chapter seven The Falling Away
Our need-to-know God’s Truth in order to recognise error, to know the genuine from the counterfeit, is vitally important as Satan is the ultimate copy-cat. Throughout earth’s history Satan has deceived through mimicry, with the Trinity being usurped by the “dragon”, the “beast” and the “false profit” (Rev 16:13) encapsulating this understanding.
In Hebrews 12:26, the Apostle Paul writes…
“When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.”
God, just as at Mount Sinai where “his voice shook the earth”, promises that he will “once again” do the same and more. Is it therefore not reasonable to consider that Satan may attempt to counterfeit this event?
In Revelation chapter eight we are introduced to the “seven angels” with the “seven trumpets” as they “prepared themselves to sound” (v6). These “trumpets” can be considered “plagues” (Rev 9:20) or “woes” upon the earth (Rev 8:13) and signify the progressive darkness that is consuming the people of earth.
Many theologians hold to many interpretations, including the perspective that the first 6 trumpets have already been blown. Historically, prophetically in ‘type’, I believe this could be so.
The first two trumpets signify events that Satan is being allowed to perpetrate upon the world, in preparation for his final deception as Christ. They are an entrapment on Satan’s part, with progressive devastation eventually leading to a seeming time of enlightenment. A narrative much to the tune of the Greek mythology of the Phoenix rising from its own ashes. But, more importantly, they are trumpets of warning from God, and we should take heed. “The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.” Revelation 8:7
The term “green grass” is used only one other time in the Bible...
“Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass... and they did all eat, and were filled.” Mark 6:39,42
These “groups” of people, God’s Churches, were fed by Jesus upon the “green grass” that day. Sadly, this “green grass”, this place of gathering, will be taken from us.
Just as we witnessed during Covid lockdowns, but with greater severity, our ability to gather in worship, sitting together upon the “green grass”, feeding upon the Word, will soon be taken, as “all green grass” is “burnt up” (Rev 8:7).
I propose that this first trumpet is now sounding, in which the “third part of trees” (referring to people of nations, Judges 9:8-15) points to the de-population agenda that is now occurring, seen by increased excess mortality rates in countries world-wide (excess deaths), and will be greatly ramped up soon when the world encounters its first true pandemic, perhaps with mortality rates like that of a Marburg outbreak. A pandemic that Bill Gates and the World Health Organisation has been preparing for and negotiating to force their control through the WHO Pandemic Treaty.
I speculate that it will be through such a deadly pandemic, mingled with world war, that Satan will bring the world to its knees, forcing the global changes needed to move the masses into the city centres, in readiness for the second trumpet.
As tragic as the coming years may be, as nation rises “against nation, and kingdom against kingdom”, with “famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes” (Mat 24:7), Jesus declares... “All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Revelation 24:8
In Revelation 8:8, when the “second angel” sounds his trumpet, John sees…
“…as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea...”
In Genesis 1:10, we are taught that the “waters that were gathered together” God “called seas”. With this understanding, it’s a reasonable application of Revelation 17:15 to suggest that the symbolic word “sea” in Revelation 8:8 is referring also to “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues”, who have been “gathered together”.
There is only one other biblical reference to a “mountain burning with fire”, which points us to God at Mount Sinai, where “the mountain burned with fire” and the “LORD spake... out of the midst of the fire” and declared “His covenant” - His “ten commandments” (Deut 4:11-14).
At Mount Sanai Moses said to the people,
“And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders; And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.” Deuteronomy 5:23,24
Continuing to leave aside the ‘how’, could it be possible that Satan may orchestrate, with the help of deceived mankind, an event by which the multitudes on earth believe they have all witnessed God’s “glory and his greatness” (Deut 5:23)?
“And the LORD spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no form; you only heard a voice.” Deuteronomy 4:12
Though you may think it rather speculative at this point in your reading, here-in-lies a possible counterfeit event, in all its spectacle, that would leave the world believing they had missed the rapture (or similar despair), and that God had revealed himself audibly from the heavens. We’ll discuss shortly what Satan may speak to the people in his guise as God, confidently knowing that it would entail elements of his law, just as God spoke the ten commandments at Mount Sinai. But to be clear, such an event would not include the final manifestation of Satan on earth posing as Christ, rather it would be preparatory in nature for his soon appearance.
This understanding, that such an event would unite the world, gathering “together” the “waters” and preparing mankind to accept the appearance of Satan as Christ, is seen in Revelation 13, whereby the visual spectacle of “fire” coming “down from heaven... in the sight of men”(v13) deceives the world by “saying to them” that they “should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live”(v14).
“…he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do…” Revelation 13:13,14
In preparation for Satan’s manifestation as Christ on earth, the world is deceived into not only making an “image to the beast”, but eventually enforcing that “as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed” (Rev 13:15).
As to the identity of the “beast” and his “image”, we will be discussing this in more detail soon. But what is clear, and the point of this chapter to clarify, is that this event, that is symbolised by “fire” coming “down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men” (Rev 13:13), will unite the world in the “worship” of the “image of the beast”, and not yet direct worship of Satan as Christ.
Within the occult channelled writings of Alice A. Bailey, this period is referred to as the “first stage of the externalisation of the Hierarchy” (Bailey, Ex. Hier. p530), whereby the “externalisation of the hierarchy” refers to Satan’s final manifestation as Christ.
This “first stage”, according to Bailey, will be a period prior to Satan’s manifestation as Christ where the world will be united under the “Church Universal”. As we further identify the “first beast” of Revelation 13, we’ll see how this occult teaching squarely aligns with biblical prophecy.
“This Church will be nurtured into activity by the Christ [Satan] and His disciples when the outpouring of the Christ [Satan] principle, the true second coming, has been accomplished.” Bailey, Ex. Hier. p.450
Just as God at Mount Sinai established His Law and demonstrated to the people his “glory and greatness”, Satan will also, in all probability, speak “out of the midst of the fire” and deceive “them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles”. Thus, bringing the world together in the “worship of the image of the beast”, united under the “Church Universal”. This is what Bailey refers to as the “true second coming”, in that it is the moment when the world seemingly is given definitive proof of the existence of God, though it is not yet Satan’s time of manifestation.
Again, with the understanding that Satan is the ultimate copy-cat, we have testimony of God giving His people the same definitive proof at Mount Carmel, as “fire of the LORD fell and consumed the sacrifice” (1 Kings 18:38).
“And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.” 1 Kings 18:39
There is much to be gained through our understanding of Elijah’s experience regarding the progression of end-time events, to which we’ll continue to discuss, but for now, to be clear, I’m proposing that God’s Word teaches us that the second “trumpet” of Revelation 8:8 and the “fire” coming “down from heaven” in Revelation 13:13 are the same event soon to come.
If such an event should occur, those who do not deny their senses and stand firm on the Word of God, loving the truth, will be led to “believe a lie” (2 Thess 2:11) and, through the deceptive spectacle and seemingly undeniable hearing of the voice of God, the world will be convinced that they have mis-understood the Bible, thus turning their backs on its Truth.
I believe this is the “falling away” spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2:3kjv.
The Greek word apostasia, which is often rendered as “falling away”, “rebellion” or “apostacy” in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, is often rendered as “turn away” or “forsake” in Acts 21:21. This is in essence Satan’s plan, to cause mankind to “forsake” God’s Word, through one grand deceptive display, thus killing God’s “two witnesses”, who are the personification of the Old and New Testaments (which we’ll discuss next), and leaving a “famine” as prophesied in Amos 8:11...
“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD”
It’s vital not to deceive ourselves into thinking that we know what such an event may look like when “fire” falls “down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men” (Rev 13:13), for God has not revealed such detail in His Word. We can, however, understand that God’s Word warns of such deception and, though we now only “know in part” (1Cor 13:12), we can be assured that... “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20✞----------------------------
In Hebrews 12:26, the Apostle Paul writes…
“When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.”
God, just as at Mount Sinai where “his voice shook the earth”, promises that he will “once again” do the same and more. Is it therefore not reasonable to consider that Satan may attempt to counterfeit this event?
In Revelation chapter eight we are introduced to the “seven angels” with the “seven trumpets” as they “prepared themselves to sound” (v6). These “trumpets” can be considered “plagues” (Rev 9:20) or “woes” upon the earth (Rev 8:13) and signify the progressive darkness that is consuming the people of earth.
Many theologians hold to many interpretations, including the perspective that the first 6 trumpets have already been blown. Historically, prophetically in ‘type’, I believe this could be so.
The first two trumpets signify events that Satan is being allowed to perpetrate upon the world, in preparation for his final deception as Christ. They are an entrapment on Satan’s part, with progressive devastation eventually leading to a seeming time of enlightenment. A narrative much to the tune of the Greek mythology of the Phoenix rising from its own ashes. But, more importantly, they are trumpets of warning from God, and we should take heed. “The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.” Revelation 8:7
The term “green grass” is used only one other time in the Bible...
“Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass... and they did all eat, and were filled.” Mark 6:39,42
These “groups” of people, God’s Churches, were fed by Jesus upon the “green grass” that day. Sadly, this “green grass”, this place of gathering, will be taken from us.
Just as we witnessed during Covid lockdowns, but with greater severity, our ability to gather in worship, sitting together upon the “green grass”, feeding upon the Word, will soon be taken, as “all green grass” is “burnt up” (Rev 8:7).
I propose that this first trumpet is now sounding, in which the “third part of trees” (referring to people of nations, Judges 9:8-15) points to the de-population agenda that is now occurring, seen by increased excess mortality rates in countries world-wide (excess deaths), and will be greatly ramped up soon when the world encounters its first true pandemic, perhaps with mortality rates like that of a Marburg outbreak. A pandemic that Bill Gates and the World Health Organisation has been preparing for and negotiating to force their control through the WHO Pandemic Treaty.
I speculate that it will be through such a deadly pandemic, mingled with world war, that Satan will bring the world to its knees, forcing the global changes needed to move the masses into the city centres, in readiness for the second trumpet.
As tragic as the coming years may be, as nation rises “against nation, and kingdom against kingdom”, with “famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes” (Mat 24:7), Jesus declares... “All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Revelation 24:8
In Revelation 8:8, when the “second angel” sounds his trumpet, John sees…
“…as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea...”
In Genesis 1:10, we are taught that the “waters that were gathered together” God “called seas”. With this understanding, it’s a reasonable application of Revelation 17:15 to suggest that the symbolic word “sea” in Revelation 8:8 is referring also to “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues”, who have been “gathered together”.
There is only one other biblical reference to a “mountain burning with fire”, which points us to God at Mount Sinai, where “the mountain burned with fire” and the “LORD spake... out of the midst of the fire” and declared “His covenant” - His “ten commandments” (Deut 4:11-14).
At Mount Sanai Moses said to the people,
“And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders; And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.” Deuteronomy 5:23,24
Continuing to leave aside the ‘how’, could it be possible that Satan may orchestrate, with the help of deceived mankind, an event by which the multitudes on earth believe they have all witnessed God’s “glory and his greatness” (Deut 5:23)?
“And the LORD spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no form; you only heard a voice.” Deuteronomy 4:12
Though you may think it rather speculative at this point in your reading, here-in-lies a possible counterfeit event, in all its spectacle, that would leave the world believing they had missed the rapture (or similar despair), and that God had revealed himself audibly from the heavens. We’ll discuss shortly what Satan may speak to the people in his guise as God, confidently knowing that it would entail elements of his law, just as God spoke the ten commandments at Mount Sinai. But to be clear, such an event would not include the final manifestation of Satan on earth posing as Christ, rather it would be preparatory in nature for his soon appearance.
This understanding, that such an event would unite the world, gathering “together” the “waters” and preparing mankind to accept the appearance of Satan as Christ, is seen in Revelation 13, whereby the visual spectacle of “fire” coming “down from heaven... in the sight of men”(v13) deceives the world by “saying to them” that they “should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live”(v14).
“…he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do…” Revelation 13:13,14
In preparation for Satan’s manifestation as Christ on earth, the world is deceived into not only making an “image to the beast”, but eventually enforcing that “as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed” (Rev 13:15).
As to the identity of the “beast” and his “image”, we will be discussing this in more detail soon. But what is clear, and the point of this chapter to clarify, is that this event, that is symbolised by “fire” coming “down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men” (Rev 13:13), will unite the world in the “worship” of the “image of the beast”, and not yet direct worship of Satan as Christ.
Within the occult channelled writings of Alice A. Bailey, this period is referred to as the “first stage of the externalisation of the Hierarchy” (Bailey, Ex. Hier. p530), whereby the “externalisation of the hierarchy” refers to Satan’s final manifestation as Christ.
This “first stage”, according to Bailey, will be a period prior to Satan’s manifestation as Christ where the world will be united under the “Church Universal”. As we further identify the “first beast” of Revelation 13, we’ll see how this occult teaching squarely aligns with biblical prophecy.
“This Church will be nurtured into activity by the Christ [Satan] and His disciples when the outpouring of the Christ [Satan] principle, the true second coming, has been accomplished.” Bailey, Ex. Hier. p.450
Just as God at Mount Sinai established His Law and demonstrated to the people his “glory and greatness”, Satan will also, in all probability, speak “out of the midst of the fire” and deceive “them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles”. Thus, bringing the world together in the “worship of the image of the beast”, united under the “Church Universal”. This is what Bailey refers to as the “true second coming”, in that it is the moment when the world seemingly is given definitive proof of the existence of God, though it is not yet Satan’s time of manifestation.
Again, with the understanding that Satan is the ultimate copy-cat, we have testimony of God giving His people the same definitive proof at Mount Carmel, as “fire of the LORD fell and consumed the sacrifice” (1 Kings 18:38).
“And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.” 1 Kings 18:39
There is much to be gained through our understanding of Elijah’s experience regarding the progression of end-time events, to which we’ll continue to discuss, but for now, to be clear, I’m proposing that God’s Word teaches us that the second “trumpet” of Revelation 8:8 and the “fire” coming “down from heaven” in Revelation 13:13 are the same event soon to come.
If such an event should occur, those who do not deny their senses and stand firm on the Word of God, loving the truth, will be led to “believe a lie” (2 Thess 2:11) and, through the deceptive spectacle and seemingly undeniable hearing of the voice of God, the world will be convinced that they have mis-understood the Bible, thus turning their backs on its Truth.
I believe this is the “falling away” spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2:3kjv.
The Greek word apostasia, which is often rendered as “falling away”, “rebellion” or “apostacy” in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, is often rendered as “turn away” or “forsake” in Acts 21:21. This is in essence Satan’s plan, to cause mankind to “forsake” God’s Word, through one grand deceptive display, thus killing God’s “two witnesses”, who are the personification of the Old and New Testaments (which we’ll discuss next), and leaving a “famine” as prophesied in Amos 8:11...
“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD”
It’s vital not to deceive ourselves into thinking that we know what such an event may look like when “fire” falls “down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men” (Rev 13:13), for God has not revealed such detail in His Word. We can, however, understand that God’s Word warns of such deception and, though we now only “know in part” (1Cor 13:12), we can be assured that... “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20✞----------------------------