THE
PASTOR'S PEN
A FAMILIAR PASSAGE? REVELATION TWELVE by Stephen Benton
Last Wednesday we took a casual, surface tour of the book
of Isaiah and noted some of the details surrounding the conflict between
Antichrist and the Avenger/Messiah,
Jesus Christ. We are now moving out of
the realm of familiar passages and into new scriptural
frontiers. Let me quote a portion from
my book that addresses this experience."The scriptures are a living entity. The literal meaning of any given text will not change, but the angles and intensity of spiritual light being shed on a passage are constantly changing. This is especially true of prophetic scripture. The very day itself allows prophecy to be seen in a different light as time goes by.
Because we are living in the final years of the last days, most of the dark passages of prophecy are now shining with a brilliance never before seen. As we move closer to the end of the last days the few remaining prophecies that are yet blurred will continue to come into focus."
As I rewrote those words just now, I thought to myself that one would have to be blind not to see that the book, 1997... was not the product of Stephen but a revelation from God Himself. I expect the Holy Ghost to continue in this same direction for the balance of the time we have left together.
This book is available on http://godsfinalmessagetohischurch.blogspot.com/2016/07/1997.html
I also mentioned in the bible class last Wednesday that we have trodden among familiar passages of scriptures for many years. As a result one become stagnant in God's word. The danger of a such a stagnancy is that one is seduced into believing that he or she has a thorough knowledge of the word and that's because every time a text is read in church, it is familiar. Let me cite the same example I used in the bible class the other night:
I have been under the impression for years that once Antichrist takes over Jerusalem in the middle of the Tribulation or after three and one-half years, he will remain there until Christ descends upon the Mount of Olives and then defeats Antichrist in the battle of Armageddon. I was under that persuasion because for too many years of lingering among the familiar passages, I never looked into the details of scripture that allowed me to see that the situation was not exactly as I had perceived it. Jesus does not fight only one battle in the last days, the battle of Armageddon, but he fights several battles. We noted that fact while reading Isaiah, chapter 63:
"Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? This that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength?" Isaiah 63:1
From this one passage it is apparent that Jesus is en route from Edom after having previously stopped in Bozrah. His garments have been dyed. From what? From the blood of those whom he has already slain in both Bozrah and Edom. These battles are fought before the battle of Armageddon. They are seldom mentioned by prophecy teachers.
When we studied the 38th and 39th chapters of Ezekiel we noted the phrase,
"...I will turn thee back."
Both of these chapters are addressed to Gog. The Lord makes it clear that he would turn Gog back when he attempted to enter into the holy city of Jerusalem. That statement confused me because I know for sure that the Antichrist does enter the holy city fulfilling Daniel's prophecy of the abomination that maketh desolate. He will enter Jerusalem, enter into the Temple of God, and showing himself to be God, he will demand to be worshipped as God. When that event takes place, that is when Jesus commands his people to run as recorded in Matthew chapter 24:
"When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains:
Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day:
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." Matthew 24:15-21
Therefore, either Gog is not Antichrist but another player in the end time events, or, God turns him back once he leaves to pursue the woman as she runs into the wilderness. We shall see.
We have looked at this passage in our classes and noted that these warnings are to be taken literally. As soon as the Jews hear the news that Antichrist has taken Jerusalem, they must immediately begin running to the mountains and into the place prepared for them in the wilderness, the areas of Moab, Ammon, and Edom. If they hesitated so much as to return to their house to get clothes, they will not be able to escape. Running in the winter time or running while pregnant or while nursing a child would greatly hamper their ability to escape and survive the slaughter of Antichrist.
Israel is a small nation measuring about 50 miles across and 150 miles in length. The question might arise, how will they be able to run that far? God gives the answer in a familiar passage that is not generally understood:
" And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent." Rev. 12:14
The language here is symbolic. The woman is the nation of Israel who will flee from the Antichrist symbolized here as a serpent. Though she may flee on foot, God will miraculously give her the strength and speed of an eagle and she will arrive at her destination safely, but only if she leaves when she first hears word of the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION.
[The sign of this Tribulation/70th week event was shown on September 23, 2017 with the alignment of the planets and the 12 stars crowning the head of the constellation Virgo. God said that he would give signs to Israel in the sun, moon and stars. He also said that he rises up early to warn his people. The sign is for what is coming, not what has passed. Read Psalm 19: 1-4, Stay on watch]
I will tell you, it has been my experience since arriving in California to stumble into rooms of truth that were totally unfamiliar. When that happens one is left with two options: one, you can leave that room of unfamiliar truth and go back to your comfort zone; two, you can let the Holy Ghost lead you and guide you into more truth. I have continually opted for the second choice and I must tell you that it is an adventure.
I remember telling my Sunday School class once that I am not the rebel I have been labeled to be. I do not look into the word of God seeking something controversial to preach. I am sure that oftentimes I must have appeared that way to my critics. God promised that if we continue in his word, we would know the truth. That means that he will show us the truth. We then have the option of continuing to let the Holy Ghost teach us or we can call a halt to His teaching ability and refuse to see the truths he is attempting to show us.
The truth of God's word comes with a price tag attached to it and it is expensive. That is why God has admonished us to "buy the truth and sell it not."
" Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding." Proverbs 23:23
How do you buy the truth? By paying whatever cost of ridicule or inconvenience it may cause you to possess it. How do you not sell the truth? By not compromising in returning back to a zone of comfort, familiarity and ease. Will going deeper, deeper into the word of Jesus make you happy? NO! Solomon said,
"For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge Increaseth sorrow." Ecclesiastes 1:18
Written in the THE WEEKLY WORD OF THE HOUSE OF GOOD NEWS January, 1997 by Pastor Stephen Benton
[This section is an update, February,2018 by Shelley Benton, editor]
to
read more current revelations from Pastor Steve, regarding this particular
message, read his last book published September of 2017 on Amazon.com
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