Christ Makes Us Prosperous For Every Occassion

And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation]. 2 Corinthians 9:8

I want you to think for a moment about having all of the money in the world, every last cent of it. As Jesus would put it: all of the world’s filthy lucre is yours. (I say that tongue and cheek) If you had it all, you would absolutely be self sufficient and you would have an overwhelming abundance, but even with all of it, could you be charitable for every good work? No, but our Father says that He is able to make us sufficient, with abundance, for every good work. How?

Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]-- Ephesians 3:20

Far too often we look to money or possessions as the resource for our giving, but these earthly things are not enough to cover being charitable unto every good work. Possessions are insufficient for such a task. And during the Great Tribulation we will not even have any earthly possessions, yet Jesus tells us that we will be blessed because we will be used by our Father to give to those in need, Matthew 24:44-46.

To be charitable for every good work, we must look to the power of our Father to be at work within us. Our Father’s power turns water to wine, John 2. His power feeds thousands of people with only some scraps of food, Matthew 14:16-19. When our Father works through us the dead are raised, the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the lost are saved and it is all done without earthly possessions. To be the greatest in Heaven we must be the world’s biggest servants, Matthew 23:11. To be the biggest servant requires our Father’s power to be the force that is working through us.

So we need to stop looking for earthly possessions to be the power of our charity and we need to look to our Father’s power. Only through His grace can we be charitable in every good work. Desire to be the greatest, so desire that without money you are used by our Father, Who is God, to bless every need that the world has.

Forgiveness Even After Death

In which He went and preached to the spirits in prison, [The souls of those] who long before in the days of Noah had been disobedient, when God's patience waited during the building of the ark in which a few [people], actually eight in number, were saved through water. 1 Peter 3:19-20

There is a very dominate belief among Christians and it is that once we die all chance for forgiveness is over. If that were true, why did Jesus go to Hades to preach to people? If it was the Truth that once we die there is no chance to be forgiven then Jesus wasted His time and He was actually very cruel. Think of it, these people are in Hades, there is no chance to be forgiven, and Jesus goes down there and preaches to them about salvation and there is absolutely no chance that they can have it.

The glorious Truth however is that our Father is not a respecter of persons, Acts 10:34. So if Jesus went to the lost and gave them another chance, He will do it again. Why do you think that our Father will raise the dead up and reunite them with their bodies after the Millennial Reign of Christ, Revelation 20? He does this so that they will have another opportunity to be forgiven and allowed to live. They will not be the Bride of Christ, but they will be the guests of the Bride, Matthew 22:10. Everyone who has not committed Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit will be forgiven and allowed to stay. They will have paid the price for their transgressions in Hades. They will have reaped what they have sown and then they will be forgiven by us and allowed to stay in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Truly and solemnly I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever abusive and blasphemous things they utter; But whoever speaks abusively against or maliciously misrepresents the Holy Spirit can never get forgiveness, but is guilty of and is in the grasp of an everlasting trespass. Mark 3:28-29

Now here is a really powerful Truth, the Bible never tells us what blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is. People guess at it all of the time, but we are never told. Ask yourself, if there was a sin that can’t be forgiven, don’t you think that our Father would plainly and repeatedly tell us what it is? Sure He would, but He never does. That has to be a pretty big clue to us that it rarely will be committed. The greater Truth is that all other sin will be forgiven.  

No Doubts That We Are Now One With Our Father

THEREFORE, SINCE we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God's favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2

Our Father tells us that we are justified through faith and the glorious Truth for us is that we now have Jesus Authoring and Finishing our faith, Hebrews 12:2. We are in right standing with our Father and we will always be in right standing with Him because our Lord and Savior ever lives to insure that we are, Hebrews 7:25. Through Christ we are eternally sure that we are saved and through Christ we now have and enjoy the exact same peace that Jesus has in His eternity, John 14:27. Jesus never doubts that He is One with God and that He always will be and through our Lord’s anointing so do we.

Grace goes beyond us just having our Father’s favor, it also means that He exerts His influence on our souls.

It is a reason for pride and exultation to which our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world [generally] and especially toward you, with devout and pure motives and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God (the unmerited favor and merciful kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, and keeps, strengthens, and increases them in Christian virtues). 2 Corinthians 1:12

Our Father actually causes us to be strong and virtuous. He directs us and leads us. He never leaves us or forsakes us, Hebrews 13:5. If you ever hear someone tell you that you have decide which path to take, rejoice in the glorious Truth that you don’t. What Shepherd ever leaves his sheep alone to decide where they should go? What vine ever leaves a branch alone to decide what kind of fruit to produce? What head ever leaves its body alone to decide what to do? Jesus is our Shepherd, He is our Vine, and He is our Head. Our Father never leaves us alone, not even for a second, and because He doesn't we are always and eternally justified. This is why we are able to rejoice and have confidence. 

Don't Let Jesus Off The Hook

And He answered, It is not right (proper, becoming, or fair) to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs. She said, Yes, Lord, yet even the little pups little whelps eat the crumbs that fall from their [young] masters' table. Then Jesus answered her, O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you wish. And her daughter was cured from that moment. Matthew 15:26-29

This woman did not let Jesus’ first answer of no stop her from demanding that He do something to help her daughter. Jesus flat out told her that He wasn’t sent for her and she didn’t let Him get away with it. I know how that sounds, but that is exactly what happened. Now Jesus knew that He was going to cast the demon out of her daughter and He knew that she was going to persist that He did. The point that we are shown here in Matthew is that Jesus loves it when we come to Him and earnestly expect and persist, even to the point of demanding, that He act. Jesus calls this great faith. The attitude that this woman had, recognized that Jesus was the only source for the answer that she needed and Jesus was not offended in the least at her demands.

Jesus tells us to pray with the same expectant and persistent attitude, Luke 11:6-8 and Luke 18:1-8. When Jesus was here in the flesh, He was moved when people came to Him and earnestly expected Him to act. Jesus loved it when they would not take no for an answer. The power of Jesus was not in His physical flesh, His power was in His Spirit, it was Jesus‘ Spirit that loved this kind of attitude. The Truth is also that Jesus’ Spirit is even more active in the world today, then it was when His flesh was here. So do not let Jesus off the hook, tell Him He needs to act and that it is right for Him to act.

I have a Jewish friend and He tells me that the only difference between Jews and Gentiles can be summed up like this. When God says that He is going to destroy the world, the Gentiles fall down and cry about it. Yet the Jews go to God and say wait a minute, let‘s talk about this first. That is the attitude that Jesus said that He loves and that is how Jesus told us to act.

We have no problem acting like this when our backs are against the wall, but there does not have to be a life threatening reason to act with such passion. Our Lord wants us to be this passionate in every pursuit of Him. Faith comes from hearing this Truth and the Holy Spirit will not let this Truth fall void to the earth. He will cause this kind of earnest expectation to grow to its fullest measure in each and every one of us. He has too, the world needs it way too much!

What's It Mean To Be Saved?

Neither for these alone do I pray [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for all those who will ever come to believe in (trust in, cling to, rely on) Me through their word and teaching, That they all may be one, [just] as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me. I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one: I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also whom You have entrusted to Me [as Your gift to Me] may be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory, which You have given Me [Your love gift to Me]; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. John 17:20-24

I will be honest I love John 17, it is my absolute favorite chapter in the Bible. John 17 just teaches us so much as to why Jesus came and did what He did for us. Several years ago our Father had me begin to ask the question: what is salvation? He had me ask believers, non-believers, and preachers what their definition of salvation was. To my surprise most struggled with a specific definition of what it means to be saved. Mainly I was told by those who I asked that it meant to go to Heaven. After several weeks of asking, our Father then asked me, do you see why I had you ask? People need know what it means to be saved. We talk about it all of the time, yet so many really don’t know.

Thank God for John 17, because it plainly tells us what salvation is. Salvation is us becoming one with our Father through Jesus Christ. To be saved means that we are perfectly united with God through Christ. It is just that simple. The glory that Jesus has, we now have. It is all a gift. It is all undeserved, yet it is all freely bestowed on us who have been called and chosen by God to be given it. We do not choose our Father, He chooses us. Then He uses us to serve the world and to show them that He loves them too.

A benefit of salvation is that we will spend eternity with our Father, but salvation means being perfectly united with Him through our Lord and Savior Jesus. And amen, today is the day of our unity with our Father, 2 Corinthians 6:2. 

Love Superabounds Sin

Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others]. 1 Peter 4:8

The Holy Spirit tells us through Peter that above all other things that we are to have intense love for others. So above faith, above hope, above righteousness, above church attendance, above all things we are to love others intensely.

You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy; But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:43-44

It takes real strength for us to love people who hate us. It is a strength that we do not have naturally on our own, but thank God, our Father has it. Our Father loves everyone and does not respect one of us over another, Acts 10:34. And our Father has poured out His love permanently into our hearts.

Sin may very well be abounding all around us, but that is alright, because where sin abounds, our Father’s Grace much more abounds.

But then Law came in, [only] to expand and increase the trespass [making it more apparent and exciting opposition]. But where sin increased and abounded, grace (God’s unmerited favor) has surpassed it and increased the more and superabounded, Romans 5:20

So through the power of our Father’s love that now dwells within us we can look past what is wrong, take no thought for it at all, and truly love other’s. We can, without any judgment, forgive all and intercede for all. What people have done is irrelevant. Whether they ask for it, want it, or believe that they need it, doesn’t matter. Our Father’s love working eternally through us freely gives it. Love covers sin, even if sin is abounding all around us.  

Forgiving Others

For if you forgive people their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Matthew 6:14

The ultimate expression of love is forgiving another person, even when they do not deserve it. We call this Grace and the best example of Grace, or forgiveness, can be seen by Jesus on the Cross. The people that Jesus forgave lied about Him, were jealous of Him, mocked Him, tortured Him, and they were killing Him in a terrible way by hanging Him on a Cross. They did not ask for His forgiveness, they did not want it, and they did not believe that He had any power to give it, yet Jesus gave it to them all freely. This is true love and we now have His love poured out in our hearts, Romans 5:5. We now have His love permanently dwelling within us,  John 17:26, and we have God personally insuring that we know it, 1 Thessalonians 4:9.

All that being said, our peace with this Truth is that we can’t help but to be forgiven because the love of our Father now abounds in our hearts. So many try to tell us that we have to constantly seek our own forgiveness from our Father. That is just not how He works. Our Father insures that we are forgiven by pouring His love out in us to forgive others. God’s love working through us to forgive others covers our multitude of sins. Our Father would never leave our forgiveness up to us alone, He loves us too much to chance it. So to insure that we are forgiven He makes His love abound through us towards others and we don’t have to worry or fret over it. We can’t help but to forgive others, our Father won’t let us do anything but forgive.

Guaranteed Love

Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. Romans 5:5

I have made Your Name known to them and revealed Your character and Your very Self, and I will continue to make [You] known, that the love which You have bestowed upon Me may be in them [felt in their hearts] and that I [Myself] may be in them. John 17:26

But concerning brotherly love [for all other Christians], you have no need to have anyone write you, for you yourselves have been [personally] taught by God to love one another. 1 Thessalonians 4:9

I have always been told that we have to love. The burden of success was always placed on our own abilities. But as always, the Truth is so much better and the Truth is that we can’t help but love. We can’t help but to fulfill the only commandment that we are told now exists in the New Testament, John 13:34 & John 15:12, because our Father insures that we will complete it. 

Love is eternal and it has been poured out in us. Love covers a multitude of sins and we now have Jesus ever living within us to insure that we have His love. Love is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and we have our Father teaching us. There is absolutely no chance that we can ever fail at loving, because our Father just won’t let that happen.

Are We Raptured Before The Great Tribulation?

But in those days, after [the affliction and oppression and distress of] that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; And the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great (kingly) power and glory (majesty and splendor). And then He will send out the angels and will gather together His elect (those He has [m]picked out for Himself) from the four winds, from the farthest bounds of the earth to the farthest bounds of heaven. Mark 13:24-27

I know that so many want to believe in a pre-tribulation rapture, but the Truth of the scriptures bare out that this is just not to be. Look at what Jesus tells us in these verses in the Gospel of Mark. First we are told that after the days of tribulation is when we will see Jesus coming. Then we are told that when the earth sees Jesus coming, is when the Angels will gather us, His elect, from the dead to be with Him. Lets look in John 6 as well to see what Jesus tells us about a pre-tribulation rapture.

For this is My Father's will and His purpose, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in and cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day. John 6:40

No one is able to come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me attracts and draws him and gives him the desire to come to Me, and [then] I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day. John 6:44

He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood has (possesses now) eternal life, and I will raise him up [from the dead] on the last day. John 6:54

The Truth is that we are raptured after the Great Tribulation on the last day of this earth. Jesus says it so plainly. Don’t fear this, because the cool part is the power that our Father will bestow on us during the Great Tribulation. During the worst of times our Father is at His best within us.

So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength). 2 Corinthians 12:10

Is There A Pre-Tribulation Rapture?

Then I saw thrones, and sitting on them were those to whom authority to act as judges and to pass sentence was entrusted. Also I saw the souls of those who had been slain with axes [beheaded] for their witnessing to Jesus and [for preaching and testifying] for the Word of God, and who had refused to pay homage to the beast or his statue and had not accepted his mark or permitted it to be stamped on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived again and ruled with Christ (the Messiah) a thousand years. The remainder of the dead were not restored to life again until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Revelation 20:4-5

In Revelation 20 John was shown, by Jesus, the saved children of God. John was shown both those who were saved before the Great Tribulation and those who were saved during the Great Tribulation, which is the last 3 1/2 years of the world as we now know it. He was also shown the power that will be given unto us to rule with Jesus when He returns. And finally John was  shown that the unsaved are clearly not part of this First Resurrection.

In Revelation 20, Jesus shows John that this is the first resurrection and He clearly tells us that it takes place after satan is bound in thrown into the pit for a thousand years of captivity, Revelation 20:2. We are shown that satan is bound at the end of the Great Tribulation. Now with all of that Truth being laid down, let's read 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

Take notice! I tell you a mystery (a secret truth, an event decreed by the hidden purpose or counsel of God). We shall not all fall asleep [in death], but we shall all be changed (transformed). In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the [sound of the] last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperishable (free and immune from decay), and we shall be changed (transformed).

The Truth is that those of us who are saved and alive when Jesus returns will in no way precede those of us who are saved and have died in Christ, 1 Thessalonians 4:15. We are shown that the dead in Christ clearly are raised first to be transformed, then those of us who are alive are transformed. We are also shown that the first resurrection does not occur until after the Great Tribulation has ended. Scripturally there is no proof of a pre-tribulation rapture of the saints, but there is clearly a contradiction to this belief. If we were raised up seven years before Jesus' return, the living in Christ would have to precede the dead in Christ who are not raised until the first resurrection that takes place at the end of the Great Tribulation. 

How Many Are Killed At Armageddon?

So the angel swung his scythe on the earth and stripped the grapes and gathered the vintage from the vines of the earth and cast it into the huge winepress of God’s indignation and wrath. And [the grapes in] the winepress were trodden outside the city, and blood poured from the winepress, [reaching] as high as horses’ bridles, for a distance of 1,600 stadia (about 200 miles).  Revelation 14:19-20

To figure out how many people are actually killed at Armageddon I used my very basic, and I do mean basic, understanding of Math and here is what I came up with.

3,097,600            Yards in 1 square mile

619,520,000        Yards in 200 square miles

1,858,560,000     Yards in 200 cubic miles 

3,717,120,000     Yards in 200 cubic miles 6 feet deep (Average Height of a Horses Bridle)

202                       Gallons in a square yard

18,401,584           Gallons of blood in 200 square miles 6 feet deep

1.5                        Gallons of blood in average person

12,267,723           Number of people to fill 200 square miles 6 feet deep

3,500,000,000      Half of Earth’s population (estimated number of people left after 3 1/2 years of      wrath)

0.0035                  Percent of people gathered to Armageddon to be destroyed

I am sure that there are math major’s that will be able to clarify this formula far better than I, but even if I am 100% short, that still means that less than 1% of the worlds population will be gathered to Armageddon to be destroyed. That shows us the power of salvation during the last 3 1/2 years of this age in our history! Over 99% of the people who are here right before Jesus returns will not have taken the Mark of the Beast! 

After this I looked and a vast host appeared which no one could count, [gathered out] of every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages. These stood before the throne and before the Lamb; they were attired in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. Revelation 7:9

Eternal Life For All

[Just as] You have granted Him power and authority over all flesh (all humankind), [now glorify Him] so that He may give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. John 17:2

We are shown here that our Father gave Jesus control over all flesh. Jesus tells us that our Father did this so that He could give eternal life to all who have been given to Him. Can I get an amen from the choir here? The Truth is our Father gave all flesh to Jesus so that all flesh could have eternal life. Hey I am not misquoting this, Jesus said that all have been given to Him and He will give eternal life to all who have been given to Him.

Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, And every tongue [frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11

Every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord and isn’t that what we are told that must happen for a person to be saved?

Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

We are told that every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. We are also told that Jesus will give eternal life to all who He has been given and He has been given all flesh! The Truth is eternity is going to be filled will all flesh. Some flesh will be transformed to be just like Jesus and we will rule and reign with Him forever, 1 Corinthians 15:52. Some flesh will be raised up from Hades to be made like the angels, these shall be the guests, Matthew 22:10 & 30. And some flesh will remain just as we are now, except they will never die. We know this also to be true because in Revelation 20 we are never told that those who are living, those who are not raised from the dead, when our Father comes to the earth are ever judged. Jesus was very successful by going to the Cross and He will save all flesh from the Lake of Fire. He will allow us to come to know our Father and we will live forever with Him in glory.

Now, don't get me wrong, this Truth in no way limits what we are to preach on this earth. There is a Hades, Luke 16:23. It is a place of discipline and we are to go into all of the world and preach to all of the people, Mark 16:15. We are to tell them that the Kingdom of our Father is for them right now. We are to tell them the Truth that will set them free and we are to show Grace to all, especially our enemies. We will not get to all, Jesus tells us that many will be called, not that all will be called, Matthew 20:16. A few who we are used to tell are chosen to be the Bride of Christ. The others we tell are called to be our guests at the Wedding Feast, Matthew 22:10. These people will first have to go through Hades to arrive at the Wedding Feast, 1 Corinthians 3:15. But amen, they will be allowed to attend. 

The Anti-Christ Part IV

I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots; and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth speaking great things. Daniel 7:8

And as for the beast that [once] was, but now is no more, he [himself] is an eighth ruler (king, head), but he is of the seven and belongs to them, and he goes to perdition. Revelation 17:11

And one of his heads seemed to have a deadly wound. But his death stroke was healed; and the whole earth went after the beast in amazement and admiration. Revelation 13:3

Look at what we are shown here in Daniel 7, “in the horn were eyes like a man.” Our Father doesn’t tell us that the horn had the eyes of a man, but that he has eyes like a man. Now take what Daniel was shown and tie it together with what John was shown and we can see a picture of the anti-christ, who is and then he isn’t.

The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is sound, your entire body will be full of light. Matthew 6:22

Our eyes give us away and as the old saying goes, our eyes are the windows to our soul. When we look at these verses together we can see the anti-christ is not a man, but a demon. They also shows us that the body the anti-christ uses, who was a man, and then died, is possessed. The eyes of the demon are in the body, not of the body.

The angel of our Father releases the beast, or the anti-christ, from the Abyss and he comes and takes over the body of the last Pope who received the deadly head wound. The world will believe that the Pope was miraculously healed and they will follow after the beast. The beast will use the money and influence of the Catholic Church to develop an alliance with ten kings and they will attempt to rule the world. They will fail miserably though and the result will be that the Gospel of the Kingdom of our Father will be preached and received by every tribe, nation, and tongue.

And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end. Matthew 24:14

After this I looked and a vast host appeared which no one could count, [gathered out] of every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages. These stood before the throne and before the Lamb; they were attired in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. Revelation 7:9

The Anti-Christ Part III

And as for the beast that [once] was, but now is no more, he [himself] is an eighth ruler (king, head), but he is of the seven and belongs to them, and he goes to perdition. Revelation 17:11

And one of his heads seemed to have a deadly wound. But his death stroke was healed; and the whole earth went after the beast in amazement and admiration. Revelation 13:3

We are told that the beast has a deadly head wound, yet he is miraculously healed. We are told that the beast was, then he wasn’t. We are also shown in Revelation 17 that the beast comes from the Abyss, which is the place of demons. With all of these Truth's in mind, here is what I believe that all of this means. It is important to understand that I am not saying that I have been translated into the third Heaven or have seen a vision about this, it is just what I see when I read Revelation.  

The beast, which is the anti-christ, is the last Pope. The Pope rules from the Vatican in Rome which is surrounded by seven hills. The last Pope will suffer a deadly head wound. The wound will be so serious that the world will believe that he should die. We will see all of it unfold on television and yet the last Pope will not die. He won’t die because his body will be taken over by the beast that is released from the Abyss. To the world it will look as if he is miraculously healed and they will follow after who they believe to be the Pope, when in reality that Pope will have died. It will be the demon that has been allowed to take over the Pope’s body who be alive. So he was and then he was not.

The beast will then have control over the vast empire that is the Roman Catholic Church. He will have its great wealth and influence, the wealth that the ten kings, or the ten horns, so desire. The beast will use the Pope’s body and the Roman Catholic Empire to influence the world. 

Also the ten horns that you observed are ten rulers (kings) who have as yet received no royal dominion, but together they are to receive power and authority as rulers for a single hour, along with the beast. These have one common policy (opinion, purpose), and they deliver their power and authority to the beast. They will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them; for He is Lord of lords and King of kings—and those with Him and on His side are chosen and called [elected] and loyal and faithful followers. Revelation 17:12-14

Even though the ten kings and the anti-christ seem to work together they are not unified in the least. 

[As] I stood on the sandy beach, I saw a beast coming up out of the sea with ten horns and seven heads. On his horns he had ten royal crowns (diadems) and blasphemous titles (names) on his heads, Revelation 13:1.

Sand is not stable, it is not a solid foundation and this shows us that the anti-christ’s kingdom will not be stable either. Think of ten kings who just want the anti-christ’s money and the anti-christ who just wants the military might of the ten king’s. They will hate each other and the union will be a very unsettled one. These king’s will give up their control for the money that they will so desperately need. Look at the world’s economies today, countries are going broke all over the place. The love of money is the root of all evil and these king’s will want the money that the beast has. 

The Anti-Christ Part II

Then I saw the beast and the rulers and leaders of the earth with their troops mustered to go into battle and make war against Him Who is mounted on the horse and against His troops. And the beast was seized and overpowered, and with him the false prophet who in his presence had worked wonders and performed miracles by which he led astray those who had accepted or permitted to be placed upon them the stamp (mark) of the beast and those who paid homage and gave divine honors to his statue. Both of them were hurled alive into the fiery lake that burns and blazes with brimstone. Revelation 19:20

These events that we are shown are happening at the Battle of Armageddon. Jesus returns to the earth and He removes the anti-christ and the false prophet from power. When Jesus does this to the anti-christ, I want you to notice that the he is thrown directly into the Lake of Fire. The anti-christ is not thrown into Hades to wait for judgment, he is thrown directly into Hell.

And the sea delivered up the dead who were in it, death and Hades (the state of death or disembodied existence) surrendered the dead in them, and all were tried and their cases determined by what they had done [according to their motives, aims, and works]. Revelation 20:13

If the anti-christ were human he would have been thrown into Hades to await his judgment, but he isn’t, he is thrown directly into the Lake of Fire or Hell. The Truth is that all men must be judged, but this being, or demon, isn’t. We were told that he is from the Abyss, the realm of demons and here we see that he never comes up for judgment.

The Anti-Christ Part I

But when they have finished their testimony and their evidence is all in, the beast (monster) that comes up out of the Abyss (bottomless pit) will wage war on them, and conquer them and kill them. Revelation 11:7

The beast that you saw [once] was, but [now] is no more, and he is going to come up out of the Abyss (the bottomless pit) and proceed to go to perdition. And the inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been recorded in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will be astonished when they look at the beast, because he [once] was, but [now] is no more, and he is [yet] to come. Revelation 17:8

The first thing that I want you to see is that the anti-christ, or the beast, comes from the Abyss. The Greek word for Abyss is Abussos, it means a very deep chasm, bottomless, and the abode of demons. So our Father plainly tells us that the anti-christ comes from the abode of demons. This is important because so many people seem to be looking for him and wondering is he here on the earth now. These verses show us that the anti-christ, is not a man, he is a being, or a demon, that our Father has created and is keeping in the Abyss until that day that He releases him.

Then I saw an angel descending from heaven; he was holding the key of the Abyss (the bottomless pit) and a great chain was in his hand. Revelation 20:1

Then the fifth angel blew [his] trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth; and to the angel was given the key of the shaft of the Abyss (the bottomless pit.) He opened the long shaft of the Abyss (the bottomless pit), and smoke like the smoke of a huge furnace puffed out of the long shaft, so that the sun and the atmosphere were darkened by the smoke from the long shaft. Revelation 9:1-2

Notice that the angel was given the key to the Abyss. This shows us that our Father allows the anti-christ to come to the earth. The anti-christ does not have a free will to seize power, he is allowed to seize it by our Father. Notice too that when the Abyss is opened that things change instantly. The sun is darkened. We will know when the anti-christ is released.

All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. John 1:3

For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him. Colossians 1:16

So to recap what we are shown is that the beast, or the anti-christ, is held in the Abyss until our Father allows him to be released. We are shown that the anti-christ was created and is controlled by our Father. And finally we are shown that the anti-christ is a being and not a man. He will come and possess the body of a man, we will study on this in later postings, but he is a demon, created by our Father to do exactly what He designed him to do. 

We Have A MInd That Only Encourages

Now may the God Who gives the power of patient endurance (steadfastness) and Who supplies encouragement, grant you to live in such mutual harmony and such full sympathy with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, Romans 15:5

Who comforts (consoles and encourages) us in every trouble (calamity and affliction), so that we may also be able to comfort (console and encourage) those who are in any kind of trouble or distress, with the comfort (consolation and encouragement) with which we ourselves are comforted (consoled and encouraged) by God. 2 Corinthians 1:4

But God, Who comforts and encourages and refreshes and cheers the depressed and the sinking, comforted and encouraged and refreshed and cheered us by the arrival of Titus. 2 Corinthians 7:6

He who exhorts (encourages), to his exhortation; he who contributes, let him do it in simplicity and liberality; he who gives aid and superintends, with zeal and singleness of mind; he who does acts of mercy, with genuine cheerfulness and joyful eagerness. Romans 12:8

The glorious Truth for us is that through Christ we all exhort and encourage, we can’t help it. We have the Mind of Christ and Jesus ever lives to encourage others, so how could we be any different? We are one with the only One Who can truly comfort and encourage. So it is just born into us to think of others above ourselves.

This is a great example of how our Father uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. The world says that when you are in need, or when you are sick, or when you are troubled that you have to take care of yourself first. Jesus works exactly the opposite way; He takes care of others first and we are now one with Him. Jesus lives to intercede for people; He does not live to be served, but to serve.

The Truth is that in this world we will have troubles, but our Father has empowered us with His Mind that seeks the well being of others first. God causes us to sow to others and not ourselves and that is how He causes us to reap all of the fullness of His blessings. To be the greatest, you have to be the biggest servant and we are now one with the biggest servant, Jesus. So we are able to relax because through Christ we can’t think any other way.

A Mind For Trouble

As it is written, I have made you the father of many nations. [He was appointed our father] in the sight of God in Whom he believed, Who gives life to the dead and speaks of the nonexistent things that [He has foretold and promised] as if they [already] existed. Romans 4:17

For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart. 1 Corinthians 2:16

Whoever says he abides in Him ought [as a personal debt] to walk and conduct himself in the same way in which He walked and conducted Himself. 1 John 2:6

You having any issues in your life? Most of us do and here is what our Mind has us do about it: believe that it is already fixed. When something is settled we tend not to focus and talk about it, this is the mindset that we now have. Our Mind knows the beginning and the end, Revelation 1:8. It knows that we are more than conquerors through Christ, Romans 8:37, and it knows that He is always greater in us then anything that is in this world, 1 John 4:4. Our Anointed Mind knows that it is settled and that allows us to take no thought for our own lives, Matthew 6:31. The Mind that our Father has placed in us does not take thought for what we are going to wear, what we are going to eat, and where our income is coming from. Our Mind knows that by Jesus’ stripes we are healed, 1 Peter 2:24. It knows that our ability to trust and believe is Jesus’ burden, not ours, Hebrews 12:2. The Mind of Christ that we now have, has peace that passes all human understanding, Philippians 4:7. It speaks as if things are already settled. It does this because it sees only by faith and not by sight, 2 Corinthians 5:7.

But here is the greatest thing that our new Mind does; it takes all kinds of thoughts for others. It intercedes for others to our Father to the point of being pesky, Luke 11. It will not take no for an answer when it comes to the needs of others. It is willing to die to help another person. The Mind of Christ that is now in us, ever lives to intercede for others so that they might be saved to the uttermost, Hebrews 7:25. If it is asked to walk a mile, it walks two, Matthew 5:41. If someone asks for its coat, it gives them its shirt as well. When it forgives, it never counts; it will just continually forgive, regardless of what is done to it, Matthew 18:22. This is not something that we have to work at; this Mind has just been freely placed within us.

The Mind that we now have causes us to sow to others constantly, so that we may reap the greatness of our Father, 2 Corinthians 9:6. It takes the foolish things of this world and uses them to confound the wise, 1 Corinthians 1:27. It is all so easy for The Mind of Christ, and we now have it. 

    

The Kingdom Of Heaven Is At Hand

But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand! Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely (without pay) you have received, freely (without charge) give. Matthew 10:6-8

He has blinded their eyes and hardened and benumbed their [callous, degenerated] hearts [He has made their minds dull], to keep them from seeing with their eyes and understanding with their hearts and minds and repenting and turning to Me to heal them. John12:40

Jesus sent the Disciples out to go and tell the Israelites that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand for them. Jesus told the Disciples to heal the lost, drive out demons from the lost, and to raise the lost from the dead. Jesus empowered the Disciples to show the lost children of Israel that the power of Heaven was for them. Yet Jesus also tells us that our Father would not allow the children of Israel to believe. Jesus tells us that our Father hardened their hearts and made their minds dull so that they could never understand the Truth. How can both of these things be true?

Here is what our Father has been showing me, there is a difference between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God. The benefits of the Kingdom of Heaven can be enjoyed by everyone, those who believe and are chosen and those who do not believe. The chosen are part of the Kingdom of God. We are empowered to serve the guests of the Kingdom of Heaven. Think about it? The children of Israel hated Jesus. They used Him to get healed, yet they quickly threw Him under the bus so that they could still go to church on the Sabbath. They were healed by Jesus and then they cried out for Him to be killed. Yet, they still enjoyed the fruits of the Kingdom of Heaven that was at hand for them. How cool is that? That is our Father’s Grace in full action! 

This is why Jesus told Peter to feed both the sheep, the guests of the Kingdom of Heaven, and the lambs, the born again of the Kingdom of God, John 21:16-18. The power of our Father is all based on His Grace, not on any works. So of course the Kingdom of Heaven and all of the power of it is for those who don’t believe. The guests are not part of the Kingdom of God, meaning they are not one with God as we are. But that doesn’t mean that they are not able to be fully served with power and demonstration of the Spirit by those of us who are.