 As we gaze up to God and give Him our attention, we become more tuned in to His agenda. God has purposes and plans that He is rolling out in our days, and He is looking for those who will work with Him. We need to be seeking God’s face to hear His instructions to us and to understand His word to the world in these times. God is calling us to be His trumpet blowers in this world, conveying His message. For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle? (1 Corinthians 14:8) The trumpet blast calls out. It’s a calling and an invitation. It’s a call to remember the God of Israel and an invitation to meet with Him. There is still time for people to come to God in repentance, to be forgiven, embraced, and adopted into God’s loving family. Jesus commissioned us in Matthew 28:19 to make sure the whole world gets to hear this good news. The time will come when a different kind of trumpet blast will be heard: Then Adonai will be seen over them as His arrow flashes like lightning. Adonai Elohim will blow the shofar and march in whirlwinds of the south. (Zechariah 9:14) One day, the very last trumpet will sound, and everything will change forever. https://www.oneforisrael.org/.../yom-teruah-the-feast-of.../    Mary's Song, also known as the Magnificat and found in Luke 1, speaks of the spirit and the power of God. In this canticle, Mary speaks of how her soul magnifies the Lord and how God regarded the lowly maidservant. She informs us that generations to come will call her blessed. Rosh Hashanah, which translates to “Head of the Year” in Hebrew, is the Jewish New Year. It is the first of the Jewish High Holy Days, which occur in the early autumn of the Northern Hemisphere. Rosh Hashanah is a time of personal introspection and repentance. Traditionally, it’s believed that God inscribes each person’s fate for the coming year into the Book of Life, which is sealed on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, which occurs ten days later. Spiritual Significance to Christians: Rosh Hashanah, being a biblical feast (known as the Feast of Trumpets in the Bible), holds significance in several ways: Biblical Roots: Many Christians believe in understanding the Jewish roots of their faith since Jesus (Yeshua) was a Jew, and understanding the context of His teachings and the cultural festivals of His time can provide deeper insights into Christianity. Prophetic Significance: Some Christian theologians and believers see the Jewish feasts as prophetic foreshadows of Christ’s ministry and His second coming. For instance, the “Feast of Trumpets” (which is Rosh Hashanah) is often associated with the future resurrection of the dead and the return of Christ, especially given its association with the blowing of the shofar (ram’s horn). Unity and Solidarity: Observing or recognizing Rosh Hashanah can be a way for Christians to stand in solidarity with the Jewish community, acknowledging the shared heritage and interconnected roots of the two religions. Just as it is for Jews, the themes of introspection, reflection, and turning back (or repentance) resonate with Christian teachings. While not traditionally observed in Christianity, some Christians might find spiritual value in using this time for personal reflection, mirroring the introspection that occurs during Rosh Hashanah. This is going to be the year of an open door for many of you. Not the many doors, but the main door God has prepared for you. Just as he opened a door for the church in Philadelphia and said, ‘See I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut’ Revelation 3:8, God is opening the door that you need open that will lead to His greater works unfolding in His divine plan in your life. 2024 is going to be a year of Divine Alignment. You might have felt the reducing, He has been reducing, pressing, squeezing, and shaping you in His hands. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come. Some of you have never met God as the potter who molds and shapes and takes the areas of your life that are hard and full of sin and works them into a new form that is something that is beyond your imagination. Or He takes the best areas of you and adds shape that He can pour through you His grace of prosperity, blessing, and even transformation for nations. The Potter is shaping some people in our generation who are so rare, and their form is so suited for every problem that arises in culture, but it looks the opposite to those who aren’t potters, those who are used to what was formed before, those who want to be like vessels in the past. The path has been narrow and challenging, its like walking a tight rope to be obedient to God in this season. So much that is happening around us is confusing and so to listen takes so much extra effort. To be led by God is so much more of a focus. But this is a time like Matthew 7:13-14 where we have had to take a narrow road and not be on the wide gate that leads to destruction, anxiety, confusion, financial ruin. There is a purpose in the pressure! There is an alignment in the affliction! Can you imagine how going through the pains and sufferings that the whole world is experiencing without Jesus right now? He is such a guiding light and comfort. I don’t have good news about 2024 externally its going to be one of the hardest years in modern history with natural disasters amping up, political turmoil coming to a head before the elections, corruption being exposed with people that culture has loved, and a demonic confusion assaulting truth everywhere, but for those who are walking with Jesus, our light is rising upon us like it says in Isaiah. I had a dream where the bride was like Peter trying to walk on the water and was about to fall in, but then saw Jesus and she was able to walk although it was a tightrope, where she looked like she was teetering because of the winds of adversity and the uncertainty but she was holding on to her gaze, locked on with Jesus walking in ways through what is happening on Earth that were supernatural. James 1:12 was spoke: My promise is sure: ‘Blessed are those who persevere under trial, because when they have stood the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.’ The trials are shaping you for the future that God has ordained. The open door is in front of you and behind it is the destiny filled with His promises and His blessing. Lamentations 3:22-23 The steadfast love the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end’; they are new every morning, great is your faithfulness. The "Mercy Seat" Further thoughts on Parashat Terumah The Torah portion for this week is called Terumah (תְּרוּמָה), a word that means "contribution," "gift," or "freewill offering." It begins with the LORD asking for gifts "from every man whose heart moves him" to provide materials for the Mishkan Kodesh (Holy Tabernacle), a tent-like structure that would symbolize His Presence among the Israelites during their sojourn to the land of Canaan. Gold, silver, brass, red and purple yarns, fine linens, oils, spices, precious stones, etc., all were needed. No gift was considered too small, and whoever felt prompted by the LORD to give did so freely, without compulsion. God's house is always built by love freely given.... The word mishkan (מִשְׁכָּן) comes from a root (שָׁכַן) meaning "to dwell." This holy tent/compound was intended to provide a place of sacrifice and fellowship with the LORD God of Israel. Since the Mishkan represented God's dwelling place, it became associated with the Shekhinah(שְׁכִינָה), or manifest Presence of God Himself. This is particularly the case regarding the famous Ark of the Covenant (i.e., aron ha-brit, אָרוֹן הָבְרִית) and its sacred cover called the Kapporet(כַּפּרֶת) located within the inner sanctum of the Mishkan called the Holy of Holies (קדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים). (Note that the term "Mercy Seat" comes from Martin Luther's translation of the Bible into German, where he added to the meaning of kapporet by translating it as a location or "seat" of mercy.) Upon the Kapporet were set two cherubim (כְּרֻבִים) -- angel-like figures with open wings and "baby faces." It was from between these faces that the LORD later directly spoke to Moses, it was here that sprinkled sacrificial When Paul writes about people who speak in tongues, he is referring to a Spirit-led activity in which a believer in Jesus praises God by speaking in a language that he or she had never been taught. The clearest case that we see of this is in Acts 2:1-13. In this passage, the Holy Spirit descends upon the apostles and they speak in tongues. In response to this miraculous act, foreigners all hear their native language being spoken by these apostles. Other passages in Acts are less detailed, but they refer to spontaneous, Spirit-led praise that someone speaks in a language they never learned. At its most basic level, speaking in tongues provided a miraculous way for people to praise God. Others not only could stand amazed at the power of God, but they also occasionally could hear their own native language being spoken, so that they could understand what was being said. Speaking in tongues appears to be more connected to praise than to instruction (Acts 2:11, 1 Corinthians 14:16). Paul is explicit in 1 Corinthians 14 that tongues are not helpful unless they are interpreted. The idea, then, is that someone would be led by the Spirit to speak praise to God in a language that they were never taught. Then someone else would be led by the Spirit to give an interpretation (or translation) of what was said. The interpretation allows everyone to benefit from what was spoken. A proper understanding of speaking in tongues is important because we want to (a) value every gift that the Spirit gives and (b) avoid abuses or misuses of any gift that the Spirit gives.     Don’t Buy a Lie Your Reward is where your Investment is The false doctrine that you can serve both God and. Money is a False Gospel that cannot save That is the Tree and Root Issue, that has not conquered its own sin The Nature of False Doctrine/Wolves is they lack the spirit of Truth christ conquered sin, the real problem isnt sin but the messenger of lies You shall know the Truth, the Truth will set you free Satan Is A Deceiver The Truth is not in him To be spiritually blind is not to see Christ, and not to see Christ is not to see God (Colossians 1:15-16; 2 Corinthians 4:6). Spiritual blindness is a grievous condition experienced by those who do not believe in God, Jesus Christ, and His Word (Romans 2:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:12). Those who reject Christ are the lost (John 6:68-69). Being spiritually blind, they are perishing (2 Corinthians 4:3-4; Revelation 3:17). They choose not to accept the teachings of Christ and His authority in their lives (Matthew 28:18). They are blind to the manifestations of God as revealed throughout His Word and Jesus Christ (John 1:1; Acts 28:26-27). They are described as those who “do not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14). Peter spoke of such people as “scoffers [who] will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires” (2 Peter 3:3; see also Proverbs 21:24; Jude 1:18). Those who reject Christ and His Word are spiritually blind and cannot understand the truth of the Scriptures. The truth sounds foolish to them (Isaiah 37:23; 1 Corinthians 1:18). The Bible describes those denying God as fools (Psalm 14:1; Matthew 7:26). Because of their blindness and rejection of God and His Word, they are in a perilous, unsaved condition (John 12:48; Hebrews 2:2-4). The spiritually blind are simply unable to understand God’s Word (Matthew 13:13; Deuteronomy 29:4). Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:15-17). Paul echoed this when he told the believers in Rome, “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him” (Romans 8:8-9). Those outside of Christ are not of God because their lives are steeped in the things of the world with all its passions, their eyes blind to the Spirit of God. The Apostle John said, “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” but that person’s love “is from the world” (1 John 2:15-16). The cause of spiritual blindness is made quite clear in the Scriptures: “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Paul refers to Satan as the “god of this world.” Extraordinarily evil (John 8:44), Satan destroys the flesh (1 Corinthians 5:5), masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), and is the cause of all temptations (Luke 4:2; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Corinthians 7:5). He revels in scheming against and trapping the unbelievers (2 Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:26). Satan’s goal is to devour the weak who fall prey to temptation, fear, loneliness, worry, depression, and persecution (1 Peter 5:8-9). Without God and left to ourselves, we easily succumb to the devil’s schemes. We can become so mired in the affairs of this world and its moral darkness that, in the end, God turns us over to spiritual blindness and eternal condemnation (John 12:40; Romans 1:24-32). As believers, we have the Spirit of God reigning in our lives to ward off the debilitating effects of Satan’s power and the world’s influence (1 John 4:13). John tells us, “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in Him, and he in God” (1 John 4:15). Satan wars within and without us. His weapons are deceitful and crafty schemes to make us doubt and stumble (2 Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 4:14). Yet God has provided us with powerful weapons to ward off his flaming arrows (Ephesians 6:10-18). As believers we can overcome the evil one and remain in the Light and never become spiritually blind. For, in truth, Jesus has given us His wonderful promise: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Usually, when people speak of the “great deception,” they refer to 2 Thessalonians 2:11, which predicts that God will, in an end-times judgment, send “a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie.” This great deception is associated with the satanic work of the Antichrist and his “displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie” (verse 9). The same passage in 2 Thessalonians also speaks of a great apostasy that will take place before the man of lawlessness is revealed. Similar apostasies are predicted elsewhere: “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons” (1 Timothy 4:1). Of course, people are complicit in the deception, for they reject the truth and prefer lies: “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:3–4). Jesus spoke about a time to come when the deception will be especially great when false messiahs and false prophets will appear. Even the people of God could be deceived if it were not for God’s providential protection: “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24, see also Mark 13:5–6, Luke 21:8). All of these deceptions are instigated by the devil. However, 2 Thessalonians 2:11 also speaks of the deception as God’s punishment on people who refuse to believe the truth. The context seems to be similar to that of the gospel passages above and speaks of one to come who will be especially deceptive: “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:9–12, ESV). In this passage, after people have refused the truth for so long, God causes them to believe what is false—a “strong delusion.” This is not an instance where God actively deceives people; rather, God is simply giving those who reject the truth what they really want. We see a similar pattern in Romans 1:18–25 where people reject God’s truth for so long that He simply abandons them to their own sinfulness. They have, as it were, crossed the point of no return: “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. “Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.” Much the same thing happened to Pharaoh after he refused to let the Israelites leave Egypt, and God hardened his heart. It was not as though Pharaoh would have been an obedient follower of the Lord if God had not hardened his heart. Pharaoh set his heart against the Lord, and God simply confirmed for all time Pharaoh’s decision (see Exodus 8:15, 32; 9:34; 10:1). The deception spoken of in the Gospels has to do with false prophets and/or messiahs who appear and seem to be authenticated by miracles. Taking the futurist position, we see the great deception spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2 as a future event associated with the coming of the Antichrist after the rapture of the church. “Those who are perishing” will willingly embrace the imitation and follow the beast of the end times; they will perish “because they refused to love the truth and so be saved” (verse 10). We don’t know exactly what the great deception will be, only that it will be a strong delusion capable of swaying the world’s allegiance toward the Antichrist. The Bible says that, in the time of the Antichrist and false prophet, there will be many signs to bolster their lies. The false prophet “performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth” (Revelation 13:13–14). It is hard to imagine, but the deception during the tribulation will be worse than all of Satan’s other deceptions. The Antichrist will have a deadly wound healed, his “image” will breathe and speak and give orders, etc. (Revelation 13:12, 15). In the broader sense, anyone who rejects the truth of God is being deceived, and at some point, God may simply abandon him to the deception that he has willingly embraced. There are plenty of false teachers today who claim to teach God’s Word. Some claim to be Christians, and some claim to bring a word from God from outside of the Bible. It is vitally important that every Christian compare every teaching with what the Bible says and spend the time necessary to evaluate what is being taught. This is the mission of Got Questions, and in keeping with that mission, we would encourage every reader to compare what we say with Scripture as well. 2 Corinthians 11:14 ESV / 34 helpful votes And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV / 29 helpful votes In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 1 Timothy 4:1 ESV / 27 helpful votes Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, John 8:44 ESV / 25 helpful votes You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 ESV / 20 helpful votes For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. 2 Corinthians 2:11 ESV / 18 helpful votes So that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. 1 Peter 5:8 ESV / 15 helpful votes Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. James 4:7 ESV / 14 helpful votes Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Acts 5:3 ESV / 14 helpful votes But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? Revelation 12:7-9 ESV / 13 helpful votes Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Matthew 4:1-11 ESV / 13 helpful votes Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple ... Hebrews 2:14 ESV / 12 helpful votes Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, Proverbs 6:16 ESV / 12 helpful votes There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 1 John 5:19 ESV / 10 helpful votes We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. Hebrews 2:15 ESV / 9 helpful votes And deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. John 16:33 ESV / 9 helpful votes I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Luke 13:16 ESV / 9 helpful votes And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” Ephesians 6:12 ESV / 8 helpful votes For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Galatians 1:8 ESV / 8 helpful votes But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. John 10:10 ESV / 8 helpful votes The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. Revelation 20:10 ESV / 7 helpful votes And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. John 3:16 ESV / 7 helpful votes “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Luke 10:18 ESV / 7 helpful votes And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Genesis 3:3 ESV / 7 helpful votes But God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” Revelation 20:7-10 ESV / 6 helpful votes And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 1 Thessalonians 2:18 ESV / 6 helpful votes Because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 2 Corinthians 12:7 ESV / 6 helpful votes So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. John 14:6 ESV / 6 helpful votes Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Genesis 3:1-24 ESV / 6 helpful votes Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ... Jude 1:4 ESV / 5 helpful votes For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. 1 John 4:4 ESV / 5 helpful votes Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. Colossians 2:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. Philippians 2:10-11 ESV / 5 helpful votes So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Ephesians 5:11 ESV / 5 helpful votes Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. Ephesians 4:27 ESV / 5 helpful votes And give no opportunity to the devil. Acts 17:11 ESV / 5 helpful votes Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Luke 22:31 ESV / 5 helpful votes “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, Luke 10:17 ESV / 5 helpful votes The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” Mark 4:1-41 ESV / 5 helpful votes Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. ... Matthew 13:19 ESV / 5 helpful votes When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. Matthew 7:23 ESV / 5 helpful votes And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:21-22 ESV / 5 helpful votes “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ Genesis 3:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:6 ESV / 5 helpful votes So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Genesis 3:1-6 ESV / 5 helpful votes Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ... Genesis 3:1 ESV / 5 helpful votes Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” Genesis 2:17 ESV / 5 helpful votes But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Ephesians 6:13-18 ESV / 4 helpful votes Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ... 1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Luke 9:23 ESV / 4 helpful votes And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Genesis 1:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Revelation 21:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Ephesians 6:11 ESV / 3 helpful votes Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Genesis 3:13 ESV / 3 helpful votes Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” The serpent is that which does not align with the doctrine of truth Incomplete/False doctrine brings Death, (The law of sin and death) the Spirit of Truth. Brings life The Devil tempted eve into hearing lies and seeing the underworld below The Fruit she took was not the Bread of Life From Hearing A False Teacher that does not speak Truth and unstable in Doctrine, which leads sheep astray You .have True apostles laboring relentlessly to teach the truth and earning zero neglecting their own lives while you hoard all the money to exploit and spread falsehood? Don’t work laborer to DEATH God sent his son from ABOVE to down BELOW to suffer a grusome DEATH TEACHING TRUTH while he lays around in a 2 million dollar home and 5 star hotels Did his son ever get recognized or paid for teaching the truth that sets them free? No, the Murdered him multiple TIMEs ”we pay our teachers well” unqualified homeschool parents with your gospel hoarding income? Those aren’t your Teachers, Lady Laboring away, with zero pay, zero recognition, zero acknowledgment, zero accountability, zero testimony what do you expect? In John 8:31–47, the Jewish religious leaders claimed to be descendants of Abraham, with God Himself as their “true Father” (verse 41, NLT; see also verses 33, 37, and 39). But Jesus confronted them by saying, “You are of your father the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44, CSB). The Pharisees and teachers of the law believed their relationship with Abraham set them free from sin and error, making them automatic children of God. But Jesus presented them with the ultimate fail-safe paternity test: “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the works of your own father” (John 8:39–41). Jesus affirmed that a person’s actions reveal his inner nature. The way we live and behave proves our true paternity. If Abraham is our father, we will share his character. We will be like Abraham, believing in God and obeying His truth (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6). Abraham was known as “God’s friend” (Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23) and for good reason. He loved God, listened to Him, and obeyed His truth even when he didn’t understand it (see Genesis 22:1–24). Abraham’s obedience proved his character as God’s child. The Jewish leaders were nothing like Abraham. Their rebellion confirmed they were children of the devil (Acts 13:10; Matthew 13:38). Jesus told the Jewish religious leaders, “You are of your father the devil,” because they behaved like the devil. “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God,” explained Jesus (John 8:42). The devil is God’s enemy. He opposes God’s presence, purposes, and people in this world (Matthew 16:23; 1 Chronicles 21:1; Ephesians 6:11–13; 1 John 3:7–10; Revelation 12:10; 13:6). True children of God love Jesus (1 John 5:1), but the devil hates Him. Satan is a murderer (John 8:44; 1 John 3:12), and the Jewish leaders were cut from the same cloth, looking for a way to kill Jesus (John 7:1; 8:37, 40). Their hate-filled, murderous actions proved that they, like Cain, “belonged to the evil one,” their father, the devil (1 John 3:10). After he killed his brother Abel, Cain lied about it (Genesis 4). Jesus said the Jewish leaders could not understand His words because their native tongue was lying, the same language as the devil’s: “He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! . . . Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God” (John 8:44–47, NLT). If we are God’s children, then we “participate in the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:1–4) and walk in His truth (Ephesians 5:8–9; 2 John 1:4; 3 John 1:4). But if we are of our father the devil, we share in his evil nature and have no truth in us. The devil brought spiritual and physical death to humankind by telling a lie (Genesis 3:4, 13; 1 John 3:8, 10–15). Today, he still distorts the truth, doing everything in his power to lead people away from God, who is the source of truth and life (2 Corinthians 4:4). The Bible says obedience, love, and truthfulness are marks of a true child of God: “So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God” (1 John 3:10, NLT). Jesus told the Jewish leaders, “You are of your father the devil,” because there was no room in their hearts for Christ’s message of life and truth (John 8:37). These religious pretenders showed their true colors as murderers, liars, and rejectors of God’s salvation in Jesus Christ. By refusing God’s words of truth and life, they forfeited their opportunity to become His children (John 3:19–20; 8:40). Lying is Satan’s primary weapon against God’s children. He uses the tactic of deceit to separate people from their heavenly Father. Some of his more common lies are “there is no God,” “God doesn’t care about you,” “the Bible cannot be trusted,” and “your good works will get you into heaven.” The apostle Paul tells us that Satan “masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14), so that what he says and does sounds good and seems reasonable. But it is nothing more than a false appearance. Many of Satan’s lies tend to perpetuate themselves. This is what happened when Eve convinced Adam to also believe the devil’s lie. Today, Satan still uses people to spread his lies for him. Often, he uses charismatic but foolish people to further his falsehoods, as in the case of false religions and cults. The Bible has many names for Satan to describe his true nature, including “ruler of this world” (John 12:31), “god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4), “tempter” (1 Thessalonians 3:5), “deceiver” (Revelation 12:9), “Beelzebub” (literally, “lord of the flies,” the ruler of demons, in Matthew 10:25), and “Belial,” meaning “wicked” (2 Corinthians 6:15). Satan has told more lies to more people (and even angels) than any other being ever created. His success depends on people believing his lies. He has used everything from “little white lies” to huge, pants-on-fire whoppers to deceive folks. Adolph Hitler, a man who learned how to lie effectively, once said, “If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed.” Whether a lie is small or large is not really the issue. Lies are of the devil. The Bible teaches that all liars “will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death” (Revelation 21:8). Warnings are never pleasant, but they are better than ignorance of danger; the Bible faithfully warns sinners of danger, including the danger of lying. Proverbs 19:9 also teaches that liars will be punished. Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6), and He will never deceive you. Thankfully, Jesus is also the Savior, and His death and resurrection provide the basis for your forgiveness of all sin, including the sin of lying. Come to Jesus in faith and humility, and you will find that “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). In Revelation 11:3–12 is a description of two individuals who will help accomplish God’s work during the tribulation: “I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth” (verse 3). Nowhere does the Bible identify these two witnesses by name, although people through the years have speculated. Zechariah saw two olive trees in his dream, which God explained “are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth” (Zechariah 4:14). John showed this will be fulfilled in the end-time two witnesses of Revelation 11. In the book of Revelation, God says: “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth” (Revelation 11:3). There is much speculation about who these two representatives of God will be and their 3½-year ministry. Let’s see what the Bible—the only one true source of information on the subject—says about these special individuals. Connection with Zechariah and the two olive trees, two lampstands and two anointed onesThe passage in Revelation goes on to explain, “These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth” (verse 4). This statement seems to be a continuation of a prophecy God gave the prophet Zechariah to show that God accomplishes things through the power of His Spirit (Zechariah 4:2-10). Olive oil symbolizes God’s Holy Spirit, and God encouraged Zerubbabel—the one who led the rebuilding of the temple—to remember that spiritual things would be accomplished by God’s Spirit and not by his own doing (verse 6). After explaining this important principle about how His work is done, God then returned to the vision of the olive trees Zechariah had seen: “These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth” (Zechariah 4:14, emphasis added throughout). In Revelation 11 God reveals that these two prophets, who will be full of God’s Holy Spirit in order to do His work, will arise prior to Christ’s return to fulfill their ministry as a light to the world. Just as God accomplished things through the power of His Holy Spirit during the time of Zerubbabel, He will do the same through His two witnesses during the end times. Why two witnesses?Throughout the Bible, we find that God often works with pairs of individuals. During the time Zechariah was writing, Zerubbabel served as governor and a man named Joshua served as the high priest (Zechariah 3:1). Earlier, God had used Moses as the leader of the ancient Israelites and his brother Aaron as the high priest. In the New Testament, Christ sent His disciples out “two by two” (Mark 6:7). Although they occasionally had others traveling with them, Paul and Barnabas worked together to take the gospel to the gentiles. When two people work together, they can often be more productive than when working alone. Recognizing this principle, Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 states: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.” Another indication why God will have two witnesses is because of the importance of having at least two people to testify in judicial matters. As Deuteronomy 19:15 states: “One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established” (also see Deuteronomy 17:6). By having two witnesses, God is following His own law as He, through the two witnesses, warns people to repent of their sins prior to punishing them if they do not heed His instruction. The work of the two witnessesThe account in the book of Revelation gives clues about the work of the two witnesses: “And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire” (Revelation 11:5-6). As these representatives of God witness to the world that all people need to repent of their sins, they will have access to God’s Holy Spirit to produce miracles reminiscent of other prophets of God.As these representatives of God witness to the world that all people need to repent of their sins, they will have access to God’s Holy Spirit to produce miracles reminiscent of other prophets of God. Like Elijah, they will have the power to stop the rain (1 Kings 17:1) and kill anyone who tries to harm them (2 Kings 1:9-12). Like Moses, they will have the power to turn water to blood (Exodus 7:17) and strike the earth with plagues (Exodus 7:14 through 12:30). But making people suffer is not their primary mission. Instead, like Elijah, their goal will be to encourage people to turn their hearts to God (1 Kings 18:37). Elijah served during a time when ancient Israel had become exceedingly corrupt under wicked King Ahab and his idolatrous wife, Jezebel. Biblical prophecies show that the whole earth will become corrupt prior to the return of Christ (2 Timothy 3:13), and this will be the environment in which the two witnesses will minister. Biblical types of the two witnessesThrough the years, many explanations regarding the two witnesses of Revelation 11 have been proposed. Previous prophets are often cited as biblical types of what the two witnesses will do. Expositor’s Bible Commentary says, “Identifications range all the way from two historic figures raised to life, to two groups, to two principles, such as the law and the prophets. Tertullian (d. 220) identified the two with Enoch and Elijah” (comments on Revelation 11:3). While we’ve already seen that Elijah’s powers to stop the rain and kill those who attempted to do him harm were a forerunner of the powers that the two witnesses will have, there is still another reference to Elijah to consider. Speaking of John the Baptist’s ministry, Luke 1:16-17 says, “And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” This passage shows that God can send additional representatives, such as John the Baptist, with a similar ministry and powers as the prophet Elijah. While John the Baptist was a fulfillment of the prophecy in Luke 1, indicating that John the Baptist would do an Elijah-like work (Matthew 17:11-13), Malachi 4:5-6 indicates yet another fulfillment of an Elijah-like work at the end of this age. “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” Sometimes prophecies can have multiple fulfillments, and this prophecy regarding the work of Elijah seems to be one that falls in this category. John the Baptist was clearly a type of Elijah, and the account in Malachi 4 indicates that another “Elijah” will arise at the end of this age. As for the identity of this end-time Elijah, Scripture indicates that an Elijah-like message to repent and obey God will be preached by the Church of God (Matthew 24:14; 28:19-20) and by the two witnesses as they complete their ministry with Elijah-like powers (Revelation 11:5-6). Who are the two witnesses?The explanation of the two witnesses that seems to best fit the Scriptures is that they will be two humans who will prophesy in the spirit and the power of Elijah during the Great Tribulation and Day of the Lord. They will come to warn the world to repent of breaking God’s laws and will call for plagues as punishment for disobedience during the 3½ years of their preaching. Counterfeits of the two witnesses: the beast and false prophetIn the book of Revelation, God reveals a prophecy concerning two individuals called “the beast” and “the false prophet,” who will be opposed to the work of the two witnesses. The beast will be the civil leader who all people of the earth, except those faithful to God, will follow (Revelation 13:8). The false prophet is the head of the religious system supporting the beast. One tool used to understand prophecy is the type-antitype principle. The account in Exodus 7:10-12 provides a preview of things to come at the time of the two witnesses. It begins with the first of several encounters between Moses and Pharaoh. Under Moses’ direction, Aaron threw down the rod and it became a snake. The magicians (the apostle Paul identifies them as Jannes and Jambres in 2 Timothy 3:8) also did the same thing with their rods (Exodus 7:11-12). Water was turned to blood, and the magicians did the same thing (verse 22). These miracles were performed in the presence of Pharaoh. During the Great Tribulation, the false prophet will also perform miracles. “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:9). Speaking of this same person, Revelation 13:11, 13-14 says, “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. … He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men [an Elijah-like miracle]. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast.” Satan will use the beast and the false prophet as counterfeits to the two witnesses. As a result, Satan will continue to deceive the whole world through “signs, and lying wonders” and false religion.Satan will use the beast and the false prophet as counterfeits to the two witnesses. As a result, Satan will continue to deceive the whole world through “signs, and lying wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:9) and false religion (also see Matthew 24:24; Revelation 12:9). God does not want His followers to be deceived by these counterfeits. But most people will be deceived. Why will people rejoice over the deaths of the two witnesses?After the two witnesses complete their 3½-year ministry of preaching the gospel to the entire world, their divine protection will be removed and they will be killed. “When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. “Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 11:7-10). Why will the world rejoice over their deaths? Most in the world will not like their message of repentance. People do not want to be told that what they are doing is wrong, that they are sinning and need to change. They will be angry because of the plagues being brought on them as punishments for not repenting of their sins, and they will blame the two witnesses for the torment so many will suffer. Rise of the witnessesThe rejoicing over their deaths will be short-lived. After 3½ days, God will resurrect them from the dead, and their enemies will see them ascend to heaven. “Now after three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here.’ And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them” (Revelation 11:11-12). As for their ascending to heaven, this unique event occurs at the end of this age, just before Jesus’ return to rule on the earth (see “Where Will Jesus Return?”). Ascending to heaven is not something that the Bible teaches has been happening to good people when they die. For further explanation, see our article “What Is Heaven?” What’s the point? Meaning of Revelation 11The overall lesson we learn from the two witnesses is that God will send these two special representatives to warn people to repent and change their evil ways—to turn their hearts toward God. We also see that we need to beware of the false prophets that are prophesied to come, and we must be careful that we don’t allow ourselves to be deceived. It is far better for us to respond to God now, when we become aware of His expectations of us. |
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