"Now we entreat you, brethren, touching the coming of our Savior Yahshua the Messiah, and our gathering together to him; to the end that you be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by letter as from us, as that the day of Yahweh is just at hand; let no man beguile you in any wise: for, except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, he that opposes and exalts himself against all that is called Elohim or that is worshiped; so that he sits in the temple of Elohim, setting himself forth as Elohim. Don’t you remember, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now you know that which restrains, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season. For the mystery of lawlessness already works: only there is one that restrains now, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Sovereign Yahshua shall consume with the breath of his mouth, and annihilate by the manifestation of his coming; even he, whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and wonders of falsehood, and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause Yahweh sends them a working of error, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thessalonians 2:1–13).

The world news today hardly gives us cause for much optimism. A negotiated political settlement in the Persian Gulf war action virtually disappeared over the past decade as the United States government had to maintain a strong military presence in the Middle East. The number of military personnel stationed there remains high as the United States and England continue to patrol the two "no-fly" zones over Iraq.

Meanwhile the world economy slips ever closer to disaster. The giants of the world economy, the United States, Japan, and Germany all have developed serious economic problems. The Germans spent upwards of a trillion dollars upon the reunification of their country. Japan has seen its financial sector encounter great difficulties after 40 years of uninterrupted expansion with even a zero interest rate in the hope of stimulating its economy. The United States government took a very negative step when the government raised taxes and continued spending, while Mexico, our neighbor to the south, dramatically devalued its peso in a virtual collapse of their economy. Recently, the new American administration obtained a tax rebate legislation, but will this be enough to stimulate our lagging economy? It seems that only China is faring well economically at present.

The American government (as does most others) seems to play games with the federal budget. Rather than trimming inessentials in an austerity action, the government doles out billions on various unneeded projects. For example, instead of spending millions to support pornographic art, harassing people over what they perceive to be wetland problems, oppressing citizens over endangered species, funding needless "pork barrel projects" and spending money in the modern-day infanticide of little children—abortions—why not simply cut spending and then cut the taxes? One of the major forces behind the Great Depression of the 1930s appeared to be the practice of taxing heavily and spending irresponsibly.

Now it is my opinion that the beginning of the chapter is based upon the Roman Empire, but it also applies to the modern times in which we are now living. This reasoning will be explained as we study along.

"And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his sight. And he makes the earth and them that dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose death-stroke was healed." (Revelation 13:12). The beast that came up out of the earth (the two-horned beast) makes an image to the first beast. That is the reason why this prophecy applies to our time. The image (replica, copy, or imitation) of the first beast will be patterned exactly after what the first beast was like, which means it will be an imitation of the ancient Roman Empire.

Remember the lesson of the 10 and the two. We must remember what the Bible teaches us. We cannot slip outside of the Bible and start fabricating our own interpretations concerning what these prophecies mean. Yahweh wants us to remember that the predictions in the book of Revelation refer us back to the Old Testament. Therefore, the 10 horns and the two horns obviously represent the 10 northern tribes, the House of Israel that went into Assyrian captivity, while the two horns represent the House of Judah.

In 1 Kings chapter 11, the historical text informs us that King Solomon had turned away from Yahweh and had even gone and built idolatrous high places in which his many wives could worship in their native religion. Consequently, Yahweh grew angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from Yahweh, the Elohim of Israel, who had appeared to him twice (1 Kings 11:9).

In 1 Kings 11:29, we read, "And it came to pass at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; now Ahijah had clad himself with a new garment; and they were alone in the field. And Ahijah laid hold of the new garment that was on him, and rent it in TWELVE PIECES."

What does the phrase "the new garment" mean? Why a new garment? It is because the nation of Israel was a new experience. David and Solomon had ruled over a nation of 12 Israelite tribes that comprised Yahweh’s Kingdom on this earth. This nation was responsible to portray the beauty of Yahweh’s Torah to the rest of the nations of the world. Solomon failed and reverted to idolatry, building high places in which his wives could worship idols. Solomon did evil in the sight of Yahweh (verses 5 to 8). Therefore, the new garment (Israelite kingdom) had turned very weak, weak enough to tear easily. It was no longer a good garment. A whole garment was supposed to contain a great deal of strength. The new garment of the Israelite kingdom government under Yahweh’s anointed rulers had become weak through the idolatry of Solomon.

Turn back in Revelation chapter 13, where we shall read, beginning with verse 14. "And he deceives them that dwell on the earth by reason of the signs which it was given him to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an IMAGE TO THE BEAST who has the stroke of the sword and lived."

Let us consider the prophets Moses and EliYah who made fire to come down from heaven. David, who was not a religious figure in the same sense as Moses and EliYah, although still called a prophet in Acts 2:29–30, rather he was a royal personage, the king of Israel.

Let us think for just a moment. If the 10-horned beast concentrates upon Israel, the 10 northern tribes gone out into the world, then the two-horned beast is known as Judah to the world today, also scattered all over the world. "Jacob, a servant of Yahweh, and of the Savior, Yahshua the Messiah, to the twelve tribes which are of the Dispersion, greeting." (Jacob 1:1).

Who is it that made fire come down out of heaven upon the earth in the sight of men in World War II? I have heard scientists explain that we have reached right into the very depths of the creation with the invention of nuclear energy. We reached right into the core of created matter, they will remark, and we pulled out this great power and fire. We unleashed the fire of heaven upon the earth. We ask ourselves the question: Who were the physicists who invented the atomic weapons? Mostly, they were assimilated Jews, many of whom were atheists. These were the inventors of atomic energy and the atomic bomb.

The passage here is pointing us more clearly to the anti-Messiah, a man who will indeed be a Jew, since he will sit in a rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem. How does the anti-Messiah deceive the people on the earth? He deceives them through false reasoning. How did Hitler deceive the Nazis into accepting the extermination of the Jews? He deceived them through deceitful language, euphemisms, so the Germans of World War II would accept the final solution to the Jewish question.

The keeping of the Feast of Unleavened Bread relates to Yahweh’s law being in our mouth. Instead of speaking false doctrine, we shall speak Yahweh’s Torah (law). Speaking Yahweh’s Torah becomes a mark of Yahweh upon us—controlling our mind, tongue, hands, and heart, demonstrating that we have yielded ourselves to Yahweh, not to the Beast.

Each day we recite the Shema’ (Deuteronomy 6:4–6). I hope each one does so faithfully. I will not say that I may not have forgotten to recite it a time or two since I instituted the practice, but I will tell you the numbers of times I have forgotten to say it are very few and far between. Every day I concentrate upon saying the Shema’ with the understanding. "And you shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be frontlets between your eyes. And you shall write them on the door-posts of your house, and on your gates." (Deuteronomy 6:8–9). Yahweh intends that you do not forget His law.

The Shema’ is almost reiterated word by word in Deuteronomy 11:18–20. "Therefore shall you retain these my words in your heart and in your soul; and you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes. And you shall teach them your children, talking to them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall write them upon the door-posts of your house, and upon your gates." Consequently, the mark of Yahweh comprises both His Name and His Word, His Torah Law.

Turn to Psalm 138:2, where you can see this truth emerging very plainly as David wrote, "I will worship toward your holy temple, and give thanks to your name for your lovingkindness and for your truth: for you have magnified your word; above all your name." The Word, and above all, the Name of Yahweh are magnified actually above everything.

In Psalm 37, we will begin reading with verse 33. "Yahweh will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. Wait for Yahweh, and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, you shall see it. I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil. But one passed by, and, lo, he was not: yes, I sought him, but he could not be found. MARK the PERFECT MAN, and behold the UPRIGHT; for there is a happy end to the man of peace." (Psalm 37:33–37).

We must watch out that we do not fall into the trap of the Beast, and yes, Yahweh will make a way of escape for His people. This is accomplished when we concentrate upon implementing the government of Yahweh and His law in our personal lives. We must look to Almighty Yahweh and to His law to counter the propaganda that the Beast system will send forth.

Even though the Beast system will use confusing language, euphemisms, and deceitful language, the converted Assemblies of Yahweh member will perceive that underneath that terminology will be the insistence upon a violation of Yahweh’s law that this Beast will be supporting (just as did Hitler in the 1930s and 1940s). Let us not accept human reasonings that will lead us to violate Yahweh’s covenant. Acts 5:29 demands that we must obey Yahweh rather than men.

The Assemblies of Yahweh stands four square, firmly founded upon the covenant of Yahweh. Let us never forget that!

May Almighty Yahweh bless us, His people, while we consider the prophecies that must shortly come to pass, and labor to build our spiritual ark of safety.

Editor’s Note: Since the method employed by the author is such a radical departure from that employed by other teachers of Bible prophecy, yet it is so simple and logical to interpret Scripture with other Scripture, the author recommends that you restudy this chapter several times to gain the full impact of what he has pointed out. Don’t just read this material, but study it very carefully so you will not forget it.

Join us in the next issue for more of this absorbing study of the book of Revelation.