The Spirit of Antichrist--Destroy the Bible

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…Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2 Timothy 3:1-5, 7

God manifest!  That was the name Antiochus IV gave himself when he added the surname “Ephipanes”.  He was the deluded Seleucid ruler who tried in vain to Hellenize the Jewish people until he was stopped by the Maccabean Revolt.  Many people in that day changed his title from Ephiphanes to Epimanes; madman.  He really thought he was a physical manifestation of the god Zeus (or Jupiter).  In Revelation 2:13 we are introduced to an altar that was dedicated to Zeus and Athena.  Jesus called it the seat of satan. It is certain that this man, who was a shadow of the antichrist, also hated the teachings of the LORD. With satanic zeal he tried to destroy the Torah scrolls of the Jews during his fateful reign. 

Surely everyone knows that satan, the fallen cherub behind the mask of the antichrist, hates the Word of God…or do they?  No! Not everyone understands that the liar hates truth, so they do not notice that an outbreak of the spirit of antichrist is always associated with hatred and contempt for the word of God.  It eventually leads to the Word of God being slandered, banned, and destroyed.

Another sad type of the antichrist is the Roman Emperor Hadrian.  Hadrian, whose name means “Dark One”, also tried to rid the world of God’s word.  He built a temple dedicated to Jupiter (Zeus) on the very site of the first and second temples (It is an established fact that foundation stones of the Roman temple to Jupiter were seen as a blueprint for the construction of the Dome of the Rock and that these very stones were used in its construction).  This led to a rebellion by the Jews known today as the Bar Kokhbah’s Revolt (132-136 AD).  After the bloodshed was over he banished the Jewish people from the land and spitefully renamed it Palestina after learning that one of the names of Israel’s ancient enemies was the Philistines.  The name, Palestine, is still used by many who probably don’t even know of its Roman origins.  Finally, Hadrian rounded up all of the scripture scrolls he could find and held public burning parties.

So what is going on in America?  Why is the 10 Commandments so controversial that it needs to be removed from the public arena?  Are we going to eventually erase scripture from all of our national monuments such as the Lincoln Memorial?  Is it normal for courts to rewrite or redefine the teachings of scripture, or for judges to say there is merit in believing that the Bible causes one emotional harm? Why in the last week have many people came forward to claim that the Bible is not inerrant nor inspired?  Is it true that the Bible is hate speech? What spirit is behind the suing of Bible publishing companies because there are verses directed against homosexuality?  Why are some people calling Bible believers idol worshipers?

The enemy always starts with questioning the Bible's teaching.  From there the Word of God is mocked and slandered. This sort of hatred will soon lead to the public destruction of Bibles.  Don’t think it will not happen!  Hatred of the Word of God always surfaces when the word of God is preached or printed.  Just ask those who have recently been beaten for sharing its truth. Ask the thousands of martyrs who gave their lives just so we can have a Bible to read.

Jesus said emphatically, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”  Matthew 23:45.  Though the WORD is being attacked worldwide as the spirit of antichrist runs amok it is just another sign that Jesus Christ is Soon2Come!

The Spirit of Antichrist--Shedding Innocent Blood

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
1 John 1:1

There is no doubt that Jesus is life. The Apostle John was an eyewitness who saw Jesus heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, heal blinded eyes, and perform miracles too numerous to mention.  Among those miracles there were several who were brought back from the dead.  The greatest miracle of all came three days after He, Himself, was laid in a grave.  Jesus Christ arose.  “All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men (John 1:3-4).”  He is the resurrection and the life. 

John also warned us about the rise of the antichrist spirit and the eventual rise of the Antichrist, a godless man who will seek to convince a willing world that he is god.  Death will follow at numbers so huge that all of the bodies can't be buried quick enough. This satanically inspired man is against Christ and is Jesus’ ultimate antonym.  One of the meanings of the prefix anti- is “that which is opposite.”  If Christ is life, then the antichrist spirit and the man later bearing that moniker are involved with death.  As Jesus is life, the antichrist spirit brings death when it permeates a land.

In the last post, The Spirit of Antichrist—Unbridled Lust, it was mentioned that idol worship involved perverse sex rituals performed as an act of wicked worship.  The children of these unions were later often offered as sacrifices to these gods.  This is a well know and established fact.  Jeremiah addressed this in his warnings to Judah who was in the midst of national judgment for this very sin.  “They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:…(Jeremiah 19:5).”  The LORD also addressed this in Leviticus specifically naming the idol worship of Moloch (another bull god).  “And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD (Leviticus 18:2).”

The Apostle, surely, was quite accustomed to seeing infanticide while living in the Roman Empire.  The murder of children for convenience or deluded worship was quite common in that time period.  Take a moment to read this Discovery article, “Infanticide Common in Roman Empire”.  Here is another quote to consider from a Roman man away from home.  "I am still in Alexandria. ... I beg and plead with you to take care of our little child, and as soon as we receive wages, I will send them to you. In the meantime, if (good fortune to you!) you give birth, if it is a boy, let it live; if it is a girl, expose it." Many more articles and quotes could be attached but the picture is clear.  Killing children always accompanies an outbreak of the spirit of antichrist.  Why wouldn’t it?  Satan is the being behind the mask of the murder of children, including the murder of infants in the womb.  He hates humanity simply because mankind is created in the image of God.  This evil practice, however, carries with it grave consequences. Any nation sanctioning the murder of innocent lives is under the curse of God’s eventual justice.  

One of the Kings of Judah led the nation into a very dark time in their history.  It was King Manasseh.  This man worshipped about all of the perverse idols around in his day.  Sacrifices to Baal and Moloch were common and the land was filled with brothels.  He even offered his own son, a possible heir to the throne.  “And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger (2 Kings 21:6).”

And was the LORD mad!  He sent terrible judgment on Manasseh.  The LORD sent immediate punishment through the Assyrians and a prophetic warning of the later Babylonian deportation.  Manasseh was terribly tortured by the hands of the Assyrians (all of God’s judgments have redemption in mind).  This brought the erring king to repentance.  End of story... not quite.  God did not revoke the curse on the land for the sin of shedding innocent blood.  Even though the sin of Manasseh was forgiven—the consequences of it followed.  Hear the word of the LORD.  “Surely at the commandment of the LORD came this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did; And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon (2 Kings 24:3-4).”   Did you see the last phrase?  “…which the LORD would not pardon.”  Though personal sin was atoned for and forgiven, the nation was punished for allowing such an evil thing to happen in the land.

“Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."  These prophetic words are from the next to the last paragraph of President Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address nearing the close of the Civil War.  Little did he know that there would be an uncanny ratio between the deaths of American soldiers and innocent lives destroyed by the slave trade?  Here is a prior example taken directly from American history. Let this resound, America, as we approach the murder of 58,000,000 babies murdered in the womb.  Let this resound, world, for untold millions have been murdered on the altars of convenience.  It is a sure sign that the spirit of antichrist is running rampant and that the man of sin is soon to be revealed.  It is also a sure sign that judgment will soon hit America and the world.

Manasseh was forgiven, and your sin too may be forgiven as well.  Thank God for Jesus Christ and the innocent blood He shed to make all who cast their faith on him to be seen as innocent in the sight of the Father.  He is calling for you to turn.  However, the national sin will be accounted for…and soon.  Turn to Christ personally today as you feel His call on your heart.  Do it now because He is truly Soon2Come!

The Spirit of Antichrist--Unbridled Lust

And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp.  And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear.

Exodus 32:17-18

There is probably not a better day than today to discuss the spirit of antichrist.  On the Hebrew calendar it is the 17^th of Tammuz—the day that Moses smashed the tablets containing the Ten Commandments.  Why?  Because the people wanted a god they could control, their own god, and not the LORD God of Heaven and Earth.  In their wicked celebration they show another aspect of the outbreak of the spirit of antichrist.  It is the spirit of unbridled lust.

GOD spoke to Moses as the prophet was about to descend the mountain telling him that the people had corrupted themselves (Exodus 32:7).  This Hebrew word also carries the connotation of perversion.  He descends to a point where Joshua finally heard and proclaimed that there was a noise of war in the camp.  This verse is not an accident, but a statement about the spiritual warfare that is taking place behind the scenes.  We don’t wrestle flesh and blood! God’s people were found naked to their shame.  They were first exposed by their sin to the judgment of God.  This is what is behind satan’s attempt to turn people away from sex ordained by God in a marriage relationship between one man and one woman.  The enemy wants them exposed to the LORD’s righteous anger.  When the spirit of antichrist runs rampant in a land or around the world, perversion and lust, disguised as “love” follow.  What kind of love is it? Not what God defines for "God is love" so the definition of love is defined in His person and teachings. 

It is no secret that all of the ancient cults and mystery religions (all of them trace back to ancient Babylon) contained acts of sexual perversion.  This is one of the many reasons that idolatry was forbidden, and this is seen often in the Bible.  So, secondly, the people of God were actually naked and dancing provocatively before the calf.   In Numbers 25 the people are also caught “naked”.  The wicked prophet Balaam counseled a pagan king to have temple prostitutes set up shop near the tents of the Israelites.  The spirit of antichrist would once again lead the people to a place where God’s redemptive correction would bring punishment.  Notice that the worship of idols is directly linked to sexual immorality.  Paul would later deal with the same thing in 1 Corinthians as men in the church were visiting the temple brothels of the town’s patron goddess.  There is nothing new under the sun.  America and the nations of the world are dealing with the same thing.  It is a universal outbreak and a sign of the lateness of the hour.

“And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel…And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel (Numbers 25:2-3, 8).”  

Notice that the Midianite temple prostitute and the man of Israel were in the tent caught in the act.  It says that they were even brazen about it.  Had it not been for the righteousness of Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, the antichrist spirit of unbridled lust would surely have caused greater judgment.  As a side note for a future post, the children of these immoral liaisons were later offered on the altars of the pagan gods.  It was post birth abortion—another sign of the presence of the antichrist spirit is the murder of children in the name of convenience.

Look at the above map which currently is a slight bit outdated now after last week with the wicked debacle at the Supreme Court.  Left unchecked, a spirit of lust and perversion will lead to homosexual behavior and the persecution of the righteous (for another post).  This is the point of the Holy Spirit in Romans 1. ^“For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet (Romans 1:26-27).” Many argue about the meaning of a falling away first but their arguments are moot at this point.  These nations above (and America just joined the ranks) are all former Christian nations.  Yes, the spirit of Antichrist is alive a well and growing universally. 

In the prior post “The Spirit of Antichrist” the demented ruler, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, was mentioned as a type of the antichrist related to the prophecies of Daniel.  He wanted the definition of morality changed and tried to lead the people of Israel into idolatrous perversion including homosexuality. Antiochus was a follower of Zeus and desired to unite all humanity under one perverse and godless religion (another future post). This was the normal thing to do.  The Hellenistic culture was steeped in homosexuality.  Zeus, himself, was a homosexual god and a pedophile.  His affair with the youth, Ganymede, is the stuff of myths and legend.  The worship of Zeus included homosexual priests and homosexual worship (as well as the sacrifice of children from female prostitutes).  Changing his name to Jupiter during the days of Rome didn’t do much to change the perversion—of course not.  Whether it is Bel Marduk, Baal, Molech, Osiris, Zeus, or Jupiter, they all are the same sex worshipped idol.  Behind the disguise of these and any false gods or goddesses, it is the face of satan, the founder of the antichrist spirit.  Did I mention that all of these gods had a "bull" form much like the calf worshipped by the Israelites?  Hmmmm.....

A Statue of Zeus and Ganymede 

God calls us to willingly offer ourselves as a living sacrifice.  This is to be done lovingly in view of the great cost of salvation purchased by the crucifixion of Jesus Christ for our sin.  Paul clearly addressed this in Romans 12:1-2, and he often added that God forbids us to willfully sin that grace may abound.  Offer yourself freely and call on the LORD if you are corrupted and compromised lest your nakedness cause the punishing hand of God to act.  Thank God for His eternal promises.  The same Apostle John who warned us of the coming of the antichrist spirit also left us with a glorious promise, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).” 

There is a noise of war in the camp accompanied with a noise of godless, perverse worship and immorality.  Take to war saints and expose it for what it is because Jesus Christ is Soon2Come!

The Spirit of Antichrist

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. 
1 John 4:3

Just what does the spirit of antichrist look like?  For that matter, what does the “falling away first” mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 look like?  These are both very important questions to answer if we are to understand the times before the end and the eventual rise of the son of perdition.  Most are looking for a man, but John warned centuries ago that the spirit of antichrist, a demonic, satanic spirit, was already at work in the world.  He was one of many New Testament writers that consistently warned about how this wicked spirit would gain control of the earth in the end of days shortly before the unveiling of the wicked one.  Hopefully, in the next few posts we can investigate this and answer the questions, “Has the world gone mad?” and “What on earth is going on?”

The first hint about the prevalence of an antichrist spirit is that humanity can be god-like while casting away the truth of the LORD.  Although the attempt to cast the LORD away is vain, this wickedness deludes society into trying.  This is seen in the prophetic second Psalm—a Psalm celebrating the coronation of Christ the King upon the Earth in the very near future.  “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us (Psalm 2:1-3).”   It is a defiant spirit of mockery which God answers in kind, “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion (Psalm 2:4-6).”  The LORD laughs at their plan in scorn (Derision--lä•ag-to laugh in scorn, deride).

There are several historic shadows of the antichrist such as Antiochus IV Ephipanes, and the Emperor Hadrian (Hadrian = the Dark One).  Antiochus is an important type; consequently, his folly is directly related to the Book of Daniel as a type of the antichrist and the antichrist spirit.  His name, Antiochus Ephiphanes, translates to “God manifest”.  Ironically, Antiochus could also be rendered as stubborn or resistant. Is it not the manifestation of a stubborn, rebellious spirit that is currently invading the world?  This man thought he was Zeus (such a prophetic warning that I wished I had space to elaborate on it).  As a result, he set about to bring the world under one “truth”.  It was not truth—it was a satanic lie.  Now look at Psalm 2 above again.  Notice the idea of banding together in resistance to break the “cords” of the LORD?  Whenever the moral code firmly established by GOD is willfully being tossed in a land or around the world, rest assured, the spirit of antichrist is present.  It is man’s pathetic attempt to be their own god.  He who sits in the Heavens laughs—HE has neither equal nor counselor.

Just what are the “cords” of the LORD?  They are HIS teachings, institutions, edicts, and laws.  This is why the 10 Commandments is banned.  Why do we need manger scenes, or prayer in public?  It breeds a spirit of offense towards anything that reminds one about the sovereignty of GOD Almighty while at the same time it glorifies sin and wickedness.  That is why the Word of God is mocked, banned, or illegal around the globe.  This is why God’s true definition of marriage is derided—one man and one woman.  This is why former Christian nations are bent on establishing perversion as a gift of God.  This is why any, every, and all reminders of the truth of God in any form are tossed aside like refuse.  However, it is all for nothing.  It is vain.  When Jesus returns, it is not going to be a time for a universal, politically correct group hug; no, He is coming back to reign with a rod of iron.  In Psalm 2:7-9 we hear the voice of the KING of Kings speak.  He says, “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel,” as He relays the command of the Father. 

There are many indicators of the spirit of antichrist wreaking havoc worldwide:

The sanctioning of aberrant wickedness as normal--this includes but is not limited to homosexuality 

Hatred for Israel, the Jews, and Christianity

The rise of a one world government

The scouring of individual rights and societal differences

The rise of pagan religious and/or Gnostic thought

Outright anger at the righteous in the face of praising the profane and unholy

Yes there are many signs, and these will be discussed in the future, LORD willing.  Christian!  The battle lines have been drawn.  It is now time to take a stand and not bow to immorality.  Take a stand at the foot of the Cross and point the lost and dying to the blessed Lamb of Calvary. Do your part and do it quickly because the Lamb is coming next as a Lion.  Jesus Christ is Soon2Come!
If you have not yet made peace with GOD at the foot of the cross, do it today.  The LORD is about to shout a piercing answer worldwide!

Related Links:
Blinded
Will You Bow?  Complete Economic Domination
Will You Bow?  Persecution on the Rise Around Us
Satan's Antichrist--A Losing Venture

America!  You are in desperate trouble:The Grapes of Wrath

A National Tragedy

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

Isaiah 6:1

It was a day of national tragedy.  The revival seemed to be over.  Darkness and gloom filled the land.  For nearly fifty-two years King Uzziah had led Judah in godliness.  Though a leper at his death due to the sin of pride (PRIDE—any pride—always goes before destruction unless repented of), Judah had prospered under his reign and the land was free to worship GOD.  Now all of that changed.  Uzziah died.  Judah mourned.  The sense of pain even struck the heart of the great prophet Isaiah.  In the year that King Uzziah died, he mourned.

There is no doubt this man of God grieved much like the people around him even though Jotham, the son of Uzziah, had been the visible king of Judah due to his father’s leprosy.  Already, many were beginning to go astray under Jotham and the future seemed uncertain.  It was written of him, “And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the temple of the LORD. And the people did yet corruptly (2 Chronicles 27:2).”  God needed a man with clear vision to send a message of encouragement—it was Isaiah.

Notice carefully above the word that almost seems out of place.  Most forget to say it when quoted.  It Is the word “also”.  “In the year that King Uzziah died I ALSO saw the LORD.”  In that season of sadness and despair, calamity and woe, grief and sorrow, Isaiah saw ALSO the LORD.  He was not immune to the chaos around him.  He, too, probably had questions, fears, and concern for the future.  Surely the prophet took it to prayer, and then GOD…

It is a day of national tragedy.  The revival seems to be over.  Darkness and gloom pervade the hearts of the servants of the LORD.  A handful of justices brought great sin and reproach on the nation of America.  The sin of Sodom is celebrated in the streets, and national emblems are used as prideful displays of wickedness.  Morality has died.  The sense of pain has struck the heart of every true believer.  On the day that America died morally the godly mourned.

Notice carefully above the word that seems out of place.  Don’t forget it when you quote it.  It is the word “also”.  In the year that America sanctioned ungodliness and sin look beyond the chaos—see the LORD.  There is still a throne where the Judge of Judges sits.  There is still a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins. The LORD REIGNS and every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is LORD.  We all have questions, fears, and concern for the future.  In your mourning, forget not to worship! Take it to prayer, then GOD…

The Immutable One, the Holy one of Israel, God our Savior is not wringing His hands paralyzed with indecision.  No! The angels are still shouting “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY” with every ounce of their being.  God saw this from eternity, and soon will act with, as America’s President said (a prophetic statement much like the prophecy that godless Caiaphas proclaimed in John 18:14 as a leader in Jerusalem), justice arrives “like a thunderbolt”.  We see the chaos, but we also SEE THE LORD!  He is High and lifted up..and HIS Son, Jesus Christ is Soon2Come!

In the Year that America has gone astray I see also the LORD.  He is High and Lifted up and His sovereignty is about to be established worldwide forever.  A bit more darkness may come—but hold on my child because joy comes in the morning!

The Judge of Judges

But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly….And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites…And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.

1 Samuel 15:9, 15, and 33

No other person in scripture is like the Prophet Samuel.  His ministry gives a prophetic picture unparalleled.  Melchizedek was the shadow of Christ the King and Priest.  Joseph was a beautiful shadow of the rejected Messiah, the hidden Egyptian, who rises to sovereign power and saves His brethren, the sons of Israel.  Isaac was the child of promise marked for sacrifice.  Elijah and Elisha were Christ the Prophet in two appearances.  Aaron and Phineas pictured Christ the Priest, while David and Solomon portrayed Christ the King shadowed in two appearances.  Many others were used to show magnificent aspects of Jesus, but Samuel alone shows us a type of Christ as the prophet, priest, and judge.  No other episode of Samuel’s life bears this out any greater than the episode above—the slaying of Agag.

God’s command to Saul was sure and certain.  Judgment was decreed against Amalek and God wanted Saul to be his instrument of justice and truth.  Why Amalek?  Why such righteous anger?  Amalek was the son of Eliphaz who was the first born of Esau, the brother of Jacob who traded his birthright for dinner.  There is a midrash that says Eliphaz was charged by Esau to kill his Uncle Jacob but he failed to follow through with the assignment.  Later, after Esau promised peace between himself and Jacob (Israel), he secretly plotted with Amalek to destroy Israel and his descendants.  Amalek had sworn to be a thorn in the side of Israel. 

While they were in the wilderness, Amalekite soldiers plagued the Israelite by killing the weakened stragglers.  In Exodus 17 we read about one of their attacks at a place called Rephidim (resting place in Hebrew).  They gave the Israelites no rest.  Joshua was called to battle and Moses went up the mountain to pray having his arms upheld by Aaron and Hur.  The Bible then states, “…LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation (Exodus 17:16).”  Saul, as mentioned above, was to finish them off.  Finally, Amalek is an enduring shadow of our continual battle against the flesh.  (See note 3 on this post, YHWH who…)

King Saul only obeyed to a minor degree.  Notice above that he kept all of the good things of Amalek while destroying what the people deemed vile and refuse.  Read it again, “But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.”  In essence, the people disobeyed the command of the LORD and kept back what they considered important.  Samuel, the last great judge of Israel, shows up and he is not happy.   He followed the words of the people while ignoring the commands of God.  "And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice (1 Samuel 15:24)".  He followed the justice of the people and was then spit out of the mouth of God.  (Jesus promised the same thing for the Laodicean church--Laodicea means "the people's justice").

Saul, like the US Government today, disobeyed God and chose for himself a new truth.  “I’ll bless myself”, Saul thought.  “This will be a victory for Israel”, he stammered.  “We will placate the Almighty and offer Him some of the booty”, he planned.  But God and His commandments never change.  To quote the US President from his gay pride “victory for America” speech this morning justice arrived, “like a thunderbolt”.  When Samuel was finished, the command of the LORD was executed in totality and Saul would eventually be out of a job.  Want to guess who finished Saul off later?  It was an Amalekite.  The final thing that Saul heard from the Prophet/Priest/Judge of Israel was,“ The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.  And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent. (1 Samuel 15:28-29).”  Jesus is not returning as a meek lamb but as The Roaring Lion of Judah!

Human government cannot overstep its bounds.  Judgment now is certain for the United States, and the Judge of Judges, Jesus Christ will wholly fulfill the commandments of the LORD in time across the Land.  Saul had a few years left, but that day was the beginning of the end.  Remember this saying America, “justice delayed is not justice denied.”  “There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD (Proverbs 21:30).”

Finally, Samuel did something very interesting that every blood bought saint of God now needs to do across the land.  He spent agonizing hours in prayer for Saul.   The LORD would then say, “How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons (1 Samuel 16:1).” Church, it is time to mourn for America and the world, but it is also time to look skyward.  The Greater Son of David is about to appear without sin unto salvation.  The SON of GOD is soon2come and every knee shall bow.  Witness while you can as the LORD is just about to recall His ambassadors. His name is GOD!

His Voice--God's Great Equalizer

“…the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness…Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low;
Luke 3:2b & 5a

As a preparatory voice for the coming of the Messiah, John’s message focused on the Messiah’s work.  To put it another way, His message was Christ centered.  Again, this is not John’s message but GOD’s.  He is His voice crying out to lost humanity preparing them for the only remedy for sin—Jesus Christ.  Since he must decrease and Christ must increase—his ministry would always put Jesus first.  Having a prophetic ministry as directed by Isaiah 40, we get a glimpse of what Jesus will soon do from this passage as John would share.  Jesus Christ will make all men equal at the foot of the cross.

 Jesus would lift the lowly, hurting, shunned, and oppressed.  It seems that in John’s day many were disenfranchised from the grace of God.  Salvation was for the whole and not the sick.  As a result, many were overlooked and without hope.  Widows, orphans, the poor, the sinful, and many others were consigned to a lower status than those who saw themselves as the cream of the crop.  Jesus came to change all of this.  He fills every valley.  What was it like to be the woman caught in adultery when she looked into the eyes of God our Savior and heard, “Woman, where are those thine accusers? ...Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more (see John8:9-11)?”  Imagine being the woman who was overlooked by all when she threw her entire living into the offering plate.  Her deed did not escape His eye!  How would you like to be like Matthew?  He was branded as a traitorous tax collector for Rome but he encountered Jesus and heard, “follow me (Mark 2:14).”  Yes, Jesus fills every valley!

Jesus also would be the humbling one because, “every mountain and hill shall be brought low”.  A certain Pharisee learned this the hard way.  In an effort to be the talk of the town he had invited Jesus to dinner.  He failed to offer Jesus even the common courtesies of the day.  When a woman of ill repute entered and began to wash Jesus’ feet with her hair, the Pharisee thought, “if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.”  Imagine how he felt after being upbraided by the Lord for his lack of compassion and respect.  It doesn’t matter that your prayer starts out, “…God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess (Luke 18:11-12).”  If you don’t humble yourself at the foot of the cross you will not be justified in His presence. Yes, Jesus brings every hill and mountain low.

John’s message is simple, we must all come equal to the foot of the cross.  That cross and the Savior who hung on it is God’s great equalizer.  Without it no man can be justified in the LORD's presence.  Do you feel so low that you think God couldn’t possibly love you?  Good news! He does so rise up and take a stand at the feet of Jesus.  Are you so high and mighty that you think you don’t need God’s plan of salvation or you are so holy that you need not His assistance?  Fall quickly on your face before the King of Kings and seek His mercy.  It is better to stand at that even place at the foot of His cross than to stand at the great sea of glass before His throne where there will be no place to hide your sin.  Hurry and call on Jesus—He is Soon2Come.