BOOK OF REVELATION – GOD’S GRAND FINALE

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Revelation, the Bible’s last book is God’s final word to mankind—and the breathtaking revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ and His return to Earth to fulfill God’s promises to the nation He established for His purposes. Though Revelation describes depravity, devils, destruction, and God’s wrath, it also provides an incredible portrait of our almighty God, delivering profound insights into who He really is and how He will end the story of planet Earth and the Cosmos He created.

Christian Post interviews Jeff Kinley, the author of GODS GRAND FINALE – Wrath, Grace, and Glory in Earth’s Last Days. I have added my own views on Revelation’s seven churches, its seven seals, and Jesus’ Millennial Kingdom.

KINLEY: We try to make God in our own image. We customized Jesus, if you will, to fit our preconceived thoughts about Him or emotions. We want to express love for God, but the basic premise of worship is that we cannot worship a God that we do not know. And it goes back to John 4 when Jesus told the woman at the well that God is searching for worshipers who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. And so, there has to be a theological foundation for Who God is before we can ever even love that God. In order to truly love God, we have to first do a little bit of theology. 

CHRISTIAN POST: Regarding the book of Revelation, you wrote that it is not “a riddle to be solved, but a revelation to be believed. It’s not a metaphoric tale laced with undecipherable symbols, but rather, a literal scene-by-scene depiction of history, to be written down in advance of its fulfillment.” Do you believe a lot of churches have this misunderstanding about the Book of Revelation?

KINLEY: I do. I think people view Revelation as sort of being off-limits to Christians because of its apocalyptic language, and some of its symbolism that’s in there. Also, it’s ironic because number one, it is the last book God ever wrote and He tells us that everyone who reads it will be blessed. Also, the very word, “Revelation,” means to uncover or reveal or to unveil, not to hide. So, the irony is that people think that it’s a book of hidden knowledge when the very title of the book tells us that it is a book that tells us Who God is and tells us what’s going to happen.

And with a little bit of study and a little bit of guidance, it really isn’t that hard to understand.

CHRISTIAN POST: You dedicated two full chapters to the topic of the letters sent to the seven churches mentioned in Revelation. Why did you believe that the topic needed to be covered in two chapters rather than just one? 

KINLEY: I think because Jesus’ heart is for His bride, the Church. He loves His Church, He loves believers very, very much, and the thing He wanted most for those first-century churches is for them to get their relationship, their doctrine, and their lives calibrated to Who God is, to God’s character. The only way He could do that was to send some messages to them that would rebuke them for their error and then offer them a way back to Himself.

And so, five of the seven churches received severe rebukes from Christ, two did not. But I think they mirror many churches today. And so, that’s why it’s so relevant for today because those seven churches, we can look around us today and say, ‘Wow, there’s that church, there’s Ephesus, there’s Smyrna, there’s Sardis, there’s Philadelphia, and so it’s a relevant section of the book. So, I wanted to spend more time on it. 

EDWARDS: Sadly, Jeff Kinley misses the fact that the seven churches are prophetic, they represent the church in each of the last seven years prior to Jesus’ return. Just as the seven seals are prophetic of what is unfolding/happening on Earth during the last seven years. It is obvious the church of Philadelphia in the sixth year is the church that is raptured and the seventh church of Laodicea (spew you out of my mouth) is the church that is left behind. Just as at the sixth seal, we see the Celestial signs that precede Jesus’ return and the announcement that the wrath of God has come.

CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA: “I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name… Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.” Revelation 3:8,10

SIXTH SEAL: “When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” Revelation 6:12-17

CHRISTIAN POST At Armageddon, you note that “The risen Christ is the hero of the ages, a conqueror for all time. The world knows virtually nothing about this Jesus described in Revelation. And sadder still is that the church knows very little of this side of Jesus as well.” Why do you believe that the church knows very little about this End Times side of Jesus?

KINLEY: Two reasons. Number one, we tend to spend most of our time about Christ in the Gospels. And we get our vision, our image, our view of God from the Gospels. But the rest of the New Testament really tells us more about the character of God and Who Christ is. And when we get to Revelation, specifically chapter one, there’s a vision of Christ there, but it’s unlike anything we hear preached in most churches today. 

By the time we get to Revelation 19, the close of the age, we see a Christ coming back to essentially, get rid of sin, get rid of sinners, to set the world right again. Which is really something that everybody wants to happen in their heart. They want evil to go away, they want righteousness to reign, justice and fairness, and Christ is going to bring that kind of Kingdom immediately following his second coming.  

EDWARDS: I have not read Kinley’s book so do not know if he understands that what is next on God’s agenda is Jesus’ Millennial reign on the Earth. When Jesus returns to Earth it is to rule and reign with the Saints with a rod of iron for 1000 years. Jesus’ Millennial Kingdom is a transition era when the covenants with Abraham, David, and the New Covenant are fulfilled. Also, Satan is bound for most of the thousand years but when he is released his still able to raise an army like the sand of the sea to come against Jesus and the Saints. Fire from heaven quickly disposes of Satan and the rebels. What follows is the White Throne judgement and then a new Heaven and a new Earth where only the righteous dwell.

“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.” Revelation 20:11-12

CHRISTIAN POST: What do you hope people take away from your book?

KINLEY: The main thing is that they just know God and love Him more. Revelation is the last book of the Bible and God wants us to know Who He is. And Revelation was written so that we could know our God better. And so, that’s what I want people to do: to know God, to love Him more as a result of this book.

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor

CHRIST’S LOVE THROUGH GOSPEL MUSIC

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GOD IS USING THE MOST UNLIKELY PEOPLE FOR HIS PURPOSES: This young man from Kenya (just turned 18) has impacted America’s Got Talent in an amazing way by singing Gospel music.

Johge – you are an absolute child of God – blessed with a voice that stands out in Speech & Song for His Glory!!! May His many blessings continue to flow to you and through you to those of us who have ears to hear!

IF ONLY HAMAS AND THE NATIONS THAT WAR AGAINST ISRAEL KNEW THIS TRUTH

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For YHVH (God of Israel) of Armies says this: “After glory, He has sent me against the nations that plunder you (Israel), for the one who touches you (Israel) touches the apple of His eye” Zechariah 2:8

“Therefore, all who devour you (Israel) will be devoured, and all your adversaries, every one of them, will go into captivity. And those who plunder you will become plunder, and all who plunder you I will turn into plunder. For I will restore you to health and I will heal you of your wounds, declares YHVH – because they have called you an outcast, saying: ‘It is Zion; no one cares for her.’ This is what YHVH says: Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob and have compassion on his dwellings. And the city will be rebuilt on its ruins, and the palace will stand on its rightful place” Jeremiah 30:16-18

This is just what God revealed to two of the Old Testament (O.T.) prophets. In fact, all of the O.T. prophets were shown the triumphant ending for Israel with its Messiah ruling and reigning over all the nations of the Earth – Jesus Millennial Kingdom (www.millennialkingdom.net)

Read what the New Testament prophet (N.T.) Paul has to say about the future of Israel.

“Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”” Romans 11:25-27

Israel’s calling as a nation was (and remains) to love the God of Jacob “with all your heart and all your soul, and to obey His word“.

“And now, Israel, what does YHVH your God require of you, but to fear YHVH your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve YHVH your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep YHVH’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good? Deuteronomy 10:11-13

“Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years... Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4,6

THE ANTICHRIST AND THE ASSYRIAN

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The Assyrian invades Israel in the last days and Jesus himself defeats him. That’s Micah 5. But is he a human leader or a fallen angel who possesses the human leader, the Antichrist? A forgotten prophecy in Ezek 31 gives us an amazing answer. Watch this Nelson Walters video to learn the answer.

“When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men; they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and He shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and treads within our border.” Micah 5:5-6

“The Lord spoke to me again: “Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoice over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks, and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, reaching even to the neck, and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.” Isaiah 8:5-8

“The Lord of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand,
that I will break the Assyrian in my land, and on my mountains trample him underfoot, and his yoke shall depart from them, and his burden from their shoulder.” This is the purpose that is purposed concerning the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?” Isaiah 14:24-27

“And the Assyrian shall fall by a sword, not of man; and a sword, not of man, shall devour him; and he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be put to forced labor. His rock shall pass away in terror, and his officers desert the standard in panic,” declares the Lord, whose fire is in Zion, and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.” Isaiah 31:8-9

END TIMES EVENTS LEADING TO A ONE-WORLD GOVERNMENT

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A number of strange events are starting to play out all across the U.S.A
1. 50% of employers expect to lay workers off in the coming weeks…
2. 20 million American households are behind on their utility bills…
3. $13.5 trillion in American wealth has evaporated, as stocks and real estate prices have fallen…
4. To make matters worse, food prices continue to rise — with even vegetables up over 80% in the past year.
Together, all of this is likely setting up what one research firm believes will result in a “gold storm”
Stansberry Research is one of the most highly-respected research firms in the world… providing cutting-edge market research to over a million readers. And they just released a brand-new warning for what they believe will happen to gold in 2023…
According to these experts:
“The evidence is everywhere. But most folks aren’t paying attention. We are in the early stages of a gold mania – the calm before the storm.” And yet, even the most prepared Americans – including many retirees – could be blindsided by what’s about to happen. This is why they’ve posted their full, brand-new warning to the public on their website right here.
These events are also the reason why Bitcoin and some of the other crypto coins are increasing significantly. Rightly so, with governments printing money recklessly why should people believe money will retain its value.
This might be a timely warning for you to look at other options than cash. Christians need to be wise and make good choices as well. There are websites where you can get helpful information from Christians such as http://www.biblemoneymatters.com, http://www.gracefinancialadvisors.com, and http://www.smartasset.com, and http://www.iccc.net (International Christian Chamber of Commerce)
Whilst investopedia.com is not a Christian-based website it does offer some helpful advice on faith-based investing.

THE COMING WRATH OF GOD

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A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken

When God appeared to all of Israel at Mount Zion the people could not endure God speaking to them so terrifying was the sight, that even Moses said he trembled with fear. This reminds us that the beginning of wisdom is to fear God. The author of Hebrews, probably written by Paul (maybe Luke from a sermon by Paul), reminds us of this fact when he refers to Jesus’ warning about what God will do next to those that reject Him: “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens”.

“For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:18-29

The second time God pours out His wrath (there was a first time – the worldwide flood of Noah’s day) upon an unrepentant world is fast approaching. God has warned us in advance and gives us much detail in His Word of the coming Trumpet (7) and Bowl (7) judgements. The intensity of the destruction escalates from the first trumpet blast.

THE SEVEN TRUMPETS
“Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them. The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.” Revelation 8:6-7

We need to warn our unbelieving family and friends of what is coming. Show them these Scriptures. “See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.” Hebrews 18:25

CHINA NEEDS TO TAKE BACK TAIWAN AND WILL DO SO SOON

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The Biden administration stopped shipments to China of more advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips designed by Nvidia and others, part of a raft of measures that seek to stop Beijing from receiving cutting-edge U.S. technologies to strengthen its military.

  • Taiwan dominates the foundry market, or the outsourcing of semiconductor manufacturing (50%+).
  • Much of that dominance comes down to TSMC, the world’s largest foundry that counts major technology firms such as Apple, Qualcomm, and Nvidia as its clients.

Semiconductor designers and manufacturers are on a quest to make chips smaller and better. Currently, TSMC and its South Korean rival Samsung are the only foundries capable of manufacturing the most advanced 5-nanometer chips. China does not have a company capable of manufacturing these leading-edge semiconductors. They rely on just three companies — Intel from the U.S., TSMC from Taiwan, and Samsung in South Korea.

In order for China to maintain its dominant position in manufacturing it needs to maintain a reliable supply of leading-edge semiconductor chips and the easiest way to do that would be to take control of Taiwan which it already considers part of China.

China is still significantly behind Taiwan in GDP per head of population as is the situation with Hong Kong. Taking over Taiwan can only improve the economics of China.

Jesus told us that in the end times prior to His return, there would be wars and rumours of wars.

“And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.” Matthew 24:6-8

We also know from this Scripture that kings from the East take part in the Battle of Armageddon against Jesus and the glorified Saints.

“The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.” Revelation 16:12-14

Back to wars and rumours of wars: we are seeing this playing out in the Middle East, Russia, and Ukraine, and soon with China and Taiwan. When China moves on Taiwan what will the U.S.A and Russia do? In a recent War Game, Russia and China destroyed a “hostile submarine” in the “Sea of Japan.”

MOSCOW, Oct 15 (Reuters) – Russia and China held joint naval drills in the Sea of Japan on Friday and practised how to operate together and destroy floating enemy mines with artillery fire, the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.

The war games are part of naval cooperation drills between the two countries which run from Oct. 14-17 and involve warships and support vessels from Russia’s Pacific Fleet, including mine-sweepers and a submarine.

Time is short, what is God calling you to do at this time? For a Christian, it is an exciting time to be born. Next on God’s agenda is Jesus’ Millennial Kingdom.

THE TRUTH ABOUT PALESTINE

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The young Australian actor Nathaniel Buzolic is an exceptional example of someone who did his homework before making a decision and telling the world about it. In an interview that took place today on Israel’s Channel 13, Nathaniel mentioned that when he was growing up, he was familiar with the Israel-Palestinian narrative as it was told to him by Palestinians. But Nate was eager to learn the facts, asked the right questions, and even traveled to Israel to witness events with his own eyes. So the next time you see celebrities and influencers taking sides in any conflict, regardless of nation, religion, culture, or whatever, ask yourself if these people made even a fraction of the effort that Nathaniel Buzolic made. You know what? Ask yourself if any of the people you encounter on social media and in real life put in such efforts to understand why Nathaniel Buzolic eventually decided to bravely stand with Israel.

God has raised up Nathaniel for such a time as this. It is obvious that Nathaniel knows God and is doing what He requires of him by walking away from all of the worldly success he could have achieved as an actor.

Australian Actor Nathaniel Buzolic Interview in Israel’s Channel 13

Let’s remind ourselves just what happened three weeks ago. Two Gaza-based terrorist groups inspired by Islamist ideology, committed to the destruction of the state of Israel and backed by at least one government, staged an attack whose sadism and savagery exceeded even the horrors perpetrated by the Russian butchers of Bucha in Ukraine. The video evidence of their crimes, much of it recorded by the perpetrators, is horrifying. More than 1400 Israelis were killed, including children and even babies. More than 200 were kidnapped and are being held hostage. The idea that Israel should do nothing in response to this outrage – other than increase the flow of aid into Gaza – defies both human emotion and strategic sense. Only those wearing ideological blindfolds cannot see that.

WHERE ARE WE IN THE END TIMES ACCORDING TO JESUS?

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Where are we in the end times according to Jesus? Most don’t know that Jesus was very specific about WHEN things will happen and that most will be UNPREPARED for His return. Watch this Nelson Walters video for a detailed explanation of Jesus’ end times prophecies in the Oliver Discourse and the prophecies of Daniel. Nelson unlocks them in a way you haven’t seen before. It is amazing the amount of detail Daniel was given about the events that will unfold at the time of the end.

“But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase” Daniel 12:4

The Parable of the Fig Tree (Luke 21:29-33) which Jesus told the disciples, when they asked about the end times and when He will return, reveals that those born at the time of Israel’s rebirth as a nation in 1948, they will see Jesus return. The miraculous re-establishment of Israel as a nation was the first major end-times prophecy that was fulfilled. Most of the other end times prophecies are based on the fact Israel as a nation exists.

BIBLICAL END TIMES DEPRAVITY

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Depravity: Professor Says We Need “Mass Movement” for Kids’ Right to Sex Work

As I read this, there’s one word that came to mind: depravity! It is just another one of the prophesied end times signs.

If reading the news headlines makes you cry out, “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20), you are not alone. It seems that evil men and women prosper with no consequences while the righteous are treated with contempt and hostility—and it’s just getting worse! Seeing this is both discouraging and sobering as we consider the consequences of evil flourishing in our nation—consequences that most dramatically impact the most vulnerable among us. What can we do?

As just one example of evil impacting the most vulnerable, consider this headline, “Professor encourages an activist to start ‘mass movement’ for kids’ right to sex work.” Yes, a Johns Hopkins University professor appears to have urged an activist during a recent Q&A at a conference to help remove the stigma around supporting child “sex work” by starting a “mass movement” to turn the tide of “moral panic” over the idea. It’s nothing more than an attempt to normalize child abuse in the name of adult sexual desire. It’s disgusting, it’s vile, and it’s hard to even begin to grasp the consequences of such depravity.

So what can we do when these headlines make us feel so helpless to stop the evil around us? Well, we do what Christians have done throughout the ages—we believe and obey God’s Word. We understand that, even in the midst of great evil, societal chaos, and depravity, God is still sovereign. He is working out his plan, and eventually, every single evildoer will receive just punishment for their sin (unless they repent and trust Christ, as we pray they do!). A great book of the Bible to turn to when you feel discouraged by evil is the minor prophet Habakkuk. He had the same questions about the ruthless Babylonians and God’s answer to the prophet’s complaint points to God’s sovereignty and mercy.

Throughout human history, evil in various forms has flourished. And God’s people have walked into the darkness with the light of Christ, starting ministries to rescue those who are exploited and abused. God has always used regular, faithful, obedient Christians to be salt and light during dark times, pointing people toward Jesus Christ and his gospel. And no matter how utterly hopeless our times may appear, we must continue to “do the business of the King” until he returns, understanding that the results aren’t up to us—they are up to God. We are just called to be faithful.

And we also must understand that the weapons we wield aren’t the weapons of the world—they are spiritual weapons designed for the spiritual battle we are in.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. 2 Corinthians 10:3–6

In the face of great darkness, don’t be discouraged. Put on your armor and fight as God has called us to do—by clinging to his Word, praying without ceasing, loving God first and neighbor second, and making disciples of all nations. And leave the results to our sovereign God!