Rods from God
Friday, April 23, 2010 at 11:26AM
It sounds like the stuff of science fiction – ray guns, lasers and death rays from outer space – but it is not. It is real.
Yesterday, April 22nd, the United States Air Force launched a secret earth-orbiting vehicle intended for military purposes. But the details and mission are, of course, classified as top secret. It is said to be experimental. Maybe it is. Maybe it is not. After all, the art of war is all about deception. (YouTube video of actual Atlas launch and animation of deployment.)
But it is no secret that since the 1950’s scientists in the United States have been working on space based weaponry (not necessarily nuclear) but literal Star Wars stuff – kinetic energy and lasers. The use of kinetic energy directed from low Earth orbit has been dubbed rods from God. Supposedly, the actual development of kinetic weapons is still a few years off. Maybe that is true and maybe it is not.
Also, this year the Boeing Company successfully tested the first airplane-mounted laser beam. It has the capability of destroying a missile just as soon as it leaves the launch pad – almost instantaneously. Remember, lasers are just a form of intense light and light travels at 186,000 miles per second. That is pretty darn fast. It is the intent of the US military to mount lasers on navy ships in order to protect them from supersonic missiles, such as the Sunburn missile that Russia and China have developed and rumored to have sold to Iran, which has been thought to be the great neutralizer of U.S. naval superiority. Sunburn cruise missiles streak above the ground at Mach 3, which is three times the speed of sound, over 2,000 miles an hour, and if fired from close range can strike a vessel before the radar operator can even blink. Ship mounted laser beams effectively nullify supersonic weaponry.
Will these weapons ever be used in warfare? Yes, absolutely! How do we know? Consider prophecy: The prophet Daniel was given a vision of a great military force – a great war. The prophet did not write down the details of what he saw, but he was apparently stunned, staggered and appalled at the vision he experienced. Daniel was so overwhelmed by the glimpse of the future he had been given that he went into mourning and did not eat for three weeks afterwards. (Daniel 10:1-3) Eventually, two angels appeared to Daniel and revealed to him the details of the conclusion of the epical conflict between the king of the north and south.
The book of Revelation portrays a two-horned wild beast that ascends out of the earth. It is said to have appeared as inoffensive as a lamb but began speaking as a dragon. The dragon, of course, symbolizes Satan the Devil. The ascension of the two-horned beast up from the earth has not occurred yet. Its rising up from the earth must signify its levitation from the abyss of oblivion, as is portrayed in the 11th and 17th chapters of Revelation.
After the beast miraculously recovers from its fall into the abyss, it will authoritatively order all of mankind to make an image of the wild beast that had received the sword stroke and yet revive.
The image of the wild beast will likely be the revived United Nations, which will then become a global government. The slaughtering of the seventh head of the wild beast signifies the end of the nation-state system and the termination of the relatively benevolent form of republican government. The two-horned wild beast speaking as a dragon symbolizes the tyrannical nature the Anglo-American world power will assume in the aftermath of its near-death experience. To enforce its dragon-like authority, the two-horned wild beast makes fire fall out of the sky in the sight of mankind. What does it mean that the beast will cause fire to fall from the sky? Connect the dots. It ain’t rocket science…uh…let me rephrase that…
The developing situation reminds me of the last scene of the cartoonish, yet, at times profound, Time Bandits, (YouTube Trailer) where they try to eradicate the Devil with bow and arrow, guns, tanks and lasso. The Devil then turns their weapons on them, so that they are shooting at each other. In the confusion and chaos one of the little fellows exclaims: 'Hey, we don't control these weapons any more,' to which the Devil appropriately retorts: "Of course not you silly little man! I do!"
Jehovah's judgment is that the nations shall be forced to experience the ultimate horror as a consequence for using their best and brightest to develop more effective ways for killing each other. At the coming of Christ the desperate and infuriated demons will be forced to destroy their own world. In that respect their "rods of God" weaponry is aptly named. Ultimately, their destruction will be from God.
Jehovah's judgments are discussed in greater detail in the book Jehovah Himself Has Become King - A Primer for the Apocalypse.
ADDENDUM
A comment was made on this blog entry which I would like to address here for the benefit of those who may not be inclined to read the comments. The commenter stated: "But without making any of our own assumptions,the Bible does not say that the two horned beast "like a lamb" is ever to fall into or ascend out of the abyss, but only to come up out of the earth. I understand your calculation or assumption, but adding words to the book, could lead us to conclusions that might be inaccurate."
My comment in response: That is a valid observation. The Scriptures do not explicitly state that the two-horned beast falls into an abyss, only that it ascends up from the earth. But what does it signify, this coming up out of the earth? That is the important question.
The Watchtower makes no connection to the two-horned beast ascending up from the earth and the seven-headed beast that ascends from the abyss. The question is: Why not? Keep in mind that the word "abyss" is used in a variety of ways in the Bible. In the Hebrew Scriptures an abyss usually refers to a great body of water, which the NWT translates as "watery deep."
"Abyss" may also be used as a metaphor to describe a condition of complete isolation in a deathlike state. For example, Satan is to be thrown into an abyss, from where he will not be able to influence mankind for a thousand years. But "abyss" may also be used in reference to the earth, to a literal human grave. For instance, at Romans 10:7 Paul asked: "Who will descend into the abyss, that is, to bring Christ up from the dead?"
By its usage in the Bible an abyss is simply an unfathomable depth or vast chasm, be it watery, earthly or symbolic, such as being in an inescapable condition.
With that in mind, although Revelation 13:11 does not use the word "abyss," the imagery is the same. The Kingdom Interlinear uses an interesting expression to transliterate the passage. It refers to the two-horned beast "stepping up out of the earth." That would seem to suggest that the beast comes up from a state of non-existence, as if coming back from the dead, from the grave. That being the case it does not seem to be an over stretch to connect the beast coming up from the depths of the earth with the occasion when the seven-headed beast recovers from its "fatal wound," as the NIV renders it, which is also portrayed in the 17th chapter of Revelation as ascending from the abyss.
The crucial focus of the 13th chapter of Revelation is the fatal wounding of the head of the beast. Everything else related in that portion of the Apocalypse reveals what will transpire after the beast recovers from its wound. It is in that context that the two-horned beast steps up out of the earth and begins speaking as a dragon. So, while Revelation does not explicitly state that the two-horned beast plunges into the abyss, it does reveal that the head of the beast will be fatally struck and then recover. As can be scripturally demonstrated, the seven heads of the wild beast rule consecutively, not in unison. That means that the head which is destined to receive the mortal blow and ultimately give rise to the eighth and final king, must be the seventh head. The two-horned beast coming up from the earth must symbolize the recovery of the seventh head. This would be in keeping with the fact that the prophecy in the seventh chapter of Daniel portrays the ruling heads of the seven-headed beast as individual beasts.
Obviously, the Anglo-American dual world power has been in the dominate position for some time now, but Revelation only concerns itself with it after the beast emerges to demand that the world make an image of the seven-headed beast. For that reason, though, it is reasonable to assume that the beast existed prior to its emergence from the depths of the earth.
Not Jehovah's Witnesses official website
Reader Comments (24)
Very eye opening material , We are in a secret arms race , even more secret than when they were developing the atomic bomb.The thing is that they are using things that really only Jehovah understands completly , kinda like an ignorant person who says I wonder what will happen if we mix these volatile substances together ,it can't hurt! YEA RIGHT! With a little research people can find out that thru the laws of the land people CAN be experimented on without their knowledge. Then you have the USAF documents that boast of owning the weather in 2025 , prsonally I believe they are alredy 99% complete
But without making any of our own assumptions,the Bible does not say that the two horned beast "like a lamb" is ever to fall into or ascend out of the abyss, but only to come up out of the earth.
I understand your calculation or assumption, but adding words to the book, could lead us to conclusions that might be inacurate.
This seems to tie in with a Radio show I was listening to recently, where they said that Israel seemed to be preparing for war, that there was an unusually high presence of military preperation on a scale not seen before. Who knows what they'll use in their desperation to even instigate war from above? were living in very fearful times indeed.
This was a very interesting post and none of us knows exactly how this will be played out in the near future, but I think that the death stroke has already occurred to the seventh King (the anglo-americans) in the financial crisis that has recently occurred and continues. It was a damaging stroke and it appeared as if the system under the anglo-americans would die (crumble), but they have revived (if only as a fraudulant recovery) and they will finally die when the powers over the mountain of the counterfeit Kingdom decide to finally pull the plug. A third world war and Marshall Law in the U.S. (one foot of the image in Daniel 2) will do the trick (perhaps even something similar in the U.K. the other foot of the image of Daniel 2) and this could very well be a false flag terror event in the U.S. blamed on "homegrown patriots" who in reality are not prone to violence, but that is the way they are being portrayed in mainstream media today. They will be blamed for the nuclear terror and we will be introduced to the 8th King of Daniel which will set up a Kingdom that will fill the earth. Happily, this 8th King will last for only a short while, until destroyed by the Kingdom of God.
So the stone that is cut out of the mountain that destroys the 7th king is this final plot to replace the 7th King with a world government. Jesus kingdom is not cut out of the mountain of this system. Jesus Kingdom will destroy "the 10 Kings" that will be set up over mankind and then it will be set up over mankind and will never be brought to ruin.
It is in the "days of those kings" (Daniel 2:44, Rev. 17:12) that the God of Heaven will set up a Kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. The kingdom of God is not the stone cut out of the mountain. The stone that is cut out of the mountain (of Satan's system) will be the plot that brings down the 7th King in a way that the sheeple of the earth can be conned into giving thier worship and devotion to the 8th King represented in some way by "the 10 KIngs".
This will be a truely horrible time, but it will be evidence that our deliverance is near. Come Lord Jesus!
uglyandthin
yeah just at a time when Obama has agreed with russia for a reduction in WMD.
they are speaking lies by heralding that they are reducing amounts of wmd, because they have new ones to play with?
elihu
uglyandthin ,
I just seen your concern regarding your question "Jonah" - that nobody gave a Scriptural answer !
it is Jehovah who gaves all the necesarry answers - He Who interpret His own Word !
you will find the answer by cliking on my signature right- below
(try to translate it , or, at least read the Biblical texts)
(please hurry up to read before "watchman" will delete this message)
Rus Virgil
I deleted your other post because you linked to some guy with a website in Romania whom you claim receives his info straight from Jehovah's mouth. I am not going to allow that crap on my forum. I allowed this post to stay because I removed the link. I say go peddle your wares somewhere else.
Thank you Watchman,
you have the right to do - in your own house - whatever you want to (and I agree with this right )
I treat you as a real "Watchman" , so ,
your responsability is , to be receptive to any word which proceede out of "Jehovah's mouth" , that is , to any enlightement from God's word , come through the Holy Spirit ,
and to anounce it to the people of Jehovah and to help them to understand it .
Jehovah is our Judge , and...He will recompense...
" For the LORD [Jehovah] is a God of recompense,
He will fully repay. " Jeremiah 51:56 NASB
So , regarding you , the inspired words are effective
Ruth 2
12. "May the LORD reward your work, and your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel,
(under whose wings you have come to seek refuge. ) "
Greetings,
rus virgil
Robert
I responded to your comment in an addendum to the blog entry.
watchman
The beast that comes out of the earth is definitely not an updated version of the so-called Anglo-American king that revives after receiving a death stroke. The composite beast that comes up out of the sea emerges unto the world scene during the great tribulation. The tribulation is a definite amount of time amounting to 1335 days. (Daniel 12:1,12) At this juncture events are unfolding that will lead to the tribulation, but we are not there yet. That is why they are so much speculation going on. These speculations will mean nothing, zero, once the tribulation starts.
Claude, here is the deal, again. I have told you, repeatedly, I am not going to allow the comments feature to become your personal blog. Join the forum if you wish, but this is not going to be your soapbox. As I have stated already, I will allow you one comment per entry of mine. That's it. Not an essay. A comment. I am tired of messing with you. Next time you enter more than one comment I am not only going to tear it down, I am going to ban you from commenting altogether.
watchman
This sandbox is getting too serious. Relax everyone and let's hear all the thoughts and side of the story. I think we need to pay attention to what watchman is saying, but I do not mind a few side comments...it keeps us testing our own faith and helps us all make sense of it all. Even the Angels probably do a little bantering back and forth once in a while.
Be careful not to stumble the weak..but ironically how else are we tested?
Do I make sense or am I completely mad..lol.
HI Stinger
I allow comments. However, I do not think it is a heathy thing to allow one person to dominate every blog entry. Claude has been doing this for years, going back to the first e-watchman blog I set up. He used to spam me with emails to the point I had to block him. I have asked him repeatedly not to post so much. He has refused to respect my wishes. Now I have to play tough guy. Maybe that's what he wants. I don't know. I feel like he is stalking me. He wouldn't be the first.
watchman
Yes, I am already aware of your calculation. So I repeat my comment .
Adding to the word of God in order to make your assumptions more accurate is dangerous in my opinion.
And I certainly think I have God's spirit.
Rev 22:18 ¶ For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book.
Robert
Apparently you do not understand the very verse you are quoting. Interpreting the meaning of God's word does not equate to adding to God's word. The WT has published reams of prophetic interpretation over the past century. Does that mean the WT has added to God's word? No. Neither is my work adding to the word of God. True, adding 2+2 is simple addition, but it is not adding to the Word that already exists.
watchman
There is no question that the WT has published reams of prophetic [mis]interpretation over the century. This is true of religious organizations in general. God will be the judge of that. That is why he is only going to choose and seal 144,000 servant prophets immediately prior to the tribulation to gather the great crowd. Anyone else during the 1260 days of their prophesying in connection with the symbolic two witnesses will be found guilty of adding to God’s Word. It is obvious that this judgment will fall during the tribulation, a time when Jesus is “bearing witness to everyone that hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll.” It is within this context that Jesus said:
“I am bearing witness to everyone that hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone makes an addition to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this scroll; and if anyone takes anything away from the words of the scroll of this prophecy, God will take his portion away from the trees of life and out of the holy city, things which are written about in this scroll.
If the Two horned beast were the same as the seventh head, then it would even more so ascend out of the abyss.
But it does not.
It ascends out of the earth.
It is the seven headed beast, the eight king, that ascends out of the abyss.
Although the WT has plenty of theories, I do not know of any instance where they replace the word of God with their own words, although their translation is pretty faulty in places.
The word of God does not need to be added to.Nor subtracted from.
The word of God is life and is purified seven times.
And although every man is a liar and opportunist, God's word will be proved true.
Heaven and earth shall pass away , but my words shall not pass away.
But if you prefer to go on in error, go ahead.
It is like a man trying to put the pieces of a puzzle together.
When he becomes frustrated and has no patience, he pulls out the scissors
thinking the factory made an error.
But this is far more serious. It is the Word of God you are messing with.
Where did you learn this disrespect? Or is it just thoroughly a part of you?
In the 13th chapter of Revelation, the beast with seven heads that looks like a leopard ascends out of the sea. This is a crisis government that will form at the beginning of the tribulation. The beast that comes out of the earth that looks like a lamb is the 8th king. He will parallel Nebuchadnezzar during the appointed time of the end or the tribulation. He will set up an image of the leopard-like beast, just like Nebuchadnezzar set up an image of the colossal metallic man on the plain of Dura requiring everyone to worship it under pain of death. Daniel’s three Hebrew companions did not succumb to the decree of the king to fall down and do an act of worship to the image. Their faith is recorded in the Bible for our benefit.
I don’t understand: because Roberts understanding that the (two horned beast) is the same as the (eighth king) (or two entities of the same principle); and that Revelation explains in one verse it comes from an (abyssal existence) and in a different verse it (rises from the earth) he has added to the word of the scripture?
Is that what you’re saying Robert not to be confused with Robert (watchman)
Brian. That is not my understanding. Look at the name under the comment. It is not me.
Let's not complicate things shall we?
Pro 30:6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Pro 30:6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
This has been the point from he very beginning.
And God is the one telling you this. LISTEN!
But the world is full of flagrant violations of things Holy, isnt it.
And it will recieve it's reward.
The head that sustained a mortal blow is the 6th head representing the Roman Empire. This empire was later transformed into the Holy Roman Empire when Constantine fused Christianity with Rome’s imperial powers.
From 538 C.E. it held sway the kings of Europe for over twelve centuries until the mortal blow was administered in 1798, effectively ending papal rule over Continental Europe. This fatally wounded head has been undergoing a healing process since the signing of the Lateran Treaty of 1929. It will be completely healed by the time the leopard-like beast ascends out of the sea at the onset of the great tribulation.
All seven blasphemous religious heads will then be positioned on the world scene to dictate laws and statutes for implementation by civil authorities, as represented by the crowns on the ten horns of this composite beast.
Since the Vatican has diplomatic relations with nearly every other nation on earth, we may expect the Pope to take the lead in a world-wide effort to restore order during a time of global crisis through the United Nations. We saw a miniature example of this after the 9/11 attacks.
However, man’s effort to restore peace and security will not succeed, as only God’s kingdom can bring true peace and security.
does anyone know that the 12 tribes of Rev. 14 do NOT match the original 12 tribes of Israel, Jacobs sons ???? Why is "Manasseh" mentioned, is it to indicate that this number, iIS NOT LITERAL, and can someone explain why most of Revelation is symbolic, except for numbers maybe, BUT
seriously, do we all believe that only 144,000 since PENTECOST ???? most in the last century??? from the work of our EVIL SLAVE Presidents, e.g. Pastor Charles T. Russell, 33rd degree FREEMASON (check out gravesite ' with MASONIC
E in
the background......Pyramidology anyone ???? then Rutherfords "take-over" of I.B.S.A. the 1914 date continues to
defraud the masses & misleads them into the Gt Tribulation...
Hopefully, the tactful way our Bro. Robert King, has written his 'blogs' will soften many thousands of J.W.'s hearts and
allow them to RETURN to YHWH, repenting in sackcloth