The Signs and The Fig tree Matthew 24 Mark 13 Uncategorized by admin - January 12, 2014January 12, 20141 Today, I’m going to begin the topic of the ‘signs’ that Jesus gave us to watch for in the endtime, and then the ‘parable of the fig tree’ that Jesus Himself commanded all Christians to learn in Matthew 24:32 and Mark 13:28. It is specifically this parable that gives God’s people the season of the last generation, which is also the generation that Jesus Christ appears back on earth, in person. It is correct that no man knows the day or hour of His coming , but that excludes the season. We can know the season, which is to say, the last generation. It is given in God’s Word, not man’s. We ask a Word of Wisdom from our Father in Christ’s Name, Amen. What are the signs of Christ’s coming; can we know the season? Mark 13:28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: This verse was spoken by Jesus after He had given His Apostles, in private, the seven events or signs leading up to His return on earth, which are also the seven seals of Revelation. Notice here, in this verse that He says to ‘learn’ the parable of the fig tree. He didn’t say maybe, He said learn it! That is equal to a direct command from Jesus. Let’s continue. Mark 13:29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. 30: Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. What generation is Jesus talking about? The generation that will experience ‘these things’, or the seven signs of Matthew 23, Mark 13, and Luke 21, that’s who. Well, you might wonder why He threw in “…learn a parable of the fig tree” between the verses covering the seven events or signs of the endtime, and the verse about ‘this generation’. (This is very important. Check me out on this.) Jesus could not have been talking about the generation living when He walked on the earth during His first Advent. Why? Because that generation has already passed, and not all of the events, or these seven signs which He foretold are passed, and He has not returned yet. So what generation is He referring to? The generation of the ‘fig tree’. Jesus gave a lot of information in these three verses, and once properly understood, it becomes very simple. First, let’s go to the 13th Chapter of the Book of Mark and study about those seven signs that Jesus gave us, then we’ll get into an understanding of the ‘parable of the fig tree’, and you will be given proof from God’s Word, (not this man’s, or any other man’s word), that the seven events are unfolding right before us, documenting that we are in that last generation today. Mark 13:1 And as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples saith unto Him, “Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!” This disciple is commenting on the great stones making the building of the Temple in Jerusalem. Some of these stones were 20 to 40 feet long , and over 100 tons in weight. It must have been a great sight to behold in that day, being made with man’s hands in a land that was mostly desert. Mark 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto him, “Seest thou these great buildings? There shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” This has not happened yet to this day. This does not refer to the Roman general named Titus in 70 AD that destroyed the temple, for even the Western Wall of the Temple stands today. When Jesus says that “There shall not be left one stone upon another…”, He’s talking about His return on the seventh or last trump, when all the ‘rudiments’, which are the works by man’s hands, will be destroyed or consumed by fire, God’s fire, for God is a ‘consuming fire’ (Heb.12:29). That is when all are changed into that spiritual body spoken of by Paul in I Cor.15, which ushers in the beginning of the thousand year Millennium reign of Christ on earth. Mark 13:3 And as He sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked Him privately, Here four disciples gather around Jesus and ask Him privately, about the signs of the endtime. Privately means that the following teaching was not taught by Jesus to the masses there at the mount of Olives, but to the ‘elect’ only. This is not a public teaching! It is this example of the way that Jesus taught, documenting from God’s Word, that there is a group that are ‘called’ and ‘chosen’, separate from the masses. (See also Mark 4:34; Luke 8:9-10, 12:41; Matt.13:9-17). Sorry friend, but this is not my opinion, but God’s Word. Not all that call out to God are ‘called’ and ‘chosen’, or of the ‘elect’, which the parable of the Ten Virgins should give you also this clue. God does the choosing , not man. Sweet preaching and fly away doctrines are not signs of being chosen. The great measuring stick is whether or not it is God’s teaching from His Word, instead of man’s babelings. Before He will choose us, we have to know His Word, and not a bunch of traditions of men taught by those who are deceived. Are you being deceived by men’s traditions? I hope not. Better to check it out for yourself if you’re not sure. Mark 13:4 “Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?” In Matthew 24 is another version of this question that makes the subject very clear: Matthew 24:3 And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when shall these things be and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?” Then the ‘signs’ of the next verses in Matt. 24 continue as in Mark 13 and Luke 21. Now, back to Mark 13. The First and Second Seals of Revelation Mark 13:5 And Jesus answering them began to say, “Take heed lest any man deceive you: This ‘deception’ is the main thing Christians are facing today. It is the ‘territory’ that the whole battle is about. In order to win in this ‘spiritual battle’ of ‘deception’, we must understand how we can be deceived. That’s why some man standing up claiming to teach God’s Word can be the biggest deceiver. If we don’t understand God’s Word for ourselves, how are we going to know if we are being lied to or not? That’s why I am against such slogans as “Just believe and you’ll be saved”, or “All you’ve got to do is believe”, and “once saved, always saved.” And then they would teach that you don’t really need to understand the Book of Revelation, and that The Old Testament was all history, and it’s not necessary anymore. Who will these be saved by and from what, I ask? The first messiah that returns back to this earth? I hope not, because it is well documented in God’s Word that the first messiah that returns is Satan himself, playing in the role of Jesus, the position he has always coveted (Ezek.28; 2 Thess.2; Isaiah 14). The True Christ returns after the first tribulation of Satan (II Thess.2; Matt.24; Mark 13). Believing on Jesus as the only Begotten Son of God Who died on the cross for our salvation, Who also resurrected the third day, and being baptized in His Name is only one of the steps necessary in receiving God’s Truth to keep from being deceived. Notice I said, “to keep from being deceived.” Am I saying you won’t be saved if you believe on Christ as Savior? No. But by not knowing our Lord’s teaching for us during these latter days, you may very well be deceived into worshipping the ‘false messiah‘ who comes first. That is what the ‘great apostacy’, or ‘a falling away’ from the true worship of God through His Savior Jesus Christ means (II Thess.2; 1 Timothy 4; 2 Timothy 4). Satan does some of his best work in some Churches (2 Cor.11; 2 Peter 2; Gal.1 & 2). Do you go to a Church where all they do is play religion, never getting around to teaching the Word of God chapter by chapter and verse by verse? A Church system can not save anyone, but God’s Word is the only Salvation! The deception is exceptionally strong and powerful, especially at this day and time. I implore you to check out the following verses for yourself if you don’t believe this can happen in the Churches today: II Cor.11:3-15. The subject of deception Jesus is teaching about here in Mark 13:5 is also the first ‘seal’ of Revelation 6. These events of the endtime here in Mark 13 parallel the seven seals. Let’s go to Revelation Chapter 6. Rev.6:1 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.” Rev.6:2 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. This is the opening of the ‘first seal’. These four beasts are ‘zoon’ in the Greek, meaning ‘living beings’, or the living creatures that guard the Throne of God (Strong’s no.2226). This one on the ‘white horse’ wearing a ‘bow’, which is toxon in the Greek (Strong’s no.5115), means a ‘bow of a simple fabric’ or cheap fabric, and a ‘crown’ which is stephanos in the Greek (Strong’s no.4735), meaning ‘a crown of twine or wreathe’; is Satan. He will attempt to return in the same way as Jesus, on a ‘white horse’ described in Rev.19. However, the crown that Jesus wears in Rev.19:12 is ‘diadema’ in the Greek (Strong’s no.1238), meaning ‘a kingly ornament’, similar to what the Persian kings wore. This one (Lucifer) wearing the clothing of ‘cheap fabric’ and a ‘crown‘ of ‘twine’ is given power to rule, and to go ‘forth’ and conquer. How? By deception. He’s going to deceive many into believing that he is the Messiah, when he is nothing more than a ‘man’ (See Ezekiel 28) parading around in a crown of twine in cheap clothing ; but he is going to be coming to ‘rapture’ those deceived away! Mark 13:6 For many shall come in My name, saying, ‘I am Christ; and shall deceive many. These ‘many’ who teach in the Name of Christ are those false teachers that deceive those people who don’t have the ‘seal of God in their foreheads’ (Rev.9:4), because they don’t study God’s Word and can’t tell the difference between the false messiah (Satan) when he appears on earth first, in person, verses the True Christ when He returns on the last trump of I Cor.15, or seventh trumpet of Revelation. These people would rather listen to ‘traditions’, and to those teachers who command awe by their credentials from certain organizations and systems set up by men and not God. (That doesn’t include all teachers, only the ones that would rather teach man’s word, instead of God’s Truth.) Jesus gave us the ‘signs’, and The Word warns us about these false teachers claiming to teach the True Word of God. The first and second seals of Revelation cover this idea of deception. These teachings must be understood through the Spirit, and not by hanging on any physical interpretation of the events. There of course are, physical events associated with the signs, but this particular teaching given by Jesus here in Mark 13 is general in nature, and covers a lot of territory, as far as everything that will happen on earth during the last generation. Understand that when Jesus returns, He will have a ‘two-edged sword’, which is The Word of God, as stated in Hebrews 4:12. This ‘sword’ of Christ is His Truth that ‘cuts both ways’. Satan has a ‘sword’ also in contrast to the ‘Sword’ of Christ, but Satan’s false ‘sword’ is made up of ‘lies’ which causes this deception, and in this manner the ‘son of perdition’ will go forth ‘conquering’, through his workers here on earth. It’s happening today friend! It will become much worse when he (Lucifer) finally appears on earth, in person, for the deceived will stop taking Holy Communion, thinking Satan is the True Messiah that has returned. (See Daniel 9:27) Rev.6:3 And when He had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, “Come and see.” Rev.6:4 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. This ‘horse that was red’ is a war horse, whether physically and or spiritually, for God’s people are in a spiritual war against Satan. Again, the ‘great sword’ is a sword of lies, masquerading as peace. This seal is similar to the first seal, in that Satan has control over this symbolic rider of the red horse. Both of these first two seals are about the power and control Satan has been given over the earth (See Luke 4:5-8). Satan need not be here physically on earth to rule the world, for he has power to rule spiritually. However, he will come to earth in person, as we shall read from a later seal. Here’s the parallel of this second seal given by Christ to His Apostles in Mark 13: Mark 13:7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. What is the opposite of war? Peace, of course. So when you hear ‘peace’ being proclaimed by the world leaders, know that Christ’s return is very close. Well, what have we been hearing today? The ‘new peace’ of the ‘New World Order’, which is the ‘beast’ world political system of Revelation 13 & 17. Take a look around in the world friend. All nations are aligning themselves to join the ‘New World Order’, which is nothing more than one world government. Most of our State Department, and those of most countries are indirectly under the control of United Nation agencies. If someone truly interested in the latest uprisings around the planet, got to digging , they would probably find the United Nations at the forefront or at the tail end of it all. Every war the United States has been involved in since World War Two have been a type of U.N. Police Action, regardless of what the mass media calls it. The ‘New World Order’ is being set up for the ‘New World Leader’, who is Satan himself (not just the ‘spirit’ of antichrist, but The Antichrist). The second seal covers Mark 13:7 pretty well also. The Third Seal Rev.6:5 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 had a pair of balances in his hand. Rev.6:6 And I 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 thou hurt not the oil and the wine.” The ‘balances’ are the balances of commerce. The ‘oil’ and ‘wine’ are symbolic of God’s elect, having the ‘Oil’ of God’s Truth (The Word) sealed in their minds and hearts, and the ‘wine’ being the ‘Blood of Christ’ (Remember Rev.9:4). The ‘measure of wheat’ and ‘three measures of barley’ for ‘a penny’ was a scale of daily wage, and meant basically you would have to work all day long for a loaf of bread. So the main subject of this third ‘seal’ is famine. But this ‘famine’ is not a physical ‘famine’, but is symbolical for something else. Turn to Amos 8: Amos 8:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day: Amos 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.. 13 In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst. For those who think this message from The Lord was just for the time of Amos the prophet, I ask you to explain Amos 8:9, as it refers to the sun going down at noon, and the earth being darkened. These verses are about the latter days. As stated, the famine in the endtime is a ‘famine’ for hearing and understanding the True Word of God, instead of a bunch ‘traditions’ with subtle idol worship built into it. The ‘fair virgins’ relate to the ‘five foolish virgins’ who fell asleep waiting for the Bridegroom (Christ) and they allowed their lamps to burn out of ‘Oil’. Now let’s go back to Mark 13 and see if this third seal of Revelation has a parallel. Mark 13:8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. This word ‘sorrows’ is ‘odin’ in the Greek, meaning ‘birth-pangs’ (Strong’s no.5604). It is with these events of the third seal, that the ‘birth pains’ of the coming Millennium age start, signaling the birth of a new world age, God’s reign on the earth (God’s Millennium, not man’s). So Mark 13:8 is covered by the third seal, and also partially the fourth seal of Revelation with the ‘beginnings of sorrows‘. The Fourth Seal Rev.6:7 And when He had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, “Come and see.” Rev. 6:8 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. This ‘pale horse’ represents ‘Death’, and the spiritual name of Satan’s organization on earth is ‘Death’, for that is another name for Satan. (Remember, Satan is given rule over this earth age even from his present abode.) The ‘beasts’ here is not ‘zoon’ this time, but ‘therion’ in the Greek, meaning a ‘(venomous, wild), beast’ (Strong’s no.2342). Also in this verse, the statement, “…power was given unto them…”, refers to the same overall group of people and their ‘four dynasty’ system controlling the nations and the earth. These people are the Kenites (‘Qayin’ which is ‘Cain’, making ‘Kenite’ a ‘son of Cain’). Their system is the ‘beast’ system of Revelation 13 and Daniel 7, and this is also where the ‘mark of the beast’ originates from, i.e., Cain. If you don’t understand this idea of the bloodline of Satan, then part of the ‘mystery of iniquity’ that Paul wrote about will not open up to you, and for that matter, much of God’s Word will remain a mystery (see 2 Thess.2). Here are what these powers to slay, mean today. Below is the four system dynasty that Satan is using to control the world in our time, the last generation: The ‘sword’ of lies = World educational systems, Satan’s lies, a ‘sword of lies’ in contrast to The Sword of Christ, Which is The Word of God (see Eph.6). ‘hunger‘= Economical controls. Remember, they are told to not hurt the ‘oil’ or ‘wine’ of God’s election. This is the U.N. economic global monetary system which they wish for an eventual one world currency. GATT and NAFTA really opened this up in the United States in order to transfer our wealth overseas. The beasts’ = Political system; or the Kenites and their ‘world government’ apparatus, not hungry wild animals attacking humans in the flesh. The idea of the ‘mark’ God put upon Cain in Gen.4 should reveal this to you. That ‘mark’ was the start of the ‘mark of the beast‘. The Kenites are a race descended from Cain, the first murderer. ‘death’ = False Religion; or Satan’s spiritual system of false teachings and idol worship, which causes deception, and hence ‘spiritual death’. A Word of caution: this includes many, but not all of the Churches claiming to teach the Word. Understand that Satan perverted God’s Word from the outset in the Garden of God, against Eve, and he influenced five of the seven Churches in Asia (see Revelation 1-4). This a pointer to the deceived Churches and religious systems who claim to teach and follow Christ, but do traditions outside of The Word instead: ‘MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH’ (see Rev.17). The fourth seal of Revelation covers Mark 13:8 very well. Now let’s go to the fifth seal in Revelation 6, and make the parallel in Mark 13:9-13. The Fifth Seal Rev.6:9 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: Rev.6:10 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?” Rev.6:11 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. It is very difficult for someone steeped in the “secret rapture” tradition, who believe we are asleep in the ground until Christ returns, to explain away these verses. These souls were slain for the ‘testimony’ of God, and they were once upon the earth, making them our ‘brethren’ and ‘fellowservants’. Yet they are now at the ‘altar’ in God’s presence, and not in some hole in the ground. The ‘revenge’ they cry out for, comes at the return of Jesus Christ. The key message of these verses is ‘testimony’ for God. This is why they were killed here on earth in the flesh. These must wait for their ‘brethren’ still on the earth, likewise who will have the ‘testimony’ for God, and will also be ‘slain’. Now let’s turn back to Mark 13:9 and discover the parallel of this fifth seal: Mark 13:9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them. Some of God’s elect will be delivered up to testify against Satan and his ‘New World Order’. The ‘delivering up’, in this case, hasn’t happened yet. Why? Because Satan is not here on earth, in person, yet. The false teachers will represent Satan at ‘councils’ and in many Churches (i.e.‘synagogues’), so this will be an event that will happen in every country. There’s more coming up to document this: Mark 13:10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations. The word ‘published’ in this verse, is ‘kerusso’ in the Greek, meaning ‘to herald, as a public crier’ (Strong’s no.2784). I realize that it is taught as meaning to actually ‘publish’ The Word in every country, but what is the subject of these verses? It is the ‘brethren’ and ‘fellowservants’ who have the ‘testimony’ for Christ, and who will also speak out with the Holy Spirit against Satan and his ‘one world government’ system when he appears on earth masquerading as Messiah. This should become more clear as we continue in Mark 13: Mark 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. This is the ‘tongue’ spoken on Pentecost day documented in Acts 2, when everyone present understood in their own language, in their own dialect from where they were born. Peter would quote the prophet Joel in Acts 2: Acts 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; Acts 2:17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days,’ saith God, ‘ I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: Acts 2:18 And on My servants and on My handmaindens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit; and they shall prophesy: This is not the ‘unknown tongue’ Paul talked about in I Cor. 14, for Paul makes it very clear that an ‘unknown tongue’ is only understood by God and one given the gift of interpretation. (By the way, the word ‘unknown’ is not there in the original manuscripts, for it is Strong’s no. 9999, which means an inserted word. There is no such thing as an ‘unknown tongue’ that only a few can understand in God’s Word. Therefore, the word ‘tongue’ in the Gospel deals with the idea of languages, and that is exactly what the Apostles were speaking there on Pentecost Day). This ‘tongue’ spoken of by Peter and Joel is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on that day when God’s elect are delivered up to the synagogues of Satan, giving a ‘testimony’ for God. This is the evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit with God speaking through His elect, not man speaking. Everyone that hears this ‘tongue’ will hear in their own language over the whole world, and many shall wake out of their spiritual slumber and worship the One True Lord. These trials and ‘councils’ will be public over the whole ‘New World Order’ system, trials of those delivered up to ‘councils’, and to Satan’s ‘synagogue’ or religious system. That time is not yet, but in our near future, and happens in ‘the last days’, meaning during the ‘tribulation’ period. Never heard this? Let’s turn to Revelation 2:8 to document that Satan has his Church system, that teaches The Word. Rev.2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; ‘These things saith the First and the Last, Which was dead, and is alive; Rev.2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty (but thou art rich), and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Only two of the seven Churches in Revelation taught who these false ones of the ‘synagogue of Satan’ were; Smyrna and Philadelphia. These false teachers who called themselves Jews, had crept into the Church and were perverting God’s Word, and ‘seducing’ God’s people with lies and traditions of men (they are not of our brother of the tribe Judah, but call themselves such because they live in Judea, yet have a foreign heritage. Do a study in Judges, Ezra and Nehemiah to find out why.) Don’t kid yourself about this being past history; it’s still happening today. The difference when Satan appears on earth, is that there will be a world wide Church system that he will head, directly from the Temple in Jerusalem. (See II Thess. 2) This is the message Jesus is giving to His elect disciples in Mark 13 dealing with being ‘delivered up’ to the ‘synagogue’ of Satan, and is but another proof that Satan is coming to earth in the near future. Continuing with Mark 13: Mark 13:12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. Jesus quoted the words in bold from Micah 7:6. This verse does not literally mean everyone killing one another. Remember that ‘Death’ is another name for Satan? (Rev.6:8) It means that even those loved ones closest to the ‘elect’ will have them ‘delivered up’ to ‘Death’ or Satan. Satan will deceive many upon his appearance, for he will come in similar manner like Jesus Christ, proclaiming to be Jesus; and the ‘whole world will wonder after him’, thinking he is the True Messiah. Let’s say that a father in a household is ‘sealed’ with God’s Truth in his mind, and he knows that this ‘another Jesus’ of 2 Cor.11 who comes is Satan disguising himself as Jesus, and this father has a son. Also, this son has been going to a different Church down the street which teaches traditions of men, instead of teaching the True Word of God, and the son is fooled into believing that this ‘another Jesus’ is the True Lord Jesus Christ. The son, etc., will go to this fake Jesus and say something like, “My father is a good and loving man and studies your Word daily, but he just doesn’t believe that you’re Jesus. Please take him and see if you can help him Lord, because I know you can.” (See also Luke 21:12-19) Don’t believe this can happen? Remember why Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were delivered up to Nebuchadnezzer, the king of Babylon, and put in the fiery furnace heated seven times hotter (spiritual completion) than necessary? They refused to worship the ‘golden image’ set up by Nebuchadnezzer. He is but a type of the Antichrist, and a symbol for the Babylonian captivity of the last ‘world government’, that is nearly upon us. The main difference is that it is Satan as king of Babylon this time. Also, Satan will not repent as Nebuchadnezzer did. (See Daniel 3 to find out what happened to Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego.) Mark 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. People like the father in the previous example, will be hated because they won’t accept the false Messiah, and worship his image, as the Book of Daniel was an example. Ever been in a group where you were the only one that disagreed, with good reason, but everyone ‘sneered’ at you, and ‘brow beat’ you, trying to make you change your mind? The elect will withstand the ‘fiery darts of Satan’, putting on the ‘Gospel Armour’ and will worship the True Christ, Who comes after Satan (see Ephesians 6). The Sixth Seal Moving on to the sixth seal of Revelation 6, we’ll find the parallel in Mark 13:14-16. Mark 13:14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: Mark 13:15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house: Mark 13:16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. This ‘abomination of desolation’ is Satan sitting in the Temple of God, setting himself up as God in Jerusalem (II Thess. 2). Jesus is making the Book of Daniel part of Revelation and His Gospel. This refers to Daniel 9:27 talking about the Holy Communion of Christ ending, because the world will think that the True Messiah is here on earth, when it is the ‘abomination’ of the ‘desolator’, Satan, deceiving those that are not ‘sealed’ with the Word of God (Rev.9). Jesus is also saying to those who live in Judaea, that when they see this ‘abomination’ sitting in the Temple in Jerusalem, get out of the city, don’t turn back like Lot’s wife outside Gomorra; and if you’re in the field, don’t even go back for your coat. The ‘housetop’ was used as a reference for ‘watchmen’, in other words, don’t be deceived! Mark 13:17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! This has nothing to do with mothers being with child in these latter days. This is to be understood spiritually, not literally, for a woman is blessed in child bearing. (See I Timothy 2) This is referring to those who have spiritually jumped in bed with the first messiah who comes, the false one, the Antichrist or ‘instead of Christ’ in the Greek (‘antichristos‘, Strong’s no.500), and when the True Christ returns, they are ‘with child’ already, for it symbolizes ‘spiritual harlotry’ with Satan. This is part of the analogy about Christ being the ‘Bridegroom’ and His Church as the ‘Bride’. Woe to those who don’t present themselves to Jesus Christ as ‘chaste virgins’, as Paul mentioned in 2 Cor.11! Consider the following verses covering this analogy: Isaiah 54:1 “Sing O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife,” saith the Lord. How can ‘the children of the desolate’ be worth more, or have more offspring than the children of the married wife? This really doesn’t make sense if understood literally. But in the spiritual sense, and in this whole chapter 54 of Isaiah, it is about God’s servants keeping themselves spiritually pure in worship of Him only, as ‘chaste virgins’, unmarried, barren, without a child from Satan spiritually, when Christ returns to claim His Bride, the True Church. Isaiah 54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is His name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall He be called. Isaiah 54:6 For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused,” saith thy God. How does someone lose their spiritual virginity? The elect are ‘called’, to be as ‘chaste virgins’ betrothed to Christ (II Cor.11:2), but are ‘forsaken’ by their own people who are deceived, and also for whom the souls of the elect are ‘grieved’. Their people that they grief for however and who are also deceived, will worship the Antichrist and his image. They gather to Satan thinking he is Jesus. Those true children of God who love Him, but are deceived because they didn’t stay with God’s Word instead of man’s, go a ‘whoring’ after Satan, the ‘instead of Christ’, committing spiritual adultery, and hence make up ‘MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS…’ of Rev.17:5. (See also 2 Cor.11; Luke 23:29; Gal. 4:27; Jer. 30:6) All this points that Satan comes to earth on the Sixth Trumpet, Sixth Seal, Sixth Vial; the 666, or ‘mark of the beast’ signature letting those who are ‘sealed’ with God’s Word realize the ‘season’ and order of events. We know by Paul in I Cor.15 that Christ Jesus comes on the Seventh Trumpet, Seventh Seal, and Seventh Vial; the 777 of spiritual perfection (‘last trump‘), and that the ‘son of perdition’ who is Satan must come before Christ, as written in 2 Thess.2 also by Paul the Apostle. As the reason for all souls being born into this flesh age by woman is for the purpose of making a ‘choice’ to worship God, or Satan, likewise, for those of this last generation in the flesh, a further choice is necessary, and that means choosing the proper Messiah, knowing when The True Messiah Christ Jesus returns. This is why Christ gave us these signs here in The Gospel of Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, and in the Book of Revelation. I’m going to stop here for this Message. I’ll continue with the final sign, and the ‘parable of the fig tree’ in my next Ideas Letter. Peace be with you in Christ, Dave Ramey.