Overcome the Distractions of the World

Fred R. Coulter—December 29, 2012

- PDF | Audio | [Up]

As we mentioned at the start, this world is becoming super-controlled by Satan. So various organizations and people and religions, Satan himself, and he is going to have his grand finale and it's going to be mighty convincing.

I got a report on a new quantum computer. Have you heard of the quantum computer? The regular computer uses zeros and ones. This one can use 0+A and 1+A so it gives it multiple capacity that is going to bring big computers at the present time. We don't know how it's going to do in hand-held devices or whatever. It's going to bring it to near human intelligence.

How long do we have for the end? Let's go back to the beginning right after the Flood and we will see how long we have to the end. Every single generation has thought 'we are the ones.' I would give sermons periodically where I would say, 'We will live to see the return of Christ.' Especially as we were coming up to 1972-1975. It all came as a shock that it didn't work out the way that it was going. In the late 1960s there were a lot of things going on that looked like it could happen. The cities were burning, riots were rampant in the cities. That's what we preached on.

Then it dawned on us that no, it doesn't look like it's going to work that way. Here is the thing that gives us the key: At the end we're going to see the destruction of this great Babylon that began here:

Genesis 11:1: "And the whole earth was of one language and one speech." Are we there again? Yes, indeed! One computer language, English is the most common language.

Verse 2: "And it came to pass, as they were migrating toward the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar. And they settled there. And they said to one another, 'Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.' And they had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar" (vs 2-3). They were going to make it waterproof in case there was another Flood. They could run in there and God couldn't kill them. That's what Josephus records.

Men always try and scheme around God—don't they? Yes, they do! Here's what God did to hold everything back until the end-time in our day.

Verse 4: "And they said, 'Come, let us build us a city and a tower, with its top reaching into the heavens…'" As I mentioned before, you watch any documentary on any city in the world and they're all built on the same scale. That's why Babylon the Great, that great city, actually means and includes the whole world. A lot of people think, 'They're going to rebuild Babylon back in Iraq.' God said that city would not be rebuilt. Sadam Hussein tried it. He even put his initials on every brick that they were doing to restore the city of Babylon and he's gone. They aren't rebuilding it because it applies to whole world.

"'…And let us establish a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered upon the face of the whole earth'" (v 4). What happened was this. God told them where they were going to go for their inheritance that He gave to each of the people that survived through the Flood and then their subsequent children, and so forth.

They didn't want to go, v 5: "And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the children of men had built. And the LORD said, 'Behold, the people are one and they all have one language. And this is only the beginning of what they will do—now nothing…'" (vs 5-6). That's the key that we have missed all along in saying that the end is near.

Like I mentioned in my recent letter and I have done for how many years—where is the king of the north? We thought it would be in place by now, but it's not! Where is the king of the south? Europe is in turmoil and they've got a great Islamic problem that they have to solve. My own personal feeling is that there will be a renaissance in Europe led by the Catholic Church and the nations that are there, with Germany being the lead nation. They will just have to say, 'All Muslims, there's your empire down there. We cannot have you here.' There's no way that Europe can rise to any stature of power with, in some cases, 20% Muslim population. That no one has calculated to try and figure out.

Where we say nothing, this means technologically, governmentally and financially because the mark of the beast is coming. "…nothing which they have imagined to do will be restrained from them" (v 6). Why is that? So They came down, confused their languages, scattered them and the place was called Babel.

Let's talk a little bit about human potential. What God has given us is fantastic, but the problem is we're not complete without the Spirit of God. We don't know what to do without the Word of God. So here's part of the problem. We are incomplete and don't realize it.

Psalm 8:4: "What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him? For You have made him a little lower than God…" (vs 4-5)—that's the correct translation—Elohim—made in the image of God, made in the likeness of God so that we can become after the God-kind

Everything exterior has nothing to do with salvation. When we come to the New Testament—the spiritual covenant of Abraham—we're all the seed of Abraham. God's work is within! There are two kinds of works that God does:

• conversion
• for those who keep the commandments of God in the letter of the law

They have blessings in their lives because they obey, because that's automatic. When there are sins, there are penalties and those happen and those likewise are automatic. There's one more:

• Satan's involvement

This is why at the end-time we're confronted with so many different things. But here it is. It tells of the whole plan of God

Verse 5: "For You have made him a little lower than God and have crowned him with glory and honor." He did!; He gave the whole earth to mankind. What did He say? You have dominion over the earth, over the fish of the sea, the fowl of the air, over all the animals. That means also over the technology that you can invent.

Look at what we have done. You watch some of these things on the History Channel and you see—especially here in America—when they were developing the railroad and they thought 'that's so great! We can go 60-mph at top speed.' Look at us now! We have a man going up above the stratosphere and doing a glide down to the earth. What was that, 138,000 feet? I don't know how it was up there, but he came through it. If you would go back in time and tell people in other generations what we're doing now, we would end up like John was when he saw Babylon the Great, he was utterly amazed.

Yeah, at first when he stepped off into space he tumbled because there was no air to control him. Later he got control. I wonder what his thoughts were when he was doing summersaults coming down. I bet it was just like an atheist in a foxhole being shot at, 'Oh, God, help me!'

Nothing that he imagines to do can be restrained from him. Have we gone to the moon? Have we sent things to Mars? Have we sent things clear out to outer space that these little radios with just a little teeny voltage can talk back to the earth and be received in a receiver hundreds of millions of miles out in space? If man can do that, think what God can do because He created everything that there is.

Verse 6: "You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; the birds of heaven, the fish of the sea, and all that pass through the paths of the seas" (vs 6-8). They understood the paths of the sea.

I forget the name of it, but the movement of the water. It's a big like a super highway moving water on the bottom of the ocean and then comes up to the top of the ocean and goes clear around, it goes back down under again.

Verse 9: "O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!" What's going to happen? I'll do a little speculating here. We've always thought we're going to be the last generation. That causes a fatal error and it did in the churches that we were associated with. They didn't prepare for the next generation. They also allowed sin to come in and carnality to take over and giving Satan an entrance.

They didn't prepare and guard the Truth. This is one of the main important things that we need to do. We can't be involved in personalities. We can't be involved in following men. We must be involved in following God and defending the Truth! That's one of the things that I see. We must—at least our part of it and I hope all the other Churches of God would do the same—prepare for the next generation. They are not going to have the time or the ability to do all the studies and things that need to be done. They aren't going to have the time to do the research.

Today we have a lot of research tools that we can use that are online. That's true. We need to use that and compile it together and put that with the things of the Bible so everyone can have access to it. The times are going to get desperate, and who knows if there are even going to be any libraries around by time it's done where you can have books to do this, or to do that, or to do the other.

We live in this world that Satan has deceived. It's like 'a covering' around the earth. It's a covering. Christ is going to have to break that covering (Isa. 25:7).

Let's look at some of the things that we are going to be confronted with in our personal lives. These things are actually magnified. When you're reading the New Testament also keep this in mind. There was the end of apostolic age in two stages:

• The beginning of the Church with the apostles, the spreading of the Gospel, the writing of the New Testament and then the fall of Jerusalem

The fall and destruction of Jerusalem caused great havoc with the Church. It survived, but wounded. I'm currently reading all the New Testament. I'm almost done, but what struck me in reading it and recording it is this: I think there is well close to 50% of the New Testament that is dedicated to warnings against problems, Satan, sin, false ministers, false doctrines, etc.
The fact that we have the Bible and the New Testament is a single-handed miracle that God has watched over and protected for us down to this day. When Paul writes in the last days, there is a fulfillment in his day with the fall of Jerusalem.

• Then we have the book of Revelation with the Apostle John. When he died the Church was left stranded high and dry for all of those who did not apply themselves.

Let's see the setup here as it comes. It's always happened this way.

2-Timothy 3:1: "Know this also…" Think of it today. It's amplified and multiplied with all of the technology, with all of the movies, with all of the television, with all the things that are there. Also, with the government and governments are becoming the greatest enemy of the people.

Verse 2: "For men will be lovers of self…" Everyone doing what is right in his own eyes! They don't care about anybody. They don't care about the neighbor. All about me, myself, and I and getting everything they can.

"…lovers of money…" They're going to find out the results of that, but look at all of greed, look at all of the debt and what they're setting up the whole world for, for the mark of the beast to controlling all the banking systems. That's what's going on right now. We virtually have a digital currency that everyone can use. As I've mentioned before they have the cell phone pay anywhere, the wave and all of that.

"…braggarts, proud, blasphemers… [Those are the ones who are honored.] …disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, despisers of those who are good" (vs 2-3). That's why there will be persecution against us. We might as well make up our minds. We better stand strong for the Word of God. We better realize that it's going to be tough sledding, because it's going to be.

Verse 4: "Betrayers, reckless… [What does that tell you about the adventures of people?] …egotistical, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God." I tell you what, you can take these verses, wrap it all up in one big package and you can see where it is applied by Satan the devil on the Sabbath, beginning with Friday night. Everything involved in fulfilling this has a major activity on the Sabbath. What does this do to people concerning the Sabbath? It blinds their eyes!

Today when you tell people, 'The seventh day is the Sabbath,' and this is the ongoing discussion that Ernest has with his patients that he's escorting to the world clinic. What has happened very subtly? Remember this, Satan has gotten his power by incrementally doing it bit-by-bit-by-bit. If you tell someone the seventh day, you wait and see, we will soon have the European calendar.

Have you seen the European calendar? Guess which day is the seventh day? Sunday! People have no connection with that with Saturday. Look how long that's been in Europe and every major corporation has the first day of the week as Monday. So, if you say, 'You need to keep the seventh day.' Oh, we're doing it. They may mess with the calendar even more and make it harder. Many things are converting over to that right now. They're even publishing the weekly planner books for the whole year and Sunday is the last day of the week. They don't change the number of the day of the month, but they slide it over.

In other words what they do, if you one, two, three, four, five, six and then seven is Sunday, they slide seven up to end the week. It looks like that. So here again, it's going to be that one day they're going to say, 'We need uniformity in everything. Everyone's going to follow this' BANG! a further blow to the Sabbath!

Verse v 5: "Having an outward appearance of Godliness… [or 'religion'] …but denying the power of true Godliness…." You don't need to obey God, or you don't need the Word of God. Look at all the good things that these people are doing.

"…But as for you, turn away from all these. For from men such as these come those who are worming their way into houses, and are gaining control over empty-headed gullible women given over to various sins, being drive by all kinds of lust" (vs 5-6). We can put there and empty-headed men, as well, for today.

Let's see something else that is going to take place. As I read this, I want you to think about all the television shows that show transhumanism, demonism; all of those things are part of what's contained in 1-Tim. 4. There is going to be an onslaught of demonism.

1-Timothy 4:1: "Now the Spirit tells us explicitly that in the latter times some shall apostatize from the faith, and shall follow deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons… [Is that not what we have? And it's going to increase!] …Speaking lies in hypocrisy, their consciences having been cauterized with a hot iron" (vs 1-2). Now that applies to many things, not only just marriage, not only just clean and unclean meats, but everything concerning God.

Where is all of this going to lead? Let's see how people get all involved in these things, get used to them, find pleasure in them, and yet, not realizing that they're cut off from God. This is what is to happen in the Church of God. We are not to mimic or follow the practices of the false Christianity of this world in running the churches. All those who are ministers and teachers are to

• serve the brethren
• teach the brethren
• teach them to be competent in the Word of God
• have a relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ

—because God has personally called each one. This is why Paul gives this warning here:

2-Timothy 4:1: "I charge you… [this is a pretty hefty charge] …therefore, in the sight of God, even the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is ready to judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the Word!.… [That's what we are to do—the Word of God is Truth.] …Be urgent in season and out of season… [that tells us about the Holy Days and Sabbath] …convict, rebuke, encourage, with all patience and doctrine" (vs 1-2).

Doctrine is important. Doctrine does divide. God intended it to. Doctrine means teaching. You combine that with what we have already read up to this point:

Verse 3: "For there shall come a time… [This is the beginning of the ending of the apostolic church in two phases.] …when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but according to their own lusts..."—we want it our way. That falls right into the greatest sin that men do. They always have an idea to improve on God, to improve on His Word. Hence we have all. I'm going to do a Church at Home, I'm going to do a series on restoring original Christianity and I'm going to bring in when did all of these false doctrines come into the Church after the Apostle John died. Some of them before!

What did John write there, the very last thing he said in 1-John 5, he said, 'Beloved, flee idolatry.' They had it in the churches while he was still living.

"…according to their own lusts… [Here's what they are going to do.] …they shall accumulate to themselves a great number of teachers… ['You can't preach anything unless we approve of it.'] …having ears itching to hear what satisfies their cravings; and they shall turn away their owns ears from the Truth; and they shall be turned aside unto myths. But as for you, be vigilant in all things, endure hardships, do the work of an evangelist; fully carry out your ministry. [then he admits]: …For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand." (vs 3-6). So, Paul prepared not only for the next generation, but down to the end.

Let's look at a couple of other Scriptures here, which tells us some very interesting things. We have seen these things repeated in the churches in our day and we're going to see it even more. It's also imperative and as we go along you will see why it is imperative that we really stick to the Truth, we preach the Word of God, we live by the Word of God.

Not only is God going to call people from the world, which He is doing, and we're having a good number of baptisms from Church at Home. We are expecting more. But there are those who are trying to hold fast to the Truth in some Churches of God who are going to find that Satan is not done with them, yet. If they're wanting the Truth, they'll be looking for the Truth and they will be able to find it if we are faithful.

This is why it's very important for all teachers, ministers, elders, that we feed the flock of God as Paul said, that Jesus Christ purchased with His own blood. We're on our own. We don't rule over brethren, we teach them how to let Christ rule in their lives!

Remember what happened to Peter. Remember the Passover night. Peter said, 'Lord, I'm willing to go to the death.' He said, 'Peter, before this night is over and the cock crows, you're going to deny Me three times.' Oh, no, Lord, I won't do that. What happened? He did! Then at the end of the book of John we find where Jesus had further words with Peter again three times. 'Peter, do you love Me? Feed My lambs. Peter, do you love Me? Feed My sheep. Peter, do you love Me?' Peter said, 'Yes, Lord, you know I love you.' He said, 'Shepherd My sheep.' At that point he still didn't really get it.

Remember Jesus said, 'When you're old, you're going to led about where you don't want to go.' Peter looked at John and said to Jesus, 'Lord, what's going to happen to him?' He said, 'What if I desire that he remain alive until I come? What is that to you, you follow Me.' We'll see that Peter learned that lesson.

1-Peter 5:1: "The elders who are among you I exhort, even as a fellow elder…" For all who have had a Catholic background, he didn't say the first pope. All ordinations are to be elders. The work that they do can be an apostle or an evangelist or a prophet. So, Peter learned a lesson—didn't he?

"…and an eye-witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker of the glory that is about to be revealed. Feed the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight not by compulsion, but willingly; not in fondness of dishonest gain, but with an eager attitude. Not as exercising lordship over your possessions; but by being examples to the flock of God" (vs 1-3). That was a problem—right? He learned that.

Notice what he says concerning Satan, v 6: "Be humbled therefore under the mighty hand of God so that He may exalt you in due time… [That due time or appointed time is the resurrection!] …casting all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you…. [this applies all the time]: …Be sober!.… [physically and spiritually] …Be vigilant!.… [not slacking off] …For your adversary the devil is prowling about as a roaring lion, seeking anyone he may devour. Whom resist, steadfast in the faith…" (vs 6-9).

Why did Satan get an entrance into the Churches of God? Because they failed right here! They did not exercise the faith. They did not resist the temptations. They allowed corruption. They allowed money. They allowed sexual sins of such a high level that it's as Paul said, it's a shame to even mention the things that went on.

What did God say to the Ephesians, because they lost their first love? 'If you don't repent, I'm going to remove your candlestick!' Does that apply to any of the Churches of God? Yes, indeed! Has it been removed today, in our day? Yes, indeed! The faithful have been scattered. God will bring them back. That's the challenge that we have here. Satan is there!

"…knowing that the same afflictions are being fulfilled among your brethren who are in the world…. [some hope]: …Now, may the God of all grace, Who has called us unto His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, Himself perfect you, establish, strengthen, and settle you" (vs 9-10).

Whatever trial you're going through, you open the Bible right here in your prayer and you claim this promise; God will help you. It means there are going to be some things you need to do. Ask God for guidance.

2-Peter 2—there's a companion study: Epistle of Jude and 2-Peter, which in book The Seven General Epistles we do a side-by-side comparison and it's amazing. Here's the warning from the Apostle Peter in preparation for the close of the apostolic age in his day:

2-Peter 2:1: "But there were also false prophets among the people, as indeed there will be false teachers among you, who will stealthily introduce destructive heresies, personally denying the Lord who bought them, and bringing swift destruction upon themselves. And many people will follow as authoritative their destructive ways; and because of them, the way of the Truth will be blasphemed" (vs 1-2).

That's how they change the doctrines. It's very easy to do. 'Oh, that's the old law.' All kinds of heresies. In the series I'm going to do on Church at Home, I know one of the first ones, so called St. Ignatius about 118A.D.; whether he was converted or not, we do not know, but his mission was to bring the brethren out of the church homes into a central location. First thing! Then I'm going to find out, when did infant baptism come, when did going to heaven come in. The seeds of that were sown there as written by the Apostle Paul in 1-Cor. 15, he says, what is it that some of you do not have the knowledge of the resurrection in the Church of God. So there are a lot of things there.

But here's what happens, v 2: "And many people will follow as authoritative their destructive ways; and because of them, the way of the truth will be blasphemed. Also, through insatiable greed they will with enticing messages exploit you for gain; for whom the judgment of old is in full force, and their destruction is ever watching" (vs 2-3). Then he gives a warning; think on this:

• Did God punish the angels that sinned? Yes, He did!
• Do you think you're going to escape? No, you're not!

(go to the next track)

1-John 2:15 was some few years, we don't know how many, before John was given the vision of the book of Revelation. As you read and study the New Testament, think about how the Scriptures inspired by the Spirit of God have so much meaning to us today though they were written over 1900 years ago. Think of that! There are more manuscripts and copies of the New Testament in Greek than there are of the classics of Plato, Socrates, and so forth. There are just one or two or three manuscripts. That's it!

Every time you read the Bible think about that. Every time it has a connection to your mind in meaning something, then realize that this is God's Word to us.

Here is the first defense, 1-John 2:15 "Do not love the world…" That's how Satan has got everybody involved. They don't realize it, but that through the Holy Days we worship God, and through the holidays they worship Satan. It starts out with the celebration of demonism and Satan with Halloween. Then it comes up with something fun and happy and good and all of this for Christmas. People are locked into it. Oh, yes, they talk about the birth of Jesus, but do they know what it really means? They also all know it wasn't at the time that they say. But that's okay, it's fun and we all do it. Lock step with the world, that's loving the world.

Verse 15: "Do not love the world, nor the things that are in the world…." (v 15). In particularly today. Think about this. How many things do we have today? So many things it's unreal!

"…If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (v 15). So therefore, with the holidays of this world, it is impossible to love God. You may think that you are, because you're having a good time. But a good time and pleasure does not mean equal to Godly love. That's the love of this world.

Besides can you build something for God by starting on a satanic lie? Think of that for a minute. Can you build the Truth of God on the foundation of a lie? No! The only foundation is Christ, the true Christ. There's a false Christ. There's a false Christianity, and it's all based on loving the world.

Here's what takes place: You take vs 15, 16 and 17—I've been doing this lately—and watch the ads. Except for a few medicine disclaimers that what you take may make you insane, give you suicidal thoughts, cause you heart attacks, make your blood so thin you'll die, and whatever it may be. But 'it's good for you.'

Watch the one on Chantix. Everything is set to instill something in your mind. 'Here she is. What a wonderful thing, we'll overcome smoking.' So she is reading and she's smiling—right, isn't that true? She is Latino! What are they aiming to, what audience, and it's a woman. All of these things are important in these ads. Look for the messages in the ads based upon all of these things. She's happy! She's overcoming smoking! Put the mute on and read the warning. Then the ad is done and she stands up to walk away and she's got this silly smile on her face; everything is so happy.

So, I said to myself, 'See if you can find an ad that says I'm unhappy, I'm miserable, I'm rotten'. Aren't going to, everything is happy, happy, happy! Everything is good! Everything is smiles! Everything is wonderful! Drive this car for zero down. Have this refrigerator, get this food, get this snack, go to school here, do this, do that, do the other thing; all appealing to the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and pride of life!

Concerning the ad with Monsanto and all the genetic-modified food, 'Oh, it's so wonderful and good and happy. We're improving the world, feeding the starving world,' and all of this sort of thing, but 'it's going to kill you and that's what we want to do.' No, they don't say that! Yes, and then they have to give a disclaimer and the speaker at the end give it so fast you don't know what it says. They say nothing about robbing the farmers. Of course, they wouldn't do that.

We've had a good discussion about many different ads and they are all geared to one thing, to be able to bring out the most blatant lies to be accepted as normal. And what a good thing is being done by the person or by the company or by the government, or whatever it is. It's all based on this.

Verse 16: "Because everything that is in the world… [if you don't view it God's way] …the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pretentious pride of physical life—is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world and its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God abides forever…. [he gives the warning]: …Little children, it is the last time..." (vs 17-18).

That's direct statement for their age and a prophecy for our age. The Word of God can have layered meanings and prophecies in it that are just absolutely mind-blowing. So this is a statement of then and a prophecy for us.

 "…and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming… [they heard] …even now many antichrists have risen up, by which we know that it is the last time" (v 18). That's how after John died everything within 50 years was changed.

Jesse Lyman Hurlbut writes the book; he said that with the deaths of Paul and John 'we struggled vainly to see through the fog of history.' We have no writings. He says, 'We don't have anything from Apollos, we don't have anything from Timothy. We don't know what went on.' After the death of John and the 50 years, 'the veil rises and we have a church that is totally different from the one that the apostles established.' That's where we are today. Most of the world doesn't know it.

Verse 19: "They went out from among us, but they were not of us because if they were of us, they would have remained with us; nevertheless, they left that they might be exposed to show that they all were not of us."

A warning and the King James has a very bad translation of this because it says, 'You know all things.' Not true! The only 'all things' you can know are all the basics for salvation. You cannot know all things. A lot of people say, 'If I've received the gift of the Holy Spirit and have spoken in tongues and have the baptism by fire, I have an anointing from God. That's all I need, I don't need anything else.' It has nothing to do with what it's saying here.

Verse 20: "But you have the anointing from the Holy One… [the Holy Spirit] …and you have knowledge of all things pertaining to salvation." That's why I clarified it with that phrase there pertaining to salvation. We don't have all knowledge of all things, only those things pertaining to salvation.

Verse 21: "I did not write to you because you do not know the Truth, but because you know it, and you understand that not one lie comes from the Truth. Who is the liar if it is not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is the antichrist—the one who denies the Father and the Son" (vs 21-22). It's amazing what happened here.

The more we study the Word of God, the more that we see things that are going on, the more that we understand how things are going to be as God leads us to understand it. How many have heard the saying, 'From the top down, bottom up, and inside out'? Have you heard that saying? That's a favorite political saying today. We do it from the top down, the bottom up, inside out.

That tells perfectly what's going on in the way that Satan gets his deception in. He works through the top, the leaders in religion and economics, in government. He works with the bottom through the people, through the things that he's established there. Then he changes it all and mixes it all up. That's why we have all of these crises to keep people on edge so they can bring about more change, more change.

One thing to remember 'crisis' in English is spelled with a 'c.' In Greek the word is spelled 'krisis' and means judgment. Whenever we have these major crisis it's a judgment from God, and showing the activity of Satan to establish the kingdom at the end.

Revelation 13:1: "And I stood on the sand of the sea… [What does the sea represent? Waters represents peoples, multitudes, nations, languages! All the sand of the sea, etc.] …and I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns…" That's an unusual beast—isn't it?

Here we have the bottom, which is the sand of the sea, the people. We have a form of government rising up and it looks like it's from the grass roots. Sound a little bit like the explanation of what's going on in the Middle East? But it's an amalgamation—7 heads and 10 horns. Out of that will come one leader, but right now what they are seeing is this: Just like with the world currency. They thought that they could have the regional currencies first, but that failed with the euro. So now they're working toward the time when they can bring in a world currency. I've given many different sermons on that.

This is going to be a complete satanic world and the way that they're going to do it is the same way that Satan has operated in the past. They talk about world governance rather than world government. The distinction is this: They are not going to abolish the nations in regions. They are going to have trading zones, but not get rid of the nations; that's too big of a job. They will have an amalgamated association, just like it says here:

Verse 2: "And the beast that I saw was like a leopard… [from Greece] …and his feet like the feet of a bear… [Persia] …and his mouth like the mouth of a lion… [Babylon] …and the dragon gave him his power, and his throne and great authority." That's why we have the amalgamation of the nations coming together and it is called the United Nations.

They're working out ways to gain more and more and more control. The biggest thorn in their flesh is America. How that works out we'll have to see. We can know this for sure: In America's the last place on earth that the Gospel is going out in truth. Not going out of any other nation in the world.

Verse 3: "And I saw one of his heads… [then it comes to the person] …as if it were slain to death, but his deadly wound was healed…" We can look at two things here:

#1—a person
#2—the system.

And now they're beginning to understand. As I was watching a history of the fall of the Third Reich and saw the way that Germany was demolished and all of Europe because it controlled it. I looked at that and I said, 'Could that be the deadly wound of the system?' The reason I did is because what is coming up now they're beginning to understand is not Communism. Communism is where government owns the means of production and the land and everybody. It is Fascism, which is Nazism, rediscovered in a new cloak. Which then is, you've heard the term crony-capitalism? The corporations their own power but they also get great assistance from the state. The state and the corporations work together, and so forth.

That's what we are seeing. How many heard on the different talk shows and maybe on some of the television interviews that what they're at looking now and saying, 'The model for us to follow is the Chinese model.' The Chinese are no longer Communists. They are Nazis! Dictatorship! But corporations making money, and money going to the state; controlling it together; planning it together. This is what is also happening in Russia. Putin is not a communist, he's a KGB, but they are styling their economy after the Nazis.

Revelation 17 shows us the joint efforts of the beast, which is the government and the church which is the woman. Revelation 17:7: "Then the angel said to me, 'Why are you amazed? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.'" If you want to follow along in the chart, we have that in the back of the Bible in the appendices. So maybe we are looking at a revival of the Nazi system, not just in Europe, but in the whole world. What are they trying to do in America? Same thing!

Verse 8: "The beast that you saw was, and is not, but is about to come up out of the abyss and to go into perdition. And those who dwell on the earth, whose names are not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, shall be astonished when they see the beast that was, but is not, and yet is. Here is the mind that has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. And there are seven kings; five are fallen, and one is, and the other has not yet come; and when he has come, it is ordained that he remain a little while" (vs 9-10). Is this one here, five are fallen one is and one is not and one is to come?

Verse 11: "And the beast that was, and is not, he is also the eighth, and is from… [Greek there is 'ek'—out from] …the seven, and goes into perdition." I looked at the destruction of Germany and everything and that was European-wide. I thought maybe this is what it's talking about. If everything is coming back to the Nazi formation, it's of the seventh, but it is the eighth, and eight is a number of a new beginning.

With a world governance brought together like this there are a lot of things that are going to happen. The thing that's important to understand is everything that is coming down in the future is going to impact us in everything we do.

Revelation 13:3: "And I saw one of his heads as if it were slain to death, but his deadly would was healed; and the whole earth was amazed and followed the beast." Here in the book of Revelation we always have all nations, the whole earth, etc.

Once they get this system in order they're going to all wonder. This is going to be an amazing thing that's going to take place. So, we have the system revived. Do we have its leader then die and come back to life? Because there is more than one fulfillment in this! But here is the world we'll be in. If you think it's tough now, think about this, v 4: "And they worshiped the dragon…"

No half way in between. If you're half way in between you can't serve two masters—right? You'll either love one and hate the other, but if you have your foot in the world and you still love the world, guess which way you're going to go? Unless you repent and go God's way! They worshiped the dragon. How do they do that? Through all the holidays of this world, through the religions of this world. That's how people are controlled—correct? Yes!

Verse 4: "…And they worshiped the beast, saying, 'Who is like the beast? Who has the power to make war against him?'" You have the person, there will be a final person as well as a final world governance; association of nations with authority. Isn't that what they say of the United Nations? It's lacking authority! Well what if they gave it authority?

I've said through the years there has to be a re-organization of the United Nations. Wouldn't that be a wonderful thing? All the people of the world would come to an agreement and now we have re-organized the United Nations. We're not going to have a world government where you lose your national identity. We'll all be part of the re-formed United Nations.

By the way, when the League of Nations failed, they gave after the war all the property to the United Nations and we're going to move our headquarters over there. Where is that? In Switzerland, in Europe! See how convenient that would be? Think how people would say, 'That's a wonderful idea.'

That's a good place to be and all the bankers are there. Every January they have the meeting of the super-elite, the super-rich, political, bankers and corporate leaders in Davos, Switzerland. So, if you're online, look up Davos, Switzerland, and you'll find all of the super-elite there together. 'Oh, we're just here to exchange ideas and have a nice time together.' No, they're planning how they can control the world and take it without anyone knowing it.

Who was one of the leading persons that always speaks at the Davos thing? By the way, 'Uncle' Ben Bernanke goes there, too. Who is the one you always hear of? George Soros—the one who is perhaps more single-handedly responsible for the demise of the United States through incremental sinning and terrible policies. Some people even think, having something to do with rigging elections.

So there are a lot of things going on. There is more to life than going on than just living day-to-day. That's why it's important that everybody get right with God, because it's going to come. Notice in the person. Here comes the one that fills in with 2-Thess. 2.

Revelation 13:6: "And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. And he was given power to make war against the saints… [we might as well be prepared, it's going to come] …and to overcome them; and he was given authority…" (vs 6-7).

Here it's going to come together as an association of nations. Then there's going to be an assassination attempt. He's going to survive it. Satan is going to possess him and then he is given authority over the whole world. That's right in the middle of the last week of Daniel's 70th week prophecy. Many other prophecies we can put together, but we have to understand is what is coming down so that we're prepared. We can't be dilly-dallying around just half asleep at the switch.

"…and he was given authority over every tribe and language and nation. And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If anyone has an ear, let him hear? (vs 7-9).

Then it talks about the false prophet and his miracles combined together. Think what that would do. Think with all of the worldwide communications we have today. If you get bitten by a mosquito at the farthest end of Australia, if it makes news, it'll go around the world instantly. Think what it's going to do if there is a pope and he's anxious to bring all the religions together and they will.

Since we're doing a little speculating here, what happens when you have a false prophecy? Look at Harold Camping. He said the world is going to end in May. 'Oh, I was mistaken, it's going to end in October. Whoop! No, it's not going to end there.' So the Mayans come up and say, 'It's going to end December 21st.' Didn't happen!

By the way, watch History Channel over this weekend if you can, because they showed another aspect of the Mayan civilization. They had child sacrifice and they had these big sink holes that have water in them and they threw the children in there to the rain gods and now they're sending divers down there and they're finding the skulls of these poor children who have been sacrificed. God destroyed that civilization because of that.

What do you think God is going to do to us because of abortion? That's the #1 thing that God is holding us accountable for right now. The comment was made concerning other child sacrifices today, which are on the dark side, that is, in the satanic organizations where the power-elite associate as well. You coupled that with a number of disappearing children that are never found. Where do they go? And so forth.

By the way, in the book, Occult Holidays or God's Holy Days, Which? I have quite a section there concerning the days of human sacrifice. That's why that book was written. That book needs to be read, because if anyone is having any problem of getting your foot out of the world—you've got one foot in the Church and one in the world—you need to be convinced where you need to go, then you need to read that book and understand what is in there and get your foot out of the world and start walking to God.

Let's see what we need to do. Let's come back to the little Epistle of 2-John because this tells us how we need to react toward God and the things going on in the world. The thing that we all need more than anything else is the Truth of God and the Spirit of Truth. We're going to find that there are a lot of people—let me just say this: There was a high-ranking 'minister' in one of the large Churches of God who recently gave a sermon back in the Midwest and it was a funeral sermon. In this church they've been having a lot of turmoil and splits and ups and downs here lately.

So, he was the guy right at the top and he was giving this funeral presentation. Right in the middle of the funeral presentation he stopped and said, 'You know, today it's awfully hard to know who is converted and who isn't.' That tells you an awful lot about the condition of the Churches of God. I know people don't like to be beaten over the head with Laodiceanism, but hey, folks, that is true. But with repentance that's what God wants.

Here gives us what we need to do. 2-John 1:1: "The elder to the chosen lady and her children…" [this is encryptively written to the whole church as well as to a congregation] …whom I love in [#1]Truth, and not I alone, but also all those who have known the [#2]Truth." We need the Truth, the Truth of God. We can't be bringing the doctrines and methods of Christianity of this world into the Church and mixing error with truth and thinking that we're doing well.

Verse 2: "For the sake of the [#3]Truth that is dwelling in us…" The Truth that is in us is:

• the Word of God
• the Spirit of Truth
• Christ—Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life
• God the Father

All dwelling in us!

"…and shall be with us forever" (v 2). That's the whole basis for eternal life. So this is quite a way to start out this epistle, especially in the middle of the time when there was a great turmoil and antichrist in the Church.

Verse 3: "Grace, mercy, and peace shall be with us from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in [#4]Truth and [#1]love" With love we have:

• the love of God
• the love of neighbor
• the love of brethren
• the love of our enemies

all together. When we put this together, the Word of God just magnifies itself in such a way it's incredible.

Verse 4: "I rejoiced exceedingly that I have found among your children those who are walking in [#5]Truth… [way of life, walking in the Truth] …exactly as we have received commandment from the Father." That is obviously through Christ.

Because Jesus said, 'I do not do anything of My own. I don't speak My own words. What the Father commanded Me to do, I do. What I see the Father, that's what I do. What He told me to speak, that's what I speak.'

Verse 5: "And now I beseech you, lady, not as though I am writing a new commandment to you, but that which we have observed from the beginning, that we [#2]love one another. And this is the [#3]love of God… [notice: Truth, love, Truth, love] …that we walk according to His commandments… [not the way we think] …This is the commandment, exactly as you heard from the beginning, that you might walk in it." All of this tells us what we need to be doing, but all of this is expanded in the rest of the New Testament as well.

Verse 7: "Because many deceivers have entered into the world… [That's what we have today. Remember the dual fulfillment, the end of the apostolic age and the end of the age before Christ returns.] …those who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. This is the spirit of the deceiver and the antichrist."

It is a doctrinal separation, but notice, it is the spirit of the antichrist and that ties right in with Eph. 2:1-2, the 'prince of the power of the air.' Satan comes along and he has his missiles he throws out. Have you ever gone along someplace and all of a sudden you wonder, 'Why did this thought come into my mind?' Satan's got them, throwing them around.

I remember occasions where I'd be driving along to go visit brethren and BANG! here comes a thought just like that. I thought, 'Who did that come from?' My mind was on something totally different and then BANG! I had to begin to understand at that time that even though the thought came, that was not within me, that was sent there by Satan to distract me. So that's a great part of it.

Verse 8: "Watch out for yourselves in order that we may not lose the things we have accomplished, but that we may receive a full reward." All those warnings are there. Today, you talk about the cool generation that you can just lay back and relax and all of that sort of thing.

Verse 9: "Anyone who transgresses…" This is very important when you ask: What should I do? How do I know what to do? Anyone who transgresses—which is going against the laws and commandments of God, going against the teachings of Jesus Christ, going against the writings of the apostles—

"…and does not continue in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. But the one who continues in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son" (v 9). Doctrine is teaching. Teaching, then applies to all of the things that Jesus taught and said. If you want a good study of that, we have A Harmony of the Gospels, we'll send it.

Verse 10: "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house, and do not say to him, 'Welcome!'" How bad were things getting? You can't co-exist with evil! That's why Jesus said to the Laodiceans, 'I would you were hot or cold.

Verse 11: "For anyone who says, 'Welcome!' to him is partaking in his evil works." You're agreeing with sin, you're agreeing with lawlessness. What did Jesus say would be the hallmark of our day today? 'Because lawlessness will be multiplied…' It's like you take a penny, double the amount every day and at the end of a month, you'll have over a million dollars. That's multiplied. That's just the way it is in the world—multiplied.

Notice how bad it was, v 12: "I have many things to write, but I do not wish to convey these things to you with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face in order that our joy may be completely full. The children of your chosen sister salute you. Amen" (vs 12-13).

I guess this was a good way to get the message through without getting it intercepted by someone else. But just notice how that applies to us today.

Think of this: The New Testament and the Word of God are so inspired. If we could say it's like a sphere. You can an infinite number of lines go through a sphere and an infinite number of directions and every time they meet there is an agreement with the Truth of God. If we can understand that with the Truth of God and apply it in our lives, then we'll be able to get through the times that are ahead of us. So that's where we are today. We'll find out in a few years down the road where we are tomorrow!

Scriptural References:

• Genesis 11:1-6
• Psalm 8:4-9
• 2-Timothy 3:1-6
• 1-Timothy 4:1-2
• 2-Timothy 4:1-6
• 1-Peter 5: 1-3, 6-10
• 2-Peter 2:1-3
• 1-John 2:15-22
• Revelation 13:1-3
• Revelation 17:7-11
• Revelation 13:3-9
• 2-John 1-13

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Isaiah 25:7
• 1-John 5
• 1-Corinthians 15
• 2-Thessalonians 2
• Ephesians 2:1-2

Also referenced: Books:

• Josephus
• Seven General Epistles by Fred R. Coulter
• Occult Holidays or God's Holy Days—Which? by Fred R. Coulter
• A Harmony of the Gospels by Fred R. Coulter

FRC:lp
Transcribed: 01-6-13
Formatted: bo—1-11-13

Copyright 2013—All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner. This includes electronic and mechanical photocopying or recording, as well as the use of information storage and retrieval systems.