Author: Tammy Phillips

by Tammy Phillips
November 8, 2021

“Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.” (Revelation 13:1 NKJV)

The Satanic Trinity is introduced in Revelation 13.  There is only one Holy Trinity:  God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Satan attempts to pass off an imitation Trinity. He always tries to copy God.

Satan, the Dragon       The Imitation of the Father
The Antichrist              The imitation the Son and Messiah
The False Prophet       The imitation of the Holy Spirit                     

The beast described in chapter 13 are two people and a system.  Satan has a plan to rule the world. He has tried to use other rulers to take over, but all of his schemes have failed and this one will too.  One final time, he will raise up a “beast,” wild, savage, and ferocious, like him.  The beast from the sea looks like the dragon of Revelation 12:3 but different. This beast will be the Antichrist.  The word antichrist only shows up five times in 1^st and 2^nd John, not Revelation.  The word antichrist is the Greek word, antichristos, meaning the opposite or instead of Christ.  The antichrist is called a beast.  I would term him a “player.”  I believe he will be good looking, almost irresistible guy on the outside, but on the inside, he will be in pure beast mode.  He will be a great leader of the European Union.  He will be a smooth talker and will appear to be the Answer. However, the Answer has already come in Jesus. 

The Antichrist is called many names in the Bible:

• The little horn (Daniel 7:8)
• The king of fierce countenance (Daniel 8:23)
• The Prince that shall come (Daniel 9:26)
• The willful king (Daniel 11:36-45)
• The one who comes in his own name (John 5:43) whom Israel will receive as a messiah
• The son of perdition, the man of sin, the lawless one (2 Thessalonians 2:3)

Read Revelation 13:2 and Daniel 7:2-8. 

“And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as [the feet] of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.” (Revelation 13:2 KJV)

Other beasts operate in the beast’s system of governments, commerce, and religion.  His beast system or kingdom  is described as “having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns.”  Each head represents a ruling kingdom. The system as a whole has animal characteristics of four previous empires :

The leopard =Grecian Empire
The bear feet=Medo Persian
Mouth like a lion=Babylonian
The  dragon, the ten Horned Beast, has worst characteristic of the previous empires.   

The beast system is the final empire lead by the Beast, the Antichrist.  The beast is the hands and feet of Satan on the earth. The Beast is his final plan of destruction.   The dragon empowers the beast and gives him a throne and great authority.  One of his heads, which could be a kingdom was wounded.  It looks like the Antichrist  resurrects this kingdom and is worshipped for it.  Is this the Roman Empire being brought back to life? Or… is this the beast himself  wounded?  To be honest, I haven’t got clarity on this.  

“And they worshipped the dragon (Satan) which gave power unto the beast(Antichrist) : and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who [is] like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” (Revelation 13:4 KJV)

THE BEAST WAS GIVEN:

• A smooth-talking mouth
• A mouth speaking great things and blasphemies.
• power forty [and] two months.
• a mouth that blasphemed God,
• blasphemed His name,
• His tabernacle,
• All that dwell in heaven.
• make war with the saints, and to overcome them
• power over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. (Revelation 13:5-7 KJV)

“All who dwell on the earth will worship him, WHOSE NAMES HAVE NOT BEEN WRITTEN in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:8 NKJV)  

God knew we would need Jesus when he created the world.  A plan of redemption had been in place since the beginning.  Why create a world He knows will fall?  God is love.  He wanted us to choose to love Him and that is why.  It was all  worth it to Him. Wow. 

THE FALSE PROPHET, Assistant to the Antichrist 

“And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.” (Revelation 13:11 KJV)

 His resume: (Revelation 13:12-18)

• Exercise power of the antichrist.
• Lead worship of first beast
• Does great wonders: fire from the sky
• Deceives by miracles.
• Creates an image of beast that speaks
• Demands worship of beast image or death
• Institutes the mark of the beast in right hand or forehead
  (imitating God again Rev. 7:3-4)
• Pledge allegiance to the beast
• No mark, no name, or number of beast, can’t buy or sell
• The number of the beast is 666.

I enCOURAGE you do not fear if you are a disciple of Christ. If you are not a follower of Christ,  choose Jesus now!    Endure now and be saved.  God gives us warning and every opportunity to choose Him.  If for some reason, you wait  and miss the first calling away to heaven.  It will be even more hard for you to endure the Great Tribulation.  It looks like it will be hell on earth.  You must endure!   Do not take the mark, name, or number of the beast under any circumstance.  You will be pledging your allegiance to Satan, and you will forever live with him in hell.  Choose Jesus, now.  He is our One and only Savior.

by Tammy Phillips
November 8, 2021

“Now therefore, listen to me, [my] children, For blessed [are those who] keep my ways. Hear instructionand be wise, And do not disdain [it]. Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.”  (Proverbs 8:32-34 NKJV)

How many times in God’s word and how many different ways does He say, “LISTEN?”  I was having a great weekend.   I did not pay attention to a special messenger the Lord sent me this past weekend who told me to watch out.  It was costly.  This is me preaching to me.  You just get to listen in.

LISTEN TO ME

• Hear me.
• Intelligently hear me.
• Pay attention to me.
• Obey me.
• Understand me.

BLESSED

• Happy
• Lead Straight
• Guided Right
• Level
• Successful
• Prosperous
• Fortunate

ARE THEY WHO KEEP

• Observe
• Heed
• Guard
• Mark
• Watch
• Wait
• Beware
• Regard

MY WAYS

• My direction
• My going
• My road
• My journey
• My path

HEAR INSTRUCTION

• Hear correction
• Hear warning
• Hear admonition
• Hear discipline

BE WISE

• Become wise
• Be made wise
• Show yourself wise
• Rightly use knowledge

DO NOT DISDAIN IT

• Do not refuse it.
• Do not avoid it.
• Do not let go of it.
• Do not ignore it.
• Do not let loose of it.
• Do not dismiss it.
• Do not overlook it.
• Do not reject it.

BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO LISTENS TO ME…

 WATCHING…

• Awake
• Alert
• On the look out
• Focused
• Fixing one’s attention
•  

WAITING…

• Keeping
• Observing
• Heeding
• Guarding
• Marking
• Watching
• Being aware
• Regarding

And to the one who doesn’t listen, watch, and wait, there can be consequences, calamities, and curses.

I enCOURAGE ME  and I enCOURAGE YOU listen to the Lord.  Listen to people who He puts in your life.  Blessed are those who  keep His ways. Hear instruction and be wise!  Do not ignore it.   Blessed is the man who listens to the Lord.   Listen! Watch!  Wait!  Do not live with the regret of not listening to that still small voice that rises in your spirit, calls you on the phone to warn you or the blogger who posts ever day to read and heed the word of God.  Please, listen and learn from mistake so that you do not have to live with the regret of you own mistakes.

 

by Tammy Phillips
November 7, 2021

“Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:18 KJV)

Recap!  One day, in less than two and a half hours this happened:  I got a scripture from the Lord. I heard Holy Spirit say,  “Sing again.”  A sister  sent me an article about the importance of singing. The Word directed me to sing a new song. (Psalm 149:1)   Another sister sent me a new song. All of this in less than two and a half hours.  The very next day at 3:26 AM, as I was writing and meditating about singing, my mom texted me Habakkuk 3:18 with a commentary about the word  joy and its hidden meaning. 

Let’s look at the hidden meaning of “rejoice” and “joy” in our focus verse.   There are so many different words for rejoice in the Hebrew language.  The Hebrew word for rejoice in our verse of the day is ʿālaz,  which means exult; to jump for joy; be joyful,  to triumph in success or victory; to be glad above measure.   It is the same word for joyful in Psalm 149:5,  “Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds”   Kids should love this verse.  David told us to jump for joy and sing out loud on our beds.  Sounds like we have permission from God to jump on our bed and sing.  It gets better!  The Hebrew word for joy in Habakkuk 3:18 is gil.  Its meaning is to be glad, exult, to spin and twirl around; to go around in circles; to dance.

You heard it here folks!  My Mom sent me a verse that says it is ok to jump  and dance for joy.  The inspired word of God tells us we can jump, dance, and sing for joy on OUR BEDS!  If that doesn’t make you smile, I do not know what will. God is fun! 

Jump for joy. (Psa. 28:7, Psa. 68:4. Luke 6:23)
Dance for joy. (Psa. 9:14. 13:5, Ps. 32:11, Ps. 118:24)
Sing for joy. (Psa. 32:11, Psa. 67:4, Ps. 71:23, Is. 65:14)

Read Habakkuk 1-3:17.  It is a short three chapters.  Up to the point of verse 18, things are dismal.  He sees invading Babylon, desolation and loss are coming.  This did not change who mighty God was in his eyes. God was the same. Habakkuk wisely chose to rejoice in the Lord through it all.  He remembered that God was > any circumstance or problem. 

I do not know what you are going through, but it cannot be much different, nor any worse  than Hab’s difficulties!  Paul and Silas sang their way out of prison in Acts 16:16-38. We can, too!

I enCOURAGE you to rejoice in the Lord.  Want to get high?  Want to brighten and lighten up?  Things may seem really bad.   They are not as bad as you think.  You may have been punched time after time.  Don’t you always get back up?  God IS on your side.  He IS for you.  Get up faster this time. Sing for joy.  Jump for joy.  Dance for joy.  You can sing, jump, and dance your way happy.  Try it. I dare you. Jump on your bed if need be!  Exalt and Exult!

“Be glad(brighten up, cheer up)  in the LORD and rejoice(spin around in a circle, dance), you righteous; And shout (sing)  for joy, all [you] upright in heart!” (Psalm 32:11 Tammy Interpretive Version in parentheses)

by Tammy Phillips
November 6, 2021

“[Let] the high [praises] of God [be] in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand,” (Psalm 149:6 KJV) 

One day this happened!

1. 6:30 AM:I was “Blue Letter Bibling” the phrase “two-edged sword.”  “Blue letter Bibling” is when I use my Blue Letter Bible app as a search engine to discover things in the Bible.   I found five verses, but I was drawn to Psalm 149:6 like a magnet. I heard the Lord say in my spirit, “It is time to sing again.”   Before, I could dissect  the verse…
   
   
2. 6:31 AM:I received this link from one of my closest sisters in Christ… https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/7-reasons-singing-is-essential-to-the-christian-life.html  Yes, you read it right.  7 REASONS SINGING IS ESSENTIAL TO THE CHRISTAIN.  (You should also read it.  It is very good.
3. I looked  at the content in verses of Psalm 149 that lead up to verse six…

• Praise ye the LORD.
• SING UNTO THE LORD A NEW SONG.
• Rejoice in Him that made you.
• Let the children be joyful in their King.
• Praise His name in the dance
• Sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
• The LORD takes pleasure in his people.
• He will beautify the meek with salvation.
• Be joyful in glory.
• Sing aloud upon your beds.(Psalm 149:1-5)

4. 8:53 AM:Out of the blue, another dear sister in Christ sends me a song I have never heard before, a NEW SONG, My Worth Is Not In What I Own by Keith and Kristi Getty!   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiNnhuw8q2I

“I rejoice in my Redeemer
Greatest Treasure
Wellspring of my soul
I will trust in Him, no other
My soul is satisfied in Him alone”

5. Let me get this right, LORD. I got a verse from You. I heard You say,  “Sing again.”  A sister  sent me an article about the importance of singing. Your word directed me to sing a new song.  Another sister sent me a new song. All of this in less than two and a half hours.  Mind blown.  Living amazed.  I am undone.  Selah.  I just stopped there because I was overwhelmed by God.
   
   
6. Fast forward to the next day between 2:00 and  3:00 AM. I could not sleep so I returned to Psalm 149:6 to dissect it. I “BLB’d” the verse and learned:

High is the Hebrew word, rômmâ which means exalting, uplifting; arising; celebrating; “get oneself up.” I also notice the words, “let, praise and be” are all italicized in the KJV which means they were not in the original Hebrew but added for clarity.  The verse really could read:

The high of God in their mouth and a two-edged sword in their hand.
The exalting of God in their mouth…
The uplifting of God in their mouth…
The arising of God in their mouth…
The celebrating of God in their mouth…
Wait for it…
The “get oneself up” of God in their mouth…

Why do people drink?  To get drunk and high.
Why do people roll smoke? To get stoned and high.
(Never thought I would be borrowing Hank Williams Junior’s lyrics for an encouragement.)

Want to get high? 

I enCOURAGE you to sing again!  Sing a new song!  Do you know why we need the two-edged sword (word of God) in our hand?  Among other things, it is our song book!   “This is how I fight my battles!  This is how I fight my battles.  It may look like I’m surrounded, but I’m surrounded by You!”*  His word is a two-edged sword, inspired and  written into the Bible.  We pick up the sword, repeat His word and then it is a two-edged sword coming from our mouth.  It is how we fight our battles.  It is how we get high.  It is how we pick ourself up.  It is how we do what we are supposed to do and bring glory to God. 

“Even the tumult of our holy war is a part of the music of our lives.”– Charles Spurgeon 

“For the word of God [is] living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV) 

(To be continued…there is a perfect point #7 that came at 3:26 AM from my Mom,  as I was writing this encouragement.  Stay tuned tomorrow.)

 

*Lyrics for Surrounded, made famous by Michael W. Smith written by Elyssa Smith

by Tammy Phillips
November 5, 2021

“Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male [Child]. But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. So, the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. ” (Revelation 12:13-18 NKJV)

I picture Satan as an angry, enraged, ranting, boiling lunatic who huffs and puffs around.   He has to be crazy to go after God, His chosen, and His adopted people.  I see God calmly sitting and smiling  in heaven shaking His head at the devil.  The LORD God knows the truth and the outcome.  “Satan has even lied to himself.  Satan knows that if he can stop God’s word from coming to pass, he can defeat God.”- Billye Brim.  God does not go back on His word, and He has made many promises to Israel.  He has never lost a battle and never will.

Satan has tried to destroy Israel and stop God’s word since Adam and Eve in the garden.  Little, tiny, small Israel has always been bullied , picked on, and persecuted by Satan all throughout history.  Jesus defeated Satan.   In Him we defeat the plans and purposes of Satan.  “Yet in all  these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37 NKJV) AND Jesus who is in us is greater than Satan who is in the world. (1 John 4:4 NKJV) Put on your stomping shoes.

In context of today’s scripture, remember, Israel is the woman and Satan is the dragon. In the last half of the tribulation,  Yahweh in essence says, “You can’t touch this…woman!”

God provides a way of escape, “two great eagles wings,”  and a hiding place for His remnant, Israel, from the presence of the serpent, the Antichrist.  He also provides  nourishment for a time.  Eagles wings are a symbol of deliverance to Israel.  This is what God said about Israel’s first escape:  “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and [how] I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.” (Exodus 19:4 NKJV).  Don’t know if the USA or a mega transport plane will carry Israel to safety.  We shall wait and see. “The woman” will be safe.

Big baby Satan responds by pitching a fit and spewing water out of his mouth like a flood at Israel.  He comes at them “guns a blazing” and with the greatest persecution ever.

“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 24:20-21 KJV)

Satan had hoped it would destroy her, but the earth helped the woman.   The earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.  Whatever the Antichrist brings, it is swallowed up.  Isn’t that a truth for today?  Whatever the enemy brings at us today is swallowed up and overcome by the word of God!

“The dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. “  The Battle to end all battles is on the horizon.

I enCOURAGE you to never turn your back on  Israel.  Support her.  Pray for her.  Israel is the Holy Land and chosen by God.  He has, is and will defend her to the end. 

by Tammy Phillips
November 4, 2021

“Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. “Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” (Revelation 12:10-12 NKJV)

In Revelation 12:7-9 John sees the scene where Michael and his angels fight with the dragon and his angels.  Satan, the serpent, the adversary, the opposition, the Devil, the slanderer, the false accuser,  was kicked out of heaven and thrown down to earth.  Jesus came down to earth to save humanity and to defeat Satan.   He brought salvation, strength, “the force,” the power,  the authority, and the kingdom of God.  How did Jesus, how did “they,” and how do we overcome the dragon?

“They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” (Revelation 12:11 NKJV)

1. They overcame by the blood of the Lamb, the death of Jesus Christ the sacrificial Lamb.

Satan manifests “great wrath”  because he was kicked out of heaven, and He knows his time is short! The devil and his crew run their mouths every day and all day.  They lie, accuse  and slander.  If they cannot get others to come against us, they whisper lies in our ears.  However, Jesus took our place on the cross and we were made righteous in Christ Jesus by his blood.  We have to remind the enemy of whose we are when he comes calling.  We can boldly say, “Satan, Your time is short!! Passover!  We are covered in the blood of the Lamb,” and “thanks [be] to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57 NKJV).  

“Sin will never be conquered without resistance, and if we fold our arms and suppose that we shall get the victory by believing that we have got it, we shall be mightily mistaken. We must watch, and pray, strive, agonize, and press forward; “this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”  Salvation is not by works, but conquest over sin involves fighting from day to day; victory will not come to us while we lie passive, but we must be stirred up with all the energy of the eternal Spirit to vanquish evil. These Canaanites must be driven out of the land by force of arms ere we can take full possession of our inheritance. Let this, then, be our pi dyer to our great Joshua as we gird on our harness and unsheathe our swords.  You are enlisted, brother, in a lifelong fight: when you shall lie down in your grave then may it be said, “The battle is over,” but as long as you are here you will be within gunshot of the enemy…” –Charles Spurgeon, Sermon May 30, 1875

2. They overcame by the word of their testimony.

A testimony is evidence given, a record, a report, a witness, or a declaration. It is knowing something and sharing it.  Our testimony is our story.  Our testimony is what we know.  I started this blog to encourage my friend who lost her only son.  The LORD knew the devil, that rotten accuser, would be whispering all kinds of garbage in her ear.  I believe the LORD used me to whisper my testimony of faith in Him into her other ear.  Holy Spirit, the Comforter, wanted me to help her overcome great loss, grief, and despair. After sharing with her, I was led to share my testimonies with you.   I pray each word leads you closer to Jesus and  to victoriously overcoming.

 “That which we have seen and heard we declare to you…that you may also fellowship with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ…” (I John 1:3).

3. They overcame because they did not love their lives to the death.

They did not love nor prize their lives so much that they were afraid to die.  Jesus and the Apostles were not afraid to die.  I am not afraid to die.  When we choose not to fear  and resolutely stand in Jesus,  Satan cannot defeat us. We rob him of his power.  Earthly death is the ultimate Christian victory.  As believers in Christ, our bodies are not ours anyways.

“Do you not know that…you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV)

Imprisoned Paul responded to death this way: “For to me, to live [is] Christ, and to die [is] gain.” (Philippians 1:21 NKJV) and “to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8 NKJV)

I enCOURAGE you to share your victory stories in Jesus! This world needs our Savior.  If you aren’t sharing, are you knowing?

“And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:38-39 NKJV)

 “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:21 NKJV)

by Tammy Phillips
November 2, 2021 

“The seventh angel blew his trumpet, and …” (Revelation 11:15 CSB)

Remember, when the seventh seal was opened, there was silence in heaven for a half hour.  If Revelation was a movie this is where the music would come to a crescendo.  The third woe will be released as the seventh angel blows his trumpet. The Tribulation is about to end.  Heaven can hardly contain itself!  Heaven, Jesus, the true Christ, the Antichrist, and Satan himself know it really is the last of the last of the last days.  Plagues have been released by the two witnesses at will.  Antichrist could do nothing to control them.  They were allowed to be killed,  resurrected and called away to heaven.  The world is roaring.  The heavens are roaring, and the Lion of Judah is about to release His loudest roar as He literally steps on to the scene to rule and reign FOREVER.

John heard loud voices in heaven:   “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.” 

The twenty-four elders fell facedown and worshiped God saying:

“We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, who is and who was,
because. you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. 
The nations were angry, but your wrath has come.
The time has come for the dead to be judged and to give the reward to your servants…the prophets, to the saints, and to those who fear your name, both small and great.
The time has come to destroy those who destroy the earth.” 

Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant appeared in his temple.  There were flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder, an earthquake, and severe hail.“(Revelation 11:15-19 CSB)

IT IS TIME.  IT IS TIME.  We see a Jesus take over.  The time of wrath has come. The time has come for the dead to be judged.  The time of reward  has come to His servants.  The time has come to destroy THOSE who destroy the earth.  It is time for the Antichrist, his servants, the armies, and  enemies of Israel  to be destroyed.  Satan’s time is up! It is time for a Jesus take over.  It is time for heaven to be opened.  It is time for Jesus to be crowned King of Kings and for his kingdom reign on earth. Glory to God.

I enCOURAGE you as a believer of the One True God and Jesus Christ.  I firmly believe according to scripture that we  will be watching these events unfold from heaven.   It is those who continue to rebel against God  by rejecting Jesus, His will, His way, and His word, that will endure the woes of the Great Tribulation.  God has given mankind so many times to choose Him.  Choose Him now.  Choose Jesus, His will, His way, and His words for His glory…and your eternal destiny. 

by Tammy Phillips
November 1, 2021

“And I will give [power] to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” (Revelation 11:3 NKJV)

Interestingly enough in the eleventh month of the year, we are halfway through the book of Revelation and beginning chapter 11 which is halfway through the Great Tribulation.  The two witnesses are introduced.  Much speculation goes into who these two people are.  We will not know for sure until they show up on earth because that mystery nor their names are revealed.

When they show up, the Antichrist has broken his promise to Israel (Imagine that?).  He has made his headquarters in the Temple in Jerusalem, and he has declared himself to be God. (2 Thess. 2:3-4).

The two witnesses come wielding great power. 

• They prophesy for the last 3 ½ years, 1260 days. “Jesus is coming!” They will be driving the Antichrist crazy. 
• Fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies if any attempt is made to harm them. You know this makes the Antichrist so very happy, not!  I wonder, how many people die trying to kill them?
• If anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed by the devouring fire.
• The two have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy.
• They have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire. Cannot even imagine how earth will be responding.  (Revelation 11:5-6 NKJV)

Next, the witnesses are martyred, but NOT until they have completed their ministry.  What unfolds next is a return to action on earth and it is quite unbelievable but believe it.  It will happen.

• The Antichrist, the beast, will make war with them, conquer, and kill them.
• Their bodies will lie in the main street of the great city for three and a half days.
• The remaining earthlings will celebrate their death and throw victory parties.
• They will send gifts to one another because the two prophets had tormented the remaining earthlings. (Rev. 11:7-10)

BUT GOD…Don’t you love His sense of humor? 

• After three and a half days, one blow, and the breath of life from God will enter them.
• The earthlings left will be glued to the television or internet. They will see the witnesses stand on their feet.
• Great fear will fall.
• The two witnesses will hear a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.”
• They will go up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies watch. ((Rev. 11:11-12)

Then…

• A violent earthquake will take place.
• A tenth of the city will fall.
• Seven thousand people will be killed in the earthquake. Seven thousand. Devastation like never seen before at one time.
• The survivors will be scared to death and give glory to the God of heaven.
• Second woe passed.
• COMING SOON: The Third Woe.  A real-life event you do not want to be part of.  (Revelation 11:13-14)

I bet the Antichrist is in full on panic.  He thought he  had taken care of the two witnessed and God showed him up, once again.  The stage for the seventh trumpet is set.

I enCOURAGE you to see the grace in Revelation 11.  You may see death and destruction.  The LORD,  even until the very last days before the return of Jesus is attempting to turn people.  The two witnesses will do the job that we should be doing today.  Even though they will endure to the end, they will be killed, BUT GOD!  Glory to God.  They will be resurrected.  They will hear, “COME UP HERE!”  Don’t you want everyone you know to hear those words?  Share Jesus now so they can come up on the first call.

by Tammy Phillips
October 31, 2021

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:23-24 CSB)

Satan is the author of tricks.  He wants us to believe that we still fall short. He wants us to live with shame of our past and our sins.  Satan is a liar.  Hear the truth, today!

If you have grown up in church like me, you have heard this verse all your life.  I absolutely love God and how Holy Spirit gives life to a verse like this that we have heard repeatedly.  In our prayer group somebody prayed this verse and the phrase “fall short”  stuck in my spirit.  I went digging.  Let’s look at what I found. 

First, all means each, every, everyone, and anyone.  The whole of creation from beginning to end, including you and I have sinned.  Every man and every woman with the exception of Jesus has sinned.  All means all.  All have sinned, missed the mark, made a  mistake, wandered from the path of uprightness and honor, done the wrong thing or went the wrong way. 

Secondly, all fall short.   “Fall short” is one Greek word, hystereō, which means, to be late; lag; be behind; to come late or too tardily; to be left behind in the race and so fail to reach the goal; to fall short of the end; to fail to be a partaker.  Hello?  We ALL have been a little late and felt  a lot behind, right?  We all definitely “fall short” of the glory, excellence, magnificence, majesty, and the absolutely perfectness of Christ.  The Lord knows this old gal is far from it…BUT GOD!

Thirdly, we fall short, BUT GOD stands us tall!  Romans 3:24 says that all are justified.  Justified is the Greek word, dikaioō,  meaning rendered, shown, or declared to be righteous or to be such as one ought to be in the sight of God;  to be innocent and to be declared guiltless; acquitted of a charge; to be absolved; to be freed;  to be just; to be straight and upright.

Where we have fallen short, God says wait just a minute!  Paul tells us a different story.  By God’s grace, good will, loving-kindness, and unmerited favor, He has provided our redemption.  God has released us and  paid our ransom in full with the blood of Jesus Christ.  He has delivered, liberated, and saved us by paying our ransom. 

We might have fallen short, but in Jesus…

We are as we were meant to be!
We are innocent in the eyes of God!
We are guiltless!
We are acquitted!
We are free!
We are justified!
We are realigned!
We are upright!
We stand tall!

I enCOURAGE you to see yourself as God sees you.  Once you choose Jesus as Lord and Savior, the LORD GOD does not look at you and feel ashamed.  Romans 3:24 is your explanation. God looks at you and sees you as you are meant to be.  He does not see you as falling short nor not measuring up.  He sees you standing tall and upright in Jesus.  Once and for all, be free from the shame of your sin and see yourself as God sees you.  He paid for it.  It is your gift to take.  Take it and BE FREE!  Stand tall.