The Last Great Day of 2020

Ronald Weinland

October 10, 2020

In past years, on this Last Great Day, we often had two sermons. The first was always about the very meaning of this day. The second sermon, because it was the last day of the Feast season, would most always be a subject that was given to help us focus in order to look ahead to those things that, as we went back out in the world, to have a mindset of being determined that we would be at the next Last Great Day, the next Feast of Tabernacles and every Holy Day before that.

It’s an awesome thing to be able to go to the Feast of Tabernacles, to be able to observe it, even as people are, as they are this year, in a unique situation, and many of them by themselves or with only a few. There are some that have a little bit larger areas or groups of people that they can meet together with.

But it’s a very unique year, in that respect, but it’s still the Feast of Tabernacles and we’re able to be away from those things in the world that otherwise oftentimes make it difficult for us because of the stress and the pressure and all the things that are going on out there. We can just remove ourselves from that for a time and picture much of what is to be pictured in this period of time anyway, a time separated from the world, when the world won’t be as it is today – a different world, a new world. Not with all the drama like it is today.

And so, to be removed from that for a few days is an awesome thing. To be recharged, to be strengthened, but so much of it is about being stirred up, moved, and motivated so that we can indeed be here next year, so that we are determined to go back out there and fight. So, this year we are going to do a little bit as we have. As I mentioned, we generally have had two sermons. Then in 2018 and 2019 the second sermon of the Last Great Day that normally was given was given on the seventh day of the Feast. So, we just moved to one service then on the Last Great Day.

But today we’re going to combine this again, with the first, obviously, being about the meaning of this day, the first portion of the sermon, because we are to do that every year on every Holy Day, to be reminded of the meaning. God wants us to focus upon those things because it’s incredible how quickly we can lose them. If we begin to let down spiritually those things can begin to wane and go by the wayside and the conviction and the meaning, the understanding of those things begins to leave our life.

And so, we refresh ourselves every year and God blesses us by adding a little bit more oftentimes, some other understanding that we haven’t had, or oftentimes even we may have heard so much of what has been given before because really, so many of the Holy Days, there are things that are spoken of every year. We talk about those things. But it’s incredible how we’re able, even ourselves, because of being able to see something that perhaps we couldn’t see before. So, it’s an incredible process that God takes us through.

So, we’re going to combine the first portion of this sermon today being indeed about the meaning of the Last Great Day. Then the last portion will be about the end of this Feast season for this past year and the need to once again go back out in the world determined to observe the next Last Great Day of the Feast.

We have grown to love the focus God has given us for the fulfillment of this Holy Day. It’s really an incredible thing that as long as I’ve been in the Church, baptized since 1969, of how all the Holy Days, but even this Holy Day, with all that we’ve had in understanding God continues to give us more and we come to a deeper and deeper conviction of how awesome this is in it’s meaning for the world.

We actually grow in a mindset that has greater peace when it comes to death. The world doesn’t have that. But we actually grow in that in the Church, and especially concerning this Last Great Day, of the death of so many and a time of a resurrection that God has given to us. There’s a comfort in that, an awesome comfort in that in knowing those things, and it helps us to deal with death in a different manner because it’s just something allotted to mankind that we all have to go through, as a whole.

There is life and there is death. It’s a cycle, and our ability to deal with it, to address it is incredible because of God’s plan. We understand it. We know it.

It gives an incredible amount of comfort and peace when we know those things and come to embrace the truth of what God has blessed us to see, to understand the eventual fulfillment of this incredible day.

So again, we know the story well and we’re to focus again upon it once a year. We’re never to become dull of hearing it. Because, if we ever do, something is wrong with us, something is happening in our mind that isn’t good, that isn’t healthy and we need to repent and cry out for help that God’s Holy Days, that God’s plan stir us up and excite us, move us and motivate us.

Revelation 20:1—Then I saw an angel come down from heaven. Out of heaven. It’s a matter of where they abide, and using this language so often on a physical plane so that we can grasp things in a physical manner, so that we can, hopefully, as time grows become more understanding of them on a spiritual plane.

It says, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. So, it’s not a bottomless pit. It’s a word for an abyss. It’s a place of restraint. And he laid hold of the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years. What a beautiful picture. Because the latter portion of this sermon today is about that power that’s about to be unleashed even more so upon this world, and then at the end one last time at the end of what this day pictures, the Last Great Day.

And so, here he’s bound for a thousand years, no longer the kind of stress and pressure and lying spirit that’s able to be broadcast and people can be so receptive to. Because we have carnal nature and as long as he’s out there and that spirit world is out there it broadcasts and it works with a carnal human mind, with that selfishness that’s just inherent. It’s in us as a part of our thinking because we’re a physical creation.

And so, what a beautiful time when he’s going to be put away, and the demons with him, for a thousand years.

It says, and cast him into the abyss, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years should be fulfilled. We know this. It’s an incredible picture of things that are going to take place. But what an awesome blessing, something to embrace, something beautiful concerning this Feast season that is about the Feast of Tabernacles, is somewhat akin to, as we can see a little bit of it physically, being removed from the world that’s around us, all that that world, the spirit world moves and motivates to cause so much drama and evil in the world and mankind we don’t have to deal with, as a whole, during the Feast season. It’s somewhat akin to the fact that Satan won’t be around.

And so, during the Feast of Tabernacles that’s the desire, that we be away from that, we have an ability to be with God’s people, others who have been called to share in fellowship. That’s an incredible blessing, to be removed from the things that normally bombard us. The world during that thousand one hundred years will not be bombarded by that being and his cohorts.

....and after that he must be let loose a little season. So again, we see that; we know when that’s going to happen.

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded. It just means “cut off.” It’s amazing because people don’t understand and translations and so forth and ideas that people had at that time when some of these things were translated. Incredible what they did when they took certain language and another language with what they understood at that time and words that they chose to use. Many of those kinds of words have changed in meaning through time as well. But it just means to be cut off.

We understand that. What an incredible thing to understand that when we’re called we begin a process of being cut off from the world. It’s a great blessing. Because it means that we’re able to be moved out of Egypt. We start a process of a journey out of Egypt, out of spiritual Egypt, and others know that around us. And so, we’re not like the world and so we’re cut off from the ways of the world. Because the world begins to treat us differently. They begin to look at us differently. They think about us differently. It’s a blessing to the Church because we’re blessed to be able to live a different way. We focus on a different way of life though others around us can’t grasp that nor understand it. And so, we embrace being cut off, in that respect, though it can be hard to go through because of family and others and friends we had in times past. But after a time, we realize they can’t see. They can’t help what they can’t see.

So again, cut off for the witness of Joshua. So, you start living this way of life, you’re cut off. People don’t want to even have the same relationship with you any longer. You’re different. You’re not the same one that they knew before. So, when you’re called out of the world you begin living differently and they can’t deal with that.

So again, for the witness of Joshua, because that witness is living in you. You begin to live that. It’s a testimony, it’s a witness of the power of God to live and dwell within us, to change us, our thinking, and the way we live. Not like a fake Protestant world of traditional Christianity. They can’t help what they don’t know. But it’s not real and this is unique. It’s real and we’re blessed to have it in us, this witness, this testimony. Because it’s about God and Christ living and dwelling in us and we in them because if it weren’t for that we wouldn’t have that witness. It’s the truth. It’s about the truth that’s able to live through us. Others aren’t able to live the truth living through them, that witness.

…and for the word of God. It’s about the word of God, the word of God that’s true. …and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image. So, we’re blessed to be cut off from the world, to be drawn out of it, out of spiritual Egypt, spiritual Babylon, spiritual Assyria. We’re able to be drawn out of those things.

…neither had received that mark, in essence, upon their foreheads, or in their hands. So, meaning that the way we think and the way we work, we, our actions, our life is different. We live different according to God’s way of life.

…and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. So, what an incredible thing that those who came out of that, those who were cut off, because of a period of time, finally, when all those over a period of 6,000 years who had been worked with, who had been called, who had been cut off from the world, and that mark, that way of life because they didn’t live like what is referred to as “the mark of the beast,” the keeping and observing of the false religions and things that are done because of Sunday and when they will and will not work. We don’t work on the Sabbath, nor on the Holy Days, and it pictures what we think, what we believe.

And so, that’s the mark of the sign that lives and dwells in us, that witness. Again, the world doesn’t have that, so we don’t have what the world has anymore. We have something unique in a relationship, in a fellowship with God.

It talks about these individuals, those that were called to become a part of the first resurrection, the 144,000. That’s what it’s referring to here, “And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” Beautiful picture.

We look forward to that government being established, the Kingdom of God being established on earth. But it goes past the first thousand years, which is what this day is all about, that final hundred years, the Last Great Day, which is largely about judgment upon mankind of all those who ever lived before, lived and died, and resurrected to live a second time, as it goes on to say.

But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. So, everyone who had died up to this point in time at the end of 6,000 years, they still remain dead. The rest of the dead, they weren’t resurrected, but these were. “And the rest of the dead didn’t live again until the thousand years were finished.”

This is the first resurrection. The 144,000. Going through this you think, what did this mean to the early Church? I mentioned this last year. What did that mean to the early Church? Well, they couldn’t see as much, they didn’t understand as much. Because a lot of these things that we see today, especially in Revelation, because they didn’t have Revelation. The early Church, early disciples, apostles, and the Church up to the time of John when Revelation was given, and then, even then the things that were revealed were not nearly as much as what they have been during the time of Philadelphia and today.

Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. It goes on to tell why blessed and holy, set apart, and now, forever. Incredible! The plan of God complete in these individuals. So again, they’re blessed, obviously so, now spirit, spirit life.

Because as such the second death has no power. And so again, the second death. Well, there were things that hadn’t been revealed until John was given this to write, and the book of Revelation that came about as a result of it.

So you think, how blessed are we? I marvel at this so often, that so often we just don’t grasp the depth of what we have been given, of how much understanding and insight God has blessed us to have. It says, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

And when the thousand years have expired, when they’ve come to an end, when they’ve been fulfilled, it says, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog. We have grown in understanding what that means. Again, awesome that we grasp and understand these things in an incredible way, the kinds of people from different periods of time that are going to be resurrected and how they’re going to be dealt with.

So, that being is resurrected again, Satan and the demonic world, and they go out to deceive and stir up the world again. Incredible! It says, and to gather them together to battle. So, I marvel how God has revealed to us more about the Second Phase now of the Third Woe. There is a judgment, a period of time coming that’s referred to, and this will be the end of, the fulfillment of, if you will, that Third Woe.

…and gathered them together, it says, the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. So again, things that we understand in this end-time because of where we are. God has now revealed those things so fully to us, even of recent time here, even within the last year revealed more and more to us of what these things are about, and to know, to contemplate the vastness of those who aren’t going to receive God’s way of life.

We didn’t really grasp that in times past because it wasn’t time to be given to us. As we grew through the period of Philadelphia and then kind of really stagnated during Laodicea because there wasn’t that kind of growth anymore, but we continued on, and then what God has given even more so in PKG to grasp and understand what these things are about, to understand that the vast majority of mankind—or not the vast majority, we don’t know yet—but that very large numbers are just not going to choose this way of life when they have a second opportunity.

Even then with all that they’re going to see, that the Family of God, that they have inspired and worked with mankind for a thousand years to bring the world to what it is during that final hundred years, and then all the things that will be worked with during that period of time that they will see and be able to compare with whatever period of time they lived in. Perhaps the flood, perhaps right after the creation of mankind, of Adam and Eve and life that went on then. And so, different periods of time. They’re going to be able to compare and contrast those things but they’re going to choose their way, what was so deeply embedded in their minds that they want to do what they want to do, not what God tells them is better for them. Choices.

It goes on to say here then, And they went out on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city. I pause a little bit because I could say more in the sense of some of this, but there is more to come in time as far as what some of these things mean. We aren’t at that point in time where they’re to be given. But to grasp all these things in a greater way, there is much more to learn, there is much that we still don’t know, that hasn’t been given to the Church to see fully and to grasp what’s going to take place at this time.

Because there is that which is spiritual here and a demonic being that’s working to deceive mankind. It’s just his last time and he knows it. He knows what God has given and what God says and what God has given to the Church to teach. He knows about his end. But he still fights, and he still strives to do what he’s going to do clear up to the end, to the time he’s destroyed and leads massive amounts. As the sand of the sea; it’s hard to grasp.

So, whatever is in their perverted minds, that they can destroy what God has created, what God has brought together… Anyway, it talks about what they’re going to do, what is in their mind, that they’re going to think that they can accomplish, though I fully believe with all my being that there is a being that knows better.

It says then at this point in time, And fire comes down from God out of heaven. So, what an awesome thing to understand a second life that people are going to be given, to grasp and comprehend that all those who have ever lived to this point in time are going to be, as a whole, have an opportunity to be resurrected. As we understand that doesn’t mean that all have to be. It’s not owed to them to be resurrected to a second life. There are those who have so corrupted their minds that no matter what was done, no matter what they saw, they’re not going to change, because the mind is so evil. So, God knows the state of a mind to be resurrected and those who can be given opportunity to make choices, though knowing that so many still aren’t going to. But they’re given that opportunity.

And it says, And fire comes down from God out of heaven and devours (consume) them. So, they try to start another war. So, just as when Christ returns with 144,000, the Third Woe that’s going to take place is going to be that great army that’s going to destroy those who are destroying the earth. Then the Second Phase of that Third Woe, of that judgment at the end, when as the sand of the sea so many refuse after everything they’ve seen.

I think that’s been a little difficult for people to begin grasping but I believe that more and more within the Church are really beginning to grasp that. Because the reality is so many through time who have been in the Church, the majority have turned away, have chosen something else besides what God has placed before them.

I think it’s hard for people to grasp. Well, they can kind of grasp that because of the kind of world we live in, but to grasp that in a world that is ruled over and reigned by God and by Christ and the God Family? It’s like, how could anyone make such a choice? Why would anyone make such a choice? It shows the mind, the power of choices, and the fact that so many really do not want God.

That’s why I continue to comment and make comment about what I’m going to say toward the end of this sermon today. You have got to want what God has placed before you. You have got to be determined to fight and keep fighting no matter what until you have accomplished what God says is before you that you can have! If you truly want that way of life, not just to get something because you don’t want to suffer as a human being, not just to get, but because you’re convicted this is the right way, the only, true way, the best way of life to live. Everything else is divisive and evil, drama always, evil drama in life. It’s not the way of God. It’s not the way to have right relationships at all!

And what is the world if time were to, if people were able to live for hundreds and hundreds and thousands, what is it if we don’t have unity, love, mercy? We don’t have to worry about those things anymore. It’s just a part of thinking. But to have love and kindness, a desire of relationships that are healthy and good, where people don’t try to hide something from others, where we are who we are but we’re of the mind of God, we’re in agreement with God. What else would one want to live?

But the reality is that people are going to choose the other because they like the other, the frivolity of life, the carelessness of life, the drunkenness, the orgies, the adultery, the whatever it is that people lust after, the way of self, the way of the world. They want that back. They want to have that. Incredible, the human mind. Choices.

And the devil who deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone. So, an end to that being, an end to all those, as the sand of the sea, who reject God. Because what is the purpose of life to continue on for them? That’s torture. They live a tortured life. They’re tormented. That being has been tormented. He’s not at peace. He doesn’t know what it is. He rejected that because he just wants what he wants without God telling him something else. And so, they’re tormented in mind. That’s what drama is. There’s a lot of drama in the spirit world. They don’t get along with each other. It’s drama, drama, drama. And that’s not life!

That’s why I’ve cried out about drama so much. Because it begins to rule people’s life if they’re not careful. They begin to almost, as it were, thrive on it. Now, that’s mind-boggling because it’s totally against the mind and way of God.

And the devil who deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, whereas the beast and false prophet were. This is so awkwardly translated in different places. But he is the beast and the false prophet that’s being spoken of here. That’s who it’s about. It’s about that being.

“The devil who deceived them was cast into the lake of fire.” And so again, it’s not about where they were. It’s about him. “Who is,” in essence, “the beast and the false prophet.” It’s just identifying him, who he is; Satan, cast into the lake of fire. That beast, that false prophet! That understanding has been totally lacking. We haven’t known that during Philadelphia and Laodicea at all. It’s like something happened earlier and someone was cast into this lake of fire, this great false prophet in the world who’s alive at the end, who’s a head of a great church. It’s not about him. He’s not that false prophet. It’s speaking of the one who’s been false from the get-go, the one who began to work against God from the beginning. That spirit then that went throughout the spirit world. Some then, a third of the angelic realm, chose to follow it. Then when mankind was created, went throughout the world of mankind.

It says, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever. Well, that makes it sound like it’s going to go on past this point. No, that’s the end. It’s showing that he has been tormented, his life is one of torment.

Drama is the way of torment. It’s not peace and happiness. Anybody who lives a different way than God is not at peace. It’s torment. That’s the torment of their life. They don’t understand that. That’s the torment of their life, drama. Some enjoy drama. Some will choose drama because that’s what they want. But they don’t understand the torture because they don’t see and know the mind of God, the peace that could otherwise be there, but make a choice on drama, torment. How incredible! It’s insane. Shows the kind of mind.

And I saw a great white throne, and He who sat on it, from whose face the earth and heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them. I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God. So, it goes ahead and shows some things that are happening and then it backs up and shows some things that take place, that lead up to that time.

I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God. And the books were opened. And another book was opened which is the book of life. And the dead were judged out of those things that were written in the books according to their works. So, it shows what happened during that hundred years, that there was a great resurrection, a second life given to human beings that we’ve already discussed here in Revelation 20. And so, it’s going back and forth a little bit here in the story, but it’s making it very clear what is taking place and what is happening here.

It says, and the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and death… The sea of mankind, of those who had died and then those who were able to live again. And death and the grave delivered up the dead who were in them. So, it’s just repeating it in a different manner. It’s the same thing. All those who had died through those thousands of years that are resurrected, given life again. The grave opened up; life was given once again. They were no longer dead.

…and they were judged, everyone according to their works. Because that’s what happens. Once a person is called, they have the opportunity to receive the truth. That’s what happens during that hundred years. The truth of God is all over the world. There is no other Church. There is no other religious belief out there. There is not something different being taught. There is only one way. But there will be those who try to teach something different. They’re going to do it during the hundred years! They’re going to try amongst themselves, in their talk, in their speech, things they say, because they liked what they had in the times past and the frivolity, the rioting, everything that went along with it. That’s what they want.

So, to think that the hundred years is just going to be peachy-keen? It will be in large part, yes, because there’ll only be one truth throughout the world that will be allowed in that respect, to be taught massively from Sabbath to Sabbath, Holy Day to Holy Day. Those things will be very powerful, indeed.

There is only going to be one government. But that doesn’t mean everybody wants it. It’s like what Satan did. On the side there will be little pockets, maybe some big pockets here and there, and God’s going to allow it. He’s not going to just strike them dead then. They’re going to have, this time, every opportunity to change. Judgment. Hundred years. No excuse whatsoever for choosing something different with that kind of a witness so powerfully so around them for that length of time.

It says, and death and the grave were cast into… So, this is bringing us back up to this point now. So, it’s showing here that they were all judged according to their works and now we’re coming back to what it’s spoken of, what happened to Satan and those who are gathered together as the sand of the sea. …and death and the grave were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Awesome, that we understand that.

So, with those things being taught, with people knowing… It’s like people in the Church who have known the truth. They know what will take place if they… At least they’ve been told. Not that they agree with it or maybe think it’ll happen to them. But again, the unsoundness of the human mind.

And whoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. The end. The end of mankind for all time. No more human life. No more demonic life. It’s all gotten rid of. What will continue on is the Kingdom of God, is the Family of God and the angelic realm that has remained faithful throughout all the billions of years, whatever the timespan is, and all continue on together in God’s plan and purpose forever.

So, the revelation of this part of God’s plan began to be revealed back in Isaiah. We need to take a look at that—Isaiah 65:17—just to be reminded and to look at what God says He’s doing and what this period of time, that hundred days, that last Great Day is all about.

Isaiah 65:17—For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth. And the former shall not be remembered; it’s God’s plan, a new heaven. Everything is to be renewed. It doesn’t mean that somehow the earth has to be destroyed and then brought back to whatever this is referring to, new. It’s referring to everything that’s ever existed; God is making it refreshed, new, if you will, because of His creation, what He’s creating. The primary focus from the very beginning has been the creation of the God Family.

And the former shall not be remembered, nor come into the mind, or the heart, as it is talking about here. The word is about the heart, but it’s about the mind, the thinking, how those things that are deep, deep inside of us that we feel, that we live, that we choose, make choices in.

The wrong things of what we experienced in human life, all the evil that we experienced in whatever period of time we have lived, for the 144,000 in their times, or during the Millennium, that people live in during the Millennium, and then for those who live in the Great White Throne period. Once they’re in the God Family, once all this is over, the end of the hundred years, the Last Great Day is over, then we have this. Time will continue on and the hurt, the pain, the suffering, the thinking of what it was like, we don’t have to have anymore in our life. As time goes on those things go by the wayside; they don’t have an affect upon our lives.

It says, But be glad and rejoice forever. So, those who are able to live forevermore, indeed a time to be glad and rejoice. That’s the way life will be. So beautiful. So perfect. So good in every respect in relationships and what we’re doing as God’s Family, the things that we have not yet been shown that God’s planned for a long time ago that’s going to begin to be fulfilled and accomplished. Beautiful, awesome things! Rewarding things! Satisfying things! Inspiring things!

So, he says, Be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem, that peace, that family, that city that is spiritual, a rejoicing, and her people a joy. We can know of it. We can have a little taste of it within the environment that God has given us in fellowship. We’re to want that and desire that and nurture that, and to try to do our part to strengthen that. It’s God’s Family.

Verse 19 goes on to say, I will rejoice in Jerusalem. We can’t even begin to grasp the joy of God, to see this finally come about, the end of a hundred years, to know what’s going to take place and then? It’s been 6,000 years have pass already of mankind and all the suffering, all the evil, for a purpose to get where we’re going. That God be able to create that which will be drawn to Him and have those opportunities through choice, through time, at different times.

I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall no more be heard in her, and the voice of crying. So, God desires with great desire to get past all this. And we do, too. But we haven’t been doing this very long. The hurt, the pain, the suffering, the drama of human life that just hurts. It just hurts. Selfishness, the evil, the evil of selfishness itself. Because it just hurts. It hurts others. It’s a hurtful way.

No more shall there be an infant of a day or an old man who has not fulfilled his days. For the child shall die a hundred years old. So, it’s through this that God revealed to Herbert Armstrong the period of time of that hundred years, that the youngest to be resurrected who is a day old, who was in his first day or her first day and they died, have opportunity in another resurrection to have life that they never really experienced. But even that people hurt and are hurt so deeply when a child dies at whatever age. But the reality is they have been alive, they will be resurrected. That’s an awesome thing to understand. There’s an incredible peace in that.

To know that even though it hurts when others die, when we see, especially someone young, for us in the Church we can have a peace that the world just doesn’t experience because we know they’ll be resurrected. I can say it won’t be long until that period of time, until that thousand years, because we tend to think things are so far away. But I used to think when I first came in the Church back in 1969, baptized at the age of twenty there, that if I were to think about being thirty or forty or fifty, I never really spent much time thinking about those things unless it was a matter of considering certain insurance or something like that because of family and things of that matter to take care of or whatever it might be. But we were continually looking for—because that’s our calling at the end-time—the end so we didn’t worry about some of those kinds of things, really, but thought about them in the sense of so often made a decision, no, don’t need it, don’t want it, life goes on, the end is coming, the end of this age is coming.

But in those things when you see someone of an older age, perhaps it crosses the mind, but as all younger people, don’t think about what it’s going to be like when you’re fifty or sixty or seventy. But when you get closer to it you think about those kinds of things, you realize you’re not getting younger, you are dying, your body, your life, it’s not getting stronger, it’s getting weaker and you experience that. There’s a blessing, great blessing in that, that we’re able to be sobered by God’s creation, to understand that experience and the lessons to be learned from it.

Because you can learn things there with God’s spirit that you can’t when you’re younger, the reality, that which is clearer in the mind, in the thinking.

So again here, the peace that comes with knowing what comes to pass here, that’s coming soon upon this earth, regardless of the age, young and old alike, we don’t have to worry about it. Tragic because of the pain involved, because of the hurt and the pain and the suffering involved, but when people are dead, they don’t know it. There’s no more suffering. They’re going to have an opportunity at the greatest time of humanity, because by that time the things that have been developed, the technology that God has blessed the world to receive more of during the thousand years, is going to be in that last hundred years powerfully so, in a world with one government, a world with absolute justice, and peace, as a whole, that is there. Incredible!

But the sinner being a hundred years old shall be accursed. So, whatever the age. And if someone doesn’t choose God’s way of life by the end of that period of time, that hundred years, the child perhaps that grows and doesn’t choose it? Because even there, as hard as it is to comprehend, there will be those who haven’t experienced the world. Because if you die at a month old, a year old, two, you don’t know. You don’t have the world in you. But to think that during that hundred years some of them can be resurrected, many perhaps, who don’t choose God? That would seem so foreign, but it will happen.

And the sinner being a hundred years old shall be accursed. Because we know. We just read about it in Revelation what’s going to happen at the end of the hundred years for those who don’t choose, haven’t chosen by that time, to change, to conquer, to overcome, to embrace God’s way of life, to repent and desire God’s spirit to dwell within them, to change the mind, for the mind to be transformed. Because it takes time for the mind to be transformed. At some point there, well before that hundred years is over, the mind of so many is already set. And so, they’ll be accursed. There’s a curse to it, in a sense. Death is. An end to life. That’s not a healthy, not a good thing.

And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; those who are resurrected to that last hundred years, the child that grows, those who are resurrected at whatever age they were, or maybe even a much younger age, certainly having that kind of health and that kind of a body. They shall build houses, and inhabit them, they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. Because the world hasn’t been like that. So much has been robbed and taken from people, and the wars that have been fought, and all the things that have taken place with mankind, but now God says this is what it’s going to be like.

They shall not build, and another inhabit; come in and take it away, rob them, steal from them, cheat them, whatever it might be, conquer them.

They shall not plant, and another eat. Someone else take it fully from them. For as the days of a tree are the days of My people, and Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. So, to go through the process, to become those that are the select, the selected of God – because it’s a matter of the choices we make in life, and if the mind indeed is transformed then this is what takes place, “And they shall long enjoy the work of their hands.” Because it’s not just a physical thing, it continues on in time for those who at the end of that hundred years continue on who are in the God Family. They’re going to long enjoy the work; what God is doing.

They shall not labor in vain, nor bear children into trouble. So again here, we understand what these things are about, the kinds of things that have taken place with humanity in the first 6,000, and even the 7,000 years, because some things are going to happen during that period of time as well. But, “They shall not labor in vain,” as during the first 6,000 years because look at the world. People live a period of time and life is over and someone else receives and takes what they have.

“…nor bear children into trouble.” So, it’s not a matter that children are going to be born at that time. They’re not. But the point being is wherever there are children they don’t have to go through that kind of thing and experience the kinds of things that so many had experienced in previous times. They don’t have to worry about those things anymore. There will be no more birth. But there will be children and there will be those who will be able to receive children, like an adoption, and they’ll be able to raise them. An incredible world that can be here. So, the point being is “nor bear children into trouble,” because that trouble won’t be around, not like it is with mankind in the first 6,000 years.

…for they are the seed of the blessed of the Eternal, and their offspring with them. In other words, all families will be blessed to have their lineage known, and together. So, it’s an incredible thing that’s going to take place, when people are going to know their ancestry and be able to have conversation with different ones. We really can’t grasp what that world is going to be like. Everyone who’s ever lived to be alive at that time? Incredible! The history of everything will be fully known because everyone who has lived in those periods of time, they’re there and the history, the things they can tell. So, today history is messed up royally and people aren’t really sure to the absolute truth of many things – many, not just a few.

And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; God knows what’s taking place in the mind and the desire He has for individuals. He knows what’s taking place when people are going through different things and as that desire is there from God Almighty that people call upon Him. That’s what prayer is about. …and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

God is going to bless the world, mankind, during that last hundred years in a way that is far, far beyond even our calling in this world because there is so much to pull at and take people away from today in today’s world.

The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock. And dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,

saith the Eternal. Well, there are things here that are physical and spiritual as well, but there is much here that is on a physical plane as well, showing that it’s going to be a very unique world that is going to exist at that time during that hundred years when so much of nature itself is going to be different than it is today.

So anyway, this story is finally concluded so well in Revelation 21:1. It says, Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, meaning “new or fresh.” It’s made new. It doesn’t mean that it’s something different than what it was before in the sense of the creation itself of earth, but it’s new, it’s made afresh. It’s because of mankind, because of what’s going to be taught, because of what people are going to begin living until, finally, the hundred years is past, and then even more so.

For the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and there was no more sea. Now, this is very clearly then about no more sea of humanity. It’s the end of mankind. That’s what it’s talking about. And so, everything is made anew because what remains is all that’s spiritual, spirit beings in the angelic realm and in the God Family.

And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem. We know what that is – the Family of God. …coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. So, all through time those who become a part of the God Family, those of the 144,000, then that which happens at the end of the thousand years, and then now on a far more massive scale those who have gone through that period of time and are able to become a part of this family. Showing that process there of finally.

This bride adorned for her husband here is about that spiritual process that takes place until we are at one with Christ. When we’re brought to be at one with Christ, we are at one with God.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell in them. We experience that in our lives one we’re called, God dwelling in us, Christ dwelling in us and our dwelling in them on a spirit plane in a relationship. But then, forever. It’ll never be a matter of quenching the spirit. There’ll never be a matter of being cut off from the holy spirit. Because once we’re at this point in God’s Family, God dwells in us forever, and we’re in God on a spiritual plane.

And they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them, and He will be their God. (Verse 4) So, God will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things have passed away. It’s an awesomely, beautiful picture, it truly is, and we long for that. We truly do.

…there will be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. And He who sat on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. That’s what God has done. It’s a creation, the creation of what God has made.

And He said to me, write, for these things are true and faithful. Then he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him who is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. So again here, this matter of that which is spirit, not physical, spirit, that which is spirit in life, that which gives life and our ability to dwell in God, the oneness, the unity, the mind of God, the being of God.

He who overcomes shall inherit all things. And I will be his God, and he shall be My son. Because there is no sex in the God Family once we’re a part of the God Family. So, it speaks in these terms, “My sons,” “the sons of God,” “the children of God,” whatever. It’s not a matter of sex at all.

But the fearful and unbelieving, the abominable, murderers, whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolators, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. So again, the end of that hundred years and finally all that remains is the God Family, the spirit family of angelic beings in the angelic realm and all that’s in heaven, all that’s in the universe on a physical plane. Those things, they all remain. But all the evil is gone.

So, right now we need to shift gears a little bit as we consider the state of the world. We see those things that are coming. We long for them. We’re brought back into a reality here that we’re through with the meaning and purpose of this day, of examining those things that God tells us, and we’re getting ready to go right back out into the world. It’s not a pleasant thing. It’s an incredible reprieve and peace that God gives to us through the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day.

And so again, we’re getting ready to go back out in this world and we need to consider the state of what it is we’re heading back into, to look at it realistically, and that we be able with all of our heart and being, that we right now be convicted, that we be determined to observe all of God’s Holy Days and this Last Great Day again next year. Because not everyone with us will.

I’ve said it every year. Where are you? Where is your thinking? Where is your mind? What kind of conviction do you have? What kind of love for God and God’s way of life and God’s truth do you have? What’s being reflected in your life? Because only you can answer such things. Only you can be determined to fight such a battle, to conquer and to overcome, and to continue on for as long as God says to.

So, we have not been given to know when the events of the First Trumpet begin. We know that all Seven Trumpets have blown. They were blown a long time ago. In essence, that announcement: “It’s coming. It’s here. This is what’s taking place. This is the date of it.” We’ve gone through those periods of time and we await the events, and we know what holds it back, the First Trumpet. It’s us. We have to be ready. And once we are, in the sense of all that that has to be completed for the 144,000, and as well within the Church of that which is going to continue on, but especially concerning the final fulfillment of the 144,000…

And so, we see a world that’s ready to erupt and will erupt exactly when God determines. He just hasn’t given that to us now. He’s given us no more markers. I hope I made that perfectly clear by what was said on Trumpets, and no more markers. So, we realize that we’re closing in very quickly here and that things will take place. Now, quick to us may not be the same as it is to God, but it’s quickly because of the condition of the world.

You can look at it and you can see the evidence. Because God is in control of all that. He can hold those things back or He can let things progress forward. He’s letting a lot progress forward. To me, in one respect, that’s encouraging because it means that the final sealing is nearly upon us. That’s encouraging.

We have that evidence of what’s in the world. A kind of marker, but not a specific time has been revealed to us because it’s not God’s purpose to do that. But once we’re all ready, prepared to the degree we must be, it will take place.

This world is beginning to experience evil rhetoric, divisiveness, and hatred at levels on a worldwide scale that has never been seen in such a manner as this. And largely because, in part here, if you will, because of modern technology and communication, let alone other matters of technology, but also due to a spirit world that’s beginning to gain power, greater strength.

You know, the more corrupt mankind is the more evil mankind begins to become because of those broadcastings that are out there, the more he can use it, the more he can stir that up. He can make it worse and worse and worse. We see that taking place! Absolute insanity out there, the thinking that’s coming out. There’s a power behind that. Truly is.

Again, all these things are happening because of that spirit power that’s gaining in strength. He’s gaining it in large part because of what he’s been doing, but he’s going to be allowed to even have far more for this purpose. As those things are happening, we need to beware, we need to be on guard more than ever before. There are things coming that none of us have ever experienced to this level, even spiritually. The closest to that would be the Apostasy. But there’s going to be attack and bombardment in a way that we need to be sobered by that, by that truth, by that reality.

I want to look at some news articles here just so we can see. Because you couldn’t do this even a year ago to this level, of what’s taking place in the world right now. Two years ago, three years ago you would go weeks and months at times before some things like, of this nature that I’m going to read would take place in some area. Now, it’s global, it’s worldwide, the things that are happening, the craziness, the evil that’s out there, the thinking that exists. It really is scary. It’s a scary thing to watch it.

But I just want to read through some of these things. I’m just going to do a few over the last few weeks of what’s transpired in some things that are taking place. I’m not even going to begin to go through it all because there is so much there, there really is.

An article out of Europe: “Turkey defies EU ultimatum, threatens with war.”[1] It says, “If Greece expands its maritime borders in the Aegean Sea, this will be a cause of war, Turkish foreign affairs minister,” I’m not going to try to pronounce this. I’m not even sure how to say it, but I’m going to try it. “…Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu,” (probably not), “said on Saturday (29 August).” So again here, we’ll just say the Turkish foreign affairs minister. It’s a whole lot easier.

“Greece,” it says, “is due to double its western territorial waters with Italy to 12 nautical miles, a right provided under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which Ankara has not signed up to.” But the others have and they’re talking about what they’re going to do, what is allowed then by the United Nations, in that respect.

Now, I don’t know how well we’re keeping up on some of these things that are out there, but the things we’re going through at this portion of the sermon today, as a whole people are totally oblivious to it in the world around us. They really are. They don’t know these things are happening. They don’t know where these places are, as a whole, let alone what’s happening in them because it’s just not reported. You have to dig. Sometimes you have to dig a lot.

Then sometimes when something is reported—I marvel—there is an article I’m going to come to later here, something that came out in the news, that the world had it for just a short period of time (it was like a quick report), and then forgot about it. And yet it’s one of the most important things that people should be zeroing in on in the western world, anyway, of anything. People are just willingly blind and inwardly obsessed right now – individually in our own lives, but now pulling in within nations because of a pandemic.

Who could have ever thought, dreamed of something like this to this level would happen? We knew there would be pandemics, things that would happen and they would increase in power and intensity. Those things are happening. Incredible death and Thunders and so forth because of that. But to realize that this one here is the one that is pushing it forward faster?

So again, horrible to see, horrible to experience, but if you see that that’s being a tool, a means for pushing things forward and bringing things faster to a head then it should tell us where we are as a Church and the 144,000… Almost there. But you’ve got to fight for it.

Goes on to say here: “Both Turkey and Greece are members of the NATO military alliance…” This is not a small thing that’s taking place. The world is in incredible turmoil. But what it’s doing, it’s forcing portions of Europe together faster because of this. It’s forcing them to address things that they really have not had any ability to address. But this is forcing them—incredible—and forcing ten nations to do what they’re going to do. But it’s forcing a rip, if you will, within the alliance, especially within NATO here because we’re talking about the U.S. and then the European nations that are a part of NATO, including Turkey and so forth. But Turkey is not a part of the EU. So, this is nuts what’s going on.

“Both Turkey and Greece are members of the NATO military alliance, which has so far prevented the arch-foes from engaging in military adventures.” Well, it hasn’t done much to prevent some of this moving forward, but that’s what the article says.

And you have to kind of wade through different articles out here. I’ve said things about some of these things and sometimes people might feel I lean to one side or the other. I do not favor any of them. I try to read through and sometimes report certain things out of certain sources because they tend to be a little more correct in the sense of, well, some of them aren’t… Well, overall, they still have flaws. But if you know what those are, if you know where something is coming from you know how they think.

I don’t care whether it be China news, RT, Al Jazeera, France-24, different stations out there, BBC, it doesn’t matter, CNN, Fox, whatever it is, they all have problems, they all have prejudices. But the fact that they are reporting on certain things and you have certain areas here, well, again, we live in a crazy world, we truly do. We just have to be alert to the things that are going on and just try to wade through all of this in a way that we can learn from it and be alert to what’s going on. Because this is crazy, what’s taking place out there, and we need to be alert to these things.

It says, “The situation in the Eastern Mediterranean has escalated dangerously since major offshore gas drilling projects have taken shape.” It’s amazing how often wars have begun because of oil, because of gas. And if everybody could just be truthful in all these nations? That’s why most of the things that have happened in the Middle East have occurred. All the manipulating that has taken place between all the nations involved, every one of them has been about this.

“On 10 August, Turkey sent the Oruç Reis research vessel accompanied by warships into Greek waters, to which Greece responded by dispatching its own warships to track the Turkish vessels. At an informal meeting of EU foreign minister in Berlin last week, EU member states agreed on a list of sanctions against Ankara in case Turkey does not de-escalate tensions in the region.”

Because what they’re saying is quite vocal and what they’re doing is to an extreme to where the EU is having to step in and saying, “We’re going to put sanctions against you.” A NATO country? They’re a part of NATO? They’re all NATO. But they’re not… But Turkey is not a part of the EU, but EU is stepping in and saying, “We have to do this.”

“‘We (the EU member states) are clear and determined in defending the European Union’s interests and solidarity with Greece and Cyprus. Turkey has to refrain from unilateral actions. This is a basic element to allow the dialogue to advance,’ EU top diplomat Josep Borrell said.”

“He also underlined that ‘the most pressing and urgent thing is to solve the question of the drillings and the presence of Turkish boats in Greek and Cypriot waters, which is something dangerous.’” How well do you think that’s going to go? “However, Çavuşoğlu seemed to defy EU calls on Saturday when he said the Oruç Reis would remain in the region for another three months.”

“Ministers also agreed that in the absence of progress in engaging with Turkey, the EU could develop a list of further restrictive measures that could be discussed at the European Council on 24-25 September.”

A little farther down in the article: “The EU sanctions against Turkey will be implemented in phases. In practice, Turkey has one month to de-escalate until the next EU summit on 24-25 September, when the first phase of sanctions, targeting Turkey’s energy sector, would be decided. If Ankara does not comply, then further sanctions would be imposed on Turkey’s financial sector…” It’s already at a rock bottom. They are in horrible, horrible shape in Turkey. So, goes on to say, “…with the possibility to cut EU funds or even a travel ban.” So, it’s just escalating more and more, and this is happening quite rapidly.

“Germany, Italy and Malta are the more cautious about slapping sanctions on Turkey, according to diplomatic sources. Those countries reportedly expressed fears that Turkey could retaliate by releasing towards Europe the four million of migrants currently held on its soil.” So, these little games they all play and how they fear.

“Diplomats say France and Austria have adopted the toughest stance against Turkey. Paris has already sent warships in the region…” Because of Turkey! “…while Vienna asked once again for the official end of Turkey’s EU accession process.”

“Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan yesterday (30 August) took aim at French President Emmanuel Macron and Greek premier Kyriakos Mitsotakis, calling both leaders ‘greedy and incompetent.’” So again, crazy, crazy world!

Another one: “Europe’s south tells Turkey: resume talks this month or risk sanctions.”[2] I’m going through this in kind of an order of dates that these articles are coming out. This one around September 10th and this out of Europe. And so, when it refers to Europe’s south it’s taking about some of those nations down there bordering the Mediterranean and some of the things they’ve then saying to Turkey. So, that part of the EU, in essence, is saying these things and giving them warning that this is what’s going to happen if you don’t back off, if you don’t start addressing this.

Another one here: “Large Number Of Russian Warships Seen Deployed Between Syria & Cyprus.”[3] Now, they’ve already had them out there but now they’re in large numbers in that particular region.

It says, “A large number of Russian warships were recently tracked off the coasts of Syria and Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean region, the Russian publication Avia.Pro reported Thursday. According to the online publication, ‘experts are seriously concerned about the presence of at least 15 Russian warships and submarines off the coast of Syria.’” Now, because of where they’re placed, where they are, they finally get to it toward the end of the article, but it’s not like it’s some kind of a mystery.

I’ll just read the rest of this. “This Russian naval buildup also comes at a time of increased tension between Turkey, Cyprus, and Greece in the eastern Mediterranean, as the latter two countries have accused Ankara of encroaching on their territorial waters.” So, that’s really, that’s what it’s about. “Turkey's Erdogan has recently threatened external countries, warning them not to hinder Turkish hydrocarbon exploration vessels operating off Cyprus.”

So, that’s what it’s about. It’s about this struggle that’s going on between these countries, these nations of the world.

Another one here: “US and Greece hold joint tank drills near Turkish border: Greek Media.”[4] This is from Greek, the media there. “Greece, in conjunction with the United States, will begin a five-day military exercise using tanks on Monday near the land border with Turkey.” Well, to make a long story short, Turkey moved up tanks as well.

Another article: [5]“At the same time, the United States, as the leader of NATO, is faced with the task of preventing a military conflict between the two members of the alliance. And this task is no longer only internal relations within NATO. With his behavior, Erdogan is effectively defying America and demonstrating a reluctance to obey. And the whole world is watching the result of the confrontation. In addition, the conflict between Turkey and Greece calls into question the ability to provide security.” You suppose? “If a military clash between the two countries occurs, it will deal a significant image blow to the United States and will certainly shake the partners’ faith in NATO.”

Things are so messed up. There’s such a quagmire anymore around the world that’s intensified, incredibly so.

Another article: [6]“Thousands of Indian and Chinese troops are still locked in an impasse across the mountain passes of the Himalayan region of Ladakh…” And so, it goes on to talk about this particular region here and Chinese and Indian troops, and so forth, that have been having disputes and problems that have been going on and them trying to release some of the tension that’s taking place.

Another article that was here from Reuters where an official in India said, [7]“No force on earth can stop Indian soldiers from patrolling Ladakh border,” defence minister warns.

So again, all these threats that keep going back and forth. This isn’t a small thing because there have been clashes and troops on both sides have died already.

It says, “China Deploys 10,000 Additional Troops Along Ladakh Border, Indian Gov't Sources Claim.”[8] Another article. “As tensions continue to soar between the two nuclear-powered rivals, China has moved an additional 10,000 troops forward since the past week along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, government sources in New Delhi revealed.”

So, that’s not a way to ease tensions, by sending in 10,000 more troops, but this is what they’re doing, pressing. China is pressing on so many quarters it’s mind boggling.

“The tensions between the two nations spiked in mid-June, when 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a violent face-off with Chinese troops. Beijing never confirmed media reports about casualties on its side.” They tend to do that, just like they don’t report how many COVID deaths. Pretty much showing how great they’re doing in dealing with it and not a big problem.

Another article here: “Chinese and Russian forces will take part in joint military exercises in southern Russia later this month along with troops from Armenia, Belarus, Iran, Myanmar, Pakistan and others, China’s defense ministry announced Thursday. … The exercises running Sept. 21-26 will focus on defensive tactics, encirclement and battlefield control and command, the ministry said.”

It goes on to say in one heading here, “War games in tense times.”[9] It says, “India had also planned to take part in the Caucus 2020 Military Exercises in Russia but cancelled it’s participation as tension mounted between Delhi and Beijing.” So, you see these sides. Everyone, the sides are set. They’ve been for some time but now they’re really becoming more cemented.

This is the article I was referring to earlier that should have been far greater news than what it was. It just disappeared. There’s a blurp and then it was gone. Should scare the tar out of people.

“Pentagon Report Finds China Tops U.S. in Ships, Missiles and Air Defense”[10] And you think, how on earth could that be? How on earth could that have happened?

Going on it says, “A new Pentagon report on Chinese military power has shown the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has surpassed the U.S. military in terms of navy size, land-based missiles and advanced air defense systems. The Office of the Defense Secretary issued today its annual Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China (PRC) report, detailing how a country identified as the United States' top strategic competitor has advanced.”

“The document begins by reflecting on how the Pentagon's millennial report two decades ago largely dismissed the PLA's rise, yet it is now on track to become what President Xi Jinping described as a ‘world-class military’ before the middle of this century.” Well, their plans are a lot sooner than that. The fact that they could be ahead in those, and they’re new. They’re not old, rusted out buckets. We have some stuff out there that’s not in that good of shape, in the numbers that are recorded. But they have things that are new, sophisticated, up to date. Incredible! Why the world plays around with this and thinks that something horrendous isn’t coming, where we could somehow be dominant in a war?

It says, “The PRC has marshalled the resources, technology, and political will over the past two decades to strengthen and modernize the PLA in nearly every respect," the report assessed. In fact, it found that ‘China is already ahead of the United States in certain areas’ such as shipbuilding, land-based conventional ballistic and cruise missiles…” Anyway, “When it comes to ships, China has managed to amass the world's largest navy with some 350 ships and submarines, including more than 130 major surface combatants, according to the report. The U.S. Navy, in comparison, has about 293 vessels in its battle force.” They’re not too up to date in many cases. Some are, but not that many. And yet these are relatively new in comparison.

It goes on to say here, another area of conflict that’s just pressing China into a corner. The U.S. plays this game with different nations, but China is in a position to no longer have to take it. That’s what’s going to bring some of these things about as we go forward.

“US Pushes Unprecedented 7 Major Weapons Systems Sales To Taiwan At Once.”[11] “Despite Beijing's threats centered on the 'red line' of the Taiwan issue, Washington only looks to ramp up its arms sales, which will no doubt earn more condemnations alleging violation of the 'One China' policy. Reuters points out the US is content to further build up 'Fortress Taiwan' while ‘needling China’ - as it ‘plans to sell as many as seven major weapons systems, including mines, cruise missiles, and drones to Taiwan,’ four people familiar with the discussions said, as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on China.”

“The Trump administration is throwing caution to the wind, given the reality is that this many sales at once is ‘a rare departure from years of precedent in which U.S. military sales to the island were spaced out and carefully calibrated to minimize tensions with Beijing.’” But now it’s pretty much like “We’re going to do what we’re going to do and you’re just going to have to deal with it.” Well, sadly, we’re pushing people into the corner, and in time here, that’s exactly what’s going to happen; they will deal with it.

“China Buzzes Taiwan With Unusually Large Show Of Force Involving 18 Aircraft.”[12] Another top American official is on a three day visit to Taiwan, and China has made its anger known by once again buzzing the island with fighter jets. But this time it was an almost unprecedented show of air power in recent times.”

“Just a day after US Undersecretary for Economic Affairs Keith Krach arrived in Taipei for talks on Thursday, China sent what it called a ‘necessary response’ in the form of an usually large group of 18 jets flying near the island.” It says here, “Sep. 18, two H-6 bombers, eight J-16 fighters, four J-10 fighters and four J-11 fighters crossed the midline of the #TaiwanStrait and entered #Taiwan’s southwest ADIZ.”

Anyway, I hope we get an idea here that things are building up fast. The pressure between nations now is growing stronger and stronger and it’s just pushing everything closer to the reality of a point in time here that it doesn’t take much, in God’s time. He controls the timing of what nations are allowed and what they’re not allowed to do. And when it comes time, they’re going to be allowed to do what’s already planned, what’s already there. That being that I was mentioning will have the ability to move these things then at that time in a massive way, when the first event of the First Trumpet begins and the other three are right there with it. Not long after, the Fifth Trumpet. And thankfully, we’re getting closer to God’s Kingdom being established. But it’s going to be a horrifying time getting there. It really is.

Then we come down to stories about Kim Jung Un and he may already be dead, and someone made comment he has more lives than a house full of cats, which I got a charge out of, because he’s alive, he’s not alive. Then the worries about his sister. Because she is more likely to do what could work in prophetically, some things concerning the First Trumpet. Time will tell.

I want to read one more here because this has been a debate back and forth and the U.S. continues to send out statements denying what was stated by a Senator, Senator Johnson, a U.S. Senator. Comments made about the “Pentagon Eyeing Greece as ‘Alternative’ if Erdogan Closes Incirlik Base.”[13]

But this one concerning Incirlik is not a small thing, which I found quite interesting in one regard, because what wasn’t addressed has to do with all the nuclear weapons that are based out of, on the Incirlik base there that the U.S. has stored there. I can’t remember the exact number, but I think it’s up around 70 or so. This article here states that they’re actually 150, but this comes from Russian news source so it may be half that, obviously, which is more likely.

But again, what an incredible world we live in, these things that are taking place. So, I just want to make comment here about us again, getting ready to go back out in the world. I want to bring this to a close here. But brethren, we have to realize where we are in time and that things are not going to get easier as we go forward.

So, our vision as we leave this Feast season of the year is to be ever so focused on God’s calling, which we’ve had a lot of sermons about coming up to this point in time, and His purpose being worked out in our lives. We have the opportunity to continue to hold fast to what He’s given us, to continue to move forward, to fight against those things that can come into our lives that distract.

Please understand that there are a lot of distractions out there right now bombarding people within the Church. This being, above all, would love to have you be a part of being drawn away from the Church. Please recognize the things going on around you, that you have a responsibility. If you want to continue on with this, you have a duty to fight against that spirit realm, and there’s only one way to do it. Truly!

That power is far greater than what you are and if you allow petty things in life where you can’t balance out things in life or other things that come at you and bombard you and just feel like an incredible pressure and stress upon your life, that they begin to distract you from what is spiritual, from what is truly meaningful, of where we are in time…

Don’t throw it away! I see situations where people are at the edge of throwing it away, becoming weaker instead of stronger. This is a time to become stronger. We’ve been receiving sermons to prepare us for what’s coming, for what’s ahead. We have to yield to those things, and we have to fight with all of our being.

As we leave this Feast season of the year and this Last Great Day, be determined to fight! If you want this, you’ve got to fight. Whatever the time is in front of us, you’ve just got to keep fighting and take this more seriously, more seriously perhaps than what you have been. Don’t let obstacles come in. Work to make things right. Work on self.

Sometimes I receive things and information and things that are given to me that reflect people can find fault in others, they can see other things, but they can’t see themselves and they can’t see what they need to do to make things right, to make things better, to hold on to what we have in this together, and to keep moving forward.

We need each other! We are a family. But if you don’t have that vision, you’re not going to work on that. And it will destroy you. You will not have…to go on.

So, again here, no one can stand against the kind of power that’s out there. That’s why I want to read some verses here in closing, as we get close to the end here now. You just write this down. 1 John 4:3-4—And every spirit that does not confess that Joshua the Christ is coming in the flesh is not of God. In other words, we don’t confess in the sense of what we’re living, what we’re doing; it’s not reflected.

You better be reflecting that. You need to be reflecting that he’s living in you. If by our actions and our thinking and our desire to be close to God, if our life isn’t reflecting that He’s coming into our lives continually we’re going to lose what God has placed before us.

And this is the spirit of antiChrist. You don’t want that. You don’t want that kind of spirit, a spirit of antiChrist, working against God’s purpose. …whereof you have heard that it should come, and even now already is in the world. Little children, you are of God. We’re a part of God’s Family. …and have overcome them because greater is He, God Almighty and His Son, that’s in you than he, that demonic power, that’s in the world. That’s our strength. That’s our hope. That’s our life. That’s why we’re to grasp our calling. That’s why we’ve had that series about prayer and drawing closer to God.

God is our strength and the truth is the power of life that we have that gives us even greater strength to focus upon those things and to not let yourself become distracted. If you see distractions start thinking about where they just might be originating and what is stirring things up in your life around you, and if you’re not careful, will stir you up to lead you away. Fight this!

Because I can tell you as God’s pastor, I’m being bombarded at times and I know where they’re coming from. There are times when I am experiencing things out there around me that I know are of the same level—because I know; I’ve gone through this—of the Apostasy, of a spirit world that wants to attack us. You’ve got to grasp the source when these things come at you. They’re not always just by chance.

Sure, we do dumb things and make stupid mistakes at times in our life, but you can repent and move forward with great strength. But if you allow things to fester and to build up, they can destroy you. Because this being is looking for those kinds of opportunities to work his way into your life enough. So, he’ll keep bombarding you.

God is our strength, our fortress, our high tower, our might. I think of, when I pray about different ones, that God place a dome… You know, we talk about the high tower and the fence, but I think just a giant protective dome that Satan and his broadcastings and the demonic world can’t come through. But that largely depends upon us, what we’re doing, doesn’t it? Because we can have that kind of help and protection in our lives because God is there, wants to give that to us, but you’ve got to yield to it and there are things you have to do in your life.

It’s not just prayer. It’s acting upon it then once we’ve prayed. It’s working to make things right. It’s a willingness to fight the negative battle, the negative things that are coming at you, and to realize that if you yield to some of that and you start becoming negative it’s like just giving up. And I feel that in some cases people are pulling back. Some, I see evidence of people pulling back and kind of giving up in some of the fight.

You cannot give up in the fight! Of all times, this is the time to throw yourself into a battle because do you grasp what’s coming on the world. A physical war of proportions that the earth has never known. Do we grasp the being that’s behind it and the power that he’s going to exercise even more so? And because of that growing strength and power he can use that more toward us as well.

So, we need to become stronger, not draw back, not become weaker, but to be determined to fight. Are you determined? Do you know that you will be at the next Last Great Day, if you’re alive? If you’re alive are you determined with all of your being to continue to fight day by day, to go back out there now and fight on a spiritual plane? Because there is a great physical war coming, but I’ll tell you what, there is a spiritual one coming too. There is a spiritual war coming, the likes of which most of you have never had to deal with yet. Fight it! Fight it! Because it’s on it’s way.

And the only way, the strength you have is, “Greater is He that’s in you, than he that’s in the world,” and then that depends upon us, our actions and our thinking and our spiritual lives.

I could read other scriptures here about these things, about this being, about the battle we have, about the need that we humble ourselves before God. And so often that means we’re willing to look at ourselves and what needs to change in our lives and where we need to repent. What a blessing that we can repent of sin and fight and continue to move forward, to repent of any wrong thinking, of any wrong thoughts towards anyone else in the Body of Christ.

So, let’s fight this fight. Let’s be determined to be here at the next Last Great Day.

[1] https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/turkey-defies-eu-ultimatum-threatens-with-war/

[2] https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/europes-south-tells-turkey-resume-talks-this-month-or-risk-sanctions/

[3] https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/large-number-russian-warships-observed-deployed-between-syria-cyprus

[4] https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/greece-us-hold-tank-drills-near-turkish-border-greek-media

[5] https://theduran.com/greece-vs-turkey-is-a-war-inside-nato-possible/

[6] https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3101676/india-china-border-stand-continues-chushul-where-mountains-eat

[7] https://sputniknews.com/india/202009171080484691-no-force-on-earth-could-stop-the-indian-army-from-patrolling-ladakh-border-defence-minister-warns/

[8] https://sputniknews.com/world/202009161080470554-china-deploys-10000-additional-troops-along-ladakh-border-indian-govt-sources-claim---video/

[9] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/china-russia-military-exercises-war-games-caucasus-2020-with-iran-belarus-pakistan-myanmar/

[10] https://www.newsweek.com/pentagon-report-finds-china-tops-us-ships-missiles-air-defense-1529014

[11] https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/us-pushes-unprecedented-7-major-weapons-systems-sales-taiwan-once

[12] https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/china-buzzes-taiwan-unusually-large-show-air-power-involving-18-aircraft

[13] https://sputniknews.com/europe/202009111080434927-pentagon-eyeing-greece-as-alternative-if-erdogan-closes-incirlik-base---us-senator/