Richard F. Ames

[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]

“The Devil Made Me Do It”?

Does a spirit being named Satan the devil really exist? Or is he just the imagination of artists, sculptors, and fiction writers? My friends, one of the greatest deceptions would be the idea that this deceiver does not really exist. When we review the history of the world, and the deceptions of various religions we find strong evidence that the Devil, called Satan, has been very active in history, but WE NEED TO REALIZE that he is very active even now. Have you been deceived? Your Bible makes this astounding statement, Revelation 12:9:

“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world.”

Do you know the Devil’s strategies, deceptions, and devices? The Apostle Paul stated in 2 Corinthians 2:11: “We are not ignorant of his [Satan’s] devices.”

Deceivers are out to deceive us and cheat us. Liars and con-artists strive to defraud us. But above them all there’s a great deceiver whom your Bible calls Satan the Devil. Millions of people dabble in the occult and seek answers from soothsayers and mystics. These dark practices are deceptive.

Do you know Satan’s schemes and deceptive devices? You need to know the Devil’s deadly deceptions!

Stay tuned!

Wrong Desires and the Lies We Tell to Fulfill Them

Warm greetings to all our friends around the world.

Millions of con-artists, deceivers, and charlatans are out to deceive you and me. Some salesmen do their best to defraud senior citizens and rob them of their investments. And yet there are other forms of deception. The Harry Potter books featuring the occult have sold millions. Others look to séances, tarot cards, channeling, and astrology for power and insight. Millions of people dabble in the occult and seek answers from soothsayers and mystics. Others seek selfish short-term physical pleasure, with no thought of morality or consequences.

On today’s program, we’ll examine seven of the deadliest deceptions offered by Satan the Devil.

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, warned us to be on guard against the Devil’s deadly deceptions. Matthew 24:3:

“Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’ And Jesus answered and said to them: ‘Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.’”

Yes, many, not just a few, will fall victim to Satan’s deceptions. The first deception we’ll cover today is lust. Human nature is filled with vanity, jealousy, greed, and lust. Satan can take advantage of that tendency and weakness in all of us. He sends temptation through the media, movies, television, the Internet, magazines, and through carnal and covetous individuals. Teenagers growing into adulthood are very prone to the sexual messages readily available to them on the Internet.

Many married people give in to the seducing temptations of others and commit adultery. The Apostle Paul warned married couples not to deprive one another from sexual relations. Otherwise, Satan could take advantage of our carnal nature. 1 Corinthians 7:5:

“Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”

In our modern age, sexual temptations are all around us. So, the Apostle Paul advised those who might lack self-control,

“Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband” (1 Corinthians 7:2).

Let’s understand, my friends, that lust, greed, and covetousness is sin. The Tenth Commandment states:

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s” (Exodus 20:17).

The 1987 movie Wall Street featured the corporate investor Gordon Gekko, who made the famous statement, “Greed is Good!” No, my friends, greed leads to idolatry. How many millions around us make idols of business moguls and entertainers whose wealth they envy?

You must not lust for sexual sin, or for the wealth you see other people trying to enjoy. God promises to provide all your needs—but all your godly needs, of course. That promise is in Philippians 4:19. Let’s also understand that covetousness is a form of idolatry. You can desire a person, position, or possession so strongly that it becomes an idol to [you]. As it states in Colossians 3:5,

“Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

Instead of being filled with envy and covetousness, be thankful for all the blessings God has given you. Satan’s Deception #1 is: Lust. My friends, pray, as Jesus taught us,

“And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” (Matthew 6:13).

Deception #2 is: Lying. There’s a classic example of lying in the New Testament. Members of the early Christian church donated property and funds to help fellow Christians. However, one individual named Ananias, committed fraud. He claimed to have given all of the proceeds to the Church, but held back some of the funds. He lied to the Apostle Peter. Let’s read the story in Acts 5:

“But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. [Now listen to this] But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.’ Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things” (Acts 5:1).

Sapphira, his wife, came to Peter later. She lied, and she experienced the same judgment as her husband. She died on the spot! Let’s understand. Satan is the father of lies, as it states in John 8:44. My friends, examine yourself. Monitor your communications. Do you shade the truth? Or do you simply lie? Don’t let Satan take advantage of you, as he did with Ananias and Sapphira. Remember, the ninth commandment states:

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16).

And let’s also realize that you can LIVE a lie. I’m afraid that too many professing Christians are doing just that! As it states in 1 John 2:4,

“He who says, ‘I know Him,’ [that he knows the Lord] and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

My friends, ask God to help you to speak the truth, and live the truth!

Human Conceit and the Vanity of the Occult

We’ve seen that Satan wants to entice us with lust and lying. The third Satanic deception we’ll discuss is PRIDE, VANITY, AND ARROGANCE. Selfishness and egotism are part and parcel of human nature. We like to feel important. That desire can lead to deception. The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy concerning the ordination of a bishop, or an overseer. In 1 Timothy 3:6, he wrote that such a candidate should:

“not [be] a novice, lest being PUFFED UP WITH PRIDE he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

My friends, do you let pride and vanity guide your thinking and behavior? If so, you can be deceived. You can be snared by the devil. How do you counteract self-centeredness and vanity? The Apostle James wrote:

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10).

James also gives us this encouragement in verse 7,

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Remember the biblical examples of those who cultivated pride, and did not give glory to God? King Herod allowed himself to be worshipped as a god! He cultivated vanity and arrogance. And what happened to him? Acts 12:21,

“So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, ‘The voice of a god and not of a man!’ Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God grew and multiplied.”

Another king who had to learn lessons the hard way was King Nebuchadnezzar. When he neglected to take the prophet Daniel’s advice to repent, God took Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom away from him. And King Nebuchadnezzar lived like an animal for seven years, until he learned his lesson. You can read about that in Daniel the fourth chapter.

My friends, be on guard against pride. When God blesses you, give Him the glory. As it says in 1 Corinthians 1:31,

“He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”

Deception #3 is: Pride, Vanity, and Arrogance.

Satanic Deception #4 is: False Dreams, Visions, and Miracles. How many times have individuals told me their dreams or visions that were obviously Satan-inspired? Some thought they had seen Jesus. He supposedly appeared to have the traditional long hair. But the Jesus of the Bible did not have long hair. The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 11:14,

“Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?” (King James Version).

Jesus escaped out of crowds on several occasions because He looked like the average Judean man of His day. That means He did not have long hair! My friends, do not be deceived by dreams, visions, or appealing messages. The Apostle John wrote in 1 John 4:1,

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

The occult appeals to many people. Some try to contact their deceased relatives through mediums. Children read Harry Potter books and become fascinated with the occult. Satanic video games are popular. You need to educate your children on the dangers of the occult, satanic activities, and other demonic influences. God Almighty condemns witchcraft and sorcery. He tells us in Deuteronomy 18:12,

“For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD.”

Be sure to read Deuteronomy 18:9–14 and Galatians 5:20.

Satan uses dreams, visions, and miracles to deceive people. The book of Revelation describes the great false prophet who will arise soon. Be sure to read this in your own Bible. Revelation 13:11,

“Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb [a counterfeit of Christ] and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.”

My friends, don’t be deceived! Religious leaders will perform great signs and miracles. Be sure that you test all such leaders with the Bible, the word of God. That’s why we say, don’t believe us just because we tell you, check these references in your Bible—believe your Bible. As it says in Isaiah 8:20,

“To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”

Satanic Deception #4 is: False Dreams, Visions, and Miracles.

False Religion and the Loss of Faith

Some of the most deadly lies of the devil are in the realm of false doctrine, false religious teaching. Where did you learn about Christianity? Amazingly, Satan has convinced most Christians to believe and do those things Jesus never taught!

Satanic deception 5 is: FALSE DOCTRINE. Where do we find godly doctrine or teaching? Jesus said in JOHN 8:32,

“[Y]ou shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Truth is revealed in the Bible, but we must also practice the truth. Jesus said in the previous verse, verse 31:

“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.”

But the majority will not practice the truth. The Apostle Paul prophesied that religious people would seek teachers to preach what they want to hear, rather than teachers who would preach the truth of the Bible. Turn in your Bible to 2 Timothy 4:2. The Apostle Paul exhorted the young evangelist Timothy:

“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”

My friends, are you willing to be guided and corrected by the Bible? Or will you be turned aside to fables? One of the major errors of professing Christianity is the practice, by some, of pagan traditions. We’ve documented them on previous programs. Easter eggs are a pagan symbol of fertility; decorated trees, holly wreaths, and mistletoe were pagan traditions; December 25 was celebrated as the birth of Mithras, the sun god. It was never the date of Jesus’ birth. Should Christians observe Valentine’s Day? In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius I established the Feast of St. Valentine on February 14. Previously, since the days of ancient Rome, young lovers had often observed the Lupercalia—the feast of Lupercus, a fertility god—on February 15. Even in ancient Greece, mid-February was associated with love and fertility; the Greek month of Gamelion, ending in mid-February, was associated with the marriage of the gods Zeus and Hera.

The historian Will Durant gave this analysis in his book The Story of Civilization:

“Christianity did not destroy paganism; it adopted it. The Greek mind, dying, came to a transmigrated life in the theology and liturgy of the church; the Greek language, having reigned for centuries over philosophy, became the vehicle of Christian literature and ritual; the Greek mysteries passed down into the impressive mystery of the Mass. Other pagan cultures contributed to the syncretist result…. Christianity was the last creation of the ancient pagan world” (pp. 595, 599).

My friends, are you practicing pagan traditions in the name of Christianity? Remember Jesus’ warning to the Pharisees and scribes concerning certain religious customs. He warned them in Mark 7:9,

“All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.”

The world is full of false religions, false traditions, and false doctrine. My friends, be on guard against the deceptions of Satan! Deception #5 is: False Doctrine.

Satanic Deception #6 is: Lack of Faith. The patriarch Job was attacked by Satan. Job remained faithful to God and learned vital spiritual lessons. At one point Job said,

“For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me” (Job 3:25).

In our modern language, we might call this a self-fulfilling prophecy. We must face our fears and pray for God’s protection and intervention. We must exercise faith. When we study the Bible and believe God’s promises, He gives us faith. At it states in Romans 10:17,

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Lack of faith opens us to Satanic deceptions. The book of Hebrews recounts the faithlessness of ancient Israel. They lacked trust and faith in God. We need to learn from their hardness of heart. Hebrews 3:12,

“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

Those who lack faith in Christ, and who persist in trusting Satan, will ultimately be destroyed as it tells us in Revelation 21:8:

“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

But the good news is emphasized in verse 7:

“He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”

Is There an Unpardonable Sin? Can Satan Lead You to Committing It? Can It Be Overcome?

When we fail or hurt, it can be easy to become bitter about what has happened. Our hurt can turn to a grudge, or to a desire for revenge. If we nurse those feelings, they can turn to hate, and then hate can turn into bitterness. Our seventh Satanic deception is: bitterness. My friends, you must identify and overcome any feelings of hate and bitterness. Notice this instruction in Hebrews 12:14:

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.”

Such bitterness can even lead to the unpardonable sin. How do you counteract those feelings? Simply by following Jesus’ instructions. He said in Matthew 5:44,

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

My friends, pray for your enemies. Bless those who curse you. That’s the Christian way. That’s the way that will overcome Satan’s infectious attitude of hate and bitterness! Avoid Satanic Deception #7: Bitterness.

My friends, God wants you to be His trusting and faithful son or daughter through Jesus Christ our Lord. He will give you His faith, if you turn to Him with your whole heart. If you feel God is calling you, and you desire to follow His command to repent, and be baptized, we have representatives around the world who will be happy to counsel you and help you understand the baptismal commitment.

In the meantime, arm yourself with spiritual knowledge. Do not allow yourself to be deceived by yourself, by the world, or by Satan. As the Apostle Paul emphasized:

“… we are not ignorant of his [Satan’s] devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11).

Bible prophecy predicts that a great future false religious system will deceive and influence billions of people all over the earth. Don’t you be deceived!

Thank you for watching!

My friends, you need to know how you can avoid the Devil’s deceptions. Our booklet Satan’s Counterfeit Christianity reveals a massive, global deception that has gone on for many centuries and will show you how the Devil has corrupted most of the world’s professing Christian churches. You can receive your own copy for free by clicking the link in the description. And remember to subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss another Tomorrow’s World video.

[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]

Important Bible Mysteries Revealed!

The book of Revelation, or the Apocalypse, is a mysterious book to most people. This Revelation is the last book in your Bible. And yet, it is one of the most important books in the world! Why? Because it reveals the future of humanity, and the future of planet earth! But there are symbols and secrets that challenge us. The four horsemen of the apocalypse destroy one-fourth of all people on the earth in their famous ride. A harlot rides a beast with seven heads and ten horns. The writer of Revelation, the Apostle John, sees another beast with seven heads and ten horns rising up out of the sea. And then the final battle of World War III, Armageddon, determines the victory between good and evil.

My friends, you need to know the secrets of this mysterious book. The mystery of Revelation has been unveiled! You need to know the mysteries of this last book in your Bible. You need to know the prophesied future and the ultimate future for you and your family. You need to know its good news! Today, I’ll share with you seven mysteries of Revelation!

Stay tuned!

The Book of Revelation: What Mysteries Does It Contain?

Warm greetings to all our friends around the world!

One of the most important books in the world is the book of Revelation in your Bible. This mysterious book reveals what will happen in the next decade and beyond. You’ve probably heard about the famous four horsemen of the Apocalypse. Who are these horsemen, and what do they represent? The writer, the Apostle John, also describes a beast rising out of the sea with seven heads and ten horns. Later, he describes a harlot riding another beast. What do these and other symbols mean? Can we unlock the mysteries of Revelation? Can we know the future? My friends, the mystery of Revelation has been unveiled. You need to know its secrets!

On today’s program we’ll reveal Seven Mysteries of Revelation. You need to know the prophetic meaning and messages of this mysterious book. You need to know the sequence of prophetic events leading up to the Second Coming, the return of Jesus the Messiah to rule the world.

The Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, inspired John to write what he saw in vision so that we could understand the future. As mysterious as this book appears, you can understand its message. This is what Christ Himself stated. Revelation 1:1,

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to SHOW His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. [Now listen to this] Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near” (Revelation 1:1–3).

Notice, my friends, that the purpose of Revelation is for you to understand the future, not to be mystified. You need to understand the secrets of Revelation. Today, we’ll reveal seven mysteries that unlock this important book. Our first mystery of Revelation is: Revelation’s Major Theme Is the Day of the Lord.

Turn in your Bible to Revelation 1:10. The Apostle John wrote:

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet….”

John is speaking of the major prophetic period of time described in the rest of the book as the Prophetic DAY OF THE LORD. John is NOT referring to Sunday as the Lord’s Day. If John were doing that, he would have referred to Sunday “as the first day” of the week as he did in the Gospel of John. Jesus Himself said he was Lord of the Sabbath! And He was not speaking of Sunday. The expression “Lord’s Day” here in Revelation is plainly referring to the theme of the whole book, the prophetic Day of the Lord, culminating in the return of Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

The Day of the Lord is introduced by the sixth seal. The sixth seal is the heavenly signs, or the cosmic disturbances that will shock people all over the earth! Let’s read that in Revelation 6:12. The Apostle John writes:

“I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (Revelation 6:12-17).

Jesus Christ, the Lamb, will judge rebellious nations. The heavenly signs introduce the Seventh Seal of Revelation. The Seventh Seal represents the Day of the Lord, the one-year judgment on the nations. It is “the great day of His wrath” (Revelation 6:17). Notice this powerful statement by the prophet Isaiah:

“For it is the DAY of the Lord’s VENGEANCE, the YEAR of recompense for the cause of Zion” (Isaiah 34:8).

God’s punishment, the day of the Lord’s vengeance is equated to one year. Isaiah 63:4 also indicates this year-long day of God’s vengeance on rebellious nations.

Our first mystery for understanding the book of Revelation is: Revelation’s major theme is the Day of the Lord. Our second mystery of Revelation is: The Seven Seals Reveal the Sequence of End-Time Events. The Apostle John saw in vision a scroll with seven seals mentioned in Revelation 5:1. The Revelator, Jesus Christ, unseals them one by one. Turn in your Bible to Revelation the 6th chapter. Here we see the famous four horsemen of the Apocalypse represented by the first four seals. What do these horses and their riders symbolize? Jesus gave an outline of prophetic events in the Olivet prophecy found in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. These prophetic events explain the four horsemen in the book of Revelation. The famous four horsemen of the Apocalypse symbolize, in order, false Christs and false religion, war and its devastating effects, famines that normally follow on the heels of war, and pestilences and disease that follow after famine.

My friends, there are shocking times ahead for the whole world. We need to be prepared for them. These four horsemen will cause devastation all over the earth. As we read in Revelation 6:8,

“[P]ower was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.”

My friends, can you imagine the death of two billion or more people in the future? Perhaps even in your lifetime?

Now, what happens when the fifth seal is opened? Turn to Revelation 6:9.

“When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.”

Here is described the martyrdom of the saints, true Christians. In the first century, the Emperor Nero severely persecuted Christians and put them to death. A major end-time persecution of saints is also predicted by this fifth seal. Jesus predicted this tribulation in Matthew 24:9. Then Jesus opens the sixth seal, revealing the heavenly signs that will terrify people all over the earth. This chart in our free booklet gives you an overview of the Seven Seals and their prophetic significance. The Seventh Seal consists of the Seven Trumpet Events, and the Seventh Trumpet consists of the Seven Bowls or the Seven Last Plagues. Our second mystery of Revelation is: The Seven Seals Reveal the Prophetic Sequence of Events.

A Terrible Prophetic Timeline

Our third mystery of Revelation is: Three Milestone Events Reveal the End-Time Prophetic Framework. What are those milestone events?

They are:

1. The Great Tribulation;

2. The Heavenly Signs;

and

3. The Day of the Lord.

These three events cover a period of about 3 and one-half years. There are over thirty prophecies in your Bible referring to the Day of the Lord. As we’ve seen earlier in the program, Isaiah 34:8 and Isaiah 63:4 show that the Day of the Lord in end-time prophecy, the time preceding the Second Coming, is a period of one year! You might want to write down those references: Isaiah 34:8 and Isaiah 63:4! Our third mystery of Revelation is: Three Milestone Events Reveal the End-Time Prophetic Framework.

Jesus warned us that mankind’s mad obsession with war and weapons of mass destruction would lead to total cosmocide. He stated in Matthew 24:21,

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”

The Great Tribulation is a time unique in all history. The prophet Daniel referred to it in Daniel 12:1. The prophet Jeremiah referred to it in Jeremiah 30:7 as “the time of Jacob’s trouble.” Yes, the time of judgment on the modern descendants of Jacob, the American and British descended peoples, as we’ve explained on previous programs. What happens after the Great Tribulation? Notice Matthew 24:29,

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”

So, Christ gives us the sequence of major events: First the Great Tribulation. Then the cosmic disturbances, or heavenly signs that we also read about earlier in Revelation 6:12. What follows the heavenly signs? The prophet Joel gives us the answer. Joel 2:30,

“And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, BEFORE the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.”

The heavenly signs precede the Day of the Lord. So, again, we see our third mystery of Revelation, revealing three milestone events: 1. The Great Tribulation; 2. The Heavenly Signs; and 3; The Day of the Lord.”

You’ve probably heard of the Beast of Revelation. The Book of Revelation, or the Apocalypse, features a symbolic Beast. Our fourth mystery of Revelation is: The Beast and the False Prophet Will Rule for a Short Time.

What does this beast of Revelation symbolize? The beast of Revelation the 13th chapter has seven heads and ten horns. This beast rises out of the ocean. The scarlet beast of Revelation the 17th chapter has seven heads and ten horns, and is ridden by a woman described as a harlot.

WHEN will this beast appear on the world scene? We only need to read the next verse, Revelation 17:14,

“These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”

The Lamb is Jesus, the Messiah. He will come to this earth to save it from total cosmocide. The time setting is for the future. The seventh revival of this Beast power is just ahead of us. Who is this Beast? My friends, Bible prophecy reveals that a great superpower will arise in Europe. And it will be a revival of the Roman Empire. This great power will be political, military, and economic. You can read about this economic power in Revelation, chapter 18. The current European Union aspires to hold all three dimensions of that power. This power is symbolized by the Beast, who will rule with the support of the False Prophet. Our fourth mystery of Revelation is: The Beast and the False Prophet will Rule for a Short Time.

A Message of Hope for the World After Great Sorrow

But the good news is in our fifth and sixth mysteries of Revelation. Our fifth mystery is: Christ Will Win the Final Battle. Revelation 11:15 tells us of a wonderful announcement:

“Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’”

But notice, the worldly nations under the sway of the Beast power will not submit to God’s coming kingdom. How will they respond to this new world government? Revelation 11:18,

“The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that you should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

Satan and his demons will influence worldly armies to gather at Megiddo, about 55 miles north of Jerusalem. You can read about that in Revelation 16:14-16. Who will win that battle, commonly referred to as Armageddon? Remember, as we read earlier in Revelation 17, Christ will conquer the Beast power. Revelation 17:14,

“These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”

Our fifth mystery of Revelation is: Christ Will Win the Final Battle. And what will happen after He wins that victory? That’s our sixth mystery of Revelation: The Kingdom of God Will Rule on the Earth.

My friends, Jesus Christ came preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God. The apostles continued preaching that gospel. Even the Apostle Paul continued to preach that gospel to the end of his life. Read the last two verses in the book of Acts in your Bible. Acts 28:30-31,

“Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.”

Your Bible plainly reveals that Christ will return as King of kings and Lord of lords, as we’ve seen. He is called the Prince of Peace in Isaiah 9:6. Notice that He will ensure world peace for all nations, Isaiah 9:7,

“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”

Genuine and faithful Christians will serve in His world-ruling government. Revelation 20:4,

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”

That is the Millennium. After that, the New Jerusalem will descend from Heaven, and God’s Kingdom will continue for all eternity. Our sixth mystery of Revelation is: The Kingdom of God will Rule on the Earth.

Our seventh mystery of Revelation involves you personally, and it’s the key that will determine your future when these prophesied events take place.

An Important Call to All True Believers!

Our seventh mystery of Revelation is: The Seven Churches Have Meaning for Us Today!

The people in those seven churches had different characteristics, some good and some not so good. John describes them in Revelation, Chapters two and three. The seven churches were on one mail route in what is today western Turkey. They were Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. The spiritual conditions of these seven churches have been reflected in the true Church of God through various eras during the past 1,900 years.

The Revelator, Jesus Christ, tells us to learn lessons from each church. Listen carefully to the descriptions and warnings. The Revelator, Christ, describes the church at Ephesus this way: Revelation 2:4,

“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”

Ephesus is called “The Loveless Church.” Next, to Smyrna, “The Persecuted Church,” Jesus states [2:10],

“Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

The third is Pergamos, “The Compromising Church.” It tolerated sexual immorality. Jesus tells them (v. 16),

“Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.”

Artifacts of a pagan temple from Pergamos can be seen today in Berlin’s Pergamon Museum. The fourth church, Thyatira, is referred to as “The Corrupt Church.” The fifth church, Sardis, is called “The Dead Church.” The sixth church, Philadelphia, is “The Faithful Church” and Jesus tells them:

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

The final church, Laodicea, is called “The Lukewarm Church.” Jesus warns them in verse 16:

“… because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”

Do you want Jesus to vomit you out of His mouth? Or, do you want to be a faithful Christian? Study those chapters and the characteristics of those churches. Apply them in your life! Jesus gave a warning to those churches. And, my friends, WE need to listen to them as well. Revelation 3:19,

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

My friends, I encourage you to read carefully these two chapters, Revelation 2 and 3. Jesus reveals the changes we need to make in our lives. He exhorts us to apply all these messages to our own life. Seven times He tells us: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches,” all SEVEN of the churches!

These seven churches also reveal the spiritual characteristics and attitudes of the Christian church from the time of Christ, to the end of this age.

My friends, we are nearing the end of the age and the coming of the Kingdom of God. You need to take action and seek the truth of your Bible.

Thank you for watching! You need to know the secrets of the book of Revelation. Our booklet Revelation: The Mystery Unveiled will unlock the mysteries to the future of humanity and the future of planet earth. You can order your free copy by clicking the link in the description. And remember to subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss another Tomorrow’s World video. See you next time!

[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]

Escape from Reality?

Has “reality” become a kind of escapism for some? The dictionary tells us that “reality shows” are “television programs that do not use professional actors but show real events and situations involving ordinary people”.

Encyclopedia Britannica commented that at the end of the 20^th Century, “the reality genre was tending more toward voyeurism and less toward reality”.

Television programs and news portray both fantasy and reality. But we must face reality in major dimensions of life: business, science, industry, education, and religion. In the realm of mental health, awareness of reality often becomes a major element. For example, the legal definition for insanity is:

“mental illness of such a severe nature that a person cannot distinguish fantasy from reality, cannot conduct her/his affairs due to psychosis, or is subject to uncontrollable impulsive behavior”.

How many millions of people all over the world have difficulty distinguishing fantasy from reality? In our world today, we have many upsetting and disastrous events and trends. We face COVID-19 pandemic, raging fires destroying cities and vast areas killing one billion animals in Australia as well as buildings and humans; we face dramatic crises in the Middle East and Afghanistan. Floods, droughts, typhoons, hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, wars and conflicts also affect millions of people around the world.

These are realities we all face. Scientific American magazine devoted one issue to “Searching for Reality in UNREAL TIMES” (September, 2019). But what is the GREATEST reality? My friends, there is a new world coming, a new world government called the Kingdom of God. We refer to it as Tomorrow’s World. You can find courage, comfort, and assurance in the promises of your Bible. You need to know what is the Greatest Reality!

Stay tuned!

Which Reality are YOU Living In?

Warm greetings to all our friends around the world!

We are living in a world experiencing chaos, confusion, disaster, and decay. Is there any hope for the future? We’ve documented that hope on Tomorrow’s World. But we have challenges in preparing for this new world to come. One of the best ways to prepare for that wonderful future is to face the realities of our day. We must cope with our personal realities concerning finances, schooling, family relations, employment, and health! We know the pain of bodily injury, migraine headaches, and deadly diseases. And sometimes those trials encourage us to seek God and His help.

Knowing the greatest reality can help all of us through the challenging times ahead.

We’ve described the times in which we live as chaotic and dangerous and divided. Scientific American magazine stated it as “unreal times.” In its special issue, the cover featured this title: “Truth, Lies & Uncertainty, Searching for Reality in UNREAL TIMES” (September, 2019). The editors stated: “In this special issue of Scientific American, we set out to explore how it is that we can all live in the same universe yet see reality so differently” (p. 27).

There are different views of reality, or various elements of reality. The Scientific American magazine explores the subject of TRUTH through three topics: PHYSICS, MATHEMATICS, AND NEUROSCIENCE.

• PHYSICS > “Virtually Reality. How close can physics—the most fundamental of the sciences—bring us to an understating of the foundations of reality?” By George Musser.

• MATHEMATICS > “Is math real?” By Kelsey Houston-Edwards.

• NEUROSCIENCE > “In a sense, we really are all living in different worlds: ‘reality’ is constructed by the brain, and no two brains are exactly alike” by Anil K. Seth (p. 1).

We witness the reality of physics and mathematics in our technologically advanced age: in instant communication around the world, in transportation, in space travel. The calculations, planning, and design are based on predictable laws of cause and effect. That’s why twelve men were able to walk on the moon and space vehicles have landed on Mars for exploration.

The laws of physics are a reality! Did they exist at the beginning of the universe? And how can we survive in this vast universe, only, as far as we know, on this little planet called Earth? Carl Sagan called planet Earth a “lonely speck” in the cosmic dark. Must we then conclude that we are so insignificant as to be meaningless? Should we conclude that the universe is meaningless? Consider the precision required for the existence of the universe, and the existence of intelligent human life. Astrophysicists Stephen Hawking and Roger Penrose commented on the precision required at the origin of the universe: “If the rate of expansion one second after the big bang had been less by one part in 10^10, the universe would have collapsed after a few million years. If it had been greater by one part in 10^10, the universe would have been essentially empty after a few million years. In neither case would it have lasted long enough for life to develop. Thus one either has to appeal to the anthropic principle or find some physical explanation of why the universe is the way it is” (Stephen Hawking and Roger Penrose, The Nature of Space and Time, pp. 89–90).

Where did the laws of the universe come from? Your Bible states in James 4:12, “There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy.”

A Reality Designed for Life, but by Whom?

We discussed one of the hard realities we can all agree upon: the existence of predictable, absolute laws of nature, such as the laws of physics. If we are to face the reality of their existence, we also need to answer the question of their real origin. The free study guide we are offering today answers that question. We also need to answer the question of life. Your existence is a reality. But where did life come from? Evolutionists speculate with unproven theories and simply cannot answer the question: “What is the origin of life?” Have human beings been able to prove that life has come from non-life? Gerald Weston, fellow presenter and Editor in Chief of Tomorrow’s World magazine, challenged our readers to consider the scientific evidence in his article “Three Pillars of Stability in Difficult Times.” Here’s a brief excerpt:

Bill Bryson is a prolific and captivating writer. Even though he is an evolutionist, he writes time and again about the miracle of life and the impossibility of it just happening by chance. Go figure! In The Body: A Guide for Occupants, he states the following: “You could call together all the brainiest people who are alive now or have ever lived and endow them with the complete sum of human knowledge, and they could not between them make a single living cell.” (2019, p. 4) (Tomorrow’s World, January 2021, p. 6).

That’s right! Human beings have demonstrated that it is impossible for life to evolve from non-life. The amazing complexity of human life processes should help us understand that life demands a life-giver. And if evolutionists believe in such an impossibility, are they really facing reality? Dr. Winnail discusses the origin of life in the vital study guide we are offering today, The Real God, Proofs and Promises. He states:

Human beings can speculate that life could be generated spontaneously from non-living matter, but the facts do not agree with these speculations. Man has not been able to produce life—in spite of considerable effort on the part of highly intelligent individuals. Scripture portrays God as creating life. In Genesis 2:7 we read: “The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being”—something all the sophisticated laboratories in the world have been unable to begin to duplicate. Life demands a lifegiver. There appears to be no other way (p. 12).

Yes, the Creator God is the Life-giver. We will describe more of God’s revealed power later in the program. When we consider just the intricate design and complexity in the human body, let alone a discussion of the vast universe, which we commented on earlier, we see intelligence and mind-power far beyond that of humans.

Stephen C. Meyer, of the Discovery Institute, has studied extensively the evidence of intelligent design in the creation:

So, everything we know in our experience, suggests that information rich systems, arise from intelligent design. But what do we make of the fact that there is information in life, in every living cell, of every living organism? That’s the fundamental mystery. Where does that information come from? (Unlocking the Mystery of Life DVD, [59:30 > 1:00:05]).

Our human DNA is one of those information-rich systems. But just how information-rich is DNA? Writing for Science magazine, Robert F. Service reports that “DNA could store all of the world’s data in one room.” He explains this amazing phenomenon:

Humanity has a data storage problem: More data were created in [this] past 2 years than in all of preceding history. And that torrent of information may soon outstrip the ability of hard drives to capture it. Now, researchers report that they’ve come up with a new way to encode digital data in DNA to create the highest-density large-scale data storage scheme ever invented. Capable of storing 215 petabytes (215 million gigabytes) in a single gram of DNA, the system could, in principle, store every bit of datum ever recorded by humans in a container about the size and weight of a couple of pickup trucks (March 2, 2017).

Scientists find intelligent design in the complexity of life, in the remarkable instruction manual of DNA, and in the glorious universe. That design also reveals the reality of a purpose. What is the purpose of the universe? My friends, we live in an awesome universe. Some of you may have seen the movie, A Theory of Everything. It’s a fascinating story of the astrophysicist Stephen Hawking and his challenge in fighting a devastating disease that left him virtually, completely paralyzed. In spite of his physical limitations, he was able to prove that the universe did not always exist, that the universe had a beginning, and that time itself had a beginning. One of his life goals was to propose a fundamental theory to explain the universe. And he wrote the following:

If we do discover a complete theory, it should in time be understandable in broad principle by everyone, not just a few scientists. Then we shall all be able to take part in the discussion of why the universe exists. If we find the answer to that, it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason. For then we would know the mind of God (The Theory of Everything, Stephen Hawking, p. 136).

My friends, can you know the mind of God?

The Ultimate Reality, Truth Within Reach

Our world is saturated with fraud, deceptions, counterfeits, and misinformation. When you can find “truth,” you will find reality that produces wisdom, true knowledge, and understanding and abundant living. Where can you find truth and reality?

Tomorrow’s World magazine featured the challenging article, “What Is Truth?” (March-April 2014). You can access it on the TomorrowsWorld.org website. Can truth be found through science, speculation, or materialism? Does absolute Truth even exist? You need to know! Fellow presenter and Executive Editor, Pastor Wallace Smith, writes:

Science has given us an amazing understanding of how many aspects of our world work—but when we begin to look at it as the only real “source” of truth, we find it to be a poor source, indeed. Mathematical truths, aesthetic truths, truths about our purpose and the meaning of our lives—even the most fundamental moral truths and the most basic concepts of right and wrong—none of these is accessible through the microscope of the biologist or the telescope of the astronomer. An answer to the question “What is truth?” will need to be found elsewhere” (pp. 17–18).

We’ve seen the evidence of true science and the hard laws of physics, but the truth of life opens our minds to far greater depth of knowledge and understanding. Longtime viewers of Tomorrow’s World are familiar with the solid truth revealed in your Bible. There is scientific truth and there is spiritual truth. Which is more important? If you have your Bible, turn to John the eighth chapter. The Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, told those who would be His disciples in John 8:32,

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Where can we find spiritual truth? Here, in this “mysterious” book, the Holy Bible. The Apostle Paul wrote to the young evangelist Timothy, emphasizing that the Scriptures revealed the way to salvation:

“But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:14–17).

My friends, I challenge you to prove the truth of Scripture. Our TomorrowsWorld.org website offers many free resources you can access. And remember: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.”

When Jesus Christ was facing crucifixion, the night before He prayed a fervent prayer. He gave us this assurance in His prayer:

“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17)

Yes, you can seek God by reading His revealed truth, the Holy Bible, You can seek God by praying to Him and confessing your sins. It tells us in 1 John 1:9,

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”

In this informative study guide, The Real God: Proofs and Promises, Dr. Winnail comments on Proof 6, Answered Prayer:

It is from the Bible, not naturalistic science, that we learn about prayer. Scripture abounds with examples of answered prayers (p. 22).

Your Bible contains many encouraging promises concerning prayer. Jesus gave this promise in Matthew 7:7,

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

Yes, God tells us to call upon Him while He is near. There is a time coming when Bible prophecy reveals that the way of escape will be closed. The prophet Amos tells of a future time when divine truth will NOT be available. Amos 8:11:

“‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘That I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, but shall not find it’” (Amos 8:11–12).

A Real Future and a Hope

My friends, we’ve discussed physical realities and spiritual realities. So, in conclusion, what is the greatest reality? Turn to Revelation 19:6:

“And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!”

Yes, God is omnipotent, all powerful, and He rules the universe and all creation. In just three words, the greatest reality is “God reigns supreme.” He tells us in Isaiah 40, for example, that:

“Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the scales… All nations before Him are as nothing, And they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless.”

He tells us in Psalm 24,

“The earth is the LORD’S, and all [the] fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters.”

And Psalm 103:19,

“The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all” (New International Version).

Evolutionists and atheists deny the reality of the spirit world. God condemns them for their rejection of truth. Romans 1:18,

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse…” (Romans 1:18–20).

God also states in Psalm 14:1 and Psalm 53:1,

“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”

My friends, consider the awesome evidence God has given us in the creation and in his fulfilled biblical prophecies. Consider His loving plan to forgive you your sins through the blood of Jesus Christ, as it tells us in 1 John 1:7:

“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

The Bible reveals the great reality that God rules and reigns supreme over all the creation. But it also reveals the great reality of His love for human beings. We could also state that the greatest reality is “God is love!” stated twice in 1 John 4 (vv. 8, 16).

May God bless you as you seek the real God of creation and love. Prove to yourself what is the greatest reality.

Thank you for watching! Remember to subscribe so you don’t miss another Tomorrow’s World video, and if you would like a copy of our booklet The Real God: Proofs and Promises for free, click the link in the description. See you next time.

[The text below represents an edited transcript of this Tomorrow’s World program.]

Reporting History in Advance

The Holy Bible outlines the future of the world. Bible prophecy reveals the sequence of world events leading up to the end of the world. What major event on the world scene should you be watching for? My friends, in the not-too-distant future, a great world superpower will rise above the United States. That superpower is even now emerging on the world scene. Will it be China? China’s ambitious military, economic, technological, and space advancements hint at its powerful role in end-time events. Or will the Russian nuclear-power grow in dominance? These great national powers will play a role in end-time prophecy leading up to Armageddon, but neither of these two nations will be the world’s top superpower. The book of Revelation in your Bible predicts that a resurgent EUROPEAN force will dominate the world. Your Bible calls it symbolically the Beast of Revelation.

Who IS this powerful force that will affect all nations on the earth?

Your Bible reveals major prophetic events that you should be aware of. Jesus Christ, the greatest newscaster and prophet who ever lived, warns us of one of those major prophetic events in Luke 21:20: “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near… And they [the people of Jerusalem] will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”

This end-time event will usher in the DANGEROUS times of the Gentiles! My friends, you NEED to know the future. You need to know the prophetic times of the Gentiles, a time that will imperil everyone on earth. A new superpower will arise on the world scene during this prophetic time-period! What dangers will we face? You need to know. Stay tuned!

An Unholy System to Rise

Warm greetings to all our friends around the world!

Most students of Bible prophecy know that we are living in the prophesied “time of the end.” The prophet Daniel uses that expression four times in chapters eleven and twelve in your Bible. He reveals a time of worldwide cataclysm: “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time” (Daniel 12:1). These DANGEROUS TIMES lead up to Armageddon and World War III.

In Matthew 24:21-22, Jesus of Nazareth also proclaimed that unique time in all history at the end of the world and stated, “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (v. 22).

Jesus gave that warning after outlining end-time prophetic events. In Luke 21, verses 7-18, He reveals “The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age.” Then in verses 20 through 24, He describes a key sign: “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”

But WHO are the Gentiles? And what are the times of the Gentiles?

From a biblical perspective, Gentiles are the nations of the world NOT descended from ancient patriarch Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel. The patriarch Israel had twelve sons, including Judah, many of whose descendants constitute the Middle Eastern nation of Israel to this day. Gentile nations would include Germany, Russia, India, and China.

The first Gentile nations came to prominence in the land of Shinar, which later became known as Babylonia. The nations were setting themselves as a united people in opposition to God. They said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth” (Genesis 11:4).

You may have seen some of the artistic presentations of the tower of Babel. Most of you know the story. God confounded their languages so they were no longer unified. “So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth” (Genesis 11:8-9).

The New Bible Commentary: Revised comments “… and their own further dispersion from Babel (vv. 8f.) is recorded as a special judgment on their blatant embodiment of the ungodly spirit that again after the Flood characterized human civilization. The city once more (cf. Gn. 4) becomes the cultural focus of mounting human arrogance” (p. 91).

My friends, does that not reflect today’s common anti-God worldly attitude? The Apostle John writes in the book of Revelation: “After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, ‘Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury’” (Revelation 18:1-3).

God warns us not to participate in this future system called Babylon the Great. The Apostle John continues: Revelation 18:4, “And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities” (Revelation 18:4-5).

So, how can you avoid receiving those plagues? How can you avoid the dangerous times of the Gentiles?

The Roman Empire and the Beast

Turn in your Bible to Revelation 17. Here the Apostle John sees in vision a harlot riding a symbolic beast with seven heads and ten horns. Revelation 17:3: “And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.”

What is the meaning of this beast? We do not have to guess, because the Bible interprets the Bible. Let’s read that in Revelation 17:9: “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.”

Here we see the heads represent mountains, a Bible symbol of governments or kingdoms. And these seven heads also represent seven successive kings. These are revivals of the original kingdom. How do we know the sequence of these historic kingdoms? The prophet Daniel, under God’s inspiration, interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of a great image with a head of gold. You can read about that in Daniel 2:36-45. Daniel told king Nebuchadnezzar, “[Y]ou are this head of gold” (Daniel 2:38). God revealed to ancient king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon that he was the head of gold representing the historic Babylonian empire.

Nebuchadnezzar’s dream revealed an image with a head of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. What empires or kingdoms did this image symbolize? The prophet Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that the head of gold represented him and his empire, the Babylonian empire. Historically, this empire was replaced by the Medo-Persian Empire represented by the chest and arms of silver. That empire was followed by the Greco-Macedonian Empire of Alexander the Great represented by the belly and thighs of bronze. Then the Roman Empire, represented by the two legs of iron, dominated the world from 31 BC to 476 AD. The ten toes on two feet of iron mixed with ceramic clay represent a future revival of the Roman Empire.

History has proved the accuracy of Bible prophecy. These empires have risen and fallen just as the Bible predicted. However, the very last empire has yet to arise. But what will it be? The New Catholic Edition of the Holy Bible translated from the Latin Vulgate, is generally called the DOUAY-RHEIMS version. It makes this comment concerning the beast of Revelation 17:11, “The beast spoken of here seems to be the ROMAN EMPIRE, as in chapter 13.” In other words, both the Beast of Revelation 17 and the Beast of Revelation 13 represent the Roman Empire. This Catholic Bible also comments concerning Revelation 13:1 as follows: “The picture of the first beast is based on the seventh chapter of Daniel. This beast is the figure of the kingdoms of the world, kingdoms founded on passion and selfishness, which in every age are antagonistic to Christ and seek to oppress the servants of God. IMPERIAL ROME represents this power.” Yes, even the Douay-Rheims Bible admits to the identity of the beast.

Even today, many Europeans see the European Union as A NEW ROMAN EMPIRE. Will the current European Union become the next Roman Empire? Tomorrow’s World regional editor Douglas Winnail wrote the following in his article, titled “Shadows Over Europe”: “Europe’s modern leaders are still trying to unite Europe on a Roman model. When the Treaty of Rome was signed in 1957, laying the foundation of European unity, the participants stated that ‘we felt like Romans that day… we were consciously recreating the Roman Empire once more.’” (The Signature of God, Jeffrey, pp. 190–191)” (Tomorrow’s World, January-February 2005, p. 13).

After the decline and fall of the ancient Roman Empire in 476 AD, there have been six historic revivals. My friends, you need to be alert to the final revival in the future. The first head of the Scarlet Beast represents the first revival, the Imperial Restoration of the West under Justinian (554 AD). The following revivals included Charlemagne, crowned as emperor in Rome on December 25, 800 AD. The next revivals included Otto the Great, Charles the V, and Napoleon’s Empire.

The book of Revelation gives us the setting of the end-time, the time preceding the Day of the Lord. The sixth revival is referred to in Revelation 17:10: “Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come.” Read that in your own Bible! Some of you watching this program witnessed that powerful revival during World War II. What nations represented the sixth revival of the Roman Empire?

God’s Kingdom On Earth to Come After

We’ve briefly discussed five of its seven revivals, ending with the fall of Napoleon in 1814 AD. The sixth of seven revivals ended in 1945 with the fall of Mussolini. One final revival of the Roman Empire remains. This future revival will consist of ten kings or kingdoms unified with the symbolic beast. My friends, watch developments in Europe. Consider the rise of the next world superpower. Ten kings or kingdoms will give their power and authority to the Beast. Revelation 17:12, “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.” Notice the time-setting of this final revival. Revelation 17:14, “These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”

Amazingly, this end-time superpower will try to fight the Lamb, Jesus Christ, at His coming. The time setting of this revival is just before the return of the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth! But this end-time military machine will fail in its war against Christ. The King of kings will conquer and overcome this final, worldly system and Christ will establish His kingdom here on earth. Daniel’s prophecy shows a great stone smashing the feet of the dream image. Daniel 2:34, “You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.”

That stone, my friends, represents the coming Kingdom of God. Daniel explains its meaning in verse 44, “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.”

Yes, the Kingdom that will stand forever will be the Kingdom of God ruled by the King of kings and Lord of lords. He will replace a deceptive religious leader in the future who will perform dramatic miracles. That leader will excite religious passions all over the world. Read that in Revelation 13:11; “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast….” This future religious leader will deceive millions, even billions, by false miracles!

The Great Tribulation Before Christ’s Return

“Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 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” (vv. 6-8).

The Gentile beast power will rule over all nations. But God will limit its time to just forty-two months, or three and one-half years. Revelation 13:5, “And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.”

This time period is also confirmed in Revelation 11. The Apostle John writes in Revelation 11:1, “Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, ‘Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.’”

Yes, as we read earlier in the program, “Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (Luke 21:24). How will those times end? Revelation 11:15, “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’”

This heavenly announcement declares the coming of the Kingdom of God to this earth, with Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords. Faithful Christians, both Gentiles and Israelites, will be born into the Kingdom of God at the last trumpet, as it tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:52. Notice the glorious calling God is giving individuals from all nations and languages. Revelation 5:9, “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.’”

Yes, Jesus Christ will end the dangerous times of the Gentiles! My friends, as it tells us in Luke 21:36, “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

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