Ephesians 6:12New Century Version (NCV)
12 Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world.
New Century Version (NCV)
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Psalms 106:15 MSG He gave them exactly what they asked for— but along with it they got an empty heart.
Israel Demands a King
1 Samuel 8:1-22 MSG
1 When Samuel got to be an old man, he set his sons up as judges in Israel.
2 His firstborn son was named Joel, the name of his second, Abijah. They were assigned duty in Beersheba.
3 But his sons didn't take after him; they were out for what they could get for themselves, taking bribes, corrupting justice.
4 Fed up, all the elders of Israel got together and confronted Samuel at Ramah.
5 They presented their case: "Look, you're an old man, and your sons aren't following in your footsteps. Here's what we want you to do: Appoint a king to rule us, just like everybody else."
6 When Samuel heard their demand—"Give us a king to rule us!"—he was crushed. How awful! Samuel prayed to GOD.
7 GOD answered Samuel, "Go ahead and do what they're asking. They are not rejecting you. They've rejected me as their King.
8 From the day I brought them out of Egypt until this very day they've been behaving like this, leaving me for other gods. And now they're doing it to you.
9 So let them have their own way. But warn them of what they're in for. Tell them the way kings operate, just what they're likely to get from a king."
10 So Samuel told them, delivered GOD's warning to the people who were asking him to give them a king.
11 He said, "This is the way the kind of king you're talking about operates. He'll take your sons and make soldiers of them—chariotry, cavalry, infantry,
12 regimented in battalions and squadrons. He'll put some to forced labor on his farms, plowing and harvesting, and others to making either weapons of war or chariots in which he can ride in luxury.
13 He'll put your daughters to work as beauticians and waitresses and cooks.
14 He'll conscript your best fields, vineyards, and orchards and hand them over to his special friends.
15 He'll tax your harvests and vintage to support his extensive bureaucracy.
16 Your prize workers and best animals he'll take for his own use.
17 He'll lay a tax on your flocks and you'll end up no better than slaves.
18 The day will come when you will cry in desperation because of this king you so much want for yourselves. But don't expect GOD to answer."
19 But the people wouldn't listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We will have a king to rule us!
20 Then we'll be just like all the other nations. Our king will rule us and lead us and fight our battles."
21 Samuel took in what they said and rehearsed it with GOD.
22 GOD told Samuel, "Do what they say. Make them a king." Then Samuel dismissed the men of Israel: "Go home, each of you to your own city."
I have never written a thesis, and I am not the best in writing down my thoughts about sermons I wanted to deliver.
I do however take time to study my thoughts and ideas. I let them sink deep within until I have it sorted out enough to bring it forth.
This subject is no different. I realise that his idea appeared back in the 1980’s through the 1990’s by the Word of Faith preachers like Kenneth Hagin Sr., and Larry Lea. Now with study I have found they are more Biblical than heretical.
I chose the previous Bible passages as my foundation to this post. Before you dismiss the idea study it, research it and then come to a conclusion. It might be that I am out on a limb, but, this is just a theory about a subject I have thought about for several years. Even more considering the climate during the election in America 2016.
There have been four great empires that have risen and then brought down.
1. Babylon
2. Medo-Persia
3. Greece
4. Rome
There are two to arise according to Bible prophecy.
I believe the next one is the Babylonian Revived.
The final one will be is when Christ sets His’ foot on the mount of olives and sets up His’ kingdom here on earth.
These first four had two characteristics that brought them down to naught.
a. Rebellion
b. Pride
The last empire before Christ’s will also be brought down like the four before it.
Where I differ from other Bible scholars, and a scholar I am not, but just a very studious person of the Scripture. I have searched the Bible thoroughly and have come to believe that the revived empire found in the Book of Revelation is Babylon, not Rome.
Neither is it western civililastion. This will fall giving way to the revived empire Babylon where the anti-christ, will rule. Setting up the unholy trinity.
Here is what I believe is starting to congel in these last days. We are seeing things develop in the middle east with a much faster pace. All eyes are on the area of Iraq and Iran(per; Persia) along with the small nation of Israel.
Israel in history was a great people and strong warriors, which won battles against all of the peoples that came up against them. There unseen help was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Yet Israel began to have wandering eyes. They grew tired of being led by the prophets and the priests of Levi. They began to murmur that they wanted a king like the nations arounnd them. Finally, God spoke to the prophet Samuel, and told the prophet to grant their desire, but there would be a price. The price would be that of being overtaken by other nations, led into slavery and wander for a great time.
Samuel appointed Saul. Saul was not God’s choice, but the people’s choice. He became boastful created false gods and idols and led Israel into idolatery. In his’ kingdom anything was accepted, as long as it lifted up Saul’s pride. Complete rebellion and pride entered into the people of Irsarel.
Finally, Israel came upon the people of Philistine and a giant named Goliath. Israel had not one soldier that could fell this giant. Jesse was a man with sons, the youngest was David. David was a mere sheperd who took care of his’ fathers livestock. He decided one day to visit the front lines and to see what was happening. He noticed that all the warriors and Saul were distraught. Goliath wanted Israel to send to him a man to battle with. Saul lined up his best including Jesse’s sons. Samuel was instructed to go along the line to find a warrior who could defeat the giant. He came upon the young David. He stopped. He chose David. All those around laughed at this young sheperd for he was not physically built to be a warrior. Jesse was against this also. David however speaks up and tells of his accomplishments while watching the flock of sheep. Samuel anointed David.
Saul ordered his’ men to place upon David his’ own armour that he would have wore himself in battle. It looked over sized for David. Finally, David takes off the armour and says, I can’t use this armour because I have not proved it. All he takes with him is five smooth stones that he had taken from a nearby brook. But, the most important thing on his’ side was the anointing of God. He sets out for the battle area and Goliath approaches him with great ridicule and shouts to the army of Israel, I ask for a warrior and all you send is a mere boy. David shouts to Goliath that he came not with mens armour but with the Lord God of Israel. David takes his tried sling, loads it with the first stone. Gives it a might whirl like he had done many times before like when he brought down a great bear. He finally let the sling go and the stone went sailing through the air. With God’s hand it lands directly in the forehead between Goliath’s eyes. With only one stone, Goliath falls to the earth with a great quake. David goes over to the body of Goliath takes out the giant’s sword and cuts of the giant’s head. Walks back towards Saul and the army with Goliath’s head in his hand holding by the hair.
With this history is changed forever. David eventually ascends to the throne of Israel and becomes the greatest king that Israel to this day has had.
David would soon die and leave his’ son Solomon to be heir to the throne. Solomon builds a great kingdom, gives the people of Israel a permanent temple to worship in. However, like all other great empires he begins to be puffed up with pride. Rebellion sets into the people of Israel and like the prophet Samuel declared falls to the hands of the Babylonian Empire. They are taken from their land to Babylon where they are enslaved.
In my next several posts I will bring about the topic of my thoughts. That is America and the spirit of rebellion and pride which eventually will fall to the next great empire prophesied in the Book of Revelation. Most evangelicals reading this will disagree, and I expect that. Yet in my very spirit I believe that this timeline propesied by the Apostle John in Revelation will take place.
