What In The World Is Happening? - July 2020

by Brian D. Papworth

(read more articles by Brian Papworth here pwmi.co.nz)
 

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 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 precede them which are asleep. 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: 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. [1 Thess 4:13-18].

The World Health Organization [WHO] thinks that Covid 19 will not go away of its own fruition and will stay with us as other things like flue, the common cold and many other similar illnesses. This is why the New Zealand Government seeks to try and eliminate the virus as vaccines often do not work very well against viruses neither do antibiotics. However, an effort is being made to try and make a vaccine, so as to help the body to build up immunity against infection. Notice that the WHO seems to be directing the worlds response to this virus. Is it the first show of Global intervention into the life of the world’s population? Remember the Devil is busy setting the world up for the coming of the Antichrist, or the Beast, that is, the Man of Sin.

The Pope in his capacity, as a peace maker, has set up a world religion, with signatories to an agreement to work together, such as the Anglican Church, Methodist Church, Presbyterian, Lutheran, joining with the Roman Catholic Church in mutual worship. However, he has also signed up the Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu religious groups and other minor religious groups. These do not believe in Jesus as God and constitute a heathen religion which of course, will be taken over by Satan controlled Anti-Christ when he comes to rule [Rev 13:11-18]. All these groups have a Mahdi, Messiah or similar in their prophetic books which will manifest himself as the Beast out of the sea [Rev 13:1-10], and who will aim at ruling the whole world. The False Prophet or Beast out of the earth will probably manifest himself before the Anti-Christ or First Beast out of the sea comes. I am not saying our present Pope is the False Prophet but at the moment he seems to be setting up for the future arrival of the Anti-Christ who will not manifest himself until after the Believers in Jesus have been caught up to Heaven. Certainly the centre of the Anti-Christ’s empire will be built on seven hills as is Rome. [Rev 17:9]

Revelation: Chapter 4

And so, we come to chapter 4. The Church has been taken up into the clouds and then to Heaven. John is invited in a vision, to go up to Heaven and see what Heaven is like. The Rapture of the Church has already taken place in this future prophecy. So, John is taken to see Heaven for adding to his narrative. In chapters four and five we see the preparations in Heaven for what will happen in the following chapters. The promise to the Church [Rev 3:10] [1 Thess 5:1-11], has been fulfilled and Revelation says: “After this”. We are now coming to the Tribulation period [Jer 30:7]. John is shown into the Throne Room of God. John cannot see God who is surrounded by great lights. John’s description of the scene is not unlike that of Ezekiel chapter 1, or Isaiah chapter 6. The throne of God show’s Rainbow-like lights. Then John looks at the creatures who are worshipping God and he describes them as best he can. The living creatures, John describes, are an exalted order of angelic beings created to guard the heavenly throne and lead in worship of the adoration of God. They are covered in eye’s; nothing escapes their attention. The four living creatures constantly give praise to God. They are continually crying out “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come” [Rev 4:8]. God is eternal, as Genesis chapter 1 verse 1 says, “In the beginning God.” The four creatures are described as having the face of a lion. The Lion represents the fiercest of beasts, and representing the Royal Lion of the Jewish tribe of Judah. The young ox the strongest of beasts, and great servant of his master. The man is humanity, and eagle the most observant of birds. These are looked on as protecting the throne of God. They may also represent the four Gospels: Matthew to the Jews, Mark the servant, Luke a doctor for mankind, and the eagle as John or the fourth Gospel written with the Church in mind, so we might see and understand “The Word”.

Who are the 24 elders? There are many interpretations for them, I think the most likely are [1] A representative of the whole company of believers, or [2] An exalted heavenly host whose job is to worship God, or [3] representatives of the 12 Jewish Tribes plus the 12 apostles. On this occasion we are not told who they are but they have crowns which they throw down before the Lord in worship. Anything they or we, for that matter, have done which causes them to be awarded crowns, can only be attributed to the Holy Spirits action in the course of our lives here below. They are thrown down before God’s throne in thanksgiving for the Grace and love of the Lord Jesus and what He did for us. Interpretation [1] is the most likely because the Jews are still on earth. The Israel nation will have to go through the fire, and be redeemed for them to inherit their earthly Kingdom in the days when Jesus reigns as King of Kings in time to come [Zech 13:8-9].

We were condemned to death for our sin. But the Lord Jesus came and died at Calvary, the sinless Lamb of God [John 1: 29 -39] as the sacrifice for our disobedience and sin. Jesus was sinless and did not need to die for us, but because He so loved us, He died instead of us, and paid the price of our redemption, so we could once again have communion with God. Jesus arose from the grave, proving He had conquered sin and death. He arose from the dead, the first man to do so, and opened the lifeway back to our Father God. He promised us that one day if we will follow Him, that is, if we believe in Him and are born anew in Him, we will one day go to be with Jesus for Eternity [John 14:1-7].

Brian Papworth
South Pacific Representative for the P.W.M.I.

Read more articles by Brian Papworth here pwmi.co.nz