Author: jdwvaw2

Jesus is not a thief. But, He said “Behold, I am coming as a thief.”(Revelation 16:15). What did He mean by that? First, know that Jesus described Satan and his minions as thieves who threaten His flock with destruction. “The thief does not come except to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10). Jesus is freely giving eternal life to His flock, not stealing it. What Jesus is referencing when saying He is coming as a thief is the soon arriving “Day of the Lord“. The Apostle Paul said, “For you yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.” (1Thessalonians 5:2). Peter says, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” (2Peter 3:10). Jesus’s second coming is inextricably linked this “Day of the Lord” when He will judge evil on this earth and gather His own to Himself. That’s when He is coming as a thief.

Jesus clearly explained all this to His disciples in the form of a parable about a thief breaking into a home. He said, “Know this, that if the master of that house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not let his house be broken into.” (Matthew 24:43). The essence of the parable was to teach His disciples that they were to watch the signs and determine what watch of the night the thief was coming so that they would be ready and protect their households all the while preparing them for the coming of the Son of Man. Jesus told the apostle John the consequences if they did not watch. “Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore, if you do not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.”(Revelation 3:3). Clearly, Jesus is saying here that by watching the hour of His coming can (and must) be determined. Paul indicated the same in his first letter to the Thessalonians, “But you, brethren, are not in darkness so that this day (of the Lord) should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.”(1Thessalonians 5:4-5).

This world as we know it will be sadly and tragically unprepared for Jesus’s return. For them it will be a shock scripture likens to a “thief in the night”. But for the saints, the second coming will be the long expected but watchfully discerned culmination of this age.

Jesus is not coming as a thief for his bride but as a bridegroom.

His bride will be watching, prepared, and ready.

For this world, however, the thief metaphor is appropriate. He is coming as a thief in the night.

Stay alert.

Maranatha, Jim

I’ve linked below to an essay and video by Archbishop Vigano sparked by a recent episode of Tucker Carlson that posits a “Church of Environmentalism”. It is quite broad in scope, pointing out the dangers of the new world order and the great reset while comparing it to a religion. When I read his essay, I couldn’t help but notice the emerging religious aspect of Mystery Babylon. What do you think? Jim

Abp. Viganò: The globalist New World Order has the marks of the ‘antichurch of Satan’ – LifeSite (lifesitenews.com)

The prophet Zechariah records a mysterious vision of a woman in a basket in chapter five verses 5-11 in his Old Testament book.

5 Then the angel who talked with me came out and said to me, “Lift your eyes now, and see what this is that goes forth.”

6 So I asked, “What is it?” And he said, “It is a basket that is going forth.”

He also said, “This is their resemblance throughout the earth: 7 Here is a lead disc lifted up, and this is a woman sitting inside the basket”; 8 then he said, “This is Wickedness!” And he thrust her down into the basket, and threw the lead cover over its mouth. 9 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were two women, coming with the wind in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and heaven.

10 So I said to the angel who talked with me, “Where are they carrying the basket?”

11 And he said to me, “To build a house for it in the land of Shinar; when it is ready, the basket will be set there on its base.”

Note that the basket’s going forth was to the land of Shinar, which is the region of Babylon. As Zechariah was a post-exilic prophet, and the vision depicts a time future to his writing, it cannot be referring to the Babylonian exile of Daniel’s day. Subsequent history tells us of the Babylonian kingdom’s eventual demise and collapse into oblivion where it remains today just as prophesied. The only significant biblical mention of the name Babylon in a future capacity is found in the book of Revelation, where it is called “Mystery Babylon” (MB), an evil woman, city, prostitute, mother of abominations, and ruler of kings of the earth. The parallels of Zechariah’s woman to Revelation’s woman are many.  First, they are both women. Second, they are both connected to Babylon, her title in Revelation, and location in Zechariah. In verse 6, the words “going forth” means to “break out broadly”. Third, verse 6 also states that this woman is confined to a basket, who at some point will be released, and recognized “throughout the earth”.  MB is described as sitting on many waters where there are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. Verse 7 describes the basket, a measuring container for grain, an “ephah”. It is sealed with a heavy lead (metallic gray stone) circular cover which is a Hebrew word for a broad circle of land. It is depicted as too heavy for the woman to escape from until it is lifted at the proper time for her release. Fourth, in verse 8, Zechariah is shown the woman who represents “wickedness”, and she is confined to the basket. MB is described as a filthy harlot who has become a “dwelling place for demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird”. Next, the heavy lid is put back in place to contain her until the time is right for her release.  As Zechariah is writing this from Jerusalem (Zechariah 6:10), the basket is then carried away from there to her resting place, the wilderness plain of Shinar which, in Zechariah’s time, would represent the dominant seat of world power. As Jerusalem (now apostate and partially in the Diaspora) is the most likely candidate for MB the city, this represents a fifth parallel. The two women angelic beings carrying the basket away from Jerusalem had “wind in their wings,” to aid their flight. Wind, here is Hebrew “Ruach” or spirit, indicating God is orchestrating this flight to His location where the basket’s content will be released in His timing.

The burning questions that remain are when will her release take place, and what will that look like? If my supposition is correct that the woman in the basket is Mystery Babylon, the answers can be found in Revelation,  chapters 17-19. There, we see that she will exercise control over the world’s governing authorities, economic systems, and even religion.  Her wickedness will be pervasive and addicting to a secular world. She will meet her ultimate demise at the hand of the ten nation confederacy of the antichrist. But when and how does she come to have such power? My personal opinion is that the cover was removed and she was released in 70 AD, the beginning of the second Jewish exile from their homeland in Israel. In this diaspora, due to rejection of her Messiah, she, along with much gentile assistance began her rise to dominance in bureaucratic control of national governments, and their economic systems. I also believe she is, at present, controlling much of the world’s governance and economic decision making, though behind the scenes. And, she is growing stronger day by day.

For a much more detailed analysis of Mystery Babylon, click on the permanent link below.  A Biblical Tale.doc – Google Docs. I believe God, through Zechariah, was giving us a warning 2500 years ago of what to expect in these last days. His people had just endured a long captivity under a harsh Babylonian rule. His vision foretells a time where the whole world will be under captivity to a modern Babylon. Fortunately, for us, God’s angelic messenger elaborated to the apostle John just what we should be watching for and exhorted us to come out of her (MB).

    Be warned. 

  Be ready.

Maranatha, Jim

The “Great Tribulation” (final 3 1/2 years of Daniel’s 70th week) will be a time of unprecedented turmoil for citizens of the earth. Jesus said it will be worse than anything the world has ever seen up till that time nor ever shall be. (Matthew 24:21). How are Christians to cope with this coming disaster? The Bible has several direct scriptures indicating that safe havens will be in the offing. Following are a few of them.

“For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle, He shall hide me.” (Psalm 27:5)

“Come my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourself, as it were, for a little season, until the indignation is past. For the Lord comes out of His place to punish the earth….” (Isaiah 26:20-21)

“Therefore, when you see the ‘abomination of desolation’….standing in the holy place, then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.”(Matthew 24:15-16)

“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth.” (Revelation 3:10)

“Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who had given birth to the male Child. But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.” (Revelation 12:13-14)

“Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.” (Revelation 12:6)

There seems to be little doubt that divine protection will be made available for God’s people, whether it’s in His secret pavilion, chambers of your own home, the mountains, or a prepared wilderness place. Details of when, how, and exactly where we are to go are not clear at present for obvious reasons. We need to be watching and listening for direction from the messengers God will provide. I believe these messengers will be primarily the “two witnesses” presented in Revelation chapter 11. For details, see my article on these two listed in Permanent Links below. The Two Witnesses of Revelation 11 – Google Docs

I should also note that there will be some Christians who will choose not to seek the safety provided by God and directly confront the antichrist and his government. Many of them will end up as martyrs for their bold faith.

“And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”(Revelation 12:17). “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” (Revelation 12:11)

Fellow Christians-be advised. The great tribulation is coming-soon. But knowing that is not a reason to fear. God has not given us a spirit of fear but love and a sound mind. We need only fear Him who is sending His Son to wrap up all the details of this last millennium before establishing His kingdom.

Maranatha, Jim

The prophetic Old Testament book of Daniel has the unique privilege of being the only book in all of scripture that Jesus directs us to read. While He quotes passages from many other books in the Old Testament, Jesus encourages His hearers to go and read Daniel for themselves in order to verify His teaching about the “abomination of desolation” as recorded both in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark.

“So, when you see the ‘abomination of desolation’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.” (Mark 13:14).

“Therefore, when you see the ‘abomination of desolation’, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.” (Matthew 24: 15-16)

In both gospels quoted above, the parenthetical clauses about the “reader” are not referring to who may be reading the gospels, but the reader of Daniel. These words should all be shown as red in your bibles, the words of Jesus. It would be improbable that both Mark and Matthew would add a parenthetical reference to the readers of their own gospel narrative at the exact same juncture.

Given the significance of this directive by Jesus, it behooves us as students of eschatological scripture to explore the book of Daniel in detail so that we are aware of these end-time prophecies as they develop. In our home bible studies, The Los Amigos Bible Study – YouTube , we worked our way through the entire book of Daniel. These videos, hopefully, may help you comprehend the eschatological importance of Daniel’s book. As a specific example, I might refer you to the study of Daniel chapter 8. The Book of Daniel Chapter 8 – YouTube

Good Studying, Maranatha, Jim

The coming 1000-year reign of Jesus on the earth is just around the corner. Some bible scholars and certain theological systems spiritualize or render the 1000 years as figurative and not literal. The verses in Revelation describing this time period are quite direct and require a literal hermeneutic IMO. An objective hermeneutic requires a literal rendering when there is nothing in the text indicating that it should be read as metaphor, symbolic, figurative, or otherwise. (See the article “Hermeneutics” linked below on the eschatontrails.com main website). Here are the references from the book of Revelation:

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished…..Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the Word of God, who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison…..” (Revelation 20:1-6)

This millennium is the time when our king Jesus assumes His throne in Jerusalem, Israel, the capitol of the earth. This is the reign that He instructed His disciples to go out and preach to the masses. This is the blessed time period written about by the Old Testament prophets when Messiah comes to rule. This is the time when the Government of this entire world will be masterminded by Christ. We, as redeemed Christians, will be part of His government, ruling and reigning with Him in our new glorified immortal bodies. During this time, we will participate in a perfect government run from a perfect kingship.

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be on His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His Kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever, the zeal of the Lord will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

When I look around us at the sad state of affairs our human run governments of this world have gotten us into, I think you’ll agree with me in longing and praying for this “kingdom to come and be on the earth as it is in heaven”. Much prophecy has yet to be fulfilled before the kingdom arrives, but, rest assured, it will all happen in a compressed and rather short time period. I’m sure you know from other articles on this website that I believe we are already in the beginning of birth pangs Jesus taught about which will lead up to Daniel’s seventieth week; a period of seven years followed by Jesus’ return.

We have a glorious future indeed!

Maranatha, Jim

“I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.” (Revelation 16:13). They are described more fully in the following verse: “For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” (Revelation 16:13).

If you’re like me, you might have wondered-Why would the nations of the world gather together in the plains of Megiddo under the leadership of the Antichrist to battle for Jerusalem against what will turn out to be the armies of heaven led by Jesus Himself? What could possibly be the motivation to do something that drastic and foolhardy? The answer-frogs-at least demon spirits that had frog-like characteristics. These spirits that originate with Satan, the antichrist, and his sidekick the false prophet, apparently have the remarkable ability to perform signs that are persuasive enough to draw national leaders into their fold. While we don’t know what these signs will be, they must be immensely powerful in order to deceive them in this manner.

Of course, the vast majority of nation-state leaders in this world are hugely influenced by the God of this world, Satan himself, so, perhaps, it might be easier than we think. Judging by the low morality of our current leaders, it may not be a problem after all! Today, one has to look far and wide to find a Godly head of state in this world. The deception these lying spirits will use will undoubtedly confirm words and policies of the de facto world leader-the antichrist. Remember, Jesus’ initial warning to those on the earth just prior to His coming was to ‘watch out lest you are deceived.’ It is a given that these “kings of the earth and the whole world” will not heed His warning. “And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.” (Revelation 19:19)

You might also remember that one of the plagues from God that struck Egypt was a deluge of frogs. Frogs were at the time one of the many demonic deities worshipped by the Egyptians. With that plague, the ability of the Egyptian sorcerers to duplicate the miracles of Aaron and Moses came to an end. Evidently these frog-spirit miracles will also be the last efforts from the devil, the beast, and the false prophet.

This complete deception of the world’s leaders as it matures will occur late in Daniel’s 70th week and provide conclusive evidence that Jesus’ arrival is just around the corner. I hope we’ll all be watching while dressed in the full armor of God. (Ephesians 6:11-18).

Maranatha, Jim

Reflecting back on events of a prophetic nature that occurred in 2022 gives a startling picture of what the bible seems to be saying will be the condition of the world just prior to our Lord’s second coming. While I often disagree with some of Nelson’s eschatology, he gives a good summary of ten important events of 2022 that, taken together, suggest the nearness of the establishment of the kingdom of God on this earth. Here’s the link to Nelson Walter’s video.

TOP 10 Bible Prophecy Events of 2022 – So Much is Happening RIGHT NOW! – YouTube

Maranatha, Jim

It’s that time of year again when your new year’s resolutions should include reading through the bible in the coming year. You can select many options, such as chronological, mixture of old and new testaments each day, or straight through from Genesis to Revelation. Currently, we are finishing up 2022 reading a mixture each day. We used Bible Gateway as our source, but there are many helpful tools available. You might list reading the complete bible as your #1 accomplishment of 2023. It only takes 10-15 minutes daily. After all, the bible is God’s direct communication to you personally. Don’t forsake His Word!

Maranatha, Jim

This article from CMI describes me quite well. How do you line up?

I am in the minority, the majority of the time (creation.com)

Maranatha, Jim