The Three Angels

2015-05-21T12:50:00.015-04:00

Welcome to TheThreeAngels.org, a website created by Our Higher Calling Ministry. In the biblical book of Revelation chapter 14 we read about three angels that fly in the midst of heaven, giving the world three final messages of mercy:

The First Angel says...

Revelation 14:6-7
(6) And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
(7) Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

The message of this Angel is of such importance that John describes it as the "everlasting gospel." It goes to all who dwell upon the earth, "every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." This means that this message is specifically for you. His message is broken down into four parts:

Saying with a loud voice:

-Fear God
-Give him glory
-The Judgment has commenced
-Worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea

Each part of this message is easily explained by comparing scripture with scripture, just as Isaiah 28:9-10 tells us to do.

The Second Angel says...

Revelation 14:8
(8) And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

This Angel is warning the world against Babylon, saying that she is fallen and that she made all nations drink her wine. But what is her wine? Why is she fallen? What exactly is Babylon?

In Revelation shapter 17 we are told about a "women" whos name is also "Babylon." Could these two chapter be speaking about the same thing?

The Third Angel says...

Revelation 14:9-11
(9) And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
(10) The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
(11) And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

After the first Angel called the world to worship the creator God, we are now warned by the third Angel against worshipping the beast and against receiving his Mark. Of course with this we are now confronted with the obvious questions:

-What is a Beast in bible prophecy?
-What is the Mark of the Beast?
-What is the image of the beast?

The whole issue over this war between God and the Devil is over worship. God is calling us to worship him, but the enemy fights to have us direct our worship towards himself.

You NEED to learn what these three messages are. It is a matter of life or death! We have tried to make the study of the three angels messages as easy to understand as possible, with many graphics along the way to help you visualize and understand better.

You can:
-CLICK HERE to begin your quest to learn what these warnings are!
-CLICK HERE to watch the Identifying the Antichrist movie online for free!

2008-12-22T14:20:00.000-05:00

Identifying the Antichrist

The Passion of the Lord

2008-07-20T15:25:00.001-04:00

2008-05-27T16:34:00.001-04:00

True or False: Once saved, always saved?

The bible teaches that once a believer comes to Jesus Christ for the salvation of his soul, there is nothing that can take that free gift of salvation away from him. Nothing, except he himself. God does not hold us captive to him if we afterwards decide not to follow him, or if we willfully sin and not confess and forsake our sins. Some teach that once you are saved, not even your own willful act of sin can separate you from our Holy, sinless God. This belief, or doctrine, is called “once saved always saved.”

To illustrate how this doctrine is unscriptural, we bring your attention to a famous parable taught by our Lord Jesus Christ… the parable of the prodigal Son:

Luke 15:11-12
(11) And he said, A certain man had two sons:
(12) And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
(13) And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
(14) And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

Already we know the son is “safe” with his father, for it was after he left his father that his problems began. If he would not have left the security of his father, he would not have fallen away as he did. But he made the “decision” to leave, and the Father, not willing to hold his Son against his will, let him make his own decision.

In this same way, when we come to Christ, we are safe with him, he holds us in his security, and never lets us go. Jesus said:

John 10:27-29
(27) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
(28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
(29) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

We notice that Jesus gives us “eternal life” and that “no man” shall pluck us out of his hands. This means that no one can take away our security in him… yet the bible tells us to hold fast:

Hebrews 3:6
(6) But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

In other words, we are the house of Jesus, but only “if” we “hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” Notice in this same chapter, verse 12:

Hebrews 3:12
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

Since Paul here calls them “brethren” we automatically know they are saved individuals. Study Hebrews 3 and 4, and you will notice that he is comparing them to those Israelites who were “saved” by God from the bondage of Egypt when they were about to enter the Promised Land. Yet the Israelites “departed” from God while in the wilderness, which resulted in their losing their salvation, for they never got to enter into the Promised Land which today symbolizes the entering in of Heaven! Paul urges his “brethren” not to “fall after the same example of unbelief.” –Hebrews 4:11.

In other words, once we are saved, yes, we already have eternal life, and no man can take that from us. But if at any point we sin, and do not return in confession to our father for forgiveness and repentance, as the prodigal Son did (Luke 15:21) we will end up “lost.” Notice this next verse in Luke 15:

Luke 15:24
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

At first he was not lost, but saved (verses 11-12) yet now that he chose to depart “from the living God,” his Father, he was lost.

The life the prodigal son is a striking example of the presumptuous claims of those Christians who don’t take sin that serious, and claim that it is impossible for them, in their sinful condition, to be lost. He left confidently with all his wealth (verses 12-13). He lived his life wasting every penny (verse 13) without worry that he would end up living in the streets like the beggars. Some of us feel, or have been taught, that once we are saved, we need not worry much about the future, for since we are saved, we will make to heaven anyway. This is how the prodigal son felt... safe, secure and worry free, since he left with all his "wealth." Yet the bible warns us not to enter into such a comfort state, but rather to fear…

“… lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest (entering heaven), any of you (the brethren already saved –verse 12) should seem to come short of it.” Hebrews 4:11.

This attitude, produced by the “once saved always saved” belief, saying “I am saved I am saved” without taking heed “lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12) can lead many individuals to trust in themselves, for, if they are saved, what worry have they if they sin or offend?

Notice the following few verses in Hebrews chapter 10:

Hebrews 10:26-29
(26) For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
(27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
(28) He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
(29) Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

We see here that a man can be sanctified by the blood of Christ, yet if he “sin willfully” and does not return in humble repentance, he will be lost. Note these next verses:

2 Peter 2:20-22
(20) For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
(21) For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
(22) But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned (returns) to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

It seemed obvious to Peter that the proverb, “a dog returns to his vomit,” (ISV) applies to those who, after having received Jesus Christ, return to their former lusts, resulting in their being in a worse state.

Some bring 1 John 5:13 to our attention. Yet a reading of this little book from the beginning will lead the reader to see that John is speaking to mature Christians (1 John 1:12-14) not babes in Christ. Notice that these mature Christians have “known the father” and “have overcome the wicked one.” Verse 4 of chapter 5 says that whoever is born of God “overcometh the world.” In other words; he is telling those who have over come through the “will of God” (1 John 2:17) which is a life of sanctification (1 Thess. 4:3) that they have eternal life. We are not only to believe and accept Jesus as our personal savior; we are to, as a result, live a life of sanctification, and “hold on” to the eternal life he has so freely given us.

The greek word translated “have” in 1 John 5:13 has the following Strong’s meaning:

echō: A primary verb (including an alternate form σχέω scheō skheh'-o used in certain tenses only); to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession, ability, contiguity, relation or condition)

This greek word implies much more then to simply “have.” It means to “hold” in order to “have.” This agrees with what we have been saying… we are to “hold fast” our faith in Jesus, and to maintain our daily relationship with him, in order to continue to “hold” on to the eternal life granted to us.

Peter is another great example. He had his faith in Jesus, and believed with all his heart that he would never deny him. He fully believed, with the salvation granted him, that he would never fall. Yet as soon as he was asked if he was one of Jesus’ followers, he denied him three times (Luke 22:57-61). What if Peter would have died in his denial, or what if Peter would have never repented of his sin, would he have still been saved? Jesus answers:

Matthew 10:33
But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Some have felt 2 Timothy 2:13 teaches once saved always saved, but let’s read it with the verse just before it:

2 Timothy 2:12-13
(12) If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
(13) If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Verse 13 does not say he cannot deny us, but rather that he can not deny himself. Verse 12 confirms the exact same thing Matthew 10:33 says, that if we deny Jesus, he will deny us.

Peter’s denial would have lead him to his ruin, if he did not confess his sin and repent. This is why Christ prayed for him, not so that he not deny him (for he already knew he would deny him) but that he return to his faith and turn away from his sin.

Some have made the claim that Ephesians 2:8. teaches “once saved always saved” because of the greek word “este” translated “are.”

Ephesians 2:8
(8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

They say that the greek word “este” is in the perfect tense, and that “the perfect tense conveys a completed action.”

Let’s take a look within our Strong’s concordance together:

este: Second person plural present indicative of G1510; ye are: - be, have been, belong.

We see clearly from the greek definition provided for us by Strong’s greek concordance, that the word is rather in the “present tense.” This actually builds upon our case even more, for as we have shown above, we are saved in the “present tense” unless in the “future” we decide to forsake our Father like the prodigal son did!

We pray this study was helpful in your research.

2008-05-23T16:41:00.009-04:00

The Health Message in the Second Angels Message

Soon after the First Angel yells his message to the world, a Second Angel begins to anounce his message. Let’s read it together:

Revelation 14:8
(8) And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

We have discovered through the study of the Second Angel that “that great city,” named “Babylon,” is none other then the papacy (popes of the Roman Catholic Church) with her leaders, and her church/state nation (Vatican City/Rome). But there is more information about this Antichrist system and how is has a hold upon the other nations of the world. At another chapter of Revelation, chapter 18, we read of an Angel proclaiming a similar message:

Revelation 18:1-3
(1) And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
(2) And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
(3) For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

We notice that when the Second Angel proclaimed his message, it reads, “saying, Babylon is fallen…” But at the second time around, this Angel says it with force, crying “mightily with a strong voice,” as if the first time it was not heard. This message lights the entire globe, going out with speed and power to finish the work.

Verse 3 reads that it has made all nations drunk with the wrath of her fornication, and that the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her. We learned in our study of the Second Angel that this means that all nations have secretly shared in her traditions and beliefs. But we now read that, “the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.” The greek word translated “delicacies” literally means “luxury.” The antichrist system, we learned, truly is well able to cause others to become rich, for she herself is a rich church (Rev. 17:4). Through business translations with the “merchants of the earth” (Rev. 17:11), she has made all nations rich, and has glorified herself as the richest of them all. This system has such control over the affairs of the world that we read that the merchants of the earth, being so dependent upon her business with them (Rev. 17:11-19), wail bitterly because of her destruction which shall befall this religious system. But besides the merchandises that has made her rich, what else helped in her increase of riches? How else is she in control of the nations and merchants? Verse 23 of this same chapter reads:

Revelation 18:23
(23) And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

(Notice the two "snakes" circling what looks like an "angel." In the bible, a snake represents "Satan," who is an evil angel. See Revelation 12:9.)

All nations were deceived by her “sorceries.” But it does not end there. According to Strong’s Hebrew/Greek lexicon, the greek word translated “sorceries” here is “pharmakeia.” Used only three times in the Greek New Testament, the definition of this word according to Strong’s is as follows:

From G5332; medication (“pharmacy”), that is, (by extension) magic (literal or figurative): - sorcery, witchcraft.

This Greek word is where we get our English word “pharmacy” from. The primary definition is “medication.” Thayer’s Greek Definitions gives us the following meaning:

Thayer Definition:
1) the use or the administering of drugs
2) poisoning
3) sorcery, magical arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it
4) metaphorically the deceptions and seductions of idolatry

Strong’s also says that this Greek word comes from another Greek word, Strong’s number G5332. That Greek word is “pharmakeus” and the following is the definition:

From φάρμακον pharmakon (a drug, that is, spell giving potion); a druggist (“pharmacist”) or poisoner, that is, (by extension) a magician: - sorcerer.

This Greek word literally means, “a drug, that is, spell giving potion,” and “a druggist.” We get our English word “pharmacist” from this word. The Greek says that a pharmacist is a “poisoner.” The Dictionary almost says the same thing about the word Pharmacist:

American Heritage Dictionary
n. A person trained in pharmacy; a druggist.

These things are of such importantance that Paul lists one of them as something that will prevent people from entering into the kingdom of heaven. Notice:

Galatians 5:19-21
(19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
(20) Idolatry, witchcraft (“pharmakeia”), hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
(21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Above we find the Greek word “pharmakeia” translated “witchcraft,” and it is listed as one of the “sins” that will prevent people from going to heaven. The Greek word “pharmakeus” also has a similar, if not worst, end result:

Revelation 21:7-8
(7) He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
(8) But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers (“pharmakeus”), and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

This means that having anything to do with pharmakeia or pharmakeus, whether selling it or using it, will cause you to sin against your body and against the God of heaven. In essence when this Second Angel warns the world against Babylon, he is informing them that another one of the reasons why she is fallen is simply because of her use of pharmaceutical medication, and her taking of advantage and controlling the nations with it. It is easy to see why, then, the merchants of the earth wail because of her destruction, because if she is out of the way, the one who is supplying them with their drugs, how else will they get those medications which they are by now so addicted to?

The bible teaches that our bodies is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). The very reason why these two Greek words are translated “sorceries” and “witchcraft” is because such methods of healing originated with the pagan world.

(It is believed by the pagans that todays medicine symbol "Rx" is derived from the ancient symbol of the Eye of Horus. -Source)

When the Israelites entered the Promised Land, they were commanded NOT to learn the ways of the heathen (Psalm 106:35, Jeremiah 10:2), but they did anyway. As a result, many of them looked for doctors to be healed by their medications rather then to the Lord to be healed naturally. King Asa is one example:

2Chronicles 16:12-13
(12) And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.
(13) And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.

As a result of seeking the “physicians,” King Asa dies, and was buried with his fathers. But God’s faithful understood the purposes of God, like Isaiah the prophet.

When Hezekiah was severally sick, and dieing of boils, he sought the Lord for healing, and God granted his request. The instruction by God through his prophet was…

“Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover.” –Isaiah 38:21.

The will of God was in healing Hezekiah through natural remedies. Isaiah made, with a lump of figs, clay that would naturally heal his ulcers. Jesus also healed in a similar way:

John 9:6-7
(6) When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
(7) And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

Jesus used two natural ingredients to heal the blind man:

-soil from the earth
-water

Mixed together, including a touch of divine grace, the blind man was healed. Should we not follow the example of our savior?

God has provided natural ways to heal our bodies. His intentions were never to use the inventions of the enemy for healing. When we use such medications, we will, while helping one part of the body, damage numerous other parts, resulting in a lifetime of unhealthiness and dependency upon the pharmaceutical companies… which are all controlled by Papal Rome.

By having our bodies rely upon mans medications, we become addicted, and our minds are so pumped with drugs that it becomes difficult for us to discern between right and wrong. Studies reveal that our unhealthy lifestyles of eating and medications cause damage to the brain, including the frontal lobe, which is the seat of judgement and moral decision making. The Third Angel reminds us that we are to have the seal of God written “in” our foreheads. The law of God, wherein is contained his seal, is to becomes one with our minds, building a character like that of Christ’s. It is supposed to be written “in” our hearts, and “into” our minds (Hebrews 8:10). But if the decision making part of our minds, the frontal lobe, is not getting enough blood flow, and is thereby weak and sick, how, I ask, will you ever make the right moral decision to receive the Seal of God? You will end up with the Mark of the Beast no doubt, and this is why this Health Message is of such extreme importance, especially for those of us living in the last days.

2008-05-22T14:29:00.004-04:00

The First Angels Message

The chapter of Revelation 14 has three very important angel messages to the entire world. The word angel (greek: aggelos) means, “messenger.” This same Greek word is used to describe John the Baptist and his message as the “messenger” in Matthew 11:10. Before Jesus entered into Jerusalem, he sent people, his disciples, to Jerusalem first to make ready for him to be received there. Those he sent were “messengers” or as the Greek implies, “aggelos” because they bore a message, which was to make way for the entrance of messiah – John 9:52. Therefore, these angels have messages for us all.

What is the message of the First Angel? It is four-fold:

“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach on the earth, and to every nation, kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, (1) Fear God, and (2) give glory to him; for the hour of (3) his judgment is come: (4) worship him that made heaven and earth and the sea, and the fountains of water.” Rev. 14:6-7

Let’s examine this:

(1) Fear God:

To fear God means to seek his wisdom and knowledge by the study of his words, and also to obey his commandments:

Proverbs 2:1-5
(1) My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
(2) So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
(3) Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
(4) If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
(5) Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God

Eccl. 12:13
(13) Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

(2) Give him glory:

To truly give God glory is by believeing in, and accepting Jesus Christ as your personal saviour:

Colossians 1:27
(27) To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

(3) His Judgment is come:

The bible teaches all will go through a judgment; believers are no exception:

1Peter 4:17
(17) For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Psalm 50:4
(4) He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people

Psalm 135:14
(14) For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.

Eccl. 3:17
(17) I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

This angel's message is very important... because it takes place at a time when God is judging the world. And since these messages are last days messages, this means that all are going through a judgment today.

(4) Worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea:

We notice that this angel quotes from a simular passage elsewhere in the bible. Lets read it together:

“Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God… for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, but rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hollowed it.” Exodus 20:8-11

The Sabbath was always a "sign" between God and his people (Ezekiel 20:20 - click HERE for more on this sign) The commandment says, “in six days the Lord made heaven and earth and the sea.” The Sabbath commandment calls God the “creator” of all things, and in keeping it you claim to worship that creator. Without the Sabbath commandment the moral law of Ten Commandments could be reffering to any god.

2008-05-22T14:27:00.000-04:00

The Kingdom of Christ Established

2008-05-22T14:23:00.002-04:00

Identifying the Antichrist Part 2

Contact us if you want to hand this DVD out in your community.

2008-05-22T14:20:00.005-04:00

Identifying the Antichrist Part 1

Part1:

Part 2:

Contact us for a more updated version of this video, including more information and more graphics.

2008-05-22T13:57:00.002-04:00

Response to Arguments Against the Health Message

The following are a few verses used by the critics to debunk our health message. If there is a verse you do not see here and would like a response, contact us!

Taken from: The Call to Return to Eden by Edwin M. Cotto

-Matthew 15:11: “Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.”

By simply reading the whole chapter, one will notice that these verses are more about eating with unwashed hands then on just eating. Jesus’ final words on the subject make this clear:

“These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.” -Matthew 15:20.

When Jesus voiced verse 11, he was speaking about the “heart” –verse 18-19. Jesus explains how from the heart come, among other sins, evil thoughts. If a person, for example, teaches that it’s okay to eat pork when the bible says not to (Leviticus 11:7; Isaiah 66:17), this is contrary to God’s scriptures and is therefore an “evil thought” proceeding from his heart. Such a person will fall into the category of the people that Jesus was speaking about.

Conclusion: The issue here is not on eating, but on eating with unwashed hands. Jesus did not teach with verse 11 that it is ok to eat meat or pork, neither did he teach that it’s ok to eat with unwashed hands, for Jesus wouldn’t teach such a thing. What if the person eating with unwashed hands just finished handling a dead animal of some kind? Such a person could contract a fatal illness, and we can place the blame on Jesus’ words. On the contrary, Jesus was all for cleanliness. Jesus was a Jew, and cleanliness was a part of Jewish law. Jesus rather taught with these words to focus more upon the matters of the heart, which of course are of far greater importance.

-1 Timothy 5:23: “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.”

Some claim that with this verse, we are allowed to drink “even a little” wine. Yet a closer examination of this verse reveals that this is not so. The verse says to drink the “little wine” for “thy stomach’s sake.” Alcohol (or liquor) will not help our stomachs; rather, it damages it, along with the liver. The verse also says, “… and thine often infirmities.” The word “infirmities” is the Greek word “astheneia” which means “weakness.” This same Greek word is translated “diseases” in Acts 28:9 and “sickness” in John 11:4. Alcohol is known for causing weakness of the liver over years of consumption and all sorts of diseases. Are we suggesting that Paul is saying to drink something that causes weakness as a remedy for weakness? The obvious conclusion then, is that Paul is speaking of “wine” as in fruit juices. The many nutrients and vitamins in fruit juices are known for healing various diseases in the stomach and liver.

Numerous examples of people chosen by God in the bible do not drink wine at all. Ill list two examples:

1) “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous.” -1Timothy 3:1-3.

The words, “given to wine” is translated from the Greek word “paroinos” meaning “near wine” according to Strong’s Concordance. In other words, it is literally meaning, “not even near wine.” The man or women desiring to work in the Lord’s work will not even get near any form of alcohol.

2) “For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.” -Luke 1:15-16.

John the Baptist was fit to work in the Lord’s work, not only because he was filled with the Holy Spirit from his mothers womb, but also because he never distressed the Holy Spirit by filling his body (which is the temple of the Holy Spirit -1 Corinthians 6:19; 3:16-17) with disease causing toxins like wine. Don’t you desire to work for the Lord?

Conclusion: Paul here is not speaking about drinking wine with alcohol because alcohol will not help relieve illness nor will it benefit the stomach in any way. Rather, he is speaking about fruit juices like grape juice.

-1 Timothy 4:1-5: “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving.”

Let’s examine each verse one by one:

(verse 1)
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

(verse 2)
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

(verse 3)
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

Some have felt that this is speaking about the Adventist church, but note that Paul is saying that the individuals teaching to abstain from meats also teach not to marry. The Adventist church does not forbid to marriage. The Roman Catholic church does however forbid eating foods on certain of its holiday celebrations and does forbid marriage through its institutions of the nuns and priests.

Notice also that the Greek word translated “meats” in this verse is “broma” which simply means “foods.” When the bible is speaking about flesh foods, it translates it “flesh” – see for example Romans 14:21. This is not speaking about meat as food, but of non-meat foods. Further evidence of this is seen in the rest of this verse which reads… “which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving.” What did God create to be received (or eaten) with thanksgiving? It was natural foods, not flesh meat (Genesis 1:29). Flesh meat was merely “allowed” either because circumstances made it impossible to eat vegetables, like with Noah’s case after the flood when all vegetation was destroyed, or because of the ignorance of the children of Israel who complained so much that God allowed clean meats to be eating, yet with the warning that they would die, and they did (Numbers 11:33). Thayer’s Greek Definition defines “broma” as “that which is eaten, food.” Normally this word is used in general of foods (plural). But here we have added information about this broma, that God created it to be received with thanksgiving. Animals were not created to be eaten, but natural foods were.

(verse 4)
For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

Notice first, that it says “creature” and not “animal” or “beasts.” There are three other Greek words that are translated “beasts” that literally mean an “animal.” These Greek words are ktenos, therion and zoon. None of these are used in this verse. According to Strong’s Greek definition, the word translated “creature” here simply means “a formation, a produce.” Thayer’s Greek Definition has two meanings for this word:

Thayer Definition:

1) thing founded
2) created thing

We learned with verse 3 that that “thing founded” that God created to be received, or eaten was natural foods, and not animal meat.

If our critics interpret this word to mean flesh, they will run into the following two problems:

It will include all types of insects!

If “creature” hear means anything other then natural products of plants, they will be forced to include insects in their reasoning. But, we’re sure they wouldn’t dare say that a spider was created to be eaten; that it is “good and not to be refused.” Shall we add some worm to that plate as well?

It will include THEM!

This word “creature” can also include human being. Notice the following verses:

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” -Mark 16:15.

“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” James 1:18

Would our critics suggest that Paul was advocating cannibalism?

The only logical conclusion is that Paul is talking about those who would forbid the eating of foods that God originally created for our diet.

(verse 5)
For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

This word “sanctified” in the Greek means to “make holy.” Notice that it says it is sanctified by “the word of God” and by “prayer,” not just prayer. This means that the prayer will have to agree with what the word of God says in regards to that food! Where in the word of God does it teach pork can be made holy for food? Or humans for food? In other words, we are not to just pray over a, lets say, a venomous spider to then then eat it, because eating a venomous spider, mosquito or any type of forbidden insect is condemned “by the word of God” – Leviticus 11:23. Our prayer should rather be that God sanctify the “broma” of natural foods which is in accordance with the proper diet God wants us to have.

God does in fact want his people to return to the original plan he had for mankind with Adam and Eve. He wants our entire being to be changed, not just mentally, but physically as well. Eating foods that we should not being has been shown to affect the mind in such a way that it can dilute even our decision making. This is why Paul says to protect the body, because it is “the temple of the Holy Spirit” -1 Cor. 3:16-17. The Holy Spirit is the one helping us make right decisions, and by mistreating our bodies with unhealthy foods, we can end up closing our understandings to truths the Spirit might want to show us. Who can deny that it is more difficult for a sick person to study and rightly divide the word of God then for a healthy person? Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were children, “in whom was no blemish.” They were, “skillful in wisdom, and cussing in knowledge.” –Daniel 1:4. What did they eat? Natural foods. They refused to eat the filth upon the king’s plate, but told him to prove them for ten days as they eat only vegetables. The result? “Their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh then all the children which did eat the portion of the kings meat.” -Daniel 1:15.

Conclusion: The warning in verse 3 is against groups who forbid marriage and to abstain from “foods,” not just flesh meat. Any act (such as eating certain things) that is against the “word of God” is not sanctified simply by prayer. It must be in agreement with Gods word as well.

-Genesis 9:3: “Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.”

Time and place must be considered when studying God’s word. At this time, the flood had just ended, and Noah had just exited the Ark. We are not told that there was vegetation, but rather that the earth was “dry” – Genesis 8:13-14. There was much food taken into the Ark for him, his family and the animals to eat, some of which might have been eaten after they stepped out. Yet because this could run out, and the earth was simply “dry,” God provided a way for Noah and his family to survive. This is when he told them to eat of “every moving thing that liveth.” The only reason God told him he can eat animals at this time was so that they could survive:

“Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.” -Genesis 7:3.

God obviously didn’t intend for this practice to last forever among his people, since years after he showed how he did not desire for his people to eat flesh meat at all (Leviticus 11:13, 33).

Another thought in regards to unclean animals is that God did not intend for Noah and his family to eat these, since of these sorts only two of each kind were to enter the Ark (Genesis 7:2). This means that if Noah and his family spent their time eating unclean animals like pork, their wouldn’t be pork today since there were only two pigs after the flood. Another reason why God never intended for Noah and his family to eat the unclean animals at this time, was because God has simply never allowed it. Even later when the Hebrews complained and begged for flesh meat, God set laws on not eating unclean animals (Leviticus 11).

Conclusion: God only allowed Noah and his family to eat animals after the flood because the flood destroyed all vegetable life on the earth, leaving it “dry;” so in order to survive God allowed the meat eating. Even though God allowed it here, he still allowed it with exceptions. One of them was to not eat the unclean animals, simply because there were very little of them (Genesis 7:2) and they are needed to cleanse the earth. Today we are not living in the condition Noah’s time was after the waters destroyed everything. There is plenty of vegetable’s to go around: thus animal eating is not needed for survival.

-Acts 10:11-15: “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.”

Apparently this was a “vision” Peter had (verse 17). We need to study to understand what a vision actually means. If not, we run into numerous problems. For example, John had visions of a giant beast with ten horns and seven heads (Revelation 17:3). Daniel had a vision of a Lion with wings (Daniel 7:4). Are we to take visions literally? No, symbols in visions always symbolize something. Let’s examine the vision Peter had:

(Act 10:10)
And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

(verse 11)
And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

(verse 12)
Wherein were all manner of four footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

(verse 13)
And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

(verse 14)
But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

Take note first, that Peter’s concerned in regards to eating unclean meats proves that Jesus did not abolish the animal laws as some would say. Peter, who was by birth a Jew, was among the group of disciples they later called “Christians” – Acts 11:26. Yet since he first began to follow Christ he was a Christian since the very word “Christian” simply means “a follower of Christ.” Peter, the Christian, did not believe these health laws were abolished at the cross.

(verse 15)
And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

(verse 16)
This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

After this took place “thrice” which means “three times,” the vessel was taken back to where it came from, and Peter did not eat the unclean animals. Yet, why did this take place three times? Notice, that as soon as the vision ended, “three” men came to see Peter (verse 19). These three men then took Peter to a centurion man named Cornelius (verse 22-23) who was not of the Jewish nation, but was instead Italian (verse 1). When Peter arrives at Cornelius’s home, he finds many people there (verse 27). Apparently these people were not Jews, because Peter then says in verse 28 that it was not customary for Jews to gather together with people of other nations. The three men sent by Cornelius to Peter must have therefore also been non-Jews. Read closely Peters own words:

“And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” -Act 10:28.

It appears that it was when Peter saw this company of non-Jews that he finally understood the vision he had previously seen. The animals he saw in the visions were “unclean” animals, yet Peter gives us the clear understanding that God was talking to him about “man” as verse 28 says; that it, people outside the camp of Israel. Peter then concludes:

“…of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.” Acts 10:24.

Peter further declares:

“In every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” -Act 10:35.

After Peter’s powerful sermon, the Holy Spirit, which fell upon the Jewish disciples at first (Acts 2:4) now fell upon the Gentiles:

“And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.” -Act 10:45.

Clearly, the whole point of the vision Peter had, was not on eating meat or unclean meat, but rather about taking the gospel news to “all the world” and to “every creature” –Mark 16:15, even to non-Jews.

Conclusion: This chapter teaches how the gospel Peter was preaching to the Jews first, who were common to him, must now be preached among the Gentiles, who were un-common or unclean to Jews. There is no indication that God was trying to teach Peter that he was now allowed to eat anything he’d like. By simply reading further on into the chapter, one can see that this is not the case at all. Peter, the Christian, still believed in the health laws even after the ascension of Christ to heaven.

... more coming soon!

2008-05-22T13:55:00.000-04:00

Who Kept The Sabbath?
-An outline of Sabbath keepers from Genesis to Revelation-

The following list will share how from the very beginning the Sabbath has been kept and observed as a sanctified day:

God Himself kept the Sabbath day:

Genesis 2:1-3
(1) Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
(2) And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
(3) And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

Adam and Eve kept the Sabbath:

Mark 2:27
(27) And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

Note: The Sabbath was made “for man” and when the Sabbath first came into the picture (Genesis 2:1-3) the only man alive then was Adam and his wife Eve. Therefore, the Sabbath was made for them, and for their offspring.

Cain and Abel kept the Sabbath:

Genesis 4:1-8
(1) And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
(2) And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
(3) And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
(4) And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
(5) But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
(6) And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
(7) If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
(8) And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Note: Cain “slew” his brother Abel, therefore committing a sin, and God told him in verse 7 that “sin lieth at the door.” Now the definition of sin “is the transgression of the law.” – 1 John 3:4. And every law, the 4th, the 5th, the 10, the 6th, etc, are all equal and are all to be treated the same according to James 2:10-11. In Romans 4:15 we also read that, “where no law is, there is no transgression.” Therefore, if all the laws must be together, and one cant be violated without violating the other, when Cain killed Abel, he broke the entire law, including the Sabbath law, for where there is no law, there is no transgression, yet since there was sin in the time of Cain and Abel, the law was also there, for one law has can not exist without the other.

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob kept the Sabbath:

Genesis 26:5
(5) Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

Note: Many would be surprised to learn that faithful Abraham was also a Sabbath keeper. The above verse states that he obeyed God and kept his commandments. Now lets read some more about the commandments that Abraham kept:

1 Chronicles 16:15-17
(15) Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations;
(16) Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac;
(17) And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant.

Some believe the covenant God made with Abraham was circumcision, but a closer look reveals this was not the covenant, but the “sign” of that covenant:

Genesis 17:7-11
(7) And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
(8) And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.
(9) And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.
(10) This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
(11) And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

Notice above that circumcision was to be a token (or sign) “of the covenant.” In 1 Chronicles 16, verse 17, we read that the same covenant God made with Abraham was “the same” he made with “Israel for an everlasting covenant. What was the covenant he made with Israel?

Deuteronomy 4:13
(13) And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.

Therefore, since the covenant made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was the Ten Commandments, which included the Sabbath, this means they were all Sabbath keepers.

Joseph kept the Sabbath:

Genesis 39:7-9
(7) And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
(8) But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
(9) There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

Note: Joseph understood that committing adultery was a commandment of God. Since all the law is connected (James 2:10-11) and he did not want to violate the 7th commandment, it follows that he would not have wanted to also violate the 4th commandment, the Sabbath, since they has always existed together, and were all part of that same covenant God made with Abraham.

King David observed the Sabbath:

Psalm 92:1-3
(1) A Psalm or Song for the sabbath day. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:
(2) To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,
(3) Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.

Note: King David, although a sinner, was such a faithful Sabbath keeper he even dedicated one of his Psalms for the Sabbath.

Jesus Christ kept the Sabbath:

Luke 4:16
(16) And he came to Nazareth, where he [Jesus Christ] had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

Note: There are three recorded instances where we read that Jesus observed the Sabbath. First, as creator of this world (John 1:3) Jesus observed it in the beginning (Genesis 2:1-3), he observed it during his lifetime (Luke 4:16) and even observed it while in the grave (Luke 23:53-56, 24:1-3) showing that from the beginning of time until the day following his death no change has taken place in the Sabbath. It was neither changed, nor abolished. Jesus was a faithful Sabbath keeper before any ceremonial law ever existed, and even after the ceremonial law has been done away with. True followers of Christ are to "walk even as he walked" - 1 John 2:6.

Joseph of Arimathea kept the Sabbath:

Luke 23:50-56
(50) And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
(51) (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
(52) This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
(53) And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
(54) And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
(55) And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
(56) And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses kept the Sabbath:

Mark 15:47
(47) And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

Note: According to the context of Mark 15:40-47, these women were with Joseph of Arimathea when he “rested the sabbath day.” Compare with Luke 23:50-56.

Paul and Barnabas kept the Sabbath:

Act 13:14
(14) But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

Note: They did not only go to the church simply to witness to the Jews. This was Paul’s “manner” – Acts 17:2.

Luke the Physician kept the Sabbath:

Act 16:13
(13) And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

Note: Luke, the author of Acts, used the word “we” to indicate that he was also among those who kept the Sabbath by the river side.

Christians in the Dark Ages kept the Sabbath:

Matthew 24:20
(20) But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

Note: Jesus prophesied that those fleeing from the great tribulation would be faithful Sabbath keepers.

The Sabbath is kept today:

By church such as the Seventh Day Adventists, Seventh Day Baptists, Seventh Day Pentecostals, Church of God Seventh Day, and more.

Finally, the Sabbath will be kept in the New Heavens and the New Earth:

Isaiah 66:22-23
(22) For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
(23) And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

2008-05-22T13:51:00.001-04:00

The Sabbath in Genesis

by Edwin M. Cotto

It has been argued many times that neither the Sabbath commandment nor Sabbath observance is found anywhere in the Old Testament book of Genesis. That the same Hebrew word “shabbath” as found in the fourth commandment (Exodus 20:8) is no where to be found therein and that therefore because of this, the Sabbath is completely absent from the book of Genesis. Since this is true, it has been argued that the first appearance of the Sabbath is in Exodus 16 as a commandment, and in Exodus 20 as part of the moral law. Yet the truth about the Sabbath’s existence in Genesis has been acknowledged by both Sabbath-Keepers and non-Sabath-Keepers alike. So before examining the facts that make this truth clear, we will start with…

The commandment that points us back to creation week.

Exodus 20:8-11
(8) Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
(9) Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
(10) But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
(11) For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

The question, “Is the Sabbath in Genesis?” is fully answered right here in the fourth commandment itself. Notice in Genesis that God blessed the seventh day:

Genesis 2:3
And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

Now when we return to the commandment, verse 10 reads:

Exodus 20:10
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God

The fourth commandment says God blessed the seventh day, and then says that the seventh day “is the sabbath” day. The words “is the” makes it ever clear that the seventh day of Genesis 2:3 is the same seventh day of the fourth commandment, which God himself says that that is the “sabbath” day.

If there is any doubt, God repeats it one more time in the Decalogue:

Exodus 20:11
For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Again, the “seventh day” was the day he “blessed” which he names as the “sabbath day.” And in case we are not sure of which day this was, God specifies it here by saying that it was the day after he made the “heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is…” which day is the seventh day of creation (Genesis 2:2-3). The question, therefore, “Is the Sabbath day mentioned anywhere in the book of Genesis?” is fully answered by the Almighty himself, because the Hebrew word “shabbath” translated “sabbath” in Exodus 20:11 is, says YHWH himself, the “seventh day” mentioned in Genesis 2:1-3. If the seventh day of Genesis 2:1-3 is not connected to the Sabbath day of Exodus 20:8-11, why did Moses make such a connection? The answer is clear, and stands un refuted: because the seventh day of creation week is the sabbath day of the moral Law.

Is there therefore now any need to search for the Sabbath in the book of Genesis? Is not the answer the Almighty gave through, “thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking” (Exodus 20:18) in the fourth commandment not enough? Says the Psalmist, “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” -Psalm 119:89. How easy and clear is this fact that even a babe can comprehend it! Yet, those against the “sabbath of the Lord” continue to urge for proof of the Sabbath within the book of Genesis only, so we move on to show that its existence is made evident in Genesis 2:1-3 by Moses’ use of the words…

Blessed and Sanctified.

Says the Patriarch:

Genesis 2:1-3
(1) Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
(2) And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
(3) And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

Take note that after “the heavens and the earth were finished” –verse 1, God still had one more work to get done on the seventh day. The beginning of verse 2 reads, “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made…” One may ask, “What other work did God do on the seventh day and does this not violate it as a day of rest?” We answer, no, because the work he did on the seventh day was not secular work, for verse one already tells us that the heavens and the earth were already “finished.” The work he did on the seventh day is answered in verse 3:

“And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” –verse 3.

Rather then being a secular work, God performed a spiritual work upon the seventh day… he “blessed” and “sanctified” it.

That he “blessed” it is significant, because the bible teaches that whatever the Lord blesses, it is blessed forever. David, the servant of the Lord, understood very well that when God blesses something it will forever be blessed when he said:

1 Chronicles 17:27.
(27) Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest, O LORD, and it shall be blessed for ever.

Even after the entrance sin, the Sabbath remains blessed:

Exodus 20:11
(11) For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Once again we find a connection between the seventh day of Genesis and the Sabbath day of Exodus 20:8-11. Moses said clearly that it was the “seventh day” that the Lord “blessed,” because that in it he had “rested.” Will our opponents continue to claim that the sabbath of the commandment is not the seventh day of Genesis 2:1-3 when the word of God itself shows that the blessing of the seventh day of creation week continued on till the commandment was given?

Now, if the Sabbath was instituted as a temporary institution, as some would have us believe, why then did the Lord bless it? Is it not clear from the above verse in 1 Chronicles 17:27 that what the Lord blesses is blessed forever? How, if the Sabbath has been abolished, is the Sabbath still blessed, seeing it no longer exists, and no one no longer experiences it? Ponder on this for a moment before continuing. The very fact that it was blessed by God himself is sufficient enough to show how perpetual it is. And we know that this is true, and that king David did not lie, because we find the existence of the seventh day Sabbath, still blessed, in the “new heaven and the new earth” –Isaiah 66:23. The prophet Isaiah’s words are therefore proof that indeed what God blesses… “shall be blessed for ever.”

The reason why he blessed the seventh day but did not bless the previous six days was because he had a special purpose for the seventh day, as will now be seen by his use of the word “sanctified.”

The word “sanctified” is used numerous times in the Old Testament, and is a word used in public settings, either of proclamations or dedications. The English word “sanctified” according to Miriam-Webster’s Dictionary means:

1) Sanctified: 1. Made holy; consecrated; set apart for sacred services.

According to Brown Driver Brigg’s Hebrew definitions, the Hebrew word “qadash” translated “sanctified” means:

1) to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate, to be set apart, be consecrated.

Strong’s Hebrew/Greek concordance says “qadash” means:
1) A primitive root; to be (causatively make, pronounce or observe as) clean.

And the Septuagint (LXX), which is the Greek translation of the Old Testament, uses the word “hagiazō” which means:

1) to make holy, that is, (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate: - hallow, be holy, sanctify.

In other words, to “sanctify” means to, “pronounce, dedicate, to consecrate, be set apart for holy use.” A better understanding of this word can be found in its usage throughout the Old Testament.

Notice the following verse:

Exodus 13:1-2
(1) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(2) Sanctify [qadash] unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.

Notice the word here is used in the context of sanctifying, or dedicating “all” the firstborn. It was announced by God that all the children be sanctified unto him, and this demanded “all” the people to be involved, for they had to obey the Lord and bring in their children for dedication. All were to know, that God was the owner of every firstborn, whether of man or beast. Note also this next verse:

2 Kings 10:20
(20) And Jehu said, Proclaim [qadash] a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it.

When used here in the context of proclaiming a solemn feast, “all” the Baal worshipers of Israel were to be informed of this event and to attend it. One more verse:

Numbers 20:12
And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify [qadash] me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

According to this verse, Moses and Aaron were to sanctify God “in the eyes of the children of Israel.”

So we see that when the word “qadash” is used, it is to publicly announce or proclaim that something is set apart for holy use. All those involved were to be made aware of this announcement. Now when God “sanctified” the seventh day and set it apart as a holy day for holy use, who was he proclaiming this to? To who was he announcing that this day was to be holy and set apart? It must have only been to those alive upon the earth at that moment, Adam and Eve. It was not for those of other worlds, if there were any at that time. Neither was it for the angels of heaven for these did not live on the earth and could therefore not experience the six day cycle of the earth. Only Adam and Eve were alive then, and to them only was it announced that the seventh day was set apart for holy use.

J.N. Andrews in “History of the Sabbath,” in comparing Exodus 19:23 with Exodus 19:12, makes the following analysis:

“But the most striking illustration of the meaning of this word may be found in the record of the sanctification of Mount Sinai. When God was about to speak the ten commandments in the hearing of all Israel, he sent Moses down from the top of Mount Sinai to restrain the people from touching the mount. "And Moses said unto the Lord, The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it." Turning back to the verse where God gave this charge to Moses, we read: "And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount or touch the border of it." Hence to sanctify the mount was to command the people not to touch even the border of it; for God was about to descend in majesty upon it. In other words, to sanctify or set apart to a holy use Mount Sinai, was to tell the people that God would have them treat the mountain as sacred to himself. And thus also to sanctify the rest-day of the Lord was to tell Adam that he should treat the day as holy to the Lord.The declaration, "God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it," is not indeed a commandment for the observance of that day; but it is the record that such a precept was given to Adam.” –History of the Sabbath, ch. 2, p. 7. emphasis ours.

It is no wonder that Jesus later says, “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath.” –Mark 2:27. Many quote this to say that they were not made for the Sabbath, and they are absolutely right, you were not made for the Sabbath, the Sabbath was made for you! This is why God publicly announced to Adam and Eve that the seventh day was holy and set apart for use… for “their” holy use, for they were the only ones alive upon the earth at that time to hear this proclamation. If it was not made for them, and they did not heed this as a command to obey, then God’s sanctifying it was useless. Man was given work to do (Genesis 2:15), yet his work was to be done only for six working days, for upon the seventh day, already blessed and set apart, was for his to use as sacred time with the Lord without secular interruption.

We have seen how God himself says that the seventh day of Genesis 2:1-3 is the Sabbath day mentioned in Exodus 20:8-11. We have also seen that God’s “sanctifying” of the seventh day was an indication that Adam and Eve were to make use of that holy day. We now want to show you how that between the seventh day of Genesis 2:1-3 and the fourth commandment of Exodus 20:8-11 there is…

A connection between Hebrews words.

The word “rested” in Genesis 2:2 is the translation of the Hebrew word “shabath” and is often used in the Old Testament within the context of “ceasing” or “resting.” When God “rested” on the seventh day, he “ceased” from all his labor which he had performed in the previous six days. Note the two definitions given for this Hebrew word by Brown Driver Briggs:

1) to cease, desist, rest
2) 2) (Qal) to keep or observe the sabbath

First and formost it means to “cease, desist, rest,” but then we find it can also mean to “keep or observe the sabbath,” because to keep the Sabbath means to cease from your own labor and rest upon the seventh day.

The commandment contains another word:

Exodus 20:11
(11) For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath [shabbath] day, and hallowed it.

The Hebrew word translated “sabbath” in the fourth commandment is “shabbath” and is, says Strong’s Hebrew/Greek concordance, “intensive of ‘shabath.’ Already we find a connection between Hebrew words. Now that we have learned how closely related Genesis 2:1-3 is to Exodus 20:8-11, when we read in Genesis that God “rested on the seventh day” he was in essence “keeping the Sabbath day.” So while the Hebrew word “shabbath” is not found in Genesis, the Hebrew word “shabath” is, and its close connection and nearly same meaning is but more proof that a “sabbath day” rest is what is intended in Genesis 2:1-3.

But our critics insist that there is no Sabbath in Genesis 2:1-3, despite all the evidence already presented to the contrary. From every corner, this truth is attacked, and when all else fails, they use the “missing evidence” argument, not knowing that with this argument the attack turns right around to them as the ones missing the evidence. Such a “missing evidence” argument is when they say that…

The phrase “evening and morning” is missing from the seventh day.

Our opponents claim that the phrase “evening and morning” is the identifying mark of the ending of the creation of the days in Genesis 1. Each day, after the creation which took place upon that day, these words were spoken…

“… And it was evening and morning, the first day.”

“… And it was evening and morning, the second day.”

“… And it was evening and morning, the third day.”

Etc.

Upon reaching the seventh day, this phrase is absent. So it is claimed that, because this phrase is absent from the seventh day, a phrase which identifies the ending of the day and beginning of the next day, that the seventh day was meant to continue on forever without ending. A cute thought indeed, but does this really mean that seventh day was to be unending? Let’s examine the facts:

Fact #1: Set apart.

Above we have learned that God “sanctified” the seventh day. We learned that when he “sanctified” it he was in essence “setting it apart” for holy use. If the seventh day was to continue on throughout eternity, how were those alive to hear this proclamation of a “set apart” day to actually set it apart? And does not the very words “set apart” even hint to our opponents that he set it apart from the previous days, just as the first day was set apart from the second day, and second day from the third day, and so forth? The difference, however, with those other days and the seventh day, is that it was set apart for “holy use” as was shown above.

Fact #2: The “yome.”

We ask our opponents: What was the result of the “evening and morning?” Their own verses answers this question:

Genesis 1:5
And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

“… And it was evening and morning, the first day.”

“… And it was evening and morning, the second day.”

“… And it was evening and morning, the third day.”

Etc.

Take note that after every time the phase is used, it results in a “day.” After the evening morning of the second day, we get another “day.” After the evening and morning of the third day, we again get another “day.” The Hebrew word translated “day” is the Hebrew word “yom,” and is “defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1,” says Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew definition. If the combination of the “evening and morning” make up the “yom” or day, take note, that this same word “yom” is also used in reference to the seventh day:

Genesis 2:2-3
(2) And on the seventh day [yom] God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day [yom] from all his work which he had made.
(3) And God blessed the seventh day [yom], and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

Therefore, our opponents must remain consistent with their logic. If the six days prior to the seventh have an ending, then so does the seventh day, which also uses the same resulting hebrew word “yom.”

Fact #3: A “week” in heaven.

The most disturbing verse in the bible for our critics is one they have no choice but to acknowledge. They have tried their very best; everywhere from saying it is all symbolic to saying that it is only applicable to the past. Some have gone to the extreme to, after finding no other way to escape this reality, accuse us of claiming or somehow supporting new moon observance. Yet no matter what the claim might be, the following verse is clear even to the eyes of a child, and is piercing through the hearts of the sabbaths most valiant opponents. These verses are found in book of the ancient prophet Isaiah:

Isaiah 66:22-23
(22) For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
(23) And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

The argument is brought forth, that Isaiah is simply saying that in the New Earth there will be constant worship, from week to week, and from month to month. Little to they realize, that by such a claim they actually debunk their own reasoning of the seventh day of Genesis 2:2-3. Let me explain.

If the “sabbath to sabbath” reference in Isaiah 23 is merely to show how worship will be “from week to week” one has to admit that a week necessitates the seventh day, for without the seventh day, there could not logically be a “week.” A week consists of “seven” days, and as much as there has to be a first day to begin a week, there must also be a seventh day to end it. If therefore there will be a “week to week” worshiping of God in the New Earth, the seventh day of Genesis 2:2-3 was not a perpetual day, because our opponents claim that this supposed “perpetual day” will be restored when the saints go to heaven and sin if finally destroyed. How will this perpetual rest, or seventh day be restored in the New Earth as they claim, if Isaiah 66:23 clearly says that we will worship from one week to the next? No doubt we will enter into the rest of the true heavenly Canaan, as taught in Hebrews 3 and 4, but the weekly rest, the memorial of God’s creation, will continue from week to week, only this time it will be a memorial of God’s “new” creation of the heavens and earth, for, says the apostle, “I saw a new heaven and a new earth… I make all things new.” Revelation 21:1-5.

This verse is very difficult for anti-Sabbatarians to deal with. If Isaiah is depicting an event not to far from his time, but before the time of Christ, then why does he reference the same “new heaven and new earth” that John the Revelator cites? And if that is symbolic, John’s must also be symbolic, and there will not really be a new heaven or new earth.

The accusation is hurled at us, that if it all literal (and we don’t subscribe to the entire chapter being literal), then there will be carcasses in the new earth according to verse 24. But this does not move us, for the verse says that they “will go forth, and look upon the carcasses…” and we know that this will literally take place, for as New Jerusalem descends from heaven, God destroys the wicked (Revelation 20:9) and those inside the city walls will obviously be able to look outward at the transpiring event. This does not mean that their dead bodies will abide there forever, for the very word “carcasses” implies a “decaying body” that will soon disappear, as Malachi alludes to, “ye shall tread down the wicked, and they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet.” Malachi 4:3.

Both the “it is all literal” and the “it is all symbolic” positions are faulty, which is why we take up the “double application” position of this chapter.

Fact # 4: Missing evidence

In light of the above facts, the claim that seventh day was instituted to be a perpetual day of rest is based upon missing evidence. The reason why the phrase” evening and morning” was not included seems obvious by Moses’ use of the words “blessed” and “sanctified” which set the record strait that this was a day set apart for holy use. By claiming the seventh day is also a “yom” as was the previous days, Moses clearly showed that the seventh day was to also be a literal 24 hour period as was the other six days. The burden of proof lies on the part of our opponents to show that the seventh day was to be a perpetual day of rest. Not one verse in the entire bible even suggests that the seventh day was to be a perpetual day. Missing evidence is not evidence at all. But we ask, did Adam and Eve think they were living in a perpetual seventh day rest? Many would be surprised to learn that Adam and Eve were well aware of the seventh “yom” rest, because by sinning through eating that fruit…

Adam and Eve essentially broke the Sabbath commandment.

That might be hard to swallow, and hard to believe, but, readers, let the word of God be, “quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword,” piercing, “even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit” –Hebrews 4:12. Let us face the facts and see clearly that when James said that when we break even one of the commandments we have in essence broken them all (James 2:10), he was not lying. Now the Law of God, says the Psalmist, is “perfect” –Psalm 19:7. It is also “holy” and perfectly “just” –Romans 7:12. Paul also says that where ever there is sin, there must also be a law, for “where no law is, there is no transgression” – Romans 4:15. He clearly said that, “by the law is the knowledge of sin” –Romans 3:20. So, when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, how did they know they actually sinned? Paul answer’s that we have knowledge of sin by “the law.” There must have therefore been a law in place when Adam and Eve sinned, for they clearly acknowledged their sin (Genesis 3:2, 3, 7). What law was this? Let us return to Genesis:

Genesis 2:17
(17) But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

The law was not to eat of this tree. But did it stop there? What was the problem with eating a fruit? Is there a particular sin in eating a fruit? Of course not, the problem was within their hearts. To go against God’s wishes was to violate his law and set yourself over his will for your life. It went much deeper then merely eating a fruit, for there is no perticular sin in eating a fruit. There was actually an even bigger law she violated:

Genesis 3:6
(6) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

She violated the 10 commandments, because she "lusted" after that which God forbade. For those who that think this is not a violation of the 10 Commandments, beloved, take a closer look:

Genesis 3:6
(6) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Now compare her actions with the following commandment:

Exodus 20:17
(17) Thou shalt not covet

Eve took a “look” at the tree, and entertained the thought that God might just be wrong. She felt that it “was pleasant to the eyes,” and “a tree to be desired to make one wise.” Was not God’s counsel not wise enough? Clearly, she violated the 10th commandment not to covet, for she “coveted” that fruit. Yet, this isn’t the only commandment she broke. By placing herself over God’s law, she elevated “self” over God himself, in this way she broke the first commandment, for anything that is first in our lives besides God is our god, especially “self.”

Now, above we read that James teaches that when we break one we have broken them all. Each and every one of the 10 Commandments law are “perfect” and holy.” The fact that the law is “perfect” shows it has always existed together, for why would a perfect law need another law added to it after words, since it is already perfect? (David clearly said the law is perfect in Psalms 19:3, so the law that was “added” in Galatians 3 was not added because this law was not perfect, it was added “because of transgression” –verse 19.) Each of the 10 Commandments have always existed together, and never apart, as James said:

James 2:11
For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

In other words, if you break even one of the commandments, you have broken the entire law, and since the law has always existed together, for it is perfect, and God spoke them at the same time, Eve had actually broken the entire law, which included the 4th commandment, the Sabbath! No wonder Jesus said the Sabbath was made for man, because as mentioned above, Jesus was well aware that Adam and Eve were Sabbath keepers. To hard to swallow? Believe ye his words, and recognize that Adam was not the only patriarch aware of the Sabbath, for…

Abraham also kept the Sabbath.

Below is an extract from another study found at this website:

Genesis 26:5(5) Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

Note: Many would be surprised to learn that faithful Abraham was also a Sabbath keeper. The above verse states that he obeyed God and kept his commandments. Now lets read some more about the commandments that Abraham kept:

1 Chronicles 16:15-17(15) Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations;(16) Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac;(17) And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant.

Some believe the covenant God made with Abraham was circumcision, but a closer look reveals this was not the covenant, but the “sign” of that covenant:

Genesis 17:7-11(7) And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.(8) And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.(9) And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.(10) This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.(11) And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

Notice above that circumcision was to be a token (or sign) “of the covenant.” In 1 Chronicles 16, verse 17, we read that the same covenant God made with Abraham was “the same” he made with “Israel for an everlasting covenant. What was the covenant he made with Israel?

Deuteronomy 4:13(13) And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.

Therefore, since the covenant made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was the Ten Commandments, which included the Sabbath, this means they were all Sabbath keepers. –Who Kept the Sabbath?

When a covenant is made, there are two parties involved, and both parties agree to do something in order to sustain that pact, or contract, or covenant. If one violates his end of the deal, the contract is broken and becomes void. God’s end of his contract was that he was going to “bless” Abraham with the land and with multiplying his seed (Genesis 15:5, 17:8, 16, 20). And because Abraham believed in God, that God would keep his promise, his belief was “counted unto him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6). But why does then God say in Genesis 26:5 that Abraham “obeyed” his laws and commandments? Read closely the verses before, it reads that God will multiply Isaac’s seeds “because” that Abraham obeyed him. Abraham’s end of the contract was that he was to faithfully obey God’s laws as a result of his belief in God, and in return God would bless him and his seed. It was because Abraham believed first, then obeyed his laws, that God kept his promises. If Abraham would have just “believed” but broken God’s law, his faith which would have been without works... which is a“dead” faith –James 2:26. His belief was counted unto him for righteousness, but his belief produced “obedience” to God’s law, and those laws, according to 1 Chronicles 15:16-17 was the same law, or covenant, that God made with Israel, which covenant was the 10 Commandments (Deut. 4:33)! And the truth that God’s covenant was not a new thing to him is made crystal clear by the wording of Deuteronomy 4:13. Take a look:

Deuteronomy 4:13
And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.

Take note, dear reader, that Moses said God “declared” his covenant. The word “declared” implies it was not given "for the first time,” but rather, as it has already existed, it was “declared” to them for their benefit. This is made more evident by the Hebrew word “nagad,” which in the majority of times throughtout the Old Testament is used in the context of declaring or making known something that already existed. Then notice that it reads, “his covenant.” God made known “his” covenant to them. It is not "their" covenant, as our opponants would have us believe. No, it was “his” covenant, because this covenant of his was his before he declard it to the children of Israel, it was first a covenant between him and Abraham! But I can hear the critics already, "God said the covenant was not made with their fathers!" Let's all read that verse together:

Deut. 5:3
The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.

Some think that when this verse says "our fathers" it is speaking about Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Yet, knowing that this will not contradict 1 Chronicles 16:15-17, for God's word does not contradict itself, we must realized that Moses was not here talking about Abraham, but about the fathers of those Israelites that were slaves in Egypt! Remember, they were in Egyptian bondage for 400 years (Genesis 15:13). That means that if a bible generation in those days was 100 years long, that's at least four generations of "fathers" that did not experience this covenant! That is why Moses said that the Lord did not make this covenant of 10 Commandments with "our fathers," because the Israelites there present were the children of those Israelites that died while slaves in Egypt.

God’s word the final Authority

The idea therefore, that the Sabbath is no where to be found in the book of Genesis is without bases, and is an idea that was foreign to patriarchs like Moses and David. God’s word is quick and powerful, and “sharper then any two edged sword” –Hebrews 4:12. It is perfect and a chastiser to the proud and haughty. May it now forever be settled that God's law truly is "sure, they stand fast for ever and ever..." -Psalms 111:7-8

We pray this study was helpful.

You're Thought Questions Answered

Since adding this study to the website and discussing these issues with others I have been presented with some questions. Below are two questions, if you have any others, please email me and send them to me to add them here. Thank you.

Question: If Adam was given the Sabbath as a literal 24 period to rest on, what did they have to rest from since they were created just before on day six?

Answer: Genesis 1 is the account of the creations of God, but Genesis 2 is another account of some events that took place during creation week, specifically on the sixth day. Notice that Genesis 1:27 says that both Adam and Eve were created on day six. Yet there are things that took place between the time Adam was created and the time Eve was created, according to the second account in Genesis 2. Take a look:

Genesis 2:15-18
(15) And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
(16) And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
(17) But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
(18) And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

Take note that “before” the women was created God told Adam to “dress it and to keep it.” The words “dress and keep” in the Hebrew means to both work and guard the Garden of Eden. As soon as Adam was created on day six, just before the women, who was also created on day six, he was given work to do. It was on the day “after” day six, which was the seventh day, that he was to rest the Sabbath day. Eve who was to follow after her husbands example also participated in his labor. Therefore what they rested from on the seventh day was the work they for given to do on day six.

Question: If the “day” of the seventh day was really supposed to simply be a 24 hour period, why then is the phrase “evening and morning” missing from there?

Answer: The reason why this phrase is absent is because another similar phrase was placed there, which is “blessed and sanctified it.”

The phrase” evening and morning” indicate that the day is set apart and separate from the day before it and from the day after it. The result of the phrase “evening and morning” is the “day.” Take another look:

Genesis 1:5
(5) And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

And it goes on from there with the following days, the evening and the morning phrase “results” in the day. Now what is the resulting phrase for the seventh day? Again, the phrase “the Lord blessed and sanctified the seventh day.” The word “sanctified” also indicates, as does the “evening and morning” phrase, that the day is “set apart” day, or yom. Therefore, if Moses would have said the phrase “evening and morning” for the seventh day, he would have been repeating himself, for he already indicated that it is set apart by his use of the word “sanctified.”

2008-05-22T13:45:00.003-04:00

The Health Message in the First Angel's Message

Because the book of Revelation is heavily written in symbols, we therefore conclude that these three angels in Revelation 14:6-10, symbolize three very important message’s, bore by the people of God, to our world in these last days. These are not three literal angels, since their messages include not worshiping the “beast” – verse 9. This beast has seven heads and ten horns, and is a mixture of a bear, a lion and a leopard (Revelation 13:1-2). This is obviously symbolic, since no such beast has ever existed. This very message which you are now reading is part of the three angels message, a message from God above. Let us now see the "Health Message" within the First Angel's Message:

“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” -Revelation 14:6-7.

The first and most noticeable thing we observe is that this angel bears the “everlasting gospel.” What is that everlasting gospel? Explains the angel, “…fear God and give glory to him…” First, to fear God means to “hate all evil” which includes pride and arrogance – Proverbs 8:13. To fear God also means to acknowledge that God is mercy (Psalm 118:4) and to obey him (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). Second, to give God true glory is to have Jesus Christ in our hearts, accepted in our lives as the true messiah and redeemer:

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Colossians 1:27

And to bear much fruit, which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, and temperance (Galatians 5:22-23)

“Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” John 15:8.

Joined to this, is the part of this angels message which reads… “and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea…”

Take note that this phrase is an exact expression by God himself found within the fourth commandment:

“Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy… for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hollowed it.” Exodus 20:8-11.

Notice that part of this heavenly message called “everlasting gospel” by this angel, is a reminder to worship the true creator. In keeping the Sabbath, we claim to worship the only and true God, for the very wording of the fourth commandment gives God that title as “true and only creator.” Without this commandment we can worship any other god and still keep the other nine commandments. None of the other laws specifically calls God the “creator” as does the Sabbath.

Since it’s true that this angel is urging the world to not only believe in Jesus Christ, but also to obey him, even his Sabbath law, then we learn by close examination that this angel is in fact calling the world to return to Gods true health principles by his plea to keep the Sabbath. How? Well the Sabbath means to “rest,” and resting is part of being in health.

God is not only calling the world to rest in Christ spiritually, but also physically, and the reason why is simple. When our minds are clear of worry and stress, when we are in health, when we are not sick, we can better discern the right from the wrong. We can better concentrate and understand when we study from his words.

When we are healthy, disease does not interrupt us from learning and understanding eternal truths found within the Holy Scriptures. Health is part of the first angel’s message, because God is calling the world to “understand” clearly who he really is.

The Health Message

2008-05-22T13:38:00.001-04:00

The Call to Return to Eden
-A healthy message to an unhealthy world-

by Edwin M. Cotto

[Extra bonus video at the end brought to us by your dinner plate]

The Health Message in our Last Day Message

Many are aware that God has sent heavenly messages to his people of every age. To his people in the time of Noah, God sent a warning message to his servant Noah and his family that the world would soon be destroyed by a flood because of its iniquities. Through Elijah, God sent the message to choose who the people will finally follow, “if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.” 1 Kings 18:21. Through John the Baptist, the wonderful heavenly Message in regards to the Lord’s appearing came: “Make straight the way of the Lord” – John 1:23.

Today, we learn through the studies of the symbols in the book of Revelation, that God has a three-fold heavenly message for his people. These messages come in the form of Angels, starting in Revelation 14:6-10. The Greek word translated “Angels” is “aggelos” which simply means a “Messenger.” A messenger, or course, bears a message. This same Greek word is used to describe John the Baptist and his message as the “messenger” in Matthew 11:10. Before Jesus entered into Jerusalem, he sent people, his disciples, to Jerusalem first to make ready for him to be received there. Those he sent were “messengers” or as the Greek implies, “aggelos” because they bore a message, which was to make way for the entrance of messiah – John 9:52.

Because the book of Revelation is heavily written in symbols, we therefore conclude that these three angels in Revelation 14:6-10, symbolize three very important message’s, bore by the people of God, to our world in these last days. These are not three literal angels, since their messages include not worshiping the “beast” – verse 9. This beast has seven heads and ten horns, and is a mixture of a bear, a lion and a leopard (Revelation 13:1-2). This is obviously symbolic, since no such beast has ever existed. This very message which you are now reading is part of the three angels message, a message from God above. In this booklet, we will concentrate on the first angel’s message:

“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” -Revelation 14:6-7.

The first and most noticeable thing we observe is that this angel bears the “everlasting gospel.” What is that everlasting gospel? Explains the angel, “…fear God and give glory to him…” First, to fear God means to “hate all evil” which includes pride and arrogance – Proverbs 8:13. To fear God also means to acknowledge that God is mercy (Psalm 118:4) and to obey him (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). Second, to give God true glory is to have Jesus Christ in our hearts, accepted in our lives as the true messiah and redeemer:

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Colossians 1:27

And to bear much fruit, which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, and temperance (Galatians 5:22-23)

“Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” John 15:8.

Joined to this, is the part of this angels message which reads… “and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea…” Take note that this phrase is an exact expression by God himself found within the fourth commandment:

“Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy… for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hollowed it.” Exodus 20:8-11.

Notice that part of this heavenly message called “everlasting gospel” by this angel, is a reminder to worship the true creator. In keeping the Sabbath, we claim to worship the only and true God, for the very wording of the fourth commandment gives God that title as “true and only creator.” Without this commandment we can worship any other god and still keep the other nine commandments. None of the other laws specifically calls God the “creator” as does the Sabbath.

Since it’s true that this angel is urging the world to not only believe in Jesus Christ, but also to obey him, even his Sabbath law, then we learn by close examination that this angel is in fact calling the world to return to Gods true health principles by his plea to keep the Sabbath. How? Well the Sabbath means to “rest,” and resting is part of being in health. You’ll learn more of this in the section “The 8 Laws of Health.” God is not only calling the world to rest in Christ spiritually, but also physically, and the reason why is simple. When our minds are clear of worry and stress, when we are in health, when we are not sick, we can better discern the right from the wrong. We can better concentrate and understand when we study from his words. When we are healthy, disease does not interrupt us from learning and understanding eternal truths found within the Holy Scriptures. Health is part of the first angel’s message, because God is calling the world to “understand” clearly who he really is.

The Health Message within the Sanctuary Message

It was King David’s custom to look towards the sanctuary of God and study it deeply in order to understand more the truths of God. The sanctuary, lays out in plain view the whole plan of salvation. David understood this:

“Thy way, O God, is in the Sanctuary.” Psalm 77:13.

Not only David, but others have understood Gods ways by studying the Sanctuary:

“They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary. “Psalm 68:24

The earthly sanctuary was a “pattern” of the true heavenly sanctuary (Hebrew 9 – 10), where Christ the true high priest ministers on our behalf. When John looked up to heaven, he saw the Ark of the Covenant in this heavenly Sanctuary (Revelation 11:19). Let’s quickly see how the Sanctuary teaches the truth about the plan of Salvation.

[Find some time to study the following chapters: Exodus 25 (note verses 8-16), Exodus 26 (note verse 30) Exodus 27 (compare verse 2 with Revelation 9:13), Exodus 30, Leviticus 16 and Leviticus 24.]

Picture yourself virtually walking into the sanctuary, starting from the entrance. You first walk into the “outer court,” where you first see the Alter of sacrifice. This pictures the death of messiah Jesus. What’s the first thing a believer does when he becomes a believer? He “believes” in the “sacrifice” Jesus the true Lamb of God did. As you continue walking in, you find the bowl of water. This symbolized baptism, the next step a Christian takes after believing. Now, visualize yourself walking into the first apartment of the earthly sanctuary. The three things you’ll find in there are the Table of shewbread, the Alter of incense and the Seven branch candle sticks. These symbolizing:

1) Table of Shewbread: Jesus the bread “that came down from heaven” (John 6:35) and his words “spiritual food, the scriptures” (John 5:39) that the believer now studies intensively in his walk with Jesus.

2) Alter of Incense: The believer’s prayers, which ascend up as sweet incense to the throne of God (Revelation 8:3).

3) Seven Branch Candlesticks: Jesus being the “light” of the world (John 8:12) in this new converts life, shining in this dark world for all to see his example of a Christian life.

In the last apartment of the sanctuary you will find the 10 commandments, the written character of Christ manifesting itself in the life of the true believer. The whole plan of salvation is put together in plain view in this divine “blue print” called the Sanctuary.

King David understood the mystery of the prosperity of the wicked and of death when he said:

“Until I went into the sanctuary of God: then understood I their end.” Psalm 73:17.

Great truths can be learned by simply studying the biblical sanctuary. Let’s learn of one of these truths now:

Within the very heart of the Sanctuary was the “Ark of the Covenant.” Within this Ark, were the tables of Stone, engraved upon them the 10 Commandments. This Ark also contained two other things:

“And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; And over it the cherubim’s of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.” - Hebrews 9:3-5.

Not only do we find the 10 Commandments, the rule by which God wants his people to live by, we also find the Manna, and Aarons Rod, which was a long piece of branch, that budded. Let’s talk about Aarons Staff first. What does it mean when it says it budded?

“And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.” Numbers 17:8

Aaron’s rod budded Almonds. In other words, inside the Ark of the Covenant we also find Almonds. This verse in Numbers 17:8 however, says that it also “bloomed blossoms.” What does it mean when something blossoms?

“And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes.” Genesis 40:10.

When it blossoms, it means it shot forth “ripe grapes.” Aaron’s rod also yielded fruits. The Ark, therefore, contained some food; Almonds and Fruits. What about the Manna? We read the following verse:

“And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.” Psalm 78:24.

While it is unknown what exactly the Manna was made up of, David likens the Manna to “corn of heaven.” The Hebrew word translated “corn” in this verse is “dagan” which means “wheat, grain, cereal” according to Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Definitions and Strong’s Concordance. Notice also the following verse:

“And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.” Numbers 11:7.

Strong’s Hebrew Concordance gives the idea that the word “seed” here means “seed of plants, fruits.” The Manna was of Grain, and Seed probably of a fruit.

We now have a list of foods that are found within the Ark, which was in the Sanctuary:

-Fruits
-Nuts
-Grains

(Keep in mind that the earthly Sanctuary built by Moses was a model of the true Sanctuary in heaven built by God -Hebrews 8:2, 5).

This is the exact same diet Adam and Eve were given in the Garden of Eden before sin:

“And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.” - Genesis 1:29-30.

From the very beginning God has always intended for man and animals to nourish themselves of the natural foods of the earth, namely, Fruits, Nuts and Grains. These are the “meats” that God has always wanted us to have as our diet. The word “meat” here simply means “food.” The lord does not, nor has he ever, wanted his creatures to survive by killing other of his creatures. Death has never been part of God’s plan for mankind, not in food, or in anything else. Death only came about because of sin. Adam and Eve’s diet is what we find within the Sanctuary, which we already learned is an outline of God’s plan of Salvation. This is not to say that what we eat saves anyone, but that it is something that will be the end result in the Christians walk with God, along with manifesting true Christian behavior (the 10 Commandments). This is why it is these foods are not found in the beginning of the entrance of the sanctuary, the beginning of the Christian walk, where the first thing we must do is simply “believe” in that lamb which died for us. It is rather found at the end, in the inner part of the sanctuary, at the part where the mature Christian is to now live his life according to the guidelines found therein.

Does God desire that we return to the original diet? Yes! Here are the reasons why:

1) We already learned at the beginning of this booklet that the Health Message is part of the three angels Messages to the world in the last days. When John wrote this, he was speaking of a time not his own. This can only be any time after his time, especially our time now, since Christ has not yet returned.
2) God desires to restore everything as was intended from the very beginning (Acts 3:21).

Let us examine this passage in Acts 3:21. It reads:

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” -Act 3:19-21.

Notice verse 20 says… “shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you.” This is not the 1st coming of Jesus Christ, since it says “who was first preached unto you.” How was Jesus Christ preached unto these people unless he had come some time before? Now notice the first part of verse 21… “Whom the heaven must receive until…” Notice that the heavens “must receive” Jesus until the “times of restitution of all things.” This means Jesus will remain in heaven until a certain amount of time. That amount is not certain, for no man knows when the Lord will return, but we are hinted as to when… “until the times of restitution of all things.” Jesus wont return until all is restored within his people (not within the earth in general: the earth will be destroyed and made new after his 2nd coming –Revelation 21:1). Restitution of what? None other then the sinless state God has always wanted for us to be in, the times of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. We already learned about the diet Adam and Eve had while in this sinless state. God desires us to be sinless through the power and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ “my strength is made perfect in weakness” – 2 Corinthians 12:9. The bible calls us to be “perfect” by God’s strength (2 Timothy 3:17; Hebrews 13:20-21; Matthew 5:48). When the passage in Acts 3:21 speaks of the times of restitution of all things, it is speaking of a time when God’s people will be perfect; perfectly representing Jesus Christ here upon the earth, in everything, yes even in diet. The verse says restitution of “all” things. All means all, and Adam and Eve, in their perfect state, ate a perfect diet.

Some may ask: What about water? Does not the body need water to survive? Yet this is not found within the plan of salvation, or it’s model the sanctuary. Well, we already learned that the diet in the Sanctuary is the same diet found within the Garden of Eden. We also learned that God desires for his people in these last days to return to that diet. So, do we find water in the Garden of Eden in Adams time? Yes we do. There was a river that watered the Garden, and as it parted from the garden, it became four separate rivers.

“And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.” -Genesis 2:10.

In Adams time, it was perfectly safe to drink fresh water from this river, since there were no diseases, viruses or parasites of any kind. We do then find water as part of the diet God wants his people to have. We do not, however, find any form of liquor or sodas in the Garden of Eden.

Why did God allow Meat eating?

The first time the children of Israel ate meat after the exodus is recorded in Numbers chapter 11. Let’s examine this chapter and note the events that transpired therein:

“And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?”
(Num 11:4)

“We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick”
(Num 11:5)

Through the many years as slaves in Egypt, eating flesh meat became a common thing to do. If you notice, they mentioned the fish, and then they mentioned some vegetables, but their question shows what they really wanted:

“Who shall give us flesh to eat?”

Again they cried at Moses, “give us flesh, that we may eat” –verse 13.

One will notice while reading through this whole chapter that God did not really want to give them the flesh meat for their diet. In fact, as they cried in their lust for flesh meat, God told them that they will get their desire; in fact, they will get a whole month of meat, even until it leaks from their noses (verses’ 19-20). So the Lord blew a strong wind, and in came the meat they so desired. Verse 31 says that the Lord brought them quail, and while the meat was yet in between their teeth, the Lord sent a plague, and they all died (verse 33). Take note reader, that the meat these people ate was not unclean meat, but rather clean meat according to the clean/unclean laws of Leviticus 11. Would God give them an unclean animal to eat? Yet, to show them he did not want them eating meat at all, whether clean or unclean, he allowed them to have the lust of their hearts, and they reaped what they sowed, sickness and death.

The clean/unclean foods: Laws God did not desire

Within the writing of the prophet Ezekiel, we read the following:

“Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live.” (Ezekiel 20:25)

What would you say were the laws God gave to the children of Israel that he did not really want to give them? Let’s look at three of the most basic of those laws and see if these are it:

The Sabbath: Because the immediate context of the whole chapter of Ezekiel 20 seems to be more about the Sabbath, I decided to comment on this one first.

Was God displeased with giving them the Sabbath day law? The verses in this same chapter immediately say “no.” First, the verse says “statutes” and “judgments” in the plural sense. There is only one seventh day Sabbath. Second, verses before show how God really did want them to observe the Sabbath, because it was to be a “sign” that God is the one who sanctifies them (verses 12; 20). The Sabbath is also seen to continue on forever. Evidently, the saints of God will forever observe it even in the New Heavens and the New Earth (Isaiah 66:23). This is proof that the Sabbath has not been abolished, and that God in Ezekiel 20:25 is not speaking about the Sabbath. How could God regret giving them the Sabbath but allow it to continue forever?

The 10 Commandments: These laws, recorded first in Exodus 20, set moral rules for the believer to live by. “Thou shalt not murder” and “thou shalt not steal” are certainly laws we wouldn’t dream of saying God did not want to give. Each law within the 10 commandments has a moral application to everyone of us. When we violate the first four of these laws, which most recognize as laws referring to mans relationship with God, we sin against our selves, because it is a sin to break Gods law (1 John 3:4). When we sin against ourselves we risk damaging our relationship and we offend God who made us in his image, thus losing our salvation because we have not turned away from sin. When we violate the rest of the 10 commandments we commit sins against our neighbors, which will again cause us to hurt ourselves spiritually and most of the times physically in the process. Was God displeased with giving these laws? The logical answer is no.

The Feast days: Time and place must be considered. When God through Ezekiel penned those words in Ezekiel 20:25, the feast days, while God found more pleasure in obedience (1 Samuel 15:22), he did in fact wanted them to observe them as laws because he desired them to see something special within these feast days, namely, that Jesus is the true lamb of God, which would be sacrificed for them in the not so distant future (John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7). Today, these feast days can still teach us much, but we know that they have all found their end at the cross, as Jesus is our paschal lamb, and so on. Yet in the times of Ezekiel, God wanted them to observe these feasts.

The only possible laws the Lord must have been speaking about in Ezekiel 20:25 would have to be the laws of clean and unclean meats as listed in Leviticus 11. The following are the reasons why this must be so:

-Reason 1: God has never desired the death of any of his creatures.
-Reason 2: As shown in Numbers 11, God does not desire our eating or neither clean nor unclean animals.
-Reason 3: Animal eating has never been part of the original plan for mankind’s health, and God desires we return to his original plan.

Every other law, for that time, were laws God ordered to be kept for some reason as to maintain order within the theocratic nation of Israel (as in the civil penalty laws -we believe God did not desire these as well) or for moral issues relating to salvation. The clean/unclean animal’s laws have nothing to do with the maintaining of a nation, nor with anything moral at that. Simply put, animal eating is just not necessary. We can get sufficient nutrients from the natural foods of the earth without eating flesh meat. The most convincing evidence is in the fact that meat eating came into the picture after the fall, and not before.

Why did Jesus eat meat?

We have accounts in the New Testament were we find that Jesus did in fact eat fish, and gave unto his disciples and followers fish to eat, the following is one of them:

John 21:9-13
(9) As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
(10) Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
(11) Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
(12) Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
(13) Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.

There are a couple of things we should keep in mind. Jesus meet his disciple’s were they were at in that time. They were raised eating meats, and in their new found faith meat eating is not to be the issue. This study is to show those mature Christians, who have already passed the baby Christian stage, and desire now “strong meat,” that is, deeper understanding of biblical truths, such Christians have spiritually entered into the second apartment of the sanctuary is now lives their lives according to what is found there, the moral law and the vegetarian diet as shown above. The bible teaches us that our walk is to be one that “shineth more and more unto the perfect day” –Proverbs 4:18. Light, representing Jesus, who is the truth, will logically also represent “the” truth. So as we walk in our Christian walk, we learn more and more, the light further increases in our lives, and deeper more profound truths begin to be understood, including the truth about health. We are not to stay where we are when we first become believers, we are to continue our walk through that path, through the sanctuary, and learn more and more about God and his truths found in his word. Yes, Jesus ate fish, and so did his followers at that time. Yet we are always to remember that further truth is to be revealed to God’s people through the ages until the Lord returns. Today, part of the truth, called the “present truth” includes an understanding of the biblical diet that the Lord is also concerned with.

How about lamb? Did Jesus eat lamb? We only have the account in the gospels that tell of Jesus eating the Passover with his disciples. We agree he did eat the Passover, but it should be noted that it was because he was to keep the entire law perfectly. We have no evidence that eating meat was part of his diet. We are not told anywhere in the bible that Jesus, being God himself, ate his own creations as part of his daily diet. His eating a lamb on Passover is perfectly reasonable, since he came for the very purpose of keeping the law and to die for us upon the cross.

The Bible Teaches Natural Healing

For an example of healing by natural remedies from the earth, we look no further then to the great healer himself: Jesus Christ.

John 9:5-7
(5) As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
(6) When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
(7) And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

If we notice something about the miracle Jesus performed, most were done in different ways, to teach us certain things. Why did Jesus heal this blind man like this? One reason is to show how through God’s natural resources, we can find healing. Jesus used the earth, wherein is found plenty of beneficial nutrients, to perform this miracle. Jesus, the great physician, used natural remedies! We read of four young men who through vegetable healed themselves of appearing older, making themselves actually look younger:

Daniel 1:11-15
(11) Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
(12) Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
(13) Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
(14) So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
(15) And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.

What happened after the ten days? They looked younger? Any wrinkles and darkening they might have had under their eyes vanished!

Did You Know that the Greek word “therapeia” is where we get our English word “Therapy” from. This Greek word is found only four times in the New Testament:

-Matthew 24:45, Luke 9:11, Luke 12:42, and Revelation 22:2.

It originally means “service rendered by one to another, attendance, and cure” – according to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon and Strong’s Concordance. Jesus, “healed them that had need of healing (therapeia)” according to Luke 9:11. This means that he got personal with these people, rendering service to them, and thus healing them not only with his miracles, but also with his friendship. In Revelation 22:2, we are told that it is the natural elements of the earth, the leaves of the tree in this case, which will provide “therapeia” for Gods people. See also Ezekiel 47:12. God has always taught that we can be healed of our many diseases is we simply change our diet’s to his original one, and use natural remedies found in his creations.

Notice with us the following verse:

Revelation 18:23
(23) And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

If read in context one will notice that this verse is speaking about a world power which God will eventually destroy because of its deceptions. Some teach, and we agree, that it is speaking about the antichrist. Yet notice the word “sorceries.” In your Strong’s Greek concordance, you will notice the following definition for this word:

Pharmakeia: From G5332; medication (“pharmacy”), that is, (by extension) magic (literal or figurative): - sorcery, witchcraft.

Used and translated only three times in the New Testament (Rev. 9:21, 18:23, Gal. 5:20 –here translated “witchcraft”) you will notice that it is “always” set in the context of sins that will prevent us from entering the kingdom of heaven. This greek word “pharmakeia” is where we get our English word “pharmacy” from and it literally means, “medication.” It is related to “magic” which is a form of witchcraft and spiritualism. These chemical medications, found in our pharmacies, are no different then the medications used by the occult to poison and/or control individuals. When we see a new commercial promoting some medicine, one benefit from it is mentioned, then in a fast tone of voice 6 to 8 side effects are warned of. Why? Because we are drugging our bodies with chemicals that the Lord does not approve of! We kill ourselves with unhealthy foods, then we want to treat the “bad feeling” we get without treating naturally the root cause. It has been found by researchers that a change in diet towards natural foods increases the body’s immune system which in turn helps it to combat more affectively viruses and diseases. We do not tell the person who does not “know” in an emergency to not seek medical help from a doctor at a hospital. But for those of us who know, God the greatest doctor has provided a natural way of healing that is far more beneficial than any chemical medication, and they have no side effects. Paul teaches us that our bodies are the “temples of the Holy Ghost” -1 Corinthians 6:19. We are to seek natural foods, and natural healings, and stay away from all evils, including “sorcery,” and in everything we do… “whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” -1Corinthians 10:31. If we do this; if we truly give God the glory in what we eat, then we are therefore heading and accepting the first angel’s message in Revelation 14:7, which calls the world to…

“… Fear God, and give Glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is come.”

Responding to arguments against the Health Message

The following are verses used by some to make the claim that we are allowed to eat anything we’d like. Let’s examine these verses closely, and see whether if they are really teaching this.

1) Matthew 15:11
2) 1 Timothy 5:23
3) 1 Timothy 4:1-5
4) Genesis 9:3
5) Acts 10:11-15
6) 1 Corinthians 10:24-33

Matthew 15:11: “Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.”

By simply reading the whole chapter, one will notice that these verses are more about eating with unwashed hands then on just eating. Jesus’ final words on the subject make this clear:

“These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.” -Matthew 15:20.

When Jesus voiced verse 11, he was speaking about the “heart” –verse 18-19. Jesus explains how from the heart come, among other sins, evil thoughts. If a person, for example, teaches that it’s okay to eat pork when the bible says not to (Leviticus 11:7; Isaiah 66:17), this is contrary to God’s scriptures and is therefore an “evil thought” proceeding from his heart. Such a person will fall into the category of the people that Jesus was speaking about.

Conclusion: The issue here is not on eating, but on eating with unwashed hands. Jesus did not teach with verse 11 that it is ok to eat meat or pork, neither did he teach that it’s ok to eat with unwashed hands, for Jesus wouldn’t teach such a thing. What if the person eating with unwashed hands just finished handling a dead animal of some kind? Such a person could contract a fatal illness, and we can place the blame on Jesus’ words. On the contrary, Jesus was all for cleanliness. Jesus was a Jew, and cleanliness was a part of Jewish law. Jesus rather taught with these words to focus more upon the matters of the heart, which of course are of far greater importance.

1 Timothy 5:23: “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.”

Some claim that with this verse, we are allowed to drink “even a little” wine. Yet a closer examination of this verse reveals that this is not so. The verse says to drink the “little wine” for “thy stomach’s sake.” Alcohol (or liquor) will not help our stomachs; rather, it damages it, along with the liver. The verse also says, “… and thine often infirmities.” The word “infirmities” is the Greek word “astheneia” which means “weakness.” This same Greek word is translated “diseases” in Acts 28:9 and “sickness” in John 11:4. Alcohol is known for causing weakness of the liver over years of consumption and all sorts of diseases. Are we suggesting that Paul is saying to drink something that causes weakness as a remedy for weakness? The obvious conclusion then, is that Paul is speaking of “wine” as in fruit juices. The many nutrients and vitamins in fruit juices are known for healing various diseases in the stomach and liver.

Numerous examples of people chosen by God in the bible do not drink wine at all. Ill list two examples:

1) “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous.” -1Timothy 3:1-3.

The words, “given to wine” is translated from the Greek word “paroinos” meaning “near wine” according to Strong’s Concordance. In other words, it is literally meaning, “not even near wine.” The man or women desiring to work in the Lord’s work will not even get near any form of alcohol.

2) “For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.” -Luke 1:15-16.

John the Baptist was fit to work in the Lord’s work, not only because he was filled with the Holy Spirit from his mothers womb, but also because he never distressed the Holy Spirit by filling his body (which is the temple of the Holy Spirit -1 Corinthians 6:19; 3:16-17) with disease causing toxins like wine. Don’t you desire to work for the Lord?

Conclusion: Paul here is not speaking about drinking wine with alcohol because alcohol will not help relieve illness nor will it benefit the stomach in any way. Rather, he is speaking about fruit juices like grape juice.

1 Timothy 4:1-5: “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving.”

Let’s examine each verse one by one:

(verse 1)
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

(verse 2)
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

(verse 3)
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

Some have felt that this is speaking about the Adventist church, but note that Paul is saying that the individuals teaching to abstain from meats also teach not to marry. The Adventist church does not forbid to marriage. The Roman Catholic church does however forbid eating foods on certain of its holiday celebrations and does forbid marriage through its institutions of the nuns and priests.

Notice also that the Greek word translated “meats” in this verse is “broma” which simply means “foods.” When the bible is speaking about flesh foods, it translates it “flesh” – see for example Romans 14:21. This is not speaking about meat as food, but of non-meat foods. Further evidence of this is seen in the rest of this verse which reads… “which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving.” What did God create to be received (or eaten) with thanksgiving? It was natural foods, not flesh meat (Genesis 1:29). Flesh meat was merely “allowed” either because circumstances made it impossible to eat vegetables, like with Noah’s case after the flood when all vegetation was destroyed, or because of the ignorance of the children of Israel who complained so much that God allowed clean meats to be eating, yet with the warning that they would die, and they did (Numbers 11:33). Thayer’s Greek Definition defines “broma” as “that which is eaten, food.” Normally this word is used in general of foods (plural). But here we have added information about this broma, that God created it to be received with thanksgiving. Animals were not created to be eaten, but natural foods were.

(verse 4)
For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

Notice first, that it says “creature” and not “animal” or “beasts.” There are three other Greek words that are translated “beasts” that literally mean an “animal.” These Greek words are ktenos, therion and zoon. None of these are used in this verse. According to Strong’s Greek definition, the word translated “creature” here simply means “a formation, a produce.” Thayer’s Greek Definition has two meanings for this word:

Thayer Definition:

1) thing founded
2) created thing

We learned with verse 3 that that “thing founded” that God created to be received, or eaten was natural foods, and not animal meat.

If our critics interpret this word to mean flesh, they will run into the following two problems:

It will include all types of insects!

If “creature” hear means anything other then natural products of plants, they will be forced to include insects in their reasoning. But, we’re sure they wouldn’t dare say that a spider was created to be eaten; that it is “good and not to be refused.” Shall we add some worm to that plate as well?

It will include THEM!

This word “creature” can also include human being. Notice the following verses:

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” -Mark 16:15.

“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” James 1:18

Would our critics suggest that Paul was advocating cannibalism?

The only logical conclusion is that Paul is talking about those who would forbid the eating of foods that God originally created for our diet.

(verse 5)
For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

This word “sanctified” in the Greek means to “make holy.” Notice that it says it is sanctified by “the word of God” and by “prayer,” not just prayer. This means that the prayer will have to agree with what the word of God says in regards to that food! Where in the word of God does it teach pork can be made holy for food? Or humans for food? In other words, we are not to just pray over a, lets say, a venomous spider to then then eat it, because eating a venomous spider, mosquito or any type of forbidden insect is condemned “by the word of God” – Leviticus 11:23. Our prayer should rather be that God sanctify the “broma” of natural foods which is in accordance with the proper diet God wants us to have.

God does in fact want his people to return to the original plan he had for mankind with Adam and Eve. He wants our entire being to be changed, not just mentally, but physically as well. Eating foods that we should not being has been shown to affect the mind in such a way that it can dilute even our decision making. This is why Paul says to protect the body, because it is “the temple of the Holy Spirit” -1 Cor. 3:16-17. The Holy Spirit is the one helping us make right decisions, and by mistreating our bodies with unhealthy foods, we can end up closing our understandings to truths the Spirit might want to show us. Who can deny that it is more difficult for a sick person to study and rightly divide the word of God then for a healthy person? Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were children, “in whom was no blemish.” They were, “skillful in wisdom, and cussing in knowledge.” –Daniel 1:4. What did they eat? Natural foods. They refused to eat the filth upon the king’s plate, but told him to prove them for ten days as they eat only vegetables. The result? “Their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh then all the children which did eat the portion of the kings meat.” -Daniel 1:15.

Conclusion: The warning in verse 3 is against groups who forbid marriage and to abstain from “foods,” not flesh meat. Any act (such as eating certain things) that is against the “word of God” is not sanctified simply by prayer. It must be in agreement with Gods word as well.

Genesis 9:3: “Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.”

Time and place must be considered when studying God’s word. At this time, the flood had just ended, and Noah had just exited the Ark. We are not told that there was vegetation, but rather that the earth was “dry” – Genesis 8:13-14. There was much food taken into the Ark for him, his family and the animals to eat some of which might have been eaten after they stepped out. Yet because this could run out, and the earth was simply “dry,” God provided a way for Noah and his family to survive. This is when he told them to eat of “every moving thing that liveth.” The only reason God told him he can eat animals at this time was so that they could survive:

“Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.” -Genesis 7:3.

God obviously didn’t intend for this practice to last forever among his people, since years after he showed how he did not want his people eating flesh meat (Leviticus 11:13, 33).

Another thought in regards to unclean animals is that God did not intend for Noah and his family to eat these, since of these sorts only two of each kind were to enter the Ark (Genesis 7:2). This means that if Noah and his family spent their time eating unclean animals like pork, their wouldn’t be pork today since there were only two pigs after the flood. Another reason why God never intended for Noah and his family to eat the unclean animals at this time, was because God has simply never allowed it. Even later when the Hebrews complained and begged for flesh meat, God set laws on not eating unclean animals (Leviticus 11).

Conclusion: God only allowed Noah and his family to eat animals after the flood because the flood destroyed all vegetable life on the earth, leaving it “dry;” so in order to survive God allowed the meat eating. Even though God allowed it here, he still allowed it with exceptions. One of them was to not eat the unclean animals, simply because there were very little of them (Genesis 7:2) and they are needed to cleanse the earth. Today we are not living in the condition Noah’s time was after the waters destroyed everything. There is plenty of vegetable’s to go around: thus animal eating is not needed for survival.

Acts 10:11-15: “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.”

Apparently this was a “vision” Peter had (verse 17). We need to study to understand what a vision actually means. If not, we run into numerous problems. For example, John had visions of a giant beast with ten horns and seven heads (Revelation 17:3). Daniel had a vision of a Lion with wings (Daniel 7:4). Are we to take visions literally? No, symbols in visions always symbolize something. Let’s examine the vision Peter had:

(Act 10:10)
And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

(verse 11)
And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

(verse 12)
Wherein were all manner of four footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

(verse 13)
And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

(verse 14)
But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

Take note first, that Peter’s concerned in regards to eating unclean meats proves that Jesus did not abolish the animal laws as some would say. Peter, who was by birth a Jew, was among the group of disciples they later called “Christians” – Acts 11:26. Yet since he first began to follow Christ he was a Christian since the very word “Christian” simply means “a follower of Christ.” Peter, the Christian, did not believe these health laws were abolished at the cross.

(verse 15)
And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

(verse 16)
This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

After this took place “thrice” which means “three times,” the vessel was taken back to where it came from, and Peter did not eat the unclean animals. Yet, why did this take place three times? Notice, that as soon as the vision ended, “three” men came to see Peter (verse 19). These three men then took Peter to a centurion man named Cornelius (verse 22-23) who was not of the Jewish nation, but was instead Italian (verse 1). When Peter arrives at Cornelius’s home, he finds many people there (verse 27). Apparently these people were not Jews, because Peter then says in verse 28 that it was not customary for Jews to gather together with people of other nations. The three men sent by Cornelius to Peter must have therefore also been non-Jews. Read closely Peters own words:

“And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” -Act 10:28.

It appears that it was when Peter saw this company of non-Jews that he finally understood the vision he had previously seen. The animals he saw in the visions were “unclean” animals, yet Peter gives us the clear understanding that God was talking to him about “man” as verse 28 says; that it, people outside the camp of Israel. Peter then concludes:

“…of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.” Acts 10:24.

Peter further declares:

“In every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” -Act 10:35.

After Peter’s powerful sermon, the Holy Spirit, which fell upon the Jewish disciples at first (Acts 2:4) now fell upon the Gentiles:

“And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.” -Act 10:45.

Clearly, the whole point of the vision Peter had, was not on eating meat or unclean meat, but rather about taking the gospel news to “all the world” and to “every creature” –Mark 16:15, even to non-Jews.

Conclusion: This chapter teaches how the gospel Peter was preaching to the Jews first, who were common to him, must now be preached among the Gentiles, who were un-common or unclean to Jews. There is no indication that God was trying to teach Peter that he was now allowed to eat anything he’d like. By simply reading further on into the chapter, one can see that this is not the case at all. Peter, the Christian, still believed in the health laws even after the ascension of Christ to heaven.

1 Corinthians 10:24-33: Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: For the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.

Let us consider one thing Paul mentioned before we dissect this verse. Notice please verse 6 in this same chapter:

1Corinthians 10:6
(6) Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

If you keep reading down, Paul gives a list of some evil things the Israelites performed after the Exodus. What was one of the “evil things” they “lusted” for? Turn with us to the Psalms:

Psalm 78:18-31
And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust… He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea… They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths, The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.

One of the evil “lusts” Paul was speaking of in 1 Corinthians 19 included this incident when they lusted after meat eating. Now with this in mind, would Paul right after contradict himself and teach with verses 24-33 that we are allowed to eat any meat we’d like (remember, the meat they ate was a clean meat, see above)? Let’s examine those verses:

Verses 10:24-26
Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth. (25) Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: (26) For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.

Compared to verse 29, the word “wealth” above should be replaced with “conscience” for in context that is Paul’s concern. Now the word “shambles” in the greek means a “market” place. Thayer’s greek definition says that this is a place where “meat and other articles of food are sold.” This means that Paul is speaking of what we would call today a super market, where more then meat is sold therein. It should therefore be understood that when Paul says that whatever is set before us to eat at a neighbor’s home should be eaten except for that which violates the laws of God and hurts our bodies, including foods sacrificed unto idols. This point further stand when we consider what the rest of the bible says on this subject as well, a rule by which Paul himself lived by. Remember again the four Hebrews boys in Daniel 1. Just as Paul spoke about, certain articles of foods were placed in front of these boys to eat, including all types of meats and alcohol. Would Paul have argued that they should have eating the king’s meat? They did not, but rather ate the food God designed our bodies to consume. Remember what happened ten days later?

Conclusion: Paul’s concern is with the “conscience” of the individual. Our stance on God’s principles will further show other’s how dedicated we are to obeying our God and how healthy we live. With such an example, the honest individual will want to experience such a lifestyle which can in turn into a new found faith in Jesus Christ. When Daniel took a stand for God against meat eating, God made him a “favour” to the king (Daniel 1:9). When we stand for the truth, and follow God’s original plan for our bodies, our examples, as Daniel’s and Paul’s, will show to others that there is a better way to living life, a way which will in turn bless them spiritually as well.

Meet Your Meat

Extra Bonus!

The following is what you eat:

The Three Angels Messages: The Third Angel

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The Three Angels Messages: The Second Angel

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The Three Angels Messages: The First Angel

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Introduction

Many feel that the books of Daniel and Revelation need not to be studied because they are either to hard to understand or because they think the books are “locked.” However, Jesus Christ tells us in Revelation 1:3:

“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”

“Seal not the saying of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.” Revelation 22:10

The very word “Revelation” means revealed. We see that if we study bible prophecy we are pronounced as a blessed people. We also see how Jesus said “for the time is at hand.” In the book of Daniel, Daniel was told that the prophecies of Daniel were to be “sealed” up until the “time of the end” Daniel 12:9. Now when we return to Revelation 1:3, Jesus said, “for the time is at hand.” Therefore, the time to read and understand the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation is now! These two books go hand and hand, as you will notice while we begin to study them in this booklet. Peter and Paul in their wisdom said:

“We have a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.” 2 Peter 1:19.

“Despise not prophesyings.” 1 Thessalonians 5:20

Friends, be not as the people spoken of in Isaiah 29:11: "And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed." Let us not be as the one mentioned in proverbs, which says:

"He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly (silliness) and shame (disgrace) unto him. -Proverbs 18:13.

Will there be an ultimate antichrist that will stand up against Jesus and his kingdom, and war with the saints of God? John spoke of many antichrists who have already crept into the churches, but notice how he also warns of an antichrist whom they have heard will soon come (1 John 2:18). Paul warns of this mega antichrist:

“Let no man deceive you by any means, for that day (the 2nd coming of Christ –verses 1 and 2) shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?” -2 Thessalonians 2:3-5

This “son of perdition” exalts himself, and makes himself God, he is opposite of God and puts himself “in place” or “instead” of God: which is what the very word “anti” means. In this booklet, we will expose who this antichrist is through the books of Daniel and Revelation.

Brethren, my prayer is that you are blessed with the study of Daniel and the Revelation. May God richly bless you in your study of God’s word. Amen.

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord.” -Isaiah 1:18

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Identifying the Antichrist? Part 3

The Mark of the Beast

If you have not read part 1 and 2 of this study, please do not read part 3 until you do so, since it can only cause unnecessary confusion. “Let all things be done decently and in order.” -1 Corinthians 14:40.

Now we have concluded on who the antichrist is, where he reigns, and what his intentions are, but we’re not done. The following information will reveal THREE very important things you still need to know:

(1) A second beast rises up “out of the earth” in Revelation 13: 11. This “second beast” is the one who will help the first beast enforce by law a decree that will cause ALL to receive a MARK on either their hands or forehead.
(2) The “Mark of the Beast” which will be forced upon all on the earth.
(3) The “Seal of the Living God,” what is it?

We will find out what the Seal of God is first. After you will know that the Beasts Mark is the complete opposite. Also, you learned in part 1 and 2 of this study that the Roman Catholic Church is the antichrist system being spoken of in prophecy. As we continue in this study, you will find not only that the bible tells us what his Mark is which will be forced on people, but also that he himself ADMITS that this is his Mark! No secrets here!

Let’s begin:

The chapter of Revelation 14 has three very important angel messages to the entire world. The word angel (greek aggelos) means, “messenger.” Therefore, these angels have messages for us all. What is the message of the First Angel? It is four-fold:

“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach on the earth, and to every nation, kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, (1) Fear God, and (2) give glory to him; for the hour of (3) his judgment is come: (4) worship him that made heaven and earth and the sea, and the fountains of water.” Rev. 14:6-7

Let’s examine this:

(1) Fear God:

(2) Give him glory:

To truly give God glory is by believeing in, and accepting Jesus Christ as your personal saviour:

Colossians 1:27
(27) To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

(3) His Judgment is come:

Eccl. 3:17
(17) I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

This angel's message is very important... because it takes place at a time when God is judging the world.

(4) Worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea:

We notice that this angel quotes from a simular passage elsewhere in the bible. Lets read it together:

“Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God… for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, but rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hollowed it.” Exodus 20:8-11

The Sabbath was always a "sign" between God and his people (Ezekiel 20:20 - more on this sign later). The commandment says, “in six days the Lord made heaven and earth and the sea.” The Sabbath commandment calls God the “creator” of all things, and in keeping it you claim to worship that creator. Without the Sabbath commandment the moral law of Ten Commandments could be reffering to any god.

Bundled up, therefore, the entire message of the first angel is to "Fear God by obeying him, accepting his Son, and keeping the Sabbath as a sign that he is the one that you are worshipping, because the Judgment hour has begun." The battle in the whole scenerio in Revelation 13-14 is over worship, so its no wonder that God calls his people to keep the Sabbath. It set's them apart as the ones worshiping the real God. While God knows the intents of the heart, others, like the angels, dont. Their outword manifestations will reveal to all the worlds that these are those... "who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus." -Revelation 14:12.

What is the message of the Second Angel? Let's read it together:

“And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” Revelation 14:8

We learn in part 1 and 2 that Babylon is that “whore” of Revelation 17, who is the same as the first beast of Revelation 13:1, and the fourth kingdom of Daniel 2 and 7. This kingdom is the Roman Catholic system, and the papacy is that little horn, the leader. Now this angel is telling you that this Church is fallen, and you that you should not have anything to do with her!

What is the message of the Third Angel?

"And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand. The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God.” -Revelation 14:9.

In order for you to avoid the “beasts” mark of authority, you will first need to know one more thing. You already learned that the beast resides in Rome and it is the Roman Catholic system and the Popes and Priests who lead it. But what is his Mark?

Lets find out what God seal of authority is first and you will learn that the antichrist's mark is just the opposite.

The bible says:

“Bind up the testimony, SEAL the LAW among my disciples.” -Isaiah 8:16

So the “Sign” or Seal” is contained within his law, but which law? (the words seal, sign and mark have the same meaning -Romans 4:11). Well which law within God’s moral law is the “sign” of God’s approval? Let’s let the bible tell us:

“Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a SIGN between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.” -Ezekiel 20:12

“And hollow my Sabbaths: that they shall be a SIGN between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God” -Ezekiel 20:20

The bible teaches that true Christians, are known as “spiritual Israel.” Romans 2:28 reads, “…he is not a Jew which is one outwardly; but he is a Jew which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart." See also Romans 9:6-8 and Galatians 3:29. So the above verses, in our time, apply to real Christians, who are spiritually "Israelites."

God says that it is the SABBATH that is his sign. But why? Again, because it is the Sabbath that proclaims God as the CREATOR.

Within the Sabbath commandments we find THREE elements that mark it as an official SEAL. These are:

- NAME

-TITLE

-TERRITORY

If these three elements are not present in a seal then it is not valid. Present Bush would sign a document into law like this:

(1) NAME: George W. Bush
(2) TITLE: President
(3) TERRITORY: The United States of America

Within God’s Sabbath law, we have these same three elements. Watch this:

“Remember the Sabbath day…for in six days the…

(1) Lord (his name – 'I am the Lord, that is my name' -Isaiah 42:8)
(2) made (his title which is 'creator' –Isaiah 45:18)
(3) heaven and earth and the sea (his territory –Isaiah 66:1)"

See Exodus 20, verse 11.

More evidence that the fourth commandment is God's seal of approval is found within the very Hebrew word translated "Sabbath." Inside this word is found the phrase “Father’s Sign.” Let's take a look (grab your concordance):

The Hebrew word is “shabbath.” Breaking it apart, we find that this word is made up of two words, “ab” and “ath.” Look up the word “ab” in your concordance. It is the same as “abba” and it means, father:

H2
אב
'ab
ab: (Chaldee); corresponding to H1: - father.

The Hebrew word “ath” is the same as “oth” and it means sign:

H226
אות
'ôth
oth: Probably from H225 (in the sense of appearing); a signal (literally or figuratively), as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, etc.: - mark, miracle, (en-) sign, token.

In other words, the word “Sabbath” means, “The Father’s Sign.”

When you read from Revelation 12 to 22 you’re given the idea that Satan’s main attack is on God’s commandment keeping believers. Revelation 12:17 says, “And the Dragon (Satan – verse 9) was wroth with the women (Women represents a church –Jer. 6:2) and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony (Testimony of Jesus is the “spirit of prophecy –Rev. 19:10) of Jesus Christ.”

Then we have an angel reminding us to remember the Sabbath commandment in Revelation 14:7... after this we are told about the “patience of the saints” who “keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” -Revelation 14:12. Finally, it is written in Revelation 22:14:

“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have a right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”

Now that you know this, read Revelation 14:1. It says that God’s people are marked on their foreheads with the father’s name. What is the father’s name? We read it, “I am the LORD, that is my name” -Isaiah 42:8. This is one of the elements of a true seal! Remember, the very word “father” is in the midst of the word Sabbath . This is the reason why God will use the Sabbath to seal his people, because by placing his name within their minds he proclaims them as his own, and declares that these are they which truly manifest the charactor of the father, because the law is the charactor of God in "written" form. Jesus Christ is the law in "living" form. And the manifestation of the law of God, through the LIFE of Christ in the individual (2 Corinthians 4:10-11), is what qualifys them as being the "sons of God."

Here’s a question, is the sign literal?

Yes, literal as in the angels and God will see it. But remember that the seal is placed "in" the forheads. So to man’s eyes, its not a literal seal on the forehead, but you will know if someone is sealed with the Sabbath sign by their very actions and thoughts on Sabbath keeping:

“The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his” -1 Timothy 2:19.

The above verse shows that when God's people are marked, God "knoweth them that are his." Again, in Revelation 13 and 14, when speaking about the Seal of God and the Mark of the Beast, notice how it says they are marked “in” their foreheads, and not “on.” Look closely at Revelation 14 verse 1 and 9. The forehead represents your mind and heart, how you think and what you believe. Proverbs 23:7 says:

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” (see also Romans 7:25, Ezekiel 3:8-9).

This is what God is interested in, what you believe and who you will obey, whether him or someone else. The “law” says God, is to be in our “Minds” just as the seal is placed in the forehead in Revelation 14:1 and Revelation 7:3. Hebrews 10:16 says:

"I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their MINDS will I write them.”

The forehead contains the “frontal lube” which contains our conscience. The reason why you receive the “Seal” of God, which is his holy law, specifically his Sabbath, is because you LIVE IT. The Mark of the Beast is placed “in” the hand (see Revelation 14:9). The hand represents “work.” Ecclesiastees 9:10 says:

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." (see also Job 37:7, Micah 2:1 and Nehemiah 4:17).

So, will you use your “hand” to violate God’s Sabbath when this “Mark” is enforced by the beast? Or will you “believe” with your heart and mind by worshiping him that made “heaven and earth and the sea?”

We have so far learned that:

(1) God’s Seal is his holy Sabbath.

(2) The Antichrist resides in Rome, and his false system of worship is the Roman Catholic Church. He has a ‘Mark’, which will be placed in the mind (remember, forehead represents the mind and heart) meaning that he will try to lead people into believing in his sign instead of God’s seal.

(3) In Revelation 13 and 14 God’s seal is placed in the forehead, but the Beast wants it either in the forehead or in the hand. In other words, it does not matter whether you believe (forehead) in the Beast's mark or not... but if you violate God's Sabbath through your works (hand) that will be enough for him.

But, what is this Mark? The leader of this antichrist system, the Popes and the Priests, will tell you themselves!

Remember how we proved in part 2 how that the Roman Catholic Church has, and admits to, changing God’s Sabbath day? Notice now what they say about Sunday, the day they have replaced the Sabbath with:

“Sunday is our MARK of authority… the church is above the bible, and this transference of Sabbath observance is proof of that fact.” -Catholic Record of London, Ontario September 1, 1923.

“Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act. And the act is a MARK of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters.” -Thomas, H.F., Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons (In answer to a letter regarding the change of the Sabbath.)

"Is not yet too late for Protestants to redeem themselves. Will they do it... will they indeed take the written word only, the Scripture alone, as their sole authority and their sole standard? Or will they still hold the indefensible, self contradictory, and suicidal doctrine and practice of following the authority of the Catholic Church and wear the SIGN of her authority? Will they keep the Sabbath of the Lord, the seventh day, according to Scripture? Or will they keep the Sunday according to the tradition of the Catholic church, - page 31, Rome's Challenge

Amazing! The "beast" claims his Mark is SUNDAY observance! Do you follow his Mark with your hand... a.k.a... actions? Do you have it and believe it with your forehead... a.k.a... mind and heart?

Besides locating his MARK from the beast himself, can it be shown from the bible that SUNDAY is the Mark of the beast? Absolutely! Let’s do that now, and afterwards, we need to find out about this “second” beast which came up out of the earth in Revelation 13:11, which will be the one who will “enforce” by law all to receive the first beast's Mark of authority.

With God’s seal being the Sabbath, the Beast's seal is the very opposite... Sunday. The bible says:

“That no man might buy or sell save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Revelation 13:17

Now some might say because of this verse and the following verse that the Mark of the beast is 666. But this can not be. The number 666 is definitely connected to the “Mark of the Beast” and also to the “name of the beast,” but 666 is not the Mark itself, simply because of the next verse, verse 18, which tells us that 666 is the number “of a man.” We showed in part 2 how the names and titles of the popes of Rome equal 666.

Now notice that it says in Revelation 13:17 that with out this Mark no man will be able to “buy” or “sell.” Most christians undertand that Satan ALWAYS counterfeits the Lord God, simply because he has always wanted to be God... "I will be like the most high." -Isaiah 14:14. Where have you heard such expression before, about not buying or selling? Of course... the SABBATH commandment. God makes it clear that NO BUSINESS TRANSATIONS ought to be done upon his holy day:

Exodus 20:8-10
(8) Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
(9) Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
(10) But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates.

Nehemiah made it clear that no buying or seeling was allowed upon the Sabbath day:

Nehemiah 13:16-17
(16) There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
(17) Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

Nehemiah 10:31
(31) And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.

Buying and Selling is strickly prohibited upon the Sabbath. Satan, in counterfeiting God, through the Beast FORCES all to not “buy or sell” either... but not upon God's holy day... upon the beast's holy day! We know Satan has his own counterfeit everything, including churches, prophets, etc. Is it a straneg notion to see how Satan will also counterfeit the Sabbath, seeing how this is the only commandment that shows clearly who the true God is... and he wants to be that god?

Some will ask, “If a certain day will be the Mark of the beast and not a ‘chip,’ how then will people know if you are obedient to the beast if you walk into a store to purchase something?” This is a good question. Let us always keep in mind the following points: first, the whole issue in Revelation 13 and 14 is on “worship.” This is what the enemy wants. By refusing to cease from work on Sabbath and doing work on Sunday, it will become obvious to others that you are a faithful Sabbath keeper. Our actions are wahst determine how we think. By simply being asked, a true christian will give an honest question, and refuse to go along with the spurious sabbath. Also, a chip... or some type of identification card can certiantly be used to identify the people of God. A chip or I.D. card it can be a tool used by the beast to identify who is obedient to him and who is not. A good example of this is the Holocaust. How do you think the Nazis identified who the sabbath keeping Jews were? There was an ID everyone was supposed to have, on it was printed whether you were a Jew or not. But more importantly, every Jew had to wear a six-point star on their clothing so everyone knew who they were. Those who were faithful Jews, so to not offend God (because if you didn’t have a star on your clothing, you were automatically considered a non-Jew) wore it faithfully and were persecuted! It was their decision (in their mind) to remain faithful to God, that caused them to be honest and wear (thir actions -hand) the identification. So, yes a card or some type of identity chip can certainly be used, but Revelation 13 or 14 does not give the slightest hint that the Mark will not in any way be electronic.

Now we've learned that the MARK of the antichrist system will be a counterfeit of God's mark... a false sabbath. Sunday.

Who is the second beast of Revelation 13:11? Lets read and dissect these verses together:

“And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and they which dwell therein to worship the first beast, who’s deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven in the sight of all man. And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast which had the wound by the sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the of the beast should both speak and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark…” -Revelation 13:11-17

Notice that this second “beast” and the “image” are not the same power. The beast tells those that “dwell upon the earth” to make the image. Remember in part 1 we learned that a beast in bible prophecy represents a “kingdom” -Daniel 7:23. So besides the kingdom of Rome, which is at this stage at the “feet” of the image in Daniel 2, partly strong and party weak (Daniel 2:42), this is another kingdom that comes up. Look around you; is Rome the same world dominating power it was years ago? No, it’s half strong and half weak. This is one clue in identifying this second kingdom; it means that this second kingdom is around today, since Revelation 13 shows that this second beast rose up “after” the first beast.

Let’s keep looking for more clues.

Notice as verse 11 continues, how it says that this second beast, or kingdom, came up out of the “earth.” If wet “sea, waters” represents many people... a highly populated area (Revelation 17:15), then “earth” which is not wet, but dry, is just the opposite. This means that this kingdom rises up in the very opposite form. Not highly populated, and not conquered by war as a “highly populated area” would be, like Rome. This kingdom would have to be “discovered.” That’s clue number two.

Lets notice one more clue.

Verse 11 continues, “…he had two horns like a lamb…” What does a lamb represent in the bible? Jesus Christ! When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he said, “Behold, the lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world!” -John 1:29. That means that this kingdom has to be a Christian nation with Christian principles. Can you guess with these three easy clues who this kingdom is?

Clue #1:This Kingdom has to be a young kingdom, and is around in the time that the Roman kingdom is partly strong and party weak: our days.
Clue #2: This kingdom has to be a “discovered” kingdom, not an already existing kingdom conquered by another.
Clue #3: This kingdom has to be a Christian kingdom with Christian principles.

The only kingdom that fits these descriptions is the United States of America!It exists today as a powerful nation, which was discovered early in the 1700’s and was established upon Christian principles. The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence of this country reflect Christian principles such as Freedom. And a “two horned lamp” reflects gentleness, mercy and peace. All other countries look towards protestant America for hope, knowing that in it are found these principles. But a change takes place within this country:

“…he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and they which dwell therein to worship the first beast, who’s deadly wound was healed.”

This country will have a change in character! This is not easy information to share, but we must expose Satan’s lies and inform the world of these soon approaching events.

“…And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven in the sight of all man. And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast which had the wound by the sword, and did live...”

Notice something that protestant America does. It performs miracles, and it does it in the sight of the antichrist beast. Almost as if the Popes have this country under tight supervision. Notice closely one of the miracles this country does. It causes fire to come down from heaven in the sight of all man. Is this literal fire? Remember, the book of Revelation is written in symbols. This means that this has to mean something. Well, what does fire represent? Many will say fire can represent God, since God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), but take note that this country is deceiving people, and God is not a deceiver. So this fire has to represent “tongues” as James 3:6 puts it. Where else in the bible do you remember a story where “tongues” of fire came down from heaven? That’s right, Pentecost!

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord is one place… And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind…and there appeared unto them cloven tongues, like as of fire… and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues.” Acts 2:1-4

Wow! That means that this country will, since its intentions are deceptive, make a “false” movement of TONGUES contrary to that of the true tongues movement of Acts 2! This has already happened in America! In the early 1800’s, a movement began within the churches of America where people began to speak in tongues. This movement is still around today and we mainly find it in Pentecostal churches. They claim they have the gift of tongues, but begin to speak gibberish. However, they do not realize that the true gift of tongues are supposed to be real “intelligent” languages, used only to teach others of different races the truth about Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 14:7-9; Acts 2), which will thereby edify the church!

This false tongues movement isn’t the only deceiving miracle that Protestant America performs. Miracles such as healing the sick and claiming to have visions through false teachers like Benny Hinn and more, will help in this movement to push Sunday legislation for so-called “peace.” But, “when they shall say Peace and Safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them…” -1 Thessalonians 5:3.

Do you know what else this means? That the protestant movement of America is in on all the deceiving! Notice this, Protestant America now tells those, by the means of these deceiving miracle, that everyone should make an “image” to the beast! Read Revelation 13:14. What is an image? Well the “beast” we learned is the Popes of Rome and his False religious system of worship, this means that the USA is telling its people to make an image, or to copy, the Roman church. An image is a copy of the real thing, a likeness (see Exodus 20:4, Genesis 1:26). When you look into the mirror, you’re looking at an image of the real thing, which is yourself. So that means, since the Roman Catholic Church is religious, this image is religious also. What is the opposite of the Catholic Church? Protestants! This is making sense now, Protestant America, with her false miracles, will become the ‘image’ of the beast, and will deceive the people to unite for the purpose of enforcing the Mark of the beast (Rev. 13:15-16), which we learned is Sunday observance! The Catholic Church being "the Mother” Rev. 17:5, and Protestants being her daughters “…of Harlots” because she holds to her same doctrines (like Sunday observance, immortality of the soul, etc). It’s no secret that the Catholic Church claims to be the Mother church.

“As is the mother, so is her daughter.” -Ezekiel 16:44.

But why are the Protestants becoming the image of the beast? Are they becoming the image of the beast now? Take a look at these following quotes and you be the judge:

“As the years went by, I (ex-Jesuit Alberto Rivera) would infiltrate hundreds of churches and organizations.”

“Around 1550 A.D., the Jesuits began infiltrating every religion and denomination. They are still doing it today in a much more sophisticated way, thanks to the Ecumenical/Charismatic movement and some fundamentalist churches.” –ALBERTO, pg. 18.

Believe it or not, Kathryn Kuhlman was used to infiltrate and fool the protestant Christians into unity with the Catholic System with the ever popular “Love Gospel.” Billy Graham was also used. See Double-Cross pg. 27-29, by Alberto Rivera, and SMOKESCREENS chapter 8 by Jack T. Chick.

According to Ex-Jesuit Dr. Alberto Rivera, all Protestant churches have been infiltrated by Jesuits for the purpose of introducing false doctrines and to unite all protestant churches with the Roman Catholic church under a One World Religion system, also known as the World Council of Churches, which nearly ALL the protestant churches are now a part of along side with religions such as Buddhism, Shinto and Satanism! In the book "Alberto" by Alberto Rivera, on page 18 and 28, he gives us a list of denominations targeted by the Jesuit priests:

Churches of God, Episcopalian, Methodist, Lutherans, Plymouth Brethren, Church of Christ, Nazarenes, Pentecostal, Seventh Day Adventist, Baptist, United Evangelicals, Assembly of God, Mormon, Jehovah’s Witness and much more!

Unfortunatly, Adventism was one of the very first churches attacked because of her strong stance against the Popes of Rome and it’s push for world domination. Seventh Day Adventism has been claiming through strong biblical evidence that the Roman Catholic Church is antichrist. Praise the Lord that there are still those churches still preaching the Three-Angels Message and the present truth about the Antichrist and Rome. Other churches like Lutherans and Calvinists who, at first also stood up against the Pope, now keep silent on the issue. Nearly all protestants have been internally quieted through the "love gospel" in order to keep these truths away from the public. The unbiblical idea that the Antichrist was either the emporer Nero or Antiochus Epiphanies has lead thousands to keep their eyes away from the activities of Rome. But neither one of these fit all 16 of these Identification Marks!

Can you imagine this country enforcing a National Sunday law? You think it’s impossible? Well think about these two things:

It’s an idea that to the unlearned it seems like a great opportunity to help unite the people, stop violence and usher in world peace. Thanks to terrorism, thousands of murders throughout the year, millions of money lost in pornography, thousands of pedophiles, corruption in the legal offices; because of these and more, people are begging for peace and many are willing to do anything for it, even alter the constitution! If Satan can scare the American people enough, they’ll beg for this! This idea to enforce a national day to unite everyone under the banner of “peace and safety” seems great. Since this is a supposed Christian country anyway, everyone should go to church on Sunday, if not, then take the day off and do no work therein, but work the Sabbath! And have you noticed the “religious” influence the Christian world has on the court systems? The national Sunday law is a religious law, and Christians (especially Catholics) are involved in politics!

See, people think that the Sabbath law is abolished, and that in keeping it we are causing the wrath of God to fall on the human race, like earthquakes and tsunami’s. Because people who don’t have an understanding of the Sabbath think that by continuing the keeping of it you insult the sacrifice Jesus did for us all on the cross. That’s not true! Jesus NEVER abolished the Sabbath law (Matthew 5:17-20) he kept the Sabbath law and gave us an example to follow (1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6) we keep the Sabbath along with all other laws no nailed to the cross out of LOVE (John 14:15; 1 John 5:3) and we are commanded to continue in Sabbath keeping (Hebrews 4:9)!

Peace is a great idea, and we should strive for it. But we can only have true peace on earth when we unite under the true banner of THE TRUTH.

Notice the Article below, and keep in mind that they believe the Sabbath to be “Sunday.”

Sabbath-breaking 'caused tsunami'

Christian minister calls disaster 'divine visitation' on Lord's Day

Posted: February 13, 20054:00 p.m. Eastern © 2005 WorldNetDaily.com
Rev. John MacLeod (photo: Grampian TV)

4A Christian minister claims the tsunami of Sunday, Dec. 26, killing at least 160,000 people, was direct result of "pleasure seekers" breaking God's Sabbath.

In the February issue of his church magazine, Rev. John MacLeod of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland writes: "Possibly ... no event since Noah's flood has caused such loss of life by drowning as the recent Asian tsunami. That so many of our fellow creatures should have perished in so short a time, and in so awful a fashion, was a divine visitation that ought to make men tremble the world over."

He continued: "Some of the places most affected by the tsunami attracted pleasure-seekers from all over the world. It has to be noted that the wave arrived on the Lord's day, the day God set apart to be observed the world over as a holy resting from all employments and recreations that are lawful on other days."

The tsunami, a series of tidal waves sparked by a subsea earthquake off Sumatra, arrived on Sunday morning, the day after Christmas, in countries including Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand.

MacLeod said: "To rule out the hand of God in this ... is to forget that He is in sovereign control of all events. If the sparrow falling to the ground is an event noted, and ordered, by Him, how much is this the case when the souls of so many thousands are parted from their bodies?"

The 74-year-old minister, now living in the London area after spending 35 years in Stornoway, Scotland, concluded: "Do not worldliness, materialism, hedonism, uncleanness, and pleasure-seeking characterize our own generation to a great extent and does not this solemn visitation in providence reminds us that He remains the same God still? God is no idle spectator of what is happening here in time and treats men with the sharpness and severity in order that they may know their vices."

Sunday legislation is actually not a new thing in this country. History shows that this country already had Sunday laws in in the past. They were called “blue” laws, and most of these blue laws are still in the court books today.

"Every man and woman shall repair in the morning to the divine service and sermons preached upon the Sabbath (Sunday), and in the afternoon to divine service, and catechizing, upon pain for the first fault to lose their provision and the allowance for the whole week following; for the second, to lose the said allowance and also be whipped; and for the third to suffer death." -Laws, and Orders, Divine, Politique, & Martial For the Colony in Virginia: established by Sir Gates, Knight, Lieutenant - General, the 24th of May, 1610

“Ever since 1888, there has been a continual push for Sunday to be the official day of rest. Especially in 1961, when the Supreme Court Chief Justice, Warren Recesses, upheld Sunday laws as being Constitutional in the United States!” -Braunfeld vs Brown, 366 U.S. 599 (1961); also see Dateline Sunday, p 42, by Warren Johns.

"It seems to be plain that by these laws, the states compel one, under the sanction of law, to refrain from work or recreation on Sunday because of the majority's views on that day. The state by law makes Sunday a symbol of or adherence." - Justice William O. Douglas McGOWAN ET AL. v. MARYLAND SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES 366 U.S. 420 May 29, 1961, Decided

"The Lord's Day Alliance of the United States was founded in 1888 to maintain and promote the Sabbath (Sunday) as a day of rest, worship, Christian education and spiritual renewal... I, Joe Frank Harris, Governor of the State of Georgia, do hereby proclaim the day of February 12, 1989 [Sunday], as a special day for THE LORD'S DAY ALLIANCE OF THE UNITED STATES as they celebrate their 101st anniversary, and for placing emphasis on the importance of observing Sunday as the Lord's Day." -Copy of A Proclamation: By the Governor of the State of Georgia, signed and sealed on January 25, 1989, by Governor Joe Frank Harris.

These blue laws are in effect today, just not nationally, only in some areas here and there, like Virginia, where on Sunday it is against the law to hunt on Sunday.

The Emperor Constantine, the first Pope, was the first to enforce Sunday observance by Law:

“Let all the judges and town people, and the occupation of all trades rest on the venerable day of the sun.” -Edict of March 7, 321 A.D. Corpus Juris Civilis Cod., lib. 3, tit. 12, Lex. 3.

“The earliest recognition of the observance of Sunday as a legal duty is a constitution of Constantine in 321 A.D. enacting that all courts of justice, habitants of towns, and workshops were to be at rest on Sunday (venerabili die Solis), with an exception in favor of those engaged in agricultural labor.” -Encyclopedia Britannica, 9nt edition, article “Sunday.”

"This Sunday law constituted no real favoritism to Christianity... It is evident from all his statuatory provisions that the Emperor during the time 313-323 with full consciousness has sought the realization of his religious aim: the amalgamation of heathenism and Christianity." -Dr. A.Chr. Bang - Kirken og Romerstaten (The Church and the Roman State) p.256. Christiania, 1879.

"They [the Protestants] deem it their duty to keep the Sunday holy. Why? Because the Catholic Church tells them to do so. They have no other reason.... The observance of Sunday thus comes to be an ecclesiastical law entirely distinct from the divine law of Sabbath observance.... The author of the Sunday law...is the Catholic Church." -Ecclesiastical Review, February 1914.

So we see that its not impossible for this to happen, it has happened before in other countries, it has happened here in American, and as prophesied, it will happen once again, this time NATIONALLY.

Is it close? Do leaders want this national Sunday law? Are also Christian leaders pushing for it? Read the following quotes and judge for yourselves:

"All businesses, including gasoline stations and restaurants, should be closed every Sunday... by force of legislative fiat through the duly elected officials of the people." -Harold Lindsell, Editor of Christianity Today -May 7, 1976

“Ever since 1888, there has been a continual push for Sunday to be the official day of rest. Especially in 1961, when the Supreme Court Chief Justice--Warren Recesses, upheld Sunday laws as being Constitutional in the United States! -Braunfeld vs Brown, 366 U.S. 599 (1961); also see Dateline Sunday, p 42, by Warren Johns.

How about some more recent quotes:

“If we believe that religion is true, we should be reintroducing a criminal penalty for those who fail to attend church on Sunday” -Daily Independent 4-11-98 -Sara Maitland "On the issues of belief”

“The National Assembly has voted in favour of legislative changes that demand the closure of shops on Sundays. The lawmakers decided unanimously, with 63 votes, to implement the will of the Slovenian voters, who decided at a referendum last September that shops should be closed on Sunday, bar a few exceptions. …By adopting the bill of changes to the trading act, the National Assembly set down that as of 15 September shops have to be closed on Sunday. Shops with "essential food products" are an exception, as they will be permitted to open ten Sundays a year. Moreover, there will be no limits for shops at petrol stations, hospitals, hotels, airports, border crossings, train and bus stations of area not exceeding 80 sq. metres.” -Source: Slovene Press Agency STA (For additional articles in this region as well as this one, see this… http://www.gzs.si/eng/news/sbw/past.asp?idi=319 )

“The European Union has set up the policy that every member-state must have one day of rest during the week. But the policy explicitly states that the designated day needs to be Sunday, since for reasons of “religious pluralism” a nation’s government might choose another day. In Italy, the designation of Sunday as a “day of rest” was first set in 1993. That policy was changed in 2000, however, when – in order to grant more flexibility for employers – the nation required only that every employer provide workers with a 24-hour rest period each week. But by August 2003, under the new European policy, Italy will again be required to fix a certain “day of rest.” In an interview with the daily Corriere della Sera, Bishop Giancario Bregantini – who heads a committee dealing with social issues for the Italian bishops’ conference said… “How can you overlook the fact that Sunday is a special day for millions of Europeans?” -The Catholic World Report, February 2000.

"Without saying so explicitly, the Ten Commandments set the only order that will bring world peace... The next obligation that a citizen of God's world order owes is himself. "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy," is a command for a personal benefit of each citizen..." -Pat Robertson, The New World Order, p. 233,236

(NOTE: Pat Robertson keeps Sunday as the Sabbath. And did you notice how his idea of world peace is Sunday observance? And how the name of his book is called New World Order? Think about that…).

“Christians will naturally strive to ensure that civil legislation respects their duty to keep Sunday holy” –Pope John Paul II Dios Domini p 112

“The Pope is calling for global Sunday observance.” -From the Brook, July-Sept 1998 Vol. 4, No. 3

"It is so dangerous when people are divided over language, ethnicity, and religion." Hakismana said Wednesday. His parents and six siblings were killed in Rwanda's 1994 civil war; and he subsequently devoted his life to promoting peace. "People need this world Sabbath, the whole world needs it." -January 25, 2001 Detroit Free Press.

(Note: Did you notice how TRAGITY plays a key role in all this? In promoting PEACE, this gentleman insists the WORLD needs the Sabbath, which to him is on Sunday.)

“What Protestant pulpit does not ring almost every Sunday with loud and impassioned invectives against Sabbath violation? Who can forget the fanatical clamor of the Protestant ministers throughout the length and breadth of the land, against opening the gates of the World's Fair on Sunday? The thousands of petitions, signed by millions, to save the Lord's Day from desecration?” Rome's Challenge to Protestants [From the Catholic Mirror of Sept. 2, 1893].

“In respecting religious liberty and the common good of all, Christians should seek recognition of Sundays and the Church's holy days as legal holidays. They have to give everyone a public example of prayer, respect, and joy and defend their traditions as a precious contribution to the spiritual life of society. If a country's legislation or other reasons require work on Sunday, the day should nevertheless be lived as the day of our deliverance which lets us share in this "festal gathering," this "assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven." – Catechism of the Catholic Church: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c1a3.htm#I

“Why is the civil recognition of Sunday as a feast day important? It is important so that all might be given the real possibility of enjoying sufficient rest and leisure to take care of their religious, familial, cultural and social lives. It is important also to have an opportune time for meditation, for reflection, for silence, for study, and a time to dedicate to good works, particularly for the sick and for the elderly.” -Compendium OF THE CATECHISM OF THECATHOLIC CHURCH, chap. 1, question 454, http://www.vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html

Pope Benedict payed the USA a visit some months ago. At a meeting with cardenals, he was told that one of the major priorities for them is on Sunday observance:

"The episcopal conference has recently identified the strengthening of marriage and of family life as one of five priorities for our common attention in the next several years. The other four are protecting the life and dignity of the human person at every stage of life's journey; handing on the faith in the context of sacramental practice and the observance of Sunday worship; fostering vocations to ordained priesthood and consecrated life; and profiting from the cultural diversity of the church here, especially from the gifts of Hispanic Catholics." -Cardinal Francis E. George to Pope Benedict XVI on behalf of the bishops at their meeting at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. 04/16/2008 7:24 PM ET http://www.uspapalvisit.org/speeches/text02_nationalshrine_george.%20htm

Notice the context is set within legislation. By "marriage" is implied protecting marriage by "law" against homosexual marriage, and by "protecting life" is of course meant the protecting of babies against legal abortion. Following these... is their concern for Sunday observance.

Now notice this cartoon below that appeared in the newspaper, and keep in mind that according to Jack Chick and Ex-Jesuit Alberto Rivera, the newspaper media is controlled by Catholic Jesuits (see SMOKESCREENS by J.T.C.):

Original source of above cartoon = http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/fun/hi.asp?date=20050611

(Note: As time goes by, things change. The links provided in this booklet might or might not have been changed ever since they have been released).

Time To Depart

Can you imagine Christians killing Christians? Can you imagine a country forcing you to go against your beliefs? Remember, this “lamb” like country will soon “speak as a dragon, and exercise the power of the first beast.” It has already begun; all it needs is to become national by the complete unity of the religions. The mark of the Beast will soon be enforced by civil law as prophesied in the bible, and soon you will be faced with having to make a decision to either obey God’s law, or to obey man’s law. My friends, this is not a joke. This is serious. The devil means business, he wants to destroy as many souls as possible and he is cleverly doing it through his false system of worship. Jesus pleads that we depart from fellowshipping with such apostate organizations:

“Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” -Revelation 18:4

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” -2 Corinthians 6:17

God lovingly says:

“As I live says the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his ways and live: turn ye turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” -Ezekiel 33:11.

A new inquisition is on the horizon. We invote you to become aware of the warnings contained within the late Dr. Alberto Rivera’s videos and books for this fact. He was in insider in the Vatican, and was being trained along with many other Jesuits on how to infiltrate this countries legal systems, banks, universities/collages, and religious churches in order to fool the people into uniting for the one purpose of submitting to that catholic system and receive her mark, if not suffer death. They couldn’t care less what you call yourself; Baptist, Pentecostal, Methodist, it does not matter, as long as you do not unite with her and her ideas. Friends, beware of this dreaded mark and this religious masterpiece Satan has cooked up. If you find your church orginization compromising the truth, and uniting with the "whore of Babylon" of Revelation 17, the Catholic Church, remove yourselves from that place. We are called to be "seperate." God’s true commandment keeping people are in separate churches, home churches, away from these satanic influences. Jesus said:

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” -Matthew 18:20.

The way to salvation is through the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is nothing we can do to gain salavtion... except believe in him and receive his free gift of salvation. Your life with him, and your love for him, will manifest itself through you by your actions. This is the first angels message! To come to the father through his son, and obey his word!

Jesus boldly says, “I am the way the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the father, but by me” John 14:6

Many dont seek Jesus because he asks that we turn from our pleasure loving sins and walk perfectly in God’s sight through him. Yet there is none other like Jesus. No other God can compare to him, because no other god has shown such love to his creations. Only Jesus can relate to your pains, sufferings, trials and temptations. Because he went through it all while on earth, and suffered death on the cross. No other god can understand us like Christ can... no, not Allah, Buddha, Krishna, Muhammad or Confucius. Only Jesus!

“Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” -John 15:13

Jesus died the death we all deserve because of our rebellion against God’s moral precepts. But he came to offer a way out, a way to eternal life, and that way is through him. We can only appear in the presence of the father in perfect righteousness. Yet since ours is as filthy rags, God has given us his righteousness through in the form of his only begotten Son. He conquered both sin and death, so that we may live with him!

“And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then shall he (Jesus) answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.” Zechariah 13:6

Are you a believer already and have read this information for the first time? Then the Lord is calling you to return to him in humble obedience to his laws, and while believing on Jesus, allow his transforming power to change your mind to live the perfect life he wants you to live. Those truly saved and living under grace are obedient to him who gave him that grace, Jesus Christ the creator of the “heavens the earth and the sea” –Colossians 1:16! Will you be among those in these last days, classified as those who are obedient to God’s law? Will you have the seal of the father placed in your forehead?

“Here is the patience of the saints, here are they that keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12

Are you someone who does not know Jesus as your personal savior? “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38. Believe in him who died and was risen after three days for your salvation, let him change your every way of living and thinking for the greater good, obey his every word, read his bible, and pray without ceasing so that you fall not into deception.

(If you have decided to follow God for the first time, and need biblical guidance as to how to begin living your life, please contact this ministry for the FREE book, “Steps to Christ.”)

The warnings written in this booklet are for all who read it. Will you heed these warnings? Will you follow Christ? Will you live forever?

The choice is yours… make the right decision today!

“Multitudes, Multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near, in the valley of decision.” Joel 3:14

Thomas Cranmer
(Anglican)

"Whereof it followeth Rome to be the seat of antichrist, and the pope to be very antichrist himself. I could prove the same by many other scriptures, old writers, and strong reasons." (Referring to prophecies in Revelation and Daniel.) -Taken from Works by Cranmer, Vol. 1, pp. 6-7.

2008-05-22T12:43:00.004-04:00

Who is the Antichrist? Part 2
Identifying Him

If you have not read part 1 of this study, please do not read part 2 until you do so, since it can only cause unnecessary confusion. “Let all things be done decently and in order.” -1 Corinthians 14:40.

Now that we know that the antichrist resides in ROME, we need to find out who in Rome fits all 16 biblical identifying marks. Some say the Antichrist was the Emperor Nero, because he furiously attacked and killed thousands of Christians. Nero was certainty a antichrist, but he wasn’t THE antichrist... why? Well he does not fit all 16 of the identification marks we have come up with in part 1. Nevertheless, someone fits all these, and we are about to find out who it is. Come, let us reason together…

“He that answereth (to turn back, see your concordance) a matter before he heareth it, it is folly (silliness) and shame (disgrace) unto him.” –Proverbs 18:13

1. He will rise up out of the ten divisions of Rome.

It’s a proven fact that the Roman Catholic Church (after is has turned into a supposed Christian church, not while being Pagan Rome), with the Popes at its head, is found within Western Europe, and it came up ‘among’ the ten divisions, and ‘after’ the ten horns (Daniel 7:24). The first Pope was Constantine at about 313 A.D. The “Papacy” came into the picture with power after 476 A.D., and at 538 AD was where the papacy received complete power of church and state with military protection. It was in 476 AD that PAGAN Rome fell, which resulted in the formation of these 10 kingdoms.

2. He will destroy three of these kings of these ten divisions, the Heruli, Vandals and the Ostrogoths.

In his rise to power, all of Eastern Europe bowed the knee to the Pope except these three Gothic tribes. These were destroyed:

-The Heruli – destroyed by the Roman Pope in 492AD

-The Vandals – destroyed by the Roman Pope in 534AD

-The Ostrogoths – destroyed by the Roman Pope in 538AD

The power of these kings were given to the Pope. The power of the Papacy was established by Justinian’s decree in 533 AD and was carried out by force of arms in 538 AD with the overthrow of the Ostrogoths by Justinian’s general, Belisarius. 538 AD was the beginning reign of terror of the Papacy with full power, where he began to use threats of torture and death to force others to bow to the Pope and to the authority of the Catholic Church. This is also where the 1260-year prophecy begins. More on this on Identification mark #14.

“Catholic emperors of the eastern empire found ways to help the pope by eliminating three of the Arian tribes. (These "Arian type" nations would not agree with the pope’s plans) The Catholic emperor Zeno (474-491) arranged a treaty with the Ostrogoths in 487 which resulted in the eradication of the kingdom of the Arian Heruls in 492. And the catholic emperor Justinian (527-565) exterminated the Arian Vandals in 534 and signifcally broke the power of the Arian Ostrogoths in 538.” -The Heruls, the Vandals, and the Ostrogoths - "plucked up by the roots." -C. Mervyn Maxwell, God Cares Vol. 1, p. 129

“In 538AD, the year when the Ostrogoths collapsed, it was out of the smoking ruins of the western Roman Empire and after the overthrow of the three Arian kingdoms that the pope of Rome emerged as the most important single individual in the West, the head of a closely organized church with a carefully defined creed and with vast potential for political influence. Dozens of writers have pointed out that the real survivor of the ancient Roman Empire was the Church of Rome.” -E.G. McKenzie, "Catholic Church" p. 14.

(The Divine Program of the World’s History, by H. Grattan Gueness, pp. 318-321.
Historian Machiavelli also comments on the ten divisions of Rome after the death of the last Roman Emperor Romulus Augustus).

3. He will “speak great words against the most high” Meaning, he will speak “blasphemy” (Rev. 13:5), which means to claim to be God and to forgive sins (See John 10:33, Mark 2:7).

Look up those verses, John 10:33 and Mark 2:7. The Priests claim to be able to forgive sins, and the Popes have claimed many times to be God on earth:

"This judicial authority will even include the power to forgive sin." -The Catholic Encyclopaedia Vol 12, -article "Pope" pg 265

“Thou art the shepherd, thou art the physician, thou art the director, thou art the husbandman, and finally thou art another God on earth.” -Labbe and Coccart’s “History of the Councils,” Volume XIV, col. 109.

The title “Lord God the Pope,” is found in a gloss on the Extravagants of Pope John XXII, title 14, chapter 4, Declaramus.

One of the biblical definitions of “worship” is to “kiss the hand.” Look up the Greek word “proskuneo” translated “worship” in your concordance. Here are some more quotes, look them up yourselves!

"It seems that Pope John Paul II now presides over the universal Church from his place upon Christ's cross." -"Auckland Bishop Says Pope Presides From the Cross" AUCKLAND, New Zealand, SEPT. 20, 2004, Zenit.org

"The Pope is of so great dignity, and so exalted that he is not a mere man, but as it were God, and the vicar of God." -Ferraris Ecclesiastical dictionary

"All names which in the Scriptures are applied to Christ, by virtue of which it is established that He is over the church, all the same names are applied to the Pope." - On the Authority of the Councils, book 2, chapter 17.

"The Pope and God are the same, so he has all power in Heaven and earth." -Pope Pius V, quoted in Barclay, Chapter XXVII, p. 218, "Cities Petrus Bertanous".

“Pope Nicholas I declared that "the appellation of God had been confirmed by Constantine on the Pope, who, being God, cannot be judged by man." - Labb IX Dist.: 96 Can. 7, Satis evidentur, Decret Gratian Primer Para.

"We hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty" -Pope Leo XIII Encyclical Letter of June 20, 1894

"The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, he is Jesus Christ himself, hidden under the veil of flesh." -Catholic National July 1895.

These quotes are from authoritative works by Catholic dignitaries. For more quotes, refer to the book “National Sunday Law” by A. Jan Marcussen, Appendix 3, p. 77. Contact this ministry for a FREE copy of this book.

4. He will “wear out” the saints of God. He is a persecuting power.

With the killings of faithful martyrs such a Huss and Jerome, the Waldenses, the Lollards, the Bohemians, the killings in Poland, the massacre of Bartholomew, the murders by fire in Spain and Italy, and the secret murders of millions in the cruel institution of the Inquisition, the holy Catholic Church and her Popes are responsible for over 100 million deaths of innocent lovers of Christ. No other institution has killed so many people; the history books are full of blood-soaked page's of faithful martyrs for Christ.

“More then 300,000 suffered persecution in Spain alone, of whom 31, 912 died in the flames. Millions more were slain for their faith throughout Europe.” Quoted from “The History of the Inquisition in Spain,” by Llorente, pp. 206-208. Printed in Bible Readings for the Home, (Washington: Review & Herald Pub. Assoc., 1942) p. 221.

"The Catholic Church has persecuted ... when she thinks it is good to use physical force she will use it... Will the Catholic Church give bond that she will not persecute?... The Catholic Church gives no bonds for her ‘good behavior’." -Western Watchman, Dec. 24, 1908 (emphasis added).

"For teaching faith contrary to the teaching of the Church of Rome, history records the martyrdom of more than 100 million people." -Brief Bible Readings p. 16

For more History reference on this fact: “History of Romanism” (1871 ed.), book 6, chapter 5; sec. 62. “The Western Watchmen (Roman Catholic),” of Louis. “The First Two Visions of Daniel,” by T.R. Birks, M.A., pp. 258, 259. See Identification mark #14 for the prophetic period called the Dark Ages, in which this antichrist system committed most of its persecutions.

5. He “thinks to change times and laws” Daniel 7:25.

In Daniel 7:25, speaking of this fourth king, the antichrist, we are told:

"And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time." Daniel 7:25

Now compare that with the following quote:

"The Pope has the power to change times, to abrogate laws, and to dispense with all things, even the precepts of Christ." "The Pope has the authority and often exercised it, to dispense with the command of Christ." -Decretal, de Tranlatic Episcop. Cap. (The Pope can modify divine law.) Ferraris' Ecclesiastical Dictionary.

Which laws has the Roman Catholic Church changed? The second commandment forbidding images, and the fourth commandment! See the Catholic Catechism. Which "law" of God has to do with “time” and is also a “law?” The Sabbath is a law having to do with time; this law has been changed by the Catholic Church, and its no secret:

"It was the Catholic Church which... transferred this rest (Saturday as the Sabbath) to the Sunday... Thus the observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an homage they pay, in spite of themselves, to the authority of the (Catholic) Church." -Monsignor Louis Segur, "Plain Talk about the Protestantism of Today" page 213.

"Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change (from Saturday to Sunday) was her act. It could not have been otherwise, as none in those days would have dreamed of doing anything in matters spiritual and religious without her, and the act is a mark of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters." -Letter from H.F. Thomas, Chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons.

"Perhaps the boldest thing, the most revolutionary change the [Catholic] Church ever did, happened in the first century. The holy day, the Sabbath, was changed from Saturday to Sunday. 'The day of the Lord' was chosen, not from any direction noted in the Scriptures, but from the Church's sense of its own power.... People who think that the Scriptures should be the sole authority, should logically become Seventh-day Adventists, and keep Saturday holy." -Saint Catherine Church Sentinel, Algonac, Michigan, May 21, 1995.

"Sunday is a Catholic institution and its claim to observance can be defended only on Catholic principles.... From beginning to end of Scripture there is not a single passage that warrants the transfer of weekly public worship from the last day of the week to the first." -Catholic Press, Sydney, Australia, August, 1990.

"The Catholic Church of its own infallible authority created Sunday a holy day to take the place of the Sabbath of the old law," -Kansas City Catholic, February 9, 1893

“The authority of the church could therefore not be bound to the authority of the Scriptures, because the Church had changed the Sabbath into Sunday, not by command of Christ, but by its own authority.” -Canon and Tradition, p. 263

"The seventh-day Sabbath was solemnized [i.e. observed] by Christ, the Apostles and the primitive Christians - until the Council of Laodicea did, in a manner, quite abolish the observance of it. The Council (A.D. 364) first settled the observance of the Lord's Day" -Wm Prynne: Dissertations on the Lord's Day. Prynne was a 17th century Puritan.

"Regarding the change from the observance of the Jewish Sabbath to the Christian Sunday, I wish to draw your attention to the facts:

1) That Protestants, who accept the Bible as the only rule of faith and religion, should by all means go back to the observance of the Sabbath. The fact that they do not, but on the contrary observe the Sunday, stultifies them in the eyes of every thinking man.

2) We Catholics do not accept the Bible as the only rule of faith. Besides the Bible we have the living Church, the authority of the Church, as a rule to guide us. We say, this Church, instituted by Christ to teach and guide man through life, has the right to change the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament and hence, we accept her change of the Sabbath to Sunday. We frankly say, yes, the Church made this change.” -Peter R. Kraemer- Catholic Church Extension Society (1975), Chicago, Illinois.

The Catholic Church also claims that if you are not obeying the true Sabbath, but are instead observing Sunday, you are obeying the authority of the Pope:

"From this we may understand how great is the authority of the church in interpreting or explaining to us the commandments of God- an authority which is acknowledged by the universal practice of the whole Christian world, even of those sects profess to take the holy Scriptures as their sole rule of faith, since they observe as the day of rest not the seventh day of the week demanded by the Bible, but the first day. Which we know is to be kept holy, only from the tradition and teaching of the Catholic church." - Henry Gibson "Catechism Made Easy" No 2 ninth edition volume one pp. 341, 342 Authoritative quotations on the Sabbath and Sunday.

"The Church changed the observance of the Sabbath to Sunday by right of the divine, infallible authority given to her by her Founder, Jesus Christ. The Protestant, claiming the Bible to be the only guide of faith, has no warrant for observing Sunday. -The Catholic Universe Bulletin, Aug. 14, 1942, p.4

"It is not yet too late for Protestants to redeem themselves. Will they do it?... will they indeed take the written word only, the Scripture alone, as their sole authority and their sole standard? Or will they still hold the indefensible, self contradictory, and suicidal doctrine and practice of following the authority of the Catholic church and wear the sign of her authority? Will they keep the Sabbath of the Lord, the seventh day, according to Scripture? Or will they keep the Sunday according to the tradition of the Catholic Church, -Rome's challenge, page 31

God says, “Remember the Sabbath day… for the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God…” Exodus 20:8-11. Yet the Catholic Church says:

"No! By my divine power I abolish the Sabbath day, and command you to keep the first day of the week. And lo, the entire civilized world bows down in reverent obedience to the command of the holy Catholic Church!" -Father Enright, C.S.S.R. of the Redemptoral College, Kansas City, Mo., History of the Sabbath, p. 802

We will learn in part 3 how important it is to observe the Sabbath, and how dangerous it is to tamper with God’s law and observe Sunday instead. At the end of this part, I will show you some quotes that show how Sunday observance is rooted in pagan sun worship.

6. He resides in Rome and deceives the nations with “peace.”

Pope calls for a new world order
Thursday, January 1, 2004 Posted: 9:21 AM EST (1421 GMT)

VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Pope John Paul II rang in the New Year on Thursday with a renewed call for peace in the Middle East and Africa and the creation of a new world order based on respect for the dignity of man and equality among nations.

Pope John Paul is responsible for more peace activity between countries and religions around the world then almost any other person or organization on earth. While peace is good, we need to understand what the true intention of this “peace and safety” movement is really about. Look at the following pictures:

The bible very plainly says:

“What communion hath light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14

“Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” Ephesians 5:11

We need to have Unity and Peace in TRUTH, which Jesus will accomplish in us, not with other religions, which deny Jesus Christ. This type of peace is dangerous... a compromise!

“And when they shall say, Peace and Safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them.” -1 Thessalonians 5:3.

Dr. Alberto Rivera, Ex-Catholic Jesuit, affirms that while he was a dedicated Jesuit, he was being trained on how to infiltrate all protestant churches and Universities in order to introduce Catholic teachings, and to finally in the end move the crowd to preach the “love gospel” who’s goal is to UNITE ALL religions under one banner (to compromise), no matter what name they may have, whether Baptist or Methodist, as long as they are in unity with the Catholic Church through her beliefs. Her goal, in the end, is to set up the ONE WORLD ORDER with the Pope as the leader. Ex-Priest Chiniquy agrees that this is the ultimate goal of the Catholic Church system and the Jesuit order, to unite the world under the banner of the Pope! Read the books “50 years in the Church of Rome” by Chiniquy and “Double-Cross” by Alberto Rivera.

To unite with unbelievers is strictly forbidding in the scriptures (2 Corinthians 6:14). We are not to unite under “love,” we are to unite under the TRUTH which produces true love.

7. His kingdom is a Political and Religious kingdom, meaning he has unity between “church” and “state.”

Remember, a BEAST in prophecy symbolizes a NATION (Daniel 7:23), and this NATION demanding worship (Rev. 14:9), is pictured as a women (Rev. 17:3-6) which in bible prophecy symbolizes a church (Jer. 6:2). This means that its both political and religious. Dr. Alberto Rivera, the ex-Jesuit, affirms:

“No other religious system has [these] two powers, both political and religious.” -The Godfathers, pg. 3.

“The Vatican is a government itself. It is a political state of which every Roman Catholic becomes a member at the time of baptism… Their allegiance should be to Rome first, then to the country in which they were born.” -Double-Cross, pg. 29

8. Is a great “city” which resides in Rome between 7 mountains (Revelation 17:9 and 18).

It is a known fact that Vatican City (the women of Revelation 17) who is riding the beast (Rome) resides between 7 mountains, or hills. Even the Catholic Encyclopedia acknowledges this:

"It is within the city of Rome, called The City on Seven Hills, that the entire area of Vatican State Proper is now confined" -The Catholic Encyclopedia, p. 529.

ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA
Query ~ Seven Hills of Rome
"...group of hills on or about which the ancient city of Rome was built. The original city of Romulus was built upon Palatine Hill (#1) (Latin: Mons Palatinus). The other hills are the Capitoline, (#2) Quirinal, (#3) Viminal, (#4) Esquiline, (#5) Caelian, (#6) and Aventine (#7) (known respectively in Latin as the Mons Capitolinus, Mons Quirinalis, Mons Viminalis, Mons Esquilinus, Mons Caelius, and Mons Aventinus)." -http://www.britannica.com/seo/s/seven-hills-of-rome/

9. He is a “man” and his name will equal 666.

The chosen language of the Roman Church is Latin. Is is both their ALPHABET and numeric system. This numeric system is called: ROMAN NUMERALS. Now notice this:

The name "JOHN PAUL II" in Latin is: IOANES PAVLVS SECVNDO

(John)
IOANES
I = 1, O = 0, A = 0, N = 0, E = 0, S = 0. TOTAL = 1

(Paul)
PAVLVS
P = 0, A = 0, V = 5, L = 50, V = 5, S = 0. TATAL = 60

(II)
SECVNDO
S = 0, E = 0, C = 100, V = 5, N = 0, D = 500, O = 0. TATAL = 605

GRAND TOTAL: 605 + 60 + 1 = 666

"The letters inscribed in the Pope's miter are these 'VICARIUS FILII DEI'. which is the Latin for 'VICAR OF THE SON OF GOD.' Catholics hold that the church, which is a visible society, must have a visible head... as head of the church, was given the title, 'VICAR OF CHRIST'. -Our Sunday Visitor, (Catholic Weekly) 'Bureau of information,' Huntington, Ind., April 18, 1915.

Vicarius Filii Dei, is cited by the rector of Berlin, Andreas Helwig [or Helwich] (1572-1643) in his Antichristus Romanus. Take a look at this website for more documents which contain this title: http://www.aloha.net/~mikesch/666.htm"

This same exact title for the Pope is used on pages 114 and 122 of this book called, "The Keys of this Blood." By Malachi Martin, who is a Roman Catholic author.

Let see if this title of the popes will equal 666:

VICARIUS
V = 5, I = 1, C = 100, A = 0, R = 0, I = 1, U = 5, S = 0. TOTAL = 112

FILII
F = 0, I = 1, L = 50, I = 1, I = 1. TOTAL = 53

DEI
D = 500, E = 0, I = 1. TOTAL = 501

GRAND TOTAL = 501 + 112 + 53 = 666

ALL the popes have this title because it means they are all the “Vicar of the Son of God” here on earth.

In HEBREW, the phrase “Roman Man” will also equal 666. Read closely:

(Roman Man)
ROMITI
R = 200, O = 6, M = 40, I = 10, T = 400, I = 10. TOTAL = 666

TOTAL = 666

There are over 50 titles for the pope and his city and religion that will equal 666. Titles such as Vicar of the Court, Italian Church, Roman Kingdom and Holy light of God which is what the Vatican sometimes calls herself. Contact the ministry for references on these.

10. He and his kingdom (the city –Rev. 17:18) are a “Rich” church (Rev. 17:4) wearing the colors purple and scarlet.

“The Catholic Church is the biggest financial power, wealth accumulator and property owner in existence. She is a greater possessor of material riches than any other single institution, corporation, bank, giant trust, government or state of the whole globe. The pope, as the visible ruler of this immense amassment of wealth, is consequently the richest individual in the twentieth century. No one can realistically assess how much he is worth in terms of billions of dollars.” –The Vatican Billions, by Avro Manhattan.

Scarlet in the bible represents “SIN” -Isaiah 1:18. Notice in the Pictures below, the PURPLE and SCARLET colors of the Roman Popes and Priests:

"…deplored the roman popes as "monsters of guilt" and declared in a council called by the King of France in 991ad that the pontiff, clad in purple and gold, was, "Antichrist, sitting in the temple of God, and showing himself as God" -Phillip Schaff, History of the Christian church, 8 vols., reprint of the 3d (1910)ed. (Grand Rapids Mich.: Wm. B Eerdmans Publishing Co., n.d.)

11. He does not desire "women" and forbids marriage.

"Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all." -Daniel 11:37.

“In the latter some shall depart from the faith… speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry…” 1 Timothy 4:1-3.

The Catholic Church, through her institution of nuns and priests, and monastery, forbids marriage. See the following quote:

"Celibacy is the renunciation of marriage implicitly or explicitly made, for the more perfect observance of chastity, by all those who receive the Sacrament of Orders in any of the higher grades." -Catholic Encyclopedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03481a.htm).

Yet God blesses marriage, and the bible says we are NOT to forbid marriage (1 Timothy 3:2; 1 Corinthians 7:9, 36).

“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife” 1 Timothy 3:2

Have you noticed how this antichrist has tampered with both the Sabbath and Marriage (Genesis 1:28 and Genesis 2:1-3), the only two institutions instituted BEFORE sin?

12. He is famous and everyone admires him (Rev. 13:3) and is among many “peoples and nations and tongues” as represented by the “sea and waters” Rev. 17:15.

Notice the following quotes:

“During his reign, the pope travelled extensively, visiting over 100 countries, more than any of his predecessors. He was said to have canonized more people than all popes before him put together (though early records are incomplete). Pope John Paul II was extremely popular worldwide, attracting the largest crowds in history. One of his popular phrases in the early part of his reign was to tell huge crowds "John Paul 2...he loves you…" Pope John Paul II died in the Papal Apartments while a vast crowd kept vigil in St Peter's Square below. Millions of people flocked to Rome to pay their respects to the body and for his funeral. ” -From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Paul_II.

“Pope John Paul II was one of the most significant world figures in the 20th century and one of the most famous popes in the history of the Catholic church. His unprecedented willingness to travel the world and his media savvy allowed him to reach over 1 billion Catholic parishioners in over 100 countries during his long tenure as pope. He drew huge crowds of devoted followers wherever he went, and no doubt many of them will seek to remember him long after his reign has ended.” –Taken from: www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=82160

“The anniversary of Pope John Paul II's death was remembered last night at the Vatican by Pope Benedict XVI and tens of thousands of people who gathered in and around St. Peter's Square during a candlelight vigil.” –Monday, April 03, 2006. Pope John Paul II is Remembered.

“Looking tired, Benedict led nearly 100,000 pilgrims, tourists and Romans in Mass in St. Peter's Square.” -Pope Benedict XVI Celebrates Easter Mass, Turns 79. Sunday, Aril 16, 2006 – Yahoo! News.

The world really does “wonder after the beast!”

13. He denies Jesus came in the flesh (1 John 4:3).

"And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world." 1 John 4:3

The antichrist has to deny Jesus came in the flesh. Let's look up the greek word "flesh" in the greek Lexicon and see what it can mean:

Strong's Hebrew/Greek Concordance:

sarx: Probably from the base of G4563; flesh (as stripped of the skin), that is, (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit), or as the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred, or (by implication) human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions), or (specifically) a human being (as such): - carnal (-ly, + -ly minded), flesh ([-ly]).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon:

Thayer Definition:
1) flesh (the soft substance of the living body, which covers the bones and is permeated with blood) of both man and beasts

2) the body 2a) the body of a man 2b) used of natural or physical origin, generation or relationship 2b1) born of natural generation 2c) the sensuous nature of man, "the animal nature" 2c1) without any suggestion of depravity 2c2) the animal nature with cravings which incite to sin 2c3) the physical nature of man as subject to suffering

3) a living creature (because possessed of a body of flesh) whether man or beast

4) the flesh, denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God

Now... what is our human nature? What are all human beings guilty of according to the bible? They are all guilty of SIN (Romans 3:23). Our human nature if our "want" to, or being "prone" to sin. The bible teaches that although Jesus never sinned, he became sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21). It teaches that Jesus came through the line of David (Matthew 1:1) yet David said, "Behold, I was shapen in INIQUITY; and in SIN did my mother conceive me." -Psalm 51:5. This means that the whole line of David was a lineage individuals with a nature to sin, including Jesus. This is how Jesus, being God, could be tempted to sin (compare James 1:13 with Hebrews 4:15) because he became man, and being made into a man he had the same human nature as man... the ability to sin.

So, how does the Roman Catholic Church teach that Jesus did not come in the flesh (human nature)? Well when they teach that the Virgin Mary was sinless at her conception of the baby Jesus, they in essence teach that Jesus has not come in the flesh, because Jesus came through her lineage, and as David had a nature to sin, she also had a nature to sin. Read the following quote from a Roman Catechism:

491. "Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, 'full of grace' through God, [Lk 1:28 .] was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854: The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of JESUS Christ, Saviour of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin. -Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus (1854): DS 2803.

View the online version of The Catechism of the Catholic Church http://www.ziplink.net/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/kerygma/a.pl .

To say that Jesus came into the world this way, born of a virgin who was not of sinful “flesh” as we are all in our human nature, is to say he did not come in the “flesh” of sinful nature because he came through HER lineage!

Now it could be said that Mary overcame the sinful nature as did Jesus, but this would put Mary at the same level as Jesus, and would contradict the following scripture:

“And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” -Luke 1:47

If Mary was not a sinner, why did she need a savior? (see also Romans 3:23).

Also, the above Catechism quote speaks about original sin, and Rome defines original sin like this:

“Question. What is Original Sin? Answer. Original Sin is the sin we inherit from Adam, the Father of the Human Race.” -The Convert's Catechism of Catholic Doctrine. p. 41

But the bible says different:

"The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him." Ezekiel 18:20

We do not inherit Adams sins. We are NEVER born with original sin; in fact, people bearing original sin does not exist in the bible. What we are cursed with is a Sinful Nature, which is our Human Nature. However, we do NOT inherit the sins of our fathers. So while Jesus NEVER sinned, he was born with the human sinful nature to sin, through a sinful mother who was also of human sinful nature. To say otherwise is to say that Jesus “cheated” when he overcame sin, and would also make you “antichrist.” The Popes of Rome, with their “immaculate conception” theory, fulfill this Identification mark to the very end.

14. This antichrist rules for “42 months” or “3 ½ years” and during this time it persecutes and kills thousand of saints (See Daniel 7:25 and Revelation 13:5).

Speaking of the antichrist, the bible says:

1. “And they (the Saints) shall be given unto his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” Daniel 7:25

2. “Power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.” Revelation 13:5

God’s escaped people flee to the wilderness for this same amount of time:

3. “And the women (God’s true church is liken unto a women –Jer. 6:2, Rev. 19:7) fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore (sixty) days.” Revelation 12:6

Before we start, keep in mind that bible times are not the same as today. Today we have 365 days a year, and not all our months end in 30 days. However, when the bible uses time, it is using the time of its days, which was 360 days a year, and 30 days per year.

To explain this further, notice in Genesis 7:11, that the bible says the flood rain began to pour on the 17th day of the 2nd month. Genesis 8:3, 4 says it stopped raining at the end of 150 days, and the ark rested on the 17th day of the 7th month. That’s exactly 5 months. Now, 5 months divided by 150 days equals 30 days per month! This is the biblical method of time we are to use in bible prophecy.

Each of these time periods are exactly 1260 years. Let me explain. The first verse is 3 ½ years, because a time is equal to 1 year. You can find this out when you study Daniel 4 how the king went crazy for 7 times, which were 7 years. So if the verse says a “time” that’s 1 year, “times” is 2 years, and a divided time is ½ a year. That’s 3 ½ years! Now, if its 30 days per year, and 360 days a year, then what’s 360 times 3 ½? 1260 years!

The 2nd verse speaks of 42 months. How many days are in 42 months? Well again, if its 30 days per month, that means 42 multiplied by 30 will also equal 1260 years!

But why do I say years instead of days? Because when we are studying bible prophecy, we are told in the bible that a day equals a year:

“I have appointed thee each day for a year…” Ezekiel 4:6

“After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year.” Numbers 14:34

During this time of 1260 years, the antichrist Popes of Rome will persecute and kill millions of Christians. Is this just my personal interpretation? Well, lets see if history backs me up. What year did the pope receive FULL power of, not only the religion, but also of the state with military protection?

“Vigilius… ascended the papal chair in 538 A.D. under the military protection of Belisarius.” -History of the Christian Church, Vol. 3, p. 327.

(Note: While the Papacy was already in existence with the first pope being Constantine in 313 AD, it was in 538 AD, after the overthrow of the last horn, the Ostrogoths, that he received full power of the state with military protection, making it an independent religious/political state).

After the overthrow of the Ostrogoths, the papacy began its reign under Emperor Justinian’s decree with military protection. Now, let’s do the math. The pope received absolute power without interference in the year 538 A.D.; now add 1260 years to that date. What do you get?

“In 1798 General Berthier made his entrance into Rome, abolished the papal government, and established a secular one.” –Encyclopedia Britannica 1941 edition.

Wow! The popes ruled the world and persecuted Christians for exactly 1260 years from 538 A.D. to 1798, just as prophecy predicted! This is the time history calls "The Dark Ages."

15. After this time period his power is taken from him and he dies “receives a deadly wound to death” but his power is then given back to him “deadly wound is healed,” read Revelation 13:3

Now the papacy was stopped in his tracts, and the persecution was at an end. But when he was stopped, it was in 1798, and something prophetic took place…

“And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death…” Revelation 13:3

Remember how we learned in part 1 how a head will symbolize a king? The papacy was “wounded” of his powers when in 1798 Napoleon’s General Berthier took him captive, and his wound was a wound to “death” because soon after the pope dies in prison! General Berthier took the pope captive with his military army, and the bible confirms…

“He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword.” Revelation 13:10

But the rest of Revelation 13:3 says…

“… and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.”

Look around you, the Pope and his Vatican government are alive and well today! Why? Because his deadly wound was healed! In 1929 the Italian government once again recognized Vatican City as an independent religio-political state.

“From 11 0’clock this morning there was another sovereign independent state in the world… the sovereign independent state of Vatican City came into existence.” –New York Times, July 7, 1929.

The Pope was again seated as ruler with full power. Notice this SHOCKING quote:

“Mussolini and (Cardinal) Gaspari sign historic Roman pact. The Roman question of tonight was a thing of the past, and the Vatican was at peace with Italy… In affixing the autographs to the memorable document healing the wound of many years, extreme cordiality was displayed on both sides.” –The San Francisco Chronicle. Feb. 11, 1929.

(Actual February 11, 1929 Newspaper)

16. The beast is one that was, is not, yet is (Revelation 17:8).

Now for the last identification mark. Let’s put all these dates together. Revelation 17:8 says that this beast is one that was, is not, yet is. That’s exactly what happened after the 1260-year prophecy! Notice:

The Beast...

...that was: The Papacy with his Roman church began to reign in full power in 528 A.D. and continued until 1798 A.D. when Napoleon’s General Berthier took the pope captive and abolished the Vatican government.

…and is not: Between 1798 until 1929 when the Pope was re-seated, the papacy was non-existent.

…yet is: From 1929 until the very present day, Vatican City and the Pope’s of Rome have been once again in full power and the Roman church has been a Church and State ever since.

Need I say more? NO OTHER INSTITUTION with a man at its head can fit all these biblical Identification Marks. The Roman Catholic Church truly is the antichrist system, and her Popes (papacy) are truly ANTICHRIST!

Catholicism: A mixture of Paganism with Christianity

This religion, Roman Catholicism, is a mixture of Pagan rituals, customs, and beliefs. In its early years as a Pagan Roman Empire, as it rose to power it adopted Christianity through Constantine the first Pope (Read about Constantine in the books, “Sabotage?” pp. 19-20, and The Godfathers, pg. 7, both by Ex-Jesuit Alberto Rivera) in the effort to unite both paganism and Christianity in one fold, therefore increasing its members and its riches:

"The use of temples, and these dedicated to particular saints, and ornamented on occasions with branches of trees; incense, lamps, and candles; votive offerings on recovery from illness; holy water; asylums; holydays and seasons, use of calendars, processions, blessings on the fields; sacerdotal vestments, the tonsure, the ring in marriage, turning to the East, images at a later date, ...the ecclesiastical chant, and the Kyrie Eleison, are all of pagan origin, and sanctified by their adoption into the Church. {374}" -An Essay on the “The Development of the Christian Doctrine John Henry "Cardinal Newman" p.359 (Also see According to Dr. E. D. Clarke, Travels, vol. i. p. 352.)

“Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen… for the customs of the people are vain, one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.” -Jeremiah 10:1-4.

"Confiding then in the power of Christianity to resist the infection of evil, and to transmute the instruments and appendages of demon worship to an evangelical use... the rulers of the church from early times were prepared should occasion arise, to adopt, or imitate, or sanction the existing rites and customs of the (Pagan) populace." -Development of Christian Doctrine, Cardinal Newman. p. 372.

"The mighty Catholic Church was little more then the Roman Empire baptized."-- A. C, Flick, The Rise of the Mediaeval Church, 1909 edition, p. 148.

"This compromise between paganism and Christianity resulted in the development of ‘the man of sin’ foretold in prophecy as opposing and exalting himself above God. That gigantic system of false religion is a masterpiece of Satan's power--a monument of his efforts to seat himself upon the throne to rule the earth according to his will. –The Great Controversy between Christ and Satan, pg. 50.

One of the biggest things that helped unite paganism with Christianity was the acceptance of the first day of the week as the day of religious worship in place of the true Sabbath, and the law Constantine decreed to enforce its observance. This was the day the pagans gathered to worship their sun gods:

"This Sunday law constituted no real favoritism to Christianity... It is evident from all his statuatory provisions that the Emperor during the time 313-323 with full consciousness has sought the realization of his religious aim: the amalgamation of heathenism and Christianity." -Dr. A.Chr. Bang - Kirken og Romerstaten (The Church and the Roman State) p.256. Christiania, 1879.

Millions of people were deceived into believing that this movement was of God, now the persecutions under the Emperor Nero was at an end, and behold, the Emperor Constantine has converted to Christianity! Gullible Christians fell for this deception, but thousands of others understood this to be the antichrist foretold by prophecy.

Ex-Jesuit Alberto Rivera, who was in the inner library of the Vatican studying methods on how to best infiltrate and destroy the Christian churches, learned how Constantine had LIED about his conversion in order to unite paganism and Christianity so that his riches can be increased! Alberto says that he was still “secretly” worshiping his Babylonian sun god BAAL also called “Sol” (see Four Horsemen, Alberto Rivera, pg. 19, and Sabotage, pg. 19). Dr. Rivera says, “When Constantine set himself up as the first pope… he tried to pull Romans and Christians together by mixing Satanic Baal worship with the teachings of Christ. What came out of this mess was the Roman Catholic system.” See The Godfathers, page 7. “Dei Solis,” which is the day of the Sun, and Image worship were introduced into the churches. In order for this to happen, the 2nd commandment was ripped out of the Ten Commandments and the 4th was shortened to only say, “Remember the Sabbath day.” Written thus, ANY day can be the Sabbath, and the day chosen was the day of Baal… SUNday!

You can still notice the many sun symbols and rituals within this apostate church, like Sunday observance, the sun rings over the heads of the statues, the ‘plus’ sign on the baked cakes and her wafer she claims is literally God, etc. (most of these of which were adopted by the infiltrated protestant churches; they are seen in the churches today. Read more on the infiltration of churches by Jesuits in part 3). Pagan images of Jupitar, BAAL, Venus, and more, were brought into the churches, and given Christian names such as Peter, Jesus and Mary. Even Pagan customs were adopted!

"In order to attach to Christianity great attraction in the eyes of the nobility, the priests adopted the outer garments and adornments which were used in pagan cults." -Life of Constantine, Eusabius, cited in Altai-Nimalaya, p. 94

"The Church did everything it could to stamp out such 'pagan' rites, but had to capitualet and allow the rites to continue with only the name of the local diety changed to some Christian saint's name." -Religious Tradition and Myth. Dr. Edwin Goodenough, Professor of Religion, Harvard University. p. 56, 57

The Pagans, who were already accustomed to worshiping images, flocked in by the thousands! Paul in Rome already saw these things happening, and constantly warned with tears in his eyes of this soon coming abomination within the churches (Romans 16:17-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-5, Philippians 3:18-19)!

The Pagans also worshiped a goddess who they called the queen of heaven. She was called Diana by the heathens, Isis by the Egyptians and Semiramis by the Babylonians (see “The Two Babylons” by Alexander Hislop, and “Sabotage?” by Alberto Rivera.). This goddess was one of the most powerful of the deities, right below Baal the sun-god (who was supposed to be her son).

“The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour our drink offerings unto other gods.” -Jeremiah 7:18

“From ancient Babylon came the cult of the virgin mother-goddess, who was worshiped as the highest of gods” -see S. H. Langdon, Semitic Mythology, 1931 edition.

This too was adopted into the church, and her name was changed to the “Virgin Mary.”

Sunday Worship: Rooted in Paganism

Now, here are the quotes I promised you in regards to the observance of Sunday, and how its observance is rooted in Paganism as well:

“Two dominant elements brought into Christianity from paganism by Rome were Sun worship symbols and the religious practices of ancient Babylon] "The solar theology of the Chaldaeans [Babylonians], had decisive effect . . . [upon the] final form reached by the religion of the pagan Semites, and following them, by that of the Romans when [the Roman emperor] Aurelian, the conqueror of Palmyra, had raised 'Sol Invictus' [the invincible sun-god] to the rank of supreme divinity in the Empire"--The Cambridge Ancient History, vol. 11, pp. 643, 646-647. From Palmyra he transferred to the new sanctuary the images of Helios [the sun-god] and Bel, the malaise patron god of Babylon--see Cumont, The Oriental Religions In Roman Paganism, 1911 edition, pp. 114-115, 124.

“In short, sun worship, symbolically speaking, lies at the very heart of the great festivals which the Christian Church celebrates today, and these relics of heathen religion have, through the medium of their sacred rites, curiously enough blended with practices and beliefs utterly antagonistic to the spirit which prompted them." -Sun Lore of All Ages, Olcott, p. 248.

"The [Catholic] Church took the pagan philosophy and made it the buckler of faith against the heathen. She took the pagan Roman Pantheon, temple of all the gods, and made it sacred to all the martyrs; so it stands to this day. She took the pagan Sunday and made it the Christian Sunday. She took the pagan Easter and made it the feast we celebrate during this season . . . The Sun was a foremost god with heathendom . . . The sun has worshipers at this hour in Persia and other lands . . . Hence the Church would seem to say, 'Keep that old pagan name [Sunday]. It shall remain consecrated, sanctified.' And thus the pagan Sunday, dedicated to Balder [another name for BAAL], became the Christian Sunday, sacred to Jesus"--William L. Gildea, "Paschale Gaudium," in The Catholic World, 58, March, 1894, p. 809 [A Roman Catholic weekly].

(Notice the satanic upside down cross)

“And the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.”
Revelation 13:2

Martin Luther
Lutheranism

“The papacy is the seat of the true and real antichrist personally I declare that I owe the Pope no other obedience than that to Antichrist." (Aug. 18, 1520) Taken from The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, Vol. 2., pg. 121 by Froom. (In response to a papal bull [official decree]): "I despise and attack it, as impious, false... It is Christ Himself who is condemned therein... I rejoice in having to bear such ills for the best of causes. Already I feel greater liberty in my heart; for at last I know that the pope is antichrist, and that his throne is that of Satan himself." -D'Aubigné, b.6, ch. 9.

-Identifying the Antichrist Part 3: The Mark of the Beast

2008-05-22T12:41:00.002-04:00

Identifying the Antichrist Part 1
Finding the Identity Marks

Please read Daniel Chapter 2 in your KJV Bible.

God gave the King of Babylon a dream, "In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him." READ THE WHOLE CHAPTER OF DANIEL 2.

Notice these things about the image: The head was GOLD, then as you go down the chest and arms were of SILVER, his belly and thighs of BRASS, his legs of IRON and his feet part IRON and part CLAY (Daniel 2:32). At the end, a giant STONE smites the image at its feet and destroys it all. Some say this stone represents the 144,000, but I believe the bible is clear that this is Jesus and his eternal kingdom at his 2nd coming (Psalm 18:2, 1 Corinthians 10:4 and Matthew 21:42-44).

Lets let the bible interpret the bible. Each one of these parts of the body represents KINGS with KINGDOMS (Daniel 2:37-40). King Nebuchadnezzar and his Kingdom is the HEAD of GOLD (Daniel 2:38). Now before we find out who the next three kingdoms are, we need to realize that the Image of the Kings dream, and the FOUR beasts of Daniels dream in Daniel 7, are the same (READ THE WHOLE CHAPTER OF DANIEL 7). Don't believe this? Come, let us reason together:

The four beasts represent four kingdoms (Daniel 7:17, 23) and they came up out of the SEA (Daniel 7:3). According to prophecy the SEA or WATERS represent 'peoples, nations, multitudes and tongues' (Revelation 17:15). There are also FOUR kingdoms in the Image the king dreamed (Note: The last part of the Image is not an 'extra' world kingdom, but the same as the Iron kingdom, since the Iron of the legs extend all the way down and ends at the toes. Only at that point, that last stage of the last kingdom will be partly weak and party strong, represented by the Iron and the Clay, see Daniel 2:42, and divided into ten divisions, as we will soon see). There are also FOUR beasts in Daniels dream in chapter 7, which are also four kingdoms. Notice also when you read Daniel 7 and 8, how each preceding Kingdom conquers the former Kingdom, an event also taking place among the Kingdoms of the image in Daniel 2. See also how the fourth kingdom in Daniel 2:40 "break in pieces and bruise." The fourth kingdom of Daniel 7:7 also "breaks in pieces." So both dreams are about the same thing, but with different symbols. Chapter 7 only provides MORE information. God does this so we study.

Who are the next three kings which take over after Babylon? The second is the Kingdom of the Medes and Persians (Daniel 5:28- 31) One (the Persians) being stronger then the other (the Medes) represented by the Bear beast, which rose up after the Lion beast on "one" side (read Daniel 7:4 and 5).

After the "bear" beast rose up another beast, or kingdom. This kingdom is represented as a "leopard" with four "wings" and four "heads". This beast is the kingdom of GREECE, which conquered the kingdom of the Medes and Persians (see Daniel 8:20-21).

Now if you paid attention in high school, you'll know that this kingdom of Greece was lead by king Alexander the Great, who, after he died of an over dose of alcohol, his kingdom was divided into four section with four of his generals to lead them as kings. This is represented by the four heads of the leopard. Compare Daniel 7:6 with Daniel 8:22. Heads can represent either kings, because king Nebuchadnezzar was the 'head' of the image, or mountains, see Revelation 17:9. However, we can only apply the heads as representing "kings" here since "dominion" was given unto these heads, see Daniel 7:6. The wings represent "strength, flight and speed" (See Jeremiah 48:9, Exodus 19:4, Isaiah 40:31 and Proverbs 23:5) of which we know that Alexander conquered the then modern world very fast and very young.

Now we have to identify the fourth beast, or fourth part of the image king Nebuchadnezzar dreamed of. Well think about this, what kingdom was in power when Jesus came into the picture? History and Biblical proof will tell you it was the kingdom of ROME (Read Matthew 22:17, Luke 3:1, Acts 17:7). So it was Rome that conquered the kingdom of Greece and began to rule the world! Prophecy says that Rome would be the last ruler of the entire world, no other beast rose up after this beast. The only kingdom that would rule the world and the universe after Rome would be the kingdom of God! (See Daniel 2:44 and Daniel 7:9 and 27). Hitler was once speaking about how he was going to rule the whole world from Germany. A young girl told him that bible prophecy show's he couldn't, for only Rome was to be the last ruler. What was Hitler's reply? He made it clear he will be the conqueror of the world! To bad for him, his kingdom was conquered and he died.

Now notice something peculiar about this last kingdom. Daniel speaks of it in these terrifying words, "After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth (Notice how the last kingdom of the image is also of iron) it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns."

Notice as you keep reading, Daniel, while hearing the angels interpretation of this fourth beast, is told this beast (kingdom) has 10 horns, and one "little" horn came up out of these 10 horns and "plucked up" 3 of the preceding horns (read Daniel 7:8 and 20).

Lets break it down: The Ten horns represent ten kings (Daniel 7:24). Therefore, an "extra" king rose up out of these Ten, and he "plucked up" or destroyed "three" preceding kings.

Well out of this we can give the first identifying mark in finding out who the antichrist will be. How do I know this "little horn" power is antichrist? Well, "Anti" means "opposite or "in place of" and this little horn king makes himself "opposite" of God by speaking "great words against the most high," trying to change God's laws, and by wearing "out the saints of the most high" (Daniel 7:25). This little horn power is the antichrist!

Wait, but why the TEN horns? Well remember how this beast power is Rome? And remember how a "horn" represents kings? Well take a look at your map, The Roman Empire has been divided and now we have WESTERN EUROPE! (this happened between 351 AD and 476 AD).

Here are the 10 divisions by ancient and modern name:

(1) Alemanni - Germany
(2) Franks - France
(3) Anglo-Saxons - England
(4) Burgundians - Switzerland
(5) Visigoths - Spain
(6) Suevi - Portugal
(7) Lombards - Italy
(8) Heruli
(9) Vandals
(10) Ostrogoths

Why don't you see the last three, Heruli, Vandals and the Ostrogoths, on your map? Simply because these are the 3 horns that the antichrist "plucked up."

So now we have FIVE identification marks to help us identify the Antichrist:

(1) He will rise up out of the Ten divisions of Rome
(2) He will destroy 3 of the kings among these Ten divisions
(3) He will "speak great words against the most high"
(4) He will "wear out" the saints of God. He is a persecuting power
(5) He "thinks to change times and laws" Daniel 7:25

Well now this makes sense. Look at Rome today, it is not as strong as it was when it ruled the world before it was divided, but Rome still exists! That's why the feet of the image in Daniel 2 still have the same "iron" as the legs, except this time its only "party" strong, as she is today. Do you realize what this means? WE ARE LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS OF LIFE ON EARTH! Because in the dream we see a STONE which "smote" it at it's feet, and destroyed it. This stone is the kingdom of God (Daniel 2:44).

Lets keep going:

Now we have FIVE things that can help us identify who the Antichrist is, but there's more, a lot more. Let's now turn to Revelation 13 and 17. Before continuing, we need to understand how Daniel 2 and Daniel 7, and Revelation 13 and 17 are speaking about the same "beast" power. Lets do that now:

First Revelation 13. Notice how the first beast in Revelation 13 rises up out of the "sea" (Rev. 13:1) as does the Roman beast of Daniel 7:3. Notice also how the beast in Revelation 13:1 has "ten" horns as does the Roman beast in Daniel 7:19-20. Again, notice how the beast in Revelation 13:5-6 speaks "great words and blasphemy" as does the beast in Daniel 7:8 and 25. Here are two more clues, I'll leave the best one for last. Take note how the beast in Revelation 13:7 also "persecutes" the saints of the most high as does the beast power in Daniel 7:25. Now, look at this amazing clue: Read Revelation 13:2. Here it is:

"And the beast which I saw was like unto a Leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a Bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion…"

Did you notice something here; those are the characteristics of the three beasts which were BEFORE the fourth Roman beast! (Read Daniel 2:31-46). This means that, as Daniel looked Foreword into the future and saw all the beasts in order, John was looking Backwards! This also indicates that the Fourth beast has characteristics of the three beasts before him; namely, speediness (Greece) bloodshed (Medes and Persians) and PAGANISM (Babylon)!

So now we know that the beast of Revelation 13 is the same Roman power of Daniel 2 and 7. Revelation 13 now provides some "extra" clues in identifying who the antichrist is. But before we do that, lets see if the "whore" riding the beast in Revelation 17 is ALSO the same Roman power of Revelation 13. We need to know this because Revelation 17 also gives us MORE identifying marks as to who the antichrist is. Follow me…

"And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters." Revelation 17:1

There are those "waters" again. The same as Revelation 13:1 and Daniel 7:3. Remember, "sea, waters" represent "peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues" Revelation 17:15. Hey here's another clue, this "whore" also speaks great words against the most High, for she speaks "blasphemy" (Read Revelation 17:3) as does the Beast of Revelation 13:5 and the Beast of Daniel 7:8, 25. Notice the third clue, Revelation 17:6 (Compare this with Daniel 7:25 and Revelation 13:7) she is also a persecuting power! Also, did you notice those 7 heads and Ten horns on the beast she is riding? The same as the beast in Revelation 13:1!

"If something looks like a duck, acts like a duck, and quacks like a duck, well, it's probably a duck, right?" -Steve Wolberg

So here we have it, the fourth Roman beast of Daniel 2 and Daniel 7, are the same monstrous power of Revelation 13 and the whore in Revelation 17! Now, take note, Revelation 13 verse 3 says, "all the world wondered after the beast." This word "wondered" means, "admire, popular." Verse 4 says they worshiped the beast. That's another clue, this antichrist will be a "religious" and "political" one! Why do I say political? Well its obvious that if this beast is a "kingdom" with a king, or leader, and we know kingdoms pass laws and have governors, that this beast is religious (he wants 'worship') AND political (Notice also how this beast causes 'war' Rev. 13:7). Verse 5 says he spoke "blasphemy" which according to the bible, means to claim to be God and to forgive sins (See John 10:33, Mark 2:7).

I want you to notice something important about this fourth beast, the antichrist. Read closely Daniel 8:20-27. After Rome takes over Greece, notice how this Roman beast deceive the nations with "peace!" Study Daniel 8 verse 25. That's another clue!

Back to Revelation, lets now look for more characteristics from chapter 17. Notice how this "whore" also rides a different beast. This beast she rides is a part of her, since she is on top of it and is riding it. The women is "leading" this beast, and this beast is the beast of Revelation 13:1 because it also has those 7 heads and 10 horns (Revelation 17:3). If she is leading this beast, which we have identified as Rome, she must represent the LEADER (a city – Revelation 17:18) of Rome! Look at her closely, she is RICH (Revelation 17:4) she dwells between the 7 heads of the beast, which represents 7 MOUNTIANS (Revelation 17:9) she causes confusion because on her forehead is written the word "BABYLON" and Babylon means "confusion" study about that meaning in the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. This women is also a great "city" (Revelation 17:18) sitting upon many "people" (Revelation 17:15). She is a "women" and a woman in bible prophecy can either represent a "pure church" (Matthew 25:1-13, Revelation 19:7, Jeremiah 6:3) or an "evil church" (Ezekiel 16:15-58). And get this, she wears certain colors, they are "purple" and "scarlet" (see the first part of Rev. 17:4)! Have I lost you yet? Hope not, lets keep going. Notice this also, Daniel chapter 11 verse 37, speaking of the same opposing power, says, "Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women…" 1 Timothy 4:1-3 speaks of latter apostate who will forbid marriage! Here's an extra clue… this antichrist has to claim that Jesus did NOT come in the Flesh:

"And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world." 1 John 4:3

Before I lay out the rest of the identifying marks in order, we need to understand one more thing about the antichrist. Its clear so far that the antichrist is more like a religious/political system then a person. But remember how this kingdom has a "little horn" power? Notice in Daniel 7:8 how out of the Fourth Roman kingdom the little horn has "eyes as a man" and a mouth. Now go back to Revelation 13 which speaks about this same leading man, Revelation 13:18 helps us understand that this antichrist system has a literal antichrist MAN at its head! Another clue!

"Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the BEAST: for it is the number of a MAN; and his number is Six hundred threescore and Six (666)." (Keep in mind that it's a man, and not a women, see also 2 Thessalonians 2:3).

Now, lets get those Identifying marks.

1. He will rise up out of the ten divisions of Rome.

2. He will destroy three of these kings of these ten divisions, the Heruli,
Vandals and the Ostrogoths

3. He will "speak great words against the most high" Meaning, he will speak "blasphemy" (Rev. 13:5), which means to claim to be God and to forgive sins (See John 10:33, Mark 2:7).

4. He will "wear out" the saints of God. He is a persecuting power.

5. He "thinks to change times and laws" Daniel 7:25.

6. He resides in Rome and deceives the nations with "peace."

7. His kingdom is a Political and Religious kingdom, meaning he has unity between "church" and "state."

8. Is a great "city" which resides in Rome between 7 mountains (Revelation 17:9 and 18).

9. He is a "man" and his name will equal 666

10. He and his kingdom (the city –Rev. 17:18) are a "Rich" church (Rev. 17:4), wearing the colors purple and scarlet.

11. He does not desire 'women' and forbids marriage.

12. He is famous and everyone admires him (Rev. 13:3) and is among many "peoples and nations and tongues" as represented by the "sea and waters" Rev. 17:15.

13. He denies Jesus came in the flesh (1 John 4:3).

Can you figure out who this beast power is? Let me give you THREE more identifying Marks:

14. This antichrist rules for "42 months" or "3 ½ years" and during this time it persecutes and kills thousand of saints (See Daniel 7:25 and Revelation 13:5).

15. After this time period his power is taken from him and he dies "receives a deadly wound to death" but his power is then given back to him "deadly wound is healed," read Revelation 13:3.

16. The beast is one that was, is not, yet is (Revelation 17:8).

In part 2 of this booklet we will identify who this antichrist system and man is with these 16 identification marks and we will also look at these last three. Get ready, pray, open your scriptures… and be ready for a shocker!

-Identifying the Antichrist Part 2: Identifying Him

No Heavenly Sanctuary?

2008-05-22T12:31:00.002-04:00

The following is a study proving that the bible teaches that there is a Sanctuary in heaven in which Christ our High Priest is mediating on our behalf. Some have felt that this teaching is absent from the scriptures. So we designed this study with the goal to prove that this is indeed a biblical teaching:

Two Tabernacles made.

Let’s take another look at Hebrews 8… this time beginning in verse 1:

Hebrews 8:1-2(1) Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;(2) A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

Notice how towards the end, it specifically says that the Lord “pitched” the tabernacle… “and not man.” Well we know that man did pitch a sanctuary didn’t they? Of course, we read of that in the book of Exodus. Moses and the people “pitched” a sanctuary upon the earth along with all its instruments and furniture’s. So was the author of Hebrews lying in verse 2? Of course not, because the truth is that as there is one that the “Lord” made, there is also one that “man” made upon the earth. Now the fact that man made it on the “earth” proves that the one the Lord made is in heaven.

No Heavenly Sanctuary means no High Priest

Let us continue in verse 2. The first part says… “A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle…” Who is this person who “ministers” in the sanctuary? Who is that High Priest? It is Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7:28). If Jesus is ministering in the sanctuary, and the earthly temple does not exist today since it was destroyed in 70 AD, it follows then that he is ministering in a sanctuary that is in heaven. If there is no sanctuary in heaven by which Moses built his… where then is Jesus ministering in? Furthermore, verse 4 says that if Jesus was on earth he should “not be a priest.” Yet since the bible is clear that Jesus “is” our High Priest, he must therefore be in heaven performing the work of a High Priest, and the High priest always performed his duty in a “sanctuary!”

Next we will notice that there is....

An Earthly Sanctuary and a Heavenly Sanctuary.

We again reach verse 5. Notice the very first thing said in the verse… “Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things…” Heavenly “things?” But if it was just a view or picture God showed Moses, what heavenly things is he therefore speaking about here? Compare this with a “worldly” thing spoken of in chapter 9 verse 1. What thing was that?

Hebrews 9:1
(1) Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
It was the sanctuary.

If there was no “heavenly” sanctuary, why would the author of Hebrews speak of a “worldly” sanctuary? Now we will read of....

A Greater Sanctuary and a Lesser Sanctuary.

Verse 11 says:

Hebrews 9:11(11) But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building

If there was only one sanctuary made, the earthly one, why does he now speak about one as being “greater” and more “perfect?” These words, greater and perfect, make it necessary for there to be a lesser and less perfect sanctuary. Thus we have two sanctuaries… a greater one and a lesser one. Of course the greater one would be the one in heaven, where all things are great. And....

Christ entered this Sanctuary made “without hands.”

Hebrews 9:24 reads:

(24) For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

This verse says Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands. The words “made with hands” is translated from the greek word “cheiropoiētos” which means, “manufactured of human construction.” This means Christ did not enter the earthly sanctuary which was made by humans, but that rather he entered into the Heavenly Sanctuary which was made by God in the heavens. Notice that the earthly sanctuary was a “figure” of the true. The greek word for “figure” means “representative.” The earthly sanctuary therefore, was a representative of the “true,” the heavenly Sanctuary. Of course Moses understood this, for...

Moses' song mentions both the Earthly and the Heavenly Sanctuary.

Take a look at the song Moses sang and notice how during the beginning he mentions the sanctuary on earth (verse 2), but towards the end he mentions the one in heaven(verse 17):

Exodus 15:1-19
(1) Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
(2) The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.
(3) The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.
(4) Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.
(5) The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.
(6) Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.
(7) And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.
(8) And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.
(9) The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
(10) Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.
(11) Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
(12) Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.
(13) Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.
(14) The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.
(15) Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.
(16) Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.
(17) Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.
(18) The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.
(19) For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.

David knew of the “Heavenly” Sanctuary.

How would you now therefore view Hebrews 8:5? As a simple picture that God showed Moses? Or as a view of the “true tabernacle” which is in heaven? Some of our critics are still skeptical… so we’ve digged up some interesting verses. Follow us to the book of psalms:

Psalm 18:6-9
(6) In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.(7) Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.(8) There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.(9) He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.

David is poetically describing how God came down to help him in his distress. Because there is the temple on the earth and the temple in heaven, we want to make sure of which temple David is speaking of in verse 6. Verse 9 reveals the answer, saying God came “down” from that temple. We know heaven is above… so if the temple being spoken of here is the one upon the earth, wouldn’t verse 9 have rather said that he came “up” or even perhaps “out” of his temple? And how did David even know that there was a temple in heaven? Because the one built upon the earth by Moses was a “pattern” of the “true tabernacle” above.

Notice again David’s recognition of a sanctuary in heaven:

Psalm 102:19
(19) For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth

We know this is the sanctuary above because it says he looked “down” from this sanctuary. It is the sanctuary that is in “heaven” from which the Lord beheld “the earth.” Yet, since the critics refuse to acknowledge these verses, we therefore present to them the following....

Unanswered Questions.

If there is no Heavenly Sanctuary:

- How is Jesus a High Priest? A High Priest is a High Priest because he ministers on behalf of the people in a Sanctuary.

- Where does Jesus our High Priest minister? In the type, the High Priest was to minister in the sanctuary. Since Jesus is the High Priest, it is therefore biblically necessary for him to minister in a sanctuary as well. Hebrews 8:2 does say he ministers in a Sanctuary. Do you think it was the sanctuary on earth he ministered in? No, right before, in verse 1, we read that he is in the “heavens.”

- Where did Christ administer his blood? The type demands that when the sins of the people were confessed, the blood of the animal upon which their sins were confessed was killed and the blood was taken into the sanctuary to be sprinkled upon the vail seven times (Lev. 4:6). On the Day of Atonement, it was taken into the Most Holy Place and sprinkled on the mercy seat (Lev. 16:14). Hebrews 9:7 says the High Priest entered into the sanctuary “not without blood.”

Conclusion.

The argument that there is no heavenly Sanctuary simply does not hold water, and it flies in the face of the whole bible which is clear on this point. We pray you found this study helpful.

"The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men." -Psalm 11:4