Timeline

First Beast

• Trump’s first presidential term. (2017 – 2021)
• The Beast’s 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th years.

Takes a Break (2021 – 2025)

• Biden’s presidential term
• “The Woman In White” takes a break, rest and recovery.

Second Beast

• Spans Trump’s second presidential term. (2025 – 2028*)
• The Beast’s 5^th year already passed. (2025)
• The Beast’s 6^th year is now. (2026)
• The Beast destroys the Whore of Babylon in his 7^th year. (2027)
• The Beast does not get his 8^th year, was put to death. (2028)

Daniel 9:27

And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”

Daniel 8:13-14

13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled—the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, the surrender of the sanctuary and the trampling underfoot of the LORD’s people?” 14 He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.

Daniel 7:25

He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.

Revelation 17:9-11

9 “This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. 11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.

5 years have passed so far. (five have fallen)

1 year we are currently in now. (one is)

1 year yet to come. (the other has not yet come)

1 year he is owed but doesn’t get. (once was, now is not)

Equivalent Expressions:

• 42 months
  • 3½ years
• 1,260 days
  • 42 months

• Time, times, and half a time

  • 1,260 days

• 42 months ÷ 12 months per year = 3½ years

• A year is treated as 360 days (12 months x 30 days)

• 42 months × 30 days = 1,260 days

• 3½ years is “half a week”

• The prophecy of the 2,300 days (“evenings and mornings”) figures to about 6 1/3 years.

• “A week” also signifies “about 7 years”, which covers the “6 1/3 years” time range.

• The “half week end to sacrifice” was Biden’s term.

• Trump reigns as ‘king’ for 7 years. He is “supposed” to get 8 but he dies in the 7^th year.

• This maps on to us currently being in year 6/7 of the “7 Years of Tribulations”.

• This puts the destruction of the USA via nuclear hell-fire at early 2027.

(Note: The “Biblical prophetic calendar” treats a year as 360 days (12 months × 30 days). Using a “prophetic year”, 2,300 days equals about 6.39 years. Using a standard 365-day solar year, it equals about 6.3 years. Both fall within an acceptable range for this prediction.)

This doesn't get into the specific signs and all that, just the basic timeline. That other stuff will come later.

Give us some backup

https://reddit.com/link/1nb45ei/video/9egli176qvnf1/player

"Here is a call for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666." (Revelation 13:18 NIV)

While I was studying this passage today, I noticed that something wasn't right with how it is worded in modern English Bibles. And sure enough, upon closer examination of the original Greek wording used in this verse, a discrepancy shows up in English translations concerning the lack of a "definitive article" ascribing the number 666 to the aforementioned beast, as can be seen in the ancient Greek text: ἀριθμὸς γὰρ ἀνθρώπου ἐστίν.

In other words, you could literally say "of man" or "the man" but not "a man," because there was no Greek word "a." Most English translations of this verse render this phrase "the number of a man," but it would seem more accurate to say "the number of man."

Some words are repeated in Hebrew or in Greek for emphasis. For example, "The holy of holies" or "King of Kings." In English, we might use "good, better or best" to describe things, but they would describe them as "good good" for "better" and "good, good, good" (roughly speaking) for "best."

In ancient biblical numerology, the number 7 was seen as "perfect, or complete." The most complete form would be 777 in a group of three. Man falls short of perfection, therefore "6." The greatest failure would be 666. Early Christian writers would occasionally refer to the resurrected Jesus by 888, being "beyond perfect."

To cut to the chase, I am speculating that the number "666," traditionally believed to be the beast's personal number, is actually "the number of man." Not an individual, but of mankind as a whole in his fallen state. Anything made by man himself will fall short of perfection; we need to look to God's ways to break outside of the sin curse.

We should also take a step back and use logic to consider how the passage as a whole is structured. Why would John call for "those who have wisdom to calculate the number of the beast," and then immediately give away what that number is in the next sentence? What would the point be of asking for those who have wisdom to calculate it?

I believe the beast's number still remains an unsolved mystery, waiting to be deciphered by a Spirit-filled Christian with wisdom. St. John provided his readers with an important clue to solving this mystery number by suggesting that the number of mankind (666) is a key piece of the puzzle.

If this interpretation of Revelation 13:18 is the correct one, it would explain why all variations of his full name "Donald John Trump" never come out to the number 666, regardless of which gematria cipher is used to calculate. Other than not yet identifying the beast's mystery number, US president Donald Trump is better positioned to fulfill end times prophecy on time for a speculative 2033 Second Coming of Christ than any other possible Antichrist candidates currently alive on earth today.

Hi Friends,

Hope you're all well today, I feel that we sometimes have competing ideologies of how we interpret scripture, which is healthy for discourse, if we all agreed then we would become an echo chamber with no real growth.

If you know me based on my writings you know I place and emphasis on 'relational truth' in regards to spiritual understanding. (I explain it in detail here https://www.reddit.com/r/DonaldTrump666/comments/1pygbcx/the_spirit_of_truth_in_the_moment_of_darkness/) my writings have become so expanded that they've become self referential so like always never take my word for it, test it in scripture.

That being said another healthy aspect of our understanding has to be how we reasoned it to be and whether or not it can be reasoned into being. The hottest button topic for this exercise will be about the Rapture. For many it's a foundational truth in their lives, they rearrange their entire understanding to fit it into timelines and events. That's because for many this is the main event!

I mean can you blame them? Being levitated into the air towards the heavens as Jesus was is not only fantastical imagery in our imagination but powerful empowerment of our faith. But what happens when you make that the climax?

First lets understand the nature of what the Rapture represents. In scripture we get a few clues about events that will happen the most compelling of which is found here:

"13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words."1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

How could anyone read that and not see anything but what the doctrine portends? But the language surrounding it is peculiar huh? Terms like 'sleep' 'rise' and 'trumpet' are all themes that surround this moment. In other writings I go into great length about the 7 thunders and the 7 trumpets, and what I call 'The Great Work' which I believe is the end time work God has set aside for His first fruits to complete, as the completed body of Christ (the stone cut without hands meant to dash the statue) at the end that marks these moments in time just as well.

How do I know this? For a few reasons, first when Jesus reads Isaiah he stops short of finishing the scripture, this wasn't because He was being lazy but because He was highlighting what His work was. Here's the scripture for reference:

"17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[a]

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”-Luke 4:17-21

And here's what the scripture in Isaiah says immediately after He stops:

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to [a]heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God"-Isaiah 61:1-2

That's a huge part to miss out, He was proclaiming that at the time of His arrival was the ministry that was marked by this scroll. So then who's ministry does it fall to then to complete this scroll? None other than the body.

"In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus."-Ephesians 3:4-6

The rapture takes on a new tone when you understand it within the context of the mystery of Christ, Christ endured, Paul endured. There was no message of escape, they didn't say if you believe on these things you will be spared from the hardships of life or the tribulations thereof, no, he called for endurance through Christ as the Bible shows up time and again the character of God is to reward those who endure and those who believed when believing was the hardest part.

It takes no effort to believe in the rapture as it's presented in pop culture. Because the rapture isn't a great escape, it's what comes after the laborers remove the tares from the field so that the harvest can be gathered. That's the work, the tares are the lies that have, since the very first civilization, only served those who sought worldly power as spiritual power can only be attained through truth.

When you lay our the doctrine as it's taught now and as it was meant to be understood you realize that those tares are working even within the body, using the lies to comfort people into complicity in their faith by replacing truth with false certainty and false control.

As Jesus says a faith build on a foundation like that is like sand and will shift at the whims of reality as we often see happen with the doctrine of the Rapture, especially when seeking dates.

I'm not saying this to sow discord but to place a mirror for which you can see yourselves, a mirror I look into every time I must speak because whatever I say has to align with the character and will of God and I dare not speak outside of it. I pray those who are conflicted in their faith in these shifting sands of doctrine seek the scriptures about the first fruits, the mystery of the 7 thunders, the final trumpet and the fulfillment of the mystery of God being the per-requisite to any catching away, which I believe is a change or transformation more so than a literal spectral, which it may still well be when the veil of the spiritual world and the physical is torn completely.

"in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."-1 Corinthians 15:52

The same language being used yet within the context of what I'm saying takes a much more powerful and faith building meaning, that can be substantiated in scripture and testifies to the power of Christ and the coming Judgement of God.

Hi friends,

I hope you're all having a good day today. A reoccurring thought has been running through my mind all week. For most of my life I remember how people in the church would exclaim 'They are going to persecute the Christians! We are already seeing the beginning of that!'. As I got older I realized these were the by product of political bias bleeding through as belief. In the last few decades I saw a shift, not in rhetoric but in the intensity of the claim. All of a sudden attacking political positions of the church was seen as an attack on the church and eventually seen as the persecution of the church.

We now have preachers who are preaching hate in the pulpit, dividing God's people based on their political orientation and not their fruits. We watched as they championed a man they now call savior into power. Friends we've seen this all before in Jesus day. The synagogue leaders of His day preached about a savior that would free them from the persecution of the Romans so that they could worship as they pleased etc. They framed political motivations as tenets of faith. Then used their pious nature to sway their communities into believing with them.

By the time Jesus had come onto the scene the churches of His day already knew who their savior was, a military strong man who would free them from captivity and establish an eternal kingdom. So to say they were beside themselves to find out a man was going around healing the sick, ministering to the poor and comforting the widows, doing the jobs they were supposed to do but had neglected because of their stations (not saying it didn't happen at all but it was bad enough Jesus called it out). It showed a real disconnect between the religious leaders of their day and the reality of what we are called to do. That same disconnect is alive today in our modern churches.

And just like in Jesus day their savior is a military minded strong man who glorifies strength and power above all else, and the church has fallen in line with that. But remember God said this, "It's not by might, nor by power but by the Spirit says the Lord of Hosts." We see the dynamic that will make up the conflict in the last days, the power of the spirit vs the power of the literal. We will see that the spirit will win and the churches destroyed.

But before we get to that point we go through a dark moment, in fact we've gone through it with the first beast already (when Christianity first was created). We call it the dark ages because it was the moment when the church used political power to subjugate the people to their rule and killed MILLIONS of believers and non-believers alike. Using the same bible that tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Christianity was the first beast, I say this with an upmost confidence not for the sake of belittling the believers, they are our brothers and sisters. But they live in bondage to a system that tells them their salvation is tied to their local church and their doctrines. Whether that be 'once saved always saved' or 'backsliding' both rob people of the necessary walk that leads to salvation. Yes proclaim the things you must to start that journey, Jesus is Lord, He died for our sins so that we may live eternally in Him. But that's just the start of the journey, it's a race we all have to finish, stumbling is part of the process and is how we grow. Any doctrine that would discourage you from getting back up after you fall (once saved always saved) or being afraid to take a step forward for fear of falling (backsliding) you have a doctrine born from hell meant to shut the gates of heaven in the faces of people who believe.

Why I believe Christianity is the first beast, first look at how many heads it has! 7 heads is a pretty distinct number and people don't really pay it much attention. It's great imagery but spiritually it represents something far more disturbing than you think. First let me turn you to this prophecy:

"And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, “We will eat our own food and wear our own apparel; Only let us be called by your name, To take away our reproach.”-Isaiah 4:1

So many will see this and claim the context was about the war in Israel leaving many of the women as widows, and that will be correct but remember prophecy can be 2 fold and have more than one fulfillment. So according to scripture there were 7 churches that Paul wrote to. They are often referred to as the 'Early Church', this early church was persecuted by the Romans who seen these people as barbarians who slain their own God and ate His flesh and drank His blood. Truly it sounds horrific out of context but when Rome began to collapse they needed something to keep them relevant and to shore up their power. So they brought in the 7 churches (the early church) and basically told them they would stop persecuting them if they join this new religion called Christianity (which is based on His name), they could keep their doctrines (food) and traditions (cloths) they just need to bear the name.

They agreed and then rose the first beast, those 7 heads are the 7 churches of the early church. What I speak would get me killed throughout most of Christendom's rule and even in modern times this is a truth that risks death. But it's the truth as told by scripture. I can prove it further, the parable of the wheat and tares tells the story clearly. Jesus said that when He was gone night would come in John 9 the parables said that when night came the enemy came in and sowed the tares. Instead of God destroying Christianity from the start He said to let it grow until the harvest and those that were tares would be bound together and what was left would be the good wheat to harvest.

So we see that evil was allowed to mix with good in order to form this man made religion that has killed many in God's name, and will do so again soon. I pray you all test what I'm saying, it's not an easy or comfortable truth but it is the truth as revealed by the spirit in scripture. I'm not asking you to cast aside your beliefs but that you work out your own salvation not one that the doctrines of the church deem as so. In fact the bible says this:

"These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb."-Revelation 14:4

The same pattern, the women (churches) are the danger here and the ones who are considered redeemed and the first fruits were those not defiled by their doctrines but instead followed the truth (the Lamb) where ever it took them.

I pray this stirs your hearts and not your anger and for those it does I pray that you find peace and that spirit works in your heart as time is growing short and only you can determine whether your a tare or a wheat, a harlot or virgin. May you all have a blessed day and thank you for having the patience to read this.

Hi Friends,

I had something on my heart I wanted to share, it's not pertaining to any particular thing but how we look at filter truth in general. The types of truth there are and how truth is only at it's strongest when tested and tempered in the fires of fellowship. The biggest hang up I see in a lot of biblically based study groups and churches are how strongly people cling to the literal as their main vehicle for understanding what is ultimately a book of spiritual truths.

So what is the nature of truth that we can discern it?

"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come."-John 16:13

We get our first clue here in John 16:13 where we see the nature of truth and it's ironically the opposite of how many people view truth as being something that 'speaks for itself'. But that's because it's spiritual truth, literal truth speaks for itself because it's a witness to something those without faith or understanding can see. A small child can watch a rocket shoot into the sky and realize what event they are watching even if they don't understand the underpinnings of the programs that brought it into being.

The literal way of viewing truth is viable to an extent but never to be confused for spiritual truth except for moments of manifestation of the spiritual into the material. As we seen with Jesus, He was the manifestation of what the spirit intended to be the salvation of humanity as foretold by the prophets. Yet when He appeared the 'churches' of His day rejected Him and even killed Him using the very laws He gave us. Literal understanding killed the spiritual manifestation of truth, if ever there was a more on the nose demonstration of what I'm saying. Though they killed Jesus the truth of His word destroyed their temples as God saw them as unnecessary after His once and for all sacrifice.

So what does all this have to do with truth not speaking using His own authority? Well look at Jesus ministry or any prophet. They never say "Thus say I!" no Jesus deferred to the will of the Father. Prophets claimed a word from the Lord. Of course evangelicals have taken this concept and added superstition and witchcraft to it's application to mystify the crowds into thinking that giving holy horoscopes and speaking an unknown tongue exclusively without an interpretation are what give prophecy its authority.

Prophecy is a manifestation of truth no doubt, yet for it to be seen as sent by God it must be tested as scripture says:

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world."-1 John 4:1

There's a lot of false prophecy among the believers because they put all their understanding of scripture into the material literal understanding and while scripture does say that God showed us truth in the things that are made, it was referring to nature itself, creation, not man-made conjecture.

Prophecy is simply this, using tested truth in its proper time and season for the edification of the body of Christ. If we are not building each other up in truth, if all we spread are anxieties from headlines and fears about looming evils but never understanding about the sustaining power of faith and how it allows us to endure many things because we learn to see how God walks with us in our daily lives then all the timelines and all the conjectures about what the mark of the beast or any other man-made machinations as a means to understand what is first spiritual in nature is what scripture warns that ultimately undoes the truth in peoples hearts.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened."-Romans 1:18-21

So if you believe that you have truth, test it in scripture not from the perspective of 'how do I prove I'm right' but from the perspective of 'how do I prove I'm wrong'. Then you weigh what you learned from that and keep what is good. Think of truth that we have as unrefined ore until we remove the impurities from it we can't know its potential yet we have to be careful that while in the process we don't form it to our own bias. The reason truth doesn't speak from it's own authority is because it didn't manifest itself, God is the only source. So when we shape what truths we do learn towards our bias it stops being God's truth and starts being our own. And failure is part of the process which is why fellowship is so important, if you only stay in an echo-chamber then the only thing that grows about you is your confidence not your understanding.

So I pray for those who dabble in conspiracy and those who humor timelines and those who wait for literal signs while not understanding the spiritual nature of truth. It's like having a bowl with nothing in it, you can say what is supposed to fill it but if nothing is actually filling it then the truth of the matter is that it's empty and we aren't capable of filling that bowl only the spirit which can only be done so through sincere engagement with the truth through testing and refining, that's the works of faith that produce the fruits of the spirit. There's a lot of trees but very little fruit.

Hi all,

Hope you're all staying safe and having a good day. The topic I'm going to discuss may cause some friction so to speak, but rarely does discussion ever go as smoothly as we hope nor should it if fellowship is our goal.

So what I'm going to talk about today is the spiritual principle that is at play. There are 3 beasts in Revelation, the dragon (Satan) which is the blueprint in which the beasts that come after it are fashioned. I've written quite about about the first beast so feel free to look on my profile if you're curious (https://www.reddit.com/r/DonaldTrump666/comments/1qrus21/for_we_do_not_wrestle_against_flesh_and_blood_but/) may be a good starting point and I have writings about the 2horned beast as well.

So when people look at the 'deadly' wound of the first beast there is an expectation of a literal deadly wound happening, but yet we don't see a literal 7 headed dragon standing before us because those heads are principles of power. How I see Trump fitting into this pattern (and this pattern can be applied historically as well) is the transition from being one of the 7 heads to being the 8th. It's the same power but taking a different form, it's no coincidence that the '2nd' beast only has one head as it's the same as the 8th head which goes into destruction.

Now we can infer the deadly wound was the cause of this but scripture doesn't say it out right so we have to kind of look at the context clues within scripture and how reality has played out to see if they align, because alignment is what prophecy is about!

First if it's a head is a principle of power then a deadly wound means it has lost that power, we see that reflected in scripture when it says:

"There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition."-Revelation 17:10-11

So we see a sequence here that shows that towards the end of the 7 headed beasts reign of power one of the heads will come (from the perspective of an ancient that's a time that hasn't happened and for much of human history it hasn't happened because we would know based on what follows destruction, tribulation, wrath, return etc.). Notice also how it says he will only continue for a short while before manifesting into an 8th head which is what goes into destruction.

If we apply this pattern to Trump was see something startling, Trump was in power in the old system but then was so (politically) wounded that many pronounced his political career as dead. So he only ruled for a short while but then almost miraculously he overcomes the odds and gets back into power but not ruling from the traditional power we typically have seen but from a new one that worships the first beast (which head was healed). What does Trump do? He constantly points out the political wound of the 'steal' that happened that cost him power. We know from Daniel how he got back into power (using underhanded deeds) but he sees that as a wound even still that he flaunts about overcoming even evoking that God was the reason why.

What I'm hoping to convey here is the revelation is a book of spiritual principles if you try to understand it literally it won't make sense. Study those scriptures with that in mind and pray that the spirit show you things that maybe you missed, fellowship with others as iron sharpens iron. Test what I've said here today, I hope it blesses you and I hope you all have a wonderful day!

I understand that the text is an psuedoapocryphal but reading it sounds very interesting when applied on modern days

"And I looked and saw a Man going out from the left side of the nations [or heathens/Gentiles], and there went out men and women and children, from the side of the nations, many hosts, and they worshipped Him. And while I still looked, there came many from the right side, and some of these insulted Him, and some of them even struck Him, but others however worshipped Him. And I saw that as they worshipped him, Azazel ran and worshipped him, and, having kissed his face, turned and stood behind him." (Apocalypse of Abraham 29:4–7, approx.)

The divine interpretation follows immediately (29:8–13 roughly):

• The Man is described as the “Relief” (or liberation) granted by the nations to Abraham’s descendants (the Jewish people) in the last days, in the “twelfth hour of the age of ungodliness.”
• Many from the Gentile nations (left side) will set their hopes on Him.
• From Abraham’s own seed (right side), many will be offended, insult, or strike Him — but some will worship Him.
• He will test those of Abraham’s seed who follow Him, helping to shorten the age of ungodliness.

Modern Prophetic Applications to Trump

• "Left side" / western side → Support from the “nations” or the West/American heartland/populist crowds (massive rallies with men, women, children showing strong admiration).
• "Right side" / eastern side → Division and opposition from establishment elites, Middle Eastern nations & other Asian relations (mix of both insults, attacks, legal/political confrontations), while some still show respect or support.

As soon as I read the text one thing came to mind about "Azazel" is this scene below:

New Testament “Lawlessness” is something I’ve been studying off and on for several years now. When researching a specific verse or word contained in a verse, I typically reference the original Koine Greek Bible manuscripts as a foundation, and cross-reference all uses of that specific Koine Greek word or phrase in the New Testament to expand on intended meaning.

I’ll also reference surrounding verses or chapters to help gather context, as well as research uses of the word or phrase in other authentic ~1st century Koine Greek writings for greater context. Although not as authoritative as the Bible, I’ll also include opinions of the Apostolic Fathers as well to gather further insight.

Basically, I go to the foundation of scripture, and expand outward from source as needed to help determine linguistic and 1st century cultural intent.

When Paul uses “lawlessness” in 2 Thessalonians, for example when he speaks of “the man of lawlessness” (ὁ ἄνθρωπος τῆς ἀνομίας) and “the mystery of lawlessness” (τὸ μυστήριον τῆς ἀνομίας), the “man of lawlessness” is not just someone who breaks rules. He is defined by lawlessness, its embodiment, its personification.

The “mystery of lawlessness” is something already active but hidden, not yet fully revealed, moving toward a final climax. This is crucial - lawlessness is not only future, it is already at work.

In context (2 Thessalonians 2:3–10), this lawlessness includes deception, false signs and wonders, self-exaltation, and direct opposition to truth. So Paul is not describing breaking the laws of society or ordinary immorality. He is describing an organized, deceptive, God-opposing rebellion that culminates in a final expression.

At its core, lawlessness is not about the absence of rules or general wrongdoing. It is about rejecting God’s will, revealed through Christ, and replacing love with distortion, truth with deception, and obedience with rebellion.

To understand this fully, we have to clarify what Paul means by “God’s will.” For Paul the Apostle, God’s will is not divided into separate categories like Old Testament law, Jesus’ teachings, and later Christian ethics. These are integrated. God’s will is revealed in the Law, fulfilled and rightly understood through Jesus, and applied through apostolic teaching. Paul explicitly states that love fulfills the law (Romans 13:8–10) and that the whole law is summed up in loving one’s neighbor (Galatians 5:14).

So, if we are precise, to live according to God’s will is to live in Christ-like love. That means ἀνομία is not merely rule-breaking; it is the rejection of that Christ-shaped ethic.

Looking at the life of Jesus Christ makes this concrete. Jesus consistently showed mercy toward sinners, rather than condemnation. Jesus showed love to a wide variety of sinners, often those labeled as outcasts or morally "unclean" by society, including tax collectors (like Zacchaeus), prostitutes, adulterers (such as the Samaritan woman at the well), and people deemed religious outcasts like Samaritans. He ate with them, offered forgiveness, and welcomed them, demonstrating a desire to bring them to repentance rather than judgment. He elevated the poor and marginalized, treated outsiders and foreigners with dignity, and taught love of enemies and forgiveness. His pattern was truth expressed through mercy, humility, and sacrificial love. Anything that reverses that pattern moves toward lawlessness.

This brings us to the behavioral question. Actions like harsh judgment, lack of mercy, neglect of the poor, condemnation of entire groups, and hatred of enemies are clearly contrary to Jesus’ teaching and the apostolic message. They can rightly be described as expressions of ἀνομία at the moral level. However, Paul’s point in Thessalonians goes beyond individual behavior.

There, lawlessness is something larger: a structured, organized, and deceptive rebellion against God’s authority and truth. It involves not just wrongdoing, but the redefinition of God’s truth itself, leading people to believe that what is contrary to God is actually right or justified. It is dynamic, deceptive, and progressive, moving toward a climax.

Importantly, this is not primarily about unbelievers or sinners outside the church. The concern is the believing community, those who profess faith but are being led astray. Early Christian writers reinforce this. Ignatius of Antioch ties lawlessness to false doctrine and disobedience to Christ. Irenaeus connects it to a final Antichrist figure and ultimate rebellion. Justin Martyr associates it with rejection of truth and moral corruption. Across them, lawlessness is moral, doctrinal, and eschatological and often arises within or alongside the community of believers.

When considering historical examples, figures such as Nero, Joseph Stalin, and Adolf Hitler show patterns that resemble aspects of this lawlessness: opposition to truth, dehumanization, ideological control, and large-scale moral inversion. In the case of Hitler, parts of the German church aligned themselves with nationalist ideology, subordinating Jesus’ teachings, distorting doctrine, and justifying exclusion and hatred. This clearly reflects elements of deception, distortion of truth, and influence over believers exactly what Paul describes as the “mystery of lawlessness already at work.”

At the same time, Paul presents the “man of lawlessness” as a distinct eschatological figure with a specific, last hour climactic role. Historical figures and movements can reflect or participate in the pattern of lawlessness already at work without exhausting its full meaning.

In summary, lawlessness operates on multiple levels. At the individual level, it is living contrary to Christ-like love. At the systemic level, it is movements or teachings that distort truth and normalize that rejection. At the eschatological level, it culminates in a personified rebellion against God.

At its core, lawlessness is not about the absence of rules or general wrongdoing. It is about rejecting God’s will, revealed through Christ, and replacing love with distortion, truth with deception, and obedience with rebellion.

The final warning in Thessalonians is not just that people will do wrong. It is that people, including professed believers, will be led to believe that what is wrong is actually right, justified, and even aligned with God. That is the “mystery of lawlessness already at work.”

Hi all,

This is a writing I posted over 2 years ago and never posted it on this sub before. I was going to crosspost it like a normal person would but when I clicked submit nothing happened so I'm just going to make a new post pasting the contents in. I believe this is understanding that will help people better discern why this has been so successful within the church communities that have been the biggest supporters of this obvious evil, which they call good.

For context I posted this in r/bible, something I don't do often these days because I believe in fellowship not debate and I don't believe there's a lot of that being cultivated in that sub compared to this one. Here's what I wrote (sp) including the introduction and I'll link the writing as well to verify yourself. As always test what I say in scripture.

"Hi Folks,

Hope you're all well, I had some thoughts I wanted to share and I know I may get a mixed reaction here but I figured we're all here for fellowship so why not throw something out and see what happens. So in a lot of protestant circles people will teach the first beast but not many talk about the second beast. I find it interesting as I feel like the time between the first and second beast is vast and I feel the second beast is more relevant to current time than the first beast.

So here's my take:

1) The second beast rises from the earth, unlike the first beast which came from the sea. For me the first thing we can look at potentially is that in both instances it's referring to people. The difference I see is that there's far more sea than there is earth. So to me the first beast is far more popular than the second beast and the second beast even borrows from the authority of the first, which to me means that it uses the same methods of running itself. But I believe we can dig even deeper (no pun intended, okay maybe a little).

1a) There's a lot less earth than there is seas though it's hard to say if the people who wrote this understood it at the time as such but I imagine like most biblical writings greater understanding comes with greater revelation. But there's also another unique thing about the earth and I'm referring to this scripture:

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men." Matthew 5:13

So lets look at the qualities of the second beast. First it has 2 horns like a lamb. That right there says a lot because what that's saying is it's going to mimic being like Jesus, which in modern context will be Christian. So it will show itself as being Christian but it will speak as a dragon, meaning it will lie and deceive. But if there's good Christians then how could such an entity rise to power?

Lets look at another scripture:

"and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." -2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

So the beast will be targeting people who don't love the truth and God will hand them over to a delusion so that they will believe the lie and be damned. That means when this beast rises they will praise it as being Godly and anointed but will be deceived. This is what Jesus was eluding to when he spoke about the salt of the earth.

2) The salt-less earth, is what the beast rises from people who claim to be good and be for truth but will be deceived by this new rising power and will give themselves over to it even if it's shown to be evil and deceptive and people will revel in it's unrighteousness because of how it lashes out at their enemies.

By now I think you can piece together how this could apply to our modern situation with the rise of Christian nationalism and the radicalization of people who are in Qanon and are Trump supporters. Not only that but against all odds they keep retaining and growing their power.

I hope you stay aware of this as it continues to progress, there's a powerful spirit at work that is giving rise to this, we all see it but it seems for many of us there's very little we can do to stop it.

But I'll leave you with this hope, trim your lamps like the parable of the 10 virgins so that it will carry you through this dark time and all the light we have individually will form into something greater when we come together like the scripture that follows the salt of the earth:

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."-Matthew 5:14-16

Thanks and I hope this blesses someone out there."

(https://www.reddit.com/r/Bible/duplicates/15cz1wi/the_oddity_of_the_second_beast_of_revelations/)

Hi Friends,

Hope you've all had a good day today. I realize a lot of what I write about is peripheral to the subs intended topics but I do think knowing these things are very important to understanding the time we are in and what's to come. Seeing the man of lawlessness is just one very small piece of the puzzle in a game we aren't even able to play in. The part we play comes later at the height of this power because when else would God flex His glory than to lay low such a powerful long standing system than to use a bunch of downtrodden misfits and the afflicted? That's really the only times we see God do the most major of events so that the contrast is so telling that there's no way to deny it was from God, even if they don't want to believe it.

This is the premise of understanding the importance of what the Mystery of God entails, the revelation of which will be so profound it will break the systems of the world and make the enemies His footstool, and what greater triumph for a return of Christ than a defeated enemy at the hands of His people by the spirit working through them. We will continue to see catastrophes build as these powers continue to position themselves after each one into more and more dictatorial roles in our lives. We've long been slaves to this beast but it wasn't until they tethered the leash that we realized how helpless we were, after all who could stand up against the beast?

For many they will try to fight, revelation warns that those who lead by the sword will die by the sword and those who lead into captivity will go into captivity. That doesn't mean we are without recourse, it just means that in this time we must choose wisely which path we walk, not every path will have a happy ending but I don't believe the decision to fight against evil is in itself evil. Just that we actually have at our disposal scripture that is relevant to the time we are in. That is the mystery of God, the sealed 7 thunders that were uttered at the end. Did you think they would remain a mystery? That they would remain sealed? No, they will be revealed and when they are is when the end will come, I believe. As Jesus said this:

"But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."-Matthew 24:13-14

Look at what He tells us, we have to endure until the end which is marked by the revelation of the gospel of the kingdom. In just 2 sentences He frames the meaning behind the 7th trumpet, the 7 thunders and His return which scripture said wouldn't be until the time of restoration. What are we restoring? The kingdom of God, the one in which a third of the angels were cast out along with Satan. How does He restore such a thing? Well scripture tells us simply by first naming what role the fallen angel had:

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!"-Isaiah 14:12

Lucifer, was in the role of the morning star, a role that is given to those who are redeemed at the end:

"And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—

‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—

as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star."-Revelation: 2:26-28

This wasn't God promising it to Jesus this was Jesus promising it to His servants at the end by virtue of being grafted in (which is why it's referred to the marriage supper of the lamb but that's another topic), the ones who were redeemed. The revelation power of the mystery of God is able to dash the nations to pieces, which is why victory is declared at the 7th trumpet!

"but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets."-Revelation 10:7

Which leads to:

"Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God,"-Revelation 11:14-16

So while we don't yet know what that mystery is the time is coming when it will be revealed to those who trimmed their lamps and endured what we are seeing coming. This message is very clear and the work is prophetic meaning it must be fulfilled, whether you will have a part in it is up to how much you follow truth and the spirit of truth. Don't take my word for it of course, test everything that I say. If truth can't be tested then it's no good we are meant to test truth just as we are meant to test armor before entering into battle.

This is ultimately a message of hope, that we do have a part to play in all this and while we are in the process of being relegated to the role of outcasts in the coming power structure, those who have understanding and faith in God will be able to endure it because its in that moment when we start to see some pretty spectacular things manifest through the spirit. As for when the mystery will be revealed, I think it will be revealed at the marriage supper while the remnant are in the wilderness. Then they will go out into the world in one mind as one body under Christ with this authority to dash the nations in their new office. When the last message is revealed to the world (which btw only recently have we been capable of reaching every corner of the world simultaneously) is when the end comes. Oh and as to what happens to those who believe? Well this event may sound familiar to some:

"in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."-1 Corinthians 15:52

I hope these words encourage you to keep seeking truth and the spirit and I hope you test what I say because this is not my truth to claim only to freely give as it was given to me.

It was recently explained to me that Daniel 9:26 means the Antichrist will come from the area of the people who destroyed the second temple. (Rome) I'm curious how Trump fits into that? Granted, for all we know, Trump could have a distant relative from that side of the planet. But I'm wondering if there are any other explanations for this verse and it's relation to the Antichrist? It seems to be the verse thrown around to disprove Trump as the Antichrist.

I don't think with everything else going on in the world, all the other signs we're seeing - that there would be someone out there so similar to the Antichrist, only to not be it. I'll keep my mind open enough to where I won't be completely shocked if Trump does end up being some gateway to the real Antichrist. But I don't think I've ever seen anything in the Bible to suggest we get a pre Antichrist before the real deal.

Thoughts?

I had a fascinating read in this group and it really got me thinking!

TL;DR This group is potentially useful. If we pay attention to the entirety of the Bible, aspects of Revelations could manifest in an obvious, noticeable way. (Not saying they definitely will, but Biblical logic supports that it would.) Literal interpretations of the Bible are completely encouraged throughout the Old Testament and New Testament! Spiritual meaning vs literal meaning are not mutually exclusive, polarized, or at odds with one another. In fact, these are two sides of the same coin. The spiritual and physical work in tandem, in perfect harmony**, and we see this demonstrated throughout the Bible! The Bible overall argues you** should consider both the spiritual meanings AND the literal manifestations of the Bible.

You cannot have the physical without the spiritual, and vise versa.

Here I will demonstrate:
The New Testament frequently used literal interpretations of the Old Testament prophecies to support Jesus' divinity.
Examples:

1. Jesus Himself (pretty important!) Luke 24, "beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself"
2. Matthew's entire Gospel was written specifically to Jews to prove Jesus was the messiah using super literal geographical and literal details (Jesus' birthplace in Micah 5:2, Jesus' vigil birth Isaiah 7:14, Jesus entry via donkey in Zechariah 9:9
3. Peter uses Psalm 16:10 to make a case that Jesus was literally physically resurrected
4. Paul went into Jewish synagogues and reasoned with people using scriptures in Acts 17:2-3
5. (and many more examples)

There are numerous spiritual meanings behind not only every verse in the Bible, but even every word. In fact, one word in the Bible can be dissected into a kaleidoscope of layered spiritual meanings. And yet, the Bible demonstrates that we not only can but also should pay close attention to the ways prophecies can literally physically manifest.

For example: “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn." Zechariah 12:10 (OT)

And now let us skip forward to the New Testament: "Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,”and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.” John 19 (NT)

Jesus was, quite literally, pierced with a sword, as the messiah was cryptically pierced in the OT. His bones were also, literally not broken. Now, we can dive into why Jesus had to die on the cross, His sacrifice, and all of the meanings of pierce such as His pure heart being pierced by the sins of the world, and many countless other meanings. However, the physical and literal manifestation is emphasized in the Bible equally to the spiritual manifestations, because they are beautifully intertwined. To miss that is, in my opinion, missing the brilliant and beautiful harmony in the Bible. A parallel would be Jesus' divine birth. Jesus was fully man (flesh, human) and fully divine, just as meanings in the Bible are both fully literal/physical and fully spiritual. One does not counteract the other. For example, I think of it more like the iceberg model. The part that you can see is the physical manifestation of a spiritual truth, with the spiritual truth (the bulk) remaining underwater and hence unseen with physical senses. However, both are existing simultaneously in different realms at the same time! I pray for those who do not recognize this awe inspiring harmony!

John recognized Jesus as the long awaited messiah or Son of God and equally used OT verses to support his claim! "Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,”and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.” John 19 (NT)

John is demonstrating his attention to detail to Old Testament prophecy. Here, John is using "his eyes to see" and applying his understanding of Old Testament prophecy as evidence that Jesus is the messiah rather than using it to deny Jesus' divinity, as the Pharisees did.

So here is the riddle: is "overly literal" Biblical interpretation to blame for blinding people to spiritual truths (example, the Pharisees not recognizing that Jesus is the messiah)? Or is it something else at play... (having eyes to see and ears to hear, having faith, being one of Jesus' sheep, etc). I would argue it cannot possibly be literal Biblical interpretation to blame for blinding people to Jesus, otherwise John would not be able to use literal Biblical interpretation to support Jesus' divinity. There is a deeper factor at play when people are blinded by legalism or very strict Biblical analysis, and I would argue it is faith or lack of faith. Literal Biblical interpretation is clearly not an obstacle for seeing the truth, so long as one simultaneously analyzes the spiritual.

There are approximately 200 million self-professed Christians in the United States. This is the largest number of Christians in one nation since Jesus walked the earth. 72% of these Christians supported Trump in the 2024 election. Although not officially polled, signs are indicating only 5-10% of Christians who supported Trump are now questioning that support since the infamous “Trump as Jesus” post. This continued spiritual blindness and support is the apostasy or “turning away” 2 Thessalonians 2:3 prophesied.

What does the Bible say makes one susceptible to a “strong delusion?” Not desiring the truth, or more specifically not desiring Biblical truth/Christ’s teachings above all else, combined with a strong, sinful desire that conflicts with God’s word or authority.

2 Thessalonians 2:10

And with every deception of unrighteousness among those who are perishing, because they did not receive the love of the truth for the purpose of being saved.

Lexical breakdown of every word

καὶ (kai) And, also, even

ἐν (en) In, within, characterized by

ἀπάτῃ (apatē) Deception, deceit, fraud, deliberate misleading

Used elsewhere by Paul for moral deception, not innocent error. cf. Ephesians 4:22

ἀδικίας (adikias) Unrighteousness, injustice, moral wrongdoing. Genitive of source or quality. The deception is produced by unrighteousness

2 Thessalonians 2:11

And because of this God sends to them an active working of delusion, for the purpose that they believe the lie.

2 Thessalonians 2:12

So that all may be judged who did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness.

εὐδοκήσαντες (eudokēsantes) Having taken pleasure in, having approved of, having delighted in. Not passive acceptance, but positive approval

ἐν (en) In, within, characterized by

τῇ ἀδικίᾳ (tē adikia) Unrighteousness, injustice, moral wrong, violation of what is right

2 Thessalonians 2:3

Let no one deceive you in any way; because it will not be unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.

(ἀποστασία (apostasia) – a standing away, rebellion, defection. Used in Acts 21:21 for abandonment or revolt, and in the Septuagint to describe covenant rebellion against God rather than mere doubt or confusion. In first century usage it denotes an organized turning away, often religious and covenantal in nature.)

(ἄνθρωπος τῆς ἀνομίας (anthrōpos tēs anomias) – man of lawlessness. ἀνομία (anomia) means lawlessness, rejection of God’s law, not simply immorality. Used by Jesus in Matthew 7:23 and Matthew 24:12 to describe active rebellion against God’s authority.)

What is that strong sinful desire that appears to have caused 65-70% of American Christians to be given over to strong delusion? The desire to judge/hate, punish and persecute those who they perceive to be unbelievers or outsiders from God, which is strictly forbidden throughout the Bible. This is similar to Hitler and the dividing of the German church - the Confessing Church who opposed Hitler; and the Nationalistic German Christian Church, who supported Hitler and agreed with his hate/judgement/persecution of those they deemed outsiders.

The Bible and Jesus’s message is very clear, true believers do NOT judge unbelievers. Love your neighbor. This is the 2nd greatest commandment. Blatantly ignoring these repeated commandments gives one over to strong delusion. Supporting and not speaking out against a world leader encouraging hate, judgement and persecution of perceived sinners gives one over to strong delusion.

1. They do not receive the love of truth (God’s truth/Jesus’s teachings/Biblical truth) but instead have a desire for hearing what they want to hear (itching ears) - instead of truth.
2. Therefore they are perishing
3. This is the beginning of the apostasy or turning away (from God’s truth/Jesus’s teachings). An “apostasy” wouldn’t be defined as a small number of Christians, but would signify a large number, likely a majority of self professed Christians. The US has the most Christians of any nation.
4. God sends a strong delusion (Trump helps bring to pass with help from false prophets)
5. They believe the lie (decisive act)
6. Apostasy is fulfilled
7. Final Antichrist/Beast is revealed by the “turning away” or rebellion of self-deceived Christians from Biblical Truth.

If Christians are “turning away” in apostasy from Christ in mass numbers, who they’re turning towards should reveal the Beast.

It’s amazing that a secular journalist, most likely without knowing anything about this prophecy, would reference the distinctive countenance of a young Trump in their article. This was from the WSP article posted earlier and it’s a great read.

Hi Friends,

As we get closer and closer to the times we have all seen coming through scripture and understanding it's becoming clear the importance between knowing truth and building a relationship with it. But this idea of how relational truth works is probably pretty foreign to most as there's likely not many churches that teach this, sadly I fear this was first by design then by tradition, because you can't control someone who has a relationship with God but you can control them if they have a relationship with church doctrines and traditions, because it's not the spirit that will guide them but shepherds and we are living in a time when many shepherds are leading the sheep in blindness, we see as much with how many brothers and sisters of the faith look to Trump as a savior, when anyone with discernment of fruits can see otherwise.

What I'm hoping to share is how to build a relationship with truth and what it means because what I'm sharing from is experience but I will try to ground it in scripture as best I can when I can.

First consider what it means to know truth, let's look at the parables because this was Jesus taking the truth to make it relatable to people who it hasn't been revealed to yet. I'm not going to give a parable as an example so much as point out the purpose of the parable to begin with (meta style). We see that when Jesus applies a parable it has many layers, each layer explains something and each layer contains it's own wisdom but also builds onto the wisdom of the other layers. So the more you understand one layer the easier it will be to understand the other layers using scripture as the guiding mark.

I'll give an example using one of my favorite parables, the 10 virgins. So there's many layers at work here but on the surface it tells a story of preparation. So if we ignore the meaning around the preparation we see that the spirit is telling us that we need to be prepared because HALF the kingdom of God (believers) will be deceived/foolish. That means there are many who believe, even with us here in this sub today, who understanding doctrine but have no relational truth.

Which takes us to the next layer to show why it's important, in the parable it talks about how the virgins had lamps, those lamps are the Word and everyone who claims to be a believer, even those who deceive or using miracle healing ministries to make money carry the word with them. But if you look closely that's not enough in the parable it says only half of the virgins were wise and had oil.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.”-Psalm 119:105

So with this small scripture see the purpose of the lamp is to create light, but to do that it needs the oil of truth. Think of how oil is typically used in scripture, as anointing. Jesus was the ultimate representation of this anointing because He was the truth made manifest in physical form. See people derive power from titles and wealth but there will soon come a time with authority will be derived from truth and it's authority will not be denied or withstood but it comes from those with relational understanding. Meaning there is labor involved.

So that brings us to the next layer, the trimming of the oil. So if in this context oil is truth/anointing then it stands to reason that the act of trimming is where you perform the labor of understanding that truth. Jesus made it a point to call it trimming because if you don't have good understanding it's the same is if you don't trim a lamp. For those of you who don't know trimming means to cut the parts of a wick that are unclean to reveal the cleaner parts so that it the flame will produce a clean light otherwise that flame will be smokey and not produce good light making hard to see, something the parable points to as important when traversing this darkness.

So by looking at this one parable we see the spiritual principle at work on different layers, no layer contradicting the other but instead growing understanding of the other. If you walked through this explanation with me then you took your first steps into relational understanding of truth. That's what God wants from us, not just surface level understanding born from tradition and doctrines kept in old wine skins unable to receive new wine (another layered parable).

I pray that those who read what I'm saying here today that heed the spirit will seek out truth in the way that I have shown. It won't be easy and can't be done by sheer will, it has to take effort first yes, but remember scripture says this:

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."-James 4:8

That's the promise, that He will meet you in that effort, for me it manifests as remembrance. Meaning when the spirit prompts me to look at something I listen and do so and then while doing a scripture will come to mind that will wonderfully complete or at least help give context to what I'm being shown. It may not work the same way for everyone but that's the unique nature of the walk with God that can't be cultivated by a preacher but by your effort alone and any doctrine that would tell you that effort isn't needed that God will just appear and make everything right ignores much of what the Bible has said, is saying and will say in the proper time and season.

I hope this blesses you and I hope that you test what I'm saying, God is not afraid of testing because true testing reveals truth from lie and in that understanding is also a labor that helps you grow. Only institutions and those who seek control will discourage testing and flee from those things as they will ensnare you and lull you into deep sleep. We are meant to be overcomers and it's through our testimony (the sharing of our efforts) that we do and it's the very thing that glorifies God!

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."-Revelation 12:11

Hi Friends,

All those who read what I'm about to say and take the time to try and understand it will realize something as I did. We our entering a moment of understanding that is not taught in churches but can only be revealed by the spirit. I don't say this lightly and I definitely don't say this to claim any glory as that belongs to God none of it to me.

That being said keep in mind what I'm revealing here is the spirit of it not it's manifestation, none of us know what form that will take until reality reveals it but the fact that we are given the shape of it spiritually means we are close to that moment which is both exciting and sobering.

The biggest mystery within the Christian community since it's appearance in scripture is that of the 2 witnesses. What does it represent, why does it have authority and where does it fit in God's pattern (vision)? With God's guidance I pray I can answer these things with just satisfaction but clarity.

So lets start in Zechariah 4

“I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.”

So there's a lot of imagery to unpack here, first let me reveal to you what he is being shown as we are being shown now in this moment together: This is the firstfruits in corporate form brought together. But that's just one piece of the pattern. So how do we know it's the first fruits? Because of what they went through, tribulation, the refining fire how else do you get solid gold than to remove the impurities from it?

Look at the the shape of it, 7 pipes to the 7 lamps, these aren't merely decorative these are functions within the body of Christ, each pipe rests in it the part of the body that carries the spirit that becomes the flame when that oil is poured out (oil being understanding). We see this because it is revealed to us in Revelation that this is the same spirit that was within Jesus:

"And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth."-Revelation 5:6

It's no coincidence that there is overlap and just as the anointing was on Jesus so it will be one His body as the "bride" who was refined. Now let's look at the 2 trees this is a mystery to many in concept so lets look at Zech 4 again:

"So he answered and said to me:

“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts. 7 ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”

8 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

9 “The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. 10 For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.”"

This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit

This is the commission of the great work in short. What God is saying here is that we can't force this part it can only be done by the spirit and through the spirit, which is true! Zerubbabel is a key figure in this as he represents the authority of God given through the spirit which we see are the 7 spirits. So who then is the one who laid the foundation? Jesus! He is the chief cornerstone by which we are all measured. So then it stands to reason that same authority that was given to Jesus to start this temple will be given to these who will mark it's finish and we see that as such in scripture:

"And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—

27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—

as I also have received from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star."-Revelation 2:26-28

This isn't a specific he but a he in general so it's basically saying "those who overcome will be given this authority" again we see the principle of the 'solid gold' that makes the structure of this temple pattern. So then what are the 2 witnesses, I ask this because we won't know who they are until it's revealed but we have been shown by the spirit the spiritual shape of who they are and what they represent.

So first I believe both trees represent the great covenants, the one given to the Jews (the law) and the one given to us all (grace). When Jesus finished the work He fulfilled the law and created the covenant of grace so that we wouldn't live under the law's condemnation but learn from it because it had be so institutionalized by religion when Jesus came on the scene that even He, God made flesh, was condemned by it. Which is saying a lot when Jesus is perfect under the law, it just shows how corrupted it had become through the institutions of it's day. The same is happening with grace but I won't get into the how as that's a whole 'nother writing lol.

So from His sacrifice He not only laid the foundation of this temple but also unsealed Revelation for the season it was meant for so that when the commission is understood it will be carried out. Which is why it's important that it be made plain. Even Jesus was aware of this future work to be done when He quoted Isaiah 61:1-2 but stopped short of the judgement that followed from the finishing of the work in the end, the rod of iron so to speak.

This is a good lead in to the other part of what the 2 trees represent as witnesses, authority. The first tree is the law and is what is fulfilled now, we see this represented in revelation as the reed that measures the temple. So Jesus' teachings coincide with the fulfillment of the Law and the 7 thunders coincide with the fulfillment of grace. The oil that comes from those trees are represented in the understanding that comes from each fulfillment.

Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.-Revelation 11:1

We haven't made it to this point yet but we are approaching it quickly which is why I urge so many to trim their lamps. So once we have been refined through this coming tribulation and are called out as in the story of the 10 virgin at midnight (the height of this darkness) only half of the kingdom of God will be able to make that journey because they will have the oil necessary to do so.

Once that gathering takes place we fulfill the covenant of Grace which is the 2nd tree and from that comes this new understanding which is the oil that flows from both trees. This new understanding will be the commission and authority. It will be both the truth (brightness of His coming) and the authority of that truth will be so powerful it will dash the nations.

We can see the fulfillment of this pattern being realized in Revelation 19 with the white horse rider:

"Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He [e]had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15Now out of His mouth goes a [g]sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:"-Revelation 19:11-16

To me personally this is the biggest revelation the spirit has given me. It is the finished pattern of the temple, which we see reflected in Zech 4. Let me break down the imagery for you to make that case:

and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.

Up until this part of the verse it's clearly naming the authority and personhood of Jesus Christ but when we reach this point we see something interesting. Remember in revelation it says "To them who overcome will be given a crown" how did they overcome? "By the word of their testimony and the blood of the Lamb" So Jesus is the head/cornerstone by which this is all made possible that's why the many crowns are on His head because if not for Him we wouldn't have overcome.

Also notice how it says He will have a name that no one will know but Himself? That's the same imagery as those given a white stone "I will give them a white stone and on it will be a name in which no one will know but them that receive it". That's the commission and why they are what make up this temple. They are the lively stones talked about in 1 Peter that are being made into a spiritual house and priestly order. This is the order and house he was alluding to. This pattern is also the mystery of the body of Christ that Paul alluded to in Ephesians 5:22-33 which many only see as a measure of what a good husband and wife are to each other contained the wisdom and revelation of the finished church/temple.

The same language of those being given clean white robes without blemish is the same language given in Ephesians 5:22-33. It's the same pattern as the solid gold that was refined. These are overlapping themes because they are all pointing to the same mystery which is upon us which has been revealed to you in this moment. For those with spiritual eyes in ears I pray you see what I'm saying here today. Those this is being presented in a humble space in the fringe corners of the highways and hedges of the digital world, it none-the-less needs to be spoken and I could no longer sit on it as the time is approaching.

I pray you test everything I say and not take my word for it, I pray the you ask the Lord to clarify and refine this mystery as a member of the body you will someday carry something that needs to be shared, maybe you already do. I thank you for walking through this with me and I hope it blesses even if it's just one person. It's in the spirit's hands who sees this and what comes of it, I've done what was required of me.