Mark 13:18

08/18/24 (through 11/23/24):

My, my; how things…. do what they do. Now I'm sure there's probably not too many people on the planet, who haven't at least heard about the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. (I think as we're nearing Thanksgiving, it's now…. three attempts?) We're about three months post this event and Biden dropped out of the presidential race and was rumored to be resigning the "presidency". Although there's no public evidence this has happened; clearly Biden is in no condition to be running this country. Thus the question remains: who is currently running the US?

(The Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle has also resigned.)

And…. (there months past now) Harris's campaign was a disaster; there actually was an election and Trump is soon to be president again! That's if we make it to inauguration day.

Things have been interestingly "quiet" as far as "protests" in the US go; although in the stead of civil unrest, we are "on track" for the kinetic commencement of WWIII!

Hot off the presses: NATO and the Ukraine will be having an emergency meeting Tuesday! (Four days from today - 11/26/24)

Happy Thanksgiving….. planet Earth!

So…. for anyone who doesn't actually know what happened:

Senile Joe Biden (allegedly) authorized advanced weapons systems (long range missiles) to strike within non-disputed territory of the Russian Federation. (Which happened two days ago.)

Russia responded with a hypersonic ballistic missile (named Oreshnik - "Hazel" in English) that flies at mach 11. The missile was armed with six non-nuclear warheads; each releasing six submunitions and struck a military facility in Dnipro Ukraine. This marks the first of any sort of hypersonic ballistic weapon having ever been used in combat.

There are other stories circulating that…. "Ukraine" has hit civilian targets in Russia. (At current, those stories appear to be true.)

Now, the issue for NATO is….. there is no defense system to stop this Oreshnik weapon. It's too fast to be detected and too maneuverable to be shot down by any missile defense system currently developed in the world. The Oreshnik missile (classified as "intermediate range") has a strike capacity up to 5,500km from launch site. This weapons system can be transported on trucks or trains and thus given the size of Russia, could function as an ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile). ICBM's were developed during the Cold War, primarily to launch nuclear attacks; of which Oreshnik has the capacity and range to carry a nuclear payload. How many of these missiles Russia currently has; no one really knows. The western mainstream media is saying it is an "experimental" missile.

Well…. except the Russians just proved that it works, thus is no longer "experimental"! Al Mayadeen (Lebanese broadcasted alternative to Al Jazeera) news outlet, is reporting that Russia already has some stock piles of Oreshnik missiles. Putin though has also issued orders to mass produce more.

(Al Mayadeen is a newly launched news reporting outlet, owned and operated by an independent Tunisian journalist. It is the counter news reporting source to Al Jazeera, which is primarily funded by Sunnis. The name in Arabic means "the marketplace" and the owner states that it is an outlet that seeks to report the news "as it is". Critics accuse this outlet of being Shia leaning (Lebanese regime / Iranian bias). Though its owner / operator had worked for Al Jazeera.)

So…. what's actually going on globally? (I'm not really sure.)

Personally, I'm still not convinced that there aren't other cards in play here, as far as "continuity of government" and who's actually running the United States. Although if Devolution is true; that may never be admitted to the public. I'm thinking this possibility may still be "part of the greater picture" based on Cheatle herself had made a comment about "continuity of government" to congress, (in relation to the protection of Trump at the Butler PA rally).

Thus if this is true, (deep state assets aren't wholly in control of the US) how does the war in Ukraine and Putin's actions play into this?

To Putin's credit, he has exercised prudent restraint as to his actions in this war. He also has been consistent and followed through on his statements regarding "tit for tat actions" in this proxy war with NATO. Putin has stated that he believes Anthony Blinken is behind the American decisions. Which, I've yet to do any deep dive into why Anthony Blinken has some vendetta against Russia, or Putin specifically? (The rabbit holes get deeper.)

Yet crossing over into the religious flavor of this expanding global conflict; a lot of goofy and even stupid stuff has been said about Trump's political dealings related to "Bible prophecy". (This is nothing new though. This started when Trump decided to run for president the first term he served.)

Some of the silliness coming out about the attempted assignations, are that Trump is "anointed by God", because his right ear was bleeding. (Reference back to Exodus 29:20, Leviticus 8:23-24) While allegedly, at the time of the Butler PA attempted assassination; 30% of Democrats were saying they believe the shooting was fake.

Regardless of anyone's claim to prophecy though; no doubt God preserved Trump's life and this country has not plunged into civil war; which would have been a distinct possibility had Trump not turned his head an inch or two. Had he not moved, it would have been a "kill shot".

Thus, it is true. God's not done with… what ever happens to the United States; and He's still preserving this world from complete collapse. (Or at least currently that is the case.)

Yet, as soon as they say "Peace and safety"…. well, we all know what comes next, at least according to Scripture!

Which has got me wondering a bit?

As this iteration of the "beast system" falls apart; will the "healing of its head" be a boom in global "economic prosperity" which brings "political stability"? Good question. "Peace and safety"?

(Any how….)

Continuing on now in both Matthew 24:20 and Mark 13:18:

Again we have information in these two verses that isn't exactly the same. Both have "Pray that your flight not be in winter"; but only Matthew includes "or on the Sabbath".

Back at the end of END TIMES? I study, I explained the 1st century urgency of what "flight not being on the Sabbath" meant. If the atonement had not been completely fulfilled; time would have ended right after Christ died. We see the evidence of this as Matthew also talks about "signs in the sun and the stars". The fact that the sun was darkened is explained by information in Revelation; as "by reason of the smoke of the pit". (Revelation 9:2) This is also tied to the sounding of the 4th angel as described in Revelation 8:12.

Ecclesiastes 12:

There's an interesting discourse in Ecclesiastes 12 that utilizes the same language regarding the darkening of the sun and the moon. On the surface; the passage looks like the description of the twilight years of "an old man", as he succumbs to death on account of old age. Yet the language of this chapter is very interesting and appears to have parallels to "the earth wearing out like a garment". (The "man" is "old".)

The "keepers of the house tremble", the "strong men bow themselves", the "grinding of the wheat" has nearly ceased because the grinders are few. (Two grinding at the mill; one is taken, the other left.) And the doors are shut up in the streets.

Ecclesiastes 12:4 says "he rises at the voice of the bird". "Bird" here means "one who departs early". "The voice" (of the bird) comes from an unusual root that means "to call aloud".

Verses 5 and 6 have some interesting language about the people being afraid of "the (One) on high", there's "fears in the way", (believers are those "traveling" in "the way") and are the "fears" (dread) related to the circumstances of decay that the believers alive during the "final tribulation" witness? You know it's collapsing. Everyone around you knows it's collapsing too; but they don't want to admit that they know it's collapsing, so they pretend that it's not!

The "almond tree shall flourish" (literally means "those that rise early shall blaspheme"). Is this possibly, that those reprobate of the faith who still remain in the church, but who are "awake" enough to "acknowledge" the collapse (although never publicly) are cursing God because they know "it's coming"? That's possible as the context seems to be related to "the keepers of the house", "the strong men" and "those grinding the wheat".

The "grasshopper shall be a burden" (grasshoppers eat up all the grain). "Desire (the will) shall fail" because "the man (the planet itself) goes to his long home" and "mourners go about the streets".

"Or as long as ever not the silver cord be loosed" (the production of coinage does not cease), "the golden bowl be broken" (appears to be a reference to difficulties with mining gold from the ground?), "the pitcher is broken at the fountain" ("water" is not carried from the "fountain" because the "pitcher" is broken, despite "water" is still flowing from "the fountain"; yet those who drink "the water" must go directly to the "fountain" to drink), "wheel is broken at the cistern" (can't get water out of the well because the "crank device" doesn't work). Could this be metaphoric for the gospel is no longer being preached from the majority of pulpits?

Ecclesiastes 12:7 "Then shall the dust return to the earth, as it was; and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." The retraction of "the breath of life" "returning to God" upon the initiation of the return of Christ in glory is par and parcel to the destruction of the cosmos. (I.E. "the life" being sucked out of the current universe.)

The rest of chapter 12 in Ecclesiastes (verses 9-14) talk about the wisdom of the "preacher". The "words of the wise" are "…. given from one shepherd." (That one is pretty self explanatory.)

The next verse has an interesting admonition. "… be admonished of making many books, there is no end and much study is a weariness to the flesh." (I can attest to that truth! LOL)

And the chapter concludes with "the whole duty of man" is to "fear God and keep His commandments." (Also repeated in the Heidelberg Catechism.)

Now there's a couple of elements in this passage that are interesting, as if one was giving it a quick look; we might conclude these verses have direct reference to the time in history between Christ's death and resurrection. I think there is a degree of truth to that, as Jesus's death commenced some of these events.

Yet other aspects of this chapter lead me to believe it is encompassing a time commencing with; (or rather hearkening back to) the time of the darkening of the sun and moon. (That being "the beginning of the end".)

The first verse speaks of "remember the days of your youth". The "youth" of the "end times" commenced with "the darkening of the sun and moon". Which happened "immediately after the tribulation of those days". The end of "the great tribulation" was the turning point of the "sign" to the cosmos, regarding the accomplishment of the redemption plan having indeed been established. At least in the sense of the wrath of God had been addressed upon the part of the elect. The last enemy still to be overcome though was death. Which that would be realized once the "Sabbath…. created for the son" had come to pass.

Interestingly, a few elements of this chapter could only be materially realized at the "bitter end" of time.

IE: The dust returning to the earth "as it was" (hearkening back to the very beginning when the earth was "without form and void"); the "broken pitcher" and "broken wheel". The necessity to drink the water directly from the fountain. The near "coming to a grinding halt" of those who grind the wheat. The "doors" are "shut up" in the streets. And though this chapter of Ecclesiastes doesn't convey any information about "the two witnesses" being "dead in the streets" that we see in Revelation; the language of the circumstances described, are all of similar flavor.

The most striking though, is the comment about the writing of literally endless books; (This wasn't possible in times past.) and the reference to the use of physical coinage that continues to the very day Christ returns. (The world won't be consumed by digital currency; although it likely will exist in places.)

Buy and sell with the "mark":

Prior to the invention of the Internet and the possibility of digital money; no one would have ever understood the reference to attempting to force the whole world to adhere to a "Great Reset" / social credit score / digital monetary system, means of controlling the masses. As prior to this; there just was no way to not have material coinage.

Now does the reference between "cord of silver" and "broken gold bowl" have some application to the difference between a precious metal backed monetary system and fiat currency? I don't know; and not sure it matters, as a "barter economy" is still a major factor in "the global supply chain".

Also though "cord of silver" and "mining gold from the ground" could be references to "merchandizing the gospel" and those who's "gold" is "tried in a furnace".

Revelation also talks about "golden bowls of wrath". Compare this to "broken golden bowl". Bowls of wrath poured out have difficulty finding much gold left in the "ground" to "refine". (Believers are few and further between the longer time goes on.) Both analogies fit.

The refiner's fire burns off the dross. (Except the chastisement of God upon a believer doesn't fall into the category of vengeance either.) But the fact that there isn't much gold left to refine, also makes sense in the greater gospel context, with shutting up the doors and the grinders are few. (An explanation as to why the "gold bowl" is "broken".)

Now back up a few more verses to "the voice of the bird". "The bird" "departs early" with a "voice (that) calls aloud". This language seems quite familiar to 2 Thessalonians 2:7 which talks about the manifestation of the mystery of iniquity… until (He) be taken out of the way.

I'd written back in the first chapters of END TIMES I; that this appears to be a reference to the Holy Spirit restraining the "mystery of iniquity" from proliferating apostasy in the church to the certain point that He removes Himself and the corporate structure of the church (as the entity that puts forth the proclamation of the gospel) collapses under the weight of the assailing apostasy. This also makes contextual sense in the language of having to drink water straight from the fountain because the "pitcher" is "broken".

This too makes sense in the context of the Holy Spirit being depicted as a dove. "The voice of the departing bird" is accompanied by a "call aloud." Assuming that "call" to be the believers who depart apostate churches following the Spirit's "call".

Well, that was an interesting and unexpected detour! What else can we find?

Isaiah 13:

Well, here's another interesting chapter to "chew on"! It is also describing "the Day of the Lord".

We have several references:

"The burden of Babylon" (burden = "song", "prophecy" or "exhalation"). "Babylon" is told to lift up the voice "to the high mountain", "shake the hand" and "go into the gates of nobles".

God has called His "sanctified ones"; who are "mighty" to be used for the execution of His wrath. (We see similar language in the Book of Ezekiel related to God's wrath upon those who came back from the Babylonian captivity whining about what they miss from Babylon. The servants of God are told to go through the land and slay all those who mourn their Babylonian idols.)

(Interesting.) Although having been literal in times past; is now metaphoric as the "total psy-op" of the current culture war is primarily one of ideologies.

God is "stirring up the host to battle". And the nations of the world are in tumult. God's army comes from "a far country" (the "end of heaven") including "the Lord" (Himself) and the weapons of His indignation to destroy the whole land.

The "Day of the Lord" has come. Mens' hands shall faint, their hearts shall melt and they are all afraid, (in travail like a woman in labor). They are amazed at each other and their faces "are as flames". The Day of the Lord comes with wrath and fierce anger to wipe the wicked from the land.

(At this point the cultural war psy-op is over. The Judge has arrived!)

Verse 10:

ALL… the stars and constellations go dark. The sun is described as "shall be darkened in his going forth". The term "going forth" here means to "go out" or "exit".

This parallels the language that the sun becomes black as sackcloth of hair. (Revelation 6:13) The rest of the verse in Isaiah 13:10 says "the moon shall not cause her light to shine". Revelation says it becomes "blood red".

But Isaiah eludes to the idea that "day light" now ceases to exist. In the context of the book of Revelation though; this is right after the opening of the 6th seal. Revelation 6:14 says the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together. Revelation also describes an earthquake and "all the mountains are moved out of their place". (The planet begins to split apart.) Revelation 7 picks up "someplace back in time" with a different vision.

In the midst of this; Isaiah 13:14 describes all the peoples of the earth "returning to their own people and their own lands".

(Interestingly, that did actually happen in 2020 just as the lockdowns were commencing. There were mass movements of people going back to their own countries to "wait out" the pandemic. Any relevance between Isaiah 13:14 and the closing out of history? I don't know.)

Now back up to Isaiah 13:11 God states He is punishing "all the world for their evil", "the wicked for their iniquity", "the arrogant and the proud" and "lay low the haughtiness of the terrible".

Pointedly distinguished in these conglomerate of verses; there is distinction made between "the wicked arrogant" and "a man" (singular) of more value than gold. He "of greater value than the golden wedge (he which is "marked") of Ophir" (still singular) is clearly a different type of person(s?) than "the wicked".

Assuming because it's in the singular that "the man worth more than gold" is a reference to Christ.

Ophir?

Well, I looked this word up in the Hebrew and there's not much to point us in a direction as to the meaning of the word itself. Being a name (both of a person and place) it's probably of foreign origin. Assuming "gold of Ophir" may have been the place founded by the person first named Ophir. Which conceivably, given the context of the first origin of the word; it might simply mean "place of fine gold"?

Ophir was a son of Joktan. Joktan was the brother of Pelag. (The dividing of the continents post Noah's flood was in the days of Pelag.) They were descendants of Shem. They are assumed to have settled in the "land of Ophir" where Solomon purchased goods from. Solomon sent ships from "the Red Sea" every three years on expeditions to Ophir. He bought gold, sliver, silks, ivory, sandalwood, monkeys, peacocks, precious stones and jewelry from the land of Ophir.

Much speculation over the centuries assumed Ophir was somewhere in the Indian ocean to South East Asia, possibly even as far as the Philippines? (The most plausible place one could get ivory and peacock feathers.) Some Bible commentaries say it was on the Arabian peninsula. But there's also a mountain in Malaysia that is referred to as "Gold mountain" by the Chinese, going back into antiquity; as well as being named "Ophir" (for its abundance of gold) by the British.

There are also rumors that Ophir was in South America and yes, there is even a town from the 1830's gold rush in California named Ophir. (Although North and South America are not likely candidates, despite the Aztecs and Incas did have lots of gold.) To this day, no one is really sure where Ophir was; but assuming things bought or traded; (Ivory, monkeys and peacocks) it was most likely in India or South East Asia.

Back to Isaiah:

13Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

14And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land.

15Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword.

16Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished.

Now verses 14-16 also have parallels in the 1st century. The commencement of the coming of the judgement of God, as related to the atonement began with the incarnation. Of which there also was the point where "everyone fled to their own people and land". Historically that was related to "A decree went out from Augustus Caesar that all the world be taxed."

And on the other end of post ascension, came the destruction of the Old Testament system. Verses 15 and 16 have parallels to what happened during the Roman siege of Jerusalem.

Then when we get down to verse 17 and the "Medes" take over "Babylon"; that also is exactly what happened. The Romans did give Judea to the Greeks and thus why they renamed the area "Palestine".

Yet backing up in history even further than Rome; it is also true that the Medes followed the fall of the Babylonian empire; though obviously, part of Babylon fell to the Persians.

Now will there be any "3rd reference" to this that is still yet to come? (Maybe? I don't know?) Although personally, I see no relation or reason why modern Greece would invade modern political Israel. But in this crazy world; who knows?

Picking up "Babylon" in verses 19-22:

Verse 19 stated that "Babylon" will be "as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah".

Verse 20 insures that "Babylon" will NEVER again be inhabited; even by those who'd be passing through (Arabian nomads or shepherds).

Verses 21 and 22 goes on to describe what will dwell there. (beasts of the desert; doleful creatures = (those that emit expressions of woe); owls; satyrs = (depicted in mythology as demons that look like goats), wild beasts "of the islands" that cry in their desolate houses = (woeful creatures) and dragons in their palaces = (serpent type creatures with long tails.)

Now obviously these are earthly descriptions of demonic activity. The "desolate" cry in their houses and the "dragons" dwell in their palaces. Owls are predatory birds that hunt at night and can see in the dark much better than those they prey on can. (Thus the owl symbolism.)

The owl though too, is depicted as a creature of wisdom; whose ability to see through the darkness is it's advantage. The presence of owls (to see one in the daylight) were believed by the ancients, to be warnings of the near presence of death. (Thus their "wisdom" to be able to see through the darkness.)

So thus the owls in "Babylon" are a warning to the people (generally moral "normies" (depicted here as "Arabian nomads and shepherds") to stay away; for demonic forces are at work in this city.

Interlude:

Well, this chapter is quite long enough and (seeing how it has taken me months to complete this). A lot has happened in my life since I started this chapter. (We moved out of New York State.) And since the next chapter will be transitioning into Revelation 9; here the pause will be inserted. Hopefully, it won't take me another 3 months to finish this stringing together of related passages.

In conclusion though: I'd told this to my son a few days ago when I'd seen the footage of the Oreshnik missile strikes; to be sure he's right with God, because we may see Christ's return any moment now!

I waited to tell him about any of this until the Russians actually did something; as I know Putin has said that he doesn't believe the 2020 election was valid, nor that Biden is actually running the US. Which this may give us all some perspective to Putin's very calculated response. (He didn't go "full nuke" on NATO.)

And since Ukraine and NATO are going to have an emergency meeting on Tuesday; it looks like we're all relatively safe from nuclear armageddon. Or…. at least for this weekend.

As for me, (Provided the sky doesn't split open and time is over!) I have some investigative digging to do into Anthony Blinken: And…. newest development!

Linsey Graham threatening that the US is going to sanction NATO nations for the ICC (International Criminal Court) issuing arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister (Gallant) over what's going on in Gaza. But just incase anyone is offended over that; they also issued an arrest warrant for Mohammad Deif, who is the commander of Hamas.

Wow - just…. wow!