The arm of flesh

 Jeremiah 17: 5 “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. 6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. 7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JER.17.KJV 2 Corintians 11:13 "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/2CO.11.KJV Psalm 146:3 “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, In whom there is no help.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.146.KJV 

I was the child of a minister. My parent’s fought a lot and eventually divorced. Sometimes my father would have a sermon about love and marriage. I would come home and play a record with a song that had the lyrics, “Practice, practice what you preach. I’m here to tell you that it’s what you do not what you say that’s going to count on judgment day.” Dad got the point. 

My father was a very dynamic minister. Whenever we were somewhere the congregation would grow large, but when we moved, the church would fall apart. Basically, people were following him rather than following Jesus. Over the last several years, I have been following an online minister. I have met the man a handful of times as well. He and his wife have led me to many wonderful biblical truths. Recently my heart has been broken upon learning some devastating news with regards to this preacher, and I was reminded of the above texts. “The quote ‘If it weren’t for Christians, I’d be a Christian’ is attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, the prominent Hindu leader and advocate of nonviolence in India. According to the widely recounted story, Gandhi, who was a practicing Hindu, was deeply intrigued by Christianity and the teachings of Jesus as presented in the Gospels. He reportedly attempted to attend a Christian church service in Calcutta but was turned away at the door because the church was restricted to high-caste Indians and whites, a practice he found deeply offensive. This experience of exclusion, which he associated with the caste system and racial segregation, led him to reject Christianity as a faith practiced by the church he encountered. Consequently, he later stated that his negative experience with Christians was the reason he did not become one himself.” https://search.brave.com/search?q=who+said+that+they+would+be+a+christian+if+it+weren%27t+for+Christians&summary=1&conversation=8f952b22244f0e29d56440The third commandment in Exodus 20:7 “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/EXO.20.KJV reminds us not to take God’s name in vain. This applies not only to not literally speaking God’s name in vulgar language, but also to taking the name of “Christian” and then not living as Christ did. 

Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.7.KJV God did not say to not to help your brother get the speck out of his eye, but to first clean up your own eye.  When a preacher is continually working on their “brother’s eye”, it behooves the question, what is in your own eye pastor? Jesus was once asked, what is truth? But the person who asked the question didn’t wait or listen for a response.

Supposedly “secret” sins have a way of coming into the light. 2 Samuel 12:9-10. "Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. [10] Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife." https://bible.com/bible/1/2sa.12.9-10.KJV  Numbers 32:23 “But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.” https://bible.com/bible/1/num.32.23.KJV Luke 12:2 “For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.” https://bible.com/bible/1/luk.12.2.KJV. Just because you repeat the phrase, “forgive me of all my sins,” does not mean that you are forgiven.  When you cover up your sins and blame others instead of taking responsibility God will not forgive you. See: https://iodtiger.blogspot.com/2025/06/prayers-god-doesnt-listen-to.html Adam and Eve played the blame game; God gave each of them a specific curse for their actions. David took responsibility and was forgiven. He was called a man after God’s own heart. Judas was sorry that he betrayed innocent blood, but he did not repent. Peter was truly repentant and was restored to a right relationship with God. You cannot be restored while blaming someone else for your sins. You cannot be restored by merely saying, “God forgive me”.  Matthew 5:23-24  "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; [24] leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.5.23-24.KJV Acts 22:16  “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” https://bible.com/bible/1/act.22.16.KJV Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” https://bible.com/bible/1/act.2.38.KJV Acts 3:1 “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” https://bible.com/bible/1/act.3.19.KJV 

new testimony

My friend David and I have been working together to help spread the gospel. Last Monday he had both a stroke and a heart attack. Last night I was having trouble sleeping so I went and got my phone and noticed that a good friend of mine had sent me two videos. I glanced at the first and started listening to the second. After hearing the second I decided to look at the first one. It was by CD Brooks about demons attacking.  https://youtu.be/Ip_3W6hZHoc The thought hit my mind about the story of Job.  Then another thought crossed my mind, something David had said about the devil not liking the work that we have been doing to spread the gospel and that he would attack us in any way possible. That's when it hit me like a ton of bricks, David's health issues were an attack of satan to stop our work. I did not want to be like Job's wife and speak negatively. I realized that my thoughts had been ones of despair instead of faith. I rushed out of my apartment and down the stairs. David was also awake so I went straight to over him, spoke some words of faith over him and then went back upstairs and promptly fell asleep. David told me this morning that after I left, he felt the Holy Spirit breathing life back into his body. He has been up and ate breakfast and even riding the lawn mower this morning. He still feels somewhat weak, but his countenance looks just like it did before, and I know that God is healing him.

The second beast of Revelation 13

 Because we have looked at the first beast in Revelation 13, it begs the question then who is this second beast? Let us begin by looking at the characteristics and the timing of when this beast arises. Revelation 13:11 "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14 and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.13.KJV This beast is like a lamb at first, but then begins to speak as a dragon. How does a nation speak? A nation speaks with it's laws and armies. The beast comes up after the first beast has made war with the saints. "Which nation was predicted to arise around the time the papacy was receiving its deadly wound? The beast of Revelation 13:11-18 symbolizes America.  “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). Prophecy predicted that America would arise from a sparsely settled area. (the beast rising out of the sea represented a system that arose from a densely populated area Revelation 17:15 "And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.17.KJV therefore a beast arising out of the earth is a relatively sparsely populated area) Answer: The papal captivity mentioned in verse 10 took place in 1798, and the new power (verse 11) was seen emerging at that time. The United States declared its independence in 1776, voted the Constitution in 1787, adopted the Bill of Rights in 1791, and was clearly recognized as a world power by 1798. The timing obviously fits America. No other power could possibly qualify.

Horns represent kings and kingdoms or governments (Daniel 7:24 "And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/DAN.7.KJV; 8:21 "And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/DAN.8.KJV ). In this case, they represent the United States’ two governing principles: civil and religious liberty. These two principles have also been labeled “republicanism” (a government without a king) and “Protestantism” (a church without a pope). Other nations since ancient times had taxed people to support a state religion. Most had also oppressed religious dissidents. But the United States established something entirely new: freedom to worship without government interference. Absence of crowns signifies a republican form of government, rather than a monarchy. Lamb-like horns denote an innocent, young, non-oppressive, peace-loving, and spiritual nation. (Jesus is referred to as a lamb 28 times in Revelation.)

Special Note: How we wish we could stop right here in Jesus’ description of the United States—but we can’t, because He didn’t stop. What comes next might be jolting. The United States is a great country, with its freedom of conscience, press, speech, and enterprise; its opportunities; its sense of fair play; its sympathy for the underdog; and its Christian orientation. It is not perfect, but even still, a host of people from around the world seek to become its citizens every year. Sadly, this richly blessed country will change drastically. (Over the last few decades these freedoms have been stripped away one by one)

What does Revelation 13:11 mean when it says the United States will speak “like a dragon”? Answer:  ..., the dragon is Satan, who works through various earthly powers to establish his own kingdom and to crush God’s church by persecuting and destroying God’s people. Satan’s aim always has been to usurp God’s throne and to force people to worship and obey him... So, speaking as a dragon means the United States (under the influence of Satan) will, in the end time, force people to worship contrary to conscience or be punished.

What specifically will the United States do that will cause it to speak as a dragon? Answer:   Notice these four crucial points: A. “Exercises all the authority of the first beast” (Revelation 13:12) The United States will become a persecuting power that will force people to go against their conscience, as did papal Rome—which is portrayed in the first half of Revelation chapter 13. B. “Causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed” (Revelation 13:12). The United States will lead the nations of the world in forcing allegiance to the papal antichrist. The issue is always worship. Who will you worship and obey? Will it be Christ, your Creator and Redeemer, or antichrist? Every soul on earth will finally worship one or the other. Satan’s approach will appear to be deeply spiritual, and incredible miracles will be seen (Revelation 13:13, 14)—which will deceive billions (Revelation 13:3). Those who refuse to join this movement will be considered divisive, stubborn, radical, and unpatriotic. Jesus labeled Protestant America of the end time a “false prophet” (Revelation 19:20 "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.19.KJV ; 20:10 "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.20.KJV), because it will appear spiritual and trustworthy but instead will be satanic in its conduct. All this may seem impossible, but Jesus’ words are always reliable and true (Titus 1:2 "in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;" https://www.bible.com/bible/1/TIT.1.KJV ). He foretold the rise and fall of the four world empires and the antichrist (Daniel chapters 2 and 7) at a time when such predictions seemed outlandish and incredible. But all came to pass precisely as predicted. His warning to us today regarding prophecy is, “And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. ” (John 14:29 https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JHN.14.KJV ). C. “Telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived” (Revelation 13:14). The United States will make an image to the beast by legislating religious practice. It will pass laws requiring worship and force people to either obey them or face death. This action is a copy—or “image”—of the church-state form of government the papacy ruled with at the height of her power during the Middle Ages, when millions were slain for their faith. The United States will combine civil government and apostate Protestantism in a “marriage” that will support the papacy. It will then influence all the nations of the world to follow her example. Thus, the papacy will gain worldwide support. D. “And cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed” (Revelation 13:15). The United States, as head of this international movement, will next influence the nations of the world to impose a death sentence upon all who refuse to worship the beast or his image. Another name for this worldwide coalition is “Babylon the Great.” ... This worldwide alliance will, in the name of Christ, substitute the policeman’s power for the Holy Spirit’s gentle persuasion—and it will force worship."  https://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/study-guide/e/4998/t/the-usa-in-bible-prophecy

Sermon for when I die:

    As I have contemplated what I would want my loved ones to know in the event of my death, I thought, I would want them to know truth. Truth about death and heaven and hell, not the internet version, but what does the BIBLE say. I just want to look at some Biblical references and we will begin with the subject of death. What is a soul? To answer that question we must begin at the beginning. The Bible says in Genesis 2:7 "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GEN.2.KJV So dust plus the breath of God equals a "soul". Ezekiel 18:4 "Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/EZK.18.KJV Ecclesiastes 12:7 "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ECC.12.KJV James 2:26 "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JAS.2.KJV This brings us to the question what is the spirit which "returns to God"? Job 27:3 "All the while my breath is in me, And the spirit of God is in my nostrils;" https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JOB.27.KJV Job 33:4 "The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Almighty hath given me life." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JOB.33.KJV Thus far we have Genesis, which told us that a living soul is the dust of the ground and the breath of God. And Job confirms that the "spirit" hangs out in his nostrils. This "spirit" is nothing but the breath that God has given to each person. When you go to bed each night, if you sleep soundly, the next thing that you know, it's morning. You were not aware of the passage of time. However many hours went by, it seemed like a blink of an eye; one minute your head hits the pillow, and the next minute your alarm clock is going off. That is what death is like. The dust goes back wherever it gets put and the breath to God. Let's look at a few more passages to confirm. Ecclesiastes 9:5 "For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ECC.9.KJV John 11:11 "These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. 12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. 14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. 23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:" https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JHN.11.KJV Jesus compared death to sleep, in fact, this begs the question, what is the resurrection for if people go to heaven or hell when they die? Consider these verses in Psalms 6:5 "For in death there is no remembrance of thee: In the grave who shall give thee thanks?" https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.6.KJV and Psalm 115:17 "The dead praise not the LORD, Neither any that go down into silence." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.115.KJV If the dead aren't praising the Lord, then they are definitely not in heaven. So what about the text where Paul says to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord? 2 Corinthians 5:6 "Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (for we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/2CO.5.KJV Let's use the Bible to help answer this question. These are also Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 15:18 "Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1CO.15.KJV Notice Paul uses the word "sleep" to refer to death. Paul also says some other controversial things in the previous verses in 1 Corinthians 15:42 "So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 it is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption."(same link as above) This passage is difficult at best. The only thing I can say is that Luke 24 gives a description of Jesus after His resurrection this way: verse 36 "And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/LUK.24.KJV Paul also says this in Philippians 3:20 "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PHP.3.KJV In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul says this:12 "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1CO.13.KJV What we do know is that we will not be disembodied spirits, we will have a recognizable body. I will know any of my family, friends, or acquaintances that I have already known and I will make all kinds of new acquaintances in heaven.

    Which brings me to my favorite part-Heaven and the earth made new. My favorite verses in the Bible describe the resurrection and heaven. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1TH.4.KJV Jesus himself comes and wakes up the righteous dead and all the saved meet together in the clouds. What will we be doing in heaven for all eternity; just sitting around on clouds, playing a harp, and saying, Praise God over and over again? How boring would that be? The Bible says, in Isaiah 65:17 “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. 22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. 24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ISA.65.KJV While I do not pretend to know exactly what it means to b building a house in the earth made new, I do know that we won’t be in any pain or even break a sweat trying to nail in 2x4’s. Revelation 21:1” And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.21.KJV No more sadness, pain, sickness or death, no more sin will ever be in the new earth. Psalm 16:11 “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” For all of eternity we will have “pleasures for evermore”. I can’t wait for the day when we will be able to see those who have died, who loved the Lord, resurrected and be together in heaven forever. John 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JHN.14.KJV For information on being saved click here: https://iodtiger.blogspot.com/2025/06/what-bible-says-about-how-to-be-saved.html and here: https://iodtiger.blogspot.com/2024/03/sabbath-vs-sunday.html 

    That brings us to the last subject, what happens in hell and when is it? We have already learned in Revelation 21:4 & 27 that nothing which defiles, no death, or pain will ever be in heaven. What happens to those who don't want to go to heaven, and all evil? Revelation 20:7 "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.20.KJV Many people think that this means that hell will be burning throughout all eternity. I could not believe in a God who would keep people alive and torture them in an eternally burning hell. Malachi 4:1 "For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. 3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts."   https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAL.4.KJV Consider also the following verses about the word "forever". 1 Samuel 1:22 "But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever. 28 therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1SA.1.KJV Forever in this verse means as long as Samuel was alive. Jonah 1:17 "Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Compare that to Jonah's prayer in chapter 2:6 "I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; The earth with her bars was about me for ever: Yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JON.1.KJV https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JON.2.KJV Yes, I bet that three days and nights SEEMED like FOREVER in the belly of a whale. Revelation 21:8 "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.21.KJV  Fire requires fuel. When there is only ashes left, the fire goes out. The Bible is clear, after 1000 years in heaven, the new Jerusalem comes down from heaven and then evil will finally be destroyed, and then the earth will be recreated.

    My prayer is that everyone listening to this or reading this will be found on the sea of glass and not in the lake of fire. It will be one or the other. Which one will you choose? 

Mark of the Beast

In order to figure out what the mark of the beast is we must discover two different things: First who or what is the beast, and second, what is it’s mark? Does God have a mark? Let’s begin with the whole chapter of Revelation 13:1 “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 9 If any man have an ear, let him hear. 10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. 11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14 and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.13.KJV So what does a beast represent in the Bible? Let’s turn to Daniel chapter 7:2 “Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. 4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it. 5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. 6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. 7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. 17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; 20 and of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. 21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; 22 until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. 23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. 25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. 26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. 27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/DAN.7.KJV These four beasts are the same as the four beasts found in Nebucadnezer’s dream in  Daniel chapter 2:31 “Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. 32 This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, 33 his legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. 34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. 35  Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.  36 This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. 37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. 39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. 40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/DAN.2.KJV The first beast of Revelation seems to be a composite of the bear, leopard, and the lion. This composite beast would then have the characteristics of those 3 kingdoms Medo-Persia, Greece and Babylon. Who then is the dragon that gives this beast power? Revelation 12:9 “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.12.KJV 

The first beast of Revelation 13 and the little horn of Daniel 7 have the same characteristics and are the same beast. Let’s look at these characteristics: “A. The little horn would come “up among them”—that is, from among the 10 horns that were the kingdoms of Western Europe (Daniel 7:8). So it would be a little kingdom somewhere in Western Europe. B. It would have a man at its head who could speak for it (Daniel 7:8). C. It would pluck out or uproot three kingdoms (Daniel 7:8). D. It would be different from the other 10 kingdoms (Daniel 7:24). E. It would make war with and persecute the saints (Daniel 7:21, 25). F. It would emerge from the pagan Roman Empire—the fourth kingdom (Daniel 7:7, 8). G. God’s people (the saints) would “be given into his hand” for “a time and times and half a time” (Daniel 7:25). H. It would “speak great words against” or blaspheme God (Daniel 7:25 KJV). In Revelation 13:5, the Bible says the same power speaks “great things and blasphemies.” I. It would “intend to change times and law” (Daniel 7:25). (J. It would rule for a prophetic 3 1/2 years.) Don’t forget—all these identification points come directly from the Bible. They are not some human opinion or speculation. Historians could tell you quickly what power is being described, because these points fit only one power—the papacy. This same time period is mentioned seven times in the books of Daniel and Revelation (Daniel 7:25; 12:7; Revelation 11:2, 3; 12:6, 14; 13:5): three times as a “time, times, and half a time”; twice as 42 months; and twice as 1,260 days. Based on the 30-day calendar used by the Jews, these time periods are all the same amount of time: 3½ years = 42 months = 1,260 days. One prophetic day equals one literal year (Ezekiel 4:6 "And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/EZK.4.KJV ; Numbers 14:34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. https://www.bible.com/bible/1/NUM.14.KJV ). Thus, the little horn (antichrist) was to have power over the saints for 1,260 prophetic days; that is, 1,260 literal years. The rule of the papacy began in ad 538, when the last of the three opposing Arian kingdoms was uprooted. Its rule continued until 1798 when Napoleon’s general, Berthier, took the pope captive with hopes of destroying both Pope Pius VI and the political power of the papacy. This period of time is an exact fulfillment of the 1,260-year prophecy. The blow was a deadly wound for the papacy, but that wound began to heal and continues healing today." https://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/study-guide/e/4992/t/who-is-the-antichrist- 

Points A & C: According to history, the major rulers of the world were: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and then Rome. Rome was not conqured but became divided into ten separate “kingdoms”. These kingdoms were: “The Alemanni, The Franks, The Burgundians, The Vandals, The Suevi, The Visigoths, The Saxons, The Ostrogoths, The Lombards, and The Heruli. The three plucked up were the Heruli in Italy in 493, the Vandals in Africa in 533, and the Ostrogoths in Italy in 538. Therefore, ten kingdoms existed in Western Rome between A.D. 476-493" https://thesureword.org/the-ten-kingdoms-of-rome/ “This history of the plucking up of these powers culminates with Imperial Rome giving it’s seat, power, and authority to papal Rome (Revelation 13:2; Daniel 11:31), making it “more stout than his fellows” (Daniel 7:20).(Points B, D & F) In 533 AD, Justinian made the Western Bishop head of church and state, strengthening its influence across the then known world. Church-wise, this took care of the opposing bishops in the East, who wanted to be ‘fratres’ or brothers—but the Western Bishop wanted to be ‘papa’ or Father (Hence the title pope or Holy Father). However, the Arian powers stood in the way of its state influence in the region, so Justinian helped to destroy these. The last of the three, the Ostrogoths, were uprooted in 538 AD. ... So, ultimately, the... understanding is that other powers “plucked up” the Arian powers to pave the way for the development of papal church-state supremacy in the Old World (Daniel 11:31),... In 1798, the Pope was captured by Napolen’s military commander, Louis-Alexandre Berthier, which... signify the end of the papacy’s dominating state power and ... (received a) “deadly wound” of the sea beast of Revelation 13 .... One of the underlying reasons for the French Revolution was take off the yoke of the Catholic monarchy. Interestingly, when Mousollini gave the papacy sovereignty over the Vatican through the Lateran Treaty in 1929, The San Francisco Chronicle of February 12, 1929, exploded with the headline, “Mussolini and Gasparri Sign Historic Roman Pact, Heal Wound of Many Years;” the New York Times also talked about this in its February 12, 1929 issue, in which the abstract says, “The Pope is again an independent sovereign ruler, as he was throughout the Middle Ages, though his temporal realm, established today, is the most microscopic independent State in the world, and probably the smallest in all history.” These headlines allude to the... understanding of the prophecy ... (the little horn power in its papal phase having state power).” https://www.quora.com/According-to-the-SDA-doctrine-the-Arian-Ostrogoths-Heruli-and-vandals-were-uprooted-or-overcome-by-the-papacy-and-became-extinct-Is-this-true  

Now that we have established that the papacy is the little horn power and the first beast in Revelation 13 what would “the Mark” of the papacy be? For that we only need to go to their own writings. I need to emphasize that I am not talking about any one individual, but a system that has set up itself as if they are God on this earth. Does God have a “mark” and what is it? The answer is yes, God has a mark or a seal and the devil has a counterfeit mark. So what are these marks? “In the Bible, the words seal, sign, mark, and token are used interchangeably.” as in Romans 4: 11 “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.4.KJV Exodus 31: 16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/EXO.31.KJV Ezekiel 20: 12 “Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/EZK.20.KJV Lest you think that this was meant only for the Israelites see my other blog on who are God’s chosen people: https://iodtiger.blogspot.com/2025/04/who-are-gods-chosen-people.html and if you think that God has done away with His laws see my other blog: https://iodtiger.blogspot.com/2025/05/all-governments-have-laws.html 

Now that we understand that the Sabbath is the sign of God’s true-hearted believers let us look at the claims of the Papacy regarding the Sabbath. “Q. Have you any other way of proving that the Church has power to institute festivals of precept? 

    A. Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her;—she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday the seventh day, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority. Q. Have you any other proofs that they are not guided by the Scriptures? 

    A. Yes; so many, that we cannot admit more than a mere specimen into this small work.  They reject much that is clearly contained in Scripture, and profess more that is nowhere discoverable in that Divine Book. 

    Q. Give some examples of both? 

    A. They should, if the Scripture were their only rule, wash the feet of one another, according to the command of Christ, in the 13th chap. of St. John;—they should keep, not the Sunday, but the Saturday, according to the commandment, "Remember thou keep holy the SABBATH-day;" for this commandment has not, in Scripture, been changed or abrogated;—they should receive, what they call the sacrament, after supper, and not in the morning, because Christ instituted that sacrament at night, and his Apostles received it after supper;—they should not eat blood or strangled meat, because the Apostles forbid it in the 15th chap. of the Acts;—they should not baptize infants, as there [pg. 102] is no example in Scripture to justify such a practice. Q. What inference would you draw from all this? 

    A. That Protestants ought rather to call themselves Anti-Evangelicals, than Evangelicals, as their doctrines are opposed to, rather than in conformity with, the Gospel. Q. When Protestants do profane work upon Saturday, or the seventh day of the week, do they follow the Scripture as their only rule of faith,—do they find this permission clearly put down in the Sacred Volume? 

    A. On the contrary, they have only the authority of tradition for this practice. In profaning Saturday, they violate one of God's commandments, which he has never clearly abrogated, "Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day." 

    Q. Is the observance of Sunday, as the day of rest, a matter clearly laid down in Scripture? 

    A. It certainly is not; and yet all Protestants consider the observance of this particular day as essentially necessary to salvation. To say, we observe the Sunday, because Christ rose from the dead on that day, is to say we act without warrant of Scripture; and we might as well say, that we should rest on Thursday because Christ ascended to heaven on that day, and rested in reality from the work of redemption. Q. What do you conclude from all this? 

    A. That Protestants have no Scripture for the measure of their day of rest,—that they abolish the observance of Saturday without warrant of Scripture;—that they substitute Sunday in its place without Scriptural authority,—consequently, that for all this, they have only traditional authority. https://www.catholicapologetics.info/apologetics/protestantism/catechism.htm “How has the papacy tried to change God’s law? In three ways: In her catechisms she has (1) omitted the second commandment against veneration of images, and (2) shortened the fourth (Sabbath) commandment from 94 words to just eight. The Sabbath commandment (Exodus 20:8–11) clearly specifies Sabbath as the seventh day of the week. As changed by the papacy in its catechism, the commandment reads, “Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day.” Written thus, it can refer to any day. And, finally, she (3) divided the tenth commandment into two commandments.” https://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/study-guide/e/4997/t/the-mark-of-the-beast "Question.-How prove you that the church hath power to command feasts and holy days? "Answer.-By the very act of changing the Sabbath into Sunday, which Protestants allow of Christian doctrine."- Abridgment by Rev. Henry Tuberville, D.D., page 58. NOTES-In a letter written in November, 1895, Mr. H. F. Thomas, chancellor to Cardinal Gibbons, replying to an inquiry as to whether the Catholic Church claims to have changed the Sabbath, said: "Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act. . . . and the act is a mark of her ecclesiastical authority in religious things," For other statements concerning this, see pages 133, 136. The true Sabbath being a sign of loyalty to the true God, it is but natural that the false Sabbath should be regarded as a sign of allegiance to apostasy. And such we find to be the case. https://a.aolis.aup.edu.ph/wingp/biblereadings/What_does_the_Papacy_set_forth_as_the_mark__or_sign__of_its_power_and_authority_.php 

What does it mean then to receive the mark in the forehead or in the hand? “The forehead represents the mind (Hebrews 10:16 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, And in their minds will I write them;” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/HEB.10.KJV). A person will be marked in the forehead by a decision to keep Sunday as a holy day. The hand is a symbol of work (Ecclesiastes 9:10 “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ECC.9.KJV ). A person will be marked in the hand by working on God’s holy Sabbath or by going along with Sunday laws for practical reasons (job, family, etc.). The sign, or mark, for either God or the beast will be invisible to people. You will, in essence, mark yourself by accepting either God’s mark—the Sabbath—or the beast’s mark—Sunday. Though invisible to men, God will know who has which mark (2 Timothy 2:19 “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/2TI.2.KJV ).” https://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/study-guide/e/4997/t/the-mark-of-the-beast 

Does anyone currently have the mark of the beast? NO. Until there is legislation enforcing the papal Sunday over God’s commandment, there is no one who has been “marked”. It is only when the second beast of Revelation 13 “causes” all to worship the first beast that this marking begins to take effect. How does a nation “cause” people to do anything? The answer is by it’s laws. So when this “beast” makes laws that enforce Sunday observance, then people will be brought to a choice of obeying the laws of the land or God’s law. God has true hearted believers in every denomination, and when this law comes into effect they will come together out of all the other denominations. (For more information on this subject please call Harvestime Books 931-692-3777, ask for the book “Sunday is Not the Bible Sabbath” or click link https://harvestimebooks.com/ ).