The stage is set for the elect of God; the battle lines are drawn for these latter days. The elect will know who the participants are in the battle, but they will understand that it is God’s fight.
For as the young David said to the seemingly unbeatable Goliath, exemplifying the very faith that the elect will project, “The LORD (Yahweh) does not save with the sword and spear, for the battle is the LORD’S, and He will give you into our hands” (I Sam. 17: 47).
In this one verse lies the template in which we may glimpse how it will all go down in these latter days. Of course, we are talking about the bringing down of the current Babylonian world system, which Goliath is a symbol of. He was huge, threatening, dominant, and invincible, much like the world governments appear to their peoples. God will position His people in an impossible situation that oppresses them so much that they will cry unto Him for deliverance. They will know that they are too weak to overcome the powers that be. Then God will hear their cries, and He will “give our enemies into our hands” in a miraculous way. God will fight our battle and will turn the tide in His elect’s favor.
The “Stone”
It was not by accident that God used a smooth stone to take down Goliath. How will God, then, take down Satan’s world system? He will use a stone.
The prophet Daniel interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, thus revealing to us the mystery of the “stone” and how this stone will be used to bring down the current world system, like David’s stone brought down Goliath. The king of Babylon had a dream and could not remember it, much less understand its meaning. Daniel told the king that “there is a God in heaven that reveals secrets… and makes known what shall be in the latter days” (2: 28).
Daniel relates to him the dream of a great image with a head of gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass, and legs of iron with its feet of iron and clay. And the king saw “a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet…and brake them to pieces.” In fact, the whole image was shattered and carried off like “the chaff of the summer threshing floors…and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth” (vs. 31-35).
Daniel interprets the image as four world gentile empires: Babylonian, Media-Persia, Grecian, and Roman. The stone that smashed and destroyed these is the literal Kingdom of God that will be ushered in by a stone, not cut out with man’s hand. The stone that smashes the world system are the stones that God will hurl with his cosmic slingshot—large stones of a heavenly origin, asteroids coming into the earth during the Great Tribulation Period, as depicted in the prophecies of Revelation.
Here’s the proof: The 6th seal kicks it off when “stars of heaven fell unto the earth” (Rev. 6: 12). Then comes the…
- First trumpet—“Hail and fire mingled with blood…cast upon the earth” (Rev. 8: 7)
- 2nd trumpet—“A great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea (v. 8)
- 3rd trumpet—“And there fell a great star from heaven…called Wormwood” upon the rivers (v. 10-11)
- 5th trumpet—Another star fell into the earth
In all these instances, we see a stone from heaven used by God as the instrument of destruction of the world system. These are “acts of God” completely out of the realm of man. That is why He said, “Vengeance is mine, saith the LORD; I will repay.” We are to just believe Him and “stand fast and see the glory of the LORD.”
His soon coming kingdom is the stone kingdom. For “in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed…and will break in pieces all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever” (Dan. 2: 44). This is the good news; this is the gospel. This is why Christ came to earth. All roads lead to His government being established. He will return to this sin-sick earth after the Tribulation period to assume His throne in this earth. His elect, the 100-fold fruit-bearing sons of the living God will rule with Him, sitting with Him on His throne, for 1,000 years of peace.
The Stage Is Set
So, yes, the stage is set and ready for all of this to take place. The battle lines are drawn. “Two manners of peoples” are doing battle for dominion of the earth, as it was with Jacob and Esau.
The minions of Edom control the central banks and the economies of this present world system. As Rothschild said, He who controls the money controls the world. The international bankers then control the governments of this world. They control, therefore, the political machinations, the media, the economy, and the educational trends.
It’s the parable of the wheat and the tares. These rich men “heap treasure together for the last days” (James 5: 3). They “wrap it up” (Micah 7: 3). They sound and look like the chosen people of God, but are not, being wolves in sheep’s clothing. Christ said to them, “You are of your father the devil” (John 8: 44).
And the sheep are asleep right now in their respective flocks/countries. They are relying on their political and religious shepherds, who are bought and paid for by the wolves, and are fed with just enough food to keep them making money for their masters (read, the Fed and the other central banks of the world). These are the tares.
But bad things are prophesied for Esau/Edom. They will not continue forever, for their one world government will come crashing down (Obadiah, Malachi, Revelation). Who will cry the loudest when the stones start falling, thus destroying this world system? It will be the merchants and bankers (Rev. 18: 9-19).
And who are the wheat in the parable of the wheat and tares of Matthew 13? They are the elect—those who God has awakened. They are the very few whose eyes He has opened wide to see the current sad state of affairs of this world and all the misery caused by God’s enemy. And they will begin to mobilize to prepare themselves to battle the monolith. But not with physical guns and weapons. No. They will use the sword of the Spirit, the shield of faith and truth. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds…” (II Cor. 10: 4).
And those strong holds are the chains of this world system that the children of the wicked one has forged and fastened on the people.
For this is God’s fight really. He is now looking for more people like David, who knew it was God’s battle and believed that what He had promised, He was quite able to perform. Kenneth Wayne Hancock
Hello Kenneth,
I’m just wondering if you believe that we are in the endtimes right now – or whether that event will occur long after we are gone?
Ken N.
Thanks, Ken N. for your question. End times now?? I suppose one must determine when they would begin, the timeline, as it were. If we believe that the end times mean that the end of this age and the establishing of the literal Kingdom of God in the earth with Christ as King is in our lifetime, then yes I believe we are in it. The fig tree nation blossoming forth as a nation again [1948]… I believe that Christ taught that some alive when this happened would still be alive when He returned. At least compared to the expanse of recorded history, time is short…But the big sign is the 6th seal, the great earthquake, when every island is jarred from its moorings–that happens right before the 7 year Tribulation Period…and the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, among many others. So things are poised and shaping up. It is conceivable that all of this could come together in the next 20-30 years. kwh
Hello Kenneth,
I’m just checking to see if you received my reply to your previous rely? I never heard back from you. 🙂
Ken N.
Hey, Ken N. I replied above. Thanks for visiting. Hope it helped. kwh
Hello Kenneth,
Thank you for your initial reply.
I would have to say that the Bible is quite explicit about when end-time events might commence, as there are specific indicators described:
http://ernestlmartin.com/index2.htm#endtimes
None of those indicators appears to be even on the horizon, much less happening now, with the exception of the creation of the state of Israel in 1948.
Perhaps the articles listed below might shed some light on where we are in God’s timetable:
http://www.askelm.com/prophecy/p021201.htm
http://www.askelm.com/news/n090401.pdf
http://www.askelm.com/news/n130717.pdf
In my poll of ‘who thinks they will be in the KOG’, only 61% believe they will. I would be willing to bet that less than 10% (maybe even less than 1%) of that 61% will really be accepted:
http://poll.pollcode.com/LtTI_result?v
(From my poll at the top of my KOG article:
http://ernestlmartin.com/kingdomofgod-firstresurrection.htm)
The point of the poll is that preaching the KOG does not equal people understanding and accepting it. Only God can open people’s minds and draw them to the truth. Our job is to simply put it out there – and to practice what we preach.
Ken N.
http://ernestlmartin.com
Thanks, Ken N. for your comments. I will continue to pour over your links. In the “End Time Events List,” conspicuous by its absence was any reference to the “manifestation of the sons of God,” the bringing forth by God of those overcomers who will do the ‘greater works” Christ talked about. It is to those that I write by His grace, to help them with a bit of knowledge of His plan and purpose…I, of course, agree with many of the things you all propose must take place, then there are other things I am still studying out. You mentioned 1948, the Fig Tree Nation Sign…Can’t help but think of Christ’s words of prophecy: “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender,” [1948] then the harvest of the world, the end of the world is nigh…”This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled…” Somebody alive in 1948 will still be alive when it all comes down and He returns…I believe that. Now that could be 2048, but things are happening fast. Just look what has happened in the last ten years. kwh
Hello Kenneth,
To address some of your comments:
a. The manifestation of the Sons of God is a reference to the “Divine Council”, not any group of human beings alive now or in the “end-times”. Dr. Mike Heiser is probably the world’s expert on that subject:
http://www.thedivinecouncil.com/
Here are just some of his research papers on that subject:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CC4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedivinecouncil.com%2FIntroduction%2520to%2520the%2520Divine%2520Council%2520MTIT.pdf&ei=ytYsUsD9OciQ2AXktYH4DQ&usg=AFQjCNH8kI71J0cSET_eO5eGCY8y0i18JQ&sig2=Wl-HQ4ZlFe7NiPj3Jx-fKA&bvm=bv.51773540,d.b2I
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CDQQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedivinecouncil.com%2FWordChapter.pdf&ei=ytYsUsD9OciQ2AXktYH4DQ&usg=AFQjCNEFt7NV1TMJmLbs37AxfJQUsUT3aQ&sig2=yWdU7733QAywRkfTy2x91A&bvm=bv.51773540,d.b2I
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CDkQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedivinecouncil.com%2FDT32BibSac.pdf&ei=ytYsUsD9OciQ2AXktYH4DQ&usg=AFQjCNFlRTrjl8qRHnH4dcKn6qQa5Djj2g&sig2=ifu3_6rZpSU-C_FJ372yjQ&bvm=bv.51773540,d.b2I
b. “Things are happening fast”? Could you give some examples? While the world situation continues towards a (Illuminati) “one world government”, I see nothing happening now or that is about to happen within the foreseeable future that would indicate we are even near the “end-times”.
God gave us specific indicators for a reason, so that we would not be caught off guard. Yet, for some reason, we seem to completely ignore them.
While I am very hesitant to ever set any dates, if I had to pick one, it would probably be around 2070 (and, of course, there are many scriptures indicating that even that time may be changed):
http://www.askelm.com/prophecy/p021201.htm
Thanks for your input.
Ken N.
Thanks, Ken N., for those thoughts and links to articles. Very interesting stuff. No doubt that the early church believed in a divine council, for when the maiden saw Peter at the door after the prison break there in Acts, she thought that it was not him but his angel which looked just like the man Peter. Ie, his spirit body counterpart. When you say that the “sons of God” that are to be manifested during the end times are not human, well, they aren’t after “mortality is swallowed up of life,” when those chosen humans are “clothed upon with their house (read: a member of the divine council which are a spiritual house) which is from heaven.”…..Thank you again for these interesting articles. It is so difficult to get meaningful reading material. kwh
Hello Kenneth,
All of the articles I have previoiusly listed have come from our website:
http://ernestlmartin.com/
In fact, we have 23 pages, dozens of articles and over 17,000 links to other sites with equally interesting material, both biblical and non-biblical.
These two pages would be of particular interest to all biblical scholars:
http://ernestlmartin.com/index2.htm#ask
http://ernestlmartin.com/index3.htm#biblical
The ASK site also has many fine articles:
http://www.askelm.com/
And, we also have many fine links on our Statement of Belief page (text words hyperlinked) as well:
http://ernestlmartin.com/ekklesia.htm
Thank you for your interest.
Ken N.
I was under the impression that the tribulation period is seven years in length. When the 6th seal is opened, this is well into it, at least half way because this is when the abomination of desolation happens. Doesn’t the tribulation and the beginning of birth pangs start with a “false” peace treaty involving Israel and the entire world?
Please clarify this for me. Thanks!
Hey, Chris. “The book” is sealed with 7 seals–the book of the happenings of this current age. After the 6th, the 7th is opened (Rev. 8: 1). This brings the calm before the storm of tribulation of 7 years brought by the 7 trumpets and 7 vials of wrath of (8: 2 thru 9: 21, and ch. 16). From what I can perceive, the opening of the 7 seals of the book bring on the last hurrah of the one world system and its demise before the setting up of His kingdom. That calm is when the “manifested sons of God (Rev. 7, 14), the firstfruits, the elect, the remnant, the 100 folders, the overcomers of the church ages, the rulers with Christ on His throne–this is when they shine and go worldwide, preaching and doing miracles, ministering to the needs of the people…kwh
Thanks for the reply! How do you see the false peace agreement fitting into the first seal?
Hey, Chris. Re: the first seal…First of all, the seven seals of the book of the time of the end begin to be unsealed at the beginning of the 20th Century. Up until 1900 AD, things had pretty much continued as they did for the past 200, 500, or even 1,000 years. It was horses for travel and work and print media…Then at the turn of the century many things changed: flight, electricity, aviation, automobiles, radio waves, telecommunications, etc. And on the negative side–a world war, WWI, that was so catastrophic that nations began to contemplate giving up their nationalism and seeking togetherness for the sake of surviving as a species…
It is this time that Christ began to take off the seals. Remember how Daniel, who glimpsed into our era, the time of the end, was told to “seal up the book until the time of the end.” The first seal that came off of the book ushered in one that sat on a white horse, and “conquering” was his calling card. Conquering means war. The second seal shows one who “takes peace from the earth,” thus showing that this is a world wide war, the opposite of peace.
So with these things in mind, we must seriously consider that the seals began to be removed around 1914 or so. Think: world wars and communism…
I believe that the false peace agreement comes during the seven year tribulation, which has not started yet, for the sixth seal, the great earthquake and its aftermath, has definitely not happened yet…kwh
You mention “But the big sign is the 6th seal, the great earthquake, when every island is jarred from its moorings–that happens right before the 7 year Tribulation Period”….
Rev 6:2 says “And behold, a white Horse. And its rider has a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering and to conquer.” The white horse represents unparalleled world peace – a false peace that is to be short lived. This peace will be ushered in by a series of false messiah culminating with the Antichrist (Matt 24:3-5). The whole world will follow this rider, being obsessed with this false peace. The bow is a symbol of war, but the absence of arrows implies that this victory is a bloodless one – a peace won by covenant and agreement, not by war.
This is referenced in Dan 9:24-27. He, the ‘prince who is to come’, confirms a 7-year covenant, a pact between Israel and ‘many’ – possibly the entire world as he is Israel’s peace keeper, but in actuality he is the Antichrist.
So, according to Daniel, the ‘false peace covenant’ starts the tribulation period of 7 years. Obviously, it follows that 1914 didn’t start the opening of the 1st seal or we’d be in the 1000 year Millennial Reign of Christ’s earthly Kingdom right now.
You are correct that the false peace starts in the tribulation, it is the 1st seal to be opened, but I don’t see where there has been any covenant with Israel to usher in peace. They have only been in existence since 1948 and have been the topic of peace agreements all along, but none have been reached yet. I also don’t see how the false peace treaty can happen after the 6th seal. Mostly because the seventh seal with its seven trumpets and seven bowl judgments are so severe – the world is plunging into utter chaos like never seen before at this point.
Thanks, purechirochris, for your thoughts expressed here. We have different timetables in our minds re: when things go down, but thank you for the food for thought. I will continue to study these things out. kwh
so you’re stuck in your patter and not teachable? that’s too bad…
Purechirochris, just because we disagree at this present juncture as to timing of events does not mean that either of us is unteachable, does it? Rather we need to have more time to allow the Spirit through prayer and study to reveal more of His truth to us. Wouldn’t you agree? kwh