David returned to a ravished and burning Ziklag and saved his family: Jesus Christ returns to a ravished and war-torn world to save His family.

1 Samuel 30

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

• Jesus Christ returns to a world ravished by tribulation and war.
• Jesus Christ returns to a world where His people are in captivity.
• Jesus Christ returns to a world crying out in suffering for loved ones.
• Jesus Christ is greatly distressed at our suffering, even as we are pushed to the breaking point.
• Jesus Christ intercedes for us in prayer and returns with His armies to avenge our suffering.
• Jesus Christ brings mercy and grace to the weary, sick, and tired.
• Jesus Christ comes when this world is rejoicing and celebrating amidst the chaos.
• Jesus Christ brings Salvation and redeems His followers.
• Jesus Christ rewards His followers equally based on faith not human effort.
• Jesus Christ rewards every single person who befriends Him.

Jesus Christ returns to a world ravished by tribulation and war. “Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire,” 1 Samuel 30:1

Ziklag was a place set aside, away from the main flow of the Israelite-hating Philistines, where David and his men took refuge away from the spiritual wickedness of Saul. Today, the followers of Jesus Christ are set apart from the broad way of mainstream society and set apart from spiritual wickedness to live for Jesus Christ. David and his men returned to a war torn and ravished Ziklag, Ziklag was burning with fire, plundered, and David’s family and all of his men’s families were taken captive. Jesus Christ returns to a world ravished by tribulation and war. It is a world burning, plundered, and His Gospel and His followers are held in captivity under the global government of the beast (United Nations).

David and his men had just returned to Ziklag after being rejected from fighting in a huge battle between the Philistines and Israel under Saul’s spiritually wicked leadership (for the complete background go to 1 Samuel 29). Like David and his men, Jesus Christ and His followers are not combatants in the Battle of Armageddon, we are rejected by this world and pushed into obscurity. We are not contributing to the chaos of the global tribulation as we are set apart for Jesus Christ wearing the Armor of God.

The book of Revelation in chapter 18 gives a vivid description of the destruction of the global government. The two verses below are a glimpse into the destruction,

And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

Revelation 18:9-10

On the third day, David and his men returned to Ziklag. Likewise, Jesus Christ was raised from the dead on the third day in complete victory over death and sin. Because He lives, we will live also eternally with Him in the new heaven and new earth. The victory of the Lord Jesus is our guarantee that Jesus is coming back to take us home with Him at the end of this age.

While the global government of the beast (United Nations) promises peace and safety for the world, it is false prophecy because there is no peace for this world. They have built their global culture on the thing which forms what people think, feel, do, and speak which enables the image of the beast to live and speak through people. They deny God, discard the need for what Jesus Christ did for us on the Cross, and they blaspheme the Holy Spirit.

The global goals of the United Nations are not saving the planet, only the goal of God through Jesus Christ can do that, and His goal is this, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 Those who allow the image of the beast to live and speak through them are conformed to their place in life by what they say and do. They are groomed to the mark of the beast as they reject Jesus Christ.

Jesus is coming soon, morning or night or noon,
Many will meet their doom, trumpets will sound.
All of the dead shall rise, righteous meet in the sky,
Going where no one dies, Heavenward bound!
(Church Song)

Jesus Christ returns to a world where His people are in captivity. “…and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way.” 1 Samuel 30:2

When Jesus Christ comes back, He will find His people in captivity. It is not captivity to sin but is the captivity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and of all of us who desire to freely share the testimony of Jesus. Already, the churches have tossed out the Gospel of Christ as the testimony of Jesus has been taken captive. Government law-making no longer includes the values of the Bible because Christian values has been taken captive. The educational system no longer teaches Bible foundations because Bible teaching has been taken captive. Every sector of society rejects Christianity because Christianity has been taken captive.

The followers of Jesus Christ are being crucified on the Cross by those who live by the thing which forms what they think, feel, do, and say. That crucifixion is to keep us in captivity without comfort. The hands of Christians are nailed to the Cross to prevent us from doing anything for the Gospel of Christ. It’s painful not to be able to help those in need. The feet of Christians are nailed to the Cross to prevent us from going anywhere to spread the Gospel of Christ. It’s painful not being able to move towards those in need. The head of Christians are fitted with a crown of painful thorns to prohibit thoughts arising in support of the Gospel of Christ. It’s painful to be constantly brow-beaten. The heart of Christians is pierced to constantly keep us broken-hearted with heartaches galore.

Those who live by the thing which forms their thoughts and feelings are allowing the image of the beast to live and speak through them. By what they say and do, they hold the Gospel of Christ captive by denying God, rejecting what Jesus Christ did for us on the Cross, and blaspheming the Holy Spirit. By what they say and do, they are conformed to their place within the anti-Christian society. They are conformed to their mark in life as they are groomed to the mark of the beast. When Jesus Christ returns, He will see those who have taken us captive, and He will bring His judgment against them.

Troublesome times are here, filling men’s hearts with fear
Freedom we all hold dear now is at stake
Humbling your hearts to God saves from the rod, seek the way pilgrims trod,
Christians awake, Jesus is coming soon, morning or night or noon,
Many will meet their doom, trumpets will sound.
All of the dead shall rise, righteous meet in the sky, going where no one dies,
Heavenward bound!
(Church Song)

Jesus Christ returns to a world crying out in suffering for loved ones. “So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive.” 1 Samuel 30:3

When the Lord Jesus Christ comes back, this planet will be exactly as described within the scriptures of the Holy Bible. It will be ravished by tribulation and the Battle of Armageddon. The family of God, born through Jesus Christ, will be in captivity (Not captivity to sin but prohibited from freely living for God through Jesus).

“Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive.” 1 Samuel 30:4-5

David and his men were deeply affected to know that their entire families had been taken into captivity, and the place where they were staying was burned with fire. Their families were intentionally targeted, the same as the State of Israel and Christianity being targeted by the enemies of God and Jesus Christ. Their crying out is exactly the prophecy given to us today of what to expect under the global government of the beast (the United Nations). Jesus Christ is greatly distressed for the suffering of His people, “Jesus wept” John 11:35. As quoted below,

And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 

Revelation 6:10

Both of David’s wives were taken captive, and we have already heard about Abigail, the widow of Nabal. Nabal was a sheepshearer who refused to do anything for David or his people (That is written about in 1 Samuel 25). This is like those of the “democratic” society of the beast who shear the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of Christ). Their intent is to harden the human spirit to build a wall against the Holy Spirit by rejecting the need for Jesus. Jesus gives the Holy Spirit by the remission of sin. By shearing the Spirit, they make people more receptive to the thing which forms thoughts, feelings, words, and behaviors.

Abigail was a woman who turned away from her husband to help David and his men as much as she possibly could. She symbolizes everyone who does all they can to feed into the Holy Spirit by encouraging people through Jesus Christ. At the time of the raid, Abigail was taken captive. Today, “Abigail” has been taken captive and Christians are prohibited from helping people to live in the Holy Spirit by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our hands and feet are nailed to the Cross, our thoughts are browbeaten as we wear the crown of thorns, and our heart is pierced with heartache and pain. We are steadily progressing towards the intensity of the global tribulation, the Battle of Armageddon, and the ultimate return of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is deeply affected knowing how the global government of the beast (United Nations) is intentionally targeting His family, the whole community of Christianity. The global government works through the masses of people around the world who live by the thing which gives them what to think, feel, do, and speak. They target Christianity and the State of Israel. The United Nations derives their power from the masses in every city around the world. The thing forming thoughts and feelings allows the image of the beast to live and speak through people, and they despise the teaching of the Bible, the State of Israel, and all of Christianity. They dominate every city around the world and share in their denial of God, rejection of Jesus Christ, and blaspheme of the Holy Spirit. They are contributors to the affliction of the followers of Christ and the global tribulation. By what they say and do, they are conformed to their place within the anti-Christian society as they are groomed to the mark of the beast.

Oh, Jesus is coming soon, morning or night or noon
Many will meet their doom, trumpets will sound
All of the dead shall rise, righteous meet in the skies
Going where no one dies, heavenward bound
Troubles will soon be o’er, happy forevermore
When we meet on that shore, free from all care
Rising up in the sky, telling this world goodbye
Homeward we then shall fly, glory to share
(Church Song)

Jesus Christ is greatly distressed at our suffering, even as we are pushed to the breaking point. “Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” 1 Samuel 30:6

David was greatly distressed over the agony and suffering of his people and their family. David’s own people considered stoning David because of the loss they suffered under his leadership. Jesus Christ feels that same great distress over the affliction and suffering that His followers went through yesterday, goes through today, and will go through tomorrow. Jesus feels that great distress for His followers who suffer through the intense global tribulation and the impact of the Battle of Armageddon. He feels for those of us today who are burdened with heartaches, pain, unbearable hardships, social isolation and harassment for being a Christian. There are followers of Jesus who feel so pressured by the hostilities coming against them that they will want to stone Him instead of praising Him.

The shortest verse in the Bible is, “Jesus wept.” John 11:35. He wept because He was greatly troubled and moved to see a friend weeping. “When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.” John 11:33 The woman made the following statement, which was a mixture of emotions of feeling let down by Him, wanting to stone Him, loving Him, and believing in Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:21

It’s good to keep in mind that on the biggest part, the Jewish people were not friends of Jesus. We could say that the weeping Jews were not comforting the woman through the heartfelt way in which Jesus does. They were clinging to her through flatteries, which is to say attaching themselves to her through her grief to keep her away from the comfort that the Lord Jesus Christ would bring her. Daniel speaks to that as quoted here, “Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.” Daniel 11:34

 Like David who strengthened himself in the Lord his God, the Lord Jesus Christ strengthens Himself and rebounds in a huge way. He plans to bring the glory of the resurrection to those who believe in Him. As quoted, “Where have you laid him?” He asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.” 1 Samuel 30:34 The plan Jesus has for us who are greatly grieved on this earth is to raise us from the dead into eternal life to be with Him in the new heaven and earth. Like with Lazarus who had been dead four days, He is going to say, “Lazarus, come forth!” John 11:43. Except our personal name will be in the place of the name “Lazarus”. What a day of rejoicing that will be when we all get to Heaven.

As followers of Christ, we say with Paul, through the Holy Spirit, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18

Satan intends to weaken us as he roams the earth like a hungry lion looking for someone to devour. Those who live by the thing which forms what they think, feel, do, and say are allowing the image of the beast to live and speak through them. Their only purpose is to defeat our belief in God, the Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Christians, and all of Christianity. They are conformed to the anti-Christian global culture as they are groomed to the mark of the beast.

Even today, there is very little help for the followers of Jesus Christ so we can imagine what it will be like as the tribulation intensifies to a rolling boil. Failing can be expected. Even when we fall from the shear pressure of extreme affliction, it can have the effect of strengthening us as we return to live for God through Jesus. Daniel speaks of that in this verse, “And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.” Daniel 11:33-35

We are witnessing what Daniel referred to in the verse above as the “time appointed,” and it intensifies as the days go by under the watch of the United Nations (global government of the beast). The Holy Spirit has encouraging words for us as quoted below,

 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Hebrews 4:15-16, 1 John 2:1-2, 1 John 1:8-10

Jesus Christ intercedes for us in prayer and returns with His armies to avenge our suffering. “Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David.” 1 Samuel 30:7

The ephod was a garment worn by the high priests, such as Samuel, and other priests, and also worn by David, as revealed in 2 Samuel 6:14, as quoted, “And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.” The ephod was made of gold, symbolizing the best of the best. It was blue which symbolizes Holiness or Heaven. It was purple symbolizing royalty. And it was fine linen representing the clothing of the Holy Spirit. David would make inquiries to God with the ephod and God would answer him.

The ephod symbolizes the Lord Jesus Christ, being the best God offers to us as His only Son, who makes atonement for our sin by His death and resurrection. Jesus Christ was God in the flesh living in perfect Holiness and being sent from Heaven. Jesus Christ is the royalty of God who has been given a name above all names in Heaven and on earth. Jesus Christ was born of the Spirit of God and lived in the Spirit of God during His time on this earth. There is only one way to access God, and that is through the ephod, and Jesus Christ is that ephod, as quoted below,

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Romans 8:26-27

“So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.” 1 Samuel 30:8

Jesus Christ constantly went off by Himself to pray and to inquire of God when important events were upon Him. One such example is when He chose His twelve Apostles, as quoted, “One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and He prayed to God all night. At daybreak He called together all of His disciples and chose twelve of them to be Apostles…” Luke 6:12-13 Today, Jesus is praying in Heaven, away from the inhabitants of earth. He is praying for us who hold to His testimony during these times when the masses of the global government of the beast dominates every city around the world. He is waiting for His Father’s word to pursue and overtake this world’s system and bring us into the riches of the new heaven and new earth.

Jesus Christ might seem to have left us, but He is alive and in Heaven making intercession for the prayers of Christians (as quoted below) and can be read about in Revelation 5. Also, He is coming back due to the affliction of those who live for Him and the destruction of the Church, as read about in Revelation 4. The prayers of Christians are already in Heaven, and the answer to those prayers is the opening of the scroll, which is the opening of the Seven Seals, the sounding of the Seven Trumpets, and pouring out of the Seven Plagues.

 “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”Revelation 5:8

“So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the Brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind. But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so weary that they could not cross the Brook Besor.” 1 Samuel 30:9-10

When Jesus Christ comes back, He is bringing His armies from Heaven with Him to pursue His enemies. Those armies from Heaven are not anybody redeemed from this earth, but are like the angels of Heaven, such as the archangel Michael who is known as the “great captain,” the leader of the heavenly hosts, and the warrior. That is like the “400” of David’s warriors. The “200” left behind are the Christians on this earth who have not yet been taken to Heaven. When Jesus Christ comes back, He will then take us to be eternally with Him in the New Jerusalem.

Although He is coming back with flesh and bones in His eternally redeemed body, He is not coming back as an earthly military might. He brings a spiritual victory over Satan, the beast, and the second beast (false prophet). The first time Jesus came, the mistake was made that He would be an earthly king, so that mistake shouldn’t be made again. The first time the Lord Jesus came, He brought reconciliation to God by the atonement made for sin, and He gave us the Holy Spirit to see us through these turbulent days on earth. When He comes the second time, He will destroy this present world’s system, bring judgement to all those who rejected Him, and give eternal life to all those who believe Him.

The “two hundred” of His followers who are on this earth by the brook experience weariness and are those within the tribulation of this world, just before the coming of the Lord Jesus and His armies. The faithful few Christians are those who stay by the brook of the Water of Life. In our weariness as Christians, we hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Today, those living for God through Jesus Christ are well aware of the constant attacks against drinking from the Water of Life and living by the Holy Spirit, it is a life of affliction and hardship. That is because we make our body the temple of the Holy Spirit and oppose the thing which wants to sit in the temple (our body) as if it were God. It wants to sit within us by the thing which forms thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and words as it enables the image of the beast to live and speak through people. As it lives and speaks through people, they are hostile to Christianity as they are conformed to their place in life by being groomed to the mark of the beast.

The Bible doesn’t hide the hardships from us but assures us that the sufferings of today are more than made up for in the new heaven and new earth where we have eternal life in the New Jerusaelm.

And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?

And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.”

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Revelation 6:10, Daniel 11:33-35, Romans 8:

Revelation 19:11-16 is an excellent description of when the Lord Jesus and His Heavenly army pursues and overtakes His enemies, as quoted below,

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 

His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 

Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Jesus Christ brings mercy and grace to the weary, sick, and tired. “Then they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David; and they gave him bread and he ate, and they let him drink water. And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. So when he had eaten, his strength came back to him; for he had eaten no bread nor drunk water for three days and three nights.” 1 Samuel 30:11-12

It was a compassionate thing for David to allow his men to nourish an Egyptian enemy back to strength. David was completely opposite of Saul and David was called a man after God’s own heart. That is why God anointed David as king and rejected Saul for not keeping what the Lord commanded him, as quoted, “The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” 1 Samuel 13:14

Today, like the Egyptian, there are many people in this world who are weary, sick, and tired in this life and known to be on the outside of Christianity. Life has taken a toll on them in a world dominated by those who live for the “democratic” society who allow the image of the beast to live and speak through them by the thing which forms what they think, feel, do, and say. The sick and tired who are weary of life are not part of those who have a place in life by being groomed to the mark of the beast. Those who are malnourished and mistreated spiritually need someone to show the mercy and grace of God to them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Especially as the global tribulation intensifies. David and his men are symbolic of Jesus Christ who said the words below,

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Luke 4:18-19

David and his men are an example of the Good Samaritan who helped the wounded and beaten man, and Jesus Christ speaks to us through the same parable which is found in Luke 10:30-37.

“Then David said to him, “To whom do you belong, and where are you from?” And he said, “I am a young man from Egypt, servant of an Amalekite; and my master left me behind, because three days ago I fell sick. We made an invasion of the southern area of the Cherethites, in the territory which belongs to Judah, and of the southern area of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.”” 1 Samuel 30:13 -14

Love has gone cold in this world and unlike David there is no compassion whatever for those who are spiritually sick and left behind in this anti-Christian world. Jesus Christ has told us about these days, and love becomes colder as the days of tribulation progresses, “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” Matthew 24:12 Like the Egyptian, Jesus Christ wants us to confess who we are as sinners and acknowledge that we are from the seed of Adam, a fallen generation. We confess that this world has nothing for us but leaves us with weariness, sickness, and spiritual hunger. Jesus Christ nourishes us back to health by the remission of sin and giving us the Holy Spirit. He reconciles us to God.

“And David said to him, “Can you take me down to this troop?” So he said, “Swear to me by God that you will neither kill me nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this troop.” 1 Samuel 30:15a.

David wanted to see a conversion within the Egyptian’s heart to show that he was willing to help David against those who took away David’s family and the families of his men. Likewise, Jesus Christ wants us to show fruits of repentance by turning against the thing which forms thoughts, feelings, words, and behaviors which enables the image of the beast to live and speak through people. The Lord Jesus wants us to show the fruit of turning against afflicting Christians and helping with promoting the cause of His Gospel. As the Holy Spirit says through James, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” James 2:26

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

James 2:14-17

“So he said, “Swear to me by God that you will neither kill me nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this troop.” 1 Samuel 30:15b.

When we repent of our sin and show fruit of that repentance, the last thing we want is to go back to the master of this world which governs by the image of the beast through the thing which forms thoughts, feelings, words, and behaviors. Especially as the tribulation intensifies from day to day. They are very hostile towards those who convert to Christianity. With the Lord Jesus, we are granted forgiveness and we pass from death into life.

The contract God has made with us is this, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 Another part of that same contract is this, “ “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Jesus Christ comes when this world is rejoicing and celebrating amidst the chaos. “And when he had brought him down, there they were, spread out over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil which they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. Then David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled.” 1 Samuel 30:16-17

Those who held captive the wives of David, and all the families of his men, were celebrating afterwards. They plundered, ravished, and left the place burning where David and his men were staying and made a party of it. When Jesus Christ comes back that is exactly how the world is going to be.

Envision a world dancing and celebrating within the chaos of tribulation, ravished by war, and even during the Battle of Armageddon. They literally laugh and enjoy the chaos in the world, and they dance on the graves of those who die. We are already seeing the world being groomed to that type of behavior because laughing and dancing at atrocity and impish acts is encouraged (Such as in the Jackass movies etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. and on and on and on). However, laughing and dancing at wholesome humor is ridiculed and treated with hostility. The Holy Spirit describes that perfectly through Isaiah, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20 That is exactly why there is exponential growth in the LGBQT+ community and why the killing of the unborn is celebrated with dancing and laughter as an act of humanitarian progress.

Today, the goodness of the Holy Spirit is blasphemed, the need for the remission of sin through Jesus Christ is discarded, and there is denial of the reality of God. The masses of people in every city have chosen their own way through life by living for the thing which forms their thoughts, words, feelings, and behaviors. It enables the image of the beast to live and speak through them, and by what they say and do they laugh and dance at impish and destructive behavior. They spark the fires of chaotic behavior. By what they say and do, they are conformed to their place in life within this anti-Christian world as they are groomed to the mark of the beast. “Who delight in doing evil and rejoice in the perversity of evil;” Proverbs 2:14

Revelation 11:10 (Click this link to a post on Revelation 11) describes the torment and death of the anointed people of God as if it is Christmas around the world, “And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another…” They are rejoicing over dead Christians.

Romans 1:18-32 is an excellent description of those who delight in evil and approve of those who do wickedness.

“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5

The coming of the Lord Jesus is described in the verses below as well. Aaron thought he was hearing the noise of war among the people, but Moses said it was the sound of singing and he saw the people dancing. That definitely describes the environment within the global tribulation as people enjoy, celebrate, sing and dance within their spiritual wickedness over the chaos in the world. Moses is part of the “scarlet cord” which points to Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Son of God. Like Moses, who became hot with anger, Jesus Christ comes back with vengeance against all those who have afflicted His people.

“And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is a noise of war in the camp.”
But he said: “It is not the noise of the shout of victory, nor the noise of the cry of defeat, but the sound of singing I hear.”

So it was, as soon as he came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing. So Moses’ anger became hot, and he cast the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. Then he took the calf which they had made, burned it in the fire, and ground it to powder; and he scattered it on the water and made the children of Israel drink it.”

Exodus 32:17-20

For a post on the Golden Calf, where the above scripture is found, click this link.

Below is what the book of the Revelation says about the attack of Jesus Christ against those who are living it up in the day of spiritual wickedness within the global tribulation. In the verse below, the sun is once again mentioned in connection with the end of this world’s present system. The intensity of global warming is mentioned as the Fourth Plague in Revelation 16:8-9.

Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.”

Revelation 19:17-18

Jesus Christ brings Salvation and redeems His followers. “So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all. Then David took all the flocks and herds they had driven before those other livestock, and said, “This is David’s spoil.” 1 Samuel 30:18-20

When David declared, “This is David’s spoil,” that is the “scarlet cord” pointing to Jesus Christ of whom it is said, “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.” Revelation 11:15

David brought salvation to his family and redeemed every single one of his men and their families. Whatever they lost during the raid, everything was more than made up to them. That points to Jesus Christ who said, “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.” Matthew 16:25-27 The Lord Jesus also promises this to those who let go of the things of this world to follow Him, “So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.” Luke 18:29-30

After the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, He ascended up into Heaven. He went to prepare a place for us within the eternal city within the new heaven and earth, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.” John 14:3-7

The Holy Spirit is our guarantee of eternal redemption, and He is given to us through Jesus Christ by the remission of sin, “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 13-14

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Revelation 21:1-8

Jesus Christ rewards His followers equally based on faith not human effort. “Now David came to the two hundred men who had been so weary that they could not follow David, whom they also had made to stay at the Brook Besor. So they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near the people, he greeted them.” 1 Samuel 30:21

David greeted the two hundred men who were so weary that they were not able to pursue and valiantly fight against those who set their place on fire and took all of their families captive. At the same time, they stepped forward to meet David and his victorious men who recovered their families and all that was stolen. David greeted them all as they met. When Jesus Christ comes back, He is going to greet everybody who has held to His testimony and have eagerly waited for His return. Jesus will greet those who have grown weary through the affliction the same as He greets the strong. The Holy Spirit speaks these words to us, as quoted below,

The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, or bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding,
nor favor to men of skill;”

Ecclesiastes 9:11

Salvation is a gift of God, which is by our faith, and there is nothing in our own strength that we can do to earn it. There are no boasting rights within the body of Christ, every person’s faith is the same size, as quoted, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

A very clear example of the difference between works and faith is seen in the behavior of those working to bring in the global goals of the United Nations. Establishing the global government of the beast is 100% rooted in human effort and 0% rooted in faith in God through Jesus Christ. In contrast, Salvation has 0% to do with the human effort we put into making this world a better place and has 100% to do with believing the testimony of Jesus Christ. Our Salvation is eternal life in a new heaven and new earth, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Those working to build the earthly utopia by human efforts are relying on the thing which forms their thoughts, feelings, words, and behaviors. It enables the image of the beast to live and speak through them and by what they say and do, it is obvious they have no faith in God through Jesus Christ. They are conformed to their place within the global culture as they are groomed to the mark of the beast. The human effort put forth to build the “democratic” society of the beast is rooted in spiritual wickedness, but faith in God through Jesus Christ is rooted in the Holy Spirit.

“Then all the wicked and worthless men of those who went with David answered and said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except for every man’s wife and children, that they may lead them away and depart.” 1 Samuel 30:22

Jesus Christ warns us repeatedly that it makes no difference the work we do on this earth, as long as we hold to His testimony. He often refers to those seeking greater rewards, prestige, and authority than other Christians as being “wicked.” The parable of the Prodigal Son is an example to us.

The first 14 verses of The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard are quoted below,

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 

And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’

“So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ 

But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 

MAtthew 20:1-14

“But David said, “My brethren, you shall not do so with what the Lord has given us, who has preserved us and delivered into our hand the troop that came against us. For who will heed you in this matter? But as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike.” So it was, from that day forward; he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day.” 1 Samuel 30:23-25

The statute and ordinance which David established was certainly one which Jesus Christ often talked about in His parables, private talks with His Disciples, and in His teachings to the Pharisees and the general public. That statute and ordinance states that rewards for faith in God are all the same. The reward Billy Grahm receives in Heaven will be the same as the sinners He led to the Cross of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin. We are rewarded for our faith in God through Jesus Christ, not by what we accomplish.

The last two verses of the Parable of the Laborers in Vineyard are quoted below. That is about the exact same language which David used towards the “wicked and useless” men who thought they deserved more than the others based on their human efforts. That is the “scarlet cord” which points to Jesus Christ throughout the Bible.

“Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.”

Matthew 20:14-16

I was lost but Jesus saved me
He gave his life on Calvary’s tree
And though I failed him
He still loves me
Through his grace I’ve been set free

I know I don’t deserve a mansion
‘Cause I was born a sinful man
No, I don’t deserve a mansion
But Jesus built a home for me in glory land
(Church Song)

Jesus Christ rewards every single person who befriends Him. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved. Each one will receive the same gift of eternal life in the new heaven and the new earth along with all the benefits of the Paradise of God which comes with it. In the New Jerusalem are many mansions, as quoted, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2

“Now when David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, “Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the Lord”— to those who were in Bethel, those who were in Ramoth of the South, those who were in Jattir, those who were in Aroer, those who were in Siphmoth, those who were in Eshtemoa, those who were in Rachal, those who were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, those who were in the cities of the Kenites, those who were in Hormah, those who were in Chorashan, those who were in Athach, those who were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were accustomed to rove.” 1 Samuel 30:26-31

Needless to say, those who have rejected the friendship of Jesus Christ, and were not welcoming to Him when He roved around them, will not inherit the gift of eternal life. They discard the need for Jesus Christ who brings the remission of sin. They blaspheme the Holy Spirit whom Jesus gives to us by the atonement of sin. And they deny the existence of God the creator. They choose to live by the thing which forms what they think, feel, do, and say which enables the image of the beast to live and speak through them. They are conformed to their place in life by what they say and do as they are groomed to the mark of the beast.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we have a new song to sing,
Sing the wondrous love of Jesus,
Sing His mercy and His grace;
In the mansions bright and blessed
He’ll prepare for us a place.

When we all get to heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!

While we walk the pilgrim pathway,
Clouds will overspread the sky;
But when trav’ling days are over,
Not a shadow, not a sigh.

Let us then be true and faithful,
Trusting, serving every day;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory
Will the toils of life repay.

Onward to the prize before us!
Soon His beauty we’ll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open;
We shall tread the streets of gold.
(Church Song)

---

“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1