Hope For A Hopeless Generation

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Revelation 6:9-11 MP3 Downloadable PodcastRevelation 6:9-11 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: 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, should be fulfilled.

In our last two studies, we’ve explored the truth that when Jesus Christ opens a seal and reads the scroll, He is releasing/giving permission to the four horsemen to do their work. Here, we see Him opening the 5th seal and reading the scroll, releasing/giving permission for an event to unfold. Specifically, He gives permission for elevated persecution of Christians (both Jew and Gentile) to happen in the world on a global scale.

And as Jesus Christ is reading this scroll, the Apostle John saw the multitudes of souls of the martyrs and the persecuted all throughout the church age (starting from Jesus Christ’s death on the cross, resurrection from the grave and ascension back into heaven) who were slain for the word of God (meaning, the teaching of the Holy Bible and the preaching of the Gospel of Christ). They also died because of their testimony (meaning, how they walked with Christ on earth before their death).

What does this mean exactly? Christians (both Jew and Gentile) who knew Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, followed Him unto death were murdered because they ministered the truth by the direction of the Holy Spirit and lived to love, honor and glorify God in holiness and righteousness according to the Holy Bible standards. And obeyed God to the very end of their lives as it had been revealed to us in the opening statement of Verse 9,

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:

And as you read on, it also tells us that the martyred and the persecuted who died, cried out to God as if in prayer, asking Him in Verse 10, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

God does answer them but first, He gives them a white robe, which is the garment of salvation. And then tells them, ‘rest yet for a little season,’ meaning, this is God’s way of saying: ‘don’t worry about it! In time, I will judge and avenge the blood of the martyred and the persecuted. But rest, take no thought of this because it shouldn’t concern you now!’

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, should be fulfilled.

So we see, as Jesus Christ reads the scroll, He releases/gives permission for this event to unfold. Now the question is, who is Jesus Christ giving permission to perform this next seal? There are two things happening here that causes this event to unfold on a global scale as we speak:

The influences of the horsemen
The Holy Spirit slowly taken out of the way of the antichrist spirit

There is a reason why the Four Horsemen were mentioned first in Revelation 6. In our last study it was revealed that these horsemen are working together, Preparing the way for the antichrist.

And in this case they are working together to bring forth the next level of judgment. The 1st, 2nd and 4th Horsemen are involved in this promised Biblical persecution. And they will continue their work through the great tribulation period as preparing the way for the anitchrist This is why God spoke these words to the souls of them that were slain,

rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

God will eventually avenge their blood in the destruction of Babylon (Revelation 19:2) and in the final eternal judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). But until then…

The Influences of The Horsemen

The 1st Horsemen of deception: influences the world with lies, deception and misinformation; this is what this horseman specializes in (Revelation 6:1-2). His conquest is against the gospel message of salvation, against the Holy Bible, and against Christians and Jews. So How is he influencing people of all ages, class and race across the world?

In this day and hour the church body of Christians and Jews are dealing with lies and hatred because of misinformation and personal opinions and emotions that rules over any real facts today. He is creating an atmosphere in the minds of people today of intolerance of the truth; gas-lighting the ignorant into hatred, lawlessness and rebellion against all moral, virtuous and ethical standards.

The 2nd Horsemen of War: takes peace from the earth (Revelation 6:3-4). If there is no longer any discernible truth, and all things are subjective based upon one opinion or feelings, then there are no absolutes; therefore there is no peace. And this horseman uses the works of deception and influences people in emotionalism through anger and hatred towards Christianity and Israel. Waging a “culture war” against the truth of the Holy Bible.

The 4th Horsemen of Death: Influences people with humanism to take action in their anger, hatred, intolerance and lawlessness against Christians and Jews with persecution to the point of death globally (Revelation 6:7-8). And these three Horsemen are working together to persecute Christians and Jews.

The Root of Persecution

Jesus Christ has promised persecution. And He even ministers the reason why people will hate Christians and Jews. It’s because of Jesus Christ,

John 15:18-21 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. But all these things will they do unto you for My name’s sake, because they know not Him that sent Me.

John 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hate Me without a cause.

And every one, who hates Jesus Christ, hates the Holy Ghost and hates the Holy Bible who also hates God! And their hatred is without cause! There is no intellectual reason for their hatred. All because it’s not a mental hatred, but an absolute hatred in their very soul, and that’s the spirit within them. The spirit of the world, of the sinful flesh and of the influence of the devil! The spirit of antichrist.

Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for My names sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved

And Jews are not exempt from this. Because people know enough that Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judah in Israel. Born of a virgin Jew, and His disciples He warns were Jews also. So this concurs in V:11,

rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Who are the “fellow servants” and who are the “brethren?” Christians are fellow servants of the God of the Hebrews. And the Hebrews are the brethren of Christians. You see, the root of Christianity Is the One true God of the Jews; The God of Abraham; Isaac; and Jacob; El Elyon! Christianity are the branches that were grafted into the one olive tree of Judaism if you will, as it has been revealed by the Holy Ghost through the Apostle Paul in,

Romans 11 I say then, Hath God cast away His people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away His people which He foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying, Lord, they have killed Thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to Myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead. For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not thee.

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in His goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.

For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the Father’s sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all.

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor? Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto Him again? For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

And so we see persecution has been happening to both Christians and the Jews. To the Jew first, going all the way back to Egypt thousands of years ago, and has escalated since WW2. And to the Christians, we’ve been going through persecution since the day when Jesus Christ was crucified in waves up to today, globally. Jesus Christ revealed the root cause of this increased hatred for Christians and Jews in this day and hour according to,

Matthew 24:9-13 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.

Jesus Christ is showing us in detail, why persecution is happening globally. All this is happening right now as another series of signs, pointing to the rapture of the church; persecution. Jews and Christians are being put to death increasingly all around the world. Not just because of the influence of lies, distrust and ignorance of the truth.

Not just because this is a sign that humanity is becoming spiritually bankrupt and losing their own souls, due to the hatred and rejection of Christ and of the truth. It’s all this, plus… the influence of all three horsemen; especially the Horsemen of Death, bringing forth Covid 19. You may be asking yourselves, ‘What does Covid 19 Have to do with all this?’

Covid 19 surprisingly adds understanding to what Jesus Christ has revealed about why the offense, betrayal, and hatred has increased in these days. There is an interesting study that has revealed a connection between Covid 19 and personality changes. Could it be possible that those who were affected with Covid are increasingly doing what Jesus Christ has prophetically warned us about? Yes, it’s possible!

The University of Medicine has been studying personality changes prior to the global pandemic of Covid 19. And then mid pandemic and now post pandemic. And their findings are interesting thus far…

“The research, published in PLOS ONE, found that the population-wide stressor of the pandemic made younger adults moodier, more prone to stress, less cooperative and trusting and less restrained and responsible.”
“The analysis showed relatively few changes between pre-pandemic and early pandemic assessments, with only a small decline in neuroticism. But when the pre-pandemic personality was compared to the 2021-2022 data, there were declines in extraversion, openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness. The changes were about one-tenth of a standard deviation, which is equivalent to about one decade of normative personality change.”

According to Sutin-led Research Article at the University of Florida; College of Medicine

The Holy Ghost Slowly Taken Out of The Way

God is also taking His Holy Ghost out of the way of the antichrist spirit slowly. This is another reason why all these things are happening all across the world, as it is revealed in,

2 Thessalonians 2:3-8 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as god sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is god.

Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only He who now letteth will let, until He be taken out of the way. 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:

Make no mistake, God is not removing His Holy Spirit from the earth as so many lay-ministers and pastors, teachers and prophets have mishandled, misunderstood and misinterpreted this passage of Scripture to say. There is no thread or river of truth found anywhere in the entire Holy Bible that supports that notion, that the Holy Ghost will be removed from the earth at the rapture of the church!

In fact, if the Holy Spirit were removed completely from the earth, no flesh would be saved, not even in the Great Tribulation period. And why do I point this out? There’s many offices where the Spirit of God (the Holy Ghost) works.

He leads ministers to preach the Gospel (Romans 10:13-15)
He Illuminates the truth when the Gospel is preached (John 16:13-14)
He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:7-9)
He leads people to Jesus Christ unto repentance (John 6:44)

And If He were removed from the earth, then no flesh would be saved after the rapture of the church. Not even Jews! Because we are not saved in of ourselves, meaning by our own ability. Sure we make a choice after the knowledge of the truth be preached; but we still have to have the help of the Holy Spirit of God to lead us to Christ. Convict us of our sins so so we can confess and repent and be cleansed spiritually by the blood of Jesus Christ in order to receive the Holy Ghost. The very Spirit of God Most High, the Father of Jesus Christ our Lord!

Not only that, in the great tribulation period, what would be the point of the two witnesses and a great holy angel preaching the everlasting gospel if no one can be saved?

So what is the truth? Everyone is a liar against God’s truth. God, Most High, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and the Holy Bible are the only infallible, inerrant source of truth in the whole universe.

So, in order to understand this passage of truth, we must ask ourselves these questions: ‘If the Holy Ghost is taken out of the way of something, He must be standing in the way of something? And if He’s standing in the way of something, He must be restraining something? And what is that something?’

These are the right questions everyone who reads this chapter has to ask themselves. Because the answers to these questions are all there in this chapter of Scripture!

The context is simply about the antichrist and antichrist spirit at work in the world. And that is what The Holy Ghost is standing in the way of. Because if He does not restrain the antichrist spirit, then there is nothing that would stand in its way to totally rule the world now. This is the very reason why the anitchrist has not been revealed yet as it is written, “only He who now letteth will let, until He be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed.”

The Holy Ghost is not restraining sinners from sinning! Because the proof is, sins and sinners are increasing in these last days without shame and conscience just as Jesus Christ says would happen, “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.”

Also, if the Holy Ghost were restraining sinners from sinning, that would be a violation of the God given gift of “free will.” He ‘s not restraining madness! He’s not restraining injustice! He’s not restraining stupidity, because all these things abound, and wax worse day by day as we see this evidence all around every day.

So that only means one thing… He is restraining the antichrist spirit from inhabiting a physical body of a man to rule the world for now. He is however, slowly being taken out of the way of the antichrist spirit, this is why we see with our physical eyes all these events unfolding from Revelation 6 right now as we speak as signs pointing to the rapture of the church age.

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Revelation 6:3-8 MP3 Downloadable PodcastThese next series of studies and messages anointed by the Holy Ghost should behoove us all to get right with God, stay right with God, and be ready for the rapture of the church age because this year could be the year that Jesus Christ appears in the clouds with great power and glory, and send His angels to gather His elect.

We are to make our call and election sure for that day now, as we are instructed to do by the Holy Ghost, preaching through the the Apostle Peter in, 2 Peter 1:5-11, And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

This study will cover the remaining three horsemenof Revelation 6; The Horsemen of War; Inflation and Death. There are a couple of things to point out about the four horsemen in General. They all were given power and authority to do what they were released to do, and that is:

They are all working to bring forth judgment of God,
and ultimately working together to set up the stage for the Antichrist to rule the world.

The Horsemen of War

Revelation 6:3-4 And when He had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

The next horseman Jesus Christ released into the world without restraint is the spirit of war. As the Holy Bible reveals to us, this horseman was given power to take peace from the earth. His power is to influence people from every nation, tribes and languages to fight against one another successfully.

We know war is an age old practice since the dawn of time for various reasons. So war is obviously nothing new. In fact, the first recorded war in human history is found in Genesis 14, And this spirit has been behind human history of war ever since.

The difference here, is that God Most High (The Father of Jesus Christ) and Jesus Christ Himself gives this horsemen of war permission to do his work that he has always done, but without restraint; globally. As this passage of Scripture shows us, “power was given to him to take peace from the earth that they should kill one another.”

He was given power! Who gave this horsemen power? God and Jesus Christ has given this being permission/authority to take peace from the earth. In fact, He gives permission to all the horsemen mentioned in Revelation 6:1-8.

Because again… And I stress this fact, God is in control of all events and has these horsemen on a leash as well as satan’s kingdom. Because the source of all power and authority comes from God (The supreme Ruler of all creation). And Jesus Christ revealed this as fact while He faced Pontius Pilate before His crucifixion in,

John 19:9-11 And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art Thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. Then saith Pilate unto Him, Speakest Thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify Thee, and have power to release Thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against Me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered Me unto thee hath the greater sin.

And since God is the source of all power and authority, this means that He disperses power and authority to whomever He wills as Jesus Christ also testifies about Himself after His resurrection but before His ascension,

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.

Again, who gave Jesus Christ all power of Heaven and earth? God His Father! And He also gave this horsemen permission to influence people and governments globally by the power of suggestion and deceptions. Even manipulations by rumors of wars with more frequency and in escalating intensity globally.

Just as Jesus Christ warned us all what was coming in the “Days of Sorrows” as the second sign of the rapture of the church age in,

Matthew 24:6-7 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 we’ve seen since World War II, wars and rumors of wars more frequent globally than ever in the history of humanity with escalating intensity:

World War 2 (1939-45)
First Arab-Israeli War (1948)
The Suez Crisis (1956)
The Korean War (!950-53)
Vietnam War (1954-75)
6 Day War (1967)
Yom Kippur War (1973)
Persian Gulf War (1990-1991)
War in Iraq (2003- 2011)
War in Afghanistan (2001-2014)
Darfur Conflicts (2003-2020)
Libya Conflict (2011-Present)
Syrian Civil War (2011-Present)
Yemen Conflict 2014-Present)
Global Coalition to Defeat Isis (2014-Present)
War of Ukraine and Russia (2022-Present)
The Palestinian and Israeli War (2023-Present)
The Turkey and Kurdish Conflict (Present)
Rumors of War with US and North Korea (Present)
Rumors of War with US and China (Present)
Rumors of War with US and Russia (Present)
Rumors of War with US and Iran (Present)
Rumors of War with Russia and Sweden (Present)

And why do we believe this horseman is the influencer of war? The last line states, “given unto him a great sword.” Swords were commonly used only for war (offensive and defensively) when John was alive. It wasn’t used for anything else. And He saw a literal sword in the hand of this horsemen. And so the sword universally symbolizes war.

The Horsemen of Inflation

Revelation 6:5-6 And when He had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him has a pair of balances in his hand. And heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny and three measures of barley for a penny; and see that thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

This horsemen is to attack the global economy with inflation for two reasons: He has a pair of balances in his hand, and he is to measure out very little amount of grain (food) for a penny.

That may not sound like much money at first, but let’s put this into perspective. How a balancing scale works in this instance of what the Holy Bible is telling us is: you put a penny on one side of the scale, and then you put a measure of wheat or three measures of barley on the other side until both sides of the scale balance equally.

If you actually do this as an experiment, you will find that you’re not going to get much grain for a penny. And that’s really the point in today’s worth of currency. Now back in Jesus Christ’s day in the First Century, a penny was a day’s wage called a denarius. A denarius was a roman silver coin that was worth back then $3.62. Now a denarius today is only worth 0.0852. Which literally is worthless.

Which means that you cannot buy anything for a denarius or a penny. All because of high taxation; high debt (both personally and nationally) with the cost of living increase caused inflation. In other words, you get very little for a high price. And that’s what this horsemen are sent out to do on a global scale, to disrupt the global economy.

This horsemen is to cause such chaos and disruption in the global economy, every nation in the world will eventually abandon separate national currency and accept a new “one world currency under a one world market” that the Antichrist will put into motion eventually in the “great tribulation period” (Revelation 13)

Now notice, John heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, “A measure of wheat for a penny and three measures of barley for a penny; and see that thou hurt not the oil and the wine.” Who’s voice did the Apostle John hear? The answer is, the One Who sits on the throne in the midst of the four beasts. God is the One who sit on His throne in the midst of the four beasts according to Revelation 4:2-6. He is the One Who spoke these words. Instructing this horsemen what to do and what not to do.

And what does He mean when He says, “and see that thou hurt not the oil and the wine?” I’ve heard a minister interpret this as being Christians. God giving this horsemen permission to cause financial distress on all but Christians? This could be a plausible interpretation. Because I have seen and experienced first hand Christians thriving financially despite the instability of the national and global markets today.

Now, some Bible Scholars and Commentators have interpreted this passage of Scriptures as “luxury items.” Such as cooking oils, herbal essential oil used for perfumes. Cosmetics such as skin care; hair and beauty products. This would also include in today’s language: “technology.” But the problem of interpreting this passage of Scriptures to be “Luxury Items” would not be accurate. Given the fact that all these things have gone up in price and will never decrease in price again.

In fact, the makers of perfumes and colognes (for example) have decreased the volume of their product, have decreased the quality of the packaging for a higher price. Another perfect example, I personally know multitudes of people who would be happy to spend $1000 dollars in US currency for a new Apple phone every two years.

Alcohol, on the other hand, has not seen much of an increase in price, Today alcohol is still cheaper than bread, milk and wholesome foods. Junk food is cheaper than wholesome foods as well. And that’s what this horsemen have been released to do. To raise prices on all necessities, and we are seeing this happening today on a global scale. In fact global inflation has risen 3-4% in 2023 alone.

The Horsemen of Death

Revelation 6:7-8 And when He had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

Notice: of all the four horsemen, we are only given the name of this last horsemen, who’s name is Death whom everybody naturally knows. The spirit of death has been imagined as an old, other worldly being clothed in a black robe, roaming the earth tirelessly with a sickle in hand. And yes this is the same spirit of death that has been around since the fall of man (Genesis 3/Romans 5)

So death is nothing new. There is nothing natural about death either, because death was not created by God to begin with. Gods’ original plan for all humanity… We were meant to live forever on this earth in close fellowship with God literally face to face without sin nor the influence of sin.

But when Eve and Adam chose to sin against God, sin and death moments after came into the world. And we know through the Holy Bible that sin originated with the devil, therefore death was also appointed by satan (the devil that serpent of old) as well.

We also know Biblically that Death did not come from God originally because Death is an enemy of God as much as satan is the enemy of God also. In fact Death is the last enemy to be destroyed according to,

1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

This other idea we have about this spirit of death, is that he roams around the earth waiting for people to die before He ushers their souls to the grave. But here, we see that He is given power to cause death of all types. And the Holy Bible even lists the type of death’s a fourth of the earth will experience such as:

To kill with sword
To kill with hunger
To kill with death
To kill with the wild beasts of the earth

To Kill With Sword

Is obviously one of many ways Death will kill the fourth of the earth. He uses wars. He will also influence people to kill with weapons, such as fire arms. In the US alone since the Columbine School shootings, there has been an increase of mass public shootings too numerous to list here in America alone.

Now fire arm deaths are happening in a few other countries globally. And the global statistics are so low that it does not rate in the top 10 causes of death “globally.” Never-the-less, it is happening today just as this passage of Scripture is ministering.

To Kill With Hunger

This spirit is given power to kill with hunger. The causes of hunger is global inflation where people cannot afford to eat (poverty). Cost of living has increased to the point where farmers can’t afford to farm because of debt, bankruptcy and the loss of land, stops them from growing food because they can’t afford to farm.

Statistically speaking the UN reports that 10% of the world’s population are in hunger. And the UN also estimates 25,000 people die everyday globally because of malnutrition and starvation.

To Kill With Death

I know this passage of Scripture sounds like an oxymoron. But there is a vast way how this spirit will kill a fourth of the earth “with death”. Here, it is only describing very briefly with a few words what’s happening today. This spirit is the influencer of:

Murder
Abortion
Suicide
Persecution/Martyrdom
Accidental Deaths
Pestilence/cancer
Drug overdose

Statistically speaking, The # 1 cause of death worldwide is heart disease. And even though there are a wide range of heart disease, symptoms and causes, (here for time sake), we will only generalize it all. The common cause of all heart diseases besides genetics, is stress, smoking, excessive drinking of alcohol and caffeine, and an unhealthy diet. And all of these can be stress related, stress started.

And Jesus Christ told us 2000 years ago pointing to the signs of the rapture of the church, that great distresses will happen in the earth; cosmic disturbances and people dropping dead suddenly because their hearts are failing, which is lined up to global statics today of what’s happening right now as we speak.

Luke 21:24-26 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring, Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Not only that, but Jesus Christ also warned another great detail about the “Days of Sorrow’s,” after we see and hear about wars and rumors of wars and nations rise against nations and kingdoms against kingdoms…then there shall be

Matthew 24:7 famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

To Kill With Wild Beasts

Now globally speaking, there is a very low percentage of people who die by wild beasts, whether they be killed by insects, reptiles, aquatic species or wild beasts of the earth. Sinceit has such a low percentile, this doesn’t even make the top 100 list. But people all over the world are dying by wild beasts nonetheless.

And this horsemen are the reason why there is so much death happening all around the world more frequently in all of our personal lives today than ever before. According to this passage of Scripture, Death will kill a fourth of the world’s population. If the world’s population is 8 Billion people today, then 2 billion will die by all manners of death.

Already, most of us can testify that we know someone that has passed away young and suddenly in the past week. This spirit is the influencer behind these sudden deaths. Death has a profound effect on the human psyche. This is why God is using this as He does of all the other horsemen, to bring about His judgments/correction upon all mankind.

He is Just, Holy and Righteous and His nature is to judge sin. And by doing so this should cause people to draw close to God, repent from sinning and get right with Him. Because that is our human nature He has created. When disaster strikes, When something bad suddenly happens, either to us personally or someone we know, we all tend to look to God for answers, for guidance. And Death helps us to put into prospective what’s important. It even helps us to question our own mortality and should cause us to wonder about eternity, God and salvation.

Death also puts into perspective that life is only a moment. We are literally here today and gone tomorrow. Anyone at any given second of every day, month and year can drop dead. No one is guaranteed the next minute.

This is all part of what God uses to draw people to Jesus Christ as it is written: John 6:44 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.

You may be asking aloud, “if God is using death to draw sinners to Christ, then why is it written, in 2 Peter 3:9 He’s not willing that any should perish, but that all should comes to repentance?”

The answer is, All our days are numbered. God gives all humanity time to repent. But many drag feet on salvation thinking we have time to make that eternal decision. Many squanders the time given, unknowing that death can come so suddenly when you least expect it. And that’s not God’s fault, that’s not God’s doing!

People make their own decisions every hour to ignore the truth, to laze out spiritually, to walk away or backslide from Christ. And when you die. Time has run out. There are no do overs. There is no more opportunity for repentance after death!

So the question remains for all humanity right now in life… Are you ready for eternity to come? Becuase it’s it’s Heaven or Hell! Are you ready to meet God face to face? Do you know Jesus Christ; are you close to Him; and are you right with Him? Is your conscience clear to stand before God in judgment? Is it really well with your soul? Is your name written in the Lambs Book of Life?

Now Biblically speaking, the # 1 cause of death globally is sin… first and foremost. And that fact goes all the way back to Genesis 3, whether you believe that or not. This is the very reason why all humanity is born with this adamic sin nature and separated from God naturally from birth.

For this reason, Jesus Christ the Son of God came down from Heaven into this world by the virgin birth; conceived by the Holy Spirit, to die on the cross for the remission of sins and reconcile man to God through His shed blood. Raised from the dead, ascended back into Heaven and sits at God’s rights hand to give us eternal life as it is written:

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

So when you look at the full picture, Both physically and spiritually, pestilence is the #1 cause of death world wide. Sin is the cancer, the disease that has a 99.9% success rate. Jesus Christ is the only One who defeated Death through His resurrection. And those who are in Christ, though we die physically, we shall live with Christ eternally as it is also promised by Jesus Christ Himself, to all those who believe; are born-again and follows Him as Lord,

John 11:25-26 I Am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?

The effects of death should cause all of us to turn to the Holy Bible for the best source of salvation information and turn to Jesus Christ, the only One that can save you from hell fire, damnation and the pending judgments to come upon all the earth after this. Remember, this is the beginning of the judgments of God. There is more to come and it’s about to get worse!

Meanwhile, God is going to use every means possible to bring people to repentance and draw as many who so ever will’s to be saved to Jesus Christ, unto salvation. Because again He is in control of all these events that are happening. He’s just not in control of your personal choices or actions. And will use the means of compassion as well as the means of fear to draw as many that are willing to respond to His call to salvation through Jesus Christ.

The Synopsis of God’s Judgements

And this is the very reason why He uses these horsemen, to accomplish that resounding warning through action; that the Kingdom of God is truly at hand! He’s waiting for your response, either rejection or reception! Indecision is still a response against God, against salvation and rejecting your place in Heaven by default.

Now I’m sure there are a couple of lingering questions about these four horsemen. In short these four horsemen are nothing good. For God uses them to bring forth the first set of Judgments. The Holy Bible has revealed that He has reserved angels who had sinned against Him in chains of darkness, reserved unto judgment as it is written:

2 Peter 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

Many have generally understood this passage of Scripture to only refer to God’s final judgment upon all demonic angels who have followed satan in rebelling against God (Revelation 12:3-4 & 9-10). Being stored away and chained until that day of Judgment. But that’s only half the story.

Look closely at that passage of Scripture… First off God casts angels (Plural) meaning some and did not specify an exact number into Hell. And is that not judgment? Jesus Christ describes Hell to be a place of fire and torment, not a place of darkness (Luke 16:19-31; Mark 9:43-48)

Heaven on the other hand, is a place of divine light and the source of that light is God Most High and Jesus Christ (Revelation 22:5). So, outside of Heaven is darkness where these demonic angels: the four horsemen are kept in chains; hidden in darkness, reserved unto Judgment.

Meaning, God has kept a certain amount of demonic angels on a leash, reserved to be used by God to bring forth His judgments upon the earth at His appointed time. And we see this fact where God has hidden a specific number of demonic angels in darkness (The bottomless pit), reserved to judge and torment mankind for 5 months according Revelation 9.

So, some are in Hell, Many are on earth as demonic spirits, spirits of distractions, entertainments, of depression, oppression, obsession and possession; obeying the will and doing the work of satan. While others are waiting to be used in their appointed time as it is written in the Holy Bible.

Secondly, the Holy Bible never taught that satan and all fallen angels are in Hell. In fact the Holy Bible teaches that satan roams to and from upon the earth. This reveals He is not omnipresent (Job 1-2).

So when you put all these Scriptures together, it gives us a bigger picture that God did in fact cast satan and a third of the angels out of Heaven unto the earth. Some He cast into Hell while others He reserved in His appointed time to bring judgment upon the earth and that is the full account according to the Holy Bible.

God uses compassion to bring some to Christ. And to others that will not respond to His loving kindness, He uses fear to draw people to repentance and unto His only begotten Son Jesus Christ; pulling as many as whosoever wills to be saved out of the fires of Hell (Jude 22-23).

And that’s the reason why in the Book of Revelation reveals the judgments of God and why He grants permission of events written therein to happen. It’s to draw people to His only begotten Son by every means possible to salvation. And This is the bottom line.

Many ask, why does God allow people to do evil? The quick answer is, He is not in control of people. He has given all humanity intelligence, a conscience and free will. And it is people who choose the way of their own sin nature which is ultimately the pathway to satan and His will.

That’s how people become evil, by rejecting God and following knowingly or unknowingly the world; the flesh and the devil, which is naturally against God in every way. And all our choices every day are ultimately choosing our final eternal destination, Heaven or Hell!

These horsemen are to bring chaos and confusion; financial distress and national disaster; pestilence; hopelessness and insecurity into the world. Because people all around the world put their trust in things that are fallible/temporal (and eternally pointless), instead of trusting Jesus Christ the Author and Finisher of our faith. And to ultimately set up the stage for the Antichrist to be the solution to all world conflicts and problems!

2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 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, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; 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: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

When will the world wake up and get right with God now through Jesus Christ and be saved from all these escalating events from now through the Great Tribulation Period! What will it take!

Acts 2:38-40 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 Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

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Revelation 6:1-2 MP3 Downloadable PodcastThe Four Horsemen that were mentioned by the Apostle John through his eyewitness account found in Revelation 6:1-8, is commonly known on the internet and among Catholics as the “Four Horsemen of The Apocalypse.”

But, this term is a common misconception because the true definition of the word Apocalypse: (concerning the Oxford Dictionary) ‘The complete and final destruction of the world as described in the Book of Revelation.’

The Book Revelation deals with the final destruction of the world, and the events leading up to, but the four horsemen do not play a major role in the destruction of the world. So they are not the source of destruction/apocalypse. They do however, play a part in the apocalypse.

Another reason why this common title does not apply is because, simply put, they have already been released to do their work upon the earth. And we are seeing the fruits of their labors today. We are not living in the final days of destruction yet. We are living in the days of sorrows as described by Jesus Christ in Matthew 24:3-14. Which is the beginning of the judgments of God on a global scale.

And based on the second definition of the word Apocalypse: ‘An event involving destruction or damage on an awesome or catastrophic scale.’ And as you read verses 1-8 they are not released by Jesus Christ to bring final destruction on an awesome or catastrophic scale.

They are released into the world as the first set of global judgments by Jesus Christ as the first phase of the judgments of God, which we are living in right now today. As God’s way to bring correction unto the world; trying to draw humanity to repentance and a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ as the only way to salvation before it’s too late.

So this is why the term “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” really does not apply. They are simply four horsemen mentioned in the Apokalypsis.

The four horsemen are “spirits.” This is why we don’t see them physically, but what we are seeing today right now, are the effects these four horsemen have on society the world over as well in the church age today. Remember what John said in the beginning of these series of Revelations, when he was called up into Heaven (where God Most High and Jesus Christ dwells) while being imprisoned on the Isle of Patmos in,

Revelation 1:9-10 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

Revelation 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and behold, a throne was set in Heaven, and One sat on the throne

In both writings he stresses the fact that he was in the spirit when he saw what is now written in the Book of Revelation. This series of events is what’s happening in the spirit realm now, of what we cannot see physically with our natural eyes. We can only witness the effects in the natural realm, the workings of these spirits in the spirit realm.

You may have read articles on the internet proclaiming a new understanding about these four horsemen as being the four beasts (the Seraphim) that are round about the throne of God, worshiping God. Sadly, people just make things up. There is no connection between these four horsemen and the four beasts of Revelation 4-5.

All because the four beasts are mentioned specifically to be round about the throne of God, worshiping God day and night without ceasing. And that’s the key phrase “without ceasing.” Meaning they are created by God to always be round about the throne worshiping God forever… without ceasing. So they are not going anywhere. And this fact concurs as you read on through the Book of Revelation.

The four beasts are mentioned a couple more times, “after” chapters 4-5 and “after” the four horsemen are already released into the world in Revelation 7:11, 14:3; 15:7 & 19:4.

And notice in all these Scriptures they are active around the throne of God and nowhere else. So they cannot be in two different places at the same time. They cannot be around the throne of God and wreak havoc on the earth at the same time. This is why the four beasts are not the four horsemen.

(Now recapping our past studies), Jesus Christ has already judged His church in Revelation chapters 2-3, concurring with what the Holy Ghost has ministered through the Apostle Peter in, 1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

And since He has already judged His church by the end of the 1st Century, the Book of Revelation chapter 6 comparing with world events today reveals that He has already opened 5 out of the seven seals as the first set of judgments or rather correction on a global scale.

This is why the four horsemen are released into the world, to wake up the sleeping, lethargic, backslidden, apostate church to repentance and to try to correct the direction of sinners to salvation before the rapture of the church age happens. This reveals two major facts about the four horsemen:

They are under the authority of God and of Jesus Christ. He has them on a leash; they do not act upon their own will.
And they are released to prepare the world for the antichrist, who do not want the One true God.

Degree’s of Correction

Remember in a past study in Revelation 3:14-22 (The Lukewarm Church), there are varying degrees of correction?

God has already spoken warnings and rebukes to the world through His church and by His word (the Holy Bible). He has already pronounced all humanities guilt formally through His word; whether everyone knows it or not. And it’s found first in Psalm 14:1-3 and reiterated in,

Romans 3:9-20 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.

He also declared all humanities guilt a third time in Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. He is simply telling the world, the only way to be saved, justified, righteous and born-again is through Jesus Christ His only begotten Son (Romans 3,4,5,6 & 8).

And if you do not believe in Jesus Christ; then you are guilty before God and already stand condemned (John 3:16-18). Unless you repent from sinning; turn to Jesus Christ and change that eternal condemnation narrative into eternal life in Jesus Chris our Lord.

And on the other side of the coin of truth: If you do believe and were justified before God through Jesus Christ, but rebel against His teachings and will (which is to live according to God’s holy and righteous standards in sanctification 1 Thessalonians 4:3…if you rebel against that); you are already guilty of sinning, and guilty for crucifying Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:26-31). And that is God’s verdict. And that’s how all humanity stands right now before God.

The good news is, you can change that verdict by giving your heart completely to Jesus Christ right now, Repent from sinning (meaning to stop sinning and rebelling against God) and be saved from being condemned to Hell and the eternal Lake of Fire to come.

Be given the Holy Ghost and be born-again where you will become a new creation, where the old sinful person has passed away and behold, all things become new. Receiving a pure heart and a right Spirit within you. And that is only promised through Jesus Christ (John 14:6)

God Most High, The Father of Jesus Christ is already past rebuking the world with His sharp criticisms, through His ministers, His church body, and of His word (The Holy Bible)!

Because He has already taken action in His first degree of chastisement by giving Jesus Christ (the Lamb) a book; written front and back; sealed with seven seals for the Lord to read out of (Revelation 5:6-7). This is where the four horsemen comes in on the scene and released by Jesus Christ; by the opening of the first seal…

The First Horsemen: The Deceptive Spirit

Revelation 6:1-2 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

Notice first, after the book was given by God to the Lamb Jesus Christ, “the Lamb opened one of the seals.” Did you catch that? “He opened (past tense) the first seal and a white horse and he that sat on the white horse had a bow and was given a crown; was sent forth into the world. To do what? To conquer.

A lot of people and ministers over the years have mistaken this spirit to be Jesus Christ since the horseman who was given a crown and sat on a white horse. And as you look more into the Scriptures, this idea seems to be plausible at a first glance.

Jesus Christ will return to the earth on a white horse for sure… crowned as you read Revelation 19. But there are several things wrong with this horseman being Jesus Christ. When you compare Revelation 6:1-2 with Revelation 19. The first horseman that Jesus Christ releases is wearing only one crown, whereas Jesus Christ in Revelation 19:12 is crowned with many crowns.

The second problem with Jesus Christ being this horseman, is that this horseman is armed with a bow. Jesus Christ in His second coming is not armed at all. And He doesn’t need to be since His holy pure words of truth and authority is His weapon. And you can read this for yourself in Revelation 19:15.

Yet there is a teaching circulating the internet that claims this horseman to be Jesus Christ connecting Psalm 45 to be the proof of their claim. And it may seem plausible at first glance. But again, when you look deeper into this kind of doctrine you’ll realize quickly their folly, basing their teaching on a weapon. That’s foolishness!

Because in various Psalms it also claims the wicked shoots arrows at the righteous. And the LORD whets His glittering sword for judgment. (Deuteronomy 32:39-42). And to say that Jesus Christ needs a weapon to bring forth judgment and to “conquer” is blasphemy; promoting a powerless Christ!

The third problem, which is a major problem of this horseman being Jesus Christ, is that this horseman is sent forth by Jesus Christ into the world bent on conquest and to conquer. Conquer: ‘Overcome and take control of (a place or people) by use of military force.’ Therefore this horseman is sent out to take control and to conquer by force.

Jesus Christ on the other hand, when He returns, He does not come and take over the world by force at all. He actually returns in His second advent to put an end to Armageddon. To liberate the world from under the control of satan and this will not be done by force but by His word of authority alone and not by military action (Revelation 19:15-21).

And by doing so, He saves the world from chaos and destruction by overthrowing satan’s kingdom on earth and establishes His own kingdom for a thousand years to ultimately save His people the Jews. And again… Not by force.

And then the world will be at peace, while Israel will be fully restored in that thousand year reign of Christ. (according many prophetic utterances of the Old Testament prophets; too numerous to list here at this time: the Book of Daniel testifies the restoration of Israel; Isaiah 60-62; Ezekiel 36-46 (47); Romans 11 and Revelation 19:1 through chapter 20:4).

And then after all that, satan will be released to deceive nations one last short time. And then the end of the world will come (Revelation 20:7-10). And notice another interesting detail of Revelation 20:7-10. After the thousand year reign of Christ on earth is complete, satan will be released from the bottomless pit and he will successfully deceive nations one last short time.

(Now imagine, humanity being in the physical presence of Jesus Christ in perfect peace and no sinning and no crime. No sickness or diseases because the Lord is the Great Physician. Learning of Christ and of righteousness, and the holy standards of God. Hearing the truth and believing the truth for a thousand years.

The question is, how can people still be deceived by satan while being in the physical presence of Jesus Christ, the greatest television and internet evangelist and Pastor, the world will ever hear and know?

The answer is, He never forces anyone to salvation, He never forces anyone to stay saved and be right with God. In fact He never forces anyone to believe in Him. Not now… Not in the great tribulation period, or even to the end of the world!)

Yet, this first horseman after being released, “he went forth conquering, and to conquer.” Meaning he has set forth his work by force. The very opposite of Jesus Christ’s nature and that’s the point of all this. To show you the difference between Jesus Christ and this horseman released.

Furthermore, the opening of this first seal isn’t revealing this first horsemen to be Jesus Christ roaming the earth in spirit preaching the victorious gospel either. And there are some articles circulating the internet proclaiming this false teaching. I’m here to tell you, Jesus Christ is no longer preaching His gospel. He has sent His disciples to do that in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) from then onto today.

And not only that, true Christianity has never been about forced conversion. (I can’t stress this enough) And some would actually argue this. And why do I say this? This horseman “went forth conquering, and to conquer.” And to say that this is Jesus Christ; would suggest that He is out to forcefully convert people into Christianity, forcing people into submission under His authority which is an erroneous claim and heretical teaching.

Nor is the opening of this first seal revealing the second coming of Christ at all, because His second advent will not occur until a series of events unfolds first, known Biblically as the “Great Tribulation” (Matthew 24:21/Revelation 7:14).

Furthermore, this horseman is a spirit, working in the spirit realm. Jesus Christ is not only a Spirit (Romans 8:9). He is also a physical being. And in the rapture of the church age as well as His second return, Jesus Christ will physically appear in the clouds and will physically set foot on earth and establish His kingdom.

So you see after all, this horseman being Jesus Christ makes no sense at all and interpreting this spirit on a white horse with a bow and crowned with one crown to conquer; to be Jesus Christ is a bad interpretation after all.

He looks like Christ on the surface, but when you look closely, He doesn’t act like Jesus Christ at all and that’s the deception!

So you can say he’s a “false Christ” and that would only be half true. You may have searched the internet for articles or a definition of what a false Christ is. And the way many articles define a false Christ is, “antichrist.”

But this definition is not true at all. Because the antichrist, according to the Holy Bible, opposes everything Jesus Christ is, taught, and commands while he will exalt himself to be god and the only answer to all world problems

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

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

Not only that, the Holy Bible also defines an antichrist, to deny the Lord Jesus as Messiah and deny the existence of God.

1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

This horseman is not the antichrist and he is not the spirit of antichrist either, but he is a deceptive spirit that masquerades itself to be Jesus Christ. For the Lord Himself releases this deceptive spirit into the world to run rampant in deception.

There has always been deception in the world. For it originated with satan since the fall of man in Genesis 3. But Jesus Christ has given this spirit free reign, meaning without restraint, to deceive. And there is so much deception in the world today and this spirit is the culprit behind it all.

So who or what is this horseman that Jesus Christ released out into all the world to judge the world with? He is a deceptive spirit working two fronts:

False religion
Politics

This horseman deceives on a religious and on political level. And why is he working in these two arena’s? He’s one of the four horsemen who are preparing the way for the antichrist to reign and rule the world through religion and government.

In order for the antichrist to rule the world, he has to deceive people on a religious level and on a political level. Because not everyone is religious and not everyone is political. So he will use both arena’s to deceive all kinds of people on that day.

And this deceptive spirit is already at work on a global scale now. Why do you think politics and Government news are constantly in the mainstream media mostly as “headline news”. And why in America are people looking for Government handouts and people seeking answers through Government?

This spirit has deceived many into believing the Government is the answer! The “American Government” is the solution to all the world’s problems! And in reality, it’s not! And this deception is on a global scale.

False Christ’s Work of Deception

Remember the Lord’s warning about false Christ’s who will appear to deceive many people on earth in “the beginning of sorrows” as part of the signs of His coming (the rapture) and the end of the world (Matthew 24:3)?

Matthew 24:4-5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in My name, saying I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

This concurs with Revelation 6:1-2 as the first sign pointing to the rapture in the days of sorrows, referring to the release of this horseman to start. And we have been seeing the effects of its work before the first century ended all the way up to today.

False Religion

This false Christ is to deceive those who do not want the real true God with heretical teachings, false religions and doctrines of demons, to deceive self proclaimed Christians who are not fully committed to the Lord nor has a real relationship with Him at all. Nor is born-again by the Holy Spirit of God Most High and refuses to change even if God gave them an experience.

Not only that, since Jesus Christ fulfilled the five fold ministry as a Pastor, a Teacher, a Prophet, an Evangelist and an Apostle. This deceptive spirit masquerades itself to be a minister and even goes as far as to deceive some minister to be Jesus Christ.

So false Christ’s are false ministers. In general, they are apostate pastors, agnostic teachers, heretical evangelists, blaspheming prophets and self proclaimed Apostles. These are this false-Christs’ disciples.

You had so many through the centuries, but focusing on the influence of false Christs’ in my lifetime; you’ve had Jim Jones of the 70’s. David Koresh of the 80’s, Marshall Applewhite of the 90’s; Sun Myung Moon, Sergey Torop known as Vissarion of this century who actually has claimed to be Jesus Christ. And this is fulfilled today.

So these are the workings of this false Christ horseman. But he doesn’t stop here. The other workings of this horseman are as follows:

agnosticism
false religious movements and doctrines
carnal Christianity (easy believe-ism)
preaching a fake gospel
and promoting a powerless Jesus

Political:

Notice carefully in Revelation 6:2 “and a crown was given unto him” If anyone knows anything about “symbolism” in the Book of Revelation, you may interpret this rider’s crown to be a symbol of authority. And that would be only half true.

This rider was given a crown and the question would be, ‘ Who gave him this crown? The answer is God Most High Who sits on the throne and Jesus Christ gave him this crown (authority/permission) to deceive freely the world without restraint.

But that’s only half the story. A crown also symbolizes a ruler or a king. A king represents government/politics. So this deceptive spirit is deceiving the world to believe the government is the answer to all your problems and your lack in life. And whatever you need, the government will provide it for you. Will think for you, will protect you. Deceiving people to believe the government is your provider. Government is your savior!

Government and politics is the “New world’s religion,” as we speak globally and that’s this deceptive spirit’s work. You see, this horseman is bent on conquering (meaning to take control of people through false religions and deceptive political ideologies) He is a lying spirit.

This horseman is helping the spirit of antichrist to pave the way for the antichrist to easily take over the world through religion and politics. Because not everyone who is religious…are political. And not everyone who is political…religious. So by these two platforms, he will be able to reach both types of people through religion and government.

So today we see the workings of this deceiving false Christ spirit building an apostate/sinning religion in the form of carnal blasphemers who call themselves Christians, living in sin. Ministering with convincing words; enticing many away from having a close relationship with Jesus Christ by an easy, broad road to destruction of easy-believe-ism. The very opposite of what Jesus Christ had taught to be saved!

These are they who will act like they know the Holy Bible, but only have a carnal understanding of it and teach contrary to holiness and challenge the very truth and authority of the Holy Bible. And will minister half truths that sound good on the surface, but the end goal is to deceive and repel carnal people away from Christ and provide religion instead.

They are nothing more than wolves who have killed enough sheep of Christ spiritually in order to disguise themselves as part of the flock of Christ. And they are successful in deceiving many away from Christ into apostasy. Targeting the self deceived which is ultimately this first horseman’s end result of his work.

Be not deceived, beware…!

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Revelation 5 is truly a prelude to all judgments, for it sets up Revelation 6. It shows us how Jesus Christ receives the book of the seven seals.

And what was going on in Heaven right before He started opening the seals according to an eye witness account of the Apostle John.

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What are these "four beasts" who stand before God? What are they created to do? And why do they look the way they do?

In the Holy Bible there's not much written about them, but answers these questions that a lot of people have about them

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Revelation 3:14-22 MP3 Downloadable PodcastRevelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

The Lord reveals more of His attributes to His church body. He calls Himself “The Amen,” as if it were His name because the word “Amen” is capitalized. And according to proper English grammar, you always capitalize names, as is the case here in this passage of Scripture.

Normally, names have hidden meanings, especially names of people and places in the Holy Bible. So, what does “amen” mean? And why does the Lord call Himself this? Amen typically means, “So be it.” This is why Christians say this as an utterance after prayer, or when they hear someone speaking truth. Or when Christians are in conversation; often used among Christian fellowship as an utterance of agreement.

But the meaning itself doesn’t really make much sense in the context of how Jesus Christ uses this word here to describe Himself. Most often than not, the Holy Bible acts like a dictionary, so when words stand out, the next statement or the next verse will define the use of that word; if you are paying close attention.

And this is one of many of those cases where this happens. Because Amen, is a semitic root: ‘firm; fixed or sure.’ And the related Hebrew verb also means, ‘to be reliable’ and ‘to be trusted.’ This concurs with what Jesus Christ says next, “the faithful and true witness.”

Next, He reveals that He is the beginning of all creation as He says, “the beginning of the creation of God.” What Jesus Christ is actually proclaiming here, He was there at the beginning when God His Father created. Not only that, He is also proclaiming reliable truth, that He is the beginning of creation because He is also the Creator with God His Father.

Before the Apostle John was called up into Heaven to be a witness to these series of visions and to write them down in a book, known as the Book of Revelation; He received this mystery inspired by the Holy Spirit that Jesus Christ is that Light from before the beginning of all God’s creation in John 1:1-14; pointing to Genesis 1:3-4. This mystery is confirmed by what the Holy Spirit revealed to the Apostle Paul in,

Colossians 1:12-18 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.

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.

So, Jesus Christ is telling us that He is The sure and reliable truth (John 14:6); the Word of God made flesh (John 1:14). The Creator with God His Father in the beginning (John 1:1-5/Genesis 1:1-3). This is how we know that Jesus Christ is alive and speaking to all His churches of the church age.

What Is The Biblical Meaning of Being Lukewarm?

Revelation 3:15-16 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.

The Lord Jesus The Christ rather have His people and His churches either hot (preferred) or cold. Hot means to be red hot and on fire with God’s Holy Spirit and active in His “Great Commission!” Or cold means to be inactive or asleep.

Because either way, the Lord can do something with either of those conditions. He can certainly use a fervent Holy Ghost minister, who’s always active in ministering His word, prayer and community works of the Lord, wherever He plants us; to bring people to Christ.

He can even wake up or revive those who are cold and inactive in Him, to bring them to spiritual fervor and activity again. Either way He can do something with either condition. Many have preached rebuke upon cold Christianity, but notice here, Jesus Christ doesn’t. He would rather have any of us hot (preferred) or cold. Because the Lukewarm, He can do nothing with. This is what He rebukes.

“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.”

This is unmistakably a hard warning and rebuke to “Christians” who are in this apostate condition. Notice, He is speaking to His church body both individually and cooperatively here. Not to the world, but warning His people. I seriously point this out because there are many Christians who do not believe they can backslide to Hell, or lose their salvation. These are whom He is addressing this apostate condition to.

This rebuke from our Lord Jesus Christ Himself concerning His children who are in this apostate condition, that if you persist in this lukewarmness, He will eventually reject you! That’s what the word “Spue” actually means; to reject!

Lukewarmness is caused by two states of condition:

Stagnation
Mixture of cold and hot

Stagnation: is caused when there is no constant inlet and outlet. A spiritual state of being where activity, growth or development are halted.

Mixture of cold and hot: is caused when two opposite substances mixed together; such as hot water, with cold water mixed together, makes a lukewarm drink.

Putting all this in a spiritual perspective, when a Christian does not continually take in Holy Biblical truth, and apply it to our walk with Christ. And does not pray and minister that which we learned and live by, it causes stagnation. And stagnation causes Christians to halt in growth and maturity in Christ.

Also, when Christianity mixes with the sinful world; the desires of the flesh and the influences of the devil, it eventually will cause a lukewarm condition which is apostasy. And this is one of the major signs of the rapture of the church age.

And both fit the causation of lukewarmness in the church of Laodicea, because it concurs with what the Lord says in the next verse, Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;

Notice closely what the Lord revealed about this lukewarm church, they were saying in their soul, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing” He is exposing, they have everything they could ever possibly need or want in life. Therefore, they do not have a need for anything.

Which is saying, ‘We have arrived!’ ‘We are God’s gift to humanity!’ This statement is a very dangerous statement because this would also include that they have no need for God nor the Lord either. And in such a proud belief and attitude they do not realize, they’ve been spiritually blinded by conceit and choked by the riches and cares of this life.

Self-satisfaction brings people to a proud point in life where they do not need God such is the case of the church in Laodicea. Which is the very opposite of what Jesus Christ taught. We are to be independent from man, but totally dependent upon God our Creator not independent from Him.

And the Lord loves this church so much, He does not hold back with the truth. He is not willing to keep them in this apostate condition either. In order for there to be a remedy, in order for people to change course; He has to expose the apostate condition. This is His nature. He is the Light, and if the church or Christian is in any apostate condition, then they are in darkness. And light exposes darkness!

For He is not willing that any should perish, but that all come to repentance. And He does this in His next statement, “and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

“Wretched, and Miserable” is a spiritual; as well as a physical condition, as a result of being choked by the cares of this life. Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

And because they are choked by the cares of this life and the pleasures of riches, they have spiritually become bankrupt. (And as a result, they have become unprofitable or another words: poor)

“Poor,” which means, ‘utterly useless to God.’

“Blind,” is also a spiritual condition where a person is self-deceived and cannot see the truth about themselves unless someone points it out to them. It also means to veer off the path of righteousness and having lost their way back to God.

“Naked” means to be in sin, no longer covered (clothed).

The Holy Bible teaches that Christians are covered by the blood of Christ, the garment of salvation, the robe of righteousness, the Crown of Life, and with the armor of God. We are also clothed with Christ and covered (sealed) with the Holy Ghost.

To be naked, is a tall-tell sign that Christians/His church has completely rejected God; reject the cross, and His way of the born-again of life in Christ our Lord. These are ultimately the wages of sin, which leads to spiritual death if, Christians/His church continue down this path.

Running the risk of being utterly rejected by Jesus Christ who persists in this apostate condition, to the point of no return. To the point of reprobation! As it has been warned in,

Romans 1:18-32 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; for God hath shewed 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, 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.

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

This is why Jesus Christ urges Christians/His church body who are in this state of being lukewarm, these next series of remedies for this one serious spiritual problem,

Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

These are the instructions from the Lord, the only remedy for this particular apostate condition. And people who are found in this condition must do what the Lord instructed here, in order to be delivered from such a deep backslidden state.

For He is waiting on those in this condition, to apply these instructions to your life, because He will not do it for you. (here’s a clearer understanding of why). What doctor, after diagnosing a problem, and gives you a prescription with instructions, is going to nurture you and hand feed you the cure. No one!

Same thing with the Lord. He’s given us the only remedy with instructions. It is up to us to do what the Lord has instructed us to do. And if you don’t then you will not get better, you will get worse and die in your miserable sins and miss heaven that way. As a saying my pastor had taught for years, “The Lord will not do what He has given you the power to do.”

Those He Loves, He Corrects Sharply

Next, after His sharp rebuke, He reminds His people with an encouraging word, that He still loves those whom He disciplines and chastens. Because oftentimes when we mess up severely, we naturally wonder how God can ever love us again as He has before we strayed away and sinned against Him. Or simply wonders, ‘Does God still love me?’ He assures us He does in,

Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

He assures those who are in this apostate condition that you are, at this point of the worst spiritual condition, are His children; and it’s not too late to repent, yet.

Hebrews 12:1-17 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of His correction: For whom the Lord loveth He correcteth; even as a father the son in whom He delighteth.

Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

Also, notice the specific words the Lord spoke, “rebuke and chasten.” In past studies, Jesus Christ has only been warning, up to this point. There are degrees in which God our Father and of the Son Jesus Christ, and of His Holy Ghost uses to get our attention when we are in sin.

Warning (words of instruction and consequence)
Conviction (a formal declaration of guilt of an offense)
Rebuke (sharp criticism)
Chastise (severe punishment; action on God’s part)

The Lord always first warns His children by His word (The Holy Bible) of instruction and consequence before any situation arises (it’s called reading and studying the Holy Bible). He also uses His ministers to warn ahead of time. He also warns us by a nudge or prompting of the Holy Ghost, usually in times right before we sin. Lightly warning us we are in the danger zone of sinning against the Lord.

And if we fail to listen or heed to those promptings, and we sin against Him, He therefore convicts. This conviction is a declaration of guilt by God, usually reminding us in His word that we are in sin. He uses this as the next step to bring us to repentance and back into His grace. Because when we sin, we walk out from under the grace of God; rejecting the cross, and denying the Holy Ghost free reign in our lives in Christ.

Also sinning separates, us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). That is the consequence for sinning. So, in order to be in close relationship with God, we must repent from sinning and draw close to God and be in right standing with Him. And He uses conviction to do all that. Training us in the ways of His righteous and holy living (Hebrews 12:9-14). And if we don’t do this quickly, we might eventually find ourselves like Esau (Hebrews 12:15-17).

If Christians ignore conviction, after a while He will rebuke! And if that still doesn’t get a Christians attention to repent and draw close to Him, He will use an extreme physical measure to get your attention in order to bring you back to your senses, repent and turn back to Jesus Christ.

But if a Christians still continues to go on by their own way and not the way of the Lord, He will give you over to the lusts of your flesh, lusts of your heart, and the lusts of your mind according to Romans 1:18-32 to the point of reprobation just like Esau. This warning is still in effect with all His children today. This is why it is written.

Reprobation: is an eternal condition where a Christian cannot repent from sinning and turn back to God no longer, because as the word of God says, the mind becomes carnal (Romans 1:21-25;28 which is against God (Romans 8:6-7). This is the point of no return! This is where God excommunicates sinning Christians from Him forever!

And that’s where the lukewarm church is heading! And God does all He can do to try to get a Christian/His church body back to Himself without violating the free gift He has given to all humanity; and that is the gift of “freewill.” He will not force you to submit to Him. We have to choose to turn to Him or not. He only gives us two choices, life or death. His way or not

And He uses all these means to do so. If it were not true, then the Holy Ghost, who inspired holy men to write the Holy Bible by the direction of the One and only holy God to reveal this fact in His Holy Bible. But He will not strive with man forever (Genesis 6:3)!

We can exhaust His grace! Our choices against God can frustrate Him, for the Holy Bible does in fact teach, “His mercy endureth for ever.” BUT His patience is not! And if He does not do any of these degrees of discipline to bring you back into His grace, then you are not His child (Hebrews 12:8).

Repent And Overcome

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.

I’ve personally heard some ministers using this verse to bring sinners to Christ for the first time. But using this verse for that purpose is a misinterpretation, since the Lord Jesus specifically says, “if any man hear My voice,” as if to understand that the Lord is giving all people an invitation to salvation here.

He’s not, for the context is simply: the Lord speaking directly to His church body only and not to the world. So, the correct understanding of this verse, Jesus Christ is not saying this to the world who doesn’t know Him, inviting all to salvation, He is saying this to His church body, to all those backslidden Christians who has rejected the Lord’s warnings, convictions, rebukes and chastisements; that He is standing at the door of the heart and knocking.

Reassuring the backslider in this apostate condition of lukewarmness, that it’s not too late yet to open the door of your hearts to Him and let Him in. He is saying this for a specific purpose, because if we mess up, it is natural to wonder ‘if God will ever receive me again?’ He’s answering that question here with an emphatic YES!

But the backslider has to open the door and let Jesus Christ in… to do what? To restore a relationship back with you as He continues to minister, “I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.”

And if you do choose to open the door of your heart to Jesus Christ, you will not be disappointed! You will be blessed with His Spirit (The Spirit of Christ) and have a close relationship with Him; being of one mind, one body and one spirit with the Lord again.

But you have to first open the door of your heart to Him in order to receive these blessings. He will not do this for you. He will not barge in! He will not pound on the door demanding you to let Him in or pound the door down to come in! He’s standing on the outside knocking, waiting for you to let Him in.

The second blessing the Lord promises to those who overcomes rejecting Jesus Christ and this apostate condition is found in His next statement, Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.

This is another great promise Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior has promised to them that “overcometh.” Overcomes temptations of sins of all types and shadows, overcomes; the world; the flesh and the devil, and overcomes being lukewarm towards the Lord.

I don’t know if you realize it, the word “overcometh” is a very powerful statement here. Because it leaves us with an encouraging word. That lukewarmness can be repented from. Can be conquered. But you have to choose to do what the Lord instructs in order for those in this apostate condition to overcome before it is too late.

Because again, you can exhaust God’s patients and His grace. He will not strive with any man, woman or child forever. You can lose your salvation by dragging your feet on this issue as the Lord Jesus Christ has warned earlier, “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.”

Think about that for a moment… Let that sink in. Another word for “spue” is to vomit, or wretch. Which gives us a clear understanding that when we ingest something that’s not quite right. The body will then vomit it out. So, what is the body doing? Rejecting. He uses this word with the same conclusion; Christians who are not right with him and continue while abiding in Christ He will reject. And this is our warning… the written word… Take heed!

Also notice the Lords’ phrase here, “even as I also overcame.” What He is referring to is how He overcame temptations, before they ever turned into sin. For He never sinned, but was tempted to sin. You see, temptation is not sin, but the yielding to temptations is sinning. Doing what temptation suggests to do, that is sin.

And Jesus Christ overcame all temptations before it ever turned into sin as it is written, Hebrews 4:14-15 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

And how did He overcome all temptations since He was tempted like as we are? By denying Himself, and picked up the cross (meaning: mortified the thoughts and the yielding to all temptations before it ever becomes sin). He practiced what He preached. He is our perfect example of what we need to be and to do! Since the Holy Bible teaches that we need to strive to be more like Christ, Christ like… That’s what the true definition of the word Christians actually means; pointing to 1 John 2-3

And that’s what He is teaching us here! Reminding all the church body of Christ to do all His teachings in order to sit with Christ as He overcame the world; the flesh and the devil and sat with His Father also.

So, it would behoove us to really take a closer look at all His teachings and to do them! Taking our relationship with Jesus Christ more seriously, since the church age is drawing to a close. Making our call and election sure now, in order to meet the Lord in the air indefinitely, and to receive all His exceedingly great and precious promises contained in the Book of Revelation that Jesus Christ has now revealed in Chapters 2&3

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

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Unified And Sanctified MP3 Downloadable PodcastOpening Scriptures: Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Jesus The Christ is about to be betrayed after the Passover supper. And before this happens, He taught His disciples then and us today how to remain (abide) in Him, to be a friend of God, bearing fruit of godly and holy love for one another (John 15:1-18).

He also taught how the world will hate us (John 15:19-25). And ministered about the promised Holy Spirit and how He will work on behalf of Jesus Christ and the church to draw men to God through the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Also mentioned His own death and resurrection (John 16), but the disciples did not understand until (John 16:29).

After this, Jesus took His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane (Hebrew: ‘Olive Press’). But before they crossed over the Brook Cedron (Kidron) (Hebrew: ‘Dusky Place’) to get to the Garden of Gethsemane where He will be betrayed and beaten and taken to the cross for the remission of our sins (John 18-19).

He prayed this powerful prayer to God His Father for the church that He is about to build after His death, bodily resurrection and ascension through His blood which is the start of His New Covenant

John 17:1-22 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to Heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee: As Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him (John 6:44).

And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent (Matthew 7:21). I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do.

And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was (John 1:1-14/Genesis 1:1-4). I have manifested Thy name unto the men which Thou gavest Me out of the world: Thine they were, and Thou gavest them Me; and they have kept Thy word.

Now they have known that all things whatsoever Thou hast given Me are of Thee. For I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from Thee, and they have believed that Thou didst send Me (Hebrews 4:14-15).

I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine (John 14:15-17/John 3:5-8). And all Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine; and I Am glorified in them. And now I Am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as We are.

While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy name: those that Thou gavest Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the Scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have My joy fulfilled in themselves.

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. Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth (Ephesians 5:26-27). As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world (Matthew 10:16). And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word (John 10:14-16); That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one:

When we are abiding in Christ and the church body is unified under Spirit of God, we then have the mind of Christ being in one mind and in one accord where the teaching of Biblical doctrines is the same…they do not differ.

Where the body of Christ believes the same and we do not differ, and we are all in agreement that the Holy Word of God is infallible and inerrant (without error); and we live according to the commandments of God because that is the result of eternal life (Knowing God Almighty through Jesus Christ as Lord)

This is the Church which Jesus Christ has built and if there is a church that does not believe right or live right according to the Holy Bible standards (God’s Holy Bible) than it is not the church that Jesus Christ has built.

And Jesus Christ is the dividing line what is right and wrong, what is moral and immoral, what is truth vs. lie, sound doctrine over error of carnal minded thinking. He is the dividing line of religion vs. real salvation relationship with God.

And if there is ever a time where we need to guard our hearts from false Christ’s and false religion and from the doctrine of satan which is nothing more than the doctrine of confusion; it is now!

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Revelation 3:7-13 Downloadable MP3 PodcastAs true disciples of Jesus Christ, we would prosper greatly in life, in work, minister and a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ our Lord, if we would learn from this greatly blessed church of Philadelphia and model ourselves after them.

A Brief Background of Philadelphia

What made this Church so blessed? They were faithful to God without fault according to Jesus Christ Himself. Philadelphia is also known by its modern name Alaşehir. which sits in the Manisa province of the Aegean Sea region of Turkey.

It sits about 30.8 miles east of Sardis and it remained to be a strong orthodox Christian center up until the 20th Century which is the second longest standing church before its fall. It was established in 189 BC by Eumenes II of Pergamon (197-160 BC). He named the city for the love of his brother. This is why Philadelphos means “one who loves his brother.”

Unfortunately, evidence also suggests that this city was not entirely converted to Christianity. Since there lay in ruins pagan temples. Ancient coins also found in the city revealing an “imperial cult” were housed here as well. And it eventually was succumbed by a series of wars and revolts; and a burning during the Greco-Turkish war of 1919-1922 that destroyed 70% of the city.

The Blessings of An Open Door To Jesus Christ

Revelation 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

The resurrected glorified Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, is revealing another series of characteristics about Himself. To prove to His churches, that He is the One who is speaking and not John on behalf of Christ. We see this in every one of the Lord’s opening statement as a personal signature to every church in Revelation 2-3.

The first characteristic the Lord is revealing, “He that is holy,” points to Christ’s sinless perfection and purity attribute. Just in case anyone doubts the validity of these words as being Jesus Christ’s very own words.

This is vital proof, because no one on earth has ever achieved absolute and total perfection from the time of birth to death other than Jesus Christ, as it is written about the Lord in,

Hebrews 4:14-15 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

This is where all our justification and righteousness come from, through Jesus Christ, as it is written, Romans 5:1;17-21 V:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

V:17-21 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ.)

Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.

Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

“He that is true,” is another personal signature of the resurrected glorified Christ, pointing to the fact that every word Jesus Christ speaks is gold! It’s absolute pure truth! And this concurs with what Jesus Christ said about Himself,

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I Am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

The One and Only, Who also “hath the key of David.” The word “key” has always symbolized “authority” in the Holy Bible. A perfect example of this is found in one of Jesus Christ’s teachings in, Matthew 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.

Authority is what is emphasized in the Lord’s statement here, showing us that He has authority over Christians and His church. This is why He continues to say, “He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;”

No man creates opportunities to minister His gospel! No man can draw people to Christ! No man has the power to call himself into ministries. No man who builds churches can make it last. It is only Jesus Christ who has that kind of authority, and we are to follow His lead. And to seize every opportunity He provides, since He is the source of all authority, we have in Him.

And that too is what Jesus Christ is emphasizing here to His people. No man can start a ministry, build a church, nor can anyone make the Lord do anything without His direction and anointing. And on the other side of the coin of truth is: once He opens, once He starts, no man can shut it, no man can stop what the Lord is doing regardless!

He is the only one who determines all things, and without us being in His perfect will, nothing will start or last. Even the devil has no power to shut the purpose, will and plan of God. He can only try to frustrate it.

Not even the most effective and anointed; Holy Ghost praying can open and shut the things of God. And nothing can sway the Lord from opening and shutting, Because He sees ahead and knows the best path; the best course of action to take at any given moment and season. And we need to learn to trust in that and move with the Lord and of the Holy Ghost when He moves. And rest when He rests.

And apparently the church of Philadelphia learned this secret in a close fellowship, communion and relationship with God, because they were named “The Faithful Church.” They did everything right and there was nothing Jesus Christ had against them. This is why He says what He says, in the next verse,

Revelation 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My word, and hast not denied My name.

An open door is an exclusive access to God’s physical presence on earth, into the throne room of grace in time of need if you will (Hebrews 4:14). While also having exclusive divine opportunities to minister and witness the gospel of Jesus Christ as well.

The Lord has set before the faithful church, faithful Christians an open door of intimate fellowship/communion with God as a reward for continually being right with God and being a church body of born-again Christians after God’s own heart. While enduring great opposition of satan and his disciples through many trials, tribulations and testing’s.

He also has set an open door of refreshing in the Lord’s physical presence, because what this church has been through, this is why He says, “For thou hast little strength and has kept My word and hast not denied My name.”

Just as history has revealed, among the ruins of Philadelphia, they were surrounded by the pollution of sins and sinners. This is why they had “little strength.” Showing us, not only were they “faithful” in their relationship to Christ, they were also faithful in prayer and ministering the gospel of Jesus Christ in this city.

They faithfully spent all their time and energy trying to win sinners to Christ, unfortunately they didn’t gain much ground throughout the centuries. But despite all that, being weary of the presence of open sinning, and rebellious people who shut their ears to the truth and salvation of their souls, the church remained faithful and diligent to the end.

They never denied Jesus Christ, they stayed true to His teachings, they kept the faith even in the face of all adversity. And that’s the best reward here on earth, is to have an open door in that close spiritual refreshing and communion with the Lord as it will be in paradise in that eternal day to come. And only His faithful can be this close to the Lord, which is teaching Christians:

In order to have this kind of relationship with God, you must live a penitent; holy, righteous life in Jesus Christ. Totally devoted to the Lord just like the church in Philadelphia lived by with all their heart, mind, strength and soul.

Be Ye Holy For The Lord Is Holy

Now notice throughout all Scriptures. Jesus Christ did not promise these blessings to any ol’ church or Christian, but to the righteous faithful. Which shows us, He doesn’t promise this to sinners because He cannot have fellowship with sinners. Nor can He use them for His ministry. He only uses His holy, faithful church body.

And while we are on this subject, Jesus Christ cannot have fellowship with sinners because He is Light and has nothing in common with darkness (John 1:1-14). He is holy and has no fellowship with sinners because again, He has nothing in common with sinners.

Sin originated with satan, not with God. And as the Holy Bible points out specifically, anyone who sins are children of the devil and not children of God!

1 John 3:1-8 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.

And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin.

Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him. Little children, let no man deceive you: He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

And this word is of the Holy Spirit of God preaching through the Apostle John. So this specific word is open for discussion, but cannot be changed nor ignored by true born-again Christians.

Carnal Christians reject this as errant. But no matter, this word still applies today, it still is holy! Truth is truth, facts are facts whether one receives it or rejects it! This word comes from God as the Holy Spirit of God moved upon holy men to inspire these Holy Scriptures to be written (2 Peter 1:20-21) And those that reject this, do not reject men… but God. And many other Scriptures support this teaching throughout the New Testament alone, such as 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22.

And since Jesus Christ is Light; Life and Truth, He exposes all sins, revealing His truth to sinners (John 3:15-21), in order for sinners to come to repentance. Because sinners cannot have an intimate relationship with the holy Son of God Jesus Christ, just as light cannot have fellowship with darkness nor Christ having communion with children of the devil!

A Christian must receive the Spirit of Christ, to be His righteousness and of the Holy Ghost, in order to have power over the world, the flesh and the devil, to stay right with God and to have fellowship with God Most High through Jesus Christ our Lord and to be used by Him.

So therefore, only the righteous born-again, faithful children of God, who stayed right with God faithfully; kept His word. And has not denied the faith nor be ashamed of Christ, does the Lord give this promise of an open door to.

Revelation 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Jesus Christ is ministering a promise to the true born-again Christians who are seriously faithful to Christ in heart, of great favor be bestowed upon His children, that even enemies of the cross, of the gospel and of Christianity will be made to bow in subjection. Acknowledging that Christianity is the only true faith, The only way to the One and only true God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the only way into Paradise through Jesus Christ.

Rapture of The Church Age

Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

I believe The Lord is referring to the blessing of the rapture of the church age here in verse 10. Because notice the specific phrase, “I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world”

And this is specifically directed to His born-again; righteous; faithful church body of today, who stays the course in abiding in Christ to the end of the church age in holy living, faithful to God to the end. For if we do so, I believe the Lord is telling us, He will keep us from the great tribulation period, which is in reference, “the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world.”

So how will He keep His faithful from that “hour of temptation” that will take over the whole world for a short time? The rapture of the church age. Rapture: (Latin) Raptura. It means to be specifically abducted. It is derived from the Latin word Raptus which is specifically defined as, a carrying off; snatched away. This is why Jesus Christ describes this event this way in:

Matthew 24:29-47 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 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.

Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors

Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of Heaven, but My Father only.

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 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 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. 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 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. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all His goods.

You see, there’s a warning here, only the faithful in Christ shall be kept from that hour of trial (the great tribulation period) that’s coming to all the world. This concurs what He says next,

Revelation 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Because if we allow the world, the flesh or the devil to deceive us away from Christ and from salvation, we will not be taken away, abducted into the rapture of the church age. But will go through the greatest tribulation the world has ever seen, nor will it ever go through again.

Stay Faithful To Christ To The Very End

Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of Heaven from My God: and I will write upon him My new name.

There’s a whole lot of revelation to this one verse the Lord Jesus speaks. First, He promises these series of eternal blessings to those “that overcome.” But overcome what? This church was right with the Lord. They have done nothing wrong. There’s no sin that Jesus Christ addressed.

So, what did the Lord mean to overcome? It’s really simple, He’s not only instructing the church of Philadelphia, but to all the body of Christ in the entire church age, who is faithful unto Jesus Christ. Who has perfected holy (sanctified) righteous living as like the Lord (1 John 3:3). He’s warning us to remain in this state of spiritual purity and perfection from the heart until the end.

Because that statement alone sums up all that we have studied in this lesson, while it also points back to Verse 11, “hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” The Lord is teaching here once again that no matter how deeply spiritually perfected you are in Christ, we all can still fall away, and come short of the glory of God.

Jesus Christ is showing us through the church of Philadelphia that all Christians can reach these spiritual heights of purity and perfection, but the elect can still be deceived and fall away. He’s showing us the two sides of the coin of truth.

On one side, He taught, Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. This is the Lord’s way of encouraging all who follow Him faithfully, that you can reach heights of purity in heart. Like for another example, in verse 48 He also concludes, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect.”

If this kind of spiritual purity were not possible from the heart, The Lord would never have taught this. He doesn’t set us up for failure or disappointments. But He is challenging all disciples today, who follow Him to be that sold out completely to God through Jesus Christ, in order to accomplish this by faith, as He has also taught in,

Matthew 16:24-26 Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

On the other hand, He also warned in, Matthew 24:24 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.

If it were not possible for the elect of God to be deceived, then again Jesus Christ would not have taught this. This is why again He warned, “hold that fast which thou hast, that no man (no false Christ’s or false prophets) take thy crown.” You see how powerful yet few, the Lord words really are? They speak volumes of revelation knowledge of life.

In fact, all that the Lord taught, the entire New Testament is a direct reflection of all His teachings. through His disciples and through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, such as a warning to all Christians through the Holy Spirit, ministered through the Apostle Paul in,

1 Corinthians 10:1-12 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 all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 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. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

So, in all things considered, this is the very reason why Jesus Christ warned His faithful, spiritually pure and perfected church body to overcome. Because we can still be deceived. The destroyer, satan, will never give up hunting Christians down and deceiving to the point of Spiritual death. satan is still out to steal, kill and destroy, seeking whom he may devour. Just as it has happened to the church of Philadelphia.

And this is why we must always stay on our guard, be alert, watch and pray, and always resist the devil and draw near to God; abiding in Jesus Christ our Lord.

When we have overcome all things at the end of our life, or when the rapture takes place; and for those faithful “saints” of God in the great tribulation period overcomes the world; the flesh and the devil to the end of life or the end of the world, Jesus Christ promises these eternal blessings, “will I make a pillar in the temple of My God,”

Jesus Christ will make a pillar in the temple of God in commemoration of you in all eternity as a result of your complete dedication and commitment to Jesus Christ and to God His Father as a legendary strong faithful servant.

The Lord highly honors those who honor, glorifies and magnifies Him in faith and in all manner of conversations (conduct) while we live on earth. And this is one of many infallible proofs of this fact. You really cannot out give God. Case in point, God is specifically speaking to His children

Psalm 91:14-16 Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him My salvation.

The Lord will only honor those who absolutely and faithfully honor Him. But the eternal blessings don’t stop there, He continues to reveal, “and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God: and I will write upon him My new name.”

This signifies the highest honor to be called God’s property forever, by having God’s name, new Jerusalem and the Lord’s new name eternally written (branded, if you will) on our bodies by Jesus Christ; for all to see as His legendary champion of faith, love, strength and purity without compromise.

Far from corruption and completely faithful and obedient to God through Jesus Christ. Again, these blessings are only promised to the faithful in Christ to the end

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches

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Signs of A Living Church (part 3) MP3 Downloadable PodcastThe church of Sardis in the Book of Revelation 3:1-6 was known as a dead church according to the words of Jesus Christ. They weren’t doing anything. They had a living Christian label, but were dead.

And Jesus Christ had promised not just to the church of Ephesus only (Revelation 2:5), but to all churches that if they do not repent, He will remove their candlestick from its place standing before the thrown of God. And apparently Sardis did not repent, and were completely destroyed.

Now we know through Sardis What a dead church is. But what are the other signs of a living church? Recapping the past 2 parts in this series:

Making our call and election sure
Bearing good fruit
Living just like Jesus Christ is returning at any moment
Having living and active faith

In this message from the Lord, we will be covering:

Operating in the gifts of the Holy Spirit
The five-fold ministry in operation
Being always watchful for the appearance of Jesus Christ

Operating In The Gifts of The Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 12:1-12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

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; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

Another vital sign of a living church is going from one level of faith to a new level of faith. Faith is like a muscle. In order to build muscle, there has to be resistance. Same thing with our Faith. Standing against the oppositions of the world, the flesh and the devil help build faith. And keeps it active.

Jesus Christ leads His sheep (Christians) through trials; tribulations and testing’s to strengthen our faith muscles (Psalm 23). Putting you into situations, testing our faith. And while we go through these testing’s, are we going to remember what the Lord instructs us and resist the devil until he flees? Or are we going to kick against the goad of God’s word and do things our own way?

When we go by the way of the Lord, there will be some serious opposition. But as long as we stand in Christ, with the full armor of God on (Ephesians 6:11-14)… that… builds our faith muscles.

And why does the Lord do things this way? It takes faith to operate in the gifts of the Holy Ghost. And if our faith is weak or dead, then we are not a living church. And if you can get through the most difficult places and be victorious, then you can believe and do the impossible things the Holy Bible says we can do.

As powerful as faith is, did you know faith can also be destroyed? Yes, it can. Faith can be destroyed in three ways:

by sin (shipwrecked) (1 Timothy 1:18-20)
by fear (Revelation 21:8)
by laziness (Matthew 25:1-30)

satan always attacks faith, because if he can shipwreck your faith, contaminate your faith, causing your faith to be inoperable; then the church will be dead and powerless. And if your faith is dead and powerless, you cannot stay saved because it takes faith to be saved.

You see, it’s the same faith that operates the gifts of the Holy Ghost is also the same faith that saves the soul in Jesus Christ. And without it, we are dead spiritually. So, living and active faith is a vital sign of a living and active church.

Laziness can also destroy your faith, by not exercising faith, keeping faith active. As a spiritual saying goes, “Faith not tested, is faith that cannot be trusted.” And laziness is exactly what the church of Sardis was because they were doing nothing. And Jesus Christ says they are a dead church. And were destroyed completely.

Five-fold Ministry In Operation

Another vital sign of a living church is the five-fold ministry in operation. But it doesn’t stop there. The Holy Bible continues to tell us that miracles, gifts of healings, the ministry of helps, governments and diversity of tongue speaking (the heavenly language of angels mentioned 1 Corinthians 13:1) are also vital signs of a living church. As it is written,

1 Corinthians 12:27-31 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Being Always Watchful For The Appearance of Jesus Christ

Mark 13:24-37 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in Heaven shall be shaken.

And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall He send His angels, and shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.

Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but My words shall not pass away. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left His house, and gave authority to His servants, and to every man His work, and commanded the porter to watch.

Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

It’s not just operating in one or a couple of these attributes that shows us a living church. It’s having all the above:

Having a close fellowship/relationship with Jesus Christ
Lives like Jesus Christ is returning at any moment
Operating daily in living and active faith
Walking always in the Spirit of God (The Holy Spirit)
Operating in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
An active church with the five-fold ministry
Always watchful for the appearance of Jesus Christ

All this combined, shows us the vital signs of a living church in Jesus Christ our Lord according to the Holy Bible. Are you a living church today?

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Signs of A Living Church (part 2) MP3 Downloadable PodcastFruits of Living And Active Faith

Opening Scripture: John 15:1-11 I Am the True Vine, and My Father is the Husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.

I Am the Vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples. As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love.

If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

If we are close to God and have close fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Reading and studying His word, having a direct communication line with God, then your faith will grow and you’ll want to do more for the Kingdom of God, bearing much more fruit in your personal walk with Jesus Christ our Lord. This is clearly another vital sign of a living Christian and a Living church.

But… people who do not want to do anything for the Lord is because they are not close to God. They are afar off from Christ and they bare bad to no fruit. Just like the Lord’s spiritual lesson of the fig tree points out.

Mark 11:12-13 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, He was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, He came, if haply He might find any thing thereon: and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.

Jesus Christ inspected this tree closely and found only leaves, no buds or blossoms of fruit. On the outside it looked alive. But on the inside of this tree, it was dead, because it was not doing what it was created to do; and that is to bear fruit.

So therefore, He rebuked this tree and it withered and died. Same with Christians as well, if we do not bear fruit for Christ nor for His kingdom, He will do the same with us to the point of no return (Matthew 25:14-30).

That’s exactly what the Church of Sardis was (Revelation 3:1-6) a dead church. They had leaves but no fruit. The Lord warned them to be alive and not dead! Draw close to God through Jesus Christ and you will be alive! You stray away from Christ, you will die; because the branch (Christians) in itself cannot bear fruit.

When we abide in Christ just as the branch abides in the vine, we will naturally mature and grow and bare some fruit, to bare much more fruit. And that’s what faith is…action…trust and obey God

Mark 16:15-18 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. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Having close fellowship and communion with God through Jesus Christ. Reading and study the Holy Bible and ministering the gospel of Jesus Christ to a spiritually dead world are all vital signs of a living church.

Jesus Christ commanded Christians the “Great Commission,” “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” This is also part of the vital signs of living and active faith! And living faith are the signs of a living Christian and church as well.

So, ministering the gospel is that next level of our relationship with Christ, growing and maturing in Jesus Christ, going from faith to faith (Romans 1:16-17). From one level of faith to a new level of faith!

James 2:17-26 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; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 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 was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Walking In The Spirit of God

Walking in the Spirit is what the Holy Bible also calls sanctification. And it means to be set apart for God’s holy use… Consecrated! Going back to the example of Abraham, He had living and active faith.

He heard God, he believed God, therefore he trusted and obeyed God and did what he heard God command; putting His faith into action. And that’s exactly what our requirement is in the Lord. And this comes naturally, (as naturally as a fruit baring tree bares fruit), IF we stay in Christ.

To mortify completely the sinful deeds of the flesh. Let not sin reign in our mortal bodies. And that’s sanctification. Living the life in Christ in the Spirit of God. All this takes living and active faith to accomplish.

Romans 8:1-14 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Galatians 5:16-26 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

If you remain in Jesus Christ, you will not go by the way of sin, or of a carnal mind. You will be led by the Spirit of God. Your fruits will also multiply. Living a righteous and holy life by faith that pleases God will also become second nature. These are all signs of a living church.

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Through Revelation 3:1-6, we know what a dead church is according to Jesus Christ. But the Holy Bible also emphasizes so much about the vital signs of a living church.

This message is part 1 out of 3, and it focuses on what a living church is and what it does according to the Holy Bible.

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Jesus Christ calls the church of Sardis a dead church, because they were doing nothing for Jesus Christ nor for the Kingdom of God.

A dead church is a tall-tell sign of an extreme condition of backsliding into apostasy. And Jesus Christ warns such churches today, if they stay in this apostate condition than you will miss the rapture of the church age and lose salvation

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The second step to the apostate condition of heresy is corruption. Once a Christian chooses to compromise a little in doctrine and a life of holiness and sin against God; little by little that Christians will become corrupt mentally and spiritually.

This is another common problem in the church age today. And the only solution is what Jesus Christ ministers in this next message to all churches

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A Message to the compromising church, not only for His church of Pergamos, but to all churches in the church age today.

Compromise is the first step to heresy, and Jesus Christ has a sharp warning to all those who are in this apostate condition, but beauitiful blessings to them that repents and overcomes

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An encouraging message directly from Jesus Christ to His persecuted church body, not just for the church of Smyrna only, but also for all His church body today.

As Christians we need to hear and take heed of the warning Jesus Christ is speaking, telling us that persecution is coming

And we need to be ready for that day when it comes, by applying His instruction to our lives now.

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Jesus Christ reveals, He hates the deeds of the Nicolaitanes. What were they doing, that Jesus Christ hates so much?

This Message explores what they were doing then, and how Nicolaitanism has rebranded itself today.

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In our seasons of business, we must not forget the Lord who empowers the work, because our eternal life does depend on Jesus Christ and our relationship with Him

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Revelation 2:1-5 teaches all Christians then and now, that a close relationship with God the Father, through Jesus Christ His only begotten Son; is the supreme principal priority in our daily walk with Him.

It also warns, without that communion with God, then we as the church body of Christ will become powerless; with ineffective prayers and ministry. Unless we repent and turn back to our "first love," Jesus The Christ.

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This message shows us, God warns before He judges. Also shows us how loving, merciful and patient God really is.

Revealing to us all throughout the ages of time His perfect will for all humanity.

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It is vitally important as born-again Christians to always give thanks to God with all our hearts!

This message, we will be ministering about the importance of Worship.

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Revelation 4 is a further description of what the Apostle John saw, experienced and wrote about while being in the Throne room of God, in God Most Highs' presence.

In this study, we will be exploring the Apostle John's description of all he saw, pertaining to God Most High and the 24 elders.

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This message is a continuation of our last study about angels.

And just as there are holy angels, the same can be said about angels of darkness, also known as demons.

And this is what this study will be focusing on, answering the question many have about the origins of demons, through the Holy Bible's perspective.

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There are many misconceptions, misunderstandings and personal opinions about angels. But what does the Holy Bible teach about them?

From this point on, the Book of Revelation reveals much activity of these mysterious celestial beings.

In this 2-part message, we will address what angels are, what they are created for, and the different types of angels

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Every detail the Apostle John writes about Jesus Christ, serves the soul purpose of pointing to the Worlds Real Messiah; and there is no other.

The voice of Jesus Christ is a mystery now revealed. The meaning why His voice is the sound of many waters is what this study will explore.

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Every detail of the appearance of Jesus Christ has a deep mystery behind them. This study reveals the meaning behind the details of His eternal glorified body.

Proving to be the One and Only Son of God, Jesus Christ; The worlds real Messiah.

Because ultimately, His body bares the marks of His eternal work of salvation; protection and redemption

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According to the Apostle Johns personal testimony, he Is the writer of the Book of Revelation.

This message explores where, when and how He wrote this Holy Book of mysteries, comparing to world history

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God Most High, The Father of Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ Himself are the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end, the first and the last.

What does this statement actually mean? This message explores the meaning of Jesus Christ's proclamation of Revelation 1:8

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The Apostle John writes to all Jesus Christ's church, a very powerful prophecy that threads through the Holy Bible,

Prophesying not only the Second Advent of Jesus Christ, but also the Rapture of the church age as well.

Reminding His people to stay ready, while warning the world to repent, get right with God and be saved before these events take place

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The Apostle John greets the seven churches with a powerful testimony from Jesus Christ Who is, was, and is to come.

But what does that phrase really Mean? This study exposes the truth who Jesus Christ is.

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The word Revelation means, “A revealing of mysteries.” King Solomon said it best this way in, Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing. But the honour of kings to search out a matter.

Since the Book of Revelation is full of the hidden mysteries of the Holy Bible and life itself, now revealed. It is time for all humanity to pay attention to what is contained in this Book. For the time is at hand, for what is written, to come to pass.

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The word "rewards" in the Holy Bible, doesn't always imply good. But also implies bad consequences based upon bad choices.

For a sinner, the Lake of Fire is your reward based upon your rejection of Jesus Christ.

For born-again Christians, eternal rewards in Heaven is what we are to look forward to, as Jesus Christ has taught.

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While we are going through the deep dark valleys of earth, remember, Jesus Christ is there with us. And never forget the rewards that are just ahead, if Christians endure to the end

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The Holy Bible instructs Christians how to be encouraged in a discouraging world. If you do what it instructs, than you will be blessed and empowered to live in the power of God successfully, everyday in the Life of Jesus Christ the Lord

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The Holy Bible does not teach that we "accept" Jesus Christ to be saved. Rather God teaches that we must be acceptable unto God through Jesus Christ. So that eternal question remains upon us all, "Are you acceptable unto God?"

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Death comes suddenly and often times without warning. Jesus Christ's message is: Get right with God, stay right with God and be ready for eternity before it's too late

Hope For A Hopeless Generation: Recent Episodes

Brother Steve Bates