclear program in its early stages; that Iran is pursuing a secret nuclear program, even though it is believed they are some years away from producing a bomb.

Currently, Russia has about 10,000 nuclear warheads deployed, although they are not, according to treaties, “aimed at the United States.” One wonders how long it takes to program the computerized aiming devices. Minutes? An hour? Of those missiles, 2,560 are aboard submarines, 6,078 are land-based, and 1,410 are on bombers.

The United States has 8,500 deployed, 2,090 on land, and slightly more aboard U.S. nuclear-powered submarines. France, China, and Britain all have nuclear weapons deployed both on land and aboard submarines and bombers, and Israel has an estimated fifty to one hundred nuclear bombs capable of being fired from Jericho I and II rockets. India has the capability for eighty nuclear missiles with their Agni/Prithvi rockets, and Pakistan is believed to have capability for fifteen to twenty, using Chinese-made M-11 missiles.

What concerns western governments most today is not a nuclear showdown between superpowers, as it used to be during the Cold War, but that ingredients for an A-bomb could leak out of Russia (and probably already have), and fall into the hands of terrorists.

As the beleaguered population of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv well know, some terrorists cheerfully turn themselves into human bombs, blowing themselves to bits along with their victims. With nuclear components now capable of being carried about in a couple of suitcases, the day of the deliberate triggering of an atomic bomb by terrorists may not be many years into the future.

Officials know that the long road to building nuclear bombs via breeding reactors and enrichment plants is a very difficult one. But the theft of primary materials, which have already been turned into weapons-grade by the former Soviet Union, short-circuits any such process. As Newsweek’s John Barry said, “history has turned the nuclear threat on its head, and the terrorist scenario has become frighteningly real.”

Man has never invented a weapon he has not used. Though the sheer horror of atomic weapons brought about nuclear stalemate, the insane arms race proceeded to bankrupt the Soviet Union, and, if the truth were known, to catapult the United States from the world’s greatest creditor nation to the world’s greatest debtor. Countless hundreds of billions have been spent, not only by the two superpowers of the ’50s to the ’90s, but by France, Britain, and many other nations. For decades, American governments frantically spent billions on ever more efficient weapons of all kinds.

Each new development in missile, aircraft, submarine, or any other kind of military technology by the Soviet Union brought about an instant demand for matching technology in the west, and vice-versa. For decades, ever more effective weapons were developed. Today, abandoned missile silos, huge weaponry boneyards in America’s western desert loaded with thousands of obsolete aircraft, rusting or dismantled aircraft carriers, and dangerous stockpiles of poison gas, along with other chemical or biological agents, gives testimony to the insanity of the arms race. It was the Reagan administration’s intent to spend billions on anti-missile technology (billed “Star Wars” by the media) that finally made Soviet leaders realize they could no longer keep matching vast U.S. expenditures (on borrowed money) for military research and development.

Today, with the vast arsenal of nuclear weapons of the former Soviet Union now in the hands of several different sovereign nations; with more and more nations gaining nuclear technology; with illegal trade in nuclear components occurring with frightening regularity; with third-world countries like Pakistan arming themselves with nuclear bombs; and with the specter of nuclear weapons of suitcase-size in the hands of fanatical terrorists, there is little reason to believe the threat of nuclear attack is over.

Again, there is nothing whatsoever you and I can “do” about such things. We can only do as Christ commands, “watch ye therefore, and pray always that ye might be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:36). We can only write, and speak, and preach, and talk to others, trying to inform them, trying to convey not only a witness and a warning, but the great good news of Christ’s gospel of the Kingdom as well!

Following His prophecies of war, famine, disease, and religious martyrdom, Jesus Christ became very specific about a major sign for which His servants are to watch. 

“When Ye Therefore Shall See the Abomination of Desolation”

Christ and His disciples were seated on the Mount of Olives, just across from the temple mount. They only had to turn their heads to see the temple, gleaming in the distance.

There could have been no doubt whatsoever in the minds of His disciples what He meant when he spoke of the “holy place.”

Notice: “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoso readeth, let him understand:) [Matthew inserted parenthetically] “Then let them which be in Judaea [the Roman province around Jerusalem] flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight [those who are in Judaea; those who would WALK to safety] be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day: For then shall be GREAT TRIBULATION, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:15-21).

As Matthew warned, let us understand what Jesus said.

Daniel’s prophecy spoke of Antiochus Epiphanes who appears as a type of the coming beast power of prophecy. Daniel wrote, “And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength [in the temple of God], and shall take away the daily sacrifice [which the Levites offered in the temple], and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate” (Daniel 11:31).

Antiochus occupied Jerusalem, then sacrificed swine to “Jupiter Olympus” in the holy of holies, thus fulfilling in prior type the prophecy of the setting up of “the abomination of desolation.”

An abomination is something that is detestable, despicable in God’s sight. As a result, it brings about “desolation,” or waste, and destruction. Kitto’s Bible Cyclopedia says, “The abomination of the desolator, which, without doubt, means the idol or idolatrous apparatus which the desolator of Jerusalem should establish in the holy place. This appears to have been a prediction of the pollution of the temple by Antiochus Ephipanes, who caused an idolatrous altar to be built on the altar or burnt offerings, whereupon unclean things were offered to Jupiter Olympius, to whom the temple itself was dedicated. Josephus distinctly refers to this as the accomplishment of Daniel’s prophecy” (Kittos’ Encyclopedia of Biblical Literature, Vol. 1, p. 22).

Of the later typical fulfillment following the time of Christ, Kitto wrote that the setting up of Roman standards over the eastern gate leading to the temple (which had been destroyed) and the soldiers offering sacrifices to them constituted an “abomination of desolation.”

“Nor was this [the roman standards] the last appearance of the ‘abomination of desolation,’ in the holy place for, not only did Hadrian, with studied insult to the Jews, set up the figure of a boar over the Bethlehem gate of the city [which was then named “Aelia Capitolina”] which rose upon the site and ruins of Jerusalem, but he erected a temple to Jupiter upon the site of the Jewish temple, and caused an image of himself to be set up in the part which answered to the most holy place” (ibid. p. 23).

Daniel’s prophecy is one of the most intricately detailed in all the bible. The eleventh chapter is the longest single prophecy in the Bible. Toward the end of the eleventh chapter, which leads into the prophecy of the Great Tribulation (Daniel 12:1 with Matthew 24:21,22), the time of the end is portrayed.

Daniel wrote, “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him [the king of the north]: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships: and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over” (Daniel 11:40).

The prior typical fulfillment of these verses did not take place “at the time of the end”! That is our time, now! From the time Daniel’s eleventh chapter introduces Antiochus Epiphanes, the personality of the “vile person” who is the “king of the north” never changes. Antiochus succeeded Heliodorus, who was a tax collector. Hitler succeeded the “Hohenzollern” family of Germany. The name “Hohenzollern” means “tax collector.”

Speaking of Antiochus, who seems like a type of Adolph Hitler, Daniel wrote, “And in his [Heliodorus’] estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries” (Daniel 11:21).

Hitler did not obtain the chancellorship of Germany by a military coup, but by his flattering rhetoric about “pure Aryan blood” and the Germans being a “super race.” The German aristocracy and most of the higher officers in the German army loathed Hitler in the beginning.

In a shadowy forerunner of Daniel’s prophecy about the “king of the north” moving into Palestine in a war against the “king of the south,” Mussolini invaded Ethiopia in 1935. Within only a few years, Hitler’s armies invaded north Africa, and Rommel’s panzers were deep inside Egypt, heading toward Alexandria. The specter of the axis powers controlling Middle-eastern oil and the Suez canal, so vital to Britain’s survival, brought about the joint efforts of the U.S. and Britain to drive Rommel from Egypt and Africa. Alexander’s British Eighth Army began pushing Rommel back out of Egypt; Americans and free French landed in north Africa, and began fighting their way toward the east. Eventually, the Germans were driven from Africa.

Just as the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem in A.D. 71 was a forerunner of the end-time destruction Jesus prophesied, so these events were but a forerunner of the end-time prophecy of Daniel.

Notice that the king of the north is to invade Palestine. “He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom [Turkey], and Moab [probably Iraq], and the chief of the children of Ammon [Amman is the capital city of Jordan]. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps [on his borders]. But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: [eastward lies China, and northward lies Russia]: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace [his headquarters; his principal seat of government] between the seas [the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea] in the glorious holy mountain [Jerusalem]: yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him” (Daniel 11:40-45).

It is not clear just yet who is meant by the “king of the south.” At this moment in time, with a new government in Israel, and an emergency Arab summit meeting just concluded in Cairo, it appears Hosni Mubarak of Egypt is attempting to emerge as power broker among the Arab nations.

Obviously, the “king of the north” invades the Middle East, overruns Palestine, sets up his principal place of government in Jerusalem, and also invades Egypt. Yet, it appears Turkey, perhaps Lebanon, Iraq, and Jordan, are not involved.

When are these events to occur?

“And at the time of the end,” says Daniel. It is men who divided the Bible into chapters and verses. Daniel 12 continues right on: “And at that time [the time of the invasion of the middle east by this northern power] shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble [the Great Tribulation], such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book” (verse1).

Christ spoke of a time of trouble that was worse than any time in history; worse than any time before or since. The time of trouble spoken of by Daniel takes place in the Mideast—in Jerusalem, and in Palestine! It is a time of massive invasion by the king of the north who sets up his “palaces” or his principal place of government in Jerusalem.

Notice the twofold nature of Christ’s prophecy about the specific great events which signal the beginning of the Great Tribulation: “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place…then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains…for then shall be Great Tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:15-22).

Then, Christ said, “And when ye see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh” (Luke 21:20). Armies cause the desolation, or destruction. a great false prophet will come on the scene, and an idolatrous abomination is to be set up under the protection of powerful military forces.

Notice, in Luke’s parallel account of Christ’s Olivet prophecy, that religious martyrdom immediately precedes the setting up of the abomination of desolation and the surrounding of Jerusalem by powerful armies. Read Matthew 24:9-11 with Luke 21:16-20.

Notice that it is when the abomination is set up and when armies surround Jerusalem that they which live in Judaea are warned to “flee into the mountains” (Matthew 24:16; Luke 21:21).

This does not say to people in Spokane, Washington, Ft. Myers, Florida, or Ojai, California, that they are to flee to the Jordanian desert. It specifically says “they which be in Judaea.”

Now what events would bring about the occupation of Israel—not by nearby Arab states, who themselves are invaded by occupied by the king of the north—but by a northern power, who is one of the successors to the “beast” power of history?

Remember, two key events are to take place:

(1) An abominable, blasphemous, idolatrous thing is to be set up “in the holy place,” probably meaning the temple in Jerusalem.

(2) Armies will surround Jerusalem after having attacked “many countries,” including Egypt.

But before an “abomination of desolation” can stand “in the holy place,” there must be a holy place!

Today, the famous Dome of the Rock stands on the Temple Mount. Adjacent to it is the Al Aksa mosque. We have written extensively, as well as produced many television programs, about the avowed intention of various Jewish religious organizations to build the third Temple.

I have in my possession a finely-printed, glossy, full-color table-top book entitled, The Odyssey of the Third Temple. On the overleaf, one reads, “The Odyssey of the third Temple emphasizes the central role which the Holy Temple occupies in the life of the Jewish people and all mankind…It also clearly demonstrates how the commandment of God to build the temple is the central theme of Judaism. More than any other previously published work, ‘Odyssey’ proves that the eternal commandment to build the Holy Temple is alive and well in Jerusalem…waiting to be fulfilled by the Jewish people.”

There are hundreds of illustrations; pictures of many kinds of pots and brazen vessels already constructed for temple worship; artist’s renderings of sacrifices in progress; even a list of suggested donations and costs for various objects, so that Zionist Jews can contribute to the building of a temple.        That this is a serious effort to build a temple is strikingly obvious from this very expensive book. On page 104 it says, “The Temple Institute of Jerusalem was founded on the principle of action. Its goal is to provide a basis in research, planning and infrastructure for the third temple.”

Detailed are plans for restoring Levitical music and musical instruments, construction of special vessels, the weaving of priestly garments (much of this is on display in Jerusalem), the purchase of the precious stones and metals for the breastplate of the high priest, and the creation of the “book of the sanctuary.”

The book is obviously a very impressive attempt at fund-raising. At its conclusion it states, “Therefore, whoever is inspired and motivated to do something for the Temple, may bring the message of the Temple Institute to the attention of others: that an opportunity exists to contribute towards the hour of building the Temple in Jerusalem” (p. 110, emphasis mine).

The institute was created by Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, who served in the paratrooper brigade which liberated the Temple Mount in the Six-Day war of 1967, and was one of the first soldiers to reach the Mount.

Of course this institute is not by any means the only Jewish organization urging that a third temple be built. When Gershom Solomon (whose interview appears in the brochure, Will a Temple Soon Be Built in Jerusalem?) attempted with some of his followers to lay a symbolic cornerstone some years ago, riots broke out. Many young Arabs were killed, and the infamous “Intifada”, or Arab boycott of Israel, began.

Along with it, many acts of terrorism occurred, and continue to occur to this day.

The five tons of explosives that were detonated in Saudi Arabia recently illustrates the point.

Though the motives of the terrorists who bombed a building housing U.S. Air Force personnel in Saudi Arabia may be mixed, there is little doubt that the U.S. is seen by Islamic extremists as the “great Satan,” while Israel is characterized as the “little Satan.” As mentor of Israel, and sponsor of democracy throughout the world, the U.S. is viewed with virulent hatred by such extremists.

Terrorists who bombed the U.S. Marine Corps barracks in Lebanon years ago succeeded in driving the U.S. from Lebanon. This stark lesson has not been lost on the terrorists of today. They actually believe that governments can be forced to bow to their will, change policies, abandon allies, trade land for peace—whatever, if they can make day to day life miserable enough for their enemies.

The two major targets for terrorist attacks today are Israel and the United States.

Do not doubt that the bombing in Saudi Arabia will strengthen, rather than weaken, Benjamin Netanyahu’s insistence on “security first” in any peace negotiations in the Middle East.

A New Government in Israel

Benjamin Netanhayu was elected as Israel’s prime minister because he essentially promised the Israeli people four things.

(1) The future of Jerusalem is not negotiable. Jerusalem will remain an integrated city, the capital of Israel.

(2) The Golan Heights (above the Sea of Galilee, along Israel’s border with Syria) will remain in Israeli hands. They are not negotiable.

(3) The Jewish settlements (on the West Bank and elsewhere, towns and villages built to house immigrants in what was once Jordanian or Syrian-held land) will not be abandoned, but will be continued.

(4) There will never be a separate, sovereign “Palestinian State.”

Yet, the so-called “peace process” begun by assassinated former Prime Minister Ytzak Rabin was leading, in a slow-paced, steady manner, toward ultimate negotiations on every one of these points. The entire process was aimed at “trading land for peace,” just as Israel gave back the Sinai to Egypt.

In a recent emergency summit of Arab leaders in Cairo, each one of the four points mentioned above were absolutely insisted upon by all the Islamic nations.

(1) They demand that a sovereign, separate Palestinian State be created.

(2) They demand that the Old City of Jerusalem become its capital.

(3) They demand that existing settlements be abandoned and destroyed, and that no new settlements be constructed.

(4) They demand that Israel return the Golan heights to Syria.

In an interview with CNN, Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak emphasized each one of these four points. Though he claimed to be “optimistic” regarding Netanyahu’s new government; though he spoke of meeting with President Clinton, and, later, with Netanyahu himself, he nevertheless made it clear that all the Arab nations are united in their demands regarding those four points.

One of the leading spokespersons for the PLO, Hannah Ashwari, was even more direct. She told CNN that it was “absolutely inevitable” that Jerusalem would become the capital of a Palestinian State.

An official high in the Syrian government said, “We have been weak. But we shall become stronger. And when we are strong enough, we shall force the Israelis to withdraw from the Golan.”

Strikingly, while the Arab summit was in progress in Cairo, the European Union issued a plain warning to Israel’s new government that the “peace process must continue!”

This is new!

Never before have you heard that Europe is now beginning to use political muscle, becoming involved in events in Israel and the Mideast!

Study those four points above. Wildly cheering Israelis elected a new prime minister because of his very specific promises involving those four points! Tens of thousands of Russian immigrants now form a significant voting bloc.

Those Russian Jews want the settlements to continue.

Two very large Jewish religious parties gained a significant number of seats in the Israeli Parliament, the “Knesset.” Because of his narrow margin of victory, Netanyahu will be forced to listen to them.

The world needs to recognize, as it speaks vainly of “peace, peace, when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 8:11), that there is war ahead in the Middle East!

Now, what great events could bring about the building of a temple? What would cause a European power to intervene in the Middle East? Who, or what power, will set up the abomination of desolation?

The Specter of War

The major industrial powers of the world anxiously want peace in the Middle East. Is there anyone who does not remember the apocalyptic scenes on global television of hundreds of Kuwaiti oil wells burning; of vast seas of oil dumped into the Gulf, killing fish and birds, befouling miles and miles of shoreline, threatening fresh water plants?

The last thing in the world the European Union wants is warfare in the Mideast! Major pipelines run from Saudi Arabia across Jordan and Israel to the Mediterranean. Oil is produced in the Sinai, in all the Gulf states. One of the most chilling scenarios in the past years, including the protracted war between Iraq and Iran, was the sinking of a supertanker in the narrow Straits of Hormuz, blocking tanker access to Gulf ports.

The United States knows, as does Europe, that if Israeli citizens were to die in chemical, biological, or nuclear attack, Israel would retaliate with nuclear weapons!

Many years ago, a retired Israeli Air Force general was overlooking Jerusalem as his aircraft came in for a landing. He was being interviewed by a journalist who recorded his words. In effect, he said, “Before we Jews would ever again be herded into cattle cars to be taken to the ovens, we would pull down the temple of humanity!”

Obviously, he was referring to blinded Samson, who pulled down the pillars supporting a large building where his tormentors stood, jeering. By this suicidal act, Samson killed more people in his death than he did during his life (Judges 16:30).

Obviously, he was implying Israel, through the use of nuclear weapons, has the capacity to do just that!

It is now known that Saddam Hussein did possess chemical and biological weapons. Captured Iraqi documents and information from high-level defectors has corroborated this. It is also known, in spite of U.S. media reports to the contrary, that Saddam had warheads containing biological and chemical materials affixed to Scuds, and to aerial bombs.

What is not known is how many other Islamic states, from Saudi Arabia to Libya, from Syria to Iran, have their own stocks of such horrifying weapons.

As was covered much earlier, if a single light plane, flying over a large city, could cause the death of countless thousands by spraying anthrax, then what could missiles do if they showered hundreds of canisters that were set to explode in the air over major population centers?

Today, the Arab nations act, in their pronouncements and warnings, as if Netanyahu had not been elected! Their demands are that he continue the very peace process of his predecessor, when his campaign rhetoric was very much against that process!

Each one of the Arab spokespersons interviewed reiterated the same four points mentioned above! Yet, it is the utter intractability of the Israeli government on those points which forms the very basis of Netanyahu’s new government!

Do you see any room for negotiation in those stated positions?

Obviously not. Yet, all speak of “peace,” and say they are “optimistic.” Arab leaders, following their major summit in Cairo, issued statements about the “peace process” which sounded for all the world like they believed Perez had won, instead of Netanyahu. It was as if they brushed aside the very campaign issues that propelled Netanhayu into office, and began making it known they expected the new Israeli government to continue the previous government’s policies.

They say “peace,” and talk of the “peace process.” But, with the intractable demands by the PLO and all the Arab states that Israel “trade land for peace,” and Israel saying “not one inch!” there is little hope for peace in the region.

Rather, it is only a matter of time until war breaks out once again in the Middle East.

How will it come? Almost weekly, we read of Israeli Air Force planes and Israeli artillery retaliating against Hezbollah villages and camps in southern Lebanon, after ambushes of Israeli soldiers or terrorist attacks against civilians are carried out. It is as if a state of war already exists, but in a limited sense.

If a major war were to begin, and if, this next time, chemical or biological (or both) weapons were used against Israel, there would very likely be nuclear retaliation by Israel against its enemies.

In a frenzy of anti-Arab hatred, the mosques in Jerusalem could be dynamited and bulldozed to the ground.

In a national outcry, mourning thousands and tens of thousands of their dead, the populace might heed the constant demand by several of the religious parties (who now have a much stronger voice in the parliament) that a temple be built!

The deeply wounded nation might well attempt to repeat the example of Josiah; turn back to the God of Israel as best they know how, in hopes that God will deliver them from certain destruction!

In the event of a large-scale war against Israel, it is quite possible frenzied Israelis might destroy the mosques. That would so enrage all the Arab states that the entire Middle East would erupt in large-scale warfare; this time, in an attempt to literally annihilate the Jews, drive them “into the sea,” as many Arab states, particularly the Palestinians, have said ever since the Jewish state was established in 1948.

It is also possible that a temple could be built alongside the mosques, leaving them relatively undisturbed.

It is also possible that a symbolic corner stone could be laid, and that a dedication ceremony could occur. Even this event could trigger a massed Arab military response.

Whether war comes from an Arab attack from without, triggered by Israeli actions (or inaction, in the case of “land for peace”), or whether the Israelis themselves decide to drive deeper into southern Lebanon, war will eventually come to the Middle East—to Jerusalem—again!

Jesus Christ said so!

How the Great Tribulation Will Begin

In the event of major chemical, biological, and/or nuclear attacks in the Middle East, the whole world would be involved!

Europe depends to a large extent on Mideastern oil, just as does the United States, Japan, and much of the industrialized world!

Faced with disruption or destruction of oil-producing and shipping facilities, the major powers would be forced to intervene.

The United States, even today, could not risk a unilateral “invasion” of any Arab state. George Bush’s “coalition” was a very risky, very delicate matter of balancing many different suspicions and hatreds; of extremely difficult negotiations. Egyptian forces, for example, were not placed where they would be killing brother Arabs. Though Kuwaiti forces were allowed to enter Kuwait City first, other Arab forces did not invade Kuwait, or Iraq.

Major British forces were involved in the Gulf War. Germany sent minesweepers to the eastern Mediterranean, and contributed other token forces, but was not involved either in the bombing campaign or in the ground war.

Next time, it will be different. Within only a few years, we may see another terrible war in the Mideast. This time with European forces intervening—perhaps occupying Israel and attacking Egypt (Daniel 11:40-45)—in order to prevent a global nuclear war from breaking out, or halting a war in the region after nuclear weapons have once again been used.

Which nation could gain the most from appearing as the savior of Israel but Germany, as if in atonement for the holocaust of World War II?

Which nations could guarantee the safety of the world’s most prestigious and most popular religious figure, if he decided to go to Jerusalem?

What if this “vicar of Christ,” who would be viewed as a “prince of peace” were to ensconce himself in a newly-built temple? What if he were to have such power that great signs, wonders, and miracles were performed? What if his very presence there halted a major war already in progress? Read all of 2 Thessalonians 2 slowly and carefully.

Paul wrote, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day [the coming of Jesus Christ] shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God shewing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).

The “man of sin” who claims to “be God” is the prophesied “antichrist,” the great “false prophet” who is in collusion with the beast power. He is prophesied to “sit in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God!”

The “little horn” of Daniel 7 is the very same person as the antichrist, or the “man of sin,” called the “son of perdition.”

Daniel saw the fourth beast as “dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns” (Daniel 7:7). This was the last of the four great world-ruling empires depicted in Daniel 2 and Daniel 7. It is the same beast as that of Revelation 13, which embodies all the strongest characteristics of its predecessors.

A vast majority of Bible scholars know that Daniel’s prophecy identified the ancient Babylonian, Persian, Greco/Macedonian, and Roman empires. Most of them know that the successive stages of the so-called “Holy Roman Empire” are meant by the ten successive (not contemporaneous) governments of that system revealed in Daniel 7:7-10.

The little horn is a great church/state religious system, called “Babylon the Great” (Revelation 17:1-5). It is a mystery religion, one that is actually a state, and has concourse with many nations.

Notice: “I considered the horns [symbols of governments], and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots [the Ostrogoths, Vandals and Heruli were overthrown by the Vatican]: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of Days did sit [a picture of the second coming of Christ, and the judgment of God], whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool: His throne was like the fiery flame, and His wheels are burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him: thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The judgment was set, and the books were opened” (Daniel 7:8-10).

When does the little horn speak great things? Notice that this prophecy leads directly to the time of the second coming of Christ!

John wrote of the same thing: “And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon” (Revelation 13:11).

This lamb-like beast speaks as Satan, yet “appears” Christ-like. It masquerades as “Christian,” but is led by Satan.

“And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast [he uses the power of the state—military and political] before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed” (Revelation 13:11,12).

The deadly wound was the collapse of Rome in A.D. 476. The “deadly wound was healed” when the empire was restored by Belasarius in A.D. 554.

This Christ-like beast is the same as the little horn which speaks great things, the same as the “man of sin” of 2 Thessalonians the second chapter, the same as the Antichrist.

Notice: “And he [the lamb-like beast which speaks as Satan] doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast…” (Revelation 13:13,14).

Just as Daniel’s prophecy shows the little horn to be destroyed by Christ at His coming, so Paul wrote, of this man of sin who will appear in the temple of God, “And then shall that wicked [one] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming. Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:8-10).

This great false prophet is seized by Jesus Christ Himself at His second coming, and thrown into Gehenna fire!

“And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse [Jesus Christ], and against His army. And the beast [the coming military dictator over the final ten nations comprising the beast power—see Revelation 17:12-14] was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone” (Revelation 19:19,20).

Obviously, the final fulfillment of the “abomination of desolation” will be in human form, not as an idol, or the sacrifice of unclean animals.

This time, it is a false prophet who shall “think to change times and laws,” and who has a “mouth speaking great things,” who will have the power to call down fire from heaven to deceive the world. The blasphemous abomination which will stand in the holy place where it ought not will be the little horn, the Antichrist, the false prophet who is in collusion with the beast power.

When this occurs, millions will believe it is God incarnate who sits in the Temple; millions will be deceived. All but the “very elect,” that is. Such an occurrence is not something which would affect the United States alone. All of Europe, all of Central and South America, all of the nominal “Christian” world would be directly affected. Hundreds of millions of those who have been among the protesting “daughters” of the great harlot church (Revelation 17:5-18) will recant when they see such things!

Millions will then go right back into the great false church, believing that God incarnate is sitting on a throne in the Temple! These events will appear to be as a wondrous salvation to the millions. They will not view it as an evil thing, but as if God Himself had intervened to prevent the annihilation of Israel, and of the entire human race!

This event would occur as a move toward halting massive war in the Mideast. It would occur as a move to save the remaining Israeli population. It would occur as a move toward world peace. This great false prophet would be looked upon as the “Prince of Peace” by adoring millions in many, many nations.

By the time this occurs, the United States of America may be so deeply in the grips of the many other phases of the Great Tribulation that it will be unable to intervene, militarily, or in any other way.

Something is going to bring about the setting up of the abomination of desolation, which is twofold—an abomination standing in the holy place, and “Jerusalem surrounded by armies.”

Perhaps the aforementioned scenarios will not play out as it appears they might. They are certainly not the only possibilities. But major events seem heading in such directions, and it behooves God’s people to watch conditions; to be alert, to be aware, and to be engaged in the work of God of witness and warning so that others might also be aware, and take the actions in their own personal lives that are necessary.

No one needs to know dozens of intricate details about Bible prophecy in order to receive salvation. Salvation does not depend upon a vast knowledge of prophecy. But it was important for the prophets to know! It was important, and is, for the watchmen to know!

Only if people can know what is coming will they take the necessary actions in their own lives, with their families and loved ones. Only when people are shocked into an awareness of how near we are to the most tumultuous time in world history will they begin to call out to God in heart-felt repentance, and seek His loving mercy. 

What Events Might Cause War in the Mideast?

Perhaps a temple will be built prior to an outbreak of another major war in the Mideast. On the other hand, perhaps the outbreak of war will bring about the building of a temple, as mentioned before.

Now think about what has occurred in Saudi Arabia, where the most massive truck bomb in history killed nineteen Americans and injured hundreds more. Though four different groups claimed responsibility for the blast, both Saudi and American officials believed it was the work of Islamic extremists, probably from the Shi’ite branch of Islam.

Suddenly, the Saudi government shocked the United States and Israel when Crown Prince Abdullah, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler (King Fahd is 75, and ailing), flew to Damascus for two days of meetings with the presidents of Syria and Egypt.

This surprising development occurred immediately following Benjamin Netanyahu’s narrow victory in Israel.

It was seen as an attempt to resurrect the old axis of the largest Arab powers set up by Egypt’s President Nasser in the late 1950s, called the “United Arab Republic,” or the UAR.

Quoting Yaha Sadowski of the Brookings Institute, the Washington Times said, “The old Saudi-Egyptian-Syrian axis that launched the 1973 Yom Kippur War has been reconstructed, not to wage war but to expedite the Israel-Arab peace process.”

The three Arab leaders, in a plain-language warning to Israel, said, “Any retraction by Israel on the basis of the peace process or going back on its commitments and pledges that have been reached…represents a real threat of returning the region to the cycle of tension and violence.”

Abdullah is also exploring improved relations with Iraq as a counterbalance to the threat from Shi’ite Iran. About10 percent of Saudi Arabia’s population is Shi’ite Muslim, and they live in the oil-producing eastern regions of the country.

The speed with which the Arab summit in Cairo was set up was another surprise for both the United States and Israel. Saudi Arabia has previously kept a low profile in international diplomacy.

At the present time, it is not clear who will emerge to fulfil the Biblically-prophesied king of the south of Daniel 11. Neither is the king of the north clearly revealed as yet.

Still, with movement toward a new pan-Arab union of some kind, with the European Union issuing warnings to the Israeli government, and with the United States in the awkward position of maintaining a military presence in Saudi Arabia while at the same time heavily supporting Israel, it will not be very long before U.S. leadership in the region will be replaced by other powers.

How will the Great Tribulation begin?

It will begin exactly as Jesus Christ said it would, with droughts, famines, disease epidemics, wars, and rumors of wars. The preliminary part of the Great Tribulation may already have begun! “Tribulation” means “trouble.” A time of great world trouble, such as was never before. Review all you have read. Think about what you see and hear in your own nightly news.

It yet remains for the detailed, specific things Jesus predicted to come to pass. At this moment, there is no temple in Jerusalem. Just now, we do not yet know who will emerge as the king of the south or the king of the north of Daniel 11:40-45. At the moment, though Europe is united in many ways, it certainly is not a military dictatorship. At the moment, there is no abomination of desolation standing in the holy place. At the moment, there are no armies surrounding Jerusalem (Luke 21:20). Yet, many, many other events which Jesus described seem to be taking place, mounting up, growing in proportion. The potential for major war in the Middle East is growing rapidly, as is the potential for war in Korea and elsewhere.

“Then Lift Up Your Heads…”

In spite of these terrifying conditions all around us, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ tells us “see that ye be not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet” (Matthew 24:6).

As I have researched and written this booklet, I have come to know more than ever before the feelings of some of God’s prophets of old who were astonished, and who rendered physically sick at what God revealed to them! the horrors of drought, famine, disease and war are extremely depressing—just as nearly all of our nightly news is depressing!

Somehow, God’s people must resist this feeling of woe, hopelessness, and depression! We must be joyfully obedient to Christ’s command, “see that ye be not troubled!”

Jesus also said, “And when these things [the events of the “Great Tribulation”] begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh!” (Luke 21:28).

When we are “down,” we tend to look down. We walk with stooped shoulders, downcast. But Jesus Christ tells us no matter how horrible the events around us, we should look up; hold our heads up, square our shoulders, have courage and faith to know that all will be well in the long run.

The old saying, “it is always darkest just before the dawn,” should be applied. things are going to get much, much worse in our old sin-sick world before they get any better. All these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet!

Now, do you know which specific prophecy Jesus Christ said would be fulfilled just before the tribulation?

Notice what He said, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14).

Notice that this verse immediately precedes His warning about the abomination of desolation, yet comes after His predictions of wars, droughts, famines, disease, and religious persecution!

Paraphrased, Jesus said, “And this joyous, happy announcement of My coming world-ruling government shall be proclaimed all over the world, and then the end of man’s civilization will come.”

Jesus Christ is coming to rule this world with a rod of iron (Revelation 2:26; 3:21; 20:4; 19:11-21). He will intervene just before mankind would completely exterminate himself in a mindless frenzy of chemical, biological and nuclear warfare!

“And except those days [the terrible days of tribulation] should be shortened [the time cut short, stopped!], there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24:22).

How we should praise God for those great words of encouragement, for Christ’s promise that His elect will be spared from these horrifying things to come!

There is not one person in the United States or the entire British Commonwealth of nations out of one thousand who truly knows and understands what is coming on our nations; on Israel, the Mideast, and the world!

The millions are in complete ignorance of the meaning of the times in which we live!

Recently, when Islamic terrorists blasted the lives out of nineteen Americans and injured hundreds in Saudi Arabia, a courageous sergeant, stationed like a “watchman” on the roof, looked down and saw the big tanker truck pull up, followed by a car. He saw the men hurry out of the truck and jump in the car, and saw the car speed away.

Frantically, he ran down into the building, began yelling at the top of his lungs, banging on doors, trying to alert and warn his fellow service personnel. “BOMB! BOMB!” he screamed out. Some few responded, but he only had time to cover about the top three floors before the huge blast shattered the night, blew him off his feet, and killed and injured hundreds!

What would you do if your neighbor’s house were on fire, and you thought they were asleep in an upstairs bedroom with their children? Would not you care deeply? Would not you want to warn them of what was happening?

So it is with God’s people who are deeply dedicated to the “work of the watchman,” who believe God’s work must be done before the end of our civilization as we know it.

What are their motives?

As God told Ezekiel, “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye! turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O House of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11).

Their motives are completely selfless! They are gripped by spiritual zeal, an urgency to do God’s work! They know it is a saving work, a work that urges people to repent, to be baptized, to receive God’s Holy Spirit, and become His begotten child—but also a work which urgently seeks to save their families, their precious children and grandchildren alive!

They know Christ said, “Watch ye therefore, and pray always [pray without ceasing, daily prayer], that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36).

Yes, how wonderful it would be to be able to escape all these things that are to happen—to have protection for ourselves and our loved ones!

God promises to His elect, “A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Eternal, which is my Refuge, even the Most High, thy Habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling” (Psalm 91:7-10).

Christ said, “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake, but there shall not an hair of your head perish” (Luke 21:17,18). 

So what are we to do?

First, we need to know that we are repentant before God. We need to know He has begotten us as His own child. We need to know we are a part of His work. We need to know we are among those “whom his Lord when He cometh shall find so doing” (Matthew 24:46).

Clearly, God promises each and every one of us we will not be tested or tried “above that we are able to bear” (1 Corinthians. 10:13), but will make a way of escape for each of His people (Revelation 3:10).

There is not one thing you or I can “do” about the situation in the Middle East, or about drought, or famine, or plague, or war. We cannot influence government, and of course we do not attempt to do so.

But we can do the work of the watchman! We can be like the courageous sergeant who shouted out a warning to his fellows; who urgently, desperately tried to save as many of them as he could!

May the Eternal God inspire you to have a part in His work of witness and warning; His work of proclaiming the blessed, happy, joyous good news of the coming Kingdom of God to a suffering, pain-ridden, war-torn world!

Let us never forget to pray as we watch. Remember, the very first request Jesus Christ said we should make in our daily prayers is “Thy kingdom come”!

The nearer we are to the horrifying times of the Great Tribulation, the nearer we are to the second coming of Jesus Christ! Therefore, let us, as we see these things coming upon a sin-sick, suffering world, “lift up our heads,” because we know our redemption draws nigh.

You may copy and distribute this information only to friends and family without changes, without charge and with full credit given to the author and publisher. You may not publish it for general audiences.

This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man’s word for anything, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible.

The activities of the Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association are paid for by tithes, offerings and donations freely given by Christians and co-workers who are dedicated to preaching the gospel according to Jesus Christ.

The post The Great Tribulation… Is It About to Happen? first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.