Outline of the Messages

for the Memorial Day Conference

May 22-25, 2020
GENERAL SUBJECT:
A TIMELY WORD CONCERNING
THE WORLD SITUATION AND THE LORD’S RECOVERY
Message One
The World Situation as the Indicator of God’s Move on Earth,
the Vision of World History from Christ’s Ascension to the End of This Age,
the Spreading of the Truths of the Lord’s Recovery
as a Preparation for His Coming Back,
and Persevering in Prayer, While Discerning “the Signs of the Times”
Scripture Reading: Acts 5:31; 17:26-27; Dan. 2:31-45; Rev. 6:1-8;
4:1-2; 1:10-11; Col. 4:2; Matt. 24:3-14, 32-34
Acts 5:31 This One God has exalted to His right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel
and forgiveness of sins.
Acts 17:26 And He made from one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, determining
beforehand their appointed seasons and the boundaries of their dwelling,
Acts 17:27 That they might seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, even though He is
not far from each one of us;
Dan 2:31 You, O king, were watching, and there was a single great image. This image, large and its
brightness surpassing, stood opposite you; and its appearance was frightful.
Dan 2:32 Concerning this image, its head was of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its abdomen and
its thighs of bronze,
Dan 2:33 Its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.
Dan 2:34 You were watching until a stone was cut out without hands, and it struck the image at its feet of
iron and clay and crushed them.
Dan 2:35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed all at once, and they
became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that no
trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled
the whole earth.
Dan 2:36 This is the dream; and we will tell its interpretation before the king.
Dan 2:37 You, O king, are king of kings, to whom the God of the heavens has given kingship, power, and
strength and glory.
Dan 2:38 And wherever the children of men, the beasts of the field, or the birds of the sky dwell, He has
given them into your hand and has made you ruler over all of them. You are the head of gold.
Dan 2:39 And after you another kingdom will arise, inferior to you; and there will be another kingdom, a third
one, of bronze, which will rule over all the earth.
Dan 2:40 And there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron crushes and shatters
everything; and like iron that smashes all these, it will crush and smash.
Dan 2:41 And in that you saw the feet and the toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, the kingdom will
be a confused mass; but there will be some of the firmness of iron in it, for you saw the iron mixed
with the earthy clay.
Dan 2:42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so some of the kingdom will be
strong and part of it will be fragile.
Dan 2:43 And in that you saw the iron mixed with the earthy clay, they will be mixed together through the
seed of men, but they will not cleave to one another, even as iron does not mix with clay.
Dan 2:44 And in the days of those kings the God of the heavens will raise up a kingdom which will never be
destroyed, and its reign will not be left to another people; it will crush and put an end to all these
kingdoms; and it will stand forever.
Dan 2:45 Inasmuch as you saw that out of the mountain a stone was cut without hands and that it crushed
the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great God has made known to the king

1
 what will happen afterward; and the dream is certain, and its interpretation trustworthy.
Rev 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living
creatures saying like the sound of thunder, Come.
Rev 6:2 And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he who sits on it had a bow; and a crown was given to
him, and he went forth conquering and to conquer.
Rev 6:3 And when He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, Come.
Rev 6:4 And I saw, and behold, another horse, a red one, went forth; and to him who sits on it, to him
authority was given to take peace from the earth, and that men should slay one another; and to
him a great sword was given.
Rev 6:5 And when He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, Come. And I saw, and
behold, a black horse; and he who sits on it had a balance in his hand.
Rev 6:6 And I heard as it were a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying: A choenix of wheat
for a denarius and three choenixes of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.
Rev 6:7 And when He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, Come.
Rev 6:8 And I saw, and behold, a pale horse, and he who sits upon it, his name is Death; and Hades
followed with him. And authority was given to them over the fourth part of the earth to kill with the
sword and with famine and with death and by the beasts of the earth.
Rev 4:1 After these things I saw, and behold, a door opened in heaven, and the first voice which I heard
was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, Come up here, and I will show you the things that
must take place after these things.
Rev 4:2 Immediately I was in spirit; and behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and upon the throne
there was One sitting;
Rev 1:10 I was in spirit on the Lord's Day and heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,
Rev 1:11 Saying, What you see write in a scroll and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to
Smyrna and to Pergamos and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.
Col 4:2 Persevere in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving,
Matt 24:3 And as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, When
will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming and of the consummation of the
age?
Matt 24:4 And Jesus answered and said to them, See that no one leads you astray.
Matt 24:5 For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ, and they will lead many astray.
Matt 24:6 And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for it must
happen; but the end is not yet.
Matt 24:7 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines
and earthquakes in various places.
Matt 24:8 All these things are the beginning of birth pangs.
Matt 24:9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and will kill you, and you will be hated by all the nations
because of My name.
Matt 24:10 And at that time many will be stumbled and will deliver up one another and will hate one another.
Matt 24:11 And many false prophets will arise and will lead many astray.
Matt 24:12 And because lawlessness will be multiplied, the love of the many will grow cold.
Matt 24:13 But he who has endured to the end, this one shall be saved.
Matt 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole inhabited earth for a testimony to all
the nations, and then the end will come.
Matt 24:32 But learn the parable from the fig tree: As soon as its branch has become tender and puts forth its
leaves, you know that the summer is near.
Matt 24:33 So also you, when you see all these things, know that it is near, at the doors.
Matt 24:34 Truly I say to you that this generation shall by no means pass away until all these things happen.

I. We need to be in our spirit so that we can be men on earth with God’s heart, men
to whom heaven can be opened to see the vision of God concerning the destiny of
the world—Rev. 1:10; 4:1-2; cf. Gen. 28:12-17; Ezek. 1:1; Matt. 3:16; Acts 7:56.
Rev 1:10 I was in spirit on the Lord's Day and heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,
Rev 4:1 After these things I saw, and behold, a door opened in heaven, and the first voice which I
heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, Come up here, and I will show you the
things that must take place after these things.
Rev 4:2 Immediately I was in spirit; and behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and upon the
throne there was One sitting;

2
 Gen 28:12 And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven;
and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
Gen 28:13 And there was Jehovah, standing above it; and He said, I am Jehovah, the God of Abraham
your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie, I will give to you and to your
seed.
Gen 28:14 And your seed will be as the dust of the earth, and you will spread abroad to the west and
to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and in your seed will all the families
of the earth be blessed.
Gen 28:15 And, behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go and will cause you to return
to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.
Gen 28:16 And Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, Surely Jehovah is in this place, and I did not
know it.
Gen 28:17 And he was afraid and said, How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house
of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
Ezek 1:1 Now in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth of the month, while I was among
the captives by the river Chebar, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.
Matt 3:16 And having been baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water, and behold, the
heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and
coming upon Him.
Acts 7:56 And he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right
hand of God.

II. The world situation is the indicator of God’s move on earth—5:31; 17:26-27;
Dan. 2:31-45:
Acts 5:31 This One God has exalted to His right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to
Israel and forgiveness of sins.
Acts 17:26 And He made from one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth,
determining beforehand their appointed seasons and the boundaries of their dwelling,
Acts 17:27 That they might seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, even though
He is not far from each one of us;
Dan 2:31 You, O king, were watching, and there was a single great image. This image, large and its
brightness surpassing, stood opposite you; and its appearance was frightful.
Dan 2:32 Concerning this image, its head was of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its
abdomen and its thighs of bronze,
Dan 2:33 Its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.
Dan 2:34 You were watching until a stone was cut out without hands, and it struck the image at its
feet of iron and clay and crushed them.
Dan 2:35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed all at once, and
they became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away
so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great
mountain and filled the whole earth.
Dan 2:36 This is the dream; and we will tell its interpretation before the king.
Dan 2:37 You, O king, are king of kings, to whom the God of the heavens has given kingship, power,
and strength and glory.
Dan 2:38 And wherever the children of men, the beasts of the field, or the birds of the sky dwell, He
has given them into your hand and has made you ruler over all of them. You are the head
of gold.
Dan 2:39 And after you another kingdom will arise, inferior to you; and there will be another kingdom,
a third one, of bronze, which will rule over all the earth.
Dan 2:40 And there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron crushes and shatters
everything; and like iron that smashes all these, it will crush and smash.
Dan 2:41 And in that you saw the feet and the toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, the
kingdom will be a confused mass; but there will be some of the firmness of iron in it, for you
saw the iron mixed with the earthy clay.
Dan 2:42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so some of the kingdom will
be strong and part of it will be fragile.
Dan 2:43 And in that you saw the iron mixed with the earthy clay, they will be mixed together through
the seed of men, but they will not cleave to one another, even as iron does not mix with
clay.

3
Dan 2:44 And in the days of those kings the God of the heavens will raise up a kingdom which will
never be destroyed, and its reign will not be left to another people; it will crush and put an
end to all these kingdoms; and it will stand forever.
Dan 2:45 Inasmuch as you saw that out of the mountain a stone was cut without hands and that it
crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great God has made
known to the king what will happen afterward; and the dream is certain, and its
interpretation trustworthy.
A. All the major events of human history have been arranged and matched by God for His
move on earth; since God has a purpose to accomplish with mankind on earth, He surely has
the sovereign authority to manage the situation in human history; as an example, for the
spreading of His recovery and for the final stage of His recovery—the building up of the
Body as the preparation of the bride—God has sovereignly prepared, preserved, and blessed
the United States—Acts 17:26; 5:31; Rom. 12:4-5; Rev. 19:7.
Acts 17:26 And He made from one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth,
determining beforehand their appointed seasons and the boundaries of their dwelling,
Acts 5:31 This One God has exalted to His right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance
to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
Rom 12:4 For just as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have
the same function,
Rom 12:5 So we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually members one of
another.
Rev 19:7 Let us rejoice and exult, and let us give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb
has come, and His wife has made herself ready.
B. The entire world situation with its “birth pangs” is for the completion of the re-formation of
Israel and also for the completion of the full delivery of the universal new man—Matt.
24:32-34; Mark 13:8; Dan. 12:1-2; Rev. 12:1-2, 5.
Matt 24:32 But learn the parable from the fig tree: As soon as its branch has become tender and
puts forth its leaves, you know that the summer is near.
Matt 24:33 So also you, when you see all these things, know that it is near, at the doors.
Matt 24:34 Truly I say to you that this generation shall by no means pass away until all these
things happen.
Mark 13:8 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be
earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These things are the beginning
of birth pangs.
Dan 12:1 And at that time Michael, the great prince who stands for the children of your people,
will arise; and there will be a time of distress, such as never occurred since there
came to be a nation until that time; and at that time your people, every one found
written in the book, will be delivered.
Dan 12:2 And many of those who are sleeping in the dust of the ground will awake, some to life
eternal and some to reproach, to eternal contempt.
Rev 12:1 And a great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon
underneath her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars;
Rev 12:2 And she was with child, and she cried out, travailing in birth and being in pain to bring
forth.
Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a son, a man-child, who is to shepherd all the nations with an
iron rod; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne.
C. The vision of the great human image in Daniel 2 is a vision of “what will happen in the last
days” (v. 28); it is a prophetic illustration of the history of human government, sovereignly
arranged by the Lord for the carrying out of His economy (vv. 31-35):
Dan 2 be omitted
Dan 2:28 But there is a God in the heavens who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to
King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the last days. This is your dream, even the
visions of your head upon your bed.
Dan 2:31 You, O king, were watching, and there was a single great image. This image, large
and its brightness surpassing, stood opposite you; and its appearance was frightful.
Dan 2:32 Concerning this image, its head was of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its
abdomen and its thighs of bronze,

4
Dan 2:33 Its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.
Dan 2:34 You were watching until a stone was cut out without hands, and it struck the image at
its feet of iron and clay and crushed them.
Dan 2:35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed all at once,
and they became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried
them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image
became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
1. The head of gold (vv. 36-38), corresponding to the first beast in 7:3-4, signifies
Nebuchadnezzar, the founder and the king of Babylon.
Dan 2:36 This is the dream; and we will tell its interpretation before the king.
Dan 2:37 You, O king, are king of kings, to whom the God of the heavens has given
kingship, power, and strength and glory.
Dan 2:38 And wherever the children of men, the beasts of the field, or the birds of the sky
dwell, He has given them into your hand and has made you ruler over all of
them. You are the head of gold.
Dan 7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other.
Dan 7:4 The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings
were plucked and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet
like a man; and a man's heart was given to it.
2. The breast and the arms of silver (2:39a), corresponding to the second beast in 7:5,
signify Medo-Persia.
Dan 2:39a And after you another kingdom will arise, inferior to you; …
Dan 7:5 And there was another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was
raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and
they said thus to it, Arise, devour much flesh.
3. The abdomen and thighs of bronze (2:39b), corresponding to the third beast in 7:6,
signify Greece, including Macedonia.
Dan 2:39b … and there will be another kingdom, a third one, of bronze, which will rule
over all the earth.
Dan 7:6 After this I watched and there was another beast, like a leopard; and it had four
wings of a bird on its back; and the beast had four heads, and dominion was
given to it.
4. The legs of iron and the feet partly of iron and partly of clay (2:33), corresponding to
the fourth beast in 7:7-8, signify the Roman Empire with its last ten kings (2:40-44a;
7:7-11, 19-26; Rev. 17:7-13).
Dan 2:33 Its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.
Dan 2:40 And there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron crushes
and shatters everything; and like iron that smashes all these, it will crush and
smash.
Dan 2:41 And in that you saw the feet and the toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of
iron, the kingdom will be a confused mass; but there will be some of the
firmness of iron in it, for you saw the iron mixed with the earthy clay.
Dan 2:42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so some of the
kingdom will be strong and part of it will be fragile.
Dan 2:43 And in that you saw the iron mixed with the earthy clay, they will be mixed
together through the seed of men, but they will not cleave to one another, even
as iron does not mix with clay.
Dan 2:44a And in the days of those kings the God of the heavens will raise up a kingdom
which will never be destroyed, and its reign will not be left to another people; …
Dan 7:7 After this I watched in the night visions, and there was a fourth beast, dreadful
and frightful and exceedingly strong; and it had large iron teeth; it devoured and
crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different
from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
Dan 7:8 I was considering the horns; then there was another horn, a small one, which
came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted from before it.
And there were eyes like the eyes of a man in this horn and a mouth speaking
great things.

5
 Dan 7:9 I watched / Until thrones were set, / And the Ancient of Days sat down. / His
clothing was like white snow, / And the hair of His head was like pure wool; /
His throne was flames of fire, / Its wheels, burning fire.
Dan 7:10 A stream of fire issued forth / And came out from before Him. / Thousands of
thousands ministered to Him, / And ten thousands of ten thousands stood
before Him. / The court of judgment sat, / And the books were opened.
Dan 7:11 I watched then because of the sound of the great things that the horn was
speaking; I watched until the beast was slain and its body was destroyed and
given to the burning fire.
Dan 7:19 Then I wished to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was
different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its
claws of bronze, which devoured, crushed, and trampled under the remainder
with its feet,
Dan 7:20 And of the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up,
and before which three horns fell, even that horn that had eyes and a mouth
speaking great things and whose appearance was greater than that of its
companions.
Dan 7:21 I watched and that horn waged war with the saints and prevailed against them,
Dan 7:22 Until the Ancient of Days came; and judgment was given to the saints of the
Most High; and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.
Dan 7:23 Thus he said, The fourth beast will be the fourth kingdom upon the earth, which
will be different from all the other kingdoms; and it will devour the whole earth
and tread it down and crush it.
Dan 7:24 And as for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise, and another
will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones; and he will
subdue three kings.
Dan 7:25 And he will speak things against the Most High and wear out the saints of the
Most High; and his intention will be to change the times and the law; and they
will be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.
Dan 7:26 But the court of judgment will sit, and they will take away his dominion, so as to
annihilate and destroy it unto the end.
Rev 17:7 And the angel said to me, Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the
woman and of the beast who bears her, who has the seven heads and the ten horns.
Rev 17:8 The beast that you saw was and is not and is about to come up out of the
abyss and go into perdition. And those who dwell on the earth, those whose
names are not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life, will
marvel when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will be present.
Rev 17:9 Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are the seven mountains
where the woman sits
Rev 17:10 And are seven kings: five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and
when he comes, he must remain only a short time.
Rev 17:11 And the beast who was and is not, he himself is also the eighth and is out of
the seven and goes into perdition.
Rev 17:12 And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received a
kingdom but receive authority as kings for one hour with the beast.
Rev 17:13 These have one mind, and they give their power and authority to the beast.
5. Although the form and appearance of the Roman Empire have vanished, the culture,
spirit, and essence of the Roman Empire continue to exist today; at the beginning of
the great tribulation (Matt. 24:21) the form and appearance of the Roman Empire will
be restored under Antichrist (Dan. 7:12).
Matt 24:21 For at that time there will be great tribulation, such as has not occurred from
the beginning of the world until now, nor shall by any means ever occur.
Dan 7:12 And as for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an
extension of life was given to them for a season and a time.
D. The ten kings with their kingdoms, typified by the ten toes of the great image in Daniel 2,
will be joined together under Antichrist, who will be the last Caesar of the revived Roman
Empire; all of this will transpire in Europe—Rev. 17:10-14:
Dan 2 be omitted.

6
Rev 17:10 And are seven kings: five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when
he comes, he must remain only a short time.
Rev 17:11 And the beast who was and is not, he himself is also the eighth and is out of the
seven and goes into perdition.
Rev 17:12 And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom
but receive authority as kings for one hour with the beast.
Rev 17:13 These have one mind, and they give their power and authority to the beast.
Rev 17:14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord
of lords and King of kings; and they who are with Him, the called and chosen and
faithful, will also overcome them.
1. The mystery of lawlessness is working today among the nations and in human society;
this lawlessness will culminate in the man of lawlessness, Antichrist—2 Thes. 2:3-10.
2 Thes 2:3 Let no one deceive you in any way, because it will not come unless the
apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of
perdition,
2 Thes 2:4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or an object of
worship, so that he sits in the temple of God, setting himself forth, saying that
he is God.
2 Thes 2:5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I said these things to you?
2 Thes 2:6 And now you know that which restrains, so that he might be revealed in his
own time.
2 Thes 2:7 For it is the mystery of lawlessness that is now operating, but only until the one
now restraining goes out of the way.
2 Thes 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed (whom the Lord Jesus will slay by
the breath of His mouth and bring to nothing by the manifestation of His
coming),
2 Thes 2:9 The coming of whom is according to Satan's operation in all power and signs
and wonders of a lie
2 Thes 2:10 And in all deceit of unrighteousness among those who are perishing, because
they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved.
2. Antichrist will be the power of Satan, the embodiment of Satan; he will persecute and
destroy the people of God—both the God-fearing Jews and the Christ-believing
Christians—Dan. 8:24; Rev. 12:17; 13:7.
Dan 8:24 And his power will be mighty, but not by his own power. / And he will destroy in
an extraordinary manner / And will prosper and take action. / He will destroy
mighty men / And the holy people.
Rev 12:17 And the dragon became angry with the woman and went away to make war
with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have the
testimony of Jesus.
Rev 13:7 And permission was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome
them; and authority was given to him over every tribe and people and tongue
and nation.
3. Antichrist will demolish and desolate the temple of God and the city of God; he will
cast truth down to the ground—Dan. 9:27; 8:12.
Dan 9:27 And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week; and in the
middle of the week he will cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease and will
replace the sacrifice and the oblation with abominations of the desolator, even
until the complete destruction that has been determined is poured out upon the
desolator.
Dan 8:12 And an army was given to him together with the daily sacrifice because of
transgression; and he cast truth down to the ground, and he took action and
prospered.
4. Antichrist will have sharp insight to perceive things and will speak things against the
Most High—7:8, 20, 25.
Dan 7:8 I was considering the horns; then there was another horn, a small one, which
came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted from before it.
And there were eyes like the eyes of a man in this horn and a mouth speaking

7
 great things.
Dan 7:20 And of the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up,
and before which three horns fell, even that horn that had eyes and a mouth
speaking great things and whose appearance was greater than that of its
companions.
Dan 7:25 And he will speak things against the Most High and wear out the saints of the
Most High; and his intention will be to change the times and the law; and they
will be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.
5. Antichrist will wear out the saints of the Most High; we have to resist and oppose the
gradual, repeated, frequent, and daily wearing-out tactics of Satan—v. 25; Matt. 24:12;
Judg. 16:16; Eph. 6:11-13.
Dan 7:25 And he will speak things against the Most High and wear out the saints of the
Most High; and his intention will be to change the times and the law; and they
will be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.
Matt 24:12 And because lawlessness will be multiplied, the love of the many will grow cold.
Judg 16:16 And after she pressed him with her words every day and urged him, his soul
was tired to death.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the
stratagems of the devil,
Eph 6:12 For our wrestling is not against blood and flesh but against the rulers, against
the authorities, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual
forces of evil in the heavenlies.
Eph 6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in
the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
6. Satan and Antichrist want the souls of men to be the instruments for their activities in
the last age—Rev. 18:11-13; 2 Tim. 3:5; cf. Zech. 12:1.
Rev 18:11 And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her because no one
buys their cargo anymore:
Rev 18:12 Cargo of gold and silver and precious stone and pearls and fine linen and
purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of thyine wood, and every vessel of
ivory, and every vessel of most precious wood and brass and iron and marble,
Rev 18:13 And cinnamon and amomum and incense and ointment and frankincense and
wine and oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargo of
horses and chariots and slaves and souls of men.
2 Tim 3:5 Having an outward form of godliness, though denying its power; from these
also turn away.
Zech 12:1 The burden of the word of Jehovah concerning Israel. Thus declares Jehovah,
who stretches forth the heavens and lays the foundations of the earth and
forms the spirit of man within him,
E. At His appearing as the God-cut stone, Christ with His overcomers—the corporate Christ—
will strike the ten kings with Antichrist (Rev. 19:11-21), thereby crushing the great image
from the toes to the head (Dan. 2:35).
Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sits on it called
Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.
Rev 19:12 And His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems, and He has a
name written which no one knows but Himself.
Rev 19:13 And He is clothed with a garment dipped in blood; and His name is called the Word of God.
Rev 19:14 And the armies which are in heaven followed Him on white horses, dressed in fine
linen, white and clean.
Rev 19:15 And out of His mouth proceeds a sharp sword, that with it He might smite the nations;
and He will shepherd them with an iron rod; and He treads the winepress of the fury
of the wrath of God the Almighty.
Rev 19:16 And He has on His garment and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.
Rev 19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to
all the birds that fly in mid-heaven, Come here; gather yourselves to the great dinner
of God,

8
 Rev 19:18 That you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of generals and the flesh of mighty
men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men,
both free and slave and small and great.
Rev 19:19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to
make war with Him who sits on the horse and with His army.
Rev 19:20 And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet, who in his presence had
done the signs by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and
those who worshipped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire,
which burns with brimstone.
Rev 19:21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeds out of the mouth of Him who
sits on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.
Dan 2:35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed all at once,
and they became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried
them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image
became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
F. Before the crushing of Antichrist and the totality of human government transpires, the
Lord’s recovery must spread to Europe and be rooted there; Europe, in the consummation of
the fulfillment of the vision concerning the great human image in Daniel 2, is more vitally
crucial than any other country or race—the crushing of the two feet of the great human
image will be the crushing of the entire human government—vv. 34-35.
Dan 2 be omitted.
Dan 2:34 You were watching until a stone was cut out without hands, and it struck the image at
its feet of iron and clay and crushed them.
Dan 2:35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed all at once,
and they became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried
them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image
became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
G. After coming to defeat Antichrist and to crush the aggregate of human government, the
corporate Christ—Christ with His overcoming bride—will become a great mountain to fill
the whole earth, making the whole earth God’s kingdom; this kingdom will consummate in
the New Jerusalem—the ultimate and consummate step of the divine history—Rev. 20:4, 6;
21:10.
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I
saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus
and because of the word of God, and of those who had not worshipped the beast nor
his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and
they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection; over these the second
death has no authority, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with
Him for a thousand years.
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in spirit onto a great and high mountain and showed me the
holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,

III. The first four seals opened by the Lamb-God give us a vision of world history from
Christ’s ascension to the end of this age (cf. 4:1-2; 5:1-14); they show us that
immediately after His ascension (Mark 16:19-20) there has been a four-horse
race continuing through the entire age of the church until Christ’s return:
Rev 4:1 After these things I saw, and behold, a door opened in heaven, and the first voice which I
heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, Come up here, and I will show you the
things that must take place after these things.
Rev 4:2 Immediately I was in spirit; and behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and upon the
throne there was One sitting;
Rev 5:1 And I saw on the right hand of Him who sits upon the throne a scroll written within and on
the back, sealed up with seven seals.
Rev 5:2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the scroll
and to break its seals?

9
Rev 5:3 And no one in heaven nor on the earth nor under the earth was able to open the scroll or
look into it.
Rev 5:4 And I wept much because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look into it.
Rev 5:5 And one of the elders said to me, Do not weep; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the
Root of David, has overcome so that He may open the scroll and its seven seals.
Rev 5:6 And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures and in the midst of the
elders a Lamb standing as having just been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes,
which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
Rev 5:7 And He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sits upon the throne.
Rev 5:8 And when He took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before
the Lamb, each having a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which bowls are the
prayers of the saints.
Rev 5:9 And they sing a new song, saying: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,
for You were slain and have purchased for God by Your blood men out of every tribe and
tongue and people and nation,
Rev 5:10 And have made them a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign on the earth.
Rev 5:11 And I saw, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and of the living
creatures and of the elders, and their number was ten thousands of ten thousands and
thousands of thousands,
Rev 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who has been slain to receive the power and
riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.
Rev 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea
and all things in them, I heard saying, To Him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be
the blessing and the honor and the glory and the might forever and ever.
Rev 5:14 And the four living creatures said, Amen. And the elders fell down and worshipped.
Mark 16:19 So then the Lord Jesus, after speaking to them, was taken up into heaven and sat at the
right hand of God.
Mark 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming
the word by the accompanying signs.
A. The first seal consists of a white horse and its rider, signifying the spreading of the gospel—
Rev. 6:1-2:
Rev 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four
living creatures saying like the sound of thunder, Come.
Rev 6:2 And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he who sits on it had a bow; and a crown
was given to him, and he went forth conquering and to conquer.
1. The bow without an arrow signifies that Christ’s fighting for the constitution of the
gospel of peace is finished and that the victory is won; a crown signifies that the
gospel has been crowned with the glory of Christ—2 Cor. 4:4.
2 Cor 4:4 In whom the god of this age has blinded the thoughts of the unbelievers that
the illumination of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God,
might not shine on them.
2. Went forth conquering signifies that the gospel has been going forth with Christ to
conquer all kinds of opposition and attack—Rev. 6:2.
Rev 6:2 And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he who sits on it had a bow; and a
crown was given to him, and he went forth conquering and to conquer.
3. The overcomers who preach the gospel of the glory of Christ become the riders of the
white horse—Eph. 3:8-11; Rom. 1:1; Rev. 19:11, 13-14.
Eph 3:8 To me, less than the least of all saints, was this grace given to announce to the
Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ as the gospel
Eph 3:9 And to enlighten all that they may see what the economy of the mystery is,
which throughout the ages has been hidden in God, who created all things,
Eph 3:10 In order that now to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenlies the
multifarious wisdom of God might be made known through the church,
Eph 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which He made in Christ Jesus our Lord,
Rom 1:1 Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, a called apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sits on it
called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.

10
 Rev 19:13 And He is clothed with a garment dipped in blood; and His name is called the
Word of God.
Rev 19:14 And the armies which are in heaven followed Him on white horses, dressed in
fine linen, white and clean.
B. The second seal consists of a red horse and its rider, signifying the spreading of war—6:3-4:
Rev 6:3 And when He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying,
Come.
Rev 6:4 And I saw, and behold, another horse, a red one, went forth; and to him who sits on
it, to him authority was given to take peace from the earth, and that men should slay
one another; and to him a great sword was given.
1. Red signifies the shedding of blood, and a great sword signifies weapons for fighting.
2. To take peace from the earth signifies that war is continuing on the earth; that men
should slay one another signifies that people will fight one another—v. 4; Matt. 24:7.
Rev 6:4 And I saw, and behold, another horse, a red one, went forth; and to him who
sits on it, to him authority was given to take peace from the earth, and that men
should slay one another; and to him a great sword was given.
Matt 24:7 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there
will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
C. The third seal consists of a black horse and its rider, signifying the spreading of famine—
Rev. 6:5-6:
Rev 6:5 And when He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, Come.
And I saw, and behold, a black horse; and he who sits on it had a balance in his
hand.
Rev 6:6 And I heard as it were a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying: A
choenix of wheat for a denarius and three choenixes of barley for a denarius; and do
not harm the oil and the wine.
1. A balance, a scale used to weigh precious things, being used here to weigh food
signifies the scarcity of food; a quart of wheat, good pay for a day’s labor, and three
quarts of barley, also good pay for a day’s labor (Matt. 20:2), signify the high price of
food in its scarcity.
Matt 20:2 And having agreed with the workmen for a denarius a day, he sent them into
his vineyard.
2. Do not harm the oil and the wine (oil and wine are for man’s pleasure—Psa. 104:15—
and are always in short supply and become precious in famine) signifies the presence
of famine.
Psa 104:15 Even wine that cheers man's heart, / Oil that makes his face shine, / And bread
that sustains man's heart.
D. The fourth seal consists of a pale horse and its rider, signifying the spreading of death—
Rev. 6:7-8:
Rev 6:7 And when He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature
saying, Come.
Rev 6:8 And I saw, and behold, a pale horse, and he who sits upon it, his name is Death; and
Hades followed with him. And authority was given to them over the fourth part of the
earth to kill with the sword and with famine and with death and by the beasts of the
earth.
1. Pale signifies the color of the appearance of those stricken with the plague; Hades
following Death signifies that Hades receives and retains those whom death has killed.
2. Authority is given to Death and Hades over the fourth part of the earth to kill with the
sword, famine, and death and by the beasts of the earth—cf. vv. 9-11; Luke 18:1-2, 7-
8.
Rev 6:9 And when He opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of
those who had been slain because of the word of God and because of the
testimony which they had.
Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Master, holy and true,
will You not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?

11
 Rev 6:11 And to each of them was given a white robe; and it was said to them that they
should rest yet a little while, until also the number of their fellow slaves and
their brothers who were about to be killed, even as they were, is completed.
Luke 18:1 And He told them a parable to the end that they ought always to pray and not
lose heart,
Luke 18:2 Saying, There was a certain judge in a certain city who did not fear God and
did not regard man.
Luke 18:7 And will not God by all means carry out the avenging of His chosen ones, who
cry to Him day and night, though He is long-suffering over them?
Luke 18:8 I tell you that He will carry out their avenging quickly. Nevertheless, when the
Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?

IV. The spreading of the truths of the Lord’s recovery will be a preparation for the
Lord’s coming back to bring the recovery and restoration not only to Israel
but also to the entire creation—Matt. 24:14; 28:19; 19:28; Isa. 11:9; cf. Rev.
5:6-8:
Matt 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole inhabited earth for a testimony
to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Matt 28:19 Go therefore and disciple all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Matt 19:28 And Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you that you who have followed Me, in the
restoration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you also shall sit on twelve
thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Isa 11:9 They will not harm nor destroy / In all My holy mountain, / For the earth will be filled with the
knowledge of Jehovah, / As water covers the sea.
Rev 5:6 And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures and in the midst of the
elders a Lamb standing as having just been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes,
which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
Rev 5:7 And He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sits upon the throne.
Rev 5:8 And when He took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before
the Lamb, each having a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which bowls are the
prayers of the saints.
A. Immediately after Christ’s ascension, these four things—the gospel, war, famine, and
death—began to run like riders on four horses, and they will continue until Christ comes
back—6:1-8:
Rev 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four
living creatures saying like the sound of thunder, Come.
Rev 6:2 And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he who sits on it had a bow; and a crown
was given to him, and he went forth conquering and to conquer.
Rev 6:3 And when He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, Come.
Rev 6:4 And I saw, and behold, another horse, a red one, went forth; and to him who sits on
it, to him authority was given to take peace from the earth, and that men should slay
one another; and to him a great sword was given.
Rev 6:5 And when He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, Come.
And I saw, and behold, a black horse; and he who sits on it had a balance in his hand.
Rev 6:6 And I heard as it were a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying: A
choenix of wheat for a denarius and three choenixes of barley for a denarius; and do
not harm the oil and the wine.
Rev 6:7 And when He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature
saying, Come.
Rev 6:8 And I saw, and behold, a pale horse, and he who sits upon it, his name is Death; and
Hades followed with him. And authority was given to them over the fourth part of the
earth to kill with the sword and with famine and with death and by the beasts of the earth.
1. The spreading, running, and racing of the gospel of the kingdom throughout the whole
inhabited earth is the kernel of the divine history within human history—Matt. 24:14.
Matt 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole inhabited earth for
a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

12
 2. The gospel of the kingdom, signified by the white horse of the first seal in Revelation
6:1-2, will be preached in the whole earth for a testimony to all the nations before the
end of this age, the time of the great tribulation.
Rev 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of
the four living creatures saying like the sound of thunder, Come.
Rev 6:2 And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he who sits on it had a bow; and a
crown was given to him, and he went forth conquering and to conquer.
B. We are not preaching a partial gospel but the full gospel that encompasses everything from
Matthew through Revelation—the gospel of God’s eternal economy to dispense Himself in
Christ as the Spirit into His chosen ones through His judicial redemption and by His organic
salvation for the building up of His Body in the local churches to consummate the New
Jerusalem as His bride, His wife, for His eternal expression—1 Tim. 1:3-4; Rom. 1:1; 5:10;
Rev. 1:10-11; 21:2-3, 9-11; 22:1-2.
1 Tim 1:3 Even as I exhorted you, when I was going into Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus in
order that you might charge certain ones not to teach different things
1 Tim 1:4 Nor to give heed to myths and unending genealogies, which produce questionings
rather than God's economy, which is in faith.
Rom 1:1 Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, a called apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Rom 5:10 For if we, being enemies, were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much
more we will be saved in His life, having been reconciled,
Rev 1:10 I was in spirit on the Lord's Day and heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,
Rev 1:11 Saying, What you see write in a scroll and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus
and to Smyrna and to Pergamos and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia
and to Laodicea.
Rev 21:2 And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a loud voice out of the throne, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is
with men, and He will tabernacle with them, and they will be His peoples, and God
Himself will be with them and be their God.
Rev 21:9 And one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues
came and spoke with me, saying, Come here; I will show you the bride, the wife of
the Lamb.
Rev 21:10 And he carried me away in spirit onto a great and high mountain and showed me the
holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
Rev 21:11 Having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone,
as clear as crystal.
Rev 22:1 And he showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the
throne of God and of the Lamb in the middle of its street.
Rev 22:2 And on this side and on that side of the river was the tree of life, producing twelve fruits,
yielding its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
C. Actually, the gospel includes all the divine truths; the entire New Testament is the gospel,
and the New Testament as the gospel is typified by the Old Testament; thus, we may say
that the gospel includes the entire Bible.
D. God’s unique purpose in this age is to have the gospel preached so that the church as the
Body of Christ might be built up to consummate the New Jerusalem—Eph. 3:8-11.
Eph 3:8 To me, less than the least of all saints, was this grace given to announce to the
Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ as the gospel
Eph 3:9 And to enlighten all that they may see what the economy of the mystery is, which
throughout the ages has been hidden in God, who created all things,
Eph 3:10 In order that now to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenlies the multifarious
wisdom of God might be made known through the church,
Eph 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which He made in Christ Jesus our Lord,
E. May the Lord burden us to learn the divine truths of the gospel and to spread them
everywhere for His recovery—Isa. 11:9; Dan. 11:32b-33; 2 Tim. 2:21.
Isa 11:9 They will not harm nor destroy / In all My holy mountain, / For the earth will be filled
with the knowledge of Jehovah, / As water covers the sea.

13
 Dan 11:32b … But the people who know their God will show strength and take action.
Dan 11:33 And those with insight among the people will cause the many to understand; yet they
will fall by sword and by flames, by captivity and by plundering for some days.
2 Tim 2:21 If therefore anyone cleanses himself from these, he will be a vessel unto honor,
sanctified, useful to the master, prepared unto every good work.

V. In the present environment of the world, we need to devote ourselves to and

persevere in prayer, while discerning “the signs of the times”—Acts 6:4; Col.
4:2; Matt. 16:3; Luke 21:24-36; Matt. 24:3-14, 32-34; Rom. 13:11-14:
Acts 6:4 But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.
Col 4:2 Persevere in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving,
Matt 16:3 And in the morning, It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and gloomy. The face of the
sky you know how to discern, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.
Luke 21:24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword and will be led captive into all the nations; and
Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Luke 21:25 And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth anguish of
nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the billows,
Luke 21:26 Men fainting from fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth, for
the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Luke 21:27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to happen, stand erect and lift up your heads, because your
redemption is drawing near.
Luke 21:29 And He told them a parable: Look at the fig tree and all the trees.
Luke 21:30 As soon as they sprout leaves, you see it and know of yourselves that the summer is
already near.
Luke 21:31 So also you, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.
Luke 21:32 Truly I tell you that this generation shall by no means pass away until all things happen.
Luke 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall by no means pass away.
Luke 21:34 But take heed to yourselves lest perhaps your hearts be weighed down with debauchery
and drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day come upon you suddenly as a
snare.
Luke 21:35 For it will come in upon all those dwelling on the face of all the earth.
Luke 21:36 But be watchful at every time, beseeching that you would prevail to escape all these things
which are about to happen and stand before the Son of Man.
Matt 24:3 And as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us,
When will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming and of the
consummation of the age?
Matt 24:4 And Jesus answered and said to them, See that no one leads you astray.
Matt 24:5 For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ, and they will lead many astray.
Matt 24:6 And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for it
must happen; but the end is not yet.
Matt 24:7 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be
famines and earthquakes in various places.
Matt 24:8 All these things are the beginning of birth pangs.
Matt 24:9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and will kill you, and you will be hated by all the
nations because of My name.
Matt 24:10 And at that time many will be stumbled and will deliver up one another and will hate one
another.
Matt 24:11 And many false prophets will arise and will lead many astray.
Matt 24:12 And because lawlessness will be multiplied, the love of the many will grow cold.
Matt 24:13 But he who has endured to the end, this one shall be saved.
Matt 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole inhabited earth for a testimony
to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Matt 24:32 But learn the parable from the fig tree: As soon as its branch has become tender and puts
forth its leaves, you know that the summer is near.
Matt 24:33 So also you, when you see all these things, know that it is near, at the doors.
Matt 24:34 Truly I say to you that this generation shall by no means pass away until all these things
happen.

14
Rom 13:11 And this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to be raised from sleep; for
now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Rom 13:12 The night is far advanced, and the day has drawn near. Let us therefore cast off the works
of darkness, and let us put on the weapons of light.
Rom 13:13 Let us walk becomingly as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in fornication
and licentiousness, not in strife and jealousy.
Rom 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts.
A. We need to realize that we are in the midst of “birth pangs” (Matt. 24:8, 32-34), that “the
kingdom of God is near” (Luke 21:31), and thus, pray the last prayer in the Bible—“Come,
Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20); the entire Bible concludes with the desire for the Lord’s coming
expressed as a prayer (cf. S. S. 8:13-14; 2 Tim. 4:8; Acts 26:16); Christ’s coming will be
His presence (Gk. parousia) with His people (Matt. 24:3; Acts 26:15-16; Mark 13:8; John
14:21, 23).
Matt 24:8 All these things are the beginning of birth pangs.
Matt 24:32 But learn the parable from the fig tree: As soon as its branch has become tender and
puts forth its leaves, you know that the summer is near.
Matt 24:33 So also you, when you see all these things, know that it is near, at the doors.
Matt 24:34 Truly I say to you that this generation shall by no means pass away until all these
things happen.
Luke 21:31 So also you, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is
near.
Rev 22:20 He who testifies these things says, Yes, I come quickly. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
S. S. 8:13 O you who dwell in the gardens, / My companions listen for your voice; / Let me hear
it.
S. S. 8:14 Make haste, my beloved, / And be like a gazelle or a young hart / Upon the
mountains of spices.
2 Tim 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, with which the Lord,
the righteous Judge, will recompense me in that day, and not only me but also all
those who have loved His appearing.
Matt 24:3 And as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying,
Tell us, When will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming and of
the consummation of the age?
Acts 26:15 And I said, Who are You, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you persecute.
Acts 26:16 But rise up and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to
appoint you as a minister and a witness both of the things in which you have seen Me
and of the things in which I will appear to you;
Mark 13:8 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be
earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These things are the beginning
of birth pangs.
John 14:21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, he is the one who loves Me; and
he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will manifest
Myself to him.
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My
Father will love him, and We will come to him and make an abode with him.
B. We need to pray with the full realization of God’s view of human history by seeing that the
gospel is speeded up and even maximized by war, famine, and death and by seeing that we
need to gain God to the fullest extent to accomplish the goal of His divine economy—Phil.
3:8, 12-14:
Phil 3:8 But moreover I also count all things to be loss on account of the excellency of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, on account of whom I have suffered the loss of
all things and count them as refuse that I may gain Christ
Phil 3:12 Not that I have already obtained or am already perfected, but I pursue, if even I may
lay hold of that for which I also have been laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Phil 3:13 Brothers, I do not account of myself to have laid hold; but one thing I do: Forgetting
the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before,
Phil 3:14 I pursue toward the goal for the prize to which God in Christ Jesus has called me
upward.

15
1. After he rebelled against God, Satan was condemned and even sentenced by God, but
in His wisdom and sovereignty, God has not yet fully executed His judgment on Satan;
He still has given Satan a certain limited time to do something to meet some negative
need in the fulfillment of His economy—Job 1:6-8; 2:1-6; cf. John 12:31.
Job 1:6 Then one day, when the sons of God came to present themselves before
Jehovah, Satan also came among them.
Job 1:7 And Jehovah said to Satan, Where have you come from? And Satan answered
Jehovah and said, From roving the earth and going about in it.
Job 1:8 And Jehovah said to Satan, Have you considered My servant Job? For there is
none like him on the earth, a perfect and upright man, who fears God and turns
away from evil.
Job 2:1 Then one day, when the sons of God came to present themselves before
Jehovah, Satan also came among them to present himself before Jehovah.
Job 2:2 And Jehovah said to Satan, Where have you come from? And Satan answered
Jehovah and said, From roving the earth and going about in it.
Job 2:3 And Jehovah said to Satan, Have you considered My servant Job? For there is
none like him on the earth, a perfect and upright man, who fears God and turns
away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, though you have moved Me
against him to destroy him without cause.
Job 2:4 Then Satan answered Jehovah and said, Skin for skin! Indeed all that a man
has he will give for the sake of his life.
Job 2:5 But stretch forth Your hand, and touch his bone and his flesh; and he will surely
curse You to Your face.
Job 2:6 And Jehovah said to Satan, Here he is, in your hand; only spare his life.
John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world; now shall the ruler of this world be cast out.
2. The book of Job shows us that God, through Satan as an “ugly tool,” was tearing down
Job in two ways: stripping and consuming; God’s stripping and consuming were
exercised over Job to tear Job down that God might gain Job so that he might gain God
more; our outer man is being consumed so that our inner man may be renewed day by
day—Phil. 3:8-10; 2 Cor. 4:16-18.
Phil 3:8 But moreover I also count all things to be loss on account of the excellency of
the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, on account of whom I have suffered
the loss of all things and count them as refuse that I may gain Christ
Phil 3:9 And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness which is out of the law,
but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is out of God
and based on faith,
Phil 3:10 To know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His
sufferings, being conformed to His death,
2 Cor 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart; but though our outer man is decaying, yet our
inner man is being renewed day by day.
2 Cor 4:17 For our momentary lightness of affliction works out for us, more and more
surpassingly, an eternal weight of glory,
2 Cor 4:18 Because we do not regard the things which are seen but the things which are
not seen; for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are
not seen are eternal.
3. Job’s sufferings were not God’s judgment but God’s stripping, consuming, and tearing
down so that He might have a base and a way to rebuild Job with Himself, to make Job
a God-man, a new man in God’s new creation—5:17; Gal. 6:15.
Job 5:17 Indeed, blessed is the man whom God corrects; / Therefore do not reject the
chastening of the Almighty.
Gal 6:15 For neither is circumcision anything nor uncircumcision, but a new creation is
what matters.
4. It is through His stripping, consuming, and tearing down that God dispenses Himself
into those who love Him and seek after Him—Job 10:13; Eph. 3:9; cf. John 3:6; Phil.
3:3.
Job 10:13 But You have hidden these things in Your heart; / I know that this is with You:

16
 Eph 3:9 And to enlighten all that they may see what the economy of the mystery is,
which throughout the ages has been hidden in God, who created all things,
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is
spirit.
Phil 3:3 For we are the circumcision, the ones who serve by the Spirit of God and boast
in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh,
5. God’s purpose in dealing with His holy people is that they would be emptied of
everything and receive only God as their gain; the desire of God’s heart is that we
would gain Him in full as life, as the life supply, and as everything to our being, which
ultimately consummates in the New Jerusalem—Rom. 8:28-29.
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to
those who are called according to His purpose.
Rom 8:29 Because those whom He foreknew, He also predestinated to be conformed to
the image of His Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brothers;
6. The end of the book of Job tells us that Job eventually saw God; in the New Testament
sense, seeing God equals gaining God; to see God is to be transformed into the
glorious image of Christ, the God-man, that we may express God in His life and
represent Him in His authority—42:5-6; 2 Cor. 3:18.
Job 42:5 I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear, / But now my eye has seen You;
Job 42:6 Therefore I abhor myself, and I repent / In dust and ashes.
2 Cor 3:18 But we all with unveiled face, beholding and reflecting like a mirror the glory of
the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even
as from the Lord Spirit.
7. The more we see God, know God, and love God, the more we abhor ourselves and the
more we deny ourselves—Matt. 16:24; Luke 9:23; 14:26.
Matt 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone wants to come after Me, let him
deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
Luke 9:23 And He said to them all, If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow Me.
Luke 14:26 If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife
and children and brothers and sisters, and moreover, even his own soul-life, he
cannot be My disciple.
C. According to Solomon’s prayer in 1 Kings 8:48, we always need to pray toward the Holy
Land, typifying Christ as the portion allotted by God to the believers (Deut. 8:7; Col. 1:12);
toward the holy city, signifying the kingdom of God in Christ (Psa. 48:1-2); and toward the
holy temple, signifying God’s house, the church, on the earth (Eph. 2:21; 1 Tim. 3:15):
1 Kings 8:48 And if they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their
enemies, who have carried them captive, and they pray to You toward their land that
You have given to their fathers, the city that You have chosen, and the house that I
have built for Your name;
Deut 8:7 For Jehovah your God is bringing you to a good land, a land of waterbrooks, of
springs and of fountains, flowing forth in valleys and in mountains;
Col 1:12 Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you for a share of the allotted portion
of the saints in the light;
Psa 48:1 Great is Jehovah, / And much to be praised / In the city of our God, / In His holy
mountain.
Psa 48:2 Beautiful in elevation, / The joy of the whole earth, / Is Mount Zion, the sides of the
north, / The city of the great King.
Eph 2:21 In whom all the building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the
Lord;
1 Tim 3:15 But if I delay, I write that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the
house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and base of the truth.
1. Daniel prayed three times a day by opening his windows toward Jerusalem; through
His faithful channels of prayer, God carries out His economy with His elect for
Christ’s coming—Dan. 6:10; Acts 2:42; 6:4.
Dan 6:10 Now when Daniel came to know that the writing had been signed, he went to

17
 his house (in his upper room he had windows open toward Jerusalem) and
three times daily he knelt on his knees and prayed and gave thanks before his
God, because he had always done so previously.
Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the teaching and the fellowship of the
apostles, in the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Acts 6:4 But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.
2. God will listen to our prayer when our prayer to God is toward Christ, the kingdom of
God, and the house of God as the goal in God’s eternal economy; this means that our
prayer should always be aimed at the interests of God, that is, at Christ and the church
as God’s interests on earth, for the fulfilling of God’s economy.

18