US in Prophecy

1. The Great Controversy Between Good & Evil Time is running out! By KarissaSotala and Adislen P. Varela

2. As we study Bible prophecy, our purpose is to answer the following questions. 1. Is there anything happening right now that will affect my future? 2. Did the Bible predict how we would get there? 3. Historically speaking, what has happened to get us where we are today? 4. Where are we in this great controversy?

3. To start of, let’s take a look at how our world is developing in the new millennium. The Bible is being fulfilled. Matthew 24:5 Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda claims to be Jesus. Matthew 24:6 There are currently 42 active wars. Matthew 24:12 Percentage wise, there are as many murders in Chicago everyday as there are in Iraq. Current world events Matthew 24:7 One out of every six countries are facing food shortages. Matthew 24:7 Powerful earthquake struck Western China

4. What events led to the American Revolution? Strike 1 Strike 2 Strike 3 The Sugar Act was one of the policies in 1764. It was designed to raise more income from the colonies. Ship owners were told that their ships would be seized if they “forgot” to pay their duties or taxes. The Stamp Act in 1765. This act placed a tax on newspapers, pamphlets, legal documents, and most other printed materials. This act touched almost all Americans in every colony and was widely protested. The Townshend Acts in 1767. This act placed duties on certain imported goods, including glass and tea. As a consequence to this act the protests and violence began again. So did the boycotts. You’re Out!

13. Water represents peoples, multitudes, and nations (Rev. 17:15). Rev. 13:2 - Notice that the beast got its power from the dragon. Not only did it get the dragon's spiritual power, but also its geographical seat and political authority. Rev 13: 3,4. “And I saw one of his heads as if it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 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?” * Rev 13: 5,6- How long are 42 prophetic months? Rev 12 tells us that 42 months equal 1260 days. In Ezekiel 4:6 and Numbers 14:34, a day in prophecy stands for a year.This power would be built on the foundation of the Roman Empire and continue for 1260 years. In 538 A.D., the Roman emperor Justinian declared by imperial edict that the bishop of Rome was head over all churches, the definer of doctrine, and the corrector of heretics.*

14. Answering questions But the question arises - Does the Papacy claim the privilege and prerogatives of God? The facts are that it does. The Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Dictionary says, “ The Pope is of so great dignity and so exalted that he is not a mere man, but as it were God, and the vicar of God…. He is likewise the divine monarch and supreme emperor and king of kings so that if it were possible that the angels err the faith, they could be judged and excommunicated by the pope.” In the National Catholic Counsel, Pope Leo XIII says: “We hold upon the earth the place of God almighty.” From the book, Duties and Dignities of the Priest by Antonio Leguori, a book used in Catholic seminaries to train priests, page 39, the following is quoted: “Were the redeemer to descend into a church and sit in the confessional to administer the sacrament of penance, and a priest to sit in a confessional, Jesus would say over the penitent: “Ego teabsolvo.” The priest would likewise say over each penitent: “Ego teabsolvo.” And the penitents of each would be equally absolved.”

15. Rev 13:7-10 Rev 13:7,8 says, “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. 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.” It is a simple fact of history that between 50 and 200 million men, women, and children were martyred during the Dark Ages because they did not conform to Papal claims. * Revelation 13:10 says, “ 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.” The Papacy’s political authority ended around the year 1798 when Pope Pius VI died a lonely exile in France. The leader of the power who had taken the church into captivity died, himself, in captivity.

16. Lamb-like Beast Characteristics Second Forth Third First The 1st characteristic of the lamb-like beast isits location on the earth. The earth represents an area of scarce population with few peoples where as the sea represents many people. The 2nd characteristic of this lamb-like beast is the time of its rise to power around the year 1798. The 3rd characteristic of the Lamb-like beast is the global sphere of its power (Rev. 13:12). The 4th characteristic is the lamb-like manner of its rise. The lamb represents a young beast. It is not an old beast. Thus it is not an old nation. It is a new power that arises to dominance.

17. The Lamb-like Beast from the Earth Revelation 13:10-11 says, “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. 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.” The earth represents an area of scarce population with few people. Which is a fitting symbol of the New World in America. The Bible also says that the lamb-like beast arises at the same time that the first beast is going into captivity.*

18. Identifying the Lamb-like Beast Other unique characteristics Rev. 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.” The first beast had ten horns with crowns on it. But these horns are uncrowned. This indicates that there is no king with the lamblike beast. The lamb is a symbol of freedom and innocence. It is the opposite of the tyranny of the old world. It speaks, not of bondage, but of liberty. It speaks not of chains, but of freedom. It speaks not of oppression, but of tolerance. Thus it is a democratic power. In Revelation 5:6 the lamb is also a symbol of Christ. Therefore this power has its beginning as a Christian movement. Also remember, Christ alone is the one who offers true freedom. Likewise, this power pretends to offer freedom to the nations of the world. This nation is founded on principles of religious freedom.* But there will be a union between the lamb-like beast and the first beast, representing Rome, who was wounded in 1798 and whose wound was later healed. Thus the two horns represent two phases of power, the first lamb-like, the second dragon like.

19. Revelation 13: 12-14 Revelation 13:12 says, "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.” The Bible says that the lamb-like beast will exercise global power and authority like Rome did in the Middle Ages.* Since the Gulf War and the collapse of Communism, geopolitical thinkers recognize the fact that there is now only one super power, and that power is the United States. And oddly enough, this super power is very good friends withthe Church of Rome or Papal Rome.* Revelation 13:13-14 says, “He performs signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.”*

20. Revelation 13:15-17 Revelation 13:15 says, “He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.” This is saying that a time is coming when false worship will be required. We saw a prophetic example of this in Daniel Chapter 3 in the story of the Golden Image. Revelation 13:16-17 says, “He causes all, both small and great , rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Those that receive the mark “in their foreheads” are those that “accept” it in their minds and follow it willingly. Those that have the mark “in their right hands” are those who, though they do not mentally ascribe to it, choose to follow or obey it for convenience sake.

22. 8 Characteristics of the Remnant

23. The Remnant in the End In Revelation 12:17, John describes two key identifying characteristics of this end time remnant. Rev. 12:17- “Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the Commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” This verse is placed right before the chapter on the Mark of the Beast. It is intended to draw attention to the people who will be persecuted by the Roman Papacy and its allies at the end of time. It is also an echo of Rev. 14:12 which describes those who gain the victory over the beast and his image. We will later learn more about the 144,000 (the victorious ones). First Characteristic: They keep the Commandments of God. The remnant church must keep all ten commandments, including the fourth one. (Revelation 12:17) (Hag 1:12) Second Characteristic: They have the testimony of Jesus Christ. In Revelation 19:10, John defines the “testimony of Jesus” as the “Spirit of Prophecy.” * Third Characteristic: They are a religious minority in Christianity. In Rev. 12:17 the Bible says that they are the “remnant.” A remnant is not a majority. It is a minority. It literally means “the remaining ones.” (OT Deut. 7: 6,7)

24. The Remnant in the End Fourth Characteristic: They arise after the 1260 years of Papal persecution. In Rev. 12:6,14 the Bible teaches that the church would go underground for 1260 years. After the persecution of the Middle Ages, the remnant is pictured coming into existence before the mark of the beast issue at the end of time.* Fifth Characteristic:They find their beginnings in the new world of America. Rev. 12: 6, 14* Sixth Characteristic: They are a gospel centered remnant. (Rev. 14:2) The Bible says the remnant keep God’s commandments. But it also says it has the “faith of Jesus.” It will be a movement that points to the cross of Christ as the only cure for the sin sick soul. Seventh Characteristic: They teach the Three Angel’s Messages. Revelation 14:6-12. These messages are the last warning to our world. Which we will study next! Eighth Characteristic: They are a world wide movement. In Revelation 14:6 the Bible says the remnant message must go with a “loud voice’ to ‘every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.”

26. The 3rd Angels’ Message 3nd Angel: The Third Angel presents the most solemn warning in scripture. It calls men to reject the Mark of the Beast and to remain faithful to God even in the face of death. Rev. 14:9-12 “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

27. 8 Characteristics of the 144,000

31. Psalms 27: 3-5

32. Psalms 91:1,2

33. Exodus 3:12, Exodus 19: 18-20, Exodus 20:18,19- God’s Sanctuary is a fortress of flames

35. In Revelation 17, a harlot represents the false church named Babylon. (Revelation 17:3-5) According to Revelation 17:5, the Mother Church identified as Babylon has daughters who are also harlots. Those that have the victory have not committed “spiritual adultery” from Christ by commitment to the “spiritual harlots” - the false churches.

38. John 7:17 - “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself.”

39. John 17:17 - “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”Reaping the Earth’s Harvest Revelation 14:14-16 says, “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of Man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel* came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap*: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe*. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped*.” Here we have a prophetic picture of the return of Jesus Christ to “bring in the harvest” of His people – a picture of Christ gathering His people unto him out of the world.

40. Reaping the Grapes of Wrath Revelation 14:17-20 says, “And another angel* came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel* came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth*, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God*. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.” These verses refer back to Rev. 14:10 – to the symbolism of “drinking the wine of the wrath of God” – giving us a further symbolic picture of the destruction of the wicked. Revelation 14:14-20 presents a symbolic picture of the return of Christ to claim His own people out of a world condemned to a fiery judgment.

41. So, why do we study prophecy? It provides proof of the gospel and those who study the scriptures will recognize Jesus when he comes. Last but not least, personal study of prophecy leads to a personal relationship with Jesus. We hope that the information we have presented has helped you to better understand Bible prophecy and the soon coming of Jesus, ‘for all of these things must come to pass. But he that endures unto the end, shall be saved’ Matthew 24:5-7,13. Maybe you’ve lived your life thinking there is no war, or maybe you’ve been living on the wrong side of the war but just remember that Jesus is qualified to be the source of your strength forever and ever.

42. The End By Karissa & Adislen