My guess is we can't. I've never seen anyone else do it on there. I was probably reported by you know who. I'll send something to you later. Just be your kind self and help those who really want help.
Being persecuted for the sake of our Lord is a huge blessing, right? So let's just do as we know to do and the Lord will come alongside.
verse 4, And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and WORSHIPPED GOD that sat on the throne, saying, AMEN; ALLELUIA. 5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our GOD, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
Note: the Great Whore is now destroyed, but notice the the 'reminder' to us /the remnant who has rightly applied John 3:16-21.... verse 4 we are required to WORSHIP & PRAISE GOD /JEHOVAH.
Note: Locked in and can't go out WORSHIP & PRAISE GOD /JEHOVAH. Job gone, repo-man looking & calling, eviction notice, on and on... WORSHIP & PRAISE is what GOD want from us in such TIMES AS THESE.
Note:So-call friends don't call, well they are.... also. Yes, in many cases the preachers is looked down also. So WORSHIP & PRAISE GOD /JEHOVAH where ever we be, because WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS ALL OUR SINS AND GRIEF TO BARE. The kings /nations's leaders can not buy the mankind out this. Today is a good time to review Revelation chapter 2 & 3.
Sorry if my comment came across that it is a sin to pray to God instead of Jesus. If one prays 'in Jesus name' they are still in essence praying to God thru Jesus and Jesus is the only way to God. So pray in Jesus name or pray straight to Jesus, either way, just pray, and pray often. As for me, I pray "Dear Lord Jesus.........."
People naturally interpret this different ways. You can get a rough survey of widespread opinion by simply listening to prayers. People often use different terms interchangeably, like Dear... Lord, Jesus, Father, God, etc. I personally believe God looks at the heart and that people are not sinning by using the wrong proper noun.
It is my opinion that we are to pray to the Father in the name of Jesus. Jesus said no one comes to the father but through me. That doesn't automatically mean we switch and start worshiping and praying to Jesus only. Jesus is the pathway; he said he's the way to get to the Father. It doesn't say the Father is the way to get to Jesus, or that Jesus is the way to get to Jesus. So, I believe it implies that we are trying to follow Jesus to lead us to the Father. John 14:6. Jesus intercedes for us. Romans 8:34. It said to follow Jesus in His example, but no where in the Bible am I aware of it saying to worship and sing songs solely to Jesus.
Of course confusion is not surprising as it says Jesus and God the Father are one. Of course, they're separate to some extent, but united. We just don't know to what extent they are united or as 'one'. John 10:30.
John 7:16-18. Jesus was sent by God the Father. He was presenting information pre-approved by God the Father. There is a slight hierarchy in my opinion. So, I think to pray to Jesus and worship Jesus is not supported by scripture in my opinion. But if I hear someone praying to Jesus and praising Him I do not see that as offensive.
Jesus' desire for each of us is to have the same relationship with the God the Father as he has. We should have a relationship with Christ as well, but Christ wants us to know his Father, and to pray to his Father in his name.
In fact, that Jesus is our intercessor is evidenced in part by the fact that we are able to pray in his name, he wants us to his use name on our own behalf, and it is through that vouching that he intercedes for us. He himself prays for us to God his Father, and this is evidence that we should go straight to the Father as he taught us to in the Lord's prayer. Again, if we should pray to our intercessors, why not pray to your pastor and whoever else, as they also should intercede for you. But to pray for oneself, one should go to God.
I am still interested on the name of the faith that Bob is speaking of. Who are his brethren? Are they Amillenialist? More importantly to me, are they non- resistant loving lambs of Christ?
Ron, I have often wondered the very same thing and I myself have done it wrong also but I am going to start praying to Jesus like the Bible says. Thanks and Amen.
I hear a lot of people praying to "Father God", but the bible teaches us that Jesus is our intercessor, 1 Timothy 2:5 and Romans 8:34. So why do people pray to "Father God"? I am 65 years old and have been a Born Again Christian since i was 14. I first noticed this about 20 years ago and have often wondered how and why this came about. We should pray to Jesus, shouldn't we? I believe in the trinity. I am not Jesus only but the Bible does put him first until 1 Corinthians 15:28.
Verse 2: For true and righteous are HIS judgments, for HE hath judged the Great Whore which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of HIS servants at her hand.
Question: What did the Great Whore do during her reign?
Answer: She corrupted the Whole-Earth ...., plus her bloodshed of GOD's chosen.
Note:she had political power, global currency, and a super global military, so she disregarded all religions and rule by her corruption, both above & below the radar.
Note: GOD raised her up for HIS-WILL, then GOD destroyed her by HIS-WILL
Note: John 3:16-21 and similar verses rightly applied by us causes our name to be in THE BOOK OB LIFE, irregardless who the great whore be,
Note: in this case of this Great Whore from her beginning to her end, her 'intent' is kill, steal, and destroy men, women, children, using whatever means she had. It is important to know she 'is not' concern with pleasure from intimacy even though such a pretensions may have been one of many deadly weapons she used on us /nations when applicable.
Note: she is a master of sorcery thereby her sinful actions guan teed success, so kings /people open their arms /country to her until she corrupted the WHOLE EARTH.
Note: Her corruption and yeast are identical, meaning both when planted spreads and multiply until it takes-over all, all from the top officials down to the street person.
Note: as Queen, she is empowered with another power /political power thereby she can flaunt herself. Such Queens /kings as this always have a mighty army to control, and in this case she flaunt it thinking she was untouchable.
Note: artfully and where applicable she boldly was the means of slain men, women, children, and she thought the blood of those slain was well hidden, but Jehovah /GOD remained her restrainer /recorder until the day HE bring her down. GOD the JUDGE, JURY, and EXECUTIONER.
Note: GOD blessed her, never-the-less she corrupted the WHOLE EARTH with her fornication /sins, and finally GOD passed HIS judgement on The Great Whore.
fornication - any type relationships prohibited by JEHOVAH /GOD.
Jesus was the sacrificial Lamb of God. Without spots or impurity. He was perfect. He was to be humankind's sacrifice.
Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to FULFILL all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
When Jesus was walking up, John spoke the Prophesy that Jesus was the Lamb of God. This was a prophesy fulfilled. On the day Jesus was crucified over a 100 prophesies were Fulfilled.
The things preceding; the day of the trial; the crucifixion; and after. It was all prophesied many years before. The odds of Him doing that probably exceed the number of stars in the sky.
Get that list off Google. It gives you great appreciation for the office of Prophet.
I present what was learned in the Spirit, some years ago. That John is recounting a certain history, associated with the Lord, and being cryptic about that, in particular, though details are suggested in the reading of the revelation of our Lord shared with him, over the course of dictating the writing of the book we hold so dearly, mysterious as it is. Certain elements of this passage stand out for me.
It is an angel of the Lord who is presenting, at least the material of the above passage, both contextually (verses 09-15) and in the text itself, under study. But all is prefaced by the call, first, in verse 09: "Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb." That is always an immanent invitation, because we do not know the time of that scheduled event. But its subject is particularly poignant in our day, in our time, for the Lamb of God of the First Century is the same one in the Twenty-First Century.
Aside from the revelation of God in the preserved New Testament, how shall we know who he is? Especially, drawing from the information furnished us in the passage, but particularly in the verse under study (v. 12), and most important to us now, ". . . he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself." What does that mean, of the Lamb of God? And written? Is it so in the New Testament? Then we would know it. But it is not 'written' there.
There is one place only where such a 'writing' would be found. His name there is not commented on by anyone in possession of knowledge gleaned from the reading of that book, but it is there, and it is derived from the question that is asked any and all of us: who is the man identified by another John, who baptized Jesus--by the Baptist himself who said, "Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world," and which is now found written in flesh and blood in and on a mysterious book or scroll, by which only they of faith can answer?
The full armament of God has the Shield of Faith and the Sword of the Word. In verse 21 it reads "which sword procedeeth our his mouth."Jesus is the word of God. (The living word). The word/sword came out of his mouth....The sharpest two-edged sword cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow...Words can cut. Jesus is at war, with our sins. That's why we need the armament of God. Our little corruptions adding up. Against ourselves, and against others, piling up. I have to remind myself about idle conversation and to say "yay yay or nay nay." What has struck me with the pandemic is the same conversations being held. On things like ESPN or the news. They have nothing to talk about. It's just speculation, nothing fruitful. Just filling airtime. I can't take it, I have to quit listening. Those words are fruitless. The news, I might as well go to Hardees at 6 am and listening the "chatter." And, those words are meant to divide. Not in the way Jesus's words are meant to divide. Divide us from our sin. Their words are meant to sell commercials and products, can't serve God and mammon both. How much of it is backbiting? Point is, there's words we should listen to and think about and meditate on. And, our words do matter. It's ok to be right about something and not voice it. (I don't remember which book, chapter or verse). Our job is to uplift people to God not turn them away with callous speech. In which I am guilty of and struggle with.
Jesus' prophecy that the pride of the Jewish nation, the temple, would be destroyed inspired the most intense rejection of His teachings. (See Matthew 24:1, 2.) In John 2:19, Jesus says, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Of course, Jesus is speaking of rebuilding a temple-not of stone and nails, but of living stones ( 1 Peter 2:5). Yet many refused to grasp this teaching ( John 2:20, 21). They even mocked Jesus on the cross regarding His prophecy ( Matthew 27:40).
Yet when Jesus died, the veil in the earthly temple ripped in two from the top to bottom, signifying that the temple no longer held meaning. A temple for sacrifice today would be as useless as it was then, and it would not be the house of God.
The New Testament is replete with the idea that the temple is the body of Jesus. Ephesians 2:19-22 says, "Ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God: And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." (See also 1 Peter 2:5.)
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5
Even after God provides all this clear evidence that His temple is a spiritual one, many Christians are waiting for the Jews to receive a construction permit to rebuild a physical temple on the site where a Muslim mosque now sits. However, there is no prophecy, promise, or commandment in the Bible that says the physical temple would ever be rebuilt after the Romans razed it nearly 2,000 years ago.
This might answer your question read and contemplate what this reformer said.
Nicolaus Von Amsdorf (1483 - 1565)
"He (the antichrist) will be revealed and come to naught before the last day, so that every man shall comprehend and recognize that the pope is the real, true antichrist and not the vicar of Christ ... Therefore those who consider the pope and his bishops as Christian shepherds and bishops are deeply in error, but even more are those who believe the the Turk (ISLAM) is the antichrist. Because the Turk (ISLAM) rules outside of the church and does not sit in the holy place, nor does he seek to bear the name of Christ, but is an open antagonist of Christ and His church. This does not need to be revealed, but it is clear and evident because he persecutes Christians openly and not as the pope does, secretly under the form of Godliness." (Nicolaus Von Amsdorf, Furnemliche und gewisse Zeichen, sig.A2r.,v.)
You make some compelling points that have to be examined carefully. But couldn't the same be said of other religions? The thinking has been that the Catholic Church could be at the heart of this, though it isn't something Catholics themselves welcome.
My thinking is that sort of corruption happens at the higher levels. We are told that the antichrist is already at work. And that includes a slow departure from sound doctrine from within the universal church.
End Time prophecies are very difficult to understand, because of their complex nature. Most usually have historical fulfillments that are sort of a precursor of the final outcome. One is the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD. Will the Temple be rebuilt? If not, how would Daniel's prophecy that the Abomination will proclaim himself God in the Holy of Holies, take place?
But as that time gets closer, we will understand more. Are there any other possibilities here?
Revelation 13:1-8 ...'And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.'
1. IT RISES OUT OF THE SEA - Sea in prophecy represents an area of different people, nations and tongues ( Rev. 17:15). The Roman Catholic Church rose to power amongst the many different nations, people and tongues of Europe. It also has the largest support of people around the world than any other church or religion.
2. NAME OF BLASPHEMY ON THE HEADS - The Roman Catholic Church make blasphemous claims and speak great swelling words which are against God.
3. IT RECEIVES A DEADLY WOUND, WHICH WOULD BE HEALED - The Papal Church of Rome received a deadly wound in 1798 when the French army marched into Rome, taking the pope captive and ending the rule of the Papacy. Then in 1929, the Vatican received state power again which was signed into law by Mussolini.
4. IT MAKES WAR WITH THE SAINTS OF GOD - The Roman Catholic Church killed tens of millions of Christians during it's reign.
Research this info and you will see that the anti christ system is hiding in plain site.
Daniel 7:8,21,25 .....'I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.'
1. IT'S A LITTLE HORN - This is a little kingdom which matches the Vatican State as being the smallest kingdom in the world.
2. IT COMES UP OUT OF THE BEAST - The beast is Rome, and the Roman Catholic Church came to power from the Roman Empire.
3. IT RISES AMONG THE TEN HORNS - The Roman Catholic Church arose amongst the ten nations of Europe.
4. IT RISES TO POWER AFTER THE OTHER TEN HORNS - Rome fell in AD476 and split into the ten kingdoms of Europe. Then the Roman Catholic Church came to power in AD538.
5. UPROOTS THREE OF THE OTHER TEN HORNS - The Roman Catholic Church had three of the original kingdoms of Europe destroyed. The Vandals, Ostrogoths and the Heruli.
6. IT HAS EYES AND MOUTH OF A MAN - So this kingdom has a visible leader at the helm just like the pope.
7. IT PERSECUTES THE SAINTS OF GOD - The Roman Catholic Church killed tens of millions of Christians during it's reign in the "dark ages".
8. IT'S DIVERSE FROM THE OTHER HORNS - The other kingdoms were purely political kingdoms, but this one is "different". The Papal Church of Rome is a political AND religious kingdom
9. IT WILL SPEAK AGAINST GOD - The Roman Catholic Church speaks great boastful words which are against God.
Ric. Interesting read on the Pope. There is a logic to your argument that's well developed. I wonder if the AntiChrist is a name used for both a Political Leader that will take over Europe and the Middle East and a Religious Leader at that time? There are some things John says in Revelation that lead us to believe that Rome is at the heart of the Kingdom the AntiChrist will set up, because of the reference to 7 hills on which Rome was initially built.
Daniel, as well as Revelation give us a glimpse into the nature and character of the AntiChrist. And here is my question. A new religion surfaced in the 600's that quickly took over the world. Through their followers, they made several attempts to establish a caliphate that embraced the world. Daniel speaks of a new religion that will be dominant when the AntiChrist enters the political and religious scene. We have seen how their attempts to establish a kingdom has been limited. But today, we see its influence increasing, particularly in Europe. An interesting fact is that the Messiah or Mehdi of this religion parallels the description Daniel and John give of the AntiChrist.
There are two contending religious and political ideologies in the Middle East and Europe, that have been and will be central to all political, religious and military actions.
1. Given the political and religious climate today, what role do you perceive this new religion will play to achieve peace in the Middle East?
2. In the rise of the AntiChrist?
3. In the persecution of Christians and Jews?
4. In the coming destruction of Israel?
5. Daniel refers to the armies that will rise against Israel as Persia and John as Babylon. What is the correlation?
6. What role will this religion play for acceptance of the AntiChrist?
7. Will this religion accept a peace treaty, other than from their own?
8. How will this leader establish ties to the Roman Church?
Dan 7-12, Joel, Zechariah, Matthew 24, 2 Thessalonians 2, Revelation
There is no other religion, institution, city or kingdom that matches the Bible antichrist the way the Papal Church of Rome does. It's a PERFECT match! And do you remember what we showed you above how satan wants to be IN PLACE OF God and Jesus? Well, he is using the Roman Catholic Church to take the place of Jesus on earth and cause the world to worship him through this church. Even John Paul II admitted in his book that the pope(s) TAKE THE PLACE OF Jesus on earth:
"The leader of the Catholic church is defined by the faith as the Vicar of Jesus Christ (and is accepted as such by believers). The Pope is considered the man on earth who TAKES THE PLACE of the Second Person of the omnipotent God of the Trinity.' (John Paul II, Crossing the Threshold of Hope, p. 3, 1994)
But the Bible clearly tells us that it is God's Spirit that takes the place of Jesus on earth. NOT the pope!
Remember: ANTI-Christ = IN PLACE OF-Christ = Roman Catholic Church!
God bless you!
Carleton
Being persecuted for the sake of our Lord is a huge blessing, right? So let's just do as we know to do and the Lord will come alongside.
Note: the Great Whore is now destroyed, but notice the the 'reminder' to us /the remnant who has rightly applied John 3:16-21.... verse 4 we are required to WORSHIP & PRAISE GOD /JEHOVAH.
Note: Locked in and can't go out WORSHIP & PRAISE GOD /JEHOVAH. Job gone, repo-man looking & calling, eviction notice, on and on... WORSHIP & PRAISE is what GOD want from us in such TIMES AS THESE.
Note:So-call friends don't call, well they are.... also. Yes, in many cases the preachers is looked down also. So WORSHIP & PRAISE GOD /JEHOVAH where ever we be, because WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS ALL OUR SINS AND GRIEF TO BARE. The kings /nations's leaders can not buy the mankind out this. Today is a good time to review Revelation chapter 2 & 3.
Carleton
parish.RCDOW.org.uk
I like the list.
It is my opinion that we are to pray to the Father in the name of Jesus. Jesus said no one comes to the father but through me. That doesn't automatically mean we switch and start worshiping and praying to Jesus only. Jesus is the pathway; he said he's the way to get to the Father. It doesn't say the Father is the way to get to Jesus, or that Jesus is the way to get to Jesus. So, I believe it implies that we are trying to follow Jesus to lead us to the Father. John 14:6. Jesus intercedes for us. Romans 8:34. It said to follow Jesus in His example, but no where in the Bible am I aware of it saying to worship and sing songs solely to Jesus.
Of course confusion is not surprising as it says Jesus and God the Father are one. Of course, they're separate to some extent, but united. We just don't know to what extent they are united or as 'one'. John 10:30.
John 7:16-18. Jesus was sent by God the Father. He was presenting information pre-approved by God the Father. There is a slight hierarchy in my opinion. So, I think to pray to Jesus and worship Jesus is not supported by scripture in my opinion. But if I hear someone praying to Jesus and praising Him I do not see that as offensive.
God bless...
In fact, that Jesus is our intercessor is evidenced in part by the fact that we are able to pray in his name, he wants us to his use name on our own behalf, and it is through that vouching that he intercedes for us. He himself prays for us to God his Father, and this is evidence that we should go straight to the Father as he taught us to in the Lord's prayer. Again, if we should pray to our intercessors, why not pray to your pastor and whoever else, as they also should intercede for you. But to pray for oneself, one should go to God.
:)
Question: What did the Great Whore do during her reign?
Answer: She corrupted the Whole-Earth ...., plus her bloodshed of GOD's chosen.
Note:she had political power, global currency, and a super global military, so she disregarded all religions and rule by her corruption, both above & below the radar.
Note: GOD raised her up for HIS-WILL, then GOD destroyed her by HIS-WILL
Note: John 3:16-21 and similar verses rightly applied by us causes our name to be in THE BOOK OB LIFE, irregardless who the great whore be,
Note: in this case of this Great Whore from her beginning to her end, her 'intent' is kill, steal, and destroy men, women, children, using whatever means she had. It is important to know she 'is not' concern with pleasure from intimacy even though such a pretensions may have been one of many deadly weapons she used on us /nations when applicable.
Note: she is a master of sorcery thereby her sinful actions guan teed success, so kings /people open their arms /country to her until she corrupted the WHOLE EARTH.
Note: Her corruption and yeast are identical, meaning both when planted spreads and multiply until it takes-over all, all from the top officials down to the street person.
Note: as Queen, she is empowered with another power /political power thereby she can flaunt herself. Such Queens /kings as this always have a mighty army to control, and in this case she flaunt it thinking she was untouchable.
Note: artfully and where applicable she boldly was the means of slain men, women, children, and she thought the blood of those slain was well hidden, but Jehovah /GOD remained her restrainer /recorder until the day HE bring her down. GOD the JUDGE, JURY, and EXECUTIONER.
Note: GOD blessed her, never-the-less she corrupted the WHOLE EARTH with her fornication /sins, and finally GOD passed HIS judgement on The Great Whore.
fornication - any type relationships prohibited by JEHOVAH /GOD.
Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to FULFILL all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
When Jesus was walking up, John spoke the Prophesy that Jesus was the Lamb of God. This was a prophesy fulfilled. On the day Jesus was crucified over a 100 prophesies were Fulfilled.
The things preceding; the day of the trial; the crucifixion; and after. It was all prophesied many years before. The odds of Him doing that probably exceed the number of stars in the sky.
Get that list off Google. It gives you great appreciation for the office of Prophet.
Only God could do that.
It is an angel of the Lord who is presenting, at least the material of the above passage, both contextually (verses 09-15) and in the text itself, under study. But all is prefaced by the call, first, in verse 09: "Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb." That is always an immanent invitation, because we do not know the time of that scheduled event. But its subject is particularly poignant in our day, in our time, for the Lamb of God of the First Century is the same one in the Twenty-First Century.
Aside from the revelation of God in the preserved New Testament, how shall we know who he is? Especially, drawing from the information furnished us in the passage, but particularly in the verse under study (v. 12), and most important to us now, ". . . he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself." What does that mean, of the Lamb of God? And written? Is it so in the New Testament? Then we would know it. But it is not 'written' there.
There is one place only where such a 'writing' would be found. His name there is not commented on by anyone in possession of knowledge gleaned from the reading of that book, but it is there, and it is derived from the question that is asked any and all of us: who is the man identified by another John, who baptized Jesus--by the Baptist himself who said, "Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world," and which is now found written in flesh and blood in and on a mysterious book or scroll, by which only they of faith can answer?
Be wise, and truthful.
Jesus' prophecy that the pride of the Jewish nation, the temple, would be destroyed inspired the most intense rejection of His teachings. (See Matthew 24:1, 2.) In John 2:19, Jesus says, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Of course, Jesus is speaking of rebuilding a temple-not of stone and nails, but of living stones ( 1 Peter 2:5). Yet many refused to grasp this teaching ( John 2:20, 21). They even mocked Jesus on the cross regarding His prophecy ( Matthew 27:40).
Yet when Jesus died, the veil in the earthly temple ripped in two from the top to bottom, signifying that the temple no longer held meaning. A temple for sacrifice today would be as useless as it was then, and it would not be the house of God.
The New Testament is replete with the idea that the temple is the body of Jesus. Ephesians 2:19-22 says, "Ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God: And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." (See also 1 Peter 2:5.)
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5
Even after God provides all this clear evidence that His temple is a spiritual one, many Christians are waiting for the Jews to receive a construction permit to rebuild a physical temple on the site where a Muslim mosque now sits. However, there is no prophecy, promise, or commandment in the Bible that says the physical temple would ever be rebuilt after the Romans razed it nearly 2,000 years ago.
Nicolaus Von Amsdorf (1483 - 1565)
"He (the antichrist) will be revealed and come to naught before the last day, so that every man shall comprehend and recognize that the pope is the real, true antichrist and not the vicar of Christ ... Therefore those who consider the pope and his bishops as Christian shepherds and bishops are deeply in error, but even more are those who believe the the Turk (ISLAM) is the antichrist. Because the Turk (ISLAM) rules outside of the church and does not sit in the holy place, nor does he seek to bear the name of Christ, but is an open antagonist of Christ and His church. This does not need to be revealed, but it is clear and evident because he persecutes Christians openly and not as the pope does, secretly under the form of Godliness." (Nicolaus Von Amsdorf, Furnemliche und gewisse Zeichen, sig.A2r.,v.)
My thinking is that sort of corruption happens at the higher levels. We are told that the antichrist is already at work. And that includes a slow departure from sound doctrine from within the universal church.
End Time prophecies are very difficult to understand, because of their complex nature. Most usually have historical fulfillments that are sort of a precursor of the final outcome. One is the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD. Will the Temple be rebuilt? If not, how would Daniel's prophecy that the Abomination will proclaim himself God in the Holy of Holies, take place?
But as that time gets closer, we will understand more. Are there any other possibilities here?
1. IT RISES OUT OF THE SEA - Sea in prophecy represents an area of different people, nations and tongues ( Rev. 17:15). The Roman Catholic Church rose to power amongst the many different nations, people and tongues of Europe. It also has the largest support of people around the world than any other church or religion.
2. NAME OF BLASPHEMY ON THE HEADS - The Roman Catholic Church make blasphemous claims and speak great swelling words which are against God.
3. IT RECEIVES A DEADLY WOUND, WHICH WOULD BE HEALED - The Papal Church of Rome received a deadly wound in 1798 when the French army marched into Rome, taking the pope captive and ending the rule of the Papacy. Then in 1929, the Vatican received state power again which was signed into law by Mussolini.
4. IT MAKES WAR WITH THE SAINTS OF GOD - The Roman Catholic Church killed tens of millions of Christians during it's reign.
Daniel 7:8,21,25 .....'I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.'
1. IT'S A LITTLE HORN - This is a little kingdom which matches the Vatican State as being the smallest kingdom in the world.
2. IT COMES UP OUT OF THE BEAST - The beast is Rome, and the Roman Catholic Church came to power from the Roman Empire.
3. IT RISES AMONG THE TEN HORNS - The Roman Catholic Church arose amongst the ten nations of Europe.
4. IT RISES TO POWER AFTER THE OTHER TEN HORNS - Rome fell in AD476 and split into the ten kingdoms of Europe. Then the Roman Catholic Church came to power in AD538.
5. UPROOTS THREE OF THE OTHER TEN HORNS - The Roman Catholic Church had three of the original kingdoms of Europe destroyed. The Vandals, Ostrogoths and the Heruli.
6. IT HAS EYES AND MOUTH OF A MAN - So this kingdom has a visible leader at the helm just like the pope.
7. IT PERSECUTES THE SAINTS OF GOD - The Roman Catholic Church killed tens of millions of Christians during it's reign in the "dark ages".
8. IT'S DIVERSE FROM THE OTHER HORNS - The other kingdoms were purely political kingdoms, but this one is "different". The Papal Church of Rome is a political AND religious kingdom
9. IT WILL SPEAK AGAINST GOD - The Roman Catholic Church speaks great boastful words which are against God.
Daniel, as well as Revelation give us a glimpse into the nature and character of the AntiChrist. And here is my question. A new religion surfaced in the 600's that quickly took over the world. Through their followers, they made several attempts to establish a caliphate that embraced the world. Daniel speaks of a new religion that will be dominant when the AntiChrist enters the political and religious scene. We have seen how their attempts to establish a kingdom has been limited. But today, we see its influence increasing, particularly in Europe. An interesting fact is that the Messiah or Mehdi of this religion parallels the description Daniel and John give of the AntiChrist.
There are two contending religious and political ideologies in the Middle East and Europe, that have been and will be central to all political, religious and military actions.
1. Given the political and religious climate today, what role do you perceive this new religion will play to achieve peace in the Middle East?
2. In the rise of the AntiChrist?
3. In the persecution of Christians and Jews?
4. In the coming destruction of Israel?
5. Daniel refers to the armies that will rise against Israel as Persia and John as Babylon. What is the correlation?
6. What role will this religion play for acceptance of the AntiChrist?
7. Will this religion accept a peace treaty, other than from their own?
8. How will this leader establish ties to the Roman Church?
Dan 7-12, Joel, Zechariah, Matthew 24, 2 Thessalonians 2, Revelation
"The leader of the Catholic church is defined by the faith as the Vicar of Jesus Christ (and is accepted as such by believers). The Pope is considered the man on earth who TAKES THE PLACE of the Second Person of the omnipotent God of the Trinity.' (John Paul II, Crossing the Threshold of Hope, p. 3, 1994)
But the Bible clearly tells us that it is God's Spirit that takes the place of Jesus on earth. NOT the pope!
Remember: ANTI-Christ = IN PLACE OF-Christ = Roman Catholic Church!