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Christianity Diverged at Council of Nicaea

2025 marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. The Council of Nicaea is considered by some to be one of the greatest achievements of Christendom. And truly, celebrating the 1700th year of anything is a historic event.

The meetings began in May of 325 ad at the small town of Nicaea, in Asia Minor, in present-day Turkey. Over 300 bishops joined in the meetings. That year, 325 ad, is considered a benchmark by many in the history of the mainstream Christian church.

At the Council, the nature of Christ and His relationship to the Father was discussed and debated. But there was another issue, a very important issue, that was discussed as well.

How astounding that a conference held nearly two millennia ago is still relevant today. To commemorate such a momentous occasion, Pope Francis, before he died, planned to travel to the present-day city of Iznik in northwest Turkey, about 70 miles from Istanbul. This is the site of the ancient city of Nicaea. On November 28, 2024, Pope Francis was quoted as saying that the Council of Nicaea:

…Constitutes a milestone in the journey of the church and also of humanity because faith in Jesus, the Son of God made flesh for us and for our salvation, was formulated and professed as a light that illuminates the meaning of reality and the destiny of all history (“Pope Francis to join Orthodox patriarch in Turkey for Nicaea council anniversary,” Catholic News Agency, November 28, 2024).

Pope Francis was referring to the fact that the Council of Nicaea was convened to address questions related to the divinity of Christ, and the relationship between Jesus Christ and the Father. It’s not our purpose to delve into that issue on this program, nor is it our purpose to discuss the “Nicene Creed,” which came out of that gathering.

Passover vs. Easter Revealed a Big Problem

But as we think about the significance of the Council of Nicaea, let’s consider an issue that is often forgotten, but was causing deep divisions during that time—and maybe even has more importance for us today.

What is that issue? It’s the importance of Passover.

You might say, “Wait, that’s wrong. The Jews keep Passover. The church in the 300s kept Easter.” Well, there’s more to the story.

To begin our dive into this subject, let’s go into the writings of Eusebius of Caesarea. He was the bishop of Caesarea in Palestine from about 313 ad until his death in 339 ad. He is sometimes referred to as the “father of church history.” He played a prominent role at the Council of Nicaea and from his writings we have an in-depth and fascinating glimpse of what took place.

Let’s pick up the story in his book The Life of Constantine, Book III, Chapter 5. Eusebius wrote:

But before this time [the time of the Council of Nicaea] another most virulent disorder had existed, and long afflicted the Church; I mean the difference respecting the salutary feast of Easter… (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 1. Philip Schaff and Henry Wace eds. Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1890. newadvent.org, Accessed April 30, 2025).

Now, let’s stop there. When Eusebius says “Easter” we have to understand the word he actually used was the Greek word “Pascha.” That word is derived from the Hebrew “Pesach,” which is the word from which we get “Passover.” The word “Easter” was used later, as a result of the influence of the Germans and the Anglo-Saxons. The online Catholic Encyclopedia confirms this in the article under the heading “Easter.”

“The Greek term for Easter, pascha… is the Aramaic form of the Hebrew pesach (…passover)…” (newadvent.org/cathen).

Most people are only aware of the word “Passover” by its association with the Jews. But in reality, the church leaders that Constantine convened in 325 ad were all keeping something called “Pascha.” That might be a surprise to you.

Of course, if your native language is French, Spanish, or Italian, it’s not a surprise. In these languages, the word for “Easter” is still related to “Passover.” In French it’s “Paques.” In Spanish it’s “Pascua.” In Italian, it’s “Pasqua.” It all originally comes from the Hebrew “Pesach.”

Let’s re-read Eusebius’ account, this time substituting the word “Pascha,” for “Easter.”

“But before this time another most virulent disorder had existed, and long afflicted the Church; I mean the difference respecting the salutary feast of [“Pascha”]…. For while one party asserted that the Jewish custom should be adhered to, the other affirmed that the exact recurrence of the period should be observed, without following the authority of those who were in error [meaning, the Jews].”

Emperor Constantine Decreed Easter Over Passover

You see, at the time of Eusebius and Constantine, there were different opinions about the timing of the Christian Pascha. One was that it should be kept on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan. Others felt it should be kept on a Sunday, with some variation on how they determined which Sunday to keep. All these differences caused a major dispute among the churches.

Going on, Eusebius explains:

“Accordingly, the people being thus in every place divided in respect of this, and the sacred observances of religion confounded for a long period… no one appeared who was capable of devising a remedy for the evil, because the controversy continued equally balanced between both parties. To God alone, the Almighty, was the healing of these differences an easy task; and Constantine appeared to be the only one on earth capable of being his minister for this good end….”

What a statement. A major doctrinal dispute dividing the church, and the only person on earth that could resolve it was a politically shrewd, pagan Roman emperor?

Constantine Used Christianity for Power

As my fellow presenter and colleague, evangelist Wallace Smith writes in the Tomorrow’s World article “1,700 Years After Nicaea”:

The council in ad 325 was not convened under the authority of a religious leader, as one might expect, but the Roman emperor Constantine. In fact, Constantine’s fingerprints can be found all over it (“1,700 Years After Nicaea,” Wallace Smith, Tomorrow’s World, May–June 2025, p. 5–6).

Let’s talk about Constantine for a few moments. Was he a real, true follower of Jesus Christ? Or was he an astute worldly king who saw that backing the mainstream Christian church would be a golden political opportunity?

Historian Will Durant asks and answers that question in The Story of Civilization: Part III, Caesar and Christ.

Was his conversation sincere—was it an act of religious belief, or a consummate stroke of political wisdom? Probably the latter… A real believer would have been a Christian first and a statesman afterward; with Constantine it was the reverse. Christianity was to him a means, not an end (p. 655-656).

Constantine started out his rule fully immersed in the pagan practices of a typical Roman emperor. Toward the end of his rule, he was favoring the mainstream Christian church and weakening the pagan practices he had previously taken part in. So, what caused this change?

In the book A Short History of Christianity, the authors give some background on how this happened. On page 33 we read:

Constantine believed that the Christian God had assisted him in winning his battles for control of the Empire, and he therefore desired a continuance of whatever divine help the Christian religion might afford in maintaining the peace and welfare of his rule. The political wisdom of his policy was amply vindicated in the extravagant devotion and loyalty which he received from his Christian subjects. Constantine’s own personal religion is a subject of speculation. He was not baptized until his deathbed. This much can be said with assurance: (1) his intervention in religious affairs was in large measure dictated by what he considered to be politically expedient and (2) from the beginning of his reign he increasingly identified himself with the church… (A Short History of Christianity, pp. 33–34).

Constantine Guided Nicaea More Than Jesus

So, this pagan emperor, who was gradually seeing the value of professing allegiance to the Christian God, found this new religion of his to be in a doctrinal crisis in 325 ad. That’s when he called the bishops to the Council of Nicaea. He personally presided over the meetings and guided the discussion. In fact, he had so much influence over what took place there that author H.G. Wells made this shocking statement:

A very important thing for us to note is the role played by the emperor in the fixation of Christianity… It is very manifest that in much of the history of Christianity at this time [that is, in the 300s ad] the spirit of Constantine the Great is as evident as, or more evident than, the spirit of Jesus (“The Outline of History,” H.G. Wells, P. 552–553).

What an astonishing thing to say.

Teachings of Jesus Christ Discarded

For a church calling itself Christian to have a council to discuss doctrinal disagreements, you’d think having it guided by the spirit of Christ would be a priority. But it wasn’t.

So what happened at the Council? In particular, what happened in the matter of the Pascha? Would it remain tied to the Passover that Jesus observed, or would it be disconnected from Christ’s teaching and practice?

To answer the question, let’s go back to Eusebius. He sums up the debate this way in Chapter 14 of The Life of Constantine:

The result was that they were not only united as concerning the faith, but that the time for the celebration of the salutary feast of [“Pascha”] was agreed on by all… (Chapter 14).

In truth, it was a forced unity, a standardization by coercion. That’s what was accomplished.

After the Council, Constantine himself wrote a letter to all the churches, and this is what he said:

At this meeting the question concerning the most holy day of [“Pascha”] was discussed, and it was resolved by the united judgment of all present, that this feast ought to be kept by all and in every place on one and the same day…. Let us then have nothing in common with the detestable Jewish crowd; for we have received from our Saviour a different way…” (Life of Constantine,” Eusebius. Chapter 18).

And that was it.

Jesus Is the Way, the Truth, and the Life—Not the Roman Empire

With contempt and derision, it was declared that the Christians should have nothing in common with the Jews. But what if what was declared to be in common with the Jews was actually something God commanded in Scripture? What if it was part of Christ’s teaching in the New Testament that was banned?

Now why was this important?

Following Jesus Christ Means Worship in Truth

Well, a little background: Even by the 4th century ad there were some Christians, especially in the east, who still had a connection with the observance of Passover on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Nisan. And those who were keeping the Passover on the 14th were following the teachings that had been handed down to them, all the way back to the Apostle John.

The testimony of Polycarp, a direct disciple of the Apostle John, attests to this. Polycrates, Polycarp’s disciple, also kept Passover in this way. (“Are You a Quarto-Deciman? Should You Be?”)

You see, these faithful disciples, Polycarp and Polycrates, were simply following the biblical Christian Passover.

Jesus Kept Passover—So Should His Followers

This was plain instruction from Jesus Christ in the New Testament. Jesus kept the Passover, on the 14th day of Nisan, with His disciples the night before He died. During this observance He gave wine to the disciples to drink, as a symbol of His blood shed for them. And He gave bread to the disciples to eat, as a symbol of His body which would be broken for them. And then He washed their feet, as a symbol of His humility.

“Do as I have done to you.”

Notice what He said at the conclusion of His last Passover observance in John 13:12–15.

So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”

A few years ago, there was a popular slogan “WWJD?” or “What Would Jesus Do?” Well, when it comes to doctrine and practice, we know what Jesus did. The Bible is a detailed record of what He did. And Jesus kept the Passover on the 14th of Nisan—the biblical record is very clear. And He told His followers to do so as well.

The Apostle Paul also kept the Christian Passover on the 14th of Nisan, to memorialize the suffering and death of Christ. And he taught the brethren in the church of Corinth to keep it as well. Notice what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:23–25.

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Summing up what Paul taught and what he practiced, we read in 1 Corinthians 5:7–8.

For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast….

Council of Nicaea Did Not Consult Scripture

So why were some avoiding the 14th of Nisan Christian Passover by the 300s ad? In order to not look like the Jews. And they standardized the non-Jewish Paschal festival, fixing it on the Sunday following the first vernal full moon, supposedly commemorating the resurrection of Christ. That Sunday observance grew into what is known today as Easter.

By the way, Jesus was not resurrected on a Sunday. He was resurrected near the end of the Sabbath—Saturday—exactly three days and three nights after He had died on the stake. But that’s another story for another time.

Let’s be clear—the resurrection is extremely important. We base our hope of eternal life on it, as we find in Romans 8:11.

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

The resurrection is our hope and our future. But you can search the New Testament from beginning to end, and you will not find a single instruction or command to observe it as a feast day.

You see, Constantine really had very little interest in the truth—he just wanted everyone to be on the same page.

As the award-winning “History of Rome” podcast by Mike Duncan states:

… [t]he Emperor was not so much interested in which side was right, or which interpretation was best, so long as in the end, everyone agreed (“The History of Rome” podcast, by Mike Duncan, Episode 137, May 15, 2011).

So who will you follow? Constantine and traditions he established to differentiate nominal Christians from the Jews?

Or Jesus Christ, who plainly outlined His clear teachings in our New Testament, for everyone to see?

Christian Unity—But Not at the Cost of Truth

We should have unity and cohesion in the body of Christ. The Apostle Paul explained that in 1 Corinthians 1:10.

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

But at the same time, Jesus Christ knows that in this age, because we are living in Satan’s world, there will be division. And the truth will sometimes be a source of that division, because not everyone will accept the truth.

Notice what Jesus said in Matthew 10:34, 36–37.

Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword… and “a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.” He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.

The Council of Nicaea was not only convened to discuss the nature of Christ. It also was convened to settle the matter of the timing of the Christian Pascha.

The majority in the now state-religion went along with the edicts of Constantine. They kept a Sunday Pascha, which became Easter. It was now the religion of the empire, so it was the convenient thing to do.

But not everyone went along.

True Christians Keep God’s Holy Days in the Bible

Some held on to the biblical Christian Passover taught by Christ, as well as the other biblical holy days. We have proof of that in the preserved text of a sermon by a priest in Antioch named John Chrysostom. It was given in 386–387 ad. It was entitled, “Against the Jews.” Note how much he despised the Jews. But also note that his text shows there were still faithful Christians keeping the biblical Christian Passover well after Nicaea. He said this:

The festivals of the pitiful and miserable Jews are soon to march upon us one after the other and in quick succession: the feast of Trumpets, the feast of Tabernacles, the fasts. There are many in our ranks who say they think as we do. Yet some of these are going to watch the festivals and others will join the Jews in keeping their feasts and observing their fasts. I wish to drive this perverse custom from the Church right now… (John Chrysostom, “Against the Jews,” Homily I).

• The Feast of Trumpets
• The Feast of Tabernacles
• The Fast (called the Day of Atonement)
• And the New Testament Passover

These biblical feast days—forever established by the Creator God—were still being kept by faithful Christians 60 years after the Council of Nicaea.

Dr. Jerry Pillay is the general secretary of the World Council of Churches. He had this to say, speaking of the importance of the celebrations in 2025 to commemorate the Council of Nicaea:

It gives us the opportunity to ask afresh with others what Nicaea means for us today…. Then, as now, the call to unity was heard within the context of a troubled, unequal, and divided world (“WCC to celebrate 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea,” oikoumene.org, July 6, 2023).

This is a troubled, unequal and divided world. But let’s not forsake truth for the sake of unity. Let’s not follow Constantine—let’s follow Christ.

Thank you for watching. If you found this video helpful, check out more of our content or hit subscribe to stay connected. And if you want a free study guide relating to this topic, just click the link in the description. See you next time.

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

What’s Wrong With the World?

Increasingly, protesters fill the streets—waving signs and chanting slogans. They want change, and they want it now. And honestly, who can blame them? We may not agree with all their individual causes, but only the blind could fail to see that our world truly is broken. And only the heartless could not want to fix it.

How can you and I go about fixing the world? But we can. And no, I’m not just pulling your leg. Yes, the problems are big, and yes, the actions we need to take are great as well. But they are the only actions that will work. Stick with me today, and I’ll explain.

I’ll also give you an opportunity to request our free resource on the Ten Commandments. Like everything we provide our viewers, this resource is completely free of any cost or charge at all. Just keep an eye on your screen for the information you need to get your free copy.

In the 1980s, the pop duo Tears for Fears had a huge hit with the song, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.” The song was written with an eye toward the ongoing Cold War between the Western world and Russia (or the Soviet Union), the potential for nuclear war, the possibilities of totalitarianism, and other social concerns of the day.

Frankly, with barely any changes at all, those are our concerns today, as well.

As a teenager listening to the song, it resonated with me, because it was clear that the world was broken. And while I might like to think I’m not ancient,” let’s be honest—I’m not a teenager anymore. And yet the world is still broken.

Current Global Issues

Even as I speak here in our studio today, major wars still rage in the Middle East and on the doorstep of Europe. Haiti continues to suffer under a “gang-ocracy,” and civil war continues to destroy the lives of millions in Sudan.

Within our nations, it is clear that racism is still very real. Poverty is still very real. Broken families are still very real. Fears of violence are still very real.

In the United States, considered by many the most powerful and successful nation in the world, suicide rates have climbed with rare interruption for the last 25 years (“Suicide,” National Institute of Mental Health, nimh.nih.gov, March, 2025).

Consider the irony of our current situation.

On one hand, we live in one of the most remarkable times in the entire history of civilization.

Scientifically, we may today understand more about how the physical world works than any other generation in the history of man. We may not yet know how to wed quantum mechanics and general relativity, but man’s comprehension of the physical laws of the universe is truly astonishing.

And our level of technological advancement has surpassed levels that many would have found wondrous even just 20 years ago. Thanks to Artificial Intelligence, we’re talking with our machines as if they were people, and some are literally drawing up plans to begin colonies on Mars.

God told Daniel that in “the time of the end…knowledge shall increase” (Daniel 12:4)—and it has.

Yet, for all of that knowledge we’ve accumulated, the knowledge of how to actually live with each other continues to escape us.

Our attempts to address racism in recent years have made relations between the races even worse. Our attempts to expand sex and gender equality to the limits of our secular philosophies have done nothing but thrown sex and gender into utter confusion, to the point that we are surgically, chemically, and irreversibly altering children to appear as the opposite sex. Our approach to sexuality—meant to maximize human freedom and silence moral judgment—is resulting in a world of broken relationships, broken hearts, and broken families that seems to benefit no one but the makers of drugs for sexually transmitted diseases.

Even democracy and democratic republics—supposedly the best of all political systems—result these days in chaos, as stability gets thrown out the door, and each new election threatens to bring in a new party that will spend most of its time throwing out all the decisions of the previous party.

We Need to Change from Our Way to God’s Way

We all want to fix the world. The problem is that no one seems to know just how to do that.

The reality of our world was well summarized by the prophet Isaiah in chapter 59 of his book.

The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; they have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace. Therefore justice is far from us, nor does righteousness overtake us; we look for light, but there is darkness! For brightness, but we walk in blackness! We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes; we stumble at noonday as at twilight; we are as dead men in desolate places (Isaiah 59:8–10).

If we’re going to fix the world, we need someone to show us how. And the only “someone” who truly qualifies is our Creator, the Designer of Humanity—the God of the Bible.

God’s Answer Is the Ten Commandments

More than three millennia ago, God gave His people ten simple commands—commonly called the Ten Commandments. They can be found in Exodus 20.

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make for yourself a carved image [or idol].
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
4. Remember the [seventh-day] Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet.

These are more than just a list of “religious-y sounding rules” for children to memorize for a prize in church. They are inspired commands from the Creator of life itself—the Designer of humanity, who knows how we should live with Him and live with each other.

How to Love God and Love Your Neighbor

A careful look at the Ten Commandments reveals a structure.

Notice the first four commandments—about having no other gods, not worshiping God with carved images, not misusing His name, and keeping His Sabbath on the seventh day—are all about our relationship with Him.

And the six commandments that follow—about honoring your parents, not murdering, being sexually faithful to your spouse, not stealing, lying, or coveting your neighbor’s things—are all about our relationship with each other—what the Bible calls your neighbor.

Jesus Christ Himself talked about these two great objectives of the Ten Commandments as the greatest commands of God’s law. We see this in Matthew 22, when someone comes up to Jesus and asks Him a question.

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:36–40).

Look at that again, and then look at the Ten Commandments again.

You shall love the Lord your God, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

“If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

These ten simple commandments are at the very heart of the way of life Jesus came to exemplify for humanity. In fact, when a young man asked Jesus how to have eternal life, Jesus told Him:

“If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments” (Matthew 19:17).

In fact, God’s commandments were so important to Christ that later, His beloved disciple John would say of those who claimed to be Christian:

He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him (1 John 2:4).

Now that might sound odd to those of you brought up to think that the Ten Commandments were not important for Christians, or that keeping the commandments wasn’t necessary for Christians. But it is the inspired word of your own Bible.

And it doesn’t take much meditating on the commandments before you realize that keeping them would radically alter our entire world for the better.

For instance, consider the impact of a world that embraced a way of life in which children honor their father and mother like we’re told in the fifth commandment, and in which spouses are faithful to each other like we are encouraged in the seventh.

Imagine a world in which broken families became a thing of the past, a world in which children learned to respect their elders and those in authority, in families that were committed to staying together through thick and thin.

With those changes alone, how much closer to a “fixed world” would we become?

But go further.

Ten Commandments Define How to Love Others

Consider the simplicity of the ninth commandment about not lying. What a radical remake of civilization would be experienced if this value were embraced by the world!

What if honesty were considered one of the highest values of society, to the point that none would dare ever want to utter an untruthful word? What if lies were not expected of our politicians, like they are today, but were unheard of? What if everything you were ever told about the products you considered purchasing could be trusted? What if every news story you ever heard was always true and reliable?

Throw in the sixth and eighth commandments, as well, and you’d never again have to lock a door. Never again have to take the keys out of your car—or even need keys at all. You’d never have to worry about a lost child or a dark alley. Women would not need to worry about “safe spaces,” because all spaces would be safe.

Even the first four commandments—it’s easy to think those aren’t as important, but of course they are. How much trouble in this broken world is caused by religious confusion—people following gods that aren’t gods? What would it mean for the world for everyone to embrace the true Creator of the world? To worship Him how He wants to be worshiped—not according to our own ideas, which often clash and conflict with each other, but according to His own commands.

How to Change the World: Change Ourselves

Because fixing the world begins with fixing ourselves. Not in the meaningless way such talk is normally used, where “focusing on yourself” is code for simply embracing your character flaws and changing nothing.

No, we need change. I need change. You need to change. And changing the world—99.9999+ percent of which is outside of our control—begins with changing the minuscule part that is in our control. It begins with you deciding to fix your life, your family, your relationship to God, Your Creator, and to Jesus Christ, Your Savior.

Define Repentance: Deciding to Change

That decision to change—to turn around from the direction you’re going and to go a new direction, a direction taking you closer to God in obedience to His commandments instead of in continued rejection of them—that decision to change is called repentance. And it is at the heart of the message that the Son of God brought to this planet 2,000 years ago.

Don’t take my word for it—look at it with me. In Mark chapter 1, we see the very beginning of Jesus’ mission to the world and the message He brought simply put. Look in verses 14 and 15.

Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14–15).

Repent. It’s not a word you hear very often anymore, sort of old-fashioned maybe. But the commands of God never go out of fashion. In fact—they are the key to fixing this world.

We Need God’s Power and Help to Change

Now, I know this will sound like I’m undermining all I have said so far, but while the Ten Commandments are vital, they’re not enough.

Even if we could somehow convince every one of the 8 billion human beings on planet Earth to begin keeping the Ten Commandments—worshiping God as He commands us to worship Him, loving our neighbor as God instructs us to—it would not be enough to fix the world.

Don’t get me wrong—it would be wonderful, at least for a while. But it wouldn’t last. How do I know? Because God proved that to us in the experience of the children of Israel.

Gathered together as a free people at the foot of Mount Sinai more than 3,000 years ago, God delivered the Ten Commandments to them—laws of life and living that would build a beautiful society. Before they entered the Promised Land, Moses made clear to them the blessing they had been given in these commands. Read it with me in Deuteronomy in chapter 4, beginning in verse 5.

Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess. Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day (Deuteronomy 4:5–8)?

Yet the history is clear. They did not keep those laws. They made covenants and agreements to do so over and over again, but then they broke them, over and over again. Faced with the good, pure, righteous commandments of God and the rich, remarkable, rewarding way of life that they make possible, their selfish, carnal, human nature won out time and again. As the Apostle Paul summarizes in Romans 8:

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:7–8).

And like they did, you will fail, too. Those who choose to turn to the Ten Commandments—the only way of life God blesses and endorses in this world, the only way to true peace and happiness, and the only way to fix the world—will find they inevitably fail. They slip up, and they sin.

“Well, that’s just great,” you might be thinking. You bring us this whole way and tell us that the Ten Commandments are the way to fix our lives and the world—and then you pull the rug out from under us! What’s going on, Tomorrow’s World guy?

Well, I can understand your frustration. But the good news—the VERY good news—is that all of those who seek to truly keep God’s commandments are NOT alone in their efforts. And the help we need is within reach.

How to Change Yourself

We just read that:

The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:7–8).

But read further.

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you (Romans 8:9).

Repent, Be Baptized, Receive the Holy Spirit

For those willing to turn and repent, God makes help available to keep His laws—His commandments. Read earlier in the same chapter.

For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:3–5).

Yes, God has not abandoned us to our carnal nature. Jesus Christ died so that we may be forgiven of our sins, and He lives NOW in the lives of those who commit their lives to Him—transforming them through His Spirit so that, day by day, week by week, they learn to keep His laws and commandments, just as He did.

We see this promise of aid and transformation reflected in the words of the book of Hebrews, itself quoting from the Old Testament. Read with me in Hebrews 10, beginning in verse 16.

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Hebrews 10:16–17).

And for those who are willing in this life to fix their own worlds—to repent and to embrace the Ten Commandments of God, and to allow Jesus Christ to forgive them of their sins and begin the process of transforming them, from the inside out—there really is good news ahead. Because those who have allowed Jesus Christ to fix their lives in this way, in this life, will be allowed to reign alongside Jesus Christ after His return, and to truly begin fixing the whole world.

Yes, if we really want to fix the world—truly and profoundly fix it, and make it the world of peace, joy, and contentment we’ve always longed to see—then the key is to allow God to fix our own lives first. So, in the end, if we want to join Jesus Christ in finally fixing the world tomorrow, we need to turn to Him in obedience and let Him fix our lives today.

Thanks for watching. If you found this video helpful, check out more of our content or hit subscribe to stay up to date on what we publish.

And if you want the free study guide related to this topic, just click the link in the description.

We’ll see you next time.

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

A Financial Crisis Is Looming

Where is the world’s economy headed? Will the cost of living continue to climb? Will we see another recession—or worse yet, a full-blown economic meltdown?

These are not theoretical questions. Whether you own your own business, work for an employer, or are on a pension, your money is important. These questions affect your life.

Much of the financial news in our headlines is not good. We hear of tariffs and trade wars, fears of a recession, rising inflation—and we see the escalating prices first-hand in our grocery bills.

We see alarming news of a national debt in the U.S. that now sits at over $36 trillion. That’s a colossal mountain of debt that’s hard to comprehend. But debt is not just an American problem.

A number of countries in the Western world are also carrying extremely high debt, expressed as their debt ratio—the amount of debt in relation to GDP, or gross domestic product.

The World Population Review website lists the American national debt at 122% of GDP. That means that the debt accumulated by the government of the United States is significantly above the value of what the entire nation produces in a year. That should be deeply concerning to all of us.

And other nations aren’t far behind. France’s debt ratio sits at 111%. And Canada’s debt ratio is similar, at 108%. The United Kingdom’s is not far behind at 97.6%.

So many countries are carrying a sizable amount of debt. And all it takes is a few unexpected disasters—polycrises, as they are now beginning to be called—for prices to soar and jobs to disappear.

So what does the future hold for our Western nations? The sobering news is there are tough times ahead. But you and I can be ready. If you are concerned about the financial welfare of your children and grandchildren, you don’t want to miss today’s program on Tomorrow’s World.

We don’t have to face the future unprepared. We can be forewarned and forearmed. You can survive the coming crash. How?

How to Prepare for an Economic Crash

Warren Buffett is the billionaire CEO of the American investment firm Berkshire Hathaway. He’s obviously been extremely successful in his life as an investor. When stock markets tumbled in response to tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on April 2, 2025, a number of market observers noted Buffett’s classic advice. That is, when things go bad:

• Focus on the long term.
• Keep your head.
• Don’t panic.
• Be in it for the long haul.
• Be patient and keep your eyes on the long-term goal.

(“‘Keep your head’ if you’re spooked by tariffs: Warren Buffett once suggested reading a 19th century poem when stocks fall,” MSN.com, April 3, 2025).

That is good advice. It’s easy to panic when the economy begins to sputter. And it’s tempting to worry about the future—especially when it comes to money.

But God doesn’t want us to be fearful about the future. Jesus was consistent in that message to His disciples. Matthew 11:28 records Him saying,

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled”

We can be heavy-laden with worries, fears, and doubts, especially when we recognize the dangerous times we’re living in. In Matthew 24:6, He told His disciples,

“See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”

Later on, just before His arrest, trial, and execution, He repeated His comforting words, recorded in John 14:1.

“Let not your heart be troubled.”

God doesn’t want us to fret about tomorrow. And yet, He does want us to understand prophetic warnings for our time. Many of the prophecies of the Book of Ezekiel are intended for the end-time Israelite nations of our day. For a more detailed description of Ezekiel’s prophecies and their impact on the end times, check out the telecast by Gerald Weston entitled, “Ezekiel’s Message Unlocked.” You can find it on YouTube or TomorrowsWorld.org.

But let’s focus on one prophecy of Ezekiel for a moment. It’s found in Ezekiel chapter 7, starting in verse 1.

Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “And you, son of man, thus says the Lord God to the land of Israel: ‘An end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land. Now the end has come upon you, and I will send My anger against you; I will judge you according to your ways, and I will repay you for all your abominations. My eye will not spare you, nor will I have pity; but I will repay your ways, and your abominations will be in your midst; then you shall know that I am the Lord!’” (Ezekiel 7:1–4).

Sometimes Economic Crisis Is God’s Punishment

It’s a sobering glimpse of judgment on our Western nations. But why is that judgment coming? Because we have God’s testimony of how He wants us to conduct our lives—it’s called the Bible—and yet painfully few really live it.

Going on, notice what Ezekiel says conditions will be like as the end-time descendants of Israel fall (in Ezekiel 7:19).

They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will be like refuse; their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord; they will not satisfy their souls, nor fill their stomachs, because it became their stumbling block of iniquity (Ezekiel 7:19).

That’s describing a total economic collapse. When there’s no food, all the gold and silver in the world won’t do any good. And these conditions will spread around the globe.

During the Day of the Lord, when the trumpets of Revelation sound, people will no longer be concerned about whether they’ve bought gold or stocks or invested in real estate. They’ll just want to be safe and have enough to eat.

When Christ returns with power and glory, we want to be ready. And being ready for that day is not done by having a big salary or picking the right pension plan. Speaking of those days, Jesus said, in Luke 21:25,

“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring, men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:25–28).

Use These 4 Keys to Survive Financial Crisis

So, how can we look forward to the coming days of judgment with faith, and not fear? By identifying sound biblical strategies for surviving the economic storms to come.

1. Buy the right things.

We’re living in a consuming society. Especially in our affluent Western nations, we are used to spending money. Our economy is built around it. Sometimes we spend money for things we really don’t need. That’s the marvel of modern advertising. Marketers try very hard to create a supposed need for a product they’re selling—whether it’s pizza, tennis shoes, or a new car. They are masters at convincing us we need things that we really don’t. And if we’re not careful, we can get on a never-ending cycle where the chief activity of our life is just consuming things.

God spoke through the prophet Isaiah centuries ago of the need to buy what’s really important in life. Notice Isaiah 55:1.

Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance (Isaiah 55:1–2).

God is saying you’re spending your money, your time, and your energy on things that don’t really last. And this applies to us today, more than ever before.

John 6:27 Meaning: Don’t Just Be a Consumer

We have distractions and time-wasters like no generation before us. Our phones are addictive. Social media is addictive. Even harmless pursuits—watching reruns of old TV shows, or watching sports, or doing puzzles or games, or reading about celebrities—can be addictive. But at the end of the day, what do our activities accomplish in our lives?

In other words, what are we spending our money and our time on? Because our time is our life.

Jesus spoke of the importance of thinking about what we consume. We need to not just focus on physical pursuits, but also, more importantly, on spiritual values. Notice what He said in John 6:27:

“Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him” (John 6:27).

Going on in verse 56:

“He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me” (John 6:56–57).

We are to drink in and feed on the words of Christ. We must study His word every day, so we begin to think like Him, act like Him, follow His footsteps, understand His ways, and obey Him.

He summarizes it in verse 63:

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).

As we think about investing in the future, let’s make sure we are spending our money, our time, our energy, our focus on something that’s really going to last.

Store Up Treasures in Heaven

And that brings us to our next strategy for investing in these end-times.

2. Lay up treasure in heaven.

Jesus taught His disciples to not just focus on the physical but, more importantly, invest in their spiritual lives. Notice what He said in Matthew 6:19.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 16:19–21).

God wants us to remember that cars rust out, homes can burn down or be broken into, and money invested can disappear in moments. I know some who lost tens of thousands of dollars in the financial meltdown of 2008, company-sponsored 401Ks that lost much of their value overnight.

What can we depend on? And how should we face the future? Notice what Christ said in verse 25:

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” (Matthew 6:25–27).

Don’t Worry About Basic Needs (Matthew 6:31)

If we recognize that God created us, formed us and gave us life, we must remember He can take care of us. He feeds the birds, He forms the blossoms on the trees, and He produces the fruit of the fields. That’s the focus we need to have, especially as we enter uncertain times (verse 31).

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:31–33).

Christ is bringing that Kingdom when He returns. We are to seek to be in that Kingdom as the number one priority in our life. And with it, we are to seek for His righteousness. We learn His righteousness by diving into His word every day. It’s not just a sentimental feeling, but a necessity of life as much as the air we breathe.

We don’t need to worry about the coming difficult times, if we’re investing in the right things—His Kingdom and His character, in our life.

Focus on Your Spiritual Inheritance

Another strategy for facing economic crises in the end times is:

3. Look forward to the right inheritance.

Some of us may have an inheritance being left to us. If you do, consider that a blessing. But if you don’t have a “rich uncle” in your family, don’t despair. You actually have a Father in Heaven who is not just a rich uncle, but who owns everything. And when I say everything, I mean literally everything. Notice what the prophet Haggai said in Haggai 2:8:

“The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,” says the Lord of hosts.

Now, stop and think for a moment. If we are a little short on cash—or maybe a lot short on cash—let’s remember the resources that our Father in Heaven has. They are unlimited. He owns everything in the entire galaxy—in the entire Universe. He made the Universe.

God Will Supply All Your Needs

Can He provide for us? Does He know our needs? As Paul wrote, in Philippians 4:19,

… My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

And He is rich. That’s not a metaphor. He literally owns everything. We must not forget that. And what’s more, He wants to give it to us as an inheritance, David wrote in Psalm 16:5,

O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good inheritance.

David said, “God—You are my portion—You are my inheritance—I’m going to know You and live with You for all eternity. That’s my inheritance!”

And Hebrews 2:8 gives more details when it says we will inherit “all things.” “All things” ultimately includes the entire physical Universe. Think about that! The destiny of man—and that means you and me—is to inherit portions of the galaxies to work in, to tend, to beautify in ways we can’t now fully fathom. What a tremendous inheritance waiting for us from our Father.

If we don’t have great wealth in this life, that’s ok. If we give our lives to God, He has great plans for us in the life to come.

Acknowledge God in All Your Ways

And the last strategy?

4. Acknowledge your Creator who gave you all things.

Our God has given us life and breath. He’s given us the chance to know the joys of life. And certainly, we learn through the sadness of pain and suffering in this flesh as well. It’s all for a purpose. He wants us to learn to trust Him and love Him and submit to His way, for our good forever. He wants to grant us salvation through His Son. He wants us to live in His Family. But we must believe Him, repent of our sins, obey Him, and come under the blood of Jesus Christ.

When we grasp that our Father has given us every good and perfect gift—as the Apostle James notes in James 1:17—then we ought to be willing to give back to our Father as well. And that is what He teaches us.

Will a Man Rob God? (Malachi 3:8)

A good explanation of it is found in Malachi 3, beginning in verse 8.

Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, “In what way have we robbed You?” (Malachi 3:8).

Who would ever have the audacity to rob God? And yet that’s exactly what He says happens. He explains later in the verse (again, in verse 8),

… You say, “In what way have we robbed You?” In tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:8).

The word “tithe,” is just an old word meaning “tenth.”

Bring Your Tithes into the Storehouse (Malachi 3:10)

It’s the biblical command for God’s people to “tithe,” or give a tenth of their income back to Him in acknowledgement of His blessings and guidance in their life. Not tithing to God, He says is, in effect, robbing Him. Going on, notice what He says as a result of His people not tithing. We pick it up in verse 9.

“You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” says the Lord of hosts; “and all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts (Malachi 3:9–12).

Let this sink in. There are individual consequences and national consequences for not tithing. And what better way to prepare for hard times ahead than to show God our loyalty and faithfulness in tithing to Him now? He promises to provide for those who put Him first.

In our Western world, how many of us faithfully tithe to the God of Heaven, who gives us rain in due season, and sunshine to give warmth and to make the crops grow? Are we acknowledging the God of Heaven who gives us every beat our heart makes?

Giving a little bit back to the God who has given us all things—and plans to give us even more as an inheritance—is really just a small sacrifice. Going on in verse 16.

Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name. “They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “on the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him” (Malachi 3:16–17).

God Gives Power to Get Wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18)

Gold, silver, money, real estate, or bank accounts will not be a protection in the coming hard times. When financial crises strike, we want God to be with us—which means we need to be with Him.

“Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied… then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth…” (Deuteronomy 8:11–13, 17–18).

Where will our Western economies go in the months and years ahead? Will we have a bumpy road economically? It may go up, it may go down for a while, but at some point, if our nations don’t repent, God will allow us to hit rock bottom.

Wherever the road takes us, we need to be wise, careful, and use common sense in regard to how we handle money. But above all, we need to keep the big picture. And the big picture is there’s a God in Heaven who made us and provides us with everything we need if we wholeheartedly look to Him. And He’s planning a great destiny in His Kingdom forever if we’re willing to give our lives to Him.

Thank you for watching. If you found this video helpful, check out more of our content or hit subscribe to stay connected.

And if you want a free study guide relating to this topic, just click the link in the description.

See you next time!

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

Book of Revelation’s End-Time Bible Prophecy

The Book of Revelation is a great mystery to many—and many avoid it. However, it tells us at the very beginning:

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 1:3).

So, if you are blessed or benefited by reading, hearing, and keeping those things written in the book, why would you neglect it?

In two previous Tomorrow’s World programs, we discussed the first and second of what are known as the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Evangelist and telecast presenter Wallace Smith explained the meaning of the rider on a white horse and fellow evangelist Rod McNair explained the meaning of the rider on a red horse. If you missed those powerful and insightful programs, you can find them on our website, TomorrowsWorld.org.

Today I’ll explain the meaning of the third and fourth horses and their riders, but it’s vitally important to begin at the beginning. The preamble of the book gives essential keys needed to understand how the four horsemen fit into the overall picture. The preamble begins in chapter 1 and in verse 1.

Jesus Gave the Vision to the Servants of God

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. 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).

It's easy to think such words are unimportant, but that’s a grave mistake, as they explain:

1. Who the message is from
2. Who opens or reveals that message
3. Who delivers it
4. And, number four, who are the intended recipients

Some of the most outrageous speculations are the result of not knowing these simple facts.

Erroneous Titles for the Book of Revelation

Even those who translate and publish the Bible often miss the mark. For example, note the title given to this book in these popular translations:

• The Revelation of St. John the Divine (King James Version)
• The Book of Revelation—The Revelation of John (The New Testament in Modern English by J. B. Phillips)

These titles were added by men and contradict the opening words of the preamble.

Seven Keys to Understanding the Book of Revelation

So, the first thing we need to know is who opens our understanding [of] the message.

1. Key #1: It is the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Now the word “of” denotes possession rather than “about.” The message is not primarily about the person of Christ as many believe. Yes, He is intimately involved in the message, but His role is primarily that of the one who reveals—or explains—the meaning of the message. But who is the originator of the message?

2. Key #2: …which God gave Him…

The message that Jesus reveals or explains comes from His Father. Now, who the message is ultimately for?

3. Key #3: …to show His servants…

Who these servants of God are might seem to be an easy question to answer, but is it? I’ll give you the answer shortly, but when are the things written in the book to begin?

4. Key #4: …things which must shortly take place…

Now, while the book is primarily about end-time events, the message also had relevance for that time. But who was to carry the message to God’s servants?

5. Key #5: And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John…

And what was it that John was to record?

6. Key #6: [John] who bore witness
   1. to the word of God,
   2. and to the testimony of Jesus Christ,
   3. to all things that he saw.

There is an additional key to understanding where the four horsemen fit into end-time events, and that is found in verse 10. Here we find the theme of the book. John writes:

7. Key #7: I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day… (Revelation 1:10).

Now this is critical to understanding, but it has been clouded by so-called scholars who tell us that the Lord’s Day refers to a day of the week. Notice this paraphrased version.

It was Sunday and I was worshiping… (Living Letters, by Kenneth Taylor).

But does Lord’s Day mean Sunday?

Dear friends, nothing could be further from the truth. As we will see, this expression in Revelation is not talking about a day of the week. However, if it were, what day of the week does Jesus [the One who reveals] tell us He is the Lord of? There is not a single passage of Scripture that points to Jesus being the Lord of Sunday. That’s a human invention promulgated long after Christ was resurrected.

On the contrary, Jesus Himself tells us three times, that when speaking of a day of the week, He—“the Son of Man”—is Lord of the Sabbath. Notice one of them.

And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27–28).

Revelation 1:10 refers not to a day of the week, but to the time of Christ’s intervention at the end of the age. This is clear from the content of the book, which I’ll explain in more detail later in the program.

Messages to the Seven Churches of Revelation

But since John is to take the message to the servants of God, we need to know who they are. Immediately following the preamble, we read in verse 4 of chapter 1,

John, to the seven churches which are in Asia… (Revelation 1:4).

In verse 13, we read of the glorified Christ walking among seven lampstands, and we’re informed in verse 20 that the lampstands represent the seven churches.

The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches (Revelation 1:20).

There are many congregations scattered across the Mediterranean region, so why are these seven chosen?

Chapters 2 and 3 contain the messages to each of the seven. Scholars recognize that these churches are more significant than just any churches of God at the time. There are clear references that apply to different historic times.

For example, the letter to Smyrna speaks of ten days of severe tribulation. And elsewhere, we see that biblical day sometimes stands for a year, and history records ten years of severe persecution upon all the churches of God in Asia under Roman Emperor Diocletian—from 303 to 313 A.D.

On the other hand, the references to the sixth and seventh churches speak of the time at the end of the age when Christ returns. And try as they might, scholars are unable to shoehorn the mainstream church into seven eras that align with these seven churches. And there is a reason why—they are looking for the servants of God in the wrong place.

The key to understanding that was given by Mr. Wallace Smith, who pointed out that the rider on the white horse represented counterfeit Christianity. That program can be found on our website, TomorrowsWorld.org.

Now for a very quick overview leading up to the four riders:

• Revelation chapter 1: The message comes from God, is revealed by Jesus Christ, is given to John to pass to the servants of God, and the message is about the Day of the Lord.
• Revelation chapters 2–3: Explain in detail who the servants of God are down through time.
• Chapter 4: Gives details of God sitting on His throne in heaven.
• Chapter 5: [Which] Introduces the message of Revelation contained on a scroll secured by seven seals.

The Seven Seals of Revelation

Now this is critical to understand, so let’s take a closer look at it by reading the first five verses of Revelation 5:

And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I [that is John] wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals” (Revelation 5:1–5).

The remainder of the chapter reveals that this is the Lamb of God, who is worthy of all worship and honor. Yes, as we read in the opening verse in the book, it is Jesus Christ who is the One who breaks the seals and reveals the message.

Now we come to chapter 6, where six of the seven seals are opened, including the four horsemen.

Four Seals: Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Many have heard of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, and they know that they have something to do with bad things to happen in the future, but few can give you further details. In this series on the four horsemen, fellow presenter Wallace Smith explained the white horse, whose rider represents counterfeit Christianity. Rod McNair explained the significance of the red horse, whose rider carries a great sword and takes peace from the earth.

Third and Fourth Horsemen in Revelation 6

Let us now look at the third and fourth horses and their riders. We’ll begin in chapter 6 and verse 5.

When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.” When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power 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 (Revelation 6:5–8).

The understanding of what the third rider symbolizes is pretty much straightforward. He is on a black horse, and he clearly represents famine. However, the rider on the pale horse is a bit less straightforward. He represents death and Hades (a word meaning the grave), but we are left to speculate on the cause of death. Note that the last part of verse 8 says:

And power was given to them [all four of the riders] over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth (Revelation 6:8).

Now, beasts of the earth would hardly account for the totality of death brought about by the pale rider.

This is another reason to look to the One who reveals—Jesus Christ. As presenters Wallace Smith and Rod McNair pointed out in the previous two programs, we must turn to the words of Jesus for explanations of these symbols. To not do so leaves open the most outrageous speculations.

Matthew 24 Matches Horsemen of Revelation 6

Matthew 24 gives us the pattern that is found here in Revelation 6. Note that the time setting is just prior to Jesus’ return. We’ll begin in verse 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?” (Matthew 24:3).

The First Horse Is False Christianity

And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name [claiming His authority, in other words], saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ [in other words, preaching that Jesus is the Christ] and will deceive many (Matthew 24:4–5).

This is how we know that the rider on the white horse represents a counterfeit Christianity.

The Second Horse Is War

Note that the signs that follow are in the same order and give us the pattern for understanding the riders.

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom (Matthew 24:6–7).

These words by Jesus clearly reveal that the red horse represents warfare, and we find the same sequence of events in both Matthew 24 and Revelation 6.

The Third Horse Is Famine

The next thing Jesus mentions is:

And there will be famines (Matthew 24:7).

And this aligns with the rider on the black horse, where he has scales in his hands to measure out scarce food.

The Fourth Horse Is Death

[And] after famines, Jesus mentions pestilences—or disease epidemics—and earthquakes.

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences [or disease epidemics], and earthquakes in various places (Matthew 24:7).

It’s easy to see why God used a pale horse, as sick people often look pale and sickly. But the Revelator indicates that there will be other causes of death, including earthquakes and wild animals. Collectively, these four riders bring death and destruction over a fourth of the earth.

And power 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 (Revelation 6:8).

Before leaving this subject, we need to look at a few details regarding the placement of these riders in the story flow of end-time Bible prophecy.

We saw in the preamble to Revelation that while God the Father is the author of the message, it is Jesus Christ who reveals—or gives understandings—of the message that was written.

Why the Four Horsemen Bring the “Apocalypse”

The words of Jesus in Matthew 24 give us the pattern of end-time events. Counterfeit Christianity, wars, famines, and pestilences have plagued mankind since Christ spoke these words. So what’s new about the four horsemen?

Simply put, these four scourges are ramped up to a far greater level.

The rider on the white horse—a deceptive, charismatic, miracle-working leader, called in Revelation the False Prophet or the Antichrist—will emerge on the scene in the near future. He’ll align himself with a political leader known as the beast.

The rider on the red horse of war will follow.

The black horse of famine and the rider on the pale horse follow in close succession. The result will be massive death affecting one-quarter of the earth.

Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Seals of Revelation

But end-time prophecy is not about four destructive riders only. As we read in chapter 5, the message of Revelation is contained on a scroll that is sealed, not with four, but with seven seals. The horsemen begin their ride when each of the first four are opened. Once opened, they continue to the time of Christ’s return, but much happens after they begin their ride.

After the Pale rider, the fifth seal is opened, and we read of a martyrdom of the servants of God. This is followed by the sixth seal opening terrifying heavenly signs. Notice this, beginning in Revelation 6:12:

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!” (Revelation 6:12–16).

The Day of the Lord Is the Wrath of the Lamb

Now notice verse 17:

For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (Revelation 6:17).

This, dear friends, is the theme of the book of Revelation. Remember in chapter 1, verse 10 where John said:

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day… (Revelation 1:10).

This is not talking about a day of the week. The Lord’s Day is another way of saying the Day of the Lord—a time spoken of in the Bible some 30 times as being the time of Christ’s return. Paul spoke of it in 1 Thessalonians 5:2.

For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2).

Many references are found in the Old Testament, such as Zechariah 14:1;

Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst (Zechariah 14:1).

And Isaiah tells us that it is a one-year period of “the Lord’s vengeance” (Isaiah 34:1).

Come near, you nations, to hear; and heed, you people! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world and all things that come forth from it. For the indignation of the Lord is against all nations, and His fury against all their armies; He has utterly destroyed them, He has given them over to the slaughter…. [Notice this:] For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance, the year of recompense for the cause of Zion (Isaiah 34:1–2, 8).

Yes, the four horsemen are merely the prelude to the theme of Revelation—the time of Christ’s wrath on rebellious mankind. Of course, they continue to ride during that time, but they are not the theme of Revelation. They appear when the first four seals of the scroll are opened. The seventh seal constitutes many events that sum up the Day of the Lord—the year of God’s wrath on rebellious mankind.

Thanks for watching. If you found this video helpful, check out more of our content or hit subscribe to stay connected.

And if you want a free study guide related to this topic, just click the link in the description.

See you in the next video.

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

World War 3 and the Red Horse of Revelation

Are the wars going on right now going to grow into a massive global conflict? Has that process started already?

That was the concern expressed by Jamie Dimon, Chief Executive of J.P. Morgan Chase and Company, one of the biggest banks in the world. He was speaking at the annual meeting of the Institute of International Finance on October 24, 2024, in Washington, D.C. He said:

“The risk is extraordinary… World War III has already begun.” (“Jamie Dimon worries ‘World War III has already begun,’” MarketWatch.com, October 24, 2024).

Has world war begun? Or to put it in prophetic terms, is the red horse of Revelation already running?

The red horse of Revelation is the second horse ridden by the infamous “four horsemen of the apocalypse.” The red horse of Revelation 6 symbolically pictures the terrifying warfare the Book of Revelation portends in the end-time. The question is, is that horse already running? Have we turned a page in history, where there’s no turning back? And most importantly, what can you or I do about it?

Nothing could be more urgent than considering whether we and our children can even survive our own world, as it grows more bloody and violent.

Has World War 3 Started?

In October of 2024, the J.P. Morgan Chief executive startled the attendees at the annual meeting of the Institute of International Finance, saying, “World War III has begun.” Just a few months later, writing for Forbes magazine website, business writer Bryce Hoffman made a similar statement.

“The sudden collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s despotic regime in Syria this weekend highlights the interconnectedness of a growing number of global conflicts, revealing a hard truth that most of us would rather not think about too deeply: World War III has already begun. Business leaders need to recognize this and begin planning accordingly” (“World War III Has Already Begun—and Businesses Need To Take Note,” Forbes.com, December 8, 2024).

The specter of global war has led some to ask: Have we entered a new era of time, prophesied by the Book of Revelation? Has the Red Horse appeared?

Seven Seals of Revelation: The Second Seal

Toward the end of his life, the Apostle John was given a vision of seven scrolls containing seven prophetic messages. Revelation chapter 6 details the contents of each of those scrolls as they are opened by the Lamb of God in succession. Let’s pick up the account in Revelation 6:3.

When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.” Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword (Revelation 6:3–4).

When the second seal is opened, it reveals a fiery red horse, ridden by a rider with a great sword. It’s not hard to discern that this horseman’s appearance is symbolic of a time of horrific suffering and warfare. Have we entered that time? Has the second seal been opened?

From just a cursory glance at recent history, it might be tempting to say yes. After all, it was just over 100 years ago that the world suffered through the so-called “war to end all wars.”

World War I, as we now call it, claimed the lives of 15 to 22 million soldiers and civilians. Only one generation later, World War II was even more destructive, claiming another 70 to 85 million lives. And since then, according to the Infoplease.com website, quoting data from Uppsala University in Sweden, there have been 285 distinct armed conflicts (Uppsala Conflict Data Program, UCDP.uu.se).

Fast forward to today. Note this article from the World Economic Forum website.

“The ‘age of turbulence’ is giving way to a world at war. The statistics are grim: there were close to 60 armed conflicts raging in 2023, the highest number ever recorded. Civilian fatalities surged by more than 30 percent between 2023 and 2024, mostly due to escalating armed conflicts in the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe” (“Why global cooperation is more important than ever in a world at war,” WEForum.org, January 15, 2025).

But why do some say that “world” war has already begun? Later in the same article:

“The threat of a global war is being taken seriously in Europe. To some Ukrainians facing drones sourced from Iran, soldiers from North Korea and missiles with components from China, it has already arrived. Several experts believe that a transnational hybrid war has already broken out between NATO allies and countries such as Russia, Iran, North Korea and China.”

But what about our original question? Do the wars in the past century—and the current conflicts today—tell us the red horse in Revelation 6 has already appeared?

Let’s go back to Revelation to answer that question.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in Order

First of all, we have to understand the seals are opened in time sequence. That means for the second seal to have opened, the first one has to be opened as well. Let’s read about the first seal in Revelation 6:1.

Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer (Revelation 6:1–2).

So what is the meaning of the white horse? For a more thorough explanation of the white horse and its ominous rider, be sure to watch the program by my colleague and fellow presenter, evangelist Wallace Smith, entitled “Behold, a White Horse.”

Summing it up, this white horse and rider will symbolize a counterfeit Christianity that will pawn its deceptions upon an unsuspecting world. And it will seek to conquer all who resist with force and cruelty.

After the rider on the white horse, there appears the red horse we’ve already discussed. After that, the third seal opens with a pale horse, unleashing great famine and extreme scarcity of food. The fourth seal opens revealing a black horse, and the resulting death and destruction on one-quarter of the earth’s population.

Clearly, these are terrifying times your Bible is foretelling. But back to the question, is the red horse already running?

Events in Matthew 24 Match the Four Horsemen

Before we answer that, let’s look at Matthew 24:4. Jesus’ disciples had asked Him to tell them when the Temple would be thrown down, and what would be the sign of His coming. Notice what He said. Let’s read in Matthew 24:4.

Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, “I am the Christ,” and will deceive many (Matthew 24:4–5).

He said after His death many would preach a different Christ. They would claim to worship the Messiah, but not really follow what He taught. Going on in verse 6.

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows (Matthew 24:6–9).

Jesus said there would be great and small wars, scattered all over the world. And famine and pestilence and death would follow. And truly, that has been the record of history for the last two thousand years. Frankly, that’s the record of all of human history. These are conditions of a world ruled by Satan. And Matthew 24:1–8 also shows the pattern of what will happen in the end-times, as described by Revelation 6.

Prophesied Events Before the Red Horse

The seals of Revelation 6 show horrific, end-time events like the world has never seen.

So, no, the red horse is not running yet. Why? Because we know the white horse has not yet appeared. We still have freedom in the Western world to worship God as we please. That hasn’t been taken away. This dominant and oppressive system has not yet arisen.

But the seals of Revelation 6 reveal that the red horse of war will burst on the world scene after the white horse of a counterfeit, militant Christianity.

But this brings up a question. How could a religious system—the white horse—be a conquering force that would lead to the red horse of war? Revelation 13 gives the answer.

False Christianity Joins the Beast of Revelation

The coming false Christian system will ally itself with a powerful political and military leader. And that military superpower and the devastating war and destruction it will bring to the world is symbolized by the red horse.

In Revelation 13, there are two beasts described. One has two horns like a lamb but speaks like a dragon. That’s a reference to the false Christianity we were talking about earlier in the program. It will be a counterfeit religious system led by a false prophet who even calls fire down from heaven. Don’t be fooled—this will be an extremely persuasive and charismatic leader who will deceive many.

This religious leader will be allied with a political leader at the head of this immensely powerful war-making machine. It’s described in Revelation 13:1.

Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority (Revelation 13:1–2).

A Revived Holy Roman Empire Will Emerge

When you compare this with Daniel 7, you find this is referring to the Roman Empire. In the vision, it has taken on the characteristics of its predecessors:

• The Babylonian lion
• The Medo-Persian bear
• The Greco-Macedonian leopard

And it’s all led and influenced by the malevolent dragon, Satan the devil. Going on in verse 3 (Revelation 13:3):

And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed.

The Roman Empire fell in 476 AD, but was revived by Justinian in 554 AD with the assistance of the pope in Rome. This is called the Imperial Restoration. Since then, there have been a number of attempts to revive the spirit of the Roman Empire under various European kings.

Bible prophecy shows that there will be one final revival of this system in the end-times. And it will be terrifying in its ability to project its power across the globe. Notice verse 3.

And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” (Revelation 13:3–4).

Why is this important? These two leaders will attempt to enforce their counterfeit brand of Christianity upon a shocked and startled world. And it will bring war and bloodshed to a shocked humanity.

But this doesn’t have to take you by surprise. You can be forewarned, prepared and ready.

Red Horse Brings Martyring of True Christians

That’s why Jesus Christ had this warning recorded by the Apostle John ahead of time, for those who are willing to listen and heed. Notice in verse 6.

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. If anyone has an ear, let him hear (Revelation 13:6–9).

Are you listening? Are you getting the picture?

A powerful, counterfeit Christian deception is coming. And it will be enforced by this political entity called the Beast. This strongman dictator—in league with the false prophet of Revelation 13—will cause an unsuspecting populace to take the infamous “mark of the beast.” This is found in Revelation 13:16.

He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name (Revelation 13:16–17).

And the Great Tribulation Begins

Those two figures and their followers will lead the world into a time of war and bloodshed we’ve never seen before.

But what does that mean for true followers of Christ? It’s worth asking the question, and the Bible gives the answers. For the answer, let’s turn to the book of Daniel 12:1.

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).

The context from the last chapter shows “that time” refers to the time of the end. During this time there will be great suffering the world over. This is the Great Tribulation spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 24:21.

Daniel 12 Describes End-Time Information Age

Going on in Daniel 12:1 again:

And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever (Daniel 12:1–3).

Clearly, this is speaking of the resurrection, at Christ’s return. So, this also sets the timing. It’s at the time of the end, leading up to the return of Jesus Christ to earth. Going on in verse 4:

But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase (Daniel 12:4).

Daniel was told to seal this prophecy until the time of the end. And then he described what that time would be like.

Are we living in a time of unprecedented travel—people running “to and fro”? When you can fly from one continent to another in less than a day? Trips that would have taken weeks only a few hundred years ago?

This passage also says, “And knowledge shall increase.” Our world today is awash with a seemingly limitless supply of human knowledge through the shared vehicle of the Internet. And just think about the AI revolution. If we think information is increasing now, just wait. We’re on the cusp of an acceleration of data and information like humanity has never seen.

Going on, notice how Daniel responded in verse 8:

Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?” And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end” (Daniel 12:8–9).

Daniel was not allowed to fully understand the meaning of the vision he was given. He was just told to record it. It was for another time. But think about it. If we’re living in the time of the end, that meaning can now be opened to us. That means you and I now have the opportunity to understand these things, if we’re willing. And if we ask God for understanding.

What does he say next (verse 10)?

Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand (Daniel 12:10).

Do you want to be one of the wise? Do you want to understand what’s happening and why in our tumultuous and chaotic world? And do you want to understand what is coming next?

God says through the prophet Daniel there will be a lot of people who will just follow their carnal desires and human impulses in our time. The wicked will do wickedly. That’s what we see all around us.

But there is also a reward for those who are wise. What is that reward? They will understand the times they are living in, and they will know what to do about it.

Watch for the Abomination of Desolation

Going on in verse 11.

And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days (Daniel 12:11).

As we have explained before on Tomorrow’s World, the Jews will begin sacrificing on the temple mount again. We don’t know exactly when. But it will happen. And then, those same sacrifices will be stopped. An idolatrous object of worship of some type—the abomination of desolation—will then be set up in place of those sacrifices.

What an astounding statement. Daniel is saying when you see that happen, take note, because there are only one thousand two hundred and ninety days left before Christ returns—in other words, just over three and a half years.

True Christians’ Protection from the Second Horseman

But notice this in verse 12:

Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days (Daniel 12:12).

There is a blessing for those who are faithful, obedient to God and seeking to please Him in the coming difficult years. And that blessing will be bestowed upon them 1,335 days before the return of our Savior. In other words, just 45 days before the abomination of desolation is set up.

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

When you understand the context, this great war-making machine—the red horse, influenced by Satan the devil—will even seek to destroy the faithful followers of Christ. But God will protect the faithful woman, His obedient Church, during the Tribulation.

What an encouraging prophecy! Against the backdrop of unthinkable carnage, God has a plan to protect His faithful people.

Prepare Now for Bible Prophecy to Happen

So, how should we prepare in an uncertain and chaotic world?

• By being committed to the One who died for us.
• By repenting of our sins and coming under His sacrifice for us.
• And living in obedience to Him, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus will put down all authority and rule with a rod of iron. He will bring peace to this troubled world. But before that, hard times are coming. But you don’t have to be taken unaware. You can be the wise, who understand, who stay close to God—who have a relationship with their Creator and are protected when the fiery red horse bursts upon the scene.

May God help all of us to prepare now for the challenging times ahead, with faith and trust in our God and our Savior.

Thank you for watching.

If you found this video helpful, check out more of our content or hit subscribe to stay connected.

And if you want a free study guide relating to this topic, just click the link in the description. See you next time.