Summary:
...Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified
...Try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God. Ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, Tit0116. For, They seek righteousness not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law.
...There is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
...And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many. That day shall not come, except there come a falling away first (from grace. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God), and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
...There shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood (or, become as blood), before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved: And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
FURTHER
READING
ANTICHRIST
THE BEAST
A TIME OF
TROUBLE
ANARCHY
LAST DAYS
DEVIL WORSHIP
THE FALSE
PROPHET
MARK OF THE
BEAST
WRATH OF GOD
THE GREAT
WHORE
THE SON OF
PERDITION
THE TRIAL
DISPERSAL
MERCIFUL GOD
RESTORATION
WHEN SHALL
IT BE
THE RESURRECTION
SIGNS
BE READY
ANTICHRIST
(1) Many deceivers are entered into
the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.
This is a deceiver and an antichrist, 2Jn0107.
(2) Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world, 1Jn0401-03.
(3) Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also, 1Jn0218-23.
(4) They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, Tit0116. For, They seek righteousness not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law, cf.Rom0932.
THE BEAST
(5) There is a God in heaven that
revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar
(a king of kings, Dan0237) what shall be in the latter days. Thy
dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; As
for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed,
what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets
maketh known to thee what shall come to pass, Dan0228,29.
(6) This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken, Dan0236-42.
(7) Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Thou sawest till that a stone (which is Christ, Act0410,11) was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain (Zion, Ps12501), and filled the whole earth. This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold, Dan0231-38.
(8) And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
(9) And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever, Dan0239-44.
(10) Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure, Dan0245.
(11) And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days. And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it, Dan0823-27.
(12) I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom, Dan0715-22.
(13) Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. 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. But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart, Dan0723-28.
A TIME OF TROUBLE
(14) And at that time shall Michael
stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of
thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never
was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that
time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found
written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of
the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame
and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as
the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness
as the stars for ever and ever. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the
words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall
run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased, Dan1201-04.
(15) For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together, Mat2421-28.
(16) Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away, Mat2429-35.
(17) Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river (Hiddekel), and the other on that side of the bank of the river. And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand, Dan1205-10.
ANARCHY
(18) This know also, that in the
last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of
their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient
to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers,
false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are
good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than
lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power
thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which
creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins,
led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come
to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood
Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds,
reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further:
for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also
was, 2Tm0301-09.
LAST DAYS
(19) And it shall come to pass in
the last days, saith God,I will pour out of my Spirit upon all
flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your
young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those
days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders
in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire,
and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and
the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the
Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call
on the name of the Lord shall be saved, Act0217-21.
(20) And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh, Luk2128.
(21) And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up cf.Rev1314-18:Dan0231, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days, Dan1211-13.
(22) Seventy weeks (of years, i.e. 490 years, cf.Eze0406) are determined upon thy (Daniel's) people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks (49 years), and threescore and two weeks (62 years): the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks (62 years), shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come (But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only, Mat2436) shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week (after 42 months, or, 3.5 years, cf.Rev1214;1305:Dan0725;0927;1207) he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate, Dan0924-27.
DEVIL WORSHIP
(23) 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 they worshipped
the dragon (Satan, Rev2002) which gave power unto the beast: and
they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast?
who is able to make war with him? 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. If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into
captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword
must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith
of the saints, Rev1301-10.
THE FALSE PROPHET
(24) And I beheld another beast
coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb,
and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the
first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell
therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from
heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that
dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had
power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell
on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which
had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give
life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast
should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship
the image of the beast should be killed, Rev1311-15.
MARK OF THE BEAST
(25) And he causeth all, both small
and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in
their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might
buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast,
or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding
count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man;
and his number is Six hundred threescore and six, Rev1316-18.
WRATH OF GOD
(26) And the third angel followed
them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and
his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is
poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and
he shall 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 ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have
no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and
whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience
of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God,
and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying
unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from
henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their
labours; and their works do follow them, Rev1409-13.
THE GREAT WHORE
(27) And there came one of the seven
angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me (John), saying
unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the
great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings
of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of
the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
So he carried me (John) away in the spirit into the wilderness:
and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names
of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman
was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold
and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand
full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon
her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE
MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the
woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood
of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great
admiration. And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel?
I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, (In that thou buildest
thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine
high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in
that thou scornest hire; 32 But as a wife that committeth adultery,
which taketh strangers instead of her husband! Eze1631,32), and
of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and
ten horns. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall
ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they
that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written
in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they
behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is, Rev1703-08.
(28) And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of Lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth, Rev1709-18.
(29) Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans (Heb:- Robbers; beasts of the field: Prophets who steal my words every one from his neighbour, Jer2330): for thou shalt no more be called, The lady of kingdoms. I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke. And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it. Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children: But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments. For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me, Isa4705-10.
(30) Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know. Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail. Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee. Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it. Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, even thy merchants, from thy youth: they shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee, Isa4711-15.
THE SON OF PERDITION
(31) Now we beseech you, brethren,
by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together
unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled,
neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that
the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means:
for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away
first (Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you
are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace, Gal0504. For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast,
Eph0208,09), and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God,
or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple
of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that,
when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know
what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the
mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth
will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that
Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit
of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all
power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness
of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received
not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this
cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe
a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth,
but had pleasure in unrighteousness, 2Th0201-12.
(32) For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? Isa2910-15.
THE TRIAL
(33) Beloved, think it not strange
concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some
strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are
partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be
revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached
for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory
and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of,
but on your part he is glorified, 1Pe0412-14.
(34) Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death, Jas0112-15.
(35) And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the Lord. Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders. And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity. Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the Lord. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people? Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait, Jer0903-08.
DISPERSAL
(36) Take heed unto yourselves,
lest ye forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made
with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any
thing, which the Lord thy God hath forbidden thee. For the Lord
thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. When thou shalt
beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained
long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven
image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the
sight of the Lord thy God, to provoke him to anger: I call heaven
and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon
utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to
possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall
utterly be destroyed. And the Lord shall scatter you among the
nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen,
whither the Lord shall lead you. And there ye shall serve gods,
the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor
hear, nor eat, nor smell, Deu0423-28.
MERCIFUL GOD
(37) But if from thence thou shalt
seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with
all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation,
and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days,
if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his
voice; (For the Lord thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake
thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers
which he sware unto them, Deu0429-31.
(38) I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth, Hos0515-0603.
(39) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, Rom1013-17.
(40) Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape (the wrath to come, Mat0307), if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him, Heb0201-03.
(41) For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation, 2Co0602. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon, Isa5506,07. Verily, verily, I (Jesus) say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life, Jhn0524.
(42) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory, Col0301-04.
(43) Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man, Luk2136.
RESTORATION
(44) Turn, O backsliding children,
saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you
one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:
And I will give you pastors according to mine heart which shall
feed you with knowledge and understanding. And it shall come to
pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those
days, saith the Lord, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant
of the Lord: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they
remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be
done any more. At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne
of the Lord; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to
the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any
more after the imagination of their evil heart. In those days
the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they
shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that
I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers, Jer0314-18.
(45) Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee. And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation, Zec0210-13.
(46) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire (Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord, Jer2329), might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls, 1Pe0103-09.
(47) But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (speaking of death, cf.Jhn1112), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words, 1Th0413-18.
WHEN SHALL IT BE
(48) And as it was in the days of
Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did
eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage,
until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came,
and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of
Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted,
they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained
fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus
shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. Luk1726-30.
(49) Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up, 2Pe0303-10.
(50) And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth (He that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth, Jhn0331: Who mind earthly things, Phl0319: Sensual, or, natural, devilish, Jas03 15+m), Isa0219-21.
THE RESURRECTION
(51) According to the grace of God
which is given unto me (Paul), as a wise masterbuilder, I have
laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every
man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation
can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if
any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones,
wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for
the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire;
and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If
any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive
a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss:
but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not
that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth
in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy;
for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. Let no man
deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this
world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom
of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh
the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth
the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no
man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos,
or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present,
or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ's; and Christ
is God's, 1Co0310-23.
(52) In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot's wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left, Luk1730-36.
(53) Behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us, Luk2329,30.
SIGNS
(54) But before all these, they
shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you
up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings
and rulers for my name's sake. And it shall turn to you
for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate
before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom,
which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks,
and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. But there
shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess
ye your souls. 20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with
armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let
them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which
are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in
the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance,
that all things which are written may be fulfilled, Luk2112-22.
(55) But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh, Luk2123-28.
(56) When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before, Mat2415-25.
(57) Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other, Mat2426-31.
(58) Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away, Mat2432-35.
(59) And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh ( to wit, the redemption of our body, Rom0823), Luk2128. The Lord said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live, Exo3320. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is (for, God is a Spirit, Jhn0424; a spirit hath not flesh and bones, Luk2439: For in the resurrection they are as the angels of God: Who maketh his angels spirits Ps10404, Mat2230). And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure, 1Jn0302,03.
(60) As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord, 1Co1547-58.
(61) But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do, 1Th0501-11.
(62) Before
she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was
delivered of a man child. Who hath heard such a thing? who hath
seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one
day? or shall a
nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought
forth her children. Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause
to bring forth? Isa6607-09.
BE READY
(63) Therefore be ye also ready:
for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who
then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler
over his household, to give them meat (the doctrine of Christ,
1cO1003:Heb0513,14;1309) in due season? Blessed is that servant,
whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say
unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods, Mat2444-47.
(64) Seeing
then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of
persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein
the heavens
being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt
with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise,
look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent
that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even
as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given
unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking
in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood,
which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also
the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore,
beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also,
being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own
stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever.
Amen, 2Pe0311.
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