Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

Micah 4:13

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

“Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion; For I will make your horn iron, and I will make your hooves bronze; You will beat in pieces many peoples; I will consecrate their gain to the Lord, and their substance to the Lord of the whole earth.” Micah 4:13

The Israelis of the State of Israel do have horns like iron in their military aggression in the Middle East region and are “threshing” and beating to pieces many people. In the Bible, “horns” represent power and protection, such as the “horns of the altar” and the “horns of the Ark of the Covenant”. The Israelis rely on power and strength instead of the Spirit of God. The Israelis also have feet like bronze in their immovable stance to remain an independent state within an Islamic region and immovable in face of the threats from the United Nations to subdue them. What personal gain do the Israelis have in using power and might while ignoring the Spirit of the Lord? None! All the gain belongs to the Lord. What is happening in the State of Israel is by the hand of God. We are seeing the fulfillment of prophecy happening before our eyes, which is His gain, not Israel’s. God gathered the Jewish people to the State of Israel as the place where He unleashes His wrath on them, as described in Ezekiel 22:19-21.

As far as Christians being the “daughter of Zion”, we have been adopted into the family of God through Jesus Christ. Jesus is from the Jewish tribe of Judah. The Lord gives us horns of iron and feet like bronze, meaning we hold fast in the good fight of faith in Jesus Christ without the softness of fleshly sentimentality.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we hold no value for smooth words and flatteries because that is being used by deceitful people, “For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.” Romans 16:18 We have no value of trying to impress on people that we are sheep because deceitful people are disguising themselves as sheep but are really wolves, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Matthew 7:15 Our Lord Jesus was betrayed by a kiss, “Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.” Matthew 26:48-49

Also, there is the beast with two horns like a lamb, which is Satan’s version of the Holy Spirit, “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.” Revelation 13:11 Click here for a post on the beast with two horns like a lamb. “And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:14-15

As followers of Christ, for us to “thresh” is to subdue the deceitfulness and destructiveness of the flesh and to uphold belief in God and Jesus Christ as we welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit. This is difficult in an atheistic culture but well worth the hardships, “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 Anyone who does not fully support the entity that gives people what to think, feel, do, and say are “put through the meat grinder”. To “beat in pieces many people” is to have victory over sin and death, through Jesus Christ, in a culture that greatly outnumbers Christians. We are the faithful few. Jesus will say to us, “‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’” Matthew 25:23 Our gain is dedicated to the Lord of the whole earth.

Click here for a post on having victory in the wet and soggy mire from Zachariah 10:5a.

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“….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