Faith
Wednesday July 9, 2008
Hartsville News Journal
Page 2B
FAITH COMMENTARY
"Recognizing the End"
No one but God in Heaven knows when the end will come but your Bible does discuss it with you; it gives you enough information to recognize it.  Recognizing Satan’s “five month” Tribulation is a big advantage as it gives you time to prepare for the return of Christ.

You are aware that Satan ascends from the bottomless pit and Revelation is where you learn how Satan’s Tribulation ends.  Rev. 11:7 KJV now takes you to a point towards the end where God’s two witnesses are giving Satan all kinds of trouble:

    And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

Satan’s inability to deal with the two witnesses will cause him to kill them.  Rev. 11:8 KJV informs you that this takes place at the same place Jesus was crucified:

    And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

Sending a message of authority, Rev. 11:9 KJV reports Satan making an example of the two witnesses: 

    And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

Living in the end times, you see similar behavior being exhibited today; morals and spiritual leadership is becoming a rare commodity.  Matthew 24:37 KJV makes a connection between these end times and the days of Noah:

    But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

“Noe” in Greek is “Noah” in the Hebrew language.  The fallen angels were here before and this verse assures you that they are about to return.  You learn in Rev. 11:10 KJV that they like to party:

    And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

Rev. 11:11 KJV shows God ending their party as Christ is preparing to return:

    And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

Rev. 11:12 KJV reports how Satan’s “five month” Tribulation will end; God is speaking to the two witnesses:

    And they heard

 

a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

Satan and his select company will behold their enemies…The departure of the two witnesses brings about the return of Christ.  God’s Tribulation begins in Rev. 11:13 KJV:

    And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

“Seven thousand” represent the fallen angels that are done away with when Christ returns; they are the rudiments of the world.  Satan remains!  He is cast into the pit for a thousand years because God has a future use for him.

Your spiritual “eyes to see” allow scripture to prepare you for the end.  Matthew 24:38 KJV is where light shines on Satan’s and his fallen angel’s “five month’s”.  With the days of Noah being repeated, you will be able to plan for your immediate future:

    For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark

The fallen angels are returning to a bed of wickedness…Perhaps you have noticed God being removed from our schools, courts, churches, and currency.

Matthew 24:39 KJV connects the events of Noah’s flood with things that will be taking place when Christ returns.

And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Observing the number of irreligious laws being implemented by the American Civil Liberties Union, the days of Noah cannot be far away.  You may even agree that conditions are about ripe for the clock to start ticking.

Your eyes must be open to recognize Satan’s “five month” Tribulation. 

Are you looking for it?

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Pastor Billy Johnson can be reached by email at billy@lakeshorebible.info or viewed online at www.lakeshorebible.com