Literally Satan's man in every way

Answering questions, Jesus says in Mark 13: [17] But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

[18] And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.
[19] For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.

[20] And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

"Notice how Jesus is a creationist?" observes Richard Jordan. " 'Beginning of the creation which God created.' So there's no question about those kind of things. But He says, 'This is going to be the worst it's been since God created the heaven and the earth in Genesis 1.'

"In a parallel passage, Matthew 24 says, [21] For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

[22] And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

"That's where the phrase 'the great tribulation' comes from. Here and in Revelation 7. It's a reference to this time period when there's going to be that unabashed, unreserved anger, betrayal, the man of sin. Christ is not going to restrain but let him go. As we know from II Thessalonians, right now Satan's being withheld, but in that day the Lord's going to take back any restraint and let him have his way.

"That's why those passages say that if those days weren't shortened there would be no flesh saved. In other words, if Satan was let go to the full end of what he would do, that 'lie program' would be so effective that it would seduce and deceive everyone. But Christ's only going to let it go those 1,260 days. He's put him on a leash that way. 

"After Christ comes back and takes us to heaven, the 'dispensation of grace' will be over with and the 'prophetic program' will begin again. The program that Christ, back in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, prepared the little flock to carry on over there will be in play.

"That's what the two witnesses and the 144,000 are for. That little flock begins its ministry again and that's what you're reading about in Mark 13.

"They will start out with the deception (verses 5-6) with wars, rumors of wars, persecution, troubles, sorrows, hatred, the fear that will be aimed at these folks. In the middle of all that, the Antichrist is going to be revealed and the 70 weeks are going to start.

"Now there's a bunch of stuff happening in the heavens while that's taking place. By the way, in Revelation 11:3 are the two witnesses: [3] And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

"There are going to be two witnesses who are going to testify during this period of time. At the end of their ministry they're going to be killed. Revelation 11:7: [7] And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

"These two witnesses are gong to be killed by a beast that ascends up out of the bottomless pit. This is taking place in Jerusalem. And then all the world rejoices because they're killed.

"Verses 9-10: 9] And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

[10] And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

"They say, 'We're going to have a Christmas celebration over these guys being dead!' The world's going to be excited. 'These people who have been tormenting us with God's Word are gone!'

"The two witnesses produce the group of people who are called the 144,000, who are testifying the gospel of the kingdom. Revelation 12:5-6: [5] And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

[6] And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

"So this 144,000 are caught up to God. Israel, the converse of it, flees into the wilderness. They flee because at this point, this witness, the testimony is over. Now, look at Revelation 12:7-9: [7] And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

[8] And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
[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.

"There's war up in heaven and there comes a point where Satan is cast down into the earth. Verse 12: [12] Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

"When he comes down out of the heavens to the earth, his positions in the governments of the heavens are taken away from him, no place of rulership there. He and all his angels come down and they are fit to be tied; they ain't happy.

"The idea of Israel fleeing, there's something to flee from! [13] And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

[14] And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

"So she flees out here and that believing remnant is nourished. While she's fleeing and hiding, Satan has come down and, by the way, the spirit that comes out of the bottomless pit comes up and now you've got the beast that ascendeth up. This is all in connection with the issue of that abomination being set up.

"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.

"Here's a miracle-working religious leader using his supernatural powers to point to a beast who's died and come back to life. Do you know anybody like that in the Bible? Who was going to die and then be resurrected? The Antichrist is counterfeiting the career of the Messiah.

"You say, 'How could he come up?' He's the man of sin, a guy just like you and me. He dies, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit comes up and takes over his body and animates it and he becomes the son of perdition. He's literally Satan's man in every way. And they put up an image to worship him."

(new article tomorrow)