For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (6): a pause from Revelation to recap

1 Thessalonians 5:16-20

Jesus told the disciples it is the spirit that gives life and His words are life and spirit. Paul also reiterated what Jesus had said that to really experience the powerful, more than conquerer, abundant life Jesus has given, we have to walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh. The most difficult challenge of all, really. The main reason why Jesus walked in victory was because He was in the power of the Spirit. Jesus demonstrated with His life that it is possible and expected of His followers walking by the Spirit. This is the same today for all born again believers. Before proceeding further to continue our studying the book of Revelation, we therefore need to pause and review the issue of walking by the Spirit.

Here are some verses to meditate upon today. They are just an illustration of what walking by the Spirit means in practice. We can learn from mostly David’s psalms below. Psalm is thought to be written by Moses. We shall look at it at the end.

1. David’s prayer: Psalm 17:8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,
2. David’s oracle: Psalm 36:7 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.
3. David’s prayer for safety from enemies: Psalm 57:1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.
4. David’s prayer of assurance: Psalm 61:4 I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah
5. David’s prayer in the wilderness: Psalm 63:7 Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.

First, David talks to God directly. God is real to him and he can talk to God any time. Secondly, he knows the safe place for him in the spiritual realm actually protects him in the physical realm. The safe place in the spiritual realm is “the shadow of God’s wings”.

What does it mean? It gives a picture of an eagle spreading her wings over her young birds, protecting them from other birds of prey. It can mean the covering or the edge of a garment. The edge of God’s garment! This reminds us of the woman with a blood issue who was instantly healed when she touched Jesus’ garment! Take note that Both of the comparisons used in Psalm 17:8 are found in Deuteronomy 32:10-12. The eagle not only covers and protects with its wings, it also carry them on its wings to safety.

The spiritual safe place of God’s presence is also the physical safe place away from the enemies’ attacks (e.g. illness and other worse dangers). Psalm 91 reveals the many dangers Moses and the children of Israel went through in the wilderness: fowler, pestilence, plague, terror, arrow, lion, serpent etc. Jesus rebuked His enemies as brood of vipers. Peter warned of the roaring lion seeking whom it may devour. (Matthew 12:34, 1 Peter 5:8) These are agents used by the spiritual enemies to attack God’s children.

How do the people of God get help against the attacks of the enemies? Psalm 91 below gives a clear condition: abiding or dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, i.e. staying in the presence of God Himself. This is a spiritual realm. God is Spirit. Yet it has the same covering and power of protection in the physical realm.

How to do that? Abiding/dwelling in God? Isaiah 26:3 gives us the practical guide:

You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.

The mind. Our mind controls the spiritual direction we lean towards.

1. Psalm 91:1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2. Psalm 91:4 He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

How to stay our mind on God? As many have testified and urged by the apostle Paul, pray without ceasing, which can only be done by praying in tongue (in the Spirit). Recently I have listened to many testimonies of miraculous/supernatural happenings to them when they prayed in the Spirit, including healing, avoidance of danger, favor from people, marriage and family relationship healed, financial improvement, providence and provision, supernatural transformation of lives. Many happened to new believers and believers newly hearing the gospel of grace and encountering God’s love and outpouring of the Holy Spirit and praying in tongue. The common denominator is praying in tongue.

My personal experience also confirms the above. Praying in tongue turned around a ten days’ physical attack on my body.

watchman kainotes, 2021-09-25

For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (5): ideo/poli/techno/econ-control (somewhat serious discourse)

Surprise! Surprise! This is the challenge today. Purchasing power can be controlled centrally by an ideological group who have taken control of political and military power resources. In simple terms they can be described as totalitarian or authoritarian. For example, one single party/elite group (of families/related associates/ political dynastic rulers) takes absolute control and stay in control for decades or more of a nation or nations/states. Absolute control of the nation’s resources (military, social, economic, education, and religion/belief) gives them the power to stay in power. And yes, mass media and freedom/restrictions of movement/association are major means of their absolute control too.

A question to note in the history of the last century: which political and economic ideology had seemed to fail earlier on and had since come back in full force, having successfully infiltrated (under the guise of a related sister-ideology that puts on a more attractive different dressing) the Western world’s education system and the minds of many educated modern men and women?

Prophetic horror futuristic satirical books and movies describing the above are plenty throughout human history, especially so in the last century. The advancement of digital and virtual technology has accelerated the evolution/materialization of such scenarios in recent decades, like wish fulfillments of the group(s) that now pull the world stage strings, as depicted in the book of Revelation.

The book of Revelation describes simplified yet profound events that will/are happening in this earth world and in God’s world beyond earth as well.

Today we look at chapter 13, to see who/what the two beasts are, one from the sea and one out of the earth.

First, the current world has the technology to make synthetic human-like fakes by computer programs. The humanlike fake-humans can be broadcasted throughout the whole world simultaneously, sound and look like some popular human persons whose existence the world may be accustomed to believe, whereas in reality they exist onscreen and do signs and wonders onscreen. The beasts in Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 can be produced in such manner by the agents of Satan, using digital sound-alikes and look-alikes which technology is already thriving today. (13:12-14)

The control of access to many goods and services (including financial) through a digital coding/registration and tracking, is already a done deal through technology.

Revelation 13:18 the number of the beast, the number of a man: Computer is a calculation machine. The beasts are made possible by the principles of automated calculation and automata (computers and programs). “Its number is 666.” (GNBUK) Making moving digital look-alikes to pass human testing would probably have been technically very difficult, if not impossible, without 64-bit computing. There are already literatures written on the calculation of the number and I would not go further into that in this post.

What do all these mean to a Christian? Seeing the seemingly invincible power of the absolute control by a small totalitarian/authoritarian group(s) over the world’s resources and technology, and their ability to mesmerize the people of the world? What does the book of Revelation say?

1. the first beast is real person/persons/group/nation/(s). They/some are behind the control of the world’s resources, commercial activities, and wealth. (Take note that they may be of many different power groups of various sizes and not just one. Each has its own private/localized/nationalized agenda and motivation, not necessarily united as one bloc for the whole human race.)
2. they use strategic technology and system to advance their power goals.
3. their main goal is to take control of power.
4. there will be sizable number of people willingly submitting to the aforementioned.
5. the second beast can be person(s)/system/policies/executive orders/administration/operational procedures and many other man-made rules and regulations in the world to ensure execution of instructions to fulfill the aforementioned desired outcome.
6. These can be a pre-set centralized automated generic alarm control when the sensor is triggered, somewhat/perhaps like what is happening in the current “healthcare-related” world right now.

The aforementioned can be re-worded into further practical questions for Christians. By now, after two thousand years of Christianity, repeatedly reading the same prophesies for end time, most Christians are well versed/at least have some ideas with the warning signs to watch. Jesus commanded His disciples to “watch and pray” even at His darkest, most challenging hours before arrest. We can safely place this command on the top of our action list. Remember, Jesus says this, we can ask Him/in His name anything we want.

1. Keep Watch and pray. (Mark 14:38; Luke 21:8-36)
2. ask for discernment of the signs of the time. (Matthew 24)
3. ask for supplies/anything and we shall be given. (John 15:7)
4. ask for greater wisdom than that of the agents of the enemy. (Matthew 10:16-20)
5. ask for and constantly practice enhancement in our spiritual power walk in the Kingdom of God. (Many good teachings form the apostles’ Epistles)

In my next post I shall discuss the practicality of how to deal with the economic and related constraints. For example, how are you going to get food and clothings and other necessities when you are precluded from ease of access by certain mandatory orders by the executives under certain ruling power?

To be continued. Meanwhile, ponder on the cliffhanger.

p/s: the world’s largest two economies by far, the U.S. and China, are headquarters for every one of the 10 most profitable companies: half are U.S. and half are Chinese. Equally important, half of the corporations on the list are technology companies and the other half are financial companies.

Watchman Kainotes, 2021-09-16

For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (4): end time purchasing power calls the shots

We need to make sense of what we are seeing in the world, more so today than ever before. As promised, I will posit some practical ways, how we can deal with the three main things in the end time horror movies: the commerce, the system, and the human aspect, impacting both the macro-community and the micro-individual aspects of life on earth. I pray that we all can learn together on this journey through the Book of Revelation (chapters 13-19), particularly with a relevant current date bend.

In this post I will first highlight the power of religion and financial success in time not too long ago. In the second part I will post some problematic Biblical questions and leave a biblical cliff hanger for readers to ponder/meditate on.

Jesus said clearly that the thief comes in to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). We are seeing seen and unseen “thieves” going on a rampage, wrecking the three crucial fields: health, wealth, and safety. It is being enacted on the individual level and all the way up to the global community level.

When we try to identify the key human factor, we cannot brush aside the fact that religions, education attainment and financial success are closely related. Reading end time and trying to conjecture a real life scenario of a dystopia society must take into account how and where the power groups are being shifted. Identifying the key factors will reveal the strategies of the enemy and why they are doing what they are doing or will be doing.

First, who has the purchasing power? What will the enemy target first? Who controls the purchasing power? Are the Christian group large enough to be a significant power in the world?

Religion impacts most if not all decision making. A religion is defined as a system of faith or worship. A religious person believes in a higher power, such as a God or gods. Beliefs vary but it is to which people regard as holy, divine, sacred, or spiritual. About 85% of the world identifies with a religion. The most popular religion is Christianity, followed by an estimated 33% of people, and Islam, which is practiced by over 24% of people. Both religions believe that there is ONE GOD.

This is a significant size for any sellers to consider when making any decision. Without a buyer or sufficient number of buyers their product/service is dead. The population with the money to buy/purchasing power calls the shots.

The correlation between wealth and religion: According to a study from 2015, Christians (the largest component being the Catholics) hold the largest amount of wealth (55% of the total world wealth), followed by Muslims (5.8%), Hindus (3.3%), and Jews (1.1%).

Faith-based marketing is the integration of religious faith into marketing and business: In the United States this type of marketing can help reach Christians, who enjoy an estimated purchasing power of over $5.1 trillion a year!

But who are the real purchasing power today? What does the Book of Revelation say?

In the Book of Revelation, merchants of the world have made their fortune through commerce with a significant group with seemingly limitless purchasing power and a large appetite for extravagant luxurious goods (18:3). That customer group is called “Babylon the great” (BTG). There are two chapters (17-18) describing this BTG. Here is the brief list of characteristics which the an angel tells John about the BTG (described as “she”).

1. rules over many waters (17:1), representing masses of people of every nation and language. (17:15)
2. has illicit relationship with the rulers of the world. (17:2) It appears to describe a nation with a mixture of people groups. Which nation has the largest influx of people groups from all over the world?
3. the people who belong to this world (TPWBTTW) made drunk by her immorality. (17:2) Which nation sells her immoral products all over the world and successfully changes the value system of the world?
4. openly (even in public writing) blasphemies against God. (17:3) Which nation allows open blasphemies against God?
5. full of obscenities, impurities of her immorality. (17:4) Obvious.
6. labeled the mother of all prostitutes and obscenities in the world. (17:5)
7. deceives the nations with her sorceries. (18:23) I believe the word “sorceries” here would include/refer to the digital virtual world that modern technology enables and empowers in ways never imagined before, certainly mesmerizing many in all nations. (For example, time spent on social media around the world has been increasing and here is a screen shot -see the picture at the end of this post).
8. her leaders (the real power behind her) hate her and destroy her with their plan. They strip her off her wealth, reduce her to the bones, and even to ashes. (17:16-17). I believe this is talking about completely destroying the economy and the military strength of the BTG (in world leadership/ability to influence). Which nation’s rulers/leaders appear to hate the nation and try their best to make and impose policies that will bring destructions and downfalls to their nation?
9. the plagues will overtake her in a single day -death and mourning and famine, she will be completely consumed by fire. (18:8)
10. the leaders/rulers of the world, the merchants of the world share a common destiny with BTG in corrupted lifestyle, commerce and wealth. (18:9-10,11-19)

We need to ask the pertinent questions: who are the BTG? A people group? A religious group? A nation? A political power? A commercial power? A group of commercial cum political power owners?

I am leaving the most difficult parts to later posts. As it is, it is not easy to write this post. I inserted some pertinent questions and observation notes which I pray will give readers some clues as they eliminate the candidates that fit the bill. My advice is not to jump to conclusion. Just keep reading the words of God and pray in the Spirit. Put on the whole armor of God at all times. And always walk by the Spirit and not by flesh.

daily average time spent on social media around the world

To be continued.

Watchman Kainotes, 2021-09-16

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For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (3): who are the good guys? What are expected of us?

Today we read about the good guys for a change. The purpose of the Revelation of Jesus Christ is for those who belong to Him to know what is going on at the time we are in and also what will happen next, and the final outcome of us being His disciples/followers to the end. So I will focus on where we are standing and what next for us. We must therefore know what Revelation chapter 13-18 means to us, as believers of Jesus. We will read some parts of the Gospels as we read Revelation because they are related, linking what Jesus has said to His disciples while on earth, to what He said to John when John saw the vision and received the Revelation message from the resurrected glorified Jesus.

First, who are we? We are NOT “The people who belong to this world” (13:8,14,14:6). Because Jesus said this about His disciples, “¹⁶ They do not belong to this world any more than I do.” (John 17:16) We are no longer part of the world when we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we have been chosen by Jesus to come out of the world. (John 15:19).

Reading Revelation 13-18, we know that there will be horrible things/events on earth at a time/times forewarned by Jesus to John. The following is a list of things that will impact the disciples/followers of Jesus.

The enemy of God and God’s children is on earth: a large red dragon (ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world) was evicted from heaven and thrown down to the earth with all his angels (12:8-9). He failed to stop the birth of the male child of the woman designated by God (Jesus the Savior) and declared war against the rest of her children -all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus. (12:13,17) He is the ruler of the kingdoms of the world. (John14:29; Matthew 4:8-9)

The world hates God’s children: Jesus forewarned this fact. (John 15:18-19) in fact, the world hates God. (John 15:23-24) Why do they hate God/Jesus? Jesus said, “they hated Me without cause.” (15:25) This means that God’s children will be hated without cause too. And Revelation 13 records what the enemy is trying/will try to do to those who belong to God.

The way the ruler of the world operates/will operate: John saw the beast out of the sea and the beast out of the earth (Revelation 13). These are the representatives of Satan on earth. They are in the position of political power and various authorities governing the lives of the people who belong to the world (TPWBTTW). They control key resources and systems that supply and govern the livelihood of the TPWBTTW. They are openly against God and His name, and anyone who belong to God and uses His name. All mankind on earth are required to choose allegiance to the ruler of the world or to God. Allegiance includes show of worship/loyalty and a distinctive use of the commercial entitlement that comes under the world’s ruler’s name/control.

The main tool used by the ruler of the world to make TPWBTTW submit: is through commerce -the supply of goods and services. By controlling the access to commerce, the ruler is able to control the bulk of mankind who depends on/uses the commercial system for their livelihood.

What does Jesus require of God’s children under such a totalitarian ruler? One verse came out twice. “This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful” , obeying our God’s commands and maintaining our faith in Jesus. (Revelation 13:10, 14:12) They will have hard work, and their good deeds follow them, despite the circumstances of a hostile world around. (14:13)

Jesus assures His people of victory: John saw all the people who had been victorious over the beast and his statue and the number representing his name. (Revelation 15:2) They come from all nations. These are the great and marvelous works of our God. (Revelation 15:3-4)

What else does Jesus expect of His people? “Blessed are all who are watching for Me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.” (Revelation 16:15)

What is the kind of clothing Jesus is talking about and how may we get it? “She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.” For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people. (Revelation 19:8)

John recorded next a very important clue to what good deeds mean to God: Then I fell down at his (an angel/messenger from God) feet to worship him, but he said, “No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers and sisters who testify about their faith in Jesus. Worship only God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.” (Revelation 19:10)

To be continued.

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In my next post I will posit some practical ways (business, technology, kingdom of God power and authority) we can apply based on what we have been learning from Jesus/the Holy Spirit. I pray for revelation and wisdom for all who belong to Jesus.

Watchman Kainotes, 2021-09-10

For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (2): first understand who the hero is

John 17:11

Reading the book of Revelation is neither difficult nor frightening for us, because Jesus has given us His Spirit, who will guide us into all truth and tell us about the future. (John 16:13)

Jesus gave the revelation to John to show His servants the events that must soon take place. (1:1) That was 1926 years ago (To God, a thousand years is like a mere day). What I will do with chapters 13-18 is to highlight what He had clearly said/shown to us (His servants, in the humble words of the apostle John).

As an overall reading guide, let us remember that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus. (19:10)

The book of Revelation points our spotlight on Jesus, the Son of God, who has spoken here to John about Him and the events soon to take place with Him as the main theme. In fact He is the focus from Genesis to Revelation. What about God? Jesus told His disciples that when they saw Him they actually saw God for He and the Father are One.

What does Jesus want us to always bear in mind? It is very clear, that we are people who belong to Him through a special relationship with Him, and He has doubly marked us: by the Holy Spirit and are called by His name. The Holy Spirit in us has sealed us and our names are written in His Book of Life.

Chapters 13-18 describe two kingdoms: (1) the kingdom of the world in which the people who belong to this world dwell. (2) the kingdom of God in which the people who belong to God dwell. Both kingdoms exist side by side. Jesus said that we are in the world but are not of the world. There is a distinct mark on us that separates us from “The people who belong to this world”. I will summarize below the kingdom called, the world.

“The people who belong to this world” (13:8,14,14:6) is a phrase used to describe those whose names are not written in the Book of Life, the Book that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered.

“The people who belong to this world”(TPWBTTW) wear a mark too. The mark is inscribed into them and thus enables them to access to goods and services operated by the commercial system of the world. By accepting the marking/branding enforced on them they signify their submission and allegiance to the political power/ruler that controls the supplies of goods and services of the world.

These are some of the characteristics of the TPWBTTW: (Reality check: do you manifest the following characteristics?)

They form a very large majority. The whole world in fact. They marvel, worship and idolize the show of power. They give their allegiance to political rulers/those in government authority that speak blasphemy against God and His church. (13:6)

They allow themselves to be deceived. (13:14)

They come from every tribe and people and language and nation. (13:7)

They drink the wine of passionate immorality. (14:8)

They sin and do evil deeds. 16:11)

They curse God. (16:9,11,21)

They do not repent of their sins, turn to God and give Him glory. (16:9, 11)

They choose to take the mark in order to access the commercial system of the world, regardless of the consequences.

The price they pay for their idolatry worshipping and accepting the mark of the devil’s name?

Torment with fire and burning sulfur. The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever. They will have no relief day or night. (14:10) Malignant sores will break out on them. They will suffer from polluted water, scorching burning heat and global power failure, plunging into world-wide darkness. (16:3-4,8-9,10). A great earthquake, the worst ever on earth, and terrible hailstorm with gigantic hailstones falling onto them. (16:18,21)

To be continued.

Watchman Kainotes, 2021-09-08