The Enemy Within

 

666: The Mystery of Revelation - Maui Attack Not a Wildfire – Across the Globe Immigrants Being Used to Destroy Governments – Geller Reports On Palestinian Islamic Terror - Undeniable Proof of Voter Fraud - Simon Parkes & Laura Eisenhower Intel - The Enemy Within and more.

Research & Comments by Pastor Gary Boyd

Aug. 31^st 2023

 

 

John Whitehead makes his case for America as a rising ‘Fourth Reich’: FBI ‘Gestapo tactics’ bear hallmarks of that 1930s totalitarian regime - “We want no Gestapo or Secret Police. FBI is tending in that direction.”—Harry Truman – Aug. 31^st 2023 - By John Whitehead, www.Rutherford.org  - With every passing day, the United States government borrows yet another leaf from Nazi Germany’s playbook: Secret police. Secret courts. Secret government agencies. Surveillance. Censorship. Intimidation. Harassment. Torture. Brutality. Widespread corruption. Entrapment. Indoctrination. Indefinite detention. These are not tactics used by constitutional republics, where the rule of law and the rights of the citizenry reign supreme. Rather, they are the hallmarks of authoritarian regimes, where secret police control the populace through intimidation, fear and official lawlessness on the part of government agents. That authoritarian danger is now posed by the FBI, whose love affair with totalitarianism began long ago. Indeed, according to the New York Times, the U.S. government so admired the Nazi regime that following the second World War, it secretly and aggressively recruited at least a thousand Nazis, including some of Hitler’s highest henchmen as part of Operation Paperclip. American taxpayers have been paying to keep these ex-Nazis on the U.S. government’s payroll ever since…. https://leohohmann.com/2023/08/30/john-whitehead-makes-his-case-for-america-as-a-rising-fourth-reich-fbi-gestapo-tactics-bear-hallmarks-of-that-1930s-totalitarian-regime/

New Benjamin Fulford Warning: The US, the West and KM About to Fall into the Abyss - Thursday, August 31, 2023 12:02 - he Khazarian mafia-controlled West is about to fall over a cliff despite frantic attempts by its leadership to scare us back into submission with fire, plague, war, alien invasion etc. What is interesting is that the collapse could include the government of Xi Jinping in China and not just the West. That is why Jews are fleeing Israel and 11,000 Chinese millionaires are fleeing China. The other sign we are headed for some sort of earth-changing event – including world war- is a breakdown in military communications between the West and its’ “adversaries.” China is “refusing any phone calls from Washington regarding defense-related topics,” according to US officials. The same is true with Russia so the situation is “getting potentially dangerous,” the officials warn. Russia has upped the ante by getting its ally Nicaragua to kick out the Jesuits and confiscate their assets. https://beforeitsnews.com/prophecy/2023/08/new-benjamin-fulford-warning-the-us-the-west-and-km-about-to-fall-into-the-abyss-2544716.html

 

Military In Control Q! - Must Video - Thursday, August 31, 2023 10:24 - https://beforeitsnews.com/military/2023/08/military-in-control-q-must-video-2492421.html

US MILITARY NEWS: Restored Republic via a GCR: Update as of August 31, 2023 – GESARA/NESARA worldwide – Military arrests continuing – Gabon African nation being set free from tyranny after coup - #0 countries to be set free from tyranny – Trump was inaugurated US President in 2016 and has never left office. Through a Military count of watermarked ballots in the 2020 Election it was found that Trump won in every state with an over 80% vote. President Trump then instigated the Insurrection Act and turned over control of the country to the US Military. An Interim Military US Government has been running our country ever since. https://theusmilitarynews.com/restored-republic-via-a-gcr-update-as-of-august-31-2023/

Firefighter Whistleblower: Maui Attack Not a Wildfire - Insurance Adjuster Specializing in Fires (Video) - Thursday, August 31, 2023 4:14 - If you have had doubts about the Maui fires, this whistle-blower will clear them up.. He exposes the TRUTH of what has happened.. https://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2023/08/firefighter-whistleblower-maui-attack-not-a-wildfire-insurance-adjuster-specializing-in-fires-video-3798215.html

Breaking! Trump Declares War on COVID Tyrants, Pledges to Stop Lockdown 2.0!! (Video) - Thursday, August 31, 2023 3:48 - Former President Donald Trump responded to Alex Jones’ exclusive report revealing the Biden regime is gearing up for new COVID restrictions, declaring that this time “WE WILL NOT COMPLY!” https://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2023/08/breaking-trump-declares-war-on-covid-tyrants-pledges-to-stop-lockdown-2-0-video-3798210.html

Bo Polny: It's All Beginning In SEPTEMBER!! (Video) - Thursday, August 31, 2023 3:42 - Here’ Bo and he is at his finest and is joined by Clay and these 2 have MEGA financial Intel to share!! The new month is going to bring NEW,MAJOR events, BE READY!! https://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2023/08/bo-polny-its-all-beginning-in-september-video-3798208.html

Judy Byington: “The End” …Q~ Special Intel Report For Thurs. 31 Aug. 2023 (Video) - Thursday, August 31, 2023 4:23 – https://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2023/08/judy-byington-the-end-q-special-intel-report-for-thurs-31-aug-2023-video-3798216.html

NTEB: Across Europe, Canada And The United States, Illegal Immigrants Are Being Forcibly Placed Into Hotels And Schools Displacing The Citizens There - Thursday, August 31, 2023 9:22 - You may have not ever heard of the Cloward-Piven Strategy, but you are watching it coming to live in the midst of the onslaught of illegal immigrants being bussed in. The photo at the top of this article is not of a Third World nation, it is what the heart of New York City on 6th Avenue looks like in 2023, halfway through Obama’s Third Term. This scene is being played out in major Democrat-run cities across the United States, as well as in the UK and Canada. Why is this happening? It’s the Cloward-Piven Strategy being put into action, with the intent to crash and collapse the benefits systems. If you can do that, you can take down the nation, which is precisely the whole point. - “And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” Revelation 18:2 (KJB) https://beforeitsnews.com/global-unrest/2023/08/across-europe-canada-and-the-united-states-illegal-immigrants-are-being-forcibly-placed-into-hotels-and-schools-displacing-the-citizens-there-2538254.html

Simon Parkes & Laura Eisenhower: Situation Update and Intel Report - What to Expect Next (Video) - Thursday, August 31, 2023 3:34 - A new Intel drop from Simon!! He joins Laura Eisenhower for this Intel filled interview and situation update! This is big, Folks, you’ve got to see what he thinks we can expect next!! https://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2023/08/simon-parkes-laura-eisenhower-situation-update-and-intel-report-what-to-expect-next-video-3798207.html

ATLAS SHRUGS: Israeli Killed, Five Injured in Palestinian Islamic Terror Attack - Thursday, August 31, 2023 7:33 - Palestinian terrorism against Israel has skyrocketed, since the Biden Administration restored U.S aid to Palestinian Authority. Once again, call your member of Congress and demand that all U.S aid to the Palestinian Authority is stopped. The Palestinian Authority uses this ‘aid’ to pay Palestinian terrorists to murder Jews. (Comment: The US corporate government in DC is bankrupt. It would not appear that aid to the PA will continue because the government can no longer print out fiat money. This fake Obiden communist regime no longer has any sway in DC. The regime chances of starting a war in the Middle East should no longer be a worry. It is all a charade. The US Treasury is now in Reno Nevada and no longer exists in DC. Trump is the Commander in Chief as he has always been.) https://beforeitsnews.com/opinion-conservative/2023/08/israeli-killed-five-injured-in-palestinian-islamic-terror-attack-3671488.html

Undeniable Proof! Video Breaks Down All the Voter Fraud of 2020 - Wednesday, August 30, 2023 20:30 - https://beforeitsnews.com/new-world-order/2023/08/undeniable-proof-video-breaks-all-the-voter-fraud-of-2020-13252.html

The Enemy Within: How a Totalitarian Movement is Destroying America - by David Horowitz – Aug. 31^st 2023 - “The Enemy Within is a book for all patriots who understand that our country is in a fight for its life.”—MARK LEVIN - America on the Brink - A questionable election. The president of the United States illegally impeached—twice—and silenced. The First Amendment hanging by a thread. The national heritage under attack. Mob violence. America is on the brink of becoming a one-party dictatorship. How did this happen? “The Enemy Within: How a Totalitarian Movement Is Destroying America” provides the answer. David Horowitz has been the bête noire of the Left for decades on account of his courageous revelations of their aims and tactics, and now he sounds the alarm: the barbarians are already inside the gates. Horowitz lays out how we have ended up in the worst national crisis since the Civil War. He details: • The Left’s embrace of Critical Race Theory and Cultural Marxism—the underpinnings of their totalitarian ideology • The decades-long infiltration of our education system by ideologies hostile to America, our institutions, and our freedom • Why the Obama administration marked a point of no return in the division of America into two irreconcilable political factions • The Democrats’ unprincipled campaign to destroy a duly elected U.S. president • Their political exploitation of the coronavirus pandemic • Their complicity in the riots of the summer of 2020, which left twenty-five dead, injured two thousand police officers, caused billions of dollars in property damage, and revealed the fragility of our civic order - As Abraham Lincoln so presciently warned on the eve of America’s last existential crisis, “If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live for all time, or die by suicide.” In The Enemy Within, David Horowitz provides a spot-on assessment of the threat to the American Republic and points to an escape route—while there’s still time. – To order go to: https://www.amazon.com/Enemy-Within-Totalitarian-Movement-Destroying-ebook/dp/B08JMC47P5/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1DAAIJPON3QWC&keywords=The+Enemy+Within%3A+How+a+Totalitarian+Movement+Is+Destroying+America&qid=1693494199&s=books&sprefix=the+enemy+within+how+a+totalitarian+movement+is+destroying+america%2Cstripbooks%2C809&sr=1-1

AMERICAN MILITARY NEWS Video: Arsonist sets himself on fire while trying to burn down church – AUGUST 30, 2023 - by TIMOTHY FRUDD - Recently released footage shows the moment an arsonist accidentally set himself on fire while attempting to set fire to a church in Florida. The surveillance video released by the Broward Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes Unit shows an unidentified individual setting fire to Oakland Park Church’s front doors. During the video, the suspect can be seen crossing the church parking lot and pouring gasoline alongside the church’s front doors. When the suspect attempts to light the gasoline, he barely escapes the flames outside the first doorway of the church before lighting the second fire and getting caught in the flames. (Comment: There are arsonists being let into our country at the border undercover planning to do harm to our country. A massive fire at a Louisiana petroleum refinery sent huge plumes of black smoke into the air last week, video of the scene shows. Local officials issued an evacuation order in response to the emergency. It was discovered a leak in a pipe started the fire, but no one knows who started the leak. Arsonists arrested in Greece,  authorities in Greece have arrested 79 people on arson charges after a series of wildfires devastated the country for much of the summer. These are not wildfires; my Intel says immigrants are being paid to do this.) https://americanmilitarynews.com/2023/08/video-arsonist-sets-himself-on-fire-while-trying-to-burn-down-church/

Farmer revives the Biblical Balm of Gilead and Temple Incense - “Is there no balm in Gilad? Can no physician be found? Why has healing not yet Come to my poor people?” – JEREMIAH 8:22 (THE ISRAEL BIBLE) - By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz - BIBLICAL NEWS - AUGUST 30, 2023 - ne very special farmer in the Holy Land is raising rare and endangered plants in an effort to bring back the Biblical Balm of Gilead and the Temple incense. In 2008, Guy Ehrlich was driven to recreate the Biblical Balm of Gilead, renowned for its healing properties. Incredibly rare even in Biblical times, growing only in the extreme heat and saline soil of the Dead Sea area, it disappeared from the region in the sixth century. A German scientist smuggled a single shoot out of Saudi Arabia, and some plants were at the Botanical Garden in Jerusalem. Unfortunately, the climate of Jerusalem was too cold for the desert-loving plants. Fortunately, before they all died, the garden sent some to Dr. Elaine Solowey, director of the Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Kibbutz Ketura. She provided Ehrlich with a beginning for his six-acre Biblical farm. The plants thrived in the Dead Sea climate, and his farm now has about five thousand balsam plants. https://www.israel365news.com/375067/farmer-revives-the-biblical-balm-of-gilead-and-temple-incense/

LIFE SITE NEWS: Archbishop Viganò: Globalism is ‘satanic’ preparation for the ‘rise of the Antichrist’ - The former Papal Nuncio expanded on his perception of an intimate link between globalism and Satanism. Tue Aug 29, 2023 - 11:51 am EDT - (LifeSiteNews) –– Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò has once again condemned the rise of “globalism,” stating that it prepares humanity “for the political rise of the Antichrist.” In an August 24 interview with a French-language news outlet, Viganò commented on the rise of “globalism” and its impact upon society. Re-issuing a denouncement of globalism which he has consistently made, the archbishop linked corruption in society to corruption in the Catholic Church: The element that in my opinion needs to be made clear – for the denunciation to be complete – is the specular relationship between the coup of the deep state in the civil sphere and the similar coup of the deep church in the ecclesiastical sphere. The “subversive action” undermining each sphere is “identical,” he stated, “as are the inspiring principles that move them and the goals they set.” https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/archbishop-vigano-globalism-is-satanic-preparation-for-the-rise-of-the-antichrist/

New Michael Jaco Live - Deep State Narratives are Failing Across the Board - We are Witness to Unprecedented Collapse - Thursday, August 31, 2023 12:04 - https://beforeitsnews.com/prophecy/2023/08/new-michael-jaco-live-deep-state-narratives-are-failing-across-the-board-we-are-witness-to-unprecedented-collapse-2544718.html

X22 Report: Biden Economic Plan Will Be Replaced With Trump’s Economic Boom Plan! - Must Video - Thursday, August 31, 2023 14:49 - Switzerland is now cracking down on money laundering, they will look into who owns the accounts. People cannot afford homeownership; it is breaking down and getting worse as the rates move up. The economic stats are manipulated and they have been for a long time to keep the illusion alive. Trump is going to replace Biden’s failed economic plan with a boom plan. https://beforeitsnews.com/economy/2023/08/x22-report-biden-economic-plan-will-be-replaced-with-trumps-economic-boom-plan-must-video-3093918.html

FRONTLINE MISSIONARIES TO MUSLIMS BUILD NEW PARADIGM IN MISSION STRATEGY (Part 3) - Thursday, August 31, 2023 13:33 - After a day of digging through the New Testament together, what they came up with is: The Church is a group of baptized Believers committed to obeying Jesus, committed to one another, and committed to doing everything they see the church do in Acts 2:37-47. Not bad. https://beforeitsnews.com/christian-news/2023/08/frontline-missionaries-to-muslims-build-new-paradigm-in-mission-strategy-part-3-2617775.html

THE BURNING PLATFORM: CEDAR KEY, FLORIDA: NWO Geoterrorists Morph Island Enclave Into Another “Maui Armageddon” - Only this time a Hurricane-triggered DELUGE was geoegineered instead of a Hurricane-driven FIRESTORM - OPERATION HURRICANE IDALIA - Submitted by Weather War Watcher – Aug. 31^st 2023 - Make no mistake, the New World Order weather warriors are at it again in Florida.  Those inveterate geoterrorists know that there’s no better opportunity to hijack the devastating forces of Mother Nature than Hurricane Season … especially when the globalist perps can harness those ferocious forces to inflict awesome damage on a targeted city or state with pluperfect “plausible deniability”. Of course, the main reason for manufacturing all of these super-dramatic weather calamities and earth cataclysms is to produce a glaring advertisment for the utterly fake CO-driven Global Warming narrative.  However, there are also many other objectives to carrying out geoterrorism operations such as OPERATION HURRICANE IDALIA. https://www.theburningplatform.com/2023/08/31/cedar-key-florida-nwo-geoterrorists-morph-island-enclave-into-another-maui-armageddon/

New Max Igan: A Hawaiian Holocaust - August 2023 - Wednesday, August 30, 2023 2:36 - “The illusion of freedom will continue for as long as it’s profitable to continue the illusion. At the point where the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain, they will take down the scenery, move the tables and chairs out of the way, then they will pull back the curtains and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theater.” – Frank Zappa TURN OFF YOUR TELEVISION! https://beforeitsnews.com/prophecy/2023/08/new-max-igan-a-hawaiian-holocaust-august-2023-2544700.html

666: The Mystery of Revelation

by Britt Gillette

Published on: February 15, 2011

Researched by Pastor Gary Boyd

Aug. 31^st 2023

 

Even those who have never read the Bible will recognize it. Revered by the occult and feared by the superstitious, it’s a number forever linked with infamy. It is the number six hundred sixty-six. For over two millennia, this number has been used as a proxy for Satan himself. It’s been the subject of endless speculation, hearsay, and confusion.

 

And during this time, it’s been used to justify the false identification of hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of individuals as the Antichrist. These false identifications have only served to confuse people as to the original, biblical meaning of the number 666, and unfortunately, they also cause many to dismiss Bible prophecy as a mere superstition of crackpots and conspiracy theorists.

 

So where does the number 666 come from? And what does it mean?

 

All the speculation concerning 666 comes from a single verse in the book of Revelation. In a passage describing the Antichrist and his world empire, we learn the following:

 

“He required everyone—great and small, rich and poor, slave and free—to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name. Wisdom is needed to understand this. Let the one who has understandingsolve the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666” (Revelation 13:16-18, NLT).

 

During the Great Tribulation, the Antichrist will require everyone on the earth to be given a mark on the right hand or the forehead. Those who refuse this mark will be unable to buy or sell anything, effectively cutting them off from all economic activity – the purchase and sale of food, water, shelter, and the basic necessities of life.

 

This mark will have the following characteristics:

 

1) It will be the name of the beast.

2) It will be the number representing his name.

3) It will be the number of a man.

4) The number is 666.

 

Let’s address each of these aspects individually in order to gain a firm grasp of their intended meaning:

 

The Name of the Beast

Who is the beast? Traditionally, “the name of the beast” is interpreted as being the name of the Antichrist, who is clearly referenced in verses 11-18 of Revelation chapter 13 (this topic will be addressed in depth in a later article). However, in these verses, the Antichrist is described as a second beast who exercises “all the authority of the first beast.” The first beast is described in verses 1-10 of the same chapter, but this beast does not represent the Antichrist, as some believe. Rather, it represents the world empire the Antichrist will rule.

 

We know this because the first beast has “seven heads and ten horns” (verse 1), and this is a beast students of Bible prophecy have seen before.

 

In the book of Daniel, we are introduced to this being as “the fourth beast,” a global empire that will destroy everything in its path:

 

“Then he said to me, ‘This fourth beast is the fourth world power that will rule the earth. It will be different from all the others. It will devour the whole world, trampling everything in its path. Its ten horns are ten kings that will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them. He will defy the Most High and wear down the holy people of the Most High'” (Daniel 7:23-25, NLT).

 

Does this fourth world power sound familiar? It has “ten horns” (Revelation 13:1) and will trample everything in its path, probably prompting people to ask, “Is there anyone as great as the beast? Who is able to fight against him?” (Revelation 13:4). It will also devour “the whole world,” gaining authority over “every tribe and people and language and nation” (Revelation 13:7).

 

We also learn that the Antichrist will “require all the earth and those who belong to this world to worship the first beast, whose death wound had been healed” (Revelation 13:12). Who is this beast whose death wound has been healed? The wounded beast who will be resurrected is the fourth beast in Daniel 7—the world empire of ancient Rome, which was never completely destroyed like previous world empires. In the last days, the Roman Empire will appear once again, and the world will marvel at its appearance.

 

Daniel confirms this when he states that the Antichrist will be a ruler from the people who destroy the Temple in ad 70 (Daniel 9:26). The Romans destroyed the Temple, and they will have a ruler once again in the last days, confirming that the Roman Empire must once again exist.

 

The book of Revelation also predicts this resurrection of Rome:

 

“Five kings have already fallen, the sixth now reigns, and the seventh is yet to come, but his reign will be brief” (Revelation 17:10, NLT).

 

The angel reveals to John that five of the kingdoms have fallen:

 

1) Egypt

2) Assyria

3) Babylonia

4) Medo-Persia

5) Greece

 

The sixth kingdom “now reigns”:

 

6) Rome (John’s vision occurred in the first century, when Rome still ruled the known world)

 

And the seventh “is yet to come”:

 

7) The Revived Roman Empire

 

In the last days, this resurrected Roman Empire will rule all of humanity. Its reign will be brief, but it will be like no other kingdom before it.

 

The Antichrist will require all the earth and those who belong to this world to worship the revived Roman Empire, a global government that will rule “over every tribe and people and language and nation” (Revelation 13:7).

 

So the “name of the beast” described in Revelation 13:17 is not the name of the Antichrist, as widely believed, but instead, it will be a name associated with the world empire he requires the world to worship.

 

The Number Representing His Name

If the mark of the beast is “the name of the beast,” how can it also be “the number representing his name”? Ancient Greek and Hebrew, the two languages most associated with the book of Revelation, both used an alphanumeric system in which each letter of the alphabet correlates with a number. What verse 18 reveals is that the mark, which is the name of the beast, will have a numeric value that can be calculated as the number 666. The only way to “calculate” this number is if it appears as letters that need to be interpreted in a numerical form. Therefore, we can say with certainty that the mark of the beast will not be a literal brand of “666”; rather, it will be a word or a phrase that, when converted into its numerical equivalent, will represent the number 666.

 

How this is properly calculated depends on whether John originally wrote the book of Revelation in Greek or Hebrew. Tradition says he wrote the book in Greek. However, a strong case has been made that the book was originally written in Hebrew, then quickly translated into Greek. Not knowing for sure multiplies the difficulty of calculating the number of the beast, because each letter of the Greek and Hebrew alphabets is associated with a different numerical value.

 

The Number of a Man

If the number 666 represents the revived Roman Empire and not a man (the Antichrist), as traditionally believed, then why does verse 18 say, “for it is the number of a man”? The answer is that some translations interpret this verse as “for it is the number of humanity.” Either way, in both cases, the verse can be interpreted as “mankind” or the “entirety of the human race.” If this is the case, it tells us that the number 666 will not only be the name of the beast (the revived Roman Empire), but it will also be reflective of the entire human race, especially those who freely choose to accept the designation on their right hand or forehead.

 

When Daniel conveys God’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the empires of the world are symbolized in the form of a statue–a statue of a man.

 

“Your Majesty, in your vision you saw in front of you a huge and powerful statue of a man, shining brilliantly, frightening and awesome” (Daniel 2:31, NLT).

 

The association of this statue with mankind and world government provides a strong indication that the mark of the beast is more akin to the number of humanity rather than to any particular individual.

 

The Number Is 666

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible associates certain numbers with an overall theme. The number six is often associated with mankind. For instance, man was created on the sixth day. Similarly, the number seven is often associated with perfection and rest. As an example, God rested on the seventh day.

 

In contrast to the number seven, six is viewed as highly symbolic of incompletion or imperfection. Just as man has “fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), the number six is symbolic of man’s shortfall of the perfection of God’s seven.

 

When the number six is repeated three times in the number 666, many believe it’s indicative of Satan’s attempt to imitate the Trinity.

 

The Price of Accepting the Mark of the Beast

The Antichrist and his followers will pay a hefty price for accepting the mark of the beast. The Bible tells us that ALL who accept the mark will face eternal judgment for their decision. The following verses reveal the consequences of this rebellion against God:

 

“Then a third angel followed them, shouting, ‘Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts his mark on the forehead or the hand must drink the wine of God’s wrath. It is poured out undiluted into God’s cup of wrath. And they will be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. The smoke of their torment rises forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name”( Revelation 14:9-11, NLT).

 

“So the first angel left the Temple and poured out his bowl over the earth, and horrible, malignant sores broke out on everyone who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue”( Revelation 16:2, NLT).

 

“And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast – miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue”( Revelation 19:20, NLT).

 

Acceptance of the mark is not a matter to be taken lightly. Anyone who accepts the mark denies Christ in favor of a false god. This decision, once made, is irrevocable, and the consequences are everlasting.

 

However, for those who refuse the mark, a future of eternal bliss awaits. Although they will suffer persecution to the point of death, their steadfast faithfulness in honor of Jesus Christ will open the door to an eternity in the presence of God.

 

“Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus, for proclaiming the word of God. And I saw the souls of those who had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their forehead or their hands” (Revelation 20:4, NLT).

 

These verses are clear. Under no circumstances should anyone, especially a believer in Christ, accept the mark of the beast. To do so leads only to ruin.

 

Superstition Surrounding the Number 666

The world is filled with superstition, especially when it comes to numbers. Some feel the number thirteen is unlucky, and they avoid anything associated with the number. For a lot of people, the number 666 has the same effect. But God makes it clear that we are not to fear this number. Having a license plate, a sales receipt, or a street address with the number 666 is nothing to be concerned about. Anyone who thinks so it attributing supernatural power to a number, and the Bible clearly states that believers should fear God and God only:

 

“Do not fear anything except the Lord Almighty. He alone is the Holy One. If you fear him, you need fear nothing else” (Isaiah 8:13, NLT).

 

Jesus underscores this command while teaching His disciples not to fear persecution:

 

“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell”( Matthew 10:28, NLT).

 

The things of this world are fleeting, but the Lord Almighty, and He only, will determine our eternal destiny. Therefore, don’t be concerned with such trivial superstitions as the random occurrence of the number 666.

 

Conclusion

Ultimately, the true meaning of the number 666 will not become apparent until the Great Tribulation, when the Antichrist forces the world population to accept the number as a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. Contemporary attempts to calculate this number ahead of time as either the name of a person, human beings, or the revived Roman Empire will only lead to frustration. Even worse, these attempts may end up having a negative impact in that, once proven false, they will damage the credibility of those who teach end-times Bible prophecy in general. If the devil can convince the world that Bible prophecy is the exclusive domain of crackpots and conspiracy theorists, then he can snatch away a valuable tool for spreading the gospel of Christ.

 

In the end, it is the duty of our generation to carefully examine the meaning of Revelation 13:16-18 and convey an accurate historical interpretation of these verses for others. If we succeed, the end-times generation will have the ability to properly interpret the number of the beast. Once the Antichrist arrives on the world scene and announces his intention to require the mark, it will become clear to everyone on earth what acceptance of this number really means. Whether it’s the number of an individual, a kingdom, or mankind itself, acceptance of the number 666 will be tantamount to a public rejection of Jesus Christ.

 

The New Jerusalem

 

The New Jerusalem - Gabon Coup – Hurricane Floods FLA - Trump’s Ultimate REVENGE - 1,600 Scientists Sign ‘No Climate Emergency’ Declaration - Military Arrests Moderna Clot Shot Creator - The War On One World Government Is Raging – Tucker Carlson On Biden’s New Face and more.

Research & Comments by Pastor Gary Boyd

Aug. 30^th 2023

 

 

 

MAIL ONLINE: Florida mansion is marooned on its own tiny island as Hurricane Idalia kills two and lays waste to Big Bend with 'apocalyptic' 16ft storm surge, 'catastrophic' flooding and 260,000 without power - Hurricane Idalia has sparked more than 15 tornado warnings after hitting Florida - Evacuation orders are in place for 49 counties with major flood warnings - Follow the latest updates on Hurricane Idalia with DailyMail.com's live blog here - HURRICANE IDALIA FORECAST: Category 1 storm barreling towards Georgia - By EMMA JAMES and HARRIET ALEXANDER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM - UPDATED: 11:25 EDT, 30 August 2023 - The monster storm, which was downgraded to a Category 1 as it moved inland, engulfed much of the coastline at the top of the Panhandle on Wednesday morning. At least two people have died in the hurricane so far, with Pasco County officials confirming one, 40, crashed his Ford Ranger while a second, 59, swerved into a ditch in Gainesville…. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12459431/hurricane-idalia-florida-refuse-evacuation-orders.html

MAIL ONLINE: Stoners have toxic metals in their blood - Marijuana smokers have dangerous levels of lead and cadmium linked to cancer and kidney disease, study shows - A study found that marijuana users have higher levels of metals in their bodies - The metals, lead and cadmium, have been linked to kidney disease and cancer - By EMILY JOSHU HEALTH REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM - UPDATED: 10:55 EDT, 30 August 2023 - Researchers from Columbia University in New York City found that cannabis smokers who don't use nicotine had 27 and 21 percent more lead in their blood and urine, respectively, than non-users. They also found that users had 22 and 18 percent higher levels of the metal cadmium in their blood and urine. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12461211/Marijuana-dangerous-levels-toxic-metals-blood-Study-finds-high-lead-cadmium.html

LISA HAVEN: Trump’s Ultimate REVENGE Has Just Been Released! White House In a Panic! - Wednesday, August 30, 2023 13:33 - Donald Trump is about to get the ultimate revenge! You will not believe what he has planned and how it’s set the left in a straight up panic! All that and more in this critical report… https://beforeitsnews.com/politics/2023/08/trumps-ultimate-revenge-has-just-been-released-white-house-in-a-panic-3297372.html

And We Know: Biden Exposed, Deep State Melting, FBI, DOJ Big Issues, DJT Speaks! Pray! - Must Video - Wednesday, August 30, 2023 14:55 -  Holding the criminals in the deep state of the USA accountable in a very public way will do so much to heal our nation and the world! https://beforeitsnews.com/opinion-conservative/2023/08/and-we-know-biden-exposed-deep-state-melting-fbi-doj-big-issues-djt-speaks-pray-must-video-3671446.html

THE EPOCH TIMES: Over 1,600 Scientists Sign ‘No Climate Emergency’ Declaration - By Naveen Athrappully - 8/29/2023 - Updated: - 8/29/2023 - International scientists have jointly signed a declaration dismissing the existence of a climate crisis and insisting that carbon dioxide is beneficial to Earth, contrary to the popular alarmist narrative. “There is no climate emergency,” the Global Climate Intelligence Group (CLINTEL) said in its World Climate Declaration (pdf), made public in August. “Climate science should be less political, while climate policies should be more scientific. Scientists should openly address uncertainties and exaggerations in their predictions of global warming, while politicians should dispassionately count the real costs as well as the imagined benefits of their policy measures.” - https://www.theepochtimes.com/science/over-1600-scientists-sign-no-climate-emergency-declaration-5482554?src_src=Morningbrief&src_cmp=mb-2023-08-30&est=gukhsNiTu1Y8%2Fu%2Fk6V%2BUGAqOZC5oItvjXeYZAfVjZPrEMhh1%2FBX%2BWCd%2FxALESYRnemXllg%3D%3D

REAL RAW NEWS: Military Arrests Moderna Clot Shot Creator - By Michael Baxter -August 30, 2023 - A prominent Moderna chemist, Melissa J. Moore, was arrested at her Everett, Massachusetts, home Sunday evening after trying to evade U.S. Navy JAG investigators who had been surveilling the residence and awaiting an opportunity to serve a military arrest warrant, a JAG adjunct told Real Raw News. https://realrawnews.com/2023/08/military-arrests-moderna-clot-shot-creator/

Bombshell! Trump Executive Order 13848 expires September 12, 2023 with 500k Cabal indictments sealed ! GITMO - Wednesday, August 30, 2023 14:58 - As the clock ticks closer to the expiration date of Executive Order 13848 on September 12, 2023, scrutiny intensifies over Trump’s highly debated “mugshot,” which hardly depicts him as a criminal but rather emblazons the term “ELECTION INTERFERENCE.” Initiated two months before any election under Trump’s purview, this order signaled a National Emergency that remains active. Contrary to mere rants, Trump’s constant highlighting of election interference appears to be more of a revelation. Equally gripping is the unsettling backdrop of January 6, 2021, a date that has been falsely attributed to foreign interference. The text of EO 13848 itself refutes such allegations, implying that the real drama lies not in altered outcomes but perhaps in the chaotic events that unfolded in Congress on that fateful day. The article ahead delves into these multi-layered controversies to dissect what they mean for American politics as we know it. https://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2023/08/bombshell-trump-executive-order-13848-expires-september-12-2023-with-500k-cabal-indictments-sealed-gitmo-3798189.html

US MILITARY NEWS: Restored Republic via a GCR: Update as of August 30, 2023 - https://theusmilitarynews.com/restored-republic-via-a-gcr-update-as-of-august-30-2023/

Gabon coup: Army cancels elections and seizes power - By George Wright & Kathryn Armstrong – Aug. 30^th 2023 - BBC News - Army officers have appeared on national television in Gabon to say they have taken power. They said they were annulling the results of Saturday's election, in which President Ali Bongo was declared the winner. Military officials later said that Mr Bongo had been placed under house arrest and one of his sons arrested for treason. His overthrow would end his family's 53-year hold on power in Gabon. Gabon is one of Africa's major oil producers, while nearly 90% of the country is covered by forests. They said Mr Bongo would be replaced by the head of the presidential guard, Gen Brice Oligui Nguema, and that certain officials would "answer for their actions" following an investigation by the "competent authorities". https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66654965

BLP: As Central Banks Buy Gold and Americans Scramble to Protect Retirement Accounts With Physical Gold and Silver, A Faith-Based Company Shows Them How - BLP Sponsor - Aug 29, 2023 - When banks started failing, interest in physical gold and silver began skyrocketing. So many Americans are moving retirement accounts to precious metals that some companies have had a hard time keeping up with demand. Genesis Gold Group a faith-driven precious metals company, has been able to keep up with demand because their executives anticipated the surge even before the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (plus, working with them through this link and the links below benefits Big League Politics). It isn’t just individuals who are making moves — central banks have been on a gold-buying spree for months. China and Russia have been moving toward gold and silver. Even U.S. states like Tennessee have made moves to allow the treasury to buy precious metals to back the state’s holdings. https://bigleaguepolitics.com/as-central-banks-buy-gold-and-americans-scramble-to-protect-retirement-accounts-with-physical-gold-and-silver-a-faith-based-company-shows-them-how/

You Never Would Have Expected This!!! The War On One World Government Is Raging!! The White Hats Are Real And Making Arrests Everywhere!! - Tuesday, August 29, 2023 23:02 - https://beforeitsnews.com/agenda-21/2023/08/you-never-would-have-expected-this-the-war-on-one-world-government-is-waging-the-white-hats-are-real-and-making-arrests-everywhere-4155.html

Breaking: Hawaiian Journalist Shows Evidence Of Directed Energy Weapons & Govt Coverup! - Alex Jones - Wednesday, August 30, 2023 9:43 - https://beforeitsnews.com/war-and-conflict/2023/08/breaking-hawaiian-journalist-shows-evidence-of-directed-energy-weapons-govt-coverup-alex-jones-2479390.html

Ten OBVIOUS Lessons Every Intelligent Person Should Have Learned From COVID 1.0 - Wednesday, August 30, 2023 9:33 - Truly, you’d have to be an oblivious idiot at this point to think the government’s COVID orders are intended to benefit the people. You’d also have to be an idiot to think that N95 masks stop COVID transmission, that social distancing works, or that COVID vaccines prevent infections and transmission. Yet, astonishingly, these are things that oblivious idiots still believe. These people also tend to believe that Joe Biden is the “most popular president ever,” that Big Pharma is run by angels who seek to help humanity, and that mainstream doctors are driven by medical science evidence rather than profit motives. https://beforeitsnews.com/survival/2023/08/ten-obvious-lessons-every-intelligent-person-should-have-learned-from-covid-1-0-2790575.html

BARBIE (Movie Review) By Jonathan Cahn - Wednesday, August 30, 2023 9:06 – Jonathan investigates radical feminist movie Barbie that is over the top on striking down manhood. It is the most antihuman movie ever made… https://beforeitsnews.com/prophecy/2023/08/barbie-movie-review-by-jonathan-cahn-2544701.html

ATLAS SHRUGS - HORRIFYING: New Mandatory Hospital Staff Training Promotes Transitioning 4-Year-Olds - Wednesday, August 30, 2023 9:01 - An employee at Kaiser Permanente, one of the largest healthcare providers on the West Coast, reached out to us after she was mandated to take a new staff training on “gender affirming care.” The employee, who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of losing her job, was horrified that a healthcare facility would be promoting the mutilation and castration of children. This is Institutionalized evil. https://beforeitsnews.com/opinion-conservative/2023/08/horrifying-new-mandatory-hospital-staff-training-promotes-transitioning-4-year-olds-3671417.html

EDUCATION FAITH HEALTH MONEY POLITICS U.S. WND NEWS CENTER WORLD – WND - Jon Voight uncorks on Biden: 'This is now a war against all of us' - 'The administration is a corrupt mob. This is a horror' - By Bob Unruh - Published August 29, 2023 at 7:16pm - Actor Jon Voight has issued a warning to America, more than a year before the next presidential election but just as Democrats have unleashed their full battery of weapons against President Donald Trump. "What are we to do…. This is now a war, a war against all of us," he said. "The Biden administration is a corrupt mob and the Obama administration fuels the cycle." He continued, "Let me warn you all that this corrupt behavior against President Trump is the most disgusting scheme to try and keep him down. This is a horror. "This system now allows criminals to steal from department stores and all they say is to watch and not do anything and this is ok, to sit and allow these monsters to destroy hard-working designers and retailers, my God. https://www.wnd.com/2023/08/jon-voight-destroys-biden-now-war-us/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=wnd-newsletter&utm_campaign=dailyam&utm_content=newsletter&ats_es=41b27adec705499be73f085319c0dda4&ats_ess=aea3164cab8ef620f841700738a68a13cdeaa57817be90ebaf651188fc768670

Turkish, Russian leaders to meet ‘soon’ for grain deal: Ankara - President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet soon to discuss the resumption of the grain deal, both Ankara and Moscow have confirmed, as well as efforts to end the Russian-Ukrainian war that has been continuing since February 2022. Ömer Çelik, the spokesman of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has announced that Erdoğan is planning to go to Russia’s resort city of Sochi very soon to meet Russian President Putin. Çelik said the two sides are working on fixing a date for the meeting. https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/erdogan-to-visit-russia-for-talks-with-putin-ankara-185853

“How Is NOBODY Realizing Biden’s NEW Face?” Tucker Carlson - Wednesday, August 30, 2023 10:12 - The air is thick with tension, almost palpable, as if one could reach out and touch the very fabric of our society unraveling. It’s not just the political climate or the economic uncertainties that loom large; it’s something far more fundamental, something that strikes at the very core of what it means to be a democratic society. We are talking about the erosion of free speech, the cornerstone upon which the edifice of democracy is built. https://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2023/08/how-is-nobody-realising-bidens-new-face-tucker-carlson-3798167.html

Election Fraud Details From U.S. Army Colonel Phil Waldron (Video) - Wednesday, August 30, 2023 11:22 - Col. Phil Waldon comes forward to share HUGE Intel and info about the rampant election fraud that has been taking place.. https://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2023/08/election-fraud-details-from-colonel-u-s-army-phil-waldron-video-3798171.html

White House ROCKED! "Tape Will Be Made Public""Incontrovertible Evidence of Joe Biden’s Corruption"! - Wednesday, August 30, 2023 11:49 - https://beforeitsnews.com/politics/2023/08/white-house-rocked-tape-will-be-made-publicincontrovertible-evidence-of-joe-bidens-corruption-3297360.html

A Message to Citizens of the World... What Comes Next - Wednesday, August 30, 2023 11:45 - In an era where technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace, we find ourselves entangled in a web of digital marvels. From 5G networks that promise lightning-fast connectivity to neural implants that could redefine human cognition, we are on the brink of a new frontier. But as we stand at this threshold, an ancient narrative resurfaces, casting its shadow over our technological utopia. https://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2023/08/a-message-to-citizens-of-the-world-what-comes-next-3798173.html

This 3500-Year-Old Powerful & Natural Cure Found in The Bible Treats So Many Diseases - Wednesday, August 30, 2023 11:21 - The olive leaf has been used for ages for nourishment and medicine. The Bible shares many instances of the olive tree. The olive leaf was used even before Christ. Ezekiel 47:12 “The fruit thereof shall be for meat and the leaf thereof for medicine”. Christians claim that the leaf in this scenario is the olive. The Bible contains answers to some of the greatest problems. When properly comprehended, it addresses all our necessities and faults. Many cultures attributed divine power to the olive. https://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2023/08/this-3500-year-old-powerful-natural-cure-found-in-the-bible-treats-so-many-diseases-2-3798169.html

 

 

 

 

The New Jerusalem

by Britt Gillette

Published on: October 8, 2012

Researched by Pastor Gary Boyd

Aug. 30^th 2023

 

 

One of God’s most wonderful promises to those who love Him is the creation of the new Jerusalem, a place of unimaginable beauty and perfection. In fact, Jesus promised to go ahead of His followers and prepare a place for them in the new Jerusalem, and the Old Testament heroes who exhibited unwavering faith in the Word of God had their eyes trained on this future city, a place where justice would reign and righteousness would endure for all of eternity.

 

“All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:13-16 (NLT)

 

The same New Testament chapter points out that Abraham himself confidently looked forward to the new Jerusalem:

 

“Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.” Hebrews 11:10 (NLT)

 

So when will this city arrive?

 

It will arrive in the aftermath of the Glorious Appearing of Jesus Christ:

 

“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!” Isaiah 9:6-7 (NLT)

 

As history proves, this child has already been born to us, and He freely offers the gift of eternal salvation to all who will accept it. Unfortunately, the entire world can see that His government and its peace have not yet arrived. But just as surely as the first part of this prophecy was fulfilled, it is a certainty that the rest of this prophecy will be fulfilled. And someday soon, those who love Him will witnesses the following:

 

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” Revelation 21:1-2 (NLT)

 

The Promise of Jesus

 

In a conversation with His disciples, the Lord Jesus said the following:

 

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” John 14:1-4 (NLT)

 

Where is this place that Jesus is preparing? What does His Father’s home look like?

 

The bible provides us with a number of details. The place, of course, is heaven – His Father’s home, the place where God dwells.

 

Just as whatever plane the President of the United States occupies is known as Air Force One, wherever God chooses to dwell is known as heaven. And the bible clearly states that God will one day dwell with human beings in the new Jerusalem. Biblical descriptions of the new Jerusalem are descriptions of the place Jesus has prepared for us. The new Jerusalem is heaven.

 

So let’s examine what the bible says about this place:

 

The Pearly Gates

 

The physical description of the new Jerusalem paints the picture of a city beyond compare in its magnificence and enormity. The apostle John provides us with some details:

 

“So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone – like jasper as clear as crystal. The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. There were three gates on each side – east, north, south, and west. The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” Revelation 21:10-14 (NLT)

 

The new city will shine with the glory of God, perfect in its beauty. And, as revealed in the following passage, its enormity will be unprecedented.

 

“The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles. Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (according to the human standard used by the angel).” Revelation 21:15-17 (NLT)

 

The length, width, and height of the new Jerusalem will all be 1,400 miles in length. To put this into perspective, this is a distance equivalent to almost half of the continental United States! Opinions differ as to whether the new Jerusalem is shaped like a cube or a pyramid. Whether a cube or a pyramid, it would still be the largest city any human being has ever entered. And its beauty is accentuated by the following construction materials:

 

“The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.” Revelation 21:18-20 (NLT)

 

The human mind cannot begin to imagine the true beauty of the new Jerusalem. Pure gold as clear as glass? An entire wall made of jasper? Its foundation stones will be inlaid with some of the most colorful and exotic stones ever created, and to top it off, the twelve gates will each be constructed from a giant pearl:

 

“The twelve gates were made of pearls – each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass.” Revelation 21:21 (NLT)

 

Almost everyone has heard of the pearly gates of heaven. But unlike most of the artist renderings we’ve seen, the actual pearly gates will each be composed of a single pearl.

 

God Will Dwell Among Us

 

But the most glorious aspect of the new Jerusalem has nothing to do with its material splendor. The best part of the new Jerusalem will be that God Himself will dwell among men:

 

“I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, ‘Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.’” Revelation 21:3 (NLT)

 

In the new Jerusalem, physical and spiritual life will be illuminated by the presence of the Lord Himself. There will be no need for the sun, the moon, or the building of a temple:

 

“I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light.” Revelation 21:22-23 (NLT)

 

In the new Jerusalem, we will see the very face of God:

 

“No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. And there will be no night there – no need for lamps or sun – for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.” Revelation 22:3-5 (NLT)

 

The new Jerusalem will be heaven, the place of final destination for those who believe in Jesus Christ. For He Himself will live among us:

 

“But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.” Philippians 3:20 (NLT)

 

The River of Life

 

In addition to the presence of God, a river filled with the water of life will flow from the throne of the Father and the Son and down the main street:

 

“Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.” Revelation 22:1-2 (NLT)

 

The river will be flanked by a tree of life, bearing a new fruit each month, and its leaves will be used to heal the nations. The prophet Ezekiel witnessed this same vision:

 

“Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, for they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing.” Ezekiel 47:12 (NLT)

 

The scriptures describe a new Jerusalem bursting with life, sustained by the living water of Christ:

 

“Springs will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will water the wasteland. The parched ground will become a pool, and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land. Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish where desert jackals once lived.” Isaiah 35:6-7 (NLT)

 

To all who wish to drink from this water, the Lord Jesus Christ issues a free invitation to come:

 

“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ Let anyone who hears this say, ‘Come.’ Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.” Revelation 22:17 (NLT)

 

More Characteristics of the New Jerusalem

 

The aforementioned aspects of the new Jerusalem don’t even begin to offer a comprehensive view of what God’s city will look like. Below are a few verses which provide further illustration of the new Jerusalem’s characteristics:

 

No More Disabilities

 

“And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf. The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy!” Isaiah 35:5-6 (NLT)

 

No More Death or Crying or Pain

 

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” Revelation 21:4 (NLT)

 

“I will rejoice over Jerusalem and delight in my people. And the sound of weeping and crying will be heard in it no more.” Isaiah 65:19 (NLT)

 

“Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return. They will enter Jerusalem singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness.” Isaiah 35:10 (NLT)

 

No More Darkness

 

“The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory.” Revelation 21:24 (NLT)

 

“Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there.” Revelation 21:25 (NLT)

 

Conclusion

 

The descriptions of the new Jerusalem provide a laundry list of the very things which mankind longs for – fellowship with God, the presence of justice, the achievement of everlasting life, the admiration of exquisite beauty, and the absence of fear, crying, and pain. By every account, the new Jerusalem is the paradise of which mankind has dreamed since the fall of man. How then, does a person become a citizen of this new Jerusalem?

 

The bible tells us that citizenship is freely granted by the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ:

 

“And the one sitting on the throne said, ‘Look, I am making everything new!’ And then he said to me, ‘Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.’ And he also said, ‘It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega – the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.’” Revelation 21:5-7 (NLT)

 

To all who are thirsty, Christ will give freely from the springs of the water of life. However, certain people will not be allowed to enter the city:

 

“But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars – their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” Revelation 21:8 (NLT)

 

“Outside the city are the dogs – the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.” Revelation 22:15 (NLT)

 

The reason these people will never be allowed to enter the new Jerusalem is because nothing evil can ever be allowed in the presence of the Holy God, and God will reside in the new Jerusalem:

 

“Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty – but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” Revelation 21:27 (NLT)

 

Unfortunately, the list of those who are not allowed to enter provides an accurate description of mankind:

 

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Romans 3:23 (NLT)

 

In spite of our shortcomings, not all hope is lost! A person can be made new again by belief in the living Son of God, Jesus Christ. Known as the Lamb of God, He gave His life as a sacrifice for our sin so that God can call us righteous and allow us entry into the new Jerusalem:

 

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NLT)

 

If a person believes in Jesus Christ, that person will not perish, but will have instead, eternal life. And this eternal life will be lived out in the confines and vicinity of the new Jerusalem, where God dwells among men:

 

“All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God – the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God.” Revelation 3:12 (NLT)

 

This is a promise from the Lord Jesus Christ. May His coming be soon!

 

“He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon!’ Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people.” Revelation 22:20-21 (NLT)

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!