CHRIST OR ANTI-CHRIST

The New Year stands before us

The signs speak loud and clear

The end-time is upon us

The choice you make is here.

The prophets tell of trouble

Of Nations in distress

With war and famines growing

Of death and loneliness.

Ten Nations, Daniel tells us

Will form a single head

And one will try to charm us

By rising from the dead.

The Beast will form a treaty

With Jew and Arabs, too

And all the world will wonder

“Can lasting peace be true?”

Then from the Temple throne

The antichrist will speak

As Armageddon forces

Around Jerusalem meet.

The sun will then grow dimmer

The moon will hide its face

As angels pour out judgment

Upon the human race.

A choice demands an answer

You cannot neutral be

Its either Christ or Satan

That marks your destiny.

B. Pent

IS 2012 OUR LAST YEAR?

THE NEW YEAR LIES BEFORE US
THE SIGNS SPEAK LOUD AND CLEAR
THE END-TIME IS UPON US
THE CHOICE YOU MAKE IS HERE.

THE PROPHETS TELL OF TROUBLE
OF NATIONS IN DISTRESS
WITH WAR AND FAMINES GROWING
OF DEATH AND LONELINESS.

TEN NATIONS, DANIEL TELLS US
WILL FORM A SINGLE HEAD
AND ONE WILL TRY TO CHARM US
BY RISING FROM THE DEAD.

THE BEAST WILL FORM A TREATY
WITH JEWS AND ARABS, TOO
AND ALL THE WORLD WILL WONDER
"CAN LASTING PEACE BE TRUE?"

THEN FROM THE TEMPLE THRONE
THE ANTI-CHRIST WILL SPEAK
AS ARMAGEDDON FORCES
AROUND JERUSALEM MEET.

THE SUN WILL THEN GROW DIMMER
THE MOON WILL HIDE ITS FACE
AS ANGELS POUR OUT JUDGMENT
UPON THE HUMAN RACE.

A CHOICE DEMANDS AN ANSWER
YOU CANNOT NEUTRAL BE
IT'S EITHER CHRIST OR SATAN
THAT MARKS YOUR DESTINY.
--B. Pent

ISRAEL MY GLORY

                 



                    
                DANIEL 9:24-27
WHILE READING JEREMIAH'S SCROLLS
THE PROPHET SENSED THE TIME HAD COME
FOR JUDAH TO BE FREED AT LAST
FROM SOVEREIGN JUDGMENT FOR THEIR PAST.

THROUGH DANIEL'S INTERCESSORY PRAYER
WITH DEEP CONTRITION FOR THEIR GUILT
A BROKEN HEART BEFORE GOD'S THRONE
BECAME THE GIFT THAT WOULD ATONE.

THE ANGEL THEN REVEALED A PLAN
BY USING MULTIPLES OF YEARS
THE TIME OF CURSE WOULD FINALLY END
WITH PROMISED BLESSINGS TO ATTEND.

BEFORE THE CHART COULD BE EXPLAINED
THE ANGEL MADE IT VERY CLEAR
THE DUAL SUBJECTS OF HIS WILL
REFERRED TO JEWS AND ZION'S HILL.

THE WEEKS OF YEARS THAT STRETCHED THROUGH TIME
WILL BRING AN END TO WICKEDNESS
FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL CROWN THE LAND
WHEN GOD'S ANOINTED TAKES HIS STAND.

FOUR HUNDRED EIGHTY THREE LONG YEARS
BEGAN WITH BUILDING ZION'S WALL
BUT WHEN THE PRINCE, MESSIAH CAME
UPON THE CROSS HE HUNG IN SHAME.

THE PROPHET'S CLOCK THEN STOPPED IN TIME
AND SOON ROME'S FORCES CRUSHED "THE LAND."
BUT TWENTY CENTURIES NOW HAVE PAST
YET HATRED FOR THE JEWS STILL LAST.

THEN GOD REVEALED ONE FINAL WEEK
WHEN IN THE MIDST OF WORLD WIDE STRIFE
TEN NATIONS WILL ARISE TO CLAIM
THE KINGDOM ROME ONCE RULED WITH FAME.

THE BEAST WHO'S "LITTLE HORN"APPEARS
WILL BE THE COUNTERFEIT OF CHRIST
WHOSE SIGNS AND WONDERS ON DISPLAY
PROPELS HIM TO BE KING THAT DAY.

A TREATY SIGNED FOR SEVEN YEARS
BETWEEN THE ARABS AND THE JEWS
WILL MARK THE TRIBULATION START
BEFORE ALL NATIONS FALL APART.

THE ANTICHRIST WILL MOVE FROM ROME
AND CLAIM THE TEMPLE FOR HIS THRONE
WITH BROKEN TREATIES NOW IN TWO
HE'LL TRY TO KILL OFF EVERY JEW.

WHILE ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH
ARE GATHERING ON MEGIDDO'S PLAIN
THE WARRIOR KING FROM HEAVEN'S THRONE
WILL MAKE HIS AWESOME PRESENCE KNOWN.

WITH JUST ONE WORD AT HIS COMMAND
THE NATIONS UNDER ANTICHRIST
WILL ALL BE SWEPT FROM EARTH TO HELL
AS HIS PREDICTIONS DO FORETELL.--B. Pent

ZECHARIAH 14 - THE VICTORY OF MESSIAH-KING

THE FINAL ACT UPON LIFE'S STAGE

REVEALS THE BLOODIEST SCENES OF ALL

WHERE DEATH AND CARNAGE, RAPE AND SWORD

ARE MET WITH JUDGMENT FROM THE LORD.

THE ARMIES OF THE WORLD ARE SEEN

AROUND MEGIDDO'S OPEN PLAIN

WHERE REVELATION FORCES MEET

AND SATAN'S PLOT ENDS IN DEFEAT.

AS ANTICHRIST TAKES DAVID'S THRONE

DEMANDING WORSHIP FOR HIS OWN

THE BROKEN COVENANT HE MADE

LEAVES EVERY JEW IN SHOCK AFRAID.

THEN SUDDENLY ALL LIGHTS GROW DIM

THE SUN AND MOON REFUSE TO SHINE

A SPECIAL DAY BURSTS INTO SIGHT

THE BRIDE AND GROOM APPEAR IN WHITE.

THE KING-MESSIAH TAKES HIS STAND

AND WITH ONE BREATH DESTROYS HIS FOES

WHEN EVERY WARRIOR'S FLESH DROPS OFF

IT IS THE LAST OF ISRAEL'S WOES.

THEN SATAN'S REIGN WILL BE REPLACED

A THOUSAND YEARS OF LASTING PEACE

WILL FLOOD THE WORLD FROM ZION'S THRONE

WHERE JESUS CHRIST WILL REIGN ALONE.

JERUSALEM WILL RISE IN HEIGHT

AND ALL THE NATIONS THAT REMAIN

WILL JOIN WITH JEWS TO CELEBRATE

THE PRAISE AND HONOR DUE HIS NAME.

WHEN PROPHECY AND HISTORY MERGE

THE FINAL SCENE WILL END IN TIME

AND HOLINESS WILL BE THE SEAL

BEFORE WHOM EVERYONE WILL KNEEL.

--B. Pent

THOUGHT QUESTIONS

1. Three major events are described in this last chapter: the Great Tribulation invasion of Jerusalem; the destruction of those Nations

attacking her; and, the establishment of Christ's millennial reign. As you read Daniel 9:27, what event triggers this final battle?

2. What are some of the contributing factors leading to the final Armageddon Battle (vs.1-2)?

3. Verse 4 seems to be connected with the seventh bowl judgment of Revelation 16:18-19. Explain! How might this great earthquake help the

Jewish people during this time?

4. The special "day" described in verses 6-7 is identical to the passage in Matthew 24:29-30. What are some of the things that will make this

particular day so uniquely different from other days? What "day" is he describing and why might the Lord want that "day" to be

uniquely different from any other day that has ever existed?

5. Verse 8 describes a river that flows out of Jerusalem. Is that the same as the one described in Isaiah 35:1,6; Ezekiel 47:1-12 and

Psalm 46:1-4? What is your opinion?

6. In summary: what will happen when Jesus returns to earth again? Describe some of the major events. What will happen to the

Antichrist, false prophet and Satan? What part does Israel and the Church play during the Millennial Kingdom? What then should

we live in the light of these world-shaking events?

Zechariah 5:5-11 - THE WOMAN IN A BASKET

THE ANGEL CALLED TO LOOK ON HIGH
TO VIEW SOME OBJECT IN THE SKY
A BASKET WHERE A WOMAN LAY
WAS USED TO PICTURE SIN THAT DAY.

THE PROPHET COULD NOT COMPREHEND
WHAT THIS ODD PICTURE WOULD PORTEND
SO WHEN HE ASKED TO PLEASE EXPLAIN
THE SIN OF BABEL WAS MADE PLAIN.

WAY BACK IN SHINAR'S FERTILE CREST
WHERE MAN REFUSED GOD'S ONE REQUEST
A TOWER OF CONFUSION CAME
AND BABYLON'S PRIDE GAVE BIRTH TO SHAME

THE SIN THIS WOMAN REPRESENTS
IS MAN'S REBELLIOUS WICKEDNESS
THAT SPREAD THROUGH ISRAEL'S HOLY LAND
REPLACING YAHWEH'S MIGHTY HAND.

BUT SOMETHING STRANGE COMES INTO SIGHT
TWO STORK-LIKE BEINGS APPEAR IN FLIGHT
AND TAKES THIS BASKET MADE OF LED
BACK TO THE SERPENT'S EVIL HEAD.

THE FUTURE WHERE THIS DRAMA ENDS
IS FOUND IN JUDGMENT YAHWEH SENDS
WHEN BABYLON IS FOREVER CRUSHED
AND SATAN'S PRIDE IS TURNED TO DUST.
--B. PENT

THOUGHT QUESTIONS

1. SINCE THE FLYING SCROLL REVEALED GOD'S HOLINESS THROUGH THE LENS OF THE MOSAIC LAW, WHAT DOES THE WOMAN IN A BASKET REPRESENT?
2. WHAT MIGHT BE SIGNIFICANT WHEN THE ANGEL "PUSHED THE WOMAN INTO THE BASKET AND THE LED COVER OVER ITS MOUTH?
3. WHEN THERE IS TRUE CONFESSION AND REPENTANCE, HOW DOES GOD TREAT OUR SIN AS PICTURED IN CLOSING THE LED TOP OVER THE WOMAN?
4. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS MEANT BY THE TWO WOMEN WITH STORK-LIKE WINGS TAKING THE BASKED TO BABYLON?
5. WHERE DID SIN ORIGINATE AND WHY IS WICKEDNESS TAKEN BACK TO BABYLON? DOES THE EXPLANATION OF VERSES 7-11 SEEM TO BE FULFILLED IN REVELATION 17-18? WHY OR WHY NOT?

ZECHARIAH 4:1-14 - THE GOLDEN LAMP STAND & OLIVE TREES

THE SECOND SCENE BEGAN THAT DAY
WITH SEVERAL SYMBOLS ON DISPLAY
A SHROUD OF MYSTERY DULLED HIS MIND
LIKE TRYING TO SEE WHEN ALMOST BLIND.

A LAMP STAND WITH A BOWL ON TOP
WAS SEEN WITH SEVEN LIGHTS ABLAZE
AND FROM EACH SIDE AN OLIVE TREE
SUPPLIED THE OIL SO ALL COULD SEE.

I ASKED THE ANGEL TO EXPLAIN
IN WORDS THAT I COULD UNDERSTAND.
HE POINTED TO JEHOVAH'S MIGHT
WITH HIS ANOINTING OIL FOR LIGHT.

THE FRAME THIS PICTURE DID EMBRACE
WAS ISRAEL'S PRESENT BUILDING BASE
WITH DETAILED PLANS HE HAD IN VIEW
FOR JUDAH'S TEMPLE BUILDING CREW.

THEN FROM THE RUINS OF THE PAST
THE SHOUTS OF PRAISES COULD BE HEARD
AS TEMPLE WALLS FELL INTO PLACE
AND HOLY WORSHIP FILLED ITS SPACE.

THERE IS ONE OTHER SECRET THREAD
TWO "SONS OF OIL" RISE FROM THE DEAD
TO STAND ON ISRAEL'S HOLY LAND
BEFORE THIS COSMIC STORY ENDS.

THESE "OLIVE TREES" ST. JOHN DESCRIBED
ARE THOSE THE PROPHET SAW DISGUISED
AS MEN ANOINTED TO PROCLAIM
MESSIAH'S COMING BACK TO REIGN.
--B. PENT

ZECHARIAH 4:1-14 - THE GOLDEN LAMPSTAND & OLIVE TREES

1. AS ZACHARIAH ENCOURAGES THE COMPLETION OF THE TEMPLE, GOD IS PREPARING A HOLY PRIESTHOOD TO SERVE HIM. LOOKING OVER THE 1ST FIVE VISIONS, WHAT PICTURE DO YOU SEE EMERGING FROM A REPENTANT PRIESTHOOD AND CULMINATING IN A CHANGE OF GARMENTS? HOW WOULD THAT PARALLEL THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IN THE LIGHT OF
1 CORINTHIANS 6:19?
2. WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THE LAMPSTANT (MANORAH) IN THE TEMPLE? WHO DOES IT REPRESENT? WHAT IS THE OIL A SYMBOL OF AND WHAT WAS GOD TRYING TO ILLUSTRATE?
3. THERE WAS A PRESENT APPLICATION FULFILLED IN ZERUBBABEL (VS.5-10) AND A FUTURE IMPLIED IN VERSES 11-14 WHERE THE PROPHET ASKS: "WHAT ARE THESE 2 OLIVE TREES?" WITH THE THE ANSWER: "THESE ARE THE 2 WHO ARE ANOINTED TO SERVE THE LORD OF ALL THE EARTH." IN THE LIGHT OF REVELATION 11:3-12, WHO MIGHT HE BE SPEAKING ABOUT AND WHEN?

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT - Matt.5:10-12

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will also hurt me! In fact, they often hurt worse! That is why God puts gossip and slander along with murder and adultery. But how are we to respond to the persecution that Jesus outlines in the Beatitudes? Well, like any school teacher, there are times when a quiz or a test is important to see what we are learning and how we are progressing. I think that is precisely what Jesus has in mind in Matthew 5:10-12.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness...blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all manner of evil against you because of me." So why do we go through times of testing? Jesus makes it clear that these come to strengthen our faith (I Peter 1:7-8) It is God's refining fire! When we avoid testing, we infect those round about us and fail in the school of discipleship. Our surrender to Jesus Christ calls for a stand against evil. We are in a battle against Satanic forces that are out to defeat us as Christians and to keep the lost in his grip.

It is interesting that the word "tribulation" comes from the Latin word "tribulum" which was a threshing instrument separating the wheat from the chaff. Paul states in 2 Timothy 3:12 that "the godly in Christ will suffer persecution." God sends trials so that the chaff of self can be torn off from the pure grain of Christ likeness. So don't run from trials but as James 1:2-4 states: "consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance...so that you may be mature and complete."

Jesus concludes His Beatitudes (v.12) by telling us that we are to "rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven." That is also how James 1:12 puts it: "blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, that God has promised." So allow life's testing to make you more like Jesus and let His fullness be reflected through your submission to the will of God. It will be worth it all when we see Jesus!