“But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with.”
1Corinthians 13:8
PLEASE NOTE: Because Bible versions sometimes differ from each other in crucial ways, the version quoted here will be the one that best clarifies the point being made. For a quick comparison between versions, please go to: http://www.biblehub.com. All bracketed material may be authorial comments, attempts at proper syntax, or minimal rewordings of Scripture for the sake of clarity and continuity. These emendations will not be italicized. The “/” will be used to signify “and/or.” The symbol “↔” is used to connect verses corroborating each other and so establishing doctrinal truths (Matthew 18:16↔2Corinthians 13:1). In differentiating between Yahweh Son [Jesus] and Yahweh Father [the Most High God], lower case letters have been used when discussing the former; upper case letters are reserved for the Only and Most High God. Since Jesus was at pains to differentiate himself from Father, we have followed his lead here. The term neo-Christians will be used to differentiate between false Christians and Jesus’ true followers. The verse quoted above is an example of prophecies to come. To put it colloquially, until Father decides to pull the plug on this world of ours (Revelation 16:17), remaining prophecies need to be fulfilled. Some things to come are the topic of many Old Testament prophecies;1 but after Armageddon, no longer serving any purpose, prophecies will be done away with. Languages will also disappear: Citizens in Father‘s Kingdom will speak the same ‘tongue’—i.e., Christian doctrine, have the same belief, the same God, and the same unity of purpose (Jeremiah 31:33↔Hebrews 10:16; Ephesians 4:3-6).2 And in terms of knowledge gained, be it the vast sum of human knowledge or Father‘s “hidden wisdom,” neither will play a role in a brand-new, unprecedented order of things (Isaiah 65:17↔Revelation 21:4; Ecclesiastes 1:11). Again to put it colloquially, everything will start from scratch. What concerns us here are prophecies to be fulfilled in our times; but always with the understanding that while prophecies point in one direction (Luke 21:23), it is for no human being past or present [including Nostradamus] to know their full import until they happen (Ezekiel 33:33; Daniel 12:4↔1Peter 1:10-12). From the perspective that Father means to put an end to human shenanigans and on the basis of Scripture, we may suggest interpretations about contemporary events and the people driving them; but in no wise can we—or the legions of self-appointed prophets past and present [↔Deuteronomy 18:20-22; Jeremiah 23:21,25-26,30-32,36,38; Ezekiel 13:9-16↔1Thessalonians 5:3]—dare argue our interpretations are cast-iron. And even though predictions by false prophets may contain kernels of truth in order for Father to test our faith (Deuteronomy 13:1-5, 18:22), we will recognize their falseness by words and deeds diametrically opposed to Father‘s objectives. The Two-Horned Lamb We pick up here where we left off in Part III: The possible identities embodying the “two-horned lamb” of Revelation 13:11-17; which unlike the “beast” of Revelation 13:1, representing an amalgam of peoples converging in and founding Europe, rose from the “sea”—in Scripture oftentimes symbolic of humanity at large. We find this approach in Luke 21:25, “On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea“; and more to the point in Revelation 17:15, the implication being that since specific rivers denote specific nations—i.e., Nile = Egypt; Volga = Russia; Ganges = India; Thames = England; etc., all rivers empty into the oceans and therefore the Scriptural “sea” symbolizes collective mankind. The same idea is implicit in Job 41:1, where “Leviathan” is the monster alluded to in Psalms 74:13 [note reference to multiple heads]; Psalms 104:26 [where the sea is Leviathan’s ‘playground’—i.e., our world, Satan’s realm (Isaiah 14:6,16-17,20↔Hebrews 2:14; John 14:30] and Isaiah 27:1 [where Leviathan is described as the “gliding, coiling serpent/sea dragon,” which links us to Revelation 20:2↔Ezekiel 29:3].3 The “two-horned lamb,” however, is terrestrial, matching the description of Daniel 8:20’s “lamb,” itself representative of the Medo-Persian empire. If Daniel’s “two horns” sharing the same body were Darius the Mede (Daniel 5:31) and Cyrus II the Persian (Ezra 1:1), this suggests a common heritage and dominance agendas, which was the case amongst European nations and countries colonized by them; but exclusively in terms of the “two-horned lamb,” two Western superpowers with technologies to perform what Revelation 13:13 and 16-17 attribute to them. These superpowers must be Western because though there are obvious contenders like China, non-Western nations are never the focus of end-times prophecy. During the Holy Roman Empire, which could be the “beast” both in Daniel 7:21,23-25, 8:23-25 [note prophesied destruction on verse 25 “not by human hand” of Babylon the Great (Vatican Rome?)↔Revelation 17:5,12-18, 18:2,8,10] and Revelation 13:5-7, modern Western nations were shaped by European religious, social, and political systems of belief—whether through conquerors or immigrants dispensing intimidation and outright genocide. If we then apply Paul’s ‘potentiality’ argument,4 the modern West was ‘potentially’ present in the Old and, in Scriptural terms at least, ‘potentially’ guilty of the latter’s deeds. History very clearly supports this contention. The only two—at present—Western superpowers are the United States and Russia; and in the context of Daniel 8:30↔Revelation 13:11, the “two horns” must be leaders of both nations pursuing an agenda of absolute control. The current Russian “horn” is tentatively identifiable—and we say tentatively because there is always the possibility that a second-in-command replacing him might pursue his same or even more egregious policies. The American “horn” will manifest himself—as well as his possible replacement—during the coming November 2024 elections; though on the basis of what is being reported in the news, he too is tentatively identifiable. Names are irrelevant; follow Jesus’ metric: By their actions and words you shall know them (Matthew 7:20; Luke 6:45); though with respect to Luke’s comments, we may expect the worst from both these “horns” given their objectives and modus operandi [↔Genesis 6:5; Ecclesiastes; Luke 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:2; James 3:6-8]. Similarities between them: a) Their fear of exposure (John 3:20); resorting to means of hiding/twisting the truth to figuratively and oftentimes literally silence their critics. b) Casting aspersions (Exodus 20:26; Jeremiah 38:4; Amos 7:10-11; Luke 7:33-34, 23:2,14; Acts 24:4-6) in order to discredit opponents. c) Inciting divisions (Proverbs 11:29; Titus 3:10-11) by relying on one or more of Satan’s ‘poker hand cards’ [See All About Satan, Parts VI and VII]. d) Appealing to national security in order to justify personal agendas (Jeremiah 38:3-4; John 11:50-51). e) Advocating civil unrest in order to consolidate power, a no-no in Scripture as well as proof of challenging Father‘s authority (Romans 13:1-2; 1Peter 2:13-14); not the case with the Russian “horn” but advocated ceaselessly by the possible American “horn.” The argument here is that effective leaders must be dictators and if need be assassinate opponents (2Samuel 17:1-4,12-14; 1Kings 21:6-13); thus placing themselves above the law. Let us never forget that if Satan—with Father‘s permission, of course [Luke 4:5-6↔Daniel 5:21; John 19:11↔Isaiah 53:10; John 18:11]—empowers the worst human beings to rule over nations, these leaders, like Satan, will crave absolute power (Isaiah 14:13-14) and set in motion the destruction of their followers [↔Isaiah 14:12,20; Revelation 20:8-9]. f) Surrounding themselves with like-minded minions, be them relatives or cronies, who will champion their agendas in order to secure privileged positions, power-sharing, or for lucre (Judges 9:2-5;1Samuel 8:15; 1Kings 12:8-15,19; Proverbs 29:12). g) And last but not least involving divine agencies to give their agendas a veneer of heavenly endorsement; a ploy used to launch the Crusades; justify the Inquisition; Holy Roman Empire’s suppression of heretics and dissidents; wholesale genocides in Africa and the Americas; cults of personality as seen in Japan during WWII, Nazi Germany, Iraq, and present-day North Korea; yet at work in contemporary American politics, where even Bibles are being sold to raise capital and Jesus used as a point of comparison. As added identifiers, very relevant pre-November 2024 elections, two additional pearls of wisdom: Proverbs 4:14-16: “Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep [devising “spins”?] till they make someone stumble” [i.e., pied-piping people to their doom]; and Ecclesiastes 10:12-13: “The words of a fool are self-destructive [↔James 3:5-6]. At the beginning his words are foolish and at the end his talk is wicked madness”—both figuratively and literally. So despite what we may choose to believe or do regarding those to whom we commit ourselves, do not say you were never warned (Ezekiel 33:11; Hebrews 12:25). To Obey or not to Obey: That is the Challenge Which brings us to the responsibilities and consequences Father places us in: Challenge Judeo-Christian misconceptions (Ezekiel 3:18-21), live up to Judeo-Christian precepts and suffer repercussions for doing so (Matthew 16:25↔John 16:2; Mark 8:38; 1Corinthians 9:16; 2Timothy 3:12; 1Peter 2:20-21↔John 13:15). This chain of events is the gist of Acts 5:26-39, where priests [church] in cahoots with the state [guards] arrested the Apostles (v. 26-27) for challenging the status quo (v. 28); whereupon the Apostles pointed out the “necessity” of obeying Father rather than men (v. 29). One would imagine the priests would have agreed with such a stance; but because they were spiritually compromised (Matthew 16:6↔Galatians 5:9; Matthew 23:13-28) thought of killing the Apostles to safeguard their positions and livelihood (v.33). The sole dissenter, Gamaliel [Paul’s teacher↔Acts 22:3], argued the only sensible course of action: If this be a human endeavor, let it be and it will fail, but if it is Father‘s, stand out of the way so as not to be found opposing Him (v. 34-39)—to Paul the only logical thing to do (1Corinthians 10:22↔Daniel 4:34-35). However, the Bible is written text, not thunderbolts from Heaven zapping the disobedient; which brings us to a ‘side-effect’ of Father‘s forbearance (Isaiah 55:7; Ezekiel 33:11; Matthew 13:29-30; 2Peter 3:9): Solomon’s troubling observation that human evil prospers because Father does not nip it in the bud (Ecclesiastes 8:11). Which in turns leads to a reality we have often discussed: Evil exists because Father allows it; Satan can only act if Father lets Him; and if Satan’s minions walk all over the righteous, it serves Father‘s objective in perfecting the latter (Leviticus 26:43↔Micah 7:9; Isaiah 51:22-23; Hebrews 2:10, 12:5-10). To be frank about, while all this sounds very inspiring, we are being asked to bite the bullet and grin and bear it while doing so—like Jesus himself was forced to do (Isaiah 53:6,10; Matthew 26:53-54↔2Kings 6:15-17; John 18:11↔James 5:6). What May Lie Ahead For Us Disasters piling up upon disasters, pure and simple (Ezekiel 7:5-27): Wars, famines, and natural upheavals (Matthew 24:7-8)—maybe nature’s way of “vomiting” us up? [↔Leviticus 18:28]; dwindling food/water resources bringing with them diseases and in-fighting; unprecedented global warming (Revelation 16:8-9) and its predicted consequences—which by the way are occurring faster than estimated. All of which lead up to the prophecies pertinent to our times: A semblance of human problems having been resolved but not really (1Thessalonians 5:3); an overt attempt to hide failed policies by shoring up a respected, religious leader perceived to be Son‘s representative on earth (Revelation 13:14-15,18)5—but gotten rid of when no longer of use (Revelation 17:16-18). Then the ultimate gambit: Get rid of Father and Son altogether (Psalms 2:1-3, 74:8), thus precipitating Father‘s wrath. Proving Solomon’s contention that past is prelude to the future (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10), we find evidence of this in 2Chronicles 36:14-16, Jeremiah 5:23-31, and Revelation 9:20-21. Contradicting, do they not, rosy predictions by neo-Christians that a ‘spiritual revival’ lies ahead for mankind; and that Father is tickled pink with our worldly pursuits/priorities [↔Isaiah 2212-14↔James 4:2-4; Luke 17:26-30; 1John 2:15-16)? Why do they preach this? Because they know this is what we want to hear [↔Isaiah 30:10] and by so doing secure their livelihoods and authority over us; which again is nothing new under the sun (Jeremiah 23:15-17,22,32).6 What is John’s point in 1John 2:19, 4:5-6? That their acceptance, fame and prestige identifies them just as surely as the brand Yahweh Son placed on Cain’s forehead (Genesis 4:15); which by the way set a precedent in connection to people spared divine judgments (Ezekiel 9:4; Revelation 7:3-4) and the elect in Father‘s Kingdom (Revelation 3:17, 22:4↔Isaiah 56:5). End-times is, in fact, “the night no one can work.” There have been countless “nights” throughout the ages when despite overwhelming odds, Jesus’ work continued and bore fruit. But this ‘future’ night is unprecedented in human history, the time when Judeo-Christians will be sorely tested unless meriting special consideration for their righteousness (Revelation 7:3-4, 14:3-5↔Ezekiel 9:6);7 when we shall all realize whether our loyalties/priorities to family and others were justified or misplaced [↔Deuteronomy 28:53-57; Micah 6:7; Matthew 10:21]. When it all boils down to saving one’s skin, fear of death being Satan’s trump card over men (Hebrews 2:15), do not expect human bonds to preempt survival tactics; because in times when evil is exalted, human beings will do the unthinkable to live another day. Now, what is the lowdown of all of this? That for these things to happen there must be a synergy between state and church. Both Jesus and Paul were victims of this unholy alliance; and we find it with respect to Revelation’s “two horns” concocting policies/agendas with admixtures of nationalism, faith, conservative values, and national greatness. Orthodox Russian priests have blessed weapons of mass destruction and support their “horn‘s” oppressive agendas; evangelicals rally behind the prospective American “horn” by transgressing Judeo-Christian norms like treating immigrants humanely and justly [↔Exodus 22:21; Leviticus 19:33-34, 25:35; Deuteronomy 1:16]; discriminating amongst ethnicities/races [↔John 1:12 11:53↔Hosea 1:10; Acts 10:34-35; Galatians 3:26,28; 1John 1:9,11, 3:10,23, 4:20]; and attacking authorities [↔Romans 13:1-2; 1Peter 2:13-16]. Adding insult to injury, neo-Christians engage in prayer circles to empower “anti-Christs” [↔1John 1:18] over them; or to thank Father for storming institutions of government established by Him (Daniel 5:21) and therefore off-limits to true Christians—which if attempted against will bring dire consequences (Romans 13:1-2; 1Peter 2:13-16). This is not the kind of “spectacle” Paul had in mind (1Corinthians 4:19); but which to our shame we present to unbelievers dismayed by the contradiction between neo-Christian stances and Christian doctrine. What is implicit here? “God sends them a deceiving power so that they will believe the lie in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness“ (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12). At the risk of sounding like a broken record, who is allowing the deceiving power? Father. Who works out the deception? Satan through his minions. What is the end result? That transgressors cannot realize the damning consequences of their actions, perceiving as victory the betrayal of everything Jesus stands for. This Father–imposed ‘blindness’ prompted Jesus’ prayer from the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34); as well as Paul’s acknowledgement of Satan’s hold over evildoers (Ephesians 2:2) and attendant consequences (Hebrews 6:4-6). To cut to the chase, what we are now experiencing here, abroad, and especially throughout Christendom is the apostasy prophesied by Paul, which must precede Jesus’ return; giving rise to a man within the Church [not any particular denomination, but the conceptual body of Christ wherein Father dwells↔Ephesians 1:23; Colossians 2:9), professing to be God’s representative on earth (2Thessalonians 2:2-10↔Ezekiel 28:2-3, Daniel 8:23). Always a rule of thumb, you must connect the dots between the Scripture Paul paraphrased (Ezekiel 28:2); the “king” (Ezekiel 28:12-19) who this “prince” [i.e., high priest↔Acts 23:5] serves; and the headquarters they share in common (Revelation 2:13, 18:2↔17:5,9). Other Pointers without Specifics a) Psalms 74:8: Closure of places of worship? b) Amos 8:11-12: Suppression of written/digitalized Scripture? c) Revelation 13:11-17: Intimidation via orbiting weaponry and social control by technological means? d) Revelation 8,9,16: Global disasters and great loss of life. Note Revelation 9 with its focus on the inescapable torment of evildoers (v. 9:6) once Satan is given the key (v. 9:1-2,11) to release his angels from their imprisonment [↔2Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6], an unstoppable army 200 million strong (v. 9:16) prophesied in Joel 2:11-11. Note Revelation 16:8 with its focus on increased solar activity—leading to rising seas; destructive weather patterns; playing havoc with electric grids/communication systems, perhaps a contributing factor in Amos 8:11-12? Note Revelation 16:18, the unprecedented earthquake prophesied in Psalms 18:15 and Isaiah 13:13; and the hail, according to Job 38:22-23, stored overhead for the hour of its deployment (Revelation 16:21). The Keys to Salvation: Patience… When Jesus said, “By your patient endurance, you will gain your souls” (Luke 21:19), he was not being inspiring: He was telling it like it is. You may be facing worse things than those I did (Luke 23:21); but despite whatever Father allows to come upon you, submit to it and wait on Him for deliverance (John 16:33↔Hebrews 2:10, 5:8-9; 1Peter 5:10). These are the realities running through Scriptures like Psalms 34:19; Zechariah 13:9↔Job 23:10; Isaiah 48:10; 1Peter 1:6-7; 1Corinthians 10:13; Ephesians 6:13; Hebrews 12:5-9; James 4:9-10; Revelation 12:11. We may deceive ourselves by thinking Jesus is in the bag or by parroting John 3:16 like some magical incantation; but just as Paul had to be raked over the coals in order to merit the new name Jesus will give his true spiritual offspring (Acts 9:16; Galatians 6:17↔Isaiah 65:15; Revelation 2:17), so do we have to be raked over the coals to earn ours. If we do not suffer like he did, we do not inherit with him (Romans 8:17; 2Timothy 2:12). Jesus’ “patience” boils down to enduring inescapable ordeals to the bitter end (Matthew 24:13↔Hebrews 12:1-7; 2Timothy 3:12). …and Total, Unquestioned Obedience The Most High God may be Father but He is nothing like human daddies: He is Deity as well as a “consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29); and as such, not open or amenable to discussions. When He said, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” because Mine are higher than yours (Isaiah 55:8-9), He preempted all attempts at bargaining: You do as you are told, or else! This is the gist of Proverbs 1:7, where the “fear” spoken of is not quaking and shaking, but the certainty that if disobeyed, He will bring us to task [↔Jeremiah 30:11; Micah 7:9]. Jesus encouraged that fear (Matthew 10:28) and so did the Apostles (1Corinthians 10:22; 1Peter 5:6); and it is that fear, coupled with unquestioned obedience, that earn us the boon to be heard by Him (Job 35:13; Psalms 34:15, 66:18, 145:19; Proverbs 15:29, 28:9; John 9:31; 1John 3:22). We do not obey, we are cut off His loop, plain and simple. So if any of us are pipe-dreaming about ‘special relationships with the Lord’ without paying our dues, let us not question the Lord’s absence in our hour of need: We got what we sowed. And if we prefer to heed the optimistic cheerleading of neo-Christian evangelists who assure us Father is on our side, remember your Galatians 6:3: “If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” Last Words In Romans 15:4 Paul told us that the Scriptures were written down “to give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.” But however comforting this may sound, Father added His personal perspective in Psalms 37:1-18 and Proverbs 4:14-27 in answer to the nagging questions we all ask (Malachi 3:14-17) and which may weaken our resolve whether to follow the right path or not (Matthew 7:13-14). The “two horns,” their enablers, abettors and followers, will cause untold harm—no doubts about that; and they will wax triumphant even when trampling down every Christian norm. They will drag us all down into the proverbial hole. The challenge—our challenge—is to see things through; endure events that have been prophesied; and wait patiently until Father‘s allotted time of grace has expired (Isaiah 49:8, 55:6-8; Zephaniah 2:2-3; 1Timothy 2:3-4↔Ezekiel 33:11; 2Peter 3:9), when only what Paul called “help in time of need” may be found (Hebrews 4:16). This kind of last-ditch, divine assistance may be what Jesus had in mind when intimating Peter’s martyrdom (John 21:18-19); and in our case may be reason why time must be cut short during the Great Tribulation in order to be saved (Matthew 24:21-22↔Psalms 125:3). Having mentioned the November 2024 elections and in the spirit of 1Thessalonians 5:21, we would like to close with two non-Scriptural pearls of wisdom: One from H.L Mencken, “The men the American public admire most extravagantly are the most daring liars; the men they detest more violently are those who try to tell them the truth”; and one from Scottish poet Charles Mackay: “Men, it has been said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.” Since time and again history has proved both men right, may Father have mercy on us all. 1 Amongst them an end to wars (Isaiah 2:4); a new cosmos and earth where former sins and suffering will not be remembered (Isaiah 30:26, 43:25, 65:16-17↔Matthew 24:35; 2Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1,4); and the restoration of animal natures/behaviors to Edenic standards (Isaiah 11:6-9↔Genesis 1:29-30). Yet Father has other things in store beyond human imagining [↔1Corinthians 2:9]. 2 Which in effect is undoing what was imposed at Babel (Genesis 11:6-9)—the reason why “Babylon” not only identifies Satan’s realm/headquarters (Isaiah 14:4-20↔Luke 4:5-6; Hebrews 2:14; 1John 5:19; Revelation 2:3, 18:2), but also symbolizes the world at large where human agendas at odds with each other create the divisiveness that dooms humankind [↔Matthew 12:25]. 3 Which is enhanced by Ezekiel 29:4 and Job 41:2. Job’s “Leviathan” is no mythical sea-monster: It is symbolic of Satan in terms of might (Job 41:14-24); in terms of fearsomeness (Job 41:25-29); in terms of destructiveness (Job 41:30-31↔Isaiah 14:6,20; Daniel 7:19↔Ezekiel 32:2); and in terms of defying Father and Son (Job 41:33-34↔Ezekiel 21:10-11,13-14; Isaiah 14:13-15↔Luke 10:18; Revelation 12:9, 20:2). 4 The notion expressed in Hebrews 7:9-10 that because Abraham paid tithes, so had grand-son Levi yet to be born. Paul was not here musing off the top of his head: There were ample precedents supporting his thesis—as for example, still unborn humanity inheriting Adam’s sinfulness (Genesis 3:17↔Romans 5:12) as well as salvation obtained through Jesus (Romans 5:14,18-19; 1Corinthians 15:21-22; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 12:24↔Genesis 4:10; Revelation 5:9); and the trials and tribulations of the Church, Jesus’ conceptual body (Ephesians 5:30-31), as foreshadowed in Eve’s punishment (Genesis 3:15-16↔2Timothy 3:12; Revelation 12:1,4,17). 5 De rigueur political sidestepping. 6 Pay attention to the human condition during end-times in Jeremiah 23:20↔Deuteronomy 31:29; Lamentations 2:14, 4:13; Ezekiel 22:26-27↔Zephaniah 3:3-4; Ezekiel 34:2-5; Matthew 23:13; Acts 20:29-30. 7 A dire statistic. Assuming a global population of 8 billion, do the math: 144,000 / 8,000,000,000 = 0.000018 or 0.0018% righteous Judeo-Christians to be spared the final plagues.
BIBLE FOR END TIMES 