Developments of Prophecies

Preparation is going on in the world for the last seven years before the return of Christ,
though they don't know it

Fred R. Coulter—July 18, 2020

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Greetings, everyone! Welcome to Sabbath services! Today there are a lot of things going on that are fulfilling prophecy. Some of the things we know of, and some of the things we don't know of. First of all, we understand that Satan has deceiving the whole world, so we need to realize that there are many false alarms and difficulties coming along that can get in the way and interfere with our understanding of the Truth.

Even on woman wrote me and said that she thought that the first resurrection was coming in 2024. Well, I don't quite yet think so and I told her that. There's no new temple, because that has to come first, and the last seven years hasn't yet kicked in, as we will see. But many other things are developing and moving quickly to pave the way. What we need to understand is that it's going to be a time of the greatest time in the history of the world.

We heard in the past and we've preached before that all religions will get together. Well, they're making progress with it and Pope Francis looks like he's going to hold the office of 'false prophet,' but maybe his successor or the successor after that one. There's still quite a bit of time left, as we will see, but here is an article:

Inter-Faith Prayers for the Pandemic to Cease? What Is at Stake is Bigger Than What You Think Posted on July 1, 2020 {http://vaticanfiles.org/en/2020/07/177/}

…the Roman Catholic Church organized a "Day of Prayer and Fasting addressed to believers of all religions"…. and people of other religions or of no religion were all encouraged to pray to her/his own god…"

Even atheism is a religion!

…under the auspices of the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity  to pray together…

This was initiated two years ago when Pope Frances and one of the leading imams from Oman got together where they were building an interfaith worship in that country.

Catholics, Muslims and people of other religions or of no religion were all encouraged to pray to her/his own god or personal ideal for the pandemic to cease.

The Chinese Virus! Even Kenneth Copland, whom I saw on television, was standing up and commanding the virus to leave and to go. After he did that, there were more cases. Apparently his command wasn't heeded!

The "Document on Human Fraternity" blurs the distinction and changes the meaning of fraternity, extending it to the relationships between peoples of different religions, as if Muslims and Christians are "brothers and sisters" praying to the same God.

An Ever Expanding "Catholic" Trajectory

This day of prayer witnessed the participation of believers of all religions, but also of those who do not believe, united "spiritually" to pray to their divinity or ideal, all pleading for the end of the pandemic. Each participant was called to address his god/ideal in a spirit of fraternity that embraced everyone. What is at stake theologically is enormous.

There are quite a few things taking place, but the question is: When did this really begin? The first seal opened is the false prophet, and he's dressed in white! Isn't it interesting that the pope is dressed in white in the picture accompanying the article?

Revelation 6:1: "And I looked when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures say, like the sound of thunder, 'Come and see.' And I looked, and behold, there was a white horse; and the one who was sitting on it had a bow, and a crown was given to him; and he went out conquering, and to conquer" (vs 1-2).

• How can you conquer with a bow, but no arrows? This shows that this is probably the false prophet!
• What was the first movement of the Catholic Church toward all other 'religions'? Vatican II under Pope John Paul XXIII!

They began reaching out to all religions! Continuing to do so, and they even include in some of their addresses to the Hindu's Diwali—a feast of the Hindus.

Is this when the first seal was opened? When that first occurred, that's what I preached, then I thought later that, no, that couldn't be it, maybe that's too soon! But they've been continuously on this ecumenical movement to try and bring all religions together, which is really quite a tremendous thing when you understand it.

Moving beyond the perimeter of the biblical faith, Roman Catholicism legitimizes prayers to other deities or religious ideals, silencing the prophetic message of Scripture…

Yes it does, in a way. It doesn't silence it, because it was prophesied that it would happen.

We'll talk a little bit about the Beast Power in a little bit.

Revelation 13:11: "And I saw another beast rising out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon… [Satan the devil] … and he exercises all the authority of the first beast before him…" (vs 11-12).

What does that mean? The first beast is the world-government! So, this means that this second beast also has worldwide authority.

"…and he causes the earth and those who dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed" (v 12). We'll get to that a little later! This is moving on and we will see it taking place even more. 

I have quite a few reports, and some of them are going to be quite astounding:

Globalists Just Revealed That The 'Great Economic Reset' Is Scheduled for 2021
{https://higherselfportal.com/globalists-just-revealed-that-the-great-economic-reset-is-scheduled-for-2021/}

That means resetting it, but what it's going to be like is a digital currency at first. All currencies will be digitized. That will ultimately lead to the mark of the beast!

Someone sent me this that was done in 1998:

Professor has world's first silicon chip implant by Steve Connor, August 1998 {https://www.independent.co.uk/news/professor-has-worlds-first-silicon-chip-implant-1174101.html}

In Sweden they have virtually no money in the way of bills and coins; everyone has a chip in the right hand!

Verse 16[transcriber's correction]: "And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bond, to receive a mark in their right hands, or in their foreheads." The Greek says upon, but meaning within!

They put the chip between the thumb and the index finger. Many businesses in America have it where they can just open doors and be identified. The digital cash will make it possible for your cell phones to touch each other and transfer funds from your account to the account of the one your phone touched.

I wonder how that's going to work with stolen phones? Seems to me that there's going to be a lot of grabbing and stealing of phones. Here is the key, and you think about it today:

Verse 17: "So that no one… [when Rev. says no one, means no one anywhere in the world] …may have the ability to buy and sell unless he has the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."

Think about if you can buy and sell! Think about if all of a sudden you woke up one morning, your bank and you didn't have access to your bank account, all your credit cards were blanked out and you had no money. And even if you had money, they didn't want to take it. That's totally control!

The Chinese are progressing toward that, because they have the cell phone technology right now, and they are trying to digitize their currency—the yuan!

Digitizing the Dollar in the Age of Covid-19 by Michael Greenwald (New Atlanticist); April 22, 2020 {https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/digitizing-the-dollar-in-the-age-of-covid-19/}

They're even working on laws in congress to do that. Why would that appear to be a good thing? Because they will put in such a way that they will never have to payoff any borrowed money!

Do you know what's going on in China all the way to Europe and the Middle East, and all along East Africa?

The Booming China-Euro Rail Network is Taking Next Step by Wade Shepard, October 19. 2016 {https://www.forbes.com/sites/wadeshepard/2016/10/19/the-booming-china-europe-rail-network-is-taking-the-next-step/#2ffd55241f79}

This report was filed in 2016. They've had four years of expanding it. It shows the rails that go from China all the way into Europe.

When they get to Kazakhstan, the gauge of the rails changes. The gauge in China is different than the gauge in Europe. They have big yards where they bring in these tremendous long trains and have cranes to transfer the cargo, just like the ones they have on ships. They lift them up and put them on cars so they go to Europe. They can do a whole train in two hours.

This is called The Belt and Road and there's many billions invested into it. It shows quite a few pictures.

China's high-speed railway length to top 30,000 km in 2019 {xinhuanet.com/english/2019-01/03/c_137715444.htm#:~:text=BEIJING%2C%20Jan.,top%20railway%20operator%20said%20Wednesday.&text=China%20aims%20to%20build%2030%2C000,high%2Dspeed%20railways%20by%202020}

China aims to build 30,000 km of high-speed railways by 2020.

And there's a picture of the train!

To show you where things are going, the Japanese have what they call maglev, which are run by magnetics. Guess how fast they can go per hour now? 500 km and hour, which is about 375 mph! Think about sitting on a train. I don't if you could see anything looking out the window!

All aboard! The Chinese-funded railways linking East Africa by Sophie Morlin-Yron, CNN
{https://www.cnn.com/2016/11/21/africa/chinese-funded-railways-in-africa/}

This is from 2017, and they have the rails already going, and an interesting part of this report…

Have you heard about the World Health Organization and the man from Ethiopia who was real cozy and friendly with the Chinese and not exposing any of the virus.

The Chinese built a rail from Ababa down to the coast of the Red Sea, which eliminated a five-day journey and reduced it to 12 hours on rail.

Then they're building high-speed rails all the way down the East Coast. In addition to that, here's another project with the Chinese, who have a lot of money to do it. Where did they get the money? Well, from the stupid trade deals that America made until Trump came on board! The Chinese made trillions and trillions of dollars.

$200bn worth of rail and metro projects planned in Middle East {https://www.arabnews.com/economy/news/643376}

All the countries there want to have that!

• Why are they focusing on trains? Here in America we're focused on cars!
• What is the plan? AOC—Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez—already told you: get rid of cars, get rid of oil, so the masses have to move on the rails!

The United States has been wanting to get out of Afghanistan, Guess who is moving in? The neighbor next door—China! China connects with Afghanistan through the Khyber Pass, and that's where the ancient silk road used to be.

China, Afghanistan pledge to jointly promote Belt and Road Initiative
Xinhua (April 28, 2020)
{http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2020-04/28/content_75985946.htm}

Why do they need the rails, the road and the pipeline?

China Ramps Up Role In Afghanistan Ahead of U.S. Withdrawal (May 05, 2020) {https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/china-ramps-up-role-in-afghanistan-ahead-of-u-s-withdrawal-/30594555.html}

This is interesting, and I think it was about 10-15 years ago that I suggested that the best way to get out of Afghanistan was make a deal with the Chinese, and let them come in. Guess what's happening today? That very thing! Why How does this fit into prophecy?

As the United States and its allies begin what looks like a final draw down of their forces from Afghanistan, China appears to be expanding its role and influence in the country.

They're already operating a big copper mine! What do you need copper for? All the digital equipment!

Beijing is actively enhancing contacts and possibly building robust relations with the Afghan government in Kabul and the Taliban, visibly pushing for a reconciliation between its… [China's] …longstanding ally Pakistan and Afghanistan.…

Bring them together!

China is underpinning its diplomacy with the prospects of greater trade and investment in the impoverished country.

How do you think that the Chinese are going to take care of the problem of the insurgence of the Taliban? They'll just kill them!

…Beijing is actively pursuing a close relationship with the Taliban…

Have them put down their arms, etc.!

"As a neighbor and friend of Afghanistan, China respects the Afghan people's choice of their own development path and stands ready to continue to support, mediate, and facilitate the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan and further play its constructive role," an April 27 statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry…

I will read the final link and then we will go to Rev. 9, because Rev. 9 & 16 will be fulfilled. But when you look at all of that area and how far back that all of that land area goes, you're going to understand why I'm going through all of this. What I'm going to read in this report is the most significant and prophetic development to take place in the fulfilling of the prophecies to carry out the things in the book of Revelation.

CHINA BAILS OUT IRAN TURNING ISLAMIC REPUBLIC INTO CHINESE COLONY by David Sidman  (Jul 13, 2020) Terror Watch
{https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/154629/china-bails-out-iran-turning-islamic-republic-chinese-colony/}

Get a map and here comes China, Khyber Pass… The Beltway Rail goes north of that into Kazakhstan and into Europe. There will be one coming through the Khyber Pass in through Afghanistan, but what is the missing link to get it to go all the way to Europe? Iran!

An 18-page document written up by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs entitled the 'Iran-China 25-year Comprehensive Partnership Document' was leaked to Iran Wire last week. In the agreement, China has agreed to invest $400-600 billion in Iranian infrastructure in exchange for dominion over Iran's natural resources…

Which is oil! What does China need? Oil!

…The document highlights the shared interests of both countries which include the supply of crude oil, renewable energy, civilian nuclear energy and petrochemical products. From an infrastructure perspective the deal involves the construction of railways, highways, maritime connections, and banking cooperation with regards to local currencies.

So, China is going to rescue Iran! Why is that important? It's going to take time to do all of these things!

• it takes time to build roads
• it takes time to build pipelines

and that's what they're going to do

• it takes time to get all of that done

• Where is the Euphrates River? That one of the two main rivers in Iraq!
• What is the eastern border of Iraq? Iran!

So, with the Chinese coming with all of this, they can go over the top of Iraq and connect with Syria. They already have it already proposed to go through Turkey and then on into Europe.

Revelation 9:14: "And it… [the "voice" (v 13)] …said to the sixth angel, who had the trumpet, 'Loose the four angels who are bound in the great River Euphrates.' Then the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month, and year…" That is a specific set time that this is going to happen!

But what all has to be built up to make it possible is what I've just read to you:

• the rails
• the roads
• the pipelines

"…were loosed, so that they might kill a third of men; and the number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred thousand thousand…" (vs 15-16)—200-million!

These armies are all strung out all the way to China and down to Southeast Asia! Eventually India is going to be included in that; they're not now. But that means that in order for these armies to come to the Middle East they must come through Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq.

• How are they going to do it if it's not developed?
• How are they going to do it if there are no roads?
• How are they going to do it if there are no railroads?

"…and I heard the number of them" (v 16).

This is the most significant development in prophecy that has happened recently. This completes the connection of everything back to China. Temporarily, this may mean that this may be a little better for America. We don't know, we just have to wait and see what's going to happen.

Let's look at the prophecies coming up to this point right here that we just finished, because this is important. We know that right now, because of the actions of President Trump, the development of a one-world order has been temporarily set back. But know for sure, all of the elite and all of the nations of the world who are behind this, they want it to happen. So, when Trump is gone from the scene, watch what's going to take place, and let's read it here, and this has to take time to develop. We will see that this brings us right down to the last seven years. Then we'll go back and look at the prophecies in Daniel and see how that builds up from there.

Revelation 13:1: "And I stood on the sand of the sea; and I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns… [a sign of Satan the devil; tie in Rev. 12] …and on his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard, and his feet like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion; and the dragon gave him his power, and his throne and great authority" (vs 1-2). Satan the devil is 'the god of this world'!

Verse 3: "And I saw one of his heads as if it were slain to death, but his deadly wound was healed; and the whole earth was amazed and followed the beast." That's everybody everywhere except the true saints of God!

Verse 4: "And they worshiped the dragon…" Stop and think for just a minute! The pope says that you can worship 'any of your gods' that you want to. Who started all those religions? Satan the devil!

Verse 4: "And they worshiped the dragon, who gave his authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, 'Who is like the beast? Who has the power to make war against him?'"

• Have they never been able to not have war?
• What kind of power is it going to take so that it will be a deterrent for a while?

We'll have to wait and see!

Verse 5: "And a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies was given to him; and authority was given to him to continue for forty-two months"—which is half of seven years!

This is talking about that he receives the wound, he revives and continues for 3-1/2 years. And the false prophet is with him in it. We will see in Rev. 19 that that 3-1/2 year period ends when the beast and false prophet are cast into the Lake of Fire!

Let's put some other prophecies together. The whole 70-week prophecy gives the timeframe from Daniel clear to the end. Dan. 9:27 tells us that this prophetic week is actually seven years:

Daniel 9:27: "And he… [the Beast Power of Rev. 13] …shall confirm a covenant with many for one week…."—7 years! This must be the covenant that fulfills the prophecy of who is able to make war against the beast.

Why have this agreement? Other Scriptures show that there is going to be a new temple built by the Jews! If you go to templeinstitute.org you can pick up all that the Jews have done in preparation for building the temple. What are they going to need? Two things:

• the right location, because it won't be where the Mosque of Omar is

{note DVD: Jerusalem and the Lost Temple of the Jews}

Remember that Jesus' prophecy that 'there would not be one stone left upon another' when the temple would be destroyed. But if you look at the western wall and over beyond that you have the Mosque of Omar and there are huge stones still standing one on top of another. So, in order to build the temple they must have the right location.

• because of the hostility of the Muslims, they must have military protection to build it

That will have to come, so we need to keep our eyes on that!

"…And in the midst of the week… [3-1/2 years] …he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease, and upon the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate… [that when the beast is revived from the wound] …even until the consummation…. [this brings us to close of the age when Christ returns] …And the fully determined end which is decreed shall be poured out upon the desolator" (v 27)—which is the extermination of the beast!

This is what kicks off the last 3-1/2 years, Matthew 24:15: "Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet… [we just read it] …standing in the Holy place.'…."—the Holy of Holies in the temple!

Now notice this parenthetical statement: "…(The one who reads, let him understand.)" (v 15). If you have a red-lettered Bible and that's in red letters, that incorrect, because Jesus didn't say that.

The Apostle John in finalizing the New Testament put it there because he understood that when the temple in 70A.D. was destroyed, there was no abomination of desolation that stood in the Holy place. So, he wrote this for all of us today, that as we read this, we need understanding. Why?

Verse 21: "For then shall there be Great Tribulation… [the abomination of desolation is what kicks off the Great Tribulation] …such as has not been from the beginning of the world until this time, nor ever shall be again. And if those days were not limited, there would no flesh be saved; but for the elect's sake those days shall be limited" (vs 21-22). What is it limited to? Seven years—3-1/2 and 3-1/2!

(break)

Why did John have to write that parenthetical statement? It has to because John was given the vision in Rev. 11 about the two witnesses, and he was told to take a measuring rod and measure the temple area, but leave out the court, for that was give to the Gentiles!

In canonizing the New Testament, John knew from Matt. 24 that there had to be a temple in order for there to be an abomination of desolation, because there wasn't when it was destroyed in 70A.D.

So, when John was canonizing in the last part of the first century, he was inspired to put that in to let us know that there would be a temple to come. Also, one of the greatest witnesses that he had was found in 2-Thess. 2. Let's understand, because it says in Rev. 13 that when the beast has the deadly wound healed that all the world worships him. Why? Because he is the abomination that makes desolate!

Also, understand that during the ministry of the apostles, they were thinking that Jesus was going to return during their lifetime.

2-Thessalonians 2:1: "Now, we beseech you, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken in mind, nor be troubled—neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by epistle, as if from us, saying that the day of Christ is present" (vs 1-2). Those are a lot of agencies coming after the knowledge of it!

Verse 3: "Do not let anyone deceive you by any means because that day will not come unless the apostasy shall come first…"

What is the apostasy? This is what we read in one of the reports: all religions together, all coming against true Christians and the whole world government! That is the apostasy!

"…and the man of sin…" (v 3). It comes down to a man! Rev. 13 talks about:

• the system
• the man

It was the man who received the deadly wound that was healed! What does he do after the deadly wound was healed?

"…shall be revealed—the son of perdition, the one who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is an object of worship; so that he comes into the temple of God and sits down as God… [that has to be in the Holy of Holies in the temple] …proclaiming that he himself is God" (vs 3-4). At this point he directly possessed of Satan the devil!

Verse 5:"Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I told you these things?"

This is very interesting because this is the second epistle that Paul wrote. The first one was 1-Thess. This has to be in 52 or 53A.D. that this was written. You can understand why John, when he was canonizing the New Testament, had to put in that parenthetical statement in Matt. 24.

Paul write, v 6: "And now you understand what is holding him back in order for him to be revealed in his own set time." Prophecy is going to be according exact timing from God!

Verse 7: "For the mystery of lawlessness is already working…"—there was apostasy back there; Jews coming after them, pagans coming after them, so he's making note of it.

"…only there is One Who is restraining at the present time until it arises out of the midst" (v 7). That's clear down to our day!

Verse 8: "And then the lawless one will be revealed (whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth, and will destroy with the brightness of His coming)… [this ties right in with Rev. 19] …even the one whose coming is according to the inner working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in those who are perishing because they did not receive the love of the Truth, so that they might be saved" (vs 8-10).

At the time that the beast goes into the temple to make it an abomination of desolation, who are already on the scene? The two witnesses!

{note our Daniel/Revelation series: Transcript Book with CDs}

Revelation 11:1: "Then the angel gave me a measuring rod like a staff, saying, 'Arise and measure the Temple of God…'"

Here is John's dilemma. God gave him a vision that there had to be a Temple of God, but the temple had been destroyed. So, in order for anyone to understand what Jesus meant in Matt. 24, John had to put in that parenthetical statement: The one who reads, let him understand!

"…and the altar, and those who worship in it. But leave out the court that is within the temple area, and do not measure it because it has been given up to the Gentiles; and they shall trample upon the Holy city for forty-two months" (vs 1-2).

That is equivalent to 3-1/2 years, but I want you to notice the difference. Forty-two months is always used for 3-1/2 years of evil! The 1260 days for the two witnesses is for righteousness!

Verse 3: "And I will give power to My two witnesses…" Who will they be? We can know this for sure: it won't be anyone from the Church! God is the One Who selects them unilaterally!

"…and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two lampstands that stand before the God of the earth" (vs 3-4).

Let's go back Zech 3 and learn who the two witnesses will be and see how this all fits together. It's going to be quite a time when it happens.

With the Daniel/Revelation series we have great big chart putting all the prophecies together for the seven last years and showing the two 3-1/2 years. It's all based on the Calculated Hebrew Calendar.

Sidebar: The difference in 42 months and 1260 days: Every Calculated Hebrews Calendar, the months run 30 days, 29 days; 30/29, 30/29. That's why the 1260 days do not exactly equal 42 months. One is by days and the other is by months.

Zechariah 3:1: "And He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him."

This original Joshua was one of the high priests when they built the second temple.

Verse 2: "And the LORD said to Satan, 'May the LORD rebuke you, Satan! May even the LORD Who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked out of the fire?'"—saved from permanent death!

Here's the high priest, and God reaches down and calls him, and he's got to give up everything with Judaism.

Verse 3: "Now, Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And He answered and spoke to those who stood before him, saying, 'Take the filthy garments from off him.' And to him He said, 'Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with ceremonial robes'" (vs 3-4)—which will be sackcloth (Rev. 11).

Verse 5: "And I said, 'Let them set a clean miter on his head.' And they set a clean miter on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by." That was for the priests at that time!

Verse 6: "And the angel of the LORD charged Joshua, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, "If you will walk in My ways, and if you will keep My charge…"'" (vs 6-7).

Isn't that what it is with all of us if we love God? If we keep His commandments? Yes, indeed!

"'…then you shall also judge My house, and shall also keep My courts, and I will give you places to walk among these who stand by. Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your fellows who sit before you; for they are men wondered at, for behold, I will bring forth My Servant the Branch!…. [Christ's return] …For behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua: On one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave its engraving upon it,' says the LORD of hosts, 'and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day…. [after Christ returns] …In that day,' says the LORD of hosts, "you shall call, each man to his neighbor, to sit under the vine and under the fig tree'" (vs 7-10).

What is this talking about? The Millennium! So, that's after Christ returns and establishes the Millennium.

Zechariah 4:1: "And the angel that talked with me came again and awakened me, as a man that is awakened out of his sleep. And he said to me, 'What do you see?' And I said, 'I see, and behold, a lampstand, all of it gold, and a bowl on its top, and its seven lamps upon it, and seven pipes to the seven lamps on its top'" (vs 1-2).

This is different because a lot of people think that this is the menorah. This is not the menorah!

Verse 3: "And two olive trees beside it…" Where did we just read about the two olive trees? Rev. 11, describing the two witnesses!

"'…one on the right side of the bowl, and the other on the left side of it.' And I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, 'What are these, my lord?' Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, 'Do you know what these are?' And I said, 'No, my lord.' Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, 'This is the Word of the LORD to Zerubbabel, saying, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the LORD of hosts'" (vs 3-6).

What are two lowly little witnesses going to do against all the power of the beast? That's what it's really saying prophetically!

Verse 7: "Who are you, O great mountain?…. [the Beast Power] …Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain, and he shall bring forth the head stone with shoutings, 'Grace! Grace unto it!'" That's the return of Christ!

Verse 8: "And the Word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house….'" (vs 8-9)—the second temple!

Who was Zerubbabel? The governor of Judea! This tells who the two witnesses will be:

• the high priest from the temple that they're going to construct and build and have up and going
• the governor of Judea

They come into office just before the Beast Power goes into the temple.

"'…His hands shall also finish it.' And you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. 'For who has despised the day of small things? For they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel. These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth'" (vs 9-10).

Who controls the seven eyes? Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:4; 3:1; 5)

Verse 11: "And I answered and said to him, 'What are these two olive trees on the right side of the lampstand and on its left side?'"

Here is the answer to Rev. 11 where it says that 'these are the two olive trees that stand before the Lord of the whole earth':

Verse 12: "And I answered again and said to him, 'What are the two olive branches beside the two golden pipes, emptying the golden oil out of themselves?' And he answered me and said, 'Do you not know what these are?' And I said, 'No, my lord.'…. [notice the clear definition to understand Rev. 11]: …And he said, 'These are the two anointed ones who stand by the LORD of the whole earth'" (vs 12-14).

We've had many people come along and say, 'These  are the two witnesses…' Remember, we heard that in the Church: the father and the son were the two witnesses, and in addition they were 'Ezekiel on the wall.'

God is the One Who going to choose the two witnesses, and they are going to do what God wants them to do. Let's see how that's going to be. Talk about the day of small things, two men—compared to the Beast Power and all of his armies and everything that he has—are nothing!

But they are the two olive trees of God sent to witness, and this is the last witness! This is going to be the witness that's going to be a major factor in converting the 144,000 and the great innumerable multitude. Why? Let's see what they do!

Revelation 11:4: "These are the two olive trees, and the two lampstands that stand before the God of the earth." Almost and identical repetition of Zech. 4!

Verse 5: "And if anyone attempts to harm them, fire will go out of their mouths and devour their enemies…."

Think how frustrating this is going to be, that for 1260 days they're going to try and kill the two witnesses! But they won't be able to.

Where do we find fire coming down from God in destroying enemies of one of the prophets of God? With Elijah!

"…For if anyone attempts to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. These have authority… [look at the authority that they have]: …to shut heaven so that no rain may fall in the days of their prophecy; and they have authority over the waters, to turn them into blood, and to smite the earth with every plague, as often as they will" (vs 5-6).

Think about what a tremendous thing this is going to be against the beast! Here he is ruling the whole world, having conquered everything, being resurrected from the deadly wound and was healed. Everyone is worshipping him as 'God'! He comes into the temple of God and sits down as God and says that he is 'God.' But he can't touch the two witnesses!

Verse 7: "And when they have completed their testimony, the beast who ascends out of the abyss will make war against them, and will overcome them, and will kill them."

Let's bring everything up to this point! We already covered the first seal, and let's understand something really important about the events in the end-time. Nothing is done unless God the Father gives Christ permission! That permission starts with opening the first seal. We've already covered that, united religions! Think about what a euphoria this is going to be.

Remember when it says that 'they're going to have peace, peace. They're going to be building, planting, marrying and giving in marriage, just like it was when Noah entered into the ark. That' show the coming of the Son of man is going to be. Here they are; they have their armies, their power, all of these things.

Revelation 6:3: "And when He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, 'Come and see.' And another horse went out that was red; and power was given to the one sitting on it to take peace from the earth…" (vs 3-4).

When does that happen? Dan. 11 tells us when this is going to take place! This tells us about the coming Beast Power.

• we have the book of Revelation that prophesies the exact event
• we have the Old Testament that gives us the preliminary setting

Daniel 11:36: "And the king shall do according to his will. And he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god… [tie in 2-Thess. 2] …and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods, and shall prosper until the indignation be accomplished, for that which is decreed shall be done."

Here's a lesson to learn in reading the Bible: The Bible in many, many instances gives us

• a summary of what's happening
• a summary of what's going to happen
• then it gives us the details of how it happens

Summary first, then the details!

Verse 37: "He will not regard the gods of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god, for he shall magnify himself above all. But in his place he shall honor the god of forces… [Satan the devil] …and a god whom his fathers did not know shall he honor with gold and silver, and with precious stones and costly things. So, he shall deal against the fortresses of the strongest with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge; and shall increase with glory. He shall cause them to rule over many and shall divide the land for a price. And at the time of the end…" (vs 37-40). This tells us when it will be!

What is the time of the end? The last seven years; 3-1/2 and 3-1/2! Let's see if we can get a little time-setting on this.

"…the King of the South shall push at him. And the King of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind with chariots and with horsemen and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries and shall overflow and sweep through. He shall also enter into the glorious land…" (vs 40-41)—into Palestine! What is in Jerusalem at this time? The temple!

 "…and many countries shall be overthrown. But these shall escape out of his hand: Edom and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. And he shall stretch out his hand also upon the countries. And the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt. And the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall alarm him…." (vs 41-44).

We've seen what's going to happen in the East with China, Afghanistan and Iran, coming all the way to the eastern Mediterranean. The King of the North is going to rise up out of Europe, so that has yet to happen. In this case, it's also going to include, without a doubt, Eastern Europe.

Remember that Europe has rarely amounted to anything unless there is a dictator that had brought the nations together. You can start with Nepolian and Bismarck, then Hitler and so forth. That will have to come!

Verse 45: "And he shall plant his royal tents between the seas in the glorious Holy mountain. Yet, he shall come to his end, and none shall help him."

That's when the beast goes there, and what will probably happen is when the beast first comes into Jerusalem he's going to stop the sacrifices!

• How are the Jews going to react? They're going to want to get rid of him and kill him!
• Is that how he gets his deadly wound?
• The Jews come after him because he stopped the sacrifices? Very likely!

The two witnesses are there also!

• What does the beast do when he's revived back? He goes into the Holy of Holies of the temple that the Jews are going to build and say that he is God!

This is when the second seal is opened, and there is going to come out from them war over a part of the earth. What part of the earth that will be, I don't know, but somehow that's got to figure in the modern descendants of Israel. We read that the children of Israel will be in captivity and we know they will because of the 144,000.

Revelation 6:4—they went out to make war: "…take peace from the earth…"

This tells that in the lead up to all of this, before it all breaks loose that there's going to be a peace, then it comes to an end!

"…and to cause them to kill one another; and a great sword was given to him. And when He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, 'Come and see.' And I looked, and behold, there was a black horse; and the one sitting on it had a balance in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures say, 'A measure of wheat for a silver coin, and three measures of barley for a silver coin: and see that you do not damage the oil and the wine.' And when He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, 'Come and see.' And I looked, and behold, there was a pale horse…" (vs 4-8).

What happens when there's war? Death, destruction, famine, starvation! That's what this is all about!

"…and the name of the one sitting on it was Death, and the grave followed him; and authority was given to them over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and with famine and with death, and by the beasts of the earth" (v 8).

• What do they want to do?
• Who's to blame?

We'll be the blame, the true Christians will be blamed! The fifth seal is the martyrdom of the Christians, because they will think that if they can kill all the Christians, then everything is going to be fine. But it won't be!

When that happens, then the most astounding thing to occur in the history of the world is going to take place, the sixth seal!

Verse 12: "And when He opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as the hair of sackcloth, and the moon became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its untimely figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the heaven departed like a scroll…" (vs 12-14).

What are they going to see? The sign of the Son of man, which Jesus says will shine from east to west (Matt. 24)! That means that they will all of a sudden see what looks like a second sun. At first they're going to think it's Christ returning, but then later Satan will convince them to believe that these are invaders from outer space. What did they do?

Verse 15: "And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the powerful men, and every bondman, and every free man hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, 'Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him Who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, because the great day of His wrath has come, and who has the power to stand?'" (vs 15-17).

That's quite thing! Just think about everything that's going on, on the earth with going on. And the two witnesses with their witness that they are giving. Then the martyrdom of the saints.

• What does God have a few in a place of safety?
• Why kill all them here, but have a few in a place of safety?

That's before the 144,000!

• Why? Because Jesus gave a promise that the gates of the grave would never prevail against the Church!

After that there's a great calm, and lot of repenting people: the 144,000 and the great innumerable multitude! All going to be sealed, converted! Then the rest of Rev. 7 shows that they will, at the resurrected, be at the Throne of God.

Revelation 8:1: "Now, when He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about a half hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them" (vs 1-2).

Sidebar: These trumpets are blown in sequence: 1-7, and the seventh one is the last trump. No place in the entirety of the Bible do you find where there is a sequence of blowing of trumpets that you can say is the last trumpet, referring to the 7th one and the resurrection.

Verse 3: "And another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar; and incense was given to him, so that he might offer it with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar that was before the Throne."

There are a lot of prayers going up to God at that time. Why? Because you have the 144,000 and the great innumerable multitude! Are they not saints if they have the Spirit of God?

So the most that are converted are those who are converted in the sealing of the 144,000 and the great innumerable multitude! Greater than all the work down through history. That's an amazing thing when you contemplate it!

Then the first four woes come very quickly. And we come to Rev. 9 and end up where we started at the Euphrates River and how the mass hordes get from the rising of the sun, the kings of the East come all the way to the River Euphrates and God dries it up so they can pass over it.

That's quite a thing to contemplate! Well, it's all being prepared now! So, the question remains: How much time do we have? We don't know! God has the time schedule!

But in order for these armies to come they have to have a means to get there. So, with this agreement with the Chinese together with what they have already done with Afghanistan, is going to prepare the way with:

• rails
• roads
• pipelines

Everything that they need to move armies of 200-million!

Scriptural References:

• Revelation 6:1-2
• Revelation 13:11-12, 16-17
• Revelation 9:14-16
• Revelation 13:1-5
• Daniel 9:27
• Matthew 24:15, 21-22
• 2 Thessalonians 2:1-10
• Revelation 11:1-4
• Zechariah 3:1-10
• Zechariah 4:1-14
• Revelation 11:4-7
• Revelation 6:3-4
• Daniel 11:36-45
• Revelation 6:4-8, 12-17
• Revelation 8:1-3

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Revelation 9:13; 12; 1:4; 3:1; 5; 7

Also referenced:
Articles:

• Inter-Faith Prayers for the Pandemic to Cease? What Is at Stake is Bigger Than What You Think Posted on July 1, 2020 {http://vaticanfiles.org/}
• Globalists Just Revealed That The 'Great Economic Reset' Is Scheduled for 2021 {https://higherselfportal.com/globalists-just-revealed-that-the-great-economic-reset-is-scheduled-for-2021/}
• Professor has world's first silicon chip implant by Steve Connor, August 1998 {https://www.independent.co.uk/news/professor-has-worlds-first-silicon-chip-implant-1174101.html}
• Digitizing the in the Age of Covid-19 by Michael Greenwald (New Atlanticist); April 22, 2020 {https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/digitizing-the-dollar-in-the-age-of-covid-19/}
• The Booming China-Euro Rail Network is Taking Next Step by Wade Shepard, October 19. 2016 {https://www.forbes.com/sites/wadeshepard/2016/10/19/the-booming-china-europe-rail-network-is-taking-the-next-step/#2ffd55241f79}
• China's high-speed railway length to top 30,000 km in 2019 {xinhuanet.com/english/2019-01/03/c_137715444.htm#:~:text=BEIJING%2C%20Jan.,top%20railway%20operator%20said%20Wednesday.&text=China%20aims%20to%20build%2030%2C000,high%2Dspeed%20railways%20by%202020}
• All aboard! The Chinese-funded railways linking East Africa by Sophie Morlin-Yron, CNN

{https://www.cnn.com/2016/11/21/africa/chinese-funded-railways-in-africa/}

• $200bn worth of rail and metro projects planned in Middle East {https://www.arabnews.com/economy/news/643376}
• China, Afghanistan pledge to jointly promote Belt and Road Initiative, Xinhua (April 28, 2020)

{http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2020-04/28/content_75985946.htm}

• China Ramps Up Role In Afghanistan Ahead of U.S. Withdrawal (May 05, 2020)

{https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/china-ramps-up-role-in-afghanistan-ahead-of-u-s-withdrawal-/30594555.html}

• CHINA BAILS OUT IRAN TURNING ISLAMIC REPUBLIC INTO CHINESE COLONY by David Sidman (Jul 13, 2020) Terror Watch

{https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/154629/china-bails-out-iran-turning-islamic-republic-chinese-colony/}

DVD: Jerusalem and the Lost Temple of the Jews

Sermon Series: Daniel/Revelation {with Transcript Book & CDs and charts}

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 7/23/20

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