In the Coming Days*

      The signs of the times are all around us and it is time for the Bride to trim her lamps and be ready for the return of the Bridegroom. 

     The prophet Daniel was given to see in the Spirit through dreams and visions certain kingdoms of the earth that would rise up, which Daniel called "beasts" because they appeared to him in that spiritual form. The fourth beast that he saw had ten horns, and he called it "dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong, with great iron teeth with which it devoured and broke in pieces. Daniel saw that this terrible beast would be slain and his body given over to the burning flame. (Dan. 7:7, 11).

 Daniel also saw the Kingdom of heaven: "...and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." (Dan. 7:9-10). Daniel saw in his vision the great white throne judgment of God.

     He also saw in the Spirit One whom we can now understand as being Jesus Christ: "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." (v. 13-14).

     As Daniel saw these things in the vision, he was troubled. He didn't understand what he was seeing. So he asked one that stood by him in his vision "the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things." (v. 15-16). Daniel sought the truth and was given understanding. Seeking the truth and understanding is also very important for us in these end times because there are many voices and events that we are seeing and hearing and there is also much deception.

     Daniel then understood that the four beasts that he saw in the vision were four kings that shall rise out of the earth, "But the saints of the most High shall take (qebal - receive) the kingdom, and possess (hasan - possess, occupy, treasured up) the kingdom for ever; even for ever and ever." (V. 17-18). We can see that the Hebrew word used here and translated as "take" means "to receive." There are those who consider themselves Christians today who are preaching that we are to "take" our nation and make it a Christian nation, estimating that this would take about 250 years to accomplish. Daniel wrote that the saints "receive" the kingdom. It is given to them. Again, truth and understanding are a necessity for these times.

     Daniel wrote: "Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast...exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet." (v. 19). Daniel wanted to know more in truth about the fourth and worst beast that he had seen. This beast had ten horns in his head signifying ten kings, and one of those horns "made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom." (v. 20-22). Another horn, or king, will rise from this fourth beast or kingdom: "And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times (zeman/zaman - appointed, fixed, set time, season) and laws (dat - law, decree, purpose, commandment (of God), commission): and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it, unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." (v. 23-27).

     This horn of the fourth beast will want to change the appointed times and laws of God. His power, as mentioned above, lasts for "a time, times and the dividing of time."  Daniel Ch. 12 gives us more detail about this period of the beast's reign including the time of trouble that has never existed before. Those will be delivered from it that are found written in the book. (Dan. 12:1). As for the length of time, that is explained as: "a thousand two hundred and ninety days" and "one thousand three hundred and five and thirty days." This is equivalent to 3 1/2 years. During this time, the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate is set up. This means that a third temple must be built, and we now understand with the truth of the New Testament, that the abomination that occurs in this temple will be the antichrist (beast) declaring that he is God. Daniel wrote that the wise would understand these events while none of the wicked will be able to understand or perceive the truth of it. (Dan. 12:6-12). These words of Daniel's were to be closed up and sealed until the time of the end. (v. 9, 13). Daniel's book has now been opened and revealed to our understanding because we are in the time of the end.

     We see further revelation about the fourth beast of Daniel's prophetic vision and its connection to the figure known as the antichrist from the apostle Paul, who described the events before the return of Christ: "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day (the day of Christ) shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God...And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them a strong delusion, that they should believe a (the) lie: That they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thess. 2:1-12, excerpt). 

     We are seeing that "falling away" from the faith today from the true doctrine of the Word of God in order to fill the seats of the church. The antichrist figure will declare himself to be God in the temple, which means that the third temple must be rebuilt first. The antichrist will be powered by Satan, showing false signs and lying wonders. However, those who have turned away from the truth will believe these signs and be deceived, as God allows them to be. We must stay in the truth, not to be given to the deception of the lie of "Hath God said?"  This is the same lie that the serpent set before Adam and Eve. Paul also wrote that we have been chosen by God for salvation from the beginning "through the sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth: whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." (v. 13-14). Paul wrote for us to "stand fast" in what we have been taught by the Word of God through His apostles. The antichrist, like the fourth beast of Daniel's vision, and like the other son of perdition mentioned in scripture, Judas Iscariot, will not be victorious, but he will be destroyed by the Lord with the return of Christ. Those who are joined with him in the hatred of the truth will be damned.

     The Book of Revelation also mentions the temple in relation to end time events including the appearance of the antichrist, or beast, and the same mention as the above timing of forty-two months or 3 1/2 years. During this 3 1/2 years, the Gentiles will "tread under" the holy city. John, in the revelation in the Spirit is told to measure the temple of God. (Rev. 11:1-2). 

     John also wrote that the Lord will send two very special witnesses who will prophecy "a thousand two hundred and three score days."  (v. 3). The prophetic witnesses will be given power from the Lord to devour their enemies who try to hurt them with fire that proceeds out of their mouth. These witnesses also have the power to bring forth plagues and droughts whenever they want. (v. 5-6). "And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them." (v. 7).

     The dead bodies of the two witnesses will be left out on the street while those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over their deaths with gift-giving, because these witnesses from God made life a torment for them. However, after 3 1/2 days, "the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them." (v. 8-12). Strong earthquakes followed in the city and seven thousand died. Those who were left alive became afraid and gave glory to God. (v. 13).

     The beast could perform signs and lying wonders and the two witnesses performed signs of judgment and warning from God. Which will be believed? Many will fall for the strong delusion because they have no love for the truth. The Body of Christ must have discernment in these coming days.

     A great red dragon will appear as a wonder in heaven. That dragon will seek after a spiritual woman, who is understood to be Israel, in order to devour her man child as he is brought to the birth. The woman then fled into the wilderness where God had prepared a place for her where she would be fed "a thousand two hundred and threescore days." (Rev. 12:1-6). God assured protection for His people. However, those who believed in Christ were persecuted by Satan, which deceived the whole world. "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of the brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death." (7-11).

     Meanwhile the beast whom John saw in the Spirit, survived a mortal head wound, which caused all the world to worship the dragon which had caused the beast to survive. The beast spoke great blasphemies and he was given power to continue for "forty and two months." The beast blasphemed against God, His tabernacle and those who dwell in heaven. He made war against the saints: "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear." (Rev. 13:1-9, excerpt).

     As these events unfold in the coming days, will the Church adhere to the truth, or will they continue to "play church"? We are sanctified by the truth, the Word of God, according to the Words of Jesus. The necessary things have been accumulated to prepare for the rebuilding of the third temple in Jerusalem, including the sacrifice of the red heifer. The antichrist, the beast, the son of perdition powered by Satan, will be revealed, and the whole world will be deceived by him, and there will be religious leaders who will go along with the deception. Where will the Church be?

*Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 8/17/25 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on the Facebook page of Kenneth E. Stevenson Jr. Dr. Stevenson's video messages are also found on You Tube at the Kenneth Stevenson channel. To contact or support this ministry, or to request prayer, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, and to receive a free e-book now available in several languages, go to http://www.theshroudofturin.org/freebook. Also the book NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling is available on Amazon.