A Poem

 The Cross

The Cross, the Cross—

     the most expensive purchase 

        ever made

at Jesus’ loss—

The most endearing payment

     ever paid—

So high a price!

So high a price!

So high a price!

Thank-you for the hope and grace—

     the ever-loving smile on your face.

Thank-you for the stunning sacrifice—

       my life, your death

       your blood, my breath

   for all eternity.

Mark A. Absher

            April 2004

A Poem

In Grace

[You can be]

 Swimming, fresh inhaling,

 

laughing, never failing

 

always moving

 

in the pleasure

 

of its rush ensuing space—

 

without measure

 

peace and stillness,

 

soft, serene, sight unseen—

 

Living, basking in the soothing,

 

warm surrounding

 

ever bounding depths

 

of green release

 

that is found in boundless grace.

 

 

Mark Absher

2002

Here's How God Can Be Everywhere at the Same Time--and What It Means

I've had occasion recently to reflect on the spiritual nature of God and on the fact that the better we understand the spiritual nature of God, the better we understand God.  In considering His spiritual nature and further considering that He is the source of everything that we know to exist in the physical realm, it becomes clear, fundamentally, that He is not at all constrained by the rules that govern the physical realm.  For what we understand of existence stems from our experience in the physical realm.  We cannot help but think of existence linearly, for example, because we are subject to the physical realm, and that is how things exist in the physical realm.  Things are made, they are used and then they are depreciated to nothing and disposed of.  People are born, they live and then they die.  We witness the physical realm and its rules, and we witness the limited existence of things, and we conclude that God must be subject to the same rules--He must exist linearly like us.  But it's not how things are.  God existed before the physical realm existed, and God created the rules regarding the physical realm.  He can, therefore, alter them at will.  He did not make the rules as a means to constrain Himself.  He exists apart from and outside of the rules of the physical realm. When you consider what He can do, because He is outside of the physical realm, you should be speechless.  

The physical realm, which includes time, space, matter and energy, was born when God enabled it to be.  So think for a moment about what existed before time, space, matter and energy: nothing.  Yet God occupied that nothing place that we cannot comprehend--because He is a spirit. That nothing space is beyond our comprehension, because there is absolutely no physical element to it, and we know and understand only the physical realm.  Notably, in a place where no physical elements exist, time does not exist, which explains why God is eternal and not subject to time.

Think about it.  Space (and probably time) did not exist until energy and matter were created by God.  Because matter and energy cannot exist without space, the existence of space was necessary to accommodate energy and matter.  Time did not exist (or at least it did not matter) before matter and energy, because time only matters when matter, space and energy exist. Thus, when energy and matter came into being (along with space to accommodate them), time immediately began (or became meaningful) as something of a byproduct--an offspring of rules that somehow govern the matter, energy and space such that it only seems to make sense to us when it is considered linearly.  This is why the Bible says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  In the context of absolutely nothing, energy and matter exploded into existence at the Word of God.  It was most certainly a “big bang” when matter and energy suddenly came into existence.  Space (what we understand or experience as constituted in the heaven) was simultaneously created to accommodate the new physical elements of matter and energy (what we most directly understand or experience as constituted in the earth), and all originated “in the beginning” because time started (or became physically meaningful) at the birth of matter and energy.  Consider further that when matter, energy and space cease to exist, time will also stop (or cease to matter).  It is against this backdrop that we begin to understand how God's spiritual nature can account for His sovereignty, His omnipresence, His omniscience, predestination, and the magnitude of His forgiveness.

Here's how.  Since God originated the physical realm, and He is outside of it and not subject to it, then He is not subject to time or space, and He can, therefore, necessarily move through and exist in time and space in ways that to us are mind boggling.  For instance, because of these considerations, He can do the following amazing things: He can be with each of us at every moment of our lives at the same time, at any time or at all times.  This is how He knows us.  He can literally see the day of our birth and the day of our death at the same time.  Of course, He can also see every millisecond in between.  It is because of this fact that He can "foreknow" the date on which a person will accept the Word of God for salvation.  This is also how He can know the number of hairs on our heads (Luke 12:7)--because in a realm where God is not subject to time, He has all the time in the universe to spend with each of us--knowing us to the degree that He can take the time to count the hairs on our heads.  This is why we can be confident that when we call out to God, He hears us (Psalm 18:6)--all of us; He hears everything we say, He observes every one of our actions (Psalm 139:2).  Amazingly, we can better understand how God can be our intimate companion; indeed, He exists with us more closely, more attentively, and with more knowledge than we can ever possibly understand.  There is no need to try to hide from Him in our sin, because He literally sees us from every angle at every millisecond; it's pointless to try to hide; you cannot hide from a being with such a nature.   

While King David likely did not understand the science of it, he truly understood the impact of the spiritual nature of God, considering that he wrote the following passage, recorded in Psalm 139:

"Lord, You have searched me and known me.
² You know when I sit down and when I stand up;
You understand my thoughts from far away.
³ You observe my travels and my rest;
You are aware of all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue,
You know all about it, Lord.
⁵ You have encircled me;
You have placed Your hand on me.
⁶ This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me.
It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.

⁷ Where can I go to escape Your Spirit?
Where can I flee from Your presence?
⁸ If I go up to heaven, You are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.
⁹ If I live at the eastern horizon
or settle at the western limits,
¹⁰ even there Your hand will lead me;
Your right hand will hold on to me.
¹¹ If I say, 'Surely the darkness will hide me,
and the light around me will be night'—
¹² even the darkness is not dark to You.
The night shines like the day;
darkness and light are alike to You."

(HCSB)

Knowing that God has such power to know us so well, each of us should find peace in further knowing that we are so intimately known.  We can speak to God at any second of our lives, knowing that He hears us.  This is how we can understand that we can be called "children of God"--except that God has the ability to know us in ways that parents can never possibly know their children.  This consideration of God also explains His name; when Moses asked His name, God said that His name is “I am because I am.”  He is the one who always exists, because time is His creation--not His master; He is the only self-existing being.

So when God created matter, energy, space and time, He could immediately see and know everything that would take place, and He could occupy every facet of space and time and move through matter and energy as though it were a frozen frame--like moments of the Matrix--only to an insanely more enhanced degree.  Of course, He also has the ability to alter the course of any outcome--which is why He is sovereign.  He has the ultimate "butterfly effect" ability.

This consideration also gives us a window of understanding into the amazing salvation that we enjoy, because in the moment of Christ's death, God could actually witness all sins that each of us would ever commit at the same time as the nails were being pounded through Jesus' hands and feet and the same time that Jesus was taking His last breath on the cross and the same time that Jesus was being raised from the dead.  This is how all of our sins could be laid on Jesus--because God could see them all. Curiously enough, too, we say that Christ "died" on the cross; yet, because God is not bound by time, to God, Christ will die, is dying and has died on the cross--all at the same time.  The act of cross always exists as though it is always currently happening to God.  The superior act of Jesus, constantly occurring in the presence of God, overcomes the constant sins that we commit--if we have placed our trust in Jesus for forgiveness of our sins.

This amazing consideration regarding the nature of God--His existing beyond time and space--is also how God can, in His Word, give us prophecy.  He can see the events unfold and even the end of time on the day that time began.  So, explaining something to us about the future is like us talking about a historical event--only He sees all of the details in a way that enables Him to be 100% accurate--unlike the stories that we tell from our past.  Again, to God, the events will happen, are happening and have happened all at the same time.

The other ramifications of this consideration of God's nature are abundant, but this simple explanation, I trust, enlightens our understanding of how the nature of God, relative to the physical realm that He originated, explains His attributes of omniscience, omnipresence, foreknowledge and sovereignty as well as the definitive nature of His plan and His forgiveness of our sin.

In understanding this aspect of His nature, we have all the reason in the universe in which we exist to praise Him.

Mark Absher 
California
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Standing before God and the Impact of the Work of Jesus

A. We will all someday stand in the presence of God.

• Romans 14:12 - So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.

B. Consider what happens to righteous men when they stand in the presence of the glory of God:

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 1:28-2:2 - As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking. Then He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet that I may speak with you!” As He spoke to me the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me.

Ezekiel 3:23-24 - So I got up and went out to the plain; and behold, the glory of the Lord was standing there, like the glory which I saw by the river Chebar, and I fell on my face. The Spirit then entered me and made me stand on my feet, and He spoke with me and said to me, “Go, shut yourself up in your house."

Ezekiel 44:4 - Then He [YHWH] brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the house; and I looked, and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord, and I fell on my face.

Daniel

Daniel 8:16-17 - [In the presence of an angel who stands in the presence of God:] And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, “Gabriel, give this man an understanding of the vision.” So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end.”

Daniel 10:4-10 - On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was by the bank of the great river, that is, the Tigris, I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, whose waist was girded with a belt of pure gold of Uphaz. His body also was like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a tumult. Now I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, while the men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great dread fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves. So I was left alone and saw this great vision; yet no strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength. But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground. Then behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.

Daniel 10:10-19 -When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. And behold, one who resembled a human being was touching my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, “O my lord, as a result of the vision anguish has come upon me, and I have retained no strength. For how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord? As for me, there remains just now no strength in me, nor has any breath been left in me.” Then this one with human appearance touched me again and strengthened me. He said, “O man of high esteem, do not be afraid. Peace be with you; take courage and be courageous!” Now as soon as he spoke to me, I received strength and said, “May my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”

Isaiah

Isaiah 6:1-5 - In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said,

“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts,

The whole earth is full of His glory.”

And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke.

Then I said,“Woe is me, for I am ruined!

Because I am a man of unclean lips,

And I live among a people of unclean lips;

For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

Abraham

Genesis 17:1-3 - Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly." Abram fell on his face ....

John, the Apostle

Revelation 1:17-18 - When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades."

If the world's most righteous people, like Ezekiel, Daniel, Isaiah, Abraham and John, fall on their faces and say, "Woe is me," in the presence of the glory of God, what will become of the unrighteous when they so stand?

C. Consider our standing in the presence of God--given what Jesus has done for us.

Jude 24-25 - Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling [lit. falling], and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy. To the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Thus, because of Jesus, not only will we not be falling on our faces, crying out "Woe is me," but we will actually be enabled to STAND in the presence of the glory of God; further, as we are standing, we will be BLAMELESS; further still, we will actually experience, instead of dread, GREAT JOY.

It's no wonder that the words of Jude 25 follow this amazing truth: "to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."

Mark Absher 
California

 

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Considerations Regarding End Time Events

1. Recognize That End Times Events Signal Christ’s Return - Matthew 24:32-33 - "Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door." (See also Mark 13:28-29: Luke 21:29-31.)

2. Either Jews as a People Group or the Generation Alive at the Time of the Tribulation Will Survive to the Return of Christ - Matthew 24:34-35 - "Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away." (See also Mark 13:30-31; Luke 21:32-33.)

3. No One Knows the Day or Hour of the Day of the Lord - Matthew 24:36 - "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone." (See also Mark 13:32.)

4. The Coming of Jesus Will Be Unexpected/Surprising - Matthew 24:36-41 - "For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left."

5. We Should Be Alert for Christ’s Coming - Matthew 24:42 - "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming."  (See also Mark 13:33-37 - “Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert. Therefore, be on the alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep. What I say to you I say to all, ‘Be on the alert!’”; Luke 21:28 - “But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near”; Luke 21:34-36).

6. Believers Should Prepare By Using Their Spiritual Gifts - Matthew 24:43-51 - "But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. “Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that evil slave says in his heart, “My master is not coming for a long time,” and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

7. Believers Should Pray for Strength to Escape - Luke 21:36 - “But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

8. During the Tribulation Salvation Will Require Endurance - Matthew 24:13 - "But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved."

Mark Absher
California



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Signs of the Last Days

Mark Absher
California

Scripture affirms that there are definitive signs marking the arrival of the end times.  The end times or "last days" culminate in the Day of the Lord, a very special moment in time that will undoubtedly be the greatest physical/spiritual event on Earth after the creation.  The Day of the Lord is, in essence, the explosive, universal heralding of the arrival of Jesus Christ to Earth as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  This time Jesus comes to Earth not as a baby, quietly crying in the humility of a stable, having assumed the form of man as a means to offer him salvation, but as the unquestionable, holy and righteous power of the universe--exacting substantial judgment upon mankind at His arrival.  We can actually look for the signs of the last days, having the confidence that, when we see them, we know the arrival of the King of Kings is near. A few of the signs are noted below:

Signs of the Last Days
Sign	Texts	Considerations
Signs Generally
Celestials	Genesis 1:14 - "Then God said, 'Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years.'"	God uses the movements and activities of the sun, moon and stars as His event markers, so when unique celestial events occur, we should pay attention, recognizing that God may have marked the beginning of some end time event.
End Times Generally - "The Beginning of Birth Pangs" (Matthew 24:8)
Likely marked by people traveling extensively	Daniel 12:4 - "But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth ....”
Knowledge will increase	Daniel 12:4 - "But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; ,,, and knowledge will increase.”	No doubt the development of the internet has fostered an environment wherein knowledge is increasing at a rate that is historic.
Difficult times marked by the presence of intensely selfish, hedonistic and evil people--even in the Church	2 Timothy 3:1-7 - “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
People Questioning the Return of Jesus	2 Peter 3:3-4 - “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.’”
Antichrists and persons who claim to be the Messiah appear, perform miracles and deceive many	1 John 2:18 - "Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour."
	Matthew 24:4b-5 - "See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many."
	Matthew 24:11 - "Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many."
	Matthew 24:24-25 - "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance."
	Mark 13:5-6 - "And Jesus began to say to them, 'See to it that no one misleads you. Many will come in My name, saying, "I am He!" and will mislead many.'"
	Mark 13:22-23 - “for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance.”
	Luke 21:8 - "And He said, 'See to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, "I am He," and, "The time is near." Do not go after them.'"
Wars and rumors of wars	Daniel 9:26b - "even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined."
	Matthew 24:6-7a - "You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom,"
	Mark 13:7-8a - "When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened;those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; ..."
	Luke 21:9-10 - "'When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately.' Then He continued by saying to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, ...'"
	Revelation 6:4 - “And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.”
Famines and earthquakes	Matthew 24:7b - "and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes."
	Mark 13:8b - "there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs."
	Luke 21:11a - "And there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines."
	Revelation 6:5-6 - “When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, 'Come.' I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, 'A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.'"
Plagues	Luke 21:11a - "And there will be ... in various places plagues ...."	Note that the Revelation reference refers to plagues that will come during the Tribulation period--the 3.5 year period immediately prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
	Revelation 11:3-6 - "And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they ... have the power ... to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire."
Tribulation
Apostasy - a "falling away from the faith"	1 Timothy 4:1-3 - “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.”
	Matthew 24:10a - "At that time many will fall away."
	2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a - "Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, ..."
"Man of Lawlessness" revealed; he performs signs and wonders	2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 - “Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.”	Note that the "man of lawlessness" is not revealed until "he who now restrains ... is taken out of the way." Some would suggest that the one who restrains is the Holy Spirit, whose influence is removed at the Rapture. The one who restrains could also possibly be an angel (see Daniel 10:10-14 wherein an angel explains that he would have come to Daniel more quickly had he not been restrained by another angel).
Declarations of “Peace and Safety”	1 Thessalonians 5:3 - “While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.”
Persecution and execution of Christians	Matthew 24:9 - "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name."
	Mark 13:9 - “But be on your guard; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them.”
	Mark 13:13a - “You will be hated by all because of My name.”
	Luke 21:12-15, 17 - "'But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.... and you will be hated by all because of My name...."
	2 Timothy 3:1 - "But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come."
	Revelation 12:17 - "So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus."
	Revelation 13:9-10 - "If anyone has an ear, let him hear. If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints."
People will betray and hate each other	Matthew 10:21 - "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death."
	Matthew 24:10b - "and will betray one another and hate one another."
	Mark 13:12 - “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.”
	Luke 21:16 - "But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, ..."
The love of many will grow cold	Matthew 24:12b - most people’s love will grow cold.
Lawlessness increases	Matthew 24:12a - "Because lawlessness is increased, ..."
The gospel will require that believers endure to the end	Matthew 24:13-14 - "But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come."	It is possible that believers must refuse to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ even to the point of death.
	Matthew 10:22b - "but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved."
	Mark 13:13b - “but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.”
	Luke 21:19 - “By your endurance you will gain your lives.”
	Revelation 12:10-11 - "Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, 'Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.'"
The existence of a temple in Israel and idolatry taking place therein	Matthew 24:15 - "Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),"
	Mark 13:14a - "But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), ..."
	Daniel 9:27 - “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”	Daniel 12:11 - “From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days" (i.e., there is approximately a 3.5 year period from the time the antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel and the time of the defilement of the temple).
Christians, particularly in Israel and Jerusalem, fleeing for their lives from persecution	Matthew 10:22a - "You will be hated by all because of My name ...."
	Matthew 24:16-22 - "Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short."
	Mark 13:14b-20 - "then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. The one who is on the housetop must not go down, or go in to get anything out of his house;  and the one who is in the field must not turn back to get his coat. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! But pray that it may not happen in the winter.  For those days will be a time of tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will. Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days."
	Luke 21:21-24 - “Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city; because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land and wrath to this people; and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”
People claiming that Jesus Christ the Messiah has arrived	Matthew 24:23 - "Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or 'There He is,' do not believe him."
	Matthew 24:26-27 - "So if they say to you, 'Behold, He is in the wilderness,' do not go out, or, 'Behold, He is in the inner rooms,' do not believe them. For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be."
	Mark 13:21-23 - "And then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ’; or, ‘Behold, He is there’; do not believe him; ..."
People gathering around the false christs	Matthew 24:28 - “Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”
The gospel is preached to all nations	Mark 13:10 - “The gospel must first be preached to all the nations.”
A powerful 10 nation union is formed; it is referred to in Revelation as "the beast"; it gets power from Satan; one of its member nations recovers from apparent demise; all the world subjects itself to the union except for believers, whom the beast attacks.	Revelation 13:1-4 - "And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore.Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, 'Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?' There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain."	The beast appears to be a world kingdom/power that will encompass or have influence over Israel, similar to the world kingdoms of the past (see Revelation 17:8-13 - "The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come. Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits, and they are seven kings; five have fallen [i.e., the world empires of the past that encompassed Israel: Assyrian, Babylonian, Median, Persian, and Grecian], one is [i.e., the Roman Empire, in existence at the time of John], the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while. The beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction. The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.") A group of 4 nations in the union collectively have one representative--thus enabling the 10 nation union to have 7 heads. "Coming out of the sea" refers to arising out of or representing a substantial number of people in the world. The demise of one of the 10 nations may be economic or political, but its quick recovery inspires awe and incites the people of the world to worship Satan and the 10 nation union. The description in Revelation 17 about the beast being an entity that was but is not and yet will be, suggests that the 10 nation union will be a resurrected version of one of the world kingdoms that preceded the Roman Empire. Those prior empires included areas that are today known as Iran, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, and in some instances Egypt, Libya, Greece, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkmenistan. Given these considerations, and the dominance of Islam in nearly all of these nations it is fair to say that the 10 nation union will likely be Islamic in nature.
The antichrist appears, directing the world to worship the Beast and to take a mark of the Beast as a means to participate in commerce--rejecting it on the penalty of death.	Revelation 13:11-18 - "Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six."	People who accept the mark of the beast will be subject to the judgment of God (see Revelation 14:9-12 - "Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, 'If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.' Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.") Thus, believers absolutely must reject the mark of the beast (overcome; endure to the end) in order to be saved.
Jerusalem is surrounded by armies	Daniel 9:26b - "and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with aflood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined."	The 10 nation union led by the antichrist will prepare to assault Israel.
	Luke 21:20 - “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near.”
The nations gathered against Israel appear to include nations or people groups from areas such as Russia, the "-Stans," Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan and perhaps others.	And the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them splendidly attired, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords; Persia, Ethiopia and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer with all its troops; Beth-togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops—many peoples with you. ‘Thus says the Lord God, “It will come about on that day, that thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil plan, and you will say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who are at rest, that live securely, all of them living without walls and having no bars or gates, to capture spoil and to seize plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places which are now inhabited, and against the people who are gathered from the nations, who have acquired cattle and goods, who live at the center of the world.’ Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish with all its villages will say to you, ‘Have you come to capture spoil? Have you assembled your company to seize plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to capture great spoil?’”’ “Therefore prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “On that day when My people Israel are living securely, will you not know it? You will come from your place out of the remote parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great assembly and a mighty army; and you will come up against My people Israel like a cloud to cover the land. It shall come about in the last days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I am sanctified through you before their eyes, O Gog.”	Gog refers to a nation or people group that is situated north of the Black Sea; Magog is the land of the Sythians, which is situated in Afghanistan and some of the surrounding areas; Meshech, Tubal, Gomer and Beth-togarmah were situated in Turkey; Persia is now known as Iran; Ethiopia refers to an area that is modern day Sudan; Put refers to an area that encompasses Libya and perhaps some adjoining nations.
Jerusalem is trampled by the armies of nations for 3.5 years	Revelation 11:1-2 - "Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, 'Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.'"	The 10 nation union gains control over Israel and Jerusalem. The 3.5 year period is further confirmed by Daniel 12:6-8 - "And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, 'How long will it be until the end of these wonders?' I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed."
A messenger of God arrives--along with a 2nd witness	Malachi 3:1 - "Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts.	Just as John the Baptist heralded the arrival of Jesus at His first coming, this messenger, as well as a second witness, who may well be among the following list of prominent prophets: John the Baptist, Enoch, Elijah and Moses, will herald the arrival of Jesus' Second Coming.
	Malachi 4:5 - "Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord."
	Revelation 11:3-6 - "And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire."
The beast kills the 2 witnesses/prophets, but they come back to life	Revelation 11:7-12 -"When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb.  And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, 'Come up here.' Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them."	These events appear to occur in Jerusalem.
Earthquake in Jerusalem	Revelation 11:13 - "And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven."	This earthquake is reminiscent of the earthquake that struck Jerusalem following the crucifixion of Jesus (Matthew 27:51-54)--an appropriate precursor to the return of Jesus Christ in power.
Signs Immediately Preceding and Occuring on the Day of the Lord
Wonders in the Sky and on Earth	Joel 2:31-32 - “I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, blood, fire and columns of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness And the moon into blood before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.”
	Matthew 24:29 - "But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken."
	Mark 13:24-25 - "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken."
	Luke 21:11b - “and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.”
	Luke 21:25a - “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars,”
Roaring of the sea and waves	Luke 21:25b - “and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves,”
People extremely fearful of what they anticipate is coming	Luke 21:26 - “men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”
Combination of either volcanic activity and/or meteors/asteroids strike and corrupt the oceans and other waters	Revelation 8:8-11 - "The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed. The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter."
Stinging locusts attack non-believers	Revelation 9:1-11 - "Then the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him. He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit. Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man. And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death flees from them. The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads appeared to be crowns like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions. They had breastplates like breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle. They have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt men for five months. They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon."
One-third of mankind killed by fire, brimstone and smoke	Revelation 9:13-19 - "Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, 'Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.' And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind. The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. And this is how I saw in the vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone. A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths. For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm."
Severe plagues and judgments upon the Earth and those persons who took the mark of the Beast	Revelation 16:1-21 - "Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, 'Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.' So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and it became a loathsome and malignant sore on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image. The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man; and every living thing in the sea died. Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters; and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters saying, 'Righteous are You, who are and who were, O Holy One, because You judged these things; for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.' And I heard the altar saying, 'Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.' The fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given to it to scorch men with fire. Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory. Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds. The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east. And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. ('Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.') And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon. Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, 'It is done. And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, came down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague was extremely severe."
The sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and Jesus returns	Matthew 24:30 - "And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory."
	Mark 13:26 - "Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory."
	Luke 21:27 - "Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ..."
A trumpet sounds, and the elect are gathered	Matthew 24:31 - "And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other."	These passages seem to be consistent with Paul's statements regarding the gathering of believers in I Thessalonians 4:15-17 - "For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord."
	Mark 13:27 - "And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven."
	Daniel 12:1 - "Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued."
Second Coming of Jesus Christ
The arrival of the King of Kings	Revelation 19:11-16 - "And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, 'KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.'"
The Battle of Armageddon and judgment upon the Beast, the Antichrist and mankind	Revelation 19:17-21 - "Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, 'Come, assemble for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.' And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh."
	2 Thessalonians 2:8 - "Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; ..."