Is America Mentioned in Bible Prophecy?

In spite of America’s housing market meltdown, dismal unemployment rate, rapidly declining currency, and trilliondollar deficit, what happens in Washington DC still affects the globe. Recent setbacks aside, the United States of America yet remains the world’s sole superpower. In this light we inquire: Is America mentioned in Bible prophecy, or has God’s Word overlooked the most influential nation on earth?

Many prophecy writers emphatically state we’re not there. They may pinpoint Russia, China, Israel and Iraq as major end-time players, but not the United States. In this article, I want to give you something different to think about. I want to suggest the possibility that America is the exact power specified in this mysterious verse:

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke

like a dragon (Revelation 13:11).

Allow me to build my case. First, what is a “beast” in prophecy? Answer: A great nation. The proof’s in Daniel 7 – a chapter that clearly parallels Revelation 13. Both Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 plainly refer to beasts, ten horns, a boastful mouth speaking great things, and war against God’s saints (compare Daniel 7:3-8,21 with Revelation 13:1- 7). Daniel 7 describes four great beasts: a lion, a bear, a leopard, and a dragon-like creature. An angelic interpreter confirmed:

The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom on earth (Daniel 7:23).

So we can nail this down: According to Daniel 7 – a chapter that plainly parallels Revelation 13 – a “beast” in prophecy isn’t a computer or super-evil person, but a mighty kingdom or nation. That’s what the angel said. Historically, 98% of reputable Christian Bible commentaries have interpreted Daniel’s four beasts to represent the ancient nations of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. This is a fact.

Back to Revelation 13:11: “I saw another beast coming out of the earth.” Thus John saw a great nation rising into power. From where? “Out of the earth,” predicted the prophet. In Daniel 7, all four beasts “came up from the sea” (Daniel 7:3). What does “water” represent? Again, prophecy provides the answer: multitudes of people. We know this because in a parallel prophecy, another angel confirmed: “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues” (Revelation 17:15). True to the facts of history, ancient Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome all arose from the midst of a sea of peoples in Europe and the Middle East. Not so with the beast in Revelation 13:11 – it comes from the earth.

Thus Revelation 13:11 points to a great nation rising out of a sparsely inhabited area.

“I saw another beast coming out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb.” Each word is significant. The true Lamb of God is Jesus Christ. “Like a lamb,” indicates that this nation would have lamblike or Christian features. A lamb is a young animal, a baby sheep. Thus this nation would at one time be youthful and new. Significantly, its “two horns” have no crowns like the first beast described in Revelation 13:2. Crowns represent kingly power. Thus in Revelation 13:11 we see a new nation, with lamblike, or Christian features, rising out of a sparsely inhabited area, led by a crownless government without a king. Are the pieces coming together yet?

Here’s the shocker: Revelation 13 also reveals that mysterious “beast” with horns “like a lamb” would achieve superpower status near the end of time, make a fatal mistake, and lead out in the global enforcement of the mark of the beast. God’s Word reports:

And he [the lamblike beast] causes [he resorts to force] all [through his global influence], both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their forehead, that no man might buy or sell [the world’s economy is involved] except the one who has the mark (Revelation 13:16,17).

These verses parallel the last part of Revelation 13:11 describing the final, tragic act of the lamblike beast – “he spoke like a dragon.” Let’s put all the pieces together:

1. Revelation 13:11 pinpoints the rising of a great beast.

2. In prophecy, a beast represents a great nation.

3. This nation comes out of the earth, or wilderness area.

4. This nation starts out young, like a baby lamb.

5. This nation is lamblike, with Christian characteristics.

6. This nation has horns with no crowns – it has no kings.

7. This nation achieves superpower status near the end of time.

8. This nation influences the world’s economy.

9. This nation finally speaks like a dragon.

10. This nation finally enforces the mark of the beast.

Be honest: How many nations on Planet Earth fit all ten of these clear, unquestionable, Heaven-inspired details? Only one.

The United States of America.

“God bless America, land that I love!” we sing every 4 th of July. It’s true. God has blessed America, in spite of its problems (and we obviously have many). Yet the prophecy of Revelation 13 plainly predicts that when earth’s closing crisis hits, major changes will envelope our beloved county, and the last movements won’t be pretty. Sadly, in the closing moments of time, this mighty nation that has stood tall for representative government, democracy and freedom, will finally sacrifice its mild, lamblike, Christian principles, “speak as a dragon,” descend to force, and enforce the mark of the beast.

Can’t you see it coming? If our eyes are open to see the signs of the times, we should be able to discern Revelation’s predicted from-freedom-to-force trend in full swing right now. Big government is taking over. Our rights are disappearing. The dragon is snarling.

The mark of the beast is coming.

May God help us to understand His “sure word of prophecy” (2 Peter 1:19), to prepare for what is soon to break upon planet Earth with blinding speed, and to get ready for the great Day of God. Above all, may we each have a strong relationship with the true Lamb, Jesus Christ, and reject the dragon’s voice.

Eight Signs of the End

Will there be an “end of the world,” or is such an idea simply the opinion of kooks who stand on street corners waving “The End is Near” signs? Believe it or not, according to the Bible, yes, there will be an end. Jesus Christ predicted, “And this gospel [Good News] of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14, emphasis added).

Are there any legitimate and observable “signs” of this approaching finale? Once again, the answer is yes. While many supposed “signs” appear daily on the covers of America’s sensational tabloids, here are eight true biblical signs worth listing:

1. Great Earthquakes: Jesus Christ predicted, “And there will be great earthquakes in various places…. (Luke 21:11). Such quakes will result in tremendous loss of life, and are constitute one of the signs of the approaching Day of the Lord. Jesus continued, “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28).

2. Out-of-control Violence: Again, Jesus predicted, “As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be before the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:37). What was it like in Noah’s day? Here’s the answer: “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence” (Genesis 6:11). “And God said to Noah, the end of all flesh is come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth” (Genesis 6:13). Thus “violence” was rampant in Noah’s day, just like today.

3. Out-of-control Sex: Again, Jesus predicted, “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot…Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed” (Luke 17:28, 30). What was it like in Lot’s day before God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah? Here’s the answer: “Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7). Thus “fornication” (sex outside of marriage), and “going after strange flesh” (homosexuality), were the primary sins of those ancient cities. It’s a no-brainer that through television, Playboy, prostitution, Internet pornography, etc., our world is experiencing an unprecedented deluge of sexual perversion.

4. Global Environmental Crisis: The Bible reveals that when God finally drops the curtain on human history, He will finally “destroy them that destroy the earth” (Revelation 11:18). In other words, before the end, mankind will be destroying the very planet we live on. This implies a global environmental crisis resulting from the growth of mega-cities, deforestation, a disappearing ozone layer, and earth-damaging man-made pollutants.

5. Increasing Stress, Confusion, Heart Disease: Again, Jesus warned, “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things that are coming upon the earth” (Luke 21:25, 26). People are stressed-out everywhere, confusion reigns, and the Number 1 cause of death is heart disease. The Master saw it coming, that’s why He predicted global “distress,” “perplexity” and “men’s hearts failing them for fear.” Fear also raises blood cholesterol.

6. Increasing Knowledge: The prophetic book of Daniel declares, “But you, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Daniel 12:4). This passage reveals planet Earth will finally enter its “time of the end.” At the same time, “knowledge shall be increased.” In our modern era – more than any period in recorded history – knowledge has increased beyond previous generations.

7. False Teaching and Global Religious Confusion: Paul predicted, “the time will come” when the majority “shall turn their ears away from the truth and shall turn to fables” (2 Timothy 4:4). God’s final book – the Revelation – predicts the rise of a global, multi-layered, conglomerate religious system called “Babylon,” which literally means, “confusion.” Heaven’s end-time message proclaims, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” (Revelation 14:8). This mysterious, highly symbolic prophecy reveals that “all nations” will become drunk with “Babylon’s wine.” Such “wine” is the worldwide false teachings of deceptive religions that lead away from the simplicity of the pure gospel of Jesus Christ.

8. The Global Preaching of the Gospel: “And this gospel [the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ] shall be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations, and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14). With the aid of radio, television, the Internet, and satellite networks, God’s message of salvation through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross is now spreading across planet Earth. Thus, in the midst of Bad News, there’s Good News! We have a Savior who loves us, gave His life for us, rose from the dead for us, and will someday return to take us home (see John 14:1-3).

Let’s be ready.

Three False Gospels

In the book of Galatians, Paul warned his converts:

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:7- 9).

These stirring words should convince any clear-thinking Christian that it is quite possible for Satan, his angels, and his agents to so “pervert the gospel of Christ” that those who think they believe the “Good News” are actually being deceived by the Devil. Ominously, this actually happened to Paul’s own converts in Galatia, and they were in danger of being “accursed.” We should watch out that this doesn’t happen to us.

Here are three popular perversions we should avoid:

1. The “I’m Good Enough To Be Saved” False Gospel. Sadly, millions of professed Christians have accepted this perversion of the “Good News.” They think that just because they aren’t as bad as other men, they’re automatically going to heaven. Jesus Christ warned about this delusion in His “parable to those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others” (Luke 18:9). In his prayer, the proud Pharisee boasted, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men-extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and give tithes of all that I possess” (verses 11,12). Such self-complacency won’t lead to Pearly Gates, but to the lake of fire. By contrast, the lowly tax collector “would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!'” (verse 13). Jesus is clear that the tax collector was “justified” by God, not the Pharisee (see verse 14).

Paul clarified in his Galatian letter that the only way any sinner can be legally “justified,” which means to be declared “not guilty” before a holy God, is by “faith in Christ and not by the works of the law” (Galatians 2:16). In other words, being “good” won’t save us. Neither will performing good deeds. Neither will keeping the law. Not a chance. Only the true gospel of Jesus Christ can save us. We must have personal faith in Jesus Christ alone.

2. The “I Can Keep Living in Sin” False Gospel. This error is comparable to a ditch on the other side of the road, and it is very popular. Millions assume that because they are not saved by “the works of the law,” that this means that they can nominally accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, and then do as they please, even to the point of willfully practicing known sin. “Only Jesus is perfect,” they may claim (which is true), but then they mistakenly conclude that it is therefore okay for Christians to do wicked things. In the same book of Galatians, Paul also warned,

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21, emphasis added).

Did you catch that? Under the general heading of “the works of the flesh,” Paul listed “adultery,” “fornication,” “sorcery,” “hatred,” getting drunk, and spreading strife. “Well,” many who practice these sins will rationalize, “once again, no one is perfect, what can you expect?” My response is that Jesus Christ expects these evil sins to be sliced out of both the heart and life of every true Christian. If they are not, what does Paul say? Take note: ” those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” To believe otherwise is to believe a false gospel.

3. The “I Don’t Need to Keep the Law” False Gospel. This last deception is insidiously subtle. Because the New Testament is clear that sinners are not justified or saved “by the works of the law,” many have therefore mistakenly concluded that the Ten Commandments have passed away, and don’t need to be kept. But if you look closely at Paul’s works-of-the-flesh list quoted above, and then compare it with Exodus 20:3-17, you will see that Paul is actually listing specific violations of God’s Law. “Adultery” breaks the 7 th commandment, “idolatry” violates the 2 nd , and “murder” breaks the 6 th . Next Paul lists nine “fruits of the Spirit,” such as “love,” “joy,” and “peace,” and concludes by saying, “Against such there is no law.” What does that mean? It means that the law of God is not against these good fruits, but it is still against the evil ones! Thus God’s law still exists, and should be obeyed. We can be sure this is Paul’s intent because in another letter he quoted the 5 th commandment, stating, “Honor thy father and thy mother,” and then he commands Christian children to “obey” it! (See Ephesians 6:1-3)

So what is the true gospel after all? We don’t need to speculate, for the answer is in the Holy Bible. Paul wrote,

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and

in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to youunless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, emphasis added).

There it is, clear and simple, straight from Paul’s inspired pen. “Christ died for our sins … He was buried … He rose from the dead.” That is the gospel. But what is “sin” anyway? Again, we don’t need to guess, for John told us clearly when he wrote, “Sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4). So how should we respond to the Good News that our loving Savior died on a cruel cross to pay the complete penalty for our sins of breaking the Ten Commandments? The biblical answer is that we must “repent” (see Acts 2:38) – which means turning away from the sins of breaking God’s law – and believe the gospel. Then Jesus Himself says to us, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15), which is a direct quote from the 2 nd commandment (see Exodus 20:6). 

If we heed this inspired counsel, we will avoid the “I’m Good Enough to Be Saved” false gospel, the “I Can Keep Living In Sin” false gospel, the “I Don’t Need to Keep the Law” false gospel, and escape deception. Then we will be following “the truth of the gospel” (Galatians 2:5) in these last days.

The Sabbath: Questions and Answers (Part 4)

In my 3-part series entitled, “Pope Francis, Two Beasts, and the Devil’s Deadly Mark,” I built my case from a careful study of Revelation 13, history, and current events, that Sunday, as a day of worship, will someday be legislated worldwide as a misguided solution to a global crisis. This Q & A article will look more closely at this controversial issue. First, here are some recent headlines showing that Sunday legislation is now being discussed in the news: 

“Using Sunday as a day of rest and renewal would be good for our personal health as well as the health of the planet” (The Guardian, Sept. 17, 2009).

“Let’s Make Sunday a day of rest, for God’s sake” (FoxNews.com, April 22, 2012).

“Keeping stores open on Sunday is not beneficial for society: Pope Francis” (NY Daily News, July 6, 2014).

“Arizona State Senator: Make Sunday Church Attendance Mandatory” ( CNN, Mar. 27, 2015).

“You need & deserve a secular sabbath” (New York Daily News, May 23, 2015)

What’s wrong with Sunday laws? Two things: 1) The fourth commandment states that “the seventh day (Saturday) is the Sabbath of the Lord” (Ex. 20:10), not Sunday; and 2) God never compels people to worship Him. Did Jesus ever force anyone to follow Him? No. “Whoever wills [chooses],” says the Lord, “let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17, KJV). “Whoever wills” and “freely” reveal freedom of choice, not compulsion. Here are some common arguments against the Sabbath, and counter-arguments, based on Scripture:

Argument 1: Sabbath-keeping is legalism.

Response: It’s true that the Sabbath (or Sunday, for that matter), may be kept legalistically out of a misguided effort to earn salvation, yet God’s desire is that our motivation for keeping His Law be based on love, not legalism. “If you love Me,” Jesus said, “keep My commandments” (John 14:15). The other nine commandments (such as “You shall not murder,” “You shall not commit adultery,” etc.) should be kept out of love, too. When Christians avoid committing adultery, are they being legalistic? Hardly. The same principle applies to those who avoid idolatry, killing, lying, or Sabbath-breaking.

Argument 2: We aren’t justified by “the deeds of the law” (see Romans 3:28), but by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Therefore, Sabbath-keeping is not required.

Response: It’s true that salvation doesn’t come by human works, but this doesn’t negate commandment-keeping for born again believers. In the very same letter in which Paul wrote that Christians are saved by grace, not works (see Eph. 2:8,9), he also urged Christian children to obey the fifth commandment, which states, “Honor your father and mother” (see Eph. 6:2). Thus saved-by-grace Christians should still keep God’s law by His power.

Argument 3: The Sabbath was only for Jews.

Response: The Sabbath originated at creation (see Gen. 2:1-3) before Jews existed. Isaiah wrote that Gentiles should keep the Sabbath too (see Isa. 56:6,7). Gentiles did keep it in the book of Acts (see Acts 13:42-44). God’s law is for everyone, not just Jews (see Romans 3:19). The words, “Jew,” and “Israel,” are not found anywhere in the Ten Commandments.

Argument 4: Paul said, “Let no one judge you in … sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come” (see Colossians 2:14-17).

Response: Note the context. Paul wrote, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us … nailing it to his cross” (verse 14, KJV). The “handwriting of ordinances” was not the Ten Commandments, which were not written by man’s hand, but with “the finger of God” (see Ex. 31:18). Israel’s ceremonial law was written by the hand of Moses (see Deut. 31:24), and was nailed to the cross. 

“Therefore,” penned Paul, “Let no man judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day … or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come” (verses 16,17, KJV). The “meat,” “drink,” and “sabbaths” here referred to were the annual Jewish feasts (Passover, Day of Atonement, etc.) with their “meat” and “drink offerings” (see Lev. 23:37,38). These feasts were also called “sabbaths” (see Lev. 23:24,32,37,38), and were “shadows” because their sacrifices pointed forward to Christ’s sacrifice. Hebrews 10:1 clarifies that it was the ceremonial law, with its annual feasts and bloody sacrifices, that was a “shadow,” not the Ten Commandments.

Argument 5: What about “one person esteems one day above another, another esteems every day alike” (Romans 14:5)?

Response: The context is “disputes over doubtful things” (verse 1, NKJV), not the Ten Commandments. The early Church was composed of Jewish believers and Gentile converts. Although Paul didn’t specify what “days” he was referring to, he was probably talking about Jewish fast days (see Luke 18:12), and certain pagan feast days when Gentiles were “eating of things offered to idols” (1 Cor. 8:4). Romans 14 has nothing to do with the seventh-day Sabbath.

Argument 6: “But Jesus Christ rose on Sunday!”

Response: Praise the Lord! But let’s not use Christ’s resurrection as an excuse for breaking one of the Ten Commandments. Jesus died on the cross because we broke God’s law (compare 1 Cor. 15:3 with 1 John 3:4). Keeping Sunday as a holy day in honor of Christ’s resurrection has no Scriptural support.

Argument 7: But we are “not under the law, but under grace” (Rom. 6:14)!

Response: So true. But the next verse continues, “What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid” (Rom. 6:15, KJV). “Sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4). To interpret “under grace” as a license to violate the Ten Commandments misinterprets Paul’s words. Jesus came to save His people from their sins (Mat. 1:21), not in them.

Conclusion: The New Testament reveals that sinners are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone from their sins of breaking God’s holy law (see Mat. 1:21; Eph. 2:8,9; 1 John 3:4). Forgiven Christians should show their love and loyalty to King Jesus by keeping the Ten Commandments by the power of the Holy Spirit (see Romans 7:7; 8:4; Rev. 12:17; 14:12). During earth’s final crisis, true Christians will stand up for God’s law, as He wrote it on stone (see Ex. 31:18; Rev. 14:9-12), no matter what the cost.

The word “Sabbath” means “rest.” The seventh-day Sabbath is a wonderful day during which God teaches us how to “rest” in Jesus Christ our Creator, who loves us, sacrificed His precious life for us, and who can give us victory over our sins when we continually trust in Him (see Gen. 2:1-3; Ez. 20:12; Mat. 11:28; John 1:10; Heb. 4:4,9,10; 1 Cor. 15:56,57).

Pope Francis, Two Beasts, and the Devil’s Deadly Mark (Part 3)

“Truth is stranger than fiction” is a popular saying. Brace yourself. You are about to discover strange things, but they are factual. The Holy Bible predicts that during Earth’s darkest hour a sinister deception called “the mark of the beast” (see Revelation 19:20) will be legislated by earthly governments as a misguided solution to a global crisis. Finally, “no one may buy or sell except the one who has the mark” (Revelation 13:17). Those who settle into this delusion—after being earnestly warned by a loving Creator to reject the devil’s deadly mark—will reap the just “wrath of God” (see Revelation 14:9-11), and be doomed forever.

Sound serious? It is. Keep reading.

What is this mysterious mark? If you Google “mark of the beast,” you’ll find plenty of opinions on the Internet. But honestly, this topic is far too important to practice “theology by Google.” Instead, first and foremost we must examine what the Bible actually says. After all, the “mark” is a Bible topic. Here are the sober facts:

1. The “mark” is mentioned eight times in the book of Revelation (13:16,17; 14:9,11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4).

2. Those who receive this “mark” are “deceived” (Revelation 19:20). Thus the “mark” must be highly deceptive.

3. The “mark” comes from “the beast.” Thus we must correctly interpret who the beast is.

4. The “mark” involves false worship, for the Bible says, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark …” (Revelation 14:9).

5. By contrast, the Bible urges God’s people to “ worship Him that made heaven and earth …” (Revelation 14:7).

6. Only those who “keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12) will avoid the mark (verse 11).

7. The “mark” is received in two places: the “forehead” (mind) or the “hand” (actions)—which are the exact two places God seeks to write the Ten Commandments (see Deuteronomy 5:6-21; 6:8; Hebrews 8:10; 10:18).

Thus those who wholly trust Jesus as their Savior, worship the Creator, and have God’s law written within them, will avoid the deadly mark. This is what the Scripture says.

Back to the beast. As previously established in Part 1, for nearly 400 years—from the 1500s to the 1800s—millions of Protestant Christians like Martin Luther (Lutheran), John Calvin (Presbyterian), John Wesley (Methodist), Charles Spurgeon (Baptist), and Matthew Henry (world-famous Bible commentary author) interpreted “the beast” to be the religious-political system (not Catholic people) of the Roman Church, led by popes. Thus the “mark of the beast” comes from the Roman Catholic Church.

Does the Roman Church have a mark? Indeed she does. Put on your spiritual seat belts. According to official statements from Catholic sources, Rome considers Sunday—a day which the Bible never sanctifies as a special day of worship—to be a mark of her authority.

See for yourself:

Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change [from the Bible Sabbath to Sunday] was her act… And the act is a MARK of her ecclesiastical authority in religious things.” C.F. Thomas, chancellor of Cardinal Gibbons, in a letter dated November 11, 1895.

By contrast, the Ten Commandments, “written with the finger of God” (Exodus 31:18), identify “the seventh day” of the week (Saturday) as God’s holy rest day, not Sunday, which is simply “the first day of the week.” The fourth commandment thunders:

Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy … the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. … For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:8–11, emphasis added).

If you study history carefully, you will discover that the Roman Church led the charge away from the biblical Sabbath and over to Sunday (“the day of the sun”), partly because of compromises with pagan sun worship, and partly due to hostility against Jews—which was then rationalized with the crowning argument that, after all, Jesus rose on Sunday.

But remember, the book of Revelation clearly states that those who “worship” the Creator (Revelation 14:7) and “keep the commandments of God” (Revelation 14:12) won’t get the mark. Now don’t miss this: the only one of the Ten Commandments about the Creator is Number Four, which commands us to keep “the seventh day,” which is our Creator’s original rest day (see Genesis 2:1-3).

Amazingly, the book of Revelation predicts that Rome’s “mark” will someday be globally enforced by law. Impossible! you may be thinking. No, it isn’t. In Pope Francis’s June 18, 2015 encyclical recommending solutions for the problem of global “climate change,” the Pope declared,

Sunday, like the Jewish Sabbath, is meant to be a day which heals our relationships with God, with ourselves, with others and with the world” (“Praised Be,” Section 237, emphasis added).

Believe it or not, Sunday closing laws have already been pushed or enforced to various degrees in Germany, Hungary, Greece, Poland, Chile, Fiji, Argentina, Brazil, and in other countries. News articles favoring Sunday legislation have also been recently reported on Fox News, CBS, CNN, The Guardian, Associated Press, and Time magazine. As Planet Earth falls apart, and as millions of desperate eyes look to the Pope for guidance, you can expect such agitation to increase, until finally, Sunday will be legislated worldwide.

Prophecy predicts it. You’ve been warned. Now you know. So forget Google and popular opinions. Instead, read Revelation 14:6-12 as if your life depended on it. As you do, you will discover that the real issue is trusting Jesus, worshiping the Creator, and keeping God’s law. Jesus Himself is our Creator (see John 1:3,10). He Himself is “Lord of the Sabbath” (see Matthew 12:8). It was our Creator Himself who died on a cruel cross for our sins and waywardness in breaking His Holy Law (see 1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 John 3:4)—including the Sabbath commandment.

The bottom line is: who will you follow during earth’s final crisis?

Will it be Jesus Christ, our loving Creator, or the beast?

That choice is up to you.

Pope Francis, Two Beasts, and the Devil’s Deadly Mark (Part 2)

As most of us know, Pope Francis visited America September 22-27, 2015. Highlights included a September 24 speech before a joint-session of our U.S. Congress, a September 25 address at a large United Nations gathering in New York City, and a September 26 speech at The World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. 

Is it possible that these events tie in with biblical prophecy?

Part 1 of this series explored Revelation chapter 13 which contains a mysterious, shocking prophecy about two beasts and a deadly mark. My last articled focused on the first beast which rose out of the sea (13:1), has “a mouth speaking great things” (verse 5), wages “war against the saints” (verse 7), and is granted “authority over every tribe, tongue, and nation” (verse 7). Finally, “all the world marveled and followed the beast” (verse 3).

Whether you agree with their controversial conclusions or not, it is a sober fact of history that for nearly 400 years—from the 1500’s to the 1800’s—millions of reputable Bible-believing Protestant Christians like Martin Luther (Lutheran), John Calvin (Presbyterian), John Wesley (Methodist), Charles Spurgeon (Baptist), and Matthew Henry (world-famous Bible Commentary author) interpreted the highly-symbolic first “beast” of Revelation 13:1-10 to be the religious-political system (not Catholic people) of the Roman Church, led by popes.

Controversial indeed! Yet again, these are facts of history.

What about the second beast—a lamb-like beast rising from “the earth”—described in Revelation 13:11? Does it have anything to do with the United States of America? Let’s explore this. God’s Word predicted:

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke

like a dragon (Revelation 13:11).

Daniel chapter 7—which clearly parallels Revelation 13—plainly reveals that a symbolic “beast” in prophecy represents a great nation. Both Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 refer to beasts, ten horns, a boastful mouth speaking great things, and war against God’s saints (compare Daniel 7:3-8, 21 with Revelation 13:1-7). More specifically, Daniel 7 identifies a lion, a bear, a leopard, and a dragon-like creature, which are the exact same animals mentioned in Revelation 13:2. An angelic interpreter explained:

The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom on earth (Daniel 7:23).

So we can nail this down: a “beast” in prophecy represents a mighty kingdom or nation. Historically, 98% of reputable Christian Bible commentaries have interpreted Daniel’s four beasts to represent the ancient nations of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome.

Back to Revelation 13:11: “I saw another beast coming out of the earth.” Thus John saw a great nation rising into power. From where? “Out of the earth,” predicted the prophet. In Daniel 7, all four beasts “came up from the sea” (Daniel 7:3). What does “the sea” or water represent? Prophecy provides the answer. A holy angel confirmed:

The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues

(Revelation 17:15).

True to both prophecy and history, ancient Babylonia, Persia, Greece and Rome all arose from the midst of a sea of peoples in Europe and the Middle East. Not so with the Revelation 13:11 creature, which comes from the earth. Thus Revelation 13:11 points to a mighty nation rising out of a sparsely inhabited wilderness area.

“I saw another beast coming out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb.” Each word is critical. The primary Lamb of God is Jesus Christ. “Like a lamb,” indicates that this out-of-the-earth nation would have lamb-like or Christian features. Significantly, its “two horns” have no crowns, whereas the first beast’s ten horns do have crowns (Revelation 13:1). Crowns represent kingly power. Thus Revelation 13:11 depicts a new nation, with gentle, lamblike, Christian features, rising out of a sparsely inhabited area, led by a government without a king. Are the pieces coming together yet? 

Only one nation today fits every prophetic detail.

The United States of America.

Here’s a shocker: The latter portion of Revelation 13’s prophecy teaches that the lamb-like beast (USA) will cooperate with, and even promote, the “worship” of the first beast (Papal Rome). God’s prophecy declares:

And he (the lamb-like beast) exercises all the authority of the first beast (the sea beast) in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed (Revelation 13:12, emphasis added).

Get it? In Revelation 13:12, the second beast honors the first beast, contributes to its worship, and both beasts work together near the close of time. Think soberly for a minute. For nearly 1,000 years, the Roman Church dominated Europe as a church/state combination. No one questions this. But America is different. It has “two horns [without crowns] like a lamb,” indicating a democratic-type government that promotes lamb-like, Christian freedoms. But finally, as a global crisis looms, both beasts work together toward a global “solution”—which eventually becomes “the mark” of the beast (see Revelation 13:16,17).

On June 18, 2015, Pope Francis’s monumental encyclical on “climate change” was released by the Vatican. On the very same day President Obama issued a press release from the White House stating:

I [President Obama] welcome His Holiness Pope Francis’s encyclical, and deeply admire the Pope’s decision to make the case — clearly, powerfully, and with the full moral authority of his position — for action on global climate change … I believe the United States must be a leader in this effort … (The White House, Office of the Press Secretary, June 18, 2015, emphasis added).

In spite of their differences, Pope Francis and President Obama are cooperating with each other. President Obama is also promoting Pope’s Francis’s encyclical on “climate change,” even stating that “the United States must be a leader in this effort.”

Dear reader, according to Bible prophecy, a global crisis is coming, and an apparent global solution.

What solution?

Read the prophecy of Revelation 13. God has warned us in advance—because He loves us, wants to enlighten us, and to protect us—that the “solution” will be the final enforcement of the mark of the beast (read Revelation 13:16,17).

Pope Francis, Two Beasts, and the Devil’s Deadly Mark (Part 1)

Pope Francis visited America September 22-27, 2015. On September 24, he spoke to a joint session of the U.S. Congress—the first time a Pope has done so. On September 25, he addressed a United Nations gathering in New York City—an event reported to include the largest gathering of world leaders ever. On September 26, he spoke in Philadelphia at The World Meeting of Families. Media coverage was massive. Shockingly, Bible prophecy also reports, “All the world marveled and followed the beast” (Revelation 13:3). Does this prediction have anything to do with the man in the white suit?

Brace yourself. You’re about to find out.

Revelation chapter 13 describes two beasts—the first rising out of the sea (13:1), and the second ascending out of the earth (13:11). The second beast finally enforces the “mark” of the first beast (13:16,17) during earth’s last crisis. In these articles I will decode each symbol, based on prophecy, history, and current events. Indeed, the information is truly shocking, controversial, and is sure to stir up heated discussion. Nevertheless it must be presented faithfully, fairly, and without compromise. Concerning the first beast, John wrote:

I saw a beast rising up out of the sea… (Revelation 13:1).

Who is this beast that figures so largely in God’s last book? Those who accept a “Preterist” interpretation of Revelation’s prophecies generally believe the beast was the Roman emperor Nero who butchered Christians and Jews in the first century AD. Hank Hanegraaff and Sigmund Brouwer have expressed this view in Tyndale’s prophetic novel, The Last Disciple. Gary DeMar, John Noe, Ken Gentry Jr., Samuel Frost, Kurt Simmons, and many others teach this theory. To Preterists, the beast is dead.

While Preterism is growing in strength, by far the most popular interpretation remains the “Futurist” one best reflected in the bestselling Left Behind novels (also published by Tyndale). According to Futurists, the beast is still on the horizon—a monster that will only lurch into action after the Rapture. Leading proponents of Futurism today are Tim LaHaye, Jack Van Impe, John Hagee, Grant Jeffrey, Hal Lindsey, and Irving Baxter Jr. Both Preterists and Futurists see the beast as one satanic individual; an evil person. The biggest difference is the timing of when Mr. Diabolical shows up.

So which is it? Is the beast past or future? Or could he be present? Hold onto your seats. This may surprise you, but from the time of the Reformation until the late 1800s the vast majority of Protestant scholars firmly believed the beast was snarling right in front of them, and that it represented the Roman Catholic Church system that has strayed away from Bible truth. Such was the view of Martin Luther, Philip Melanchthon, John Calvin, John Knox, the translators of the King James Bible, John Wesley, Sir Isaac Newton, Bishop J.C. Rylie, Matthew Henry, Charles Spurgeon, Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones, and countless others. These weren’t Preterists or Futurists. They were Historicists—meaning that they saw prophecy fulfilled throughout Church history until the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Let’s put emotions, personal opinion and speculation aside, and adjust our brains to irrefutable evidence. The beast rises from the sea (13:1), looks like a lion, bear, and leopard (13:2), has ten horns (13:1), a mouth speaking great things (13:5), makes war on the saints (13:7), and achieves global influence (13:7). Daniel chapter 7 talks about the exact same things, describing four beasts rising from the sea (7:1-3), a lion, bear, leopard, and dragon-like animal with ten horns (7:4-7), a little horn with eyes like a man (7:8), a mouth speaking great things (7:8), which makes war on the saints (7:21). Most scholars agree—both Protestant and Catholic—that Daniel’s little horn is the same as the beast in Revelation 13:1. Each has a big mouth and makes war on God’s saints.

Here’s a key question: What is a beast? A man? A computer? The Bible provides the answer. An angelic interpreter told Daniel, “The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon the earth” (Daniel 7:23). Thus a beast is a kingdom. Period. The four beasts are four kingdoms. Daniel was living during the time of Babylon (7:1), and in fact, a winged lion was a symbol of that ancient power. Most scholars agree the lion represented Babylon, followed by Persia, then Greece, then Rome. Rome fell in 476 AD and was divided among these ten primary nations: Vandals, Heruli, Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Franks, Anglo-Saxons, Suevi, Burgundians, Lombards, and Alemanni. Prophecy clearly predicted “the little horn” would:

1) Rise out of the fourth beast, or Roman Empire (7:7, 8)

2) Rise among the ten horns, in Western Europe (7:8)

3) Have eyes like a man, or human leadership (7:8)

4) Have a mouth speaking great things (7:8)

5) Make war on the saints (7:21)

Thus we have Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, Rome’s division, and then the little horn that is the same as the first beast in Revelation 13, of whom it is written, “All the world marveled and followed the beast” (13:3). Who is this horn or beast? “Nero!” shout Preterists. “The future Antichrist!” counter Futurists. What’s wrong with this picture? The answer should be obvious. Preterists are mistaken because the little horn (antichrist) especially gains power after Rome was divided into ten parts. Nero came 500 years too soon. Futurists fail because the little horn burst into strength immediately after the empire of the Caesars collapsed into ten parts. Futurism sweeps 1500 years of

history under the proverbial rug by expecting the little horn to rise only after Christians vanish.

Preterism’s problem:

Lion (Babylon)

Bear (Persia)

Leopard (Greece)

Dragon-like creature (Rome)

Ten horns (Rome’s fall and division)

Little horn (Nero—he doesn’t fit)

Futurism’s failure:

Lion (Babylon)

Bear (Persia)

Leopard (Greece)

Dragon-like creature (Rome)

Insertion of a problematic 1500-year gap

Ten horns (future revived Roman Empire)

Little horn (future Antichrist)

Historicism’s accuracy:

Lion (Babylon)

Bear (Persia)

Leopard (Greece)

Dragon-like creature (Rome)

Ten horns (Rome’s fall and division)

Little horn (rising into strength in Europe right after Rome fell and who is active now)

Who is the little horn? Ask Luther, Wycliffe, Huss, Jerome, Calvin, Knox, Wesley, Newton, Rylie, Spurgeon, and countless others. To these scholars, the answer was obvious. They all saw a highly-deceptive present power that started small but grew into strength immediately after Rome fell, rose up in Western Europe, had eyes like a man, a mouth speaking boastful things, and made bloody war on the saints. Dear reader, if Martin Luther, John Calvin, or John Wesley were alive today, they would all realize that during the week of September 22-27, the Number #1 representative of “the beast” system would be welcomed into America’s living room. “All the world marveled and followed the beast,” predicts God’s Book. In same chapter of Revelation, Jesus Himself speaks, “If anyone has an ear, let him hear” (Revelation 13:9).

Is anyone listening?

God’s Forgiveness of Your Sin

It’s no secret that we live in a fallen world of sin. From infidelity in relationships, to cheating, to lying, to stealing, sin is everywhere! This sin ruins our life and tears us down.

However, though we live in a world of sin, God is powerful enough to forgive us! But why would he forgive us? And how does he do it? Here are the three pillars to understand about God’s forgiveness of your sins.

God Is The Omnipotent Creator

The Bible teaches us that with His wisdom and power He created the earth and spread out the heavens (Jeremiah 10:12). The prophets praised Him: God said “I am Powerful” (Psalm 62:11) and “Lord God, you stretched out your mighty arm and made the sky and the earth. You can do anything” (Jeremiah 32:17). The Lord says of Himself, “I created everything from the sky above to the earth below” (Isaiah 44:24), and He created all things to be good, in His own estimation – perfect, like Himself, without sin.

God Cannot Stand Sin

But people did sin. And since God “can’t stand sin or wrong” (Habakkuk 1:13a), the sin separated people from God. This is the natural order of Creation, just as darkness cannot exist in the presence of bright light. When you know you have done evil and are disconnected from your Creator, “Your sins are the roadblock between you and your God. That’s why he doesn’t answer your prayers or let you see his face” (Isaiah 59:2).

He Is Powerful Enough To Declare you Innocent

In the book of Exodus 34: 6-7, God declares that He is a fair judge. Just like He is merciful and patient with His people, He also has the power to punish those who sin. “But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away” (I John 1:9). In His great love, He“is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against Him” (Daniel 9:9).

God promises this miracle through Jesus Christ alone. When you believe in Him, you can pray, “I have sinned against; I have disobeyed you and have done wrong. So it is right and fair for you to correct and punish me” (Psalm 51:4) ... “Wash me with hyssop until I am clean and whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7a). No matter your sin or shame, no matter who has come against you, we can be confident of His power to “keep you from falling and make sure and joyful in His glorious presence. Before time began and now and forevermore, God is worthy of glory, honor, power and authority. Amen.” (Jude 1: 24)

Time Line of Final Events

1) YOU ARE HERE (We’re in the year 2006 AD)

2) EARTH’S LAST CRISIS – Luke 21:35; Rev. 3:10. No one knows when it will come, yet it will hit at an unexpected time, like September 11. This crisis could stem from many causes – economic, natural (such as a huge earthquake, etc.), or possibly, a terrorist attack.

3) THE MARK OF THE BEAST IS ENFORCED BY LAW – Rev. 13:16,17 The “mark of the beast” will be enforced by governments around the world as a supposed “solution” to a global, desperate crisis. The majority of Earth’s inhabitants will not realize this is “the mark,” for they will be deceived. Rev. 19:20. The terms “beast” and “mark” are code words in the book of Revelation that God’s people alone will understand. They will know who the “beast” is, and what his “mark” is, while the rest of the world has no clue.

4) THE THREE ANGELS MESSAGES ARE HEARD WORLDWIDE – Rev. 14:6-12 Before anyone receives “the mark,” God will send a special, final message to warn and enlighten a world filled with people He loves and earnestly wants to save. This special message is the message of “The Three Angels.” These angels represent human beings who understand and communicate this exact message with “a loud voice” to “every nation, tribe, tongue, and people” (Rev. 14:6,7). The message is given before the return of Jesus Christ (Rev. 14:14-16).

5) THE FINAL CHOICE – THE SEAL OR THE MARK? – Rev. 7:1-3; 13:16-14:1. During Earth’s last crisis, every living human being will make a final choice – choosing the side of Jesus Christ and the truth (receiving the “seal of God”) or the side of Satan and the “beast” (receiving his “mark”). Humanity will be divided into two great, final classes.

6) THE CLOSING OF HEAVEN’S DOOR OF SALVATION – Rev. 22:11 After everyone has had a chance to make an enlightened, intelligent decision, then the “door of mercy” will close forever, just like the door closed to Noah’s ark before the flood (see Genesis 7:16). Every human being will either be “righteous” and “holy,” or “filthy” and “unjust” (Rev. 22:11). There will be no more changing sides.

7) THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES FALL – Rev. 16; 14:9-12 The seven last plagues are God’s final judgments upon a world that has rejected His love, the cross of Jesus Christ, the worship of the Creator and full authority of the Ten Commandments (14:7, 12). These plagues fall only upon those who have chosen “the beast” and received its “mark” (Rev. 16:1,2). This time period is also called the “time of trouble” (Daniel 12:1). During this awesome period, God’s people will be fully protected, just like the Israelites were during the falling of the ten plagues in Egypt (see Exodus 7-12; Psalm 91). At the end of this period, God’s faithful ones will be “delivered” (Daniel 12:1).

8) THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON – Rev. 16:14-16 This is the final “battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Jesus Christ returns as “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev. 19:11-16) to defeat the global forces of Satan, sin and Babylon (Rev. 16:19) and to deliver His blood-bought, obedient people.

9) THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST – Mat. 24:30,31; 1 Thess. 4:16,17 Jesus Christ will return visibly, “with power and great glory,” with “a great sound of a trumpet,” accompanied by billions of shiny, holy angels. He will resurrect “the dead in Christ” (this is the First Resurrection) and “catch up” His living saints into the air. “Sudden destruction” falls upon the lost who have survived the seven plagues (1 Thess. 4:16-5:3).

10) 1000 YEARS, THE SECOND RESURRECTION, THE FINAL JUDGMENT, THE LAKE OF FIRE AND THE NEW EARTH – Rev. 20:1-15; 21:1 After the return of Jesus Christ comes the 1000 years (Rev. 20). At the end of this period comes the second resurrection of “the rest of the dead” who did not participate in the first resurrection (see Rev. 20:5a; 12,13), the final judgment, “the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:14,15) and then the creation of a new heaven and earth (Rev. 21:1). In God’s New Earth, there will be “no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain,

for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said to me, Write: for these words are true and faithful (Rev. 21:4,5). Sin will be gone, and God’s love will reign forever!

Understanding the Humble Nature of Jesus

Power, like control, can become an idol in our lives. The world tells us to be powerful, to be fast, to be strong, and to be in control. Even just recently in the Olympics, we watched the worlds most physically powerful people come together to compete against each other and admired and envied the power they had. Though there is a time and a place for power in acts like sport, we so often desire power and lean on our own power which moves our focus away from God.

One of the best ways to resist the unhealthy desire for power in our lives is to model our lives after the humble nature of Jesus. His surrender of power, described by the Apostle Paul in Philippians, was one of the most amazing things he ever did!

How do we stay humble like Jesus? First, we have to understand in what ways he was humble...

1. Remember that He was God, yet still humble

Jesus was not just a good man or even a great man. In Matthew 28:18, he said, “All power has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” He was God in the flesh – the One who had existed for all eternity, the great “I AM” (John 8:58). He created the world and maintains it (Hebrews 1:2-3).

2. He humbled himself to become a human

Yet all that greatness, the immortal and eternal, was somehow squeezed into a human body.

In his time on earth, Jesus chose to limit his power. He healed some sick people and performed many miracles. He had all the power and yet He lived His life under submission to the Father. Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does” (John 5:19).

3. Know that He gave up his life

“When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross” (Philippians 2:7b-8). Jesus’ captors beat him, taunted him, brutally whipped him, and then nailed his hands and feet to a cross. He resisted the temptation to reveal himself the as Almighty God. His plan from the beginning was to give his life for us, because “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).

4. He was exalted

“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11). What a great day that will be, when every human being honors Jesus as Lord. And to extent we imitate Jesus‘ humility, we will be exalted: “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor” (1 Peter 5:6).

The Idolatry of Control

We might not think of Control as an idol. Yet anything that we come to value more than God, is an idol. And as humans, we love to feel like we are in control of our own life, our destiny.

We believe we have control over our health, our job, our finances, and our relationships. However, that’s not the case. There is only one Sovereign, one Master of the Universe, and it is God, not us.

Here are just three important things that we cannot control ourselves, but God does:

1. How long we will live

We can take care of our bodies with proper diet and exercise. We’re told that this will allow us a long, healthy and full life.

But how long will we really live? That’s up to God. There are no guarantees no matter how hard we try.

Psalm 139:16 puts it plainly: “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”

An accident or attack can end our life at any moment regardless of how careful and healthy we are.

Because of this, we can’t trust ourselves with our lives. Rather, we must put our trust in God, for He has each moment planned.

2. Our Success

There are countless articles here on the internet that explain how to gain success from business, schooling, and changing your mindset. But, does that mean that success is guaranteed if only we just work hard? Not necessarily.

“Look here, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.’ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” James 4:13-14

Just think... sometimes a business opportunity promises success. Though you might make a lot of money, you could also lose all of it. Or as this verse says, you might not even be alive tomorrow! (Also see Luke 12:16-21.)

3. Other People’s Decisions

Just as we believe we can control our own success, we believe we can control other people’s decisions and opinions. But, can we really?

“As for my companion, he betrayed his friends; he broke his promises” (Psalm 55:20).

Even if we are loving and kind, those closest to us can disappoint or even betray us. Marriages, can result in infidelity, friends can break promise, and children often go astray, even when we parent them the best we know how. Other people are simply not under our control.

So, what does this all mean? Should we stop trying to care for our bodies, stop trying to make plans, or to stop building good relationships? No, the Bible tells us that these are all important (1 Corinthians 6:19; Luke 14:29).

It does mean that we seek God’s will above our own, and remember every day that His plans are the ones that will never fail! The more we submit to His will and His plans, the more we will experience His peace and joy — even when things don’t turn out the way we planned.

Wounds are Better Than Kisses?

We all seek happiness in life, and we often look for the answer in worldly things like making lots of money, getting a great job, or even finding the perfect significant other. Can you relate? Though the world makes us believe these things will satisfy us, true comfort and happiness do not come from worldly things. Rather, happiness comes from God, and the Bible shows us this over and over again.

Let’s be reminded of Esau, the firstborn and favorite son of Abraham’s son, Isaac. In Genesis 25 and 27, it tells how he lost his birthright and blessing. Esau ignored what was important to his father. His life shows what can happen to “those who look to this world for their reward.” (Ps. 17:14) Expect trouble from the world (John 16:33), even persecution (John 15:20).

Friendship with the world is an offense to God (James 4:4). Instead, love the world the way Jesus did (John 3:16): Reject all its temptations (1 John 2:15-16), deny yourself, and embrace the cross (Luke 9:23). The only way to really win in life is to resist the satisfaction the world offers (Mark 8:35). Christians gain victory over the world by our faith (1 John 5:4)! How amazing is that?

Many of the Bible’s stories are warnings about looking for comfort from the world rather than from God to help us learn more about how we avoid making the same mistakes. Let’s learn from the stories of three men…

1. Samson: A Story Of Entitlement And Pride

Samson felt his chosen status (Judges 13:7) and great strength gave him the right to immorality. He once set eyes on an attractive pagan woman and told his parents, “I want to marry her. Get her for me” (Judges 14:2).

Can you relate to these lustful and entitled feelings? Many of us can. The world may make us believe that these feelings are okay, but what does the Bible tell us?

Samson was deceived by Delilah, blinded and enslaved in the temple of an idol. This is a warning and a reminder to us to not live our lives in the same way.

2. Demas: A Lover Of The Present World

The Apostle Paul once considered Demas a fellow worker, naming him with Gospel writers Mark and Luke. But the last mention of him is: “Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life” (2 Timothy 4:10).

Demas proved to be “The seed that fell among the thorns” in Jesus’ Sower parable, which “represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced” (Matthew 13:22).

3. Jonah: A Bitter Witness Of God’s Salvation Plan

The “overthrow” of Nineveh (Jonah 3:4) was a spiritual one. But this miraculous evangelistic call was preached by a hostile witness, Jonah. God provided him a shady shelter to observe the results, but then suddenly took it away. “And the sun’s heat came upon Jonah’s head so that he became weak and begged with all his heart to die” (Jonah 4:8). Instead of being overjoyed (the way God was -- Luke 15:10), with the repentance of the city, Jonah ends with bitter opposition to God’s plan of salvation.

Christians often remind themselves of Romans 8:28-29 when trouble arises:

“…God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son…”

Any time you’re dissatisfied with what God allows, remember that the trouble and persecution of the world are symptoms of its hatred for Christ—and for His children. Discipline demonstrates you’re His child, as Hebrews 12:5-14 explains. The verses following these (15-17), show God’s perspective on the world’s children: “Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.”