The Scourge Of Racism
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Released January 5, 2024
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As the Lord led me to write about in the previous week’s post, we in these times are not only living in the last days of this present world and age, but the latter part of them.1 God has openly foretold many things about these latter days in the Bible, His Word, including personages, nations, places and events that unfold in His prophetic timeline bound up in the plan He prepared before there was ever a creation.2 The specificity of detail in the millennia old prophecies about these latter days and even the very last day that ends this present world and age is staggering! This reality is an important proof of God’s superiority over idols or any other so-called gods (Isaiah 41:21-24, 44:6-8)!
The last day of this present world and age all by itself is a perfect example of the many moving parts and specific details God in His prophetic Word presents to readers. For on that single day a number of significant events take place. Sinners violently angry over what they have suffered to the moment and deluded by demons will actually assemble in Israel to war “against the LORD and against His Anointed,” the Lord Jesus (Psalm 2:1-3; Joel 3:9-14; Revelation 16:10-16, NKJV). He will suddenly make His glorious return on this day as well (Joel 2:31, 3:15-16a; Matthew 24:29-30; Revelation 1:7, 6:12-17). The Father also pours out His long held wrath on the day (Isaiah 42:14-15)!
Backing up to the interval when the Gentile nations assemble in Israel to war against God and Christ, during it, the Lord issues a warning alert to be watching for His sudden appearing not to the elect Jewish remnant or those unsaved from among the Jews and Gentile nations, but to Christians because only we wear the “garments of salvation” and “robe of righteousness” by grace “through faith” in Him during this mortal age (Isaiah 61:10; Philippians 3:8-9; Revelation 16:15, NKJV).3 This warning is consistent with those He gave any would be follower in the Gospels and now, commends a blessing upon the faithful (Matthew 10:16-39, 24:36-44, 25:1-13; Mark 8:34-38, 13:32-37).4
The Lord’s warning is absolutely timely at that moment for persecution and world disaster weary saints waiting for Him especially since I have heard professed Christians in these days express faithless exasperation with evil’s apparent triumphs and asserting God is losing. Such faithless talk is for example, behind the uptick in those falling away from Christ in the aftermath of the global Coronavirus pestilence with others like it still to come plainly foretold by Him (Luke 21:11).5 The blessing persevering saints receive on that last day of God’s planned end to this present mortal world and age is beyond awesome for it is nothing less than seeing the Lord’s Second Coming!
Seeing the moment the brilliant glory of the Lord Jesus Christ bursts into the completely darkened sky is just the beginning of the blessing. On this day He Himself declared as “the last day,” the initial act of the Lord will be to gather His elect by first raising those who have died believing on Him from the dead (Matthew 24:31; John 6:39-40, 44, 52-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16, NKJV)! His teaching about raising those from the dead who had believed on Him for salvation affirmed the belief of Old Testament saints about this as an event of the end (Job 19:23-27; Psalm 17:15; Isaiah 26:19; Ezekiel 37:1-14; Daniel 12:1-3) and His hearers in John 6, its last day in particular (John 11:21-24).
Thus, it is on the last day that the Lord first resurrects those who have died waiting for His one and only Second coming. Beloved, there can be no resurrection of the saints in a prior presupposed secret, invisible coming of Christ if He explicitly and solely states this occurs “at the last day!”6 Then, with the still living remnant He translates, He gathers all to Himself in the sky (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18). This in gathering event is the end of the mortal Church age and the beginning of “her” glorious immortal eternity and reign with Christ as “His wife” by all “the saints” who make “her” up (John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:50-57; Revelation 19:7-8, NKJV). Gathered to Him above the earth, we wait briefly for the next last day event: God’s judgment in wrath (John 12:42-50; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11)!
With the elect of Israel protected (Joel 3:16b), God from His throne in Heaven cries out, ‘“It is done!’” Following that, as He had repeatedly foretold through Israel’s prophets, God sends His mortal enemies scurrying as He shakes the entire universe and earth in the full outpour of His righteous wrath upon sinners (Isaiah 13:9-13; Haggai 2:6; Hebrews 12:25-29; Revelation 16:17-21, NKJV)! After this, Christ with the saints will descend to assert God’s Kingdom rule; the Lord taking on and destroying the assembled Gentile armies led by the Antichrist and false prophet and bringing an end to the kingdoms of men. Then, He will end Satan’s rule over the world and vanquish him temporarily to prison under the earth (Daniel 2:44, 7:13-14; Zechariah 14:1-9; Revelation 11:15-18, 19:11-20:3).7
1 Read the July 30, 2023 post, There Is An End!, under the category, Bible Prophecy.
2 See the January 30, 2022 post, The Right Side Of History, under the categories Bible Prophecy and Biblical Worldview.
3 Only after receiving Him at the visible return of Christ will Isaiah 61:10 apply to the Jewish mortal remnant for which in context, they were intended in the first instance!
4 Being overly devoted to life in this wicked world and age or backslidden in sin are two key ways not to be ready for the Lord’s return. He bids all such professed Christians to turn back to Him in this Ministry’s thirty minute Strong Man Of God Online Rally, Return To The Lord, now, available to view on our dedicated YouTube Channel.
5 Here is what is fully behind the issue of strength the Lord leads me to write about in portraying the aspiring strong Man of God in His image in my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics. Solomon makes it clear, “If you faint in the day of adversity, your (spiritual) strength is small,” (Proverbs 24:10, NKJV). To endure to God’s end will require His strength! Purchase a personal copy of my book in the Hard or Soft Cover or E-Book Editions; pastors get the companion Strong Man Of God Men’s Group Study to equip the men you serve in the Strong Man Store, among internet booksellers and brick and mortar bookstores.
6 Read the two-part June 26, 2022 post, Made To Order End?, under the category, Bible Prophecy.
7 See the two-part February 13, 2022 post, War Of The Ages End, under the category, Bible Prophecy.
Even now, thirty years later as the Lord had me assert in the 1993 From Slavery To Victory: One Man’s Journey (FSTVOMJ) Radio Special,1 there is still one last hope for a curtailment of black America’s self-destruction as judgment from Him. That hope is biblically defined repentance leading to the spiritual revival and salvation of many which the radio program seeks to spur in line with the mission and objectives of The From Slavery To Victory Education Project it generated in 1994.2 Over the past thirty years there has been no nationwide repentance to God’s satisfaction among black Americans professing to be Christians to date. Time for repentance and hope is running out!
Curtailing God’s judgment upon black America must begin among those who profess to be Christians because such ones knew (and know) better than to disobey Him in the first place as backsliders and rebels (James 4:17)! This is exactly why God on the occasion of the dedication of the Temple Solomon built gave him a warning. He would bring judgment upon Israel for their sins that could only be turned back by humility, seeking prayer, repentance, His forgiveness and restoration (2 Chronicles 7:12-14).3 Otherwise, though pleased to dwell at the Temple, in wrath for persistent disobedience God would remove it and the people from the land (2 Chronicles 7:15-22).
This latter thing God did to Israel twice; once in 586 BC as the Babylonians destroyed the Temple and carried the people away captive and again in 70 AD when the Romans burned the rebuilt Temple down and scattered most of those they did not kill to the nations. In the parlance of black culture, “God don’t play!” So, why are so many acting like God is playing with regard to judging sin among those professed to be His people? It can only be the devil’s inspired delusion of entitlement to sin out of being victims at work among many unsaved and professed Christian black Americans along with the lie God is no longer serious about or judging it (John 8:44; 1 Corinthians 15:33-34)!
Clearly also, many professed Christian black Americans among those choosing to be secular atheists, agnostics and apostates have decided no longer to believe the truth God is the One that brought our forefathers from West Africa to the New World in chains. Though as victims most do not want to hear it, in accord with His purposes the way our forefathers came and their enslavement was punishment from Him for sin (Lamentations 3:37-39).4 As well, it was so the willing might be humbled and in honest confession and repentance “turn back to the LORD” through the Gospel of His Son, Jesus Christ, as many did (Lamentations 3:40-42; Acts 17:22-31; Romans 1:16-17, 10:11-13, NKJV).
Too, it was God who brought our people out of bondage and into the opportunities to be unimpeachable “witnesses” of His grace, mercy and power to save, preserve as well as deliver souls from any adversity (Deuteronomy 6:20-25; Psalm 124; Isaiah 43:8-13, 61:1, NKJV). We owe God an incalculable debt of gratitude, loyalty and devotion! But the many to include every guilty professed Christian in their churches have repaid Him instead with narcissism fed rebellion; playing the harlot with other gods in idolatry, the cruel sacrifice of unwanted children and trusting more in sinful mortals, their governments, institutions and alliances than God to advance in the world (Jeremiah 2:26-37).
Yet, as He declared to Solomon, God who is longsuffering and merciful is ready to ease up on His ongoing judgment impacting all with only the humility, seeking prayer of sincere confession and repentance of the guilty majority among those who profess to be Christians rebelling against His will, way and Word as it is written! This is to be a full confession of and repentance from every spiritual, moral and ethical departure made from His Word.5 If you don’t know what all of that might be, ask the Holy Spirit to show you with your Bible open. To repent is to change one’s mind about his sins viewing them as a holy God does--not self, neighbor or a so-called “progressive” culture that includes numerous religionist and corrupt pastors with the churches they lead, false prophets and teachers.
Unless there is a turning back to God in full confession and repentance, there can be no forgiveness or hope of revival from Him that temporarily eases back on His judgment just as He had me declare in the FSTVOMJ Radio Special thirty years ago. Indeed, His judgment is to intensify going forward as God moves to consummate His plans to end this current evil age and bring forth the Kingdom of His Son!6 Therefore, time is running out in these latter days to get right with God and stop following the crowd in continuing rebellion and sin against Him. Every guilty professed Christian must decide for themselves whether to turn back to God or not. Those who refuse will personally endure His intensifying judgment and coming wrath (Romans 1:18-2:16; Hebrews 3:7-19; Jude 5)!
1 The starting date and time for the Webcast of this historic docu-drama will be announced in select media and on social media. Prospective contributors can make designated gifts for the Webcast at https://fromslaverytovictory.org/Donate and receive one of the last number of Commemorative Cassettes.
2 Learn more about the project on its Web Site.
3 See especially the second part of the two-part post that begins August 2, 2020, Flavorless Salt Is Worthless, under the category, Call To Repent, to understand why as the Lord has led me, I do not overuse 2 Chronicles 7:14.
4 I still remain amazed at how so many do not finish reading through our brief presentation, The Journey, on The From Slavery To Victory Education Project Web Site. The primary reason no doubt, is that most view it through the deadly worldview of victimization. I challenge all serious black American seekers of truth to read and soberly consider each of the five stops on The Journey unapologetically presenting a sound, biblical worldview of the black American historical experience as has been done in this and the preceding February 26, 2023 post, Thirty Years Later…, under the categories, Biblical Worldview and Black History.
5 Read the August 31, 2014 post, Soul Deep Repentance, under the category, Call To Repent.
6 Believing this truth from God’s Word, the aspiring strong man and great woman of God in the image of Christ I write about in my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics, prays accordingly (Matthew 6:9-13). Get a copy of my book at your favorite internet bookseller or brick and mortar bookstore, the Strong Man Store and the FSTVEP Resource Store on The From Slavery To Victory Education Project Web Site.
It is truly unfortunate, but not surprising that with all else our nation must deal with at this hour, unresolved racial issues have recently come to the surface again through the citizen and police murders of black Americans, freshly proving racism is not a past thing. The incidents and resulting explosion of initial violent rioting, looting, protest marches and rallies not just by black Americans, but Americans from every hue were sparked by the recorded video of a Minneapolis, MN police officer’s murder of black American male, George Floyd. I wrote about this incident as the Lord led June 21, 2020 in a post under the category, Black History, entitled Has Racial Justice Arrived in America?
This time, among the early voices speaking empathy and counsel into as well as engaging with the crisis are a number of especially younger conservative white Christians. Along with the manifold increase of white Americans across the political and social spectrum in general, conservative white Christians as America’s “moral majority” speaking anything but condemnation into a riotous racial crisis is recent. While there have been apologies for slavery and Jim Crow segregation and endless talking by white conservative Christians with amicable black clergy about racial reconciliation since the 1960s, as I have written in other posts, there has not been any real, widespread progress.1
Our majority white society as a once professed Christian nation propped up supposedly by morals and ethics drawn from the Bible, has far too long tolerated the abuse of its black and other citizens of color in many forms that actually run counter to it (Zechariah 7:8-12; Mark 12:28-34; Luke 10:25-37; Romans 13:8-10). Not biblical Christianity as the order of the day since the nation’s founding, but corrupt, counterfeit manmade forms of it that even allowed for slave owners to commit adultery on their wives with their female slaves; church pastors, deacons and congregants to brutalize and terrorize blacks using burning crosses as a symbol of hate among many other evil acts.2
Such deeds were done while police, judges, educators, businesses, legislators (often as active participants) along with the larger white society through silent indifference were complicit.3 Over the past hundred years the most vocal champions of maintaining the morality of the Bible among professed Christians has been white Americans that self-identify as conservative in their religious, social and political convictions. Many are also intensely patriotic, devoted Americans who ascribe to the phrase “God and Country” as their motto though, on such issues as allowing systemic racism in their churches and other entities, God’s will in Christ has clearly been secondary (John 13:34-35).
However, at this strategic moment during God’s Coronavirus judgment when the festering sore of racial injustice has ruptured once more, younger conservative white Christians are speaking up perhaps finally perceiving, God Himself keeps bringing up the matter because those professing to know Him among their ranks have not dealt with it in accord with His written Word! After all, as I have offered in other posts, a “biblically conservative Christian” is supposed to be about objectively interpreting, applying and preserving the whole Word of God as it is written! In no place does it advocate for or tolerate hating a brother in Christ for any reason (1 John 2:7-11, 3:10-15, 4:20-21).4
Besides being and presenting the world a corrupt if not outright counterfeit form of biblical Christianity, guilty conservative white Christians (to include those calling themselves “Evangelicals”) have been hypocritical by insisting “our nation” uphold their cherry-picked morals and ethics from the Bible while they undergirded its systemic racism to this hour. This reality has been among the chief reasons many former biblically conservative black American Civil Rights activists searching for righteous allies over the years have abandoned the effort among their ostensible like-minded white brothers. Instead, those that are guilty through lack of faith in and impatience with God have to their shame taken up with rebels against Him for help (Psalm 2:1-3; Isaiah 30:1-5; Philippians 3:17-21).
The guilty among de facto apostate black Americans will give an account to God, but so will conservative white professed Christians who have been more loyal to a humanly invented religious, social and political philosophy that permits such sins as racism under the guise of Christianity than to the Lord who calls all to repent! Indeed, why but for sin am I as a black Ministry leader who has remained faithful as a biblical conservative not fully embraced and supported by conservative white professed Christians? Your sinful flesh built conservative philosophy does not welcome those of any race much less inferior black males who speak biblical truth challenging the wicked status quo; one white church elder once intimating this to me by essentially saying I needed to shut up!5
Now, though, the Lord during His Coronavirus judgment is plainly showing racism is one of the issues He is calling the guilty to repentance from among professing Christianity emptied out of its buildings. The authentic younger conservative white Christians coming forth repentant and in the power of the Holy Spirit to actually take a stand with their black brothers are representative of those I spoke of in my June 21st post.6 May the Lord bless you and all others to follow in what is very likely a last chance for conservative white Christians to get on the right side of the Bible and help forestall the eruption of greater ethnic conflict awhile longer in America; conflict ongoing in many parts of the world that fulfills another of the Lord’s foretold occurrences to precede His soon coming (Matthew 24:7a).
1 See the posts, Moral Pressure Rightly Applied, May 4, 2014, Biblical Equality And Equity, July 5, 2015 and Professing Christian Racism Is Sin Too, December 11, 2016
all under the category, Call To Repent.
2 Read the two-part post beginning August 21, 2016, Christianity The Religion Of Men, under the category, Instruction followed by Christianity The Religion American
Style (which shows how even many black religionists to this hour mimic the practice of it by their former masters so pervasive is it) posted on September 4, 2016 and
the two-part post beginning September 11, 2016, American Culture’s Religion, all under the category, Call To Repent.
3 Read the August 9, 2015 post, Silent Endorsers Of Evil, under the category, Instruction. Whether Christians or not, like the white pre-Civil War Abolitionists, it has been
heartening to see current white protest marchers for racial justice carrying signs with wording like “Silent no more” and “Not silent and complicit.”
4 See footnote #9 in the two-part post, The Racial Divide, under the category, Call To Repent, that begins July 29, 2018 to see how the Lord led me to make a distinction
between “conservative” and “biblically conservative” to avoid any confusion about the Christians faithfully obeying His whole Word as it is written! Also, read the April
19, 2015 post, On The Lord’s Side, under the category, The Cause, cited in the footnote for a discussion of why all professed Christians ought to be standing with the
Lord Jesus as Bible conservatives!
5 Get my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics to understand why aspiring strong men of God in the image of Jesus Christ from every hue must be willing to
stand and speak as He commands (Matthew 10:24-33)! Get a print copy or digital download of the book at major internet booksellers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble,
ChristianBooks.com and Apple (digital only). You can also purchase a print copy in the Strong Man Store.
6 I invite those that are biblically conservative from all hues to stand with and support us at this like-minded Christian black American founded Ministry! The Ministry is cur-
rently engaged in a campaign to raise my 2020 full-time salary and is 63% there. Learn more at https://fundrazr.com/salarycampaign1. I am also seeking to raise the
funds necessary to license the music used in and Webcast our still relevant 1994 radio docu-drama, From Slavery To Victory: One Man’s Journey that presents a biblical
worldview of the black American experience from West Africa on our From Slavery To Victory Education Project Web Site, https://fromslaverytovictory.org.
The last day of God’s predetermined end is also the first day of His new beginning! For the Lord Jesus Christ triumphantly declares in the face of His glorious return: ‘“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End…who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’” While presenting Himself to John He says again, ‘“I am the Alpha and the Omega’” and adds, ‘“the First and the Last,’” (Revelation 1:7-8, 11a, NKJV). Using the first and last letters Alpha and Omega from the Greek alphabet, the Lord unmistakably asserts Himself as the focal point of His Father’s eternal plan, history, the ages and paradigm shifts within, between as well as absolute authority over them!
As part of the Father’s plan from eternity, I was previously led by Him to discuss four major last day events at the end of this present world and age.1 The first event is the assemblage of Gentile nations to Israel to war against God and Christ that they lose to Him; bringing an end to the kingdoms of men. The second is the glorious Second Coming of Christ in which He immediately gathers His Church to Himself in the sky by resurrection and translation to immortal glory. This ends the Church’s mortal existence! Third, the Father pours out the fullness of His wrath upon sinful mankind ending this wicked age. Fourth, Christ captures and imprisons Satan ending his world rule.
The glorified Church of Christ that experienced an end (of death, suffering and mortality) on this last and also new beginning of God’s planned eternal day are the first to enjoy it as a next event.2 This, as we take the reins of global authority and reign with Christ in the aftermath of His victorious war of the ages (Daniel 7:23-27; Haggai 2:20-23; Zechariah 12:1-9, 14:1-5, 12-15; Revelation 5:8-10, 14:14-20)!3 Afterward, on this unique “day” where the glory of Christ is literally “the light of the world,” the topography of Jerusalem and its environs will continue to be transformed by His presence and purposeful power in restoration and new creation as foretold (Zechariah 14:6-11; John 9:1-7, NKJV).4
The physical makeover of Jerusalem and surrounding topography are all part of God’s planned new beginning for the land and people of Israel under Christ as King (Isaiah 35:1-7, 65:17-25; Ezekiel 36:1-15; Joel 3:17-21; Amos 9:11-15)! As is the prerogative of any king, Christ the King of Israel will choose and build up Jerusalem as His capital city and claim “Judah as His inheritance,” (Psalm 48:1-3; Zechariah 1:14-17, 2:1-13, 8:1-3, NKJV). Simultaneous to His restoration of the land, Christ will institute God’s new beginning for Israel’s elect mortal remnant in the land and scattered throughout the earth. He will ‘“whistle for…gather…’” and ‘“redeem them,’” (Zechariah 8:4-8, 10:6-12, NKJV).
He will do this because Christ is Israel, the consummate Israelite who came and comes to rescue His people from all of their enemies beginning with sin, death and Satan (Isaiah 49:1-3; 61:1-3; Hosea 11:1, 13:4-14; Matthew 1:18-25, 2:13-15; Mark 10:32-45, 15; Colossians 2:13-15). Rejected by their religious leaders and larger body of Jews of that day, the Lord’s labor seemed inconsequential. However, His Father’s plan called for the Gospel of salvation through repentance and faith in Him to be preached in all the world as it has now, for nearly two thousand years; saving millions of souls among Jews and Gentiles (Isaiah 49:4-7; Luke 24:36-49; Acts 1:6-8, NKJV)!
Even so, at the end Israel as His ethnic people and nation are still in God’s plan of salvation, though they are only a tiny remnant when the time comes because of the punishment of their sins. That this is the biblical case is foretold by nearly all of the writing prophets beginning with Moses, Christ Himself and His faithful apostle to us Gentiles, Paul (Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Isaiah 35:8-10, 42:16-17, 49:8-13; Jeremiah 30:1-3, 10-11, 18-22; Zephaniah 3:14-20; Luke 13:34-35; Romans 11:25-27). As His people gather to Him from all over the world beginning on that last day of the end, the Father’s gracious outpour of the Holy Spirit upon them will bring all to repentance and grief as they behold the glory of Christ their King (Zechariah 12:10-13:1; Acts 2:1-37, 3:17-21, NKJV).
In accord with the terms of His New Covenant God promised Israel, He will forgive and “cleanse” away their sins in which initially rejecting Christ is chief.5 Too, He will put the Holy Spirit within them (Jeremiah 31:31-34, 32:36-41, 33:8; Ezekiel 36:16-28; Micah 7:14-20, NKJV). As well, God will remove their tears and prosper the remnant of Israel as never before under Christ their King (Isaiah 4:2-6, 11:11-16, 30:18-26; Jeremiah 23:5-8; Ezekiel 36:29-38; Malachi 4:1-3).6 Christ will also be their High Priest and rebuild the Temple, the place of His glorious residence (Isaiah 11:10, 60:1-7, 13-14; Ezekiel 40:1-4, 43:1-10; Haggai 2:7-9; Zechariah 3:6-10, 6:9-15, 14:16-21). This first part to God’s new beginning in His eternal day continues 1,000 years (Revelation 20:4-6).
1 Read the August 6, 2023 post, The Last Day Of The End, under the category, Bible Prophecy.
2 What a surpassingly great joy the dawn of the day of the Lord will be for every saint after having obediently stood to the end enduring everything this present world and age ruled by Satan hurled at us in troubles, hardships, adversities, afflictions and persecutions through His strength (Ephesians 6:10-18)! There will be some serious shouting in the clouds!
3 See the two-part February 13, 2022 post, War Of The Ages End, under the category, Bible Prophecy.
4 The ground shifting changes occurring in Jerusalem and its surrounding countryside due to the presence and purposeful acts of power by Christ mirror what has already taken place over the entire earth in the face of the Father’s global quake that completely transforms its topography at once (Isaiah 13:13, 24:1-3, 17-20, 40:3-5; Revelation 16:17-20)!
5 At this important, God appointed time, He has led this Ministry to produce the thirty minute Strong Man Of God Online Rally, Return To The Lord, viewable on YouTube. He wants to do for you in need, O professed Christian, what He does for the remnant of Israel in the day very near: forgive and cleanse you of your sins (Zechariah 1:3-4). Lacking a presence among the elect remnant of Israel or “holiness,” “no one will see the Lord” without eternal grief (Hebrews 12:14, NKJV). I urge you to take the time to watch the video.
6 Please note in Ezekiel 36:37-38 God allows Himself to be petitioned by the elect remnant of Israel for an increase in men He answers in the affirmative. Why is this so im- portant God specifically states it in His restoration plan? Hint: men from creation have been foundational to God’s positive plans for mankind! Consequently, you can be- lieve Christ will restore God's order of mankind currently being trampled on by the world and many professed Christians in their churches! This prophecy is sweet vindica- tion to me and Strong Man Ministries now, with His assigned mission to restore men, their families and communities that also gave rise to my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics. Get it in the Hard or Soft Cover or E-Book Editions in the Strong Man Store, among internet booksellers and brick and mortar bookstores.
Near the end of the one thousand two hundred and sixty days of prophesy by His two witnesses, God allows His holy angels led by Michael to attack and wage war against Satan and his angels in Heaven. They prevail and force Satan and his hosts down to the earth in ‘“great wrath’” whereupon he begins persecuting Jews then, Christians (Daniel 12:1; Revelation 12:7-17, NKJV). The devil also causes the prince to come to change his mind about the covenant with Israel and his standing in the world. He ends the covenant with Israel at its midpoint and kills God’s two witnesses which is impossible unless he had attained the status of immortality (Daniel 9:27b; Revelation 11:7)!6
Apparently, after suffering a mortal wound and dying, the prince immediately learns his eternal end. However, God permits the prince to be resurrected immortal from Hades which He has not done with any others to that hour except Christ (Acts 2:22-31; Revelation 13:3a). The prince’s impossible victory over God’s two witnesses emboldens him to rise up among and against the ten kings. He eliminates three of them to become their and the whole world’s ruler. He goes hard with Satan in the war against God through blasphemous words and evil deeds to include persecuting His saints to the death and receiving worship with Satan (Daniel 7:8, 15-25, 11:36-39; Revelation 13:3b-10).
“Another beast” resurrected with God’s consent will help in the worship of the prince when he forces the world to even worship his “image” or “be killed;” take “his mark,” “name or number” to “buy or sell,” (Revelation 13:11-18, NKJV). With his “kingdom” incentivized alliance of kings that all mutually hate her and God’s permission in judgment, the prince will destroy manmade Christianity “the great harlot,” (Revelation 17-18:8, NKJV). In similitude to a predecessor Hellenistic Syrian king, Antiochus Epiphanes, in 167 B.C. as foretold, the prince will also desecrate the Temple by presenting himself there to be worshipped “as God,” (Daniel 8, 9:27c, 11:29-35; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12, NKJV).
He will thereafter, set about to destroy everything on earth honoring the true God; the peoples and structures of all religions competing for his worship as he engages in wars of annihilation and desolations during the entire last half of God’s seven years (Daniel 11:40-45). According to the prophet Jeremiah and instruction of Messiah Jesus, the last half of God’s seven years is ‘“the time of Jacob’s trouble’” and ‘“great tribulation’” for the whole world through which God will protect His elect remnant for salvation at the end; His martyred saints comforted in Heaven while they await their glorious resurrection (Jeremiah 30:4-9; Matthew 24:15-28; Revelation 6:9-11, 7, 14:6-13, NKJV)!7
With great signs of divine power on display, Messiah Jesus will descend from Heaven to gather His elect to Him (Daniel 12:2-3; Matthew 24:29-31; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11).8 Then, in “wrath” and “righteousness He judges and makes war” defeating His enemies beginning with the desolating prince of God’s prophetic timeline vision and consummates the war of the ages (Daniel 7:9-12, 9:27d; Revelation 6:12-17, 16:12-21, 19:11-20:3, 7-10, NKJV)! As promised, His saints that faithfully persevered waiting for Him through suffering will see his vengeance on their persecutors and receive the Kingdom of God as their eternal heritage (Daniel 7:26-28; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12).
At that time, the way forward to fulfilling all of God’s remaining purposes presented to Daniel by the angel, Gabriel, in Daniel 9:24 will be understood by the elect mortal Jewish remnant. Receiving Messiah as foretold in all repentance, they will be finished with willful transgression against God and reconcile to Him as they understand the sacrifice Messiah made for their sins and those of the whole world (Zechariah 12:10-13:1). Messiah also brings in eternal righteousness since not during His earthly reign or ever after will sin thrive before Him (Jeremiah 23:5-6; Malachi 3:1-5, 4:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Revelation 20:11-21:8). Visions like Daniel’s and prophecies will be no more (Zechariah 13:2-6; 1 Corinthians 13:8-12); the Lord will consecrate His House on earth (Ezekiel 43)!
After seeing the coming resurrections of the just and unjust in the final vision of his book, Daniel is instructed to ‘“shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end,’” Daniel 12:4, NKJV). If you have understood anything in our working together through Daniel 9, then, you understand we are nearing God’s appointed end since only He has opened His Word to us--glory be to Him! We also do well to accept the truth that persecution is the lot of devoted Jews and faithful Christians the world over up through the great tribulation as God tests, purifies, perfects and prepares us for the Second Coming of Messiah Jesus (Daniel 12:5-10).9 In that day near, you will be able to count the days until the time frame set for His appearing and Kingdom (Daniel 12:11-13)!
6 Read the August 7, 2016 post, Wicked Immortals And Their Bodies, under the categories Bible Prophecy and God’s Creatures.
7 See the February 23, 2014 post, Man Of Sin, under the category, Bible Prophecy for additional insights.
8 Daniel is told of both resurrections without the separation of the thousand year reign of Christ and the saints between the two as the New Testament teaches (John 5:24-30; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23; Revelation 20:4-6).
9 Testing to disclose what is in the heart is the answer to why God permits the evils of the great tribulation to come upon all (Deuteronomy 13:1-4; Revelation 3:10-11). He works the evils to the good ends of His faithful (Romans 8:28; 1 Peter 1:3-9). Purchase the timely six message series the Lord led me to proclaim, The Hour Of Testing, available in the Strong Man Store to learn more about God’s biblically taught purposes behind testing His people. Listen to the series sample.
Relative to the time of mankind on earth (interestingly, whoever’s clock is used), this era of rebellion in all of its manifestations including feminism that launched full throttle in the middle of the last century will be very short-lived in accord with God’s prophetic Word in the Bible. The apostle John called his epoch “the last hour,” (1 John 2:18, NKJV). If this great eyewitness apostle of Christ was moved of the Holy Spirit to speak in this way of his time nearly two millennia ago, we must now be in the last two minutes! Fans of sports such as football played by the clock, know the last two minutes in a game are critical especially if the defending team is ahead, but the other team is driving.
John hung the appraisal of his time on the fact many antichrists as apostates were leaving the church and deceitful deniers of Jesus as the Christ active. We too have many antichrists from within and without the local churches that have apostatized from the faith and deny Christ in foretold heretical teachings (1 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Peter 2:1-3, 12-22; 1 John 2:19-23). Wars combined with unusual weather and foretold calamities of human and natural origin in ever intensifying severity characterize our time. Anxiety and fear are also leading to foretold rising civil unrest, anarchy, violent conflicts, lawlessness and the increase of cold hearts (Matthew 24:6-8, 12; Revelation 6:1-8).
Foretold, pre-great tribulation persecution of faithful Christians by unbelievers, professed Christian religionists, heretics and apostates is reaching global proportions (Matthew 24:9-11; Mark 13:9-13; Luke 21:12-17; John 16:1-4). All of these signs pointing to the nearness of Christ’s return have created the greatest two minutes to go in the game scenario ever in the history of the world and most of our best players--men as aspiring strong men of God in the image of Jesus Christ--are sitting on the bench!1 They have been benched by political correctness, tolerance and a feminist worldview of egalitarianism that devalues men by marginalizing and re-defining them as I wrote in a blog series.2
No team on earth in its right mind would have its best and most capable players sitting on the bench with the game on the line in the last two minutes! Yet, the world is doing this because it is completely deceived by its ruler, Satan (1 John 5:19; Revelation 12:9). Working as boldly deceitful as in Eden with Eve, only Satan could deceive and stir up women and gladly obliging men to rebel against God’s design, order and purposes of mankind to marginalize and re-define men in purposely taking them out of the game at this critical time. As was his evil strategy in the Garden, so now, he neutralizes men as leaders that the remaining body of mankind may be destroyed (Romans 5:12)!
Knowing these truths contained in God’s Word, it would be baffling beyond measure that many professed Christians are also deceived and take the side of the world if it were not for the fact we are told about them in advance. Hence, passive men are figuratively sitting on the bench by marginalization and re-definition as well as literally by way of the pew in many churches. But this is not what Christ came to restore men to do. We are saved and enlisted in His Kingdom cause in the Gospel to liberate other men and their families from captivity to Satan through the Holy Spirit’s power for their restoration too; even snatching some out of Hell's fire (Mark 8:34-38, 16:15; Jude 20-23)!
Or have we Christians forgotten the world’s rebellion ends in the wrath of God that accompanies the events of Christ’s Second Coming (Revelation 6:12-17)? Though we cannot know the exact day or hour of His coming, He has commanded us to “watch” for such signs that are now clear and multiplying in these last two minutes (Matthew 24:32-51, NKJV). The foretold two minute drill of the faithful requires aspiring strong men of God in the image of Christ to get off of the bench and into the game; zealously cooperating with God to continue restoring men until the world driving against us, scores what appears to be the winning point with the Antichrist. But he will be crushed by the touchdown of Christ on the final play of the game (Daniel 7:19-25, 8:23-25; Revelation 19:11-21)!
When you think soberly about it, spiritual warfare is the only right way for warriors at heart to go out (Philippians 1:27-30). God has presented this opportunity to those of us aspiring to be strong men of God in Christ’s image and as He did Samson, benched prospects who now resemble him in condition (Judges 16:15-31). Our families and fellow saints are today and will soon even more be looking to us for courageous and decisive leadership in witnessing Christ and standing against the deep darkness taking hold on our nation and world. Repent from listening to the world rather than God about who and what you are as a man and be revived by the Holy Spirit (Romans 13:11-14)!3 The risen, living Christ continues His cry among American churches, “Who is on the Lord's side?”
1 To learn more about what the strong man of God is, get the Print or E-Book Editions of The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics available at all major internet book selling outlets and our Strong Man Store.
2 See all of the June 2017 posts in the series, The Value Of Men, under the Category, The Cause.
3 As a great help in understanding yourself as the man--though fallen--God designed, purchase my newly released audio series, “I AM A MAN” available exclusively in the Strong Man Store. Proceeds from all purchases go to help fund the work of Strong Man Ministries and our passionate cause to restore men! We also welcome your tax-deductible gift you can supply securely via our Web Site or by regular mail: Strong Man Ministries, P.O. BOX 56704, Portland, OR 97238.
There is an end God has had planned before there was ever a beginning and shepherds bringing to fulfillment. That I should be alive to be as close as we are now, in the world to the day of the Lord and end of this present age abundantly foretold in Bible prophecy is exceedingly awe inspiring to me! Any of us who are faithful Christians have only one legitimate cause for sorrow about this and that is the reality not everyone we love or know will come to God’s end saved in spite of our best efforts (Jude 20-23). Truly, God’s holy wrath approaches as the destructive dawn of His eternal day and punishment of all unsaved sinners for their wicked deeds (Zephaniah 1:1-3, 14-18)!
From creation God in sovereignty has been shepherding events toward His predetermined end bound up in His Kingdom and Son, Jesus Christ, as noted in last week’s post and proclaimed by His apostles after His first century appearance (Daniel 2:44; Acts 2:22-36, 3:17-26; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28; Ephesians 1:3-23; 1 Peter 1:20-21; Revelation 1:1-8).1 As in every generation following those days described as “the last,” ours are still an outworking of God’s plan toward His end in Christ (Acts 2:1-21; Hebrews 1:1-4; 1 John 2:18, NKJV).2 These are the last days for a number of reasons one of which is God has allocated none after to offer His gracious salvation to mankind (Titus 2:11-15).3
Bible prophecy speaks of the “latter days” or “times” which as the phrase conveys are the last part of the last days when God begins to fulfill the most severe foretold events in His prophetic plan especially His warning judgments before bringing His wrath and end to this present mortal age as we have known it (Jeremiah 30:23-24; Daniel 10:14; 1 Timothy 4:1, NKJV). Now, many professed Christians that love this present age do not want for their selfish motives to see it end. But end it must since all that has taken place after Adam’s fall during it is a wicked deviation from God’s perfect will for His creatures to be eternally together with Him as Creator (Genesis 1:26-31, 2:7-3:11, 22-24).
Foreknowing man’s fall into sin and His just consequence of separation by death from Him, love moved God to make a way before our creation to save the willing. That foretold way was the incarnation of the Word and His Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer and die in our place to make atonement for our sins so God would be righteously free to forgive them and enable us to be reconciled to Him (Isaiah 53; John 1:1-18, 3:16-21, 36; Romans 5:6-11). The completely unselfish death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Christ heralded in the Gospel restored God’s original plan of eternal life and immortality for all mankind that would believe (1 Corinthians 15:45-57; 2 Timothy 1:8-12).4
The Lord Jesus waits for the end and awesome day of the Lord in Heaven with all of the saints departed to Him as we do here on earth. Among the many moving parts of His predetermined end only the Almighty God could perfectly weave together and bring about, are the foretold specific plans for His chosen Man and nation, Israel. The formal reappearance of the nation on the world stage in 1948 after nearly 1,900 years of dispersion throughout the world was the clear launch of God’s latter days since Israel is the central reason prophesied events of the end unfold as they do (Isaiah 49:1-3, 66:5-13; Zechariah 1:12-2:13; Romans 11:25-29)! To know where we are in God’s plan watch Israel!
Indeed, not only are we to watch Israel prophetically for what God is doing now and up until the very time of the end, but what He has done with them in the past “as examples” for us Christians the apostle Paul warns “upon whom the ends of the ages have come,” (1 Corinthians 10:1-11, NKJV). Thus, besides not sinning against God to avoid punishment, we are not “to put far off the day of doom” as part of God’s predetermined end pretending it may yet be thousands of years into the future as many of them did (Ezekiel 12:21-28; Amos 6:3-7, NKJV).5 Too, unlike them who did not believe their prophets we are to believe the prophecies God has given in His whole Word about these latter days we now, live through and the end (Jeremiah 19:14-20:6, 40:2-3; Luke 21:5-24, 24:13-27, 44)!6
Regarding the end, it comes with the outpouring of God’s promised wrath upon sinners who right up until that very moment refuse to accept His offer of forgiveness through repentance and faith in the Gospel. All of the plagues of climate change controlled by God including scorching heat come upon them (Revelation 14:6-7, 16:1-11). After this they even conspire to impossibly war against Him (Psalm 2:1-3; Joel 3:1-14; Revelation 16:12-16)! Having given His fallen creatures every chance to repent to no avail, God pours out His full wrath upon them and the earth (Psalm 2:4-12; Isaiah 13:6-13, 24:1-13, 17-23; Joel 3:15-17; Revelation 6:12-17, 16:17-21, 19:11-16). Only a mortal remnant from among the Jews and Gentile nations survive the end (Isaiah 10:20-23, 24:14-16; Ezekiel 7).
1 Read the July 23, 2023 post, The Nations Do Not Impress God, under the category, Call To Repent, and see the eighth footnote.
2 If Christ’s coming as the Judge was “at the door” in the first century, when do you really think it is now, nearly two thousand years removed (James 5:7-9, NKJV)?
3 Read the February 6, 2022 post, The Divine Delay, under the category, Bible Prophecy.
4 Through Christ, resurrection from the dead to immorality will also become the experience of all the wicked when He does this as a prelude to their final judgment and “condemnation” to Hell (John 5:24-30; Revelation 20:4-6, 11-15, NKJV)! But as the apostle Paul makes clear, God has established an “order” of the resurrections (1 Corinthians 15:20-23, NKJV).
5 Many professed Christians today, not only nonchalantly kick the day of doom can down the far off in the future road, they do not want to hear about it; some even being “scoffers” with unbelievers so anchored are they into this present world and age (2 Peter 3:1-9, NKJV)! This is a grave error especially in light of the Lord’s specific command to His followers to “watch,” (Matthew 24:36-44, NKJV). All such professed Christians should watch the Strong Man Of God Online Rally, Return To The Lord, on our YouTube Channel to hear His appeal.
6 The world has its definition of “woke,” but aspiring strong men and great women of God in the image of Christ are joyfully “awake” to the nearness of “our salvation” because of believing and doing God’s Word (Romans 13:8-14, NKJV)! To learn more, get my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics in the Hard or Soft Cover or E-Book Editions along with the companion Strong Man Of God Men’s Group Study and Great Woman Of God Women’s Group Study in the Strong Man Store, among internet booksellers and brick and mortar bookstores.
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