Prepare for Pandemic's Second Wave

Revelation 6:7-8 "And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given to them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth."

The 4th horseman is Death, who is closely accompanied by Hell. Power is given to Death and Hell over a fourth of the earth. That could be over the fourth part of the earth's lands which are dominated by Muslims, or it could be one fourth of our now almost 7 billion population, which would be 1.25 billion people. Or it could be a different quarter which I haven't conceived.

I believe all four horsemen have been galloping across the earth since 9/11/2001, and I believe they continue through the Great Tribulation, which will culminate with the Lord's return.

Isaiah 13:9-12 “Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.”

After reading the book of Revelation, losing a fourth of the world's population seems very reasonable. But Death and Hell are given four particular methods of killing people: sword, famine, pestilence, and beasts. These same four are also listed in Ezekiel 14:12-19, though first listed as famine, beasts, sword, and pestilence; and concluding in the order sword, famine, beast, and pestilence.

Ezekiel 14:20-23 “Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, said the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness. For thus said the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments on Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast? Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth to you, and you shall see their way and their doings: and you shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought on Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought on it. And they shall comfort you, when you see their ways and their doings: and you shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, said the Lord GOD.”

Pictures of people being beheaded with swords and starving to death have been in the news the last few years. SARS almost made pandemic status in 2002-2003. The highly fatal bird flu gave quite a scare in 2003 and continues to wreak havoc. But it is the 2009 H1N1 pandemic which still has the potential to come back in the late summer and fall and decimate the population much like its 1918 counterpart did.



The following is from a Wikipedia article on the 2009 flu pandemic.

Nor had federal health officials in the U.S. dismissed the possibility that the worst was yet to come. "Far from it," Ann Schuchat of the CDC says, noting that the horrific 1918 flu epidemic, which killed hundreds of thousands in the United States alone, was preceded by a mild "herald" wave of cases in the spring, followed by devastating waves of illness in the autumn. "That 1918 experience is in our minds," she said.
However, as of early June 2009, Schuchat reported "encouraging news" regarding any mutations to date, by announcing that samples of the virus from points around the globe are "genetically identical" to the strain found in the United States. "We have tested isolates from a wide geographic area, from the Americas, Europe, from Asia and New Zealand and we are not seeing variations in isolates from the genetic testing we do here." Although cases have been relatively mild and patients recover quickly, health officials have warned that the virus could mutate into a more virulent form, putting greater numbers of people at risk.
As of July 4, 2009, there have been three cases of virus resistant to oseltamivir (Tamiflu). In two of the cases, resistance was developed following a course of the antiviral. However the third case, that of a 16-year-old identified at a Hong Kong airport with no prior contact with oseltamivir, is more concerning to health officials as it indicates an oseltamivir-resistant strain may have begun to circulate.

Please go to www.flu.gov and take necessary precautions. Even moreso, receive the righteousness of Christ by accepting His payment for your sins on the cross.

Great Tribulation Begins April 6, 2009

In your spirit you know something big is about to happen. The earth has begun its death spiral: more floods, more tornadoes, more hurricanes, more earthquakes, and more volcanic eruptions. Though there are still pockets of peace and sanity, most human institutions have disintegrated. You thought you'd be raptured before the Great Tribulation, but now you find yourself in the midst of it.
John, the apostle, taught believers in Jesus would go through the Great Tribulation and many would be martyred in Revelation. Jesus, Paul and Peter all taught believers would have to persevere through great trial and that the dead are resurrected prior to the living being raptured at Christ's one and only return to earth. They all warned us not to be deceived. Keep believing in Jesus even though you have to stop believing in a pre-trib rapture.

3Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved to fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (2 Peter 3:3-7)

Principles of Geology was written by Charles Lyell in 1830 espousing the new idea that the great canyons around the world were not the after effects of a world-wide flood (cataclysmic), but the constant erosion over hundreds of thousands of years (uniformitarian; "all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation"). Until that time, the Bible's description of creation and the cataclysm of Noah's flood were accepted facts. Charles Darwin took a copy of the Lyell's book with him on the S.S. Beagle to the Galapagos Islands, leading to his harmful theories of evolution and the superiority of the white race. Uniformitarianism and evolution eroded people's faith in the historical truth of the Bible. This has led to much false teaching in the church (1 Timothy 6:20) including the pre-tribulation rapture theory, which has led to a lack of holiness, love and power in the church, and a resistance to the truth (2 Timothy 3:1-8).

Deriving the Day of the LORD and the Start of Great Tribulation
Astronomers from the east ascertained the correct year of Christ's first coming, and astronomers from the west (Mayans) have predicted the correct year of Christ's second coming. But the Mayans worshiped the heavens, and so decreed the world's end on the winter solstice of December 21, 2012. God has appointed seven feasts for His people. Jesus fulfilled Unleavened Bread (sinless life), Passover (Lamb that was slain for the sin of the world), First Fruits (He rose from the dead), and Pentecost (He sent His Holy Spirit) during His first coming. The Fall feasts are Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Booths which Jesus will fulfill during His second coming. September 16th, 2012 is the new moon of Rosh Hashanah, Jewish New Year, the Feast of Trumpets. Trumpets are prominent in the resurrection and rapture and return of Jesus Christ (Psalm 47:5-6; Matthew 24:29-31; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; Zephaniah 1:14-18; Joel 2:1-16; Revelation 11:15-19).
John describes the duration of the Great Tribulation as 42 months, 3 1/2 years, and 1,260 days. Counting backwards 1,260 days from September 16th, 2012 brings us to April 6, 2012. Hebrew days begin and end at sunset. Sunset in Jerusalem will be at 7:02 pm that day.

What Event Starts the 3 1/2 Year Clock?
But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given to the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and three score days, clothed in sackcloth.(Rev. 11:2-3)

Two groups who will be involved throughout the Great Tribulation. The Muslims ("Gentiles") continue to occupy the Temple Mount, so doing so for another 42 months will not seem unusual. The Two Witnesses (Jewish and Gentile believers) are already present and proclaiming the gospel, though not to the point of withholding rain or praying plagues upon our enemies to demonstrate God's power. Counting backwards 1,260 days from September 16, 2012, the Great Tribulation clock begins on April 6, 2009.
All Great Tribulation days and times are according to Hebrew days and Jerusalem time. Dusk in Jerusalem on April 6, 2009, the first day of the Great Tribulation, might not have anything occur physically at all, or it may be very apparent. The war between Israel and Iran might see a major attack. China could stop buying US bonds. Any number of global "natural" disasters could hit.
God starts the Great Tribulation clock. It may be when He tells Michael to release Satan, and Satan "knows that his time is short". Satan's possession of the Antichrist and his deity declaration ("abomination of desolation") may follow shortly thereafter. It may be when God tells the four angels to start sealing the 144,000 (which must occur prior to the first trumpet), or when he tells an angel to announce the everlasting gospel with a loud voice to the world (Rev. 14:6-7).
The more important question is whether your faith can endure until Christ's coming. Jesus has waited to get His Bride for two thousand years. King Jesus is worth waiting for.
For a booklet describing the timing of the events in the Great Tribulation, go to http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/seals-trumpets-and-vials/6668840.

Two Witnesses and Three Woes

First Woe
When the angel sounds the fifth trumpet, locusts from the bottomless pit ascend upon the earth. This first woe lasts for five months.
10And they had tails like to scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. 11And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue has his name Apollyon. 12One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter. (Rev. 9:10-12)
Both Abaddon and Apollyon mean destroyer. It is a destroying angel from the abyss.

Two Witnesses/Martyrs (Jewish and Gentile Believers)

Prophesy for 1,260 Days
The "Gentiles", Muslims, have had control of the Temple Mount for hundreds of years, and they will continue to control it and tread upon Jerusalem during the Great Tribulation. Some Muslims contest they are not Gentiles because they are circumcised, but all non-Jews are Gentiles. The duration of the Great Tribulation as 42 months also calculated as 1,260 days, so the months have to be 30 day months using the 360-day year calendar, which gives us 3 1/2 years. The two witnesses prophesy wearing sackcloth. Sackcloth is worn during mourning and grief, and during repentance and humiliation.
1And there was given me a reed like to a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given to the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. 3And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and three score days, clothed in sackcloth. 4These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. (Revelation 11:1-4)
"Winesses" is martus, meaning martyrs. But there were seven candlesticks and no olive trees mentioned in the first few chapters of Revelation, so John is referring to a different prophetic scripture.
2And said to me, What see you? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are on the top thereof: 3And two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl, and the other on the left side thereof. . . . he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace to it. 9The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house . . . the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth. 11Then answered I, and said to him, What are these two olive trees on the right side of the candlestick and on the left side thereof? 12And I answered again, and said to him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? . . . 14Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth. (Zechariah 4:2-12 edited and emphasized)
The "seven lamps" are the seven-fold Spirit of God (Rev. 4:5) evident in the seven churches ("candlesticks"). The two olive trees in Zechariah 4 were Joshua, the high priest, and Zerubbabel, the governor. The two olive trees are connected with "those seven" of the "house" of "grace" whose "headstone" is Jesus. "Anointed ones" is ben yitshar, meaning anointed sons. The sons are described in the next chapter as the Son of God and the "remnant of her seed".
5And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up to God, and to his throne. . . . 11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives to the death. . . . 17And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:5, 11, 17)
These are the Hebrew and Gentile believers during the Great Tribulation; the two witnesses that have been made "one new man" in Christ (Ephesians 2:11-22). The two witnesses combined constitute the Bride of Christ. The two witnesses are Us. We will be martyred for Our faith and given white robes (5th seal), but We will prophesy of Christ's coming for Us in powerful ways before We die. We will overcome Satan by the blood of Jesus, Our personal testimony, and Our determination to die rather than give up Our faith. We believers hold fast God's commandments and the "testimony" (marturia meaning witness) of Jesus Christ.

Have Miraculous Power
5And if any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 6These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. 7And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. (Revelation 11:5-7)
Real fire may come from Our mouths, or the Word of God from Our mouths may incense and devour Our enemies from the inside out (Jeremiah 5:14). Elijah was a foreshadow of the Great Tribulation saints, for he prayed it would not rain for 3 1/2 years, and it did not until he prayed that it would (James 5:17-18). Moses and Aaron turned the Nile to blood, and foretold Pharaoh of the plagues about to happen. The Beast of Islam will war against Christians and be victorious and kill them.

Will be Killed and Resurrected; the Second Woe
8And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. 10And they that dwell on the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelled on the earth. 11And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell on them which saw them. 12And they heard a great voice from heaven saying to them, Come up here. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. 13And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe comes quickly. (Revelation 11:8-14)
New York City is the most populous city of the United States ("great city"), and it is the city with the largest Jewish population outside of Israel (like Egypt housed the Hebrews for hundreds of years). It also has a large homosexual community ("Sodom"). On September 11, 2001 Islamic terrorists flew planes into the Twin Towers; the Muslims in Palestine were shown dancing in the streets and celebrating by passing out candy. This was the "white horse" of the first seal, and something similar may occur soon, beginning the Great Tribulation . Muslims have been slaughtering Christians around the world and leaving their corpses to rot. The "three and a half days" refers to the years of the Great Tribulation. The slaughter will continue and increase until the heavens and earth will shake at the Lord's coming, and our resurrection and rapture unto Him.

The Seventh Trumpet is the Third Woe
15And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. 16And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell on their faces, and worshipped God, 17Saying, We give you thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which are, and were, and are to come; because you have taken to you your great power, and have reigned. 18And the nations were angry, and your wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that you should give reward to your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear your name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth. 19And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightning, and voices, and thunder, and an earthquake, and great hail. (Revelation 11:1-19)
Then We will execute judgment on the wicked with King Jesus in great power and majesty.

Joseph and Mary and Egypt

The names of Jesus' parents are clues to Jesus' first and second comings.

JESUS' FIRST COMING
Joseph was the Hebrew who was sold into slavery in Egypt, only to rise to reign Egypt and provide a place for the Hebrews to live in abundance during the famine, and save the world from starvation by storing grain. Two hundred fifteen years after his death, a pharaoh arose "who knew not Joseph;" and Moses was born, and Miriam watched over him. [Mara, Maria, Mary, Marjam, and Miriam are all based upon the same root word.] Miriam is not mentioned by name until she sings of God's victory over Egypt's army after crossing the Red Sea.

Both Joseph and Moses are redeemers of the Hebrew people. Joseph became governor of Egypt at age 30, the same age Jesus was baptized as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." God gave Moses instructions to have the Hebrews prepare a lamb and eat the feast of Passover prior to their exodus from Egypt. Note that the Hebrews remained in Egypt during the plagues, but that God made distinction between them and the Egyptians, and those who placed the lamb's blood on their doors so that the angel of death would "pass over" them. The three nights of their travels across the Sinai Peninsula correspond to the three nights Jesus was entombed. Jesus' resurrection morning corresponds to the Hebrews' safe crossing and the destruction of their enemies, when Miriam takes a timbrel and dances and sings of God's victory.

Hosea 11:1 "When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt." Just as the Hebrews physically dwelt in Egypt and were brought out safely, so too Jesus dwelt in Egypt for safety and was later called out. Matthew 2:14-15 " 14When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 15And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son." As the Bride of Christ we have been called out of darkness into His light (1 Peter 2:9).

JESUS' SECOND COMING
Joseph, son of Jacob, and Mary, daughter of Heli (means 'ascending'), were descendants of King David who was born in Bethlehem. Bethlehem means 'house of bread,' and the "Bread of Life" was born there on Rosh Hashanah; the Jewish New Year in which kings are crowned.

Joseph, ancient Jacob's son, was a faithful son who was sold into slavery. He was a faithful slave who was falsely accused and thrown into prison. In both periods of tribulation (the greater tribulation in prison was for more than two years), Joseph was highly favored and caused to prosper. It was his ability to interpret dreams which led to his release. When Joseph was brought out of prison and made second in command over Egypt, trumpets were blown. The trumpets blown during Rosh HaShanah are a memorial of Joseph reigning over Egypt (Lev. 23:24-25; Genesis 41:46-47,50a; Psalm 81:3-5a; Revelation 11:8,15). Joel chapter 2 combines this celebration with God's Spirit poured out on all flesh so as to dream and prophesy just prior to the Lord's coming.
Though the Bride of Christ may be falsely accused and enslaved and imprisoned during the great tribulation, we can still expect God's gracious hand of favor to be upon us, making a distinction between believers and unbelievers as plagues are released. Several of the plagues mentioned in Revelation were of the ten used upon Egypt.

At His first coming, Jesus fulfilled the three spring feasts and sent the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, leaving the three fall feasts to be fulfilled with His second coming. The first of the fall feasts is Rosh Hashanah. It is a fitting day for the King of kings to reclaim His kingdom on earth at the "last trumpet" when we are gathered unto Him. Those who believe in King Jesus should be watching and ready for His return.

For more information on the Great Tribulation, go to www.KneelingMedia.com/AwakeBride/.