David and his men were put aside by the Philistines before the great battle: Jesus Christ and His followers are set apart before the Battle of Armageddon.

1 Samuel 29

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

 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God.
And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 
saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.

Revelation 7:2-3

• The face-off towards the global battle of Armageddon.
• Jesus Christ and His followers are detested and unwanted in this world.
  • Jesus Christ and His followers are approved only for their earthly benefit.
  • Jesus Christ and His followers are spoken against in today’s society.
  • The relationship of God and Jesus Christ with the Israelis of today is not understood.
  • Today’s society does not want the goodness of Holy Spirit filled people among them.
  • Jesus Christ and His followers are dismissed from the today’s “democratic” society.

The face off towards the global battle of Armageddon. “Then the Philistines gathered together all their armies at Aphek, and the Israelites encamped by a fountain which is in Jezreel.” 1 Samuel 29:1

The confrontation of the two armies, which arises from the global tribulation, will be a massive faceoff. People might ask how such a global battle could take place when the thing which forms what we think, feel, do, and say has so much control over people. The answer is simple, just before the global Battle of Armageddon, the power center of the beast is plunged into darkness. The thing which forms thoughts and feelings will be off-line, which means it will not have the ability to enable the image of the beast to live and speak through people. The masses of people in every city around the world will no longer be confined in life by the mark of the beast. At that time, rebellion against the global government will be massive. How will the power center of the beast be overthrown? It is plunged into darkness after the intense effects of global warming.

Below are pure quotes which says it plainly,

Global warming happens in the fourth plague: “The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, 
and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.” Revelation 16:8-9

The power center of the beast goes off-line in the fifth plague: “The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.” Revelation 16:10-11.

The Battle of Armageddon comes in the sixth plague: “The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. “Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.”

“Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.” Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.” Revelation 16:12-16

Jesus Christ returns in the Seventh Plague, when the Seventh Trumpet sounds.

Jesus Christ and His followers are detested and unwanted in this world.  “And the lords of the Philistines passed in review by hundreds and by thousands, but David and his men passed in review at the rear with Achish. Then the princes of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” 1 Samuel 29:2-3a.

David and his men were in the back while the Philistines were showcased in the front, but the Philistine governors wanted David and his men completely out of the picture. That is like the world of today which puts Jesus Christ as far into the background as possible and wants Christianity out of the picture entirely.

The progression towards the global tribulation and the Battle of Armageddon occurs because we live in a world which exalts themselves above God, the Lord Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Humanity parades itself in a show of superiority over Christianity by living for the thing which forms their thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and words which sits in the temple of God, our body, as if it is God. As they parade themselves to be seen in every city around the world they boast, “Who is like the beast? Who can make war with him?” Revelation 13:4 For a post on the “man of sin” click this link.

When “passing in review,” the most desirable of a culture, the “best of the best,” are put in the front to showcase their strength, superiority, etc. The least desirable of the culture are left in the background according to the saying, “out of sight out of mind.” Today, Christians are left in the background while those who live by the thing which forms what they think, feel, do, and say are showcased. They are showcased in every sector of society because they are endowed with uncanny knowledge, extraordinary skills, amazing physical abilities, authority, etc. They are allowing the image of the beast to live and speak through them by the thing which has power over physiology and forms thoughts and feelings. They comprise the “democratic” society in every city around the world as they are conformed to their place in life by what they say and do. They are conformed to their mark in life as they are groomed to the mark of the beast.

David and his people were among the Israelite-hating Philisitines because Saul had chased them there. Today, we live among the anti-Christian world. However, David and his people never once joined the Philistines in harming the Israelites. As followers of Christ, we will never bring harm to Christianity. Saul did not want David to be among the Israelites because David was anointed to be their king. This world wants to separate Jesus Christ from His followers. Saul wanted David to be far in the background, “out of sight and out of mind.” Saul figured that David could not be a king if he wasn’t a part of the Israelite nation which he was anointed to be king over. Saul wanted to be the undisputed king. Today, this world does not want Jesus Christ to be among the population of people who lift Him up as Lord of lords and King of kings. The thing which forms what people think, feel, do, and say wants to be the undisputed king by sitting in the temple of God, our body, as if it is God.

Jesus Christ and His followers are approved only for their earthly benefit. And Achish said to the princes of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or these years? And to this day I have found no fault in him since he defected to me.” 1 Samuel 29:3b.

The governors of the Philistines did not want David riding with them in battle, so the king of the Philistines (Achish) vouched for David as a worldly asset. In the next section of this post, we see how the will of the governors held more weight than the will of king Achish. The governors were very headstrong, unforgiving, and unyielding. The Israelites/Hebrews were detested so much by the Philistines that even their materialistic benefits meant nothing.

The progression towards the global tribulation and the Battle of Armageddon occurs because the value of individuals is based on money and possessions. People are very headstrong, unforgiving, and unyielding towards Christianity. They place no value on the Spirit and have no belief in eternal life nor of the judgment beyond the grave, so they live for the offerings of this world. As quoted, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” 2 Timothy 3:1-5

The only reason Achish gave a nod of approval to David and his people is because David went on raids and gave the plunder to Achish. He thought David had betrayed the Israelites by working for him against the Israelites. Although Achish believed the plunder given to him was from raiding the Israelites, David was raiding and plundering people with no connection at all to the Jewish/Hebrew nation. As followers of Christ, we are never to follow the ways of the world against God which values money, possessions, and all sorts of worldly prestige over Him, the Lord Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus has two very important things to say to us, as quoted below,

Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.” So they brought it. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Mark 12:15b.-17, Matthew 6:19-21

Jesus Christ and His followers are spoken against in today’s society. “But the princes of the Philistines were angry with him; so the princes of the Philistines said to him, “Make this fellow return, that he may go back to the place which you have appointed for him, and do not let him go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become our adversary. For with what could he reconcile himself to his master, if not with the heads of these men?” 1 Samuel 29:4

The governors of the land of the Philistines were angry with Achish, the king of the Philistines, for thinking about allowing David and his people to ride with them in battle. The only thing the princes saw were Hebrews/Israelites, and the princes of the Philistines had no softness in their heart for them despite the plunder David and his people obtained for their king Achish. The princes wanted David and his people to be kept aside, away from the battle entirely, away from the Israelites, and away from the Philistines. They were trying to reduce the risk of David and his people coming against them midway through the battle.

The progression towards global tribulation and the battle of Armageddon occurs because Jesus Christ and all of His followers are not wanted in the society of the global culture. We are not wanted in the battle because we fight a spiritual battle against darkness and sin. In contrast, they fight a worldly battle against flesh and blood. We allow our body to be the temple of the Holy Spirit which is totally opposite of those who make their body the temple of the thing which forms their thoughts, feelings, words, and speech. It enables the image of the beast to live and speak through them, but we desire the image of Christ to live and speak through us. They are conformed to their place in life by being groomed to the mark of the beast, but we are conformed to our home in Heaven by being groomed by the Holy Spirit.

As long as we allow Jesus Christ to be Lord over us, then we are a threat to the life of the king which wants to set itself up as God within us. As followers of Christ, we live by the word of God which is a discerner of thoughts and the intents of the heart. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:12-13

During the global tribulation, and moving into the Battle of Armageddon, the few who are faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ will be alone in the world. Even today, we do not have the fellowship of the full body of Christ and those of this world are sure to keep the body of Christ separated. Those of this world build a wall against Jesus Christ to prohibit the human spirit from fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

The churches have tossed out the Gospel of Christ and are no longer places for fellowship in Jesus Christ. The values of Christianity are no longer present in government law-making, and the educational system no longer tolerate the teachings of the Bible. In every sector of the “democratic” society, Christianity is not welcomed and expected to be kept “out of sight and out of mind.” Today’s society regards Christianity as a weakness, not fit to be with them, and a threat to their existence.

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.

The relationship of God and Jesus Christ with the Israelis of today is not understood.  “Is this not David, of whom they sang to one another in dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands’?” 1 Samuel 29:5

The princes of the Philistines are the ones asking the question in the verse above. They actually thought David was in a functional partnership with Saul. This is something like thinking Jesus Christ is in a partnership with the Jewish people of today. There is no more truth in David being a partner of Saul then there is truth in the Lord Jesus being in partnership with the Israelis of today.

As this world progresses towards the global tribulation and the Battle of Armageddon, there is a misinterpretation of who Jesus Christ is, His relationship to the Israelis, and His relationship to this world. God and Jesus Christ are not defeated because the world is coming against the State of Israel. In fact, God is using the global government of the beast to bring judgment to the State of Israel. If this world correctly interpreted the role of God and His Son Jesus in all of that, this anti-Christian world would realize they are an active and present part of fulfilling Bible prophecy. Because this world mistakes the relationship which God and Jesus Christ has with Israel, they carry forth the goals of the United Nations thinking God and the work His Son did on the Cross are defeated by the defeat of the State of Israel.

The Holy Spirit makes the relationship between God and Jesus Christ with the Jewish people perfectly clear in Acts 4:10-12,

…let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, 

that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Acts 4:10-12

The “men” in the above phrase, “given among men…” is referring to “mankind,” all of humanity.

The phrase, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands’ was spread far beyond the borders of the Israelites. That phrase was spread everywhere and even in the land of the Philistines. However, each person interpreted it in different ways. For example, the Philistines interpreted it to mean Saul and David were a formidable partnership in battle and should be feared. However, Saul interpreted it to mean that David was greater than him in the eyes of the people and a threat to his rule as king. Today, those of the “democratic” society of the beast have ensured that the name of Jesus Christ and Christianity is slandered. Whoever hears the name of Jesus Christ and Christian will have a negative and hateful interpretation.

Those who live by the thing which forms their thoughts, feelings, words, and behaviors only look at the world from human rationale. They reason that defeat of God on this earth is defeat of the Kingdom of God and Jesus Christ, period. As they allow the image of the beast to live and speak through them, by the thing forming their thoughts and feelings, they perpetually attack belief in God, discard the need for the remission of sin through Jesus Christ, and blaspheme the Holy Spirit. They reason that by eliminating the “natural” and earthly sentiments of Christianity they have victory over the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the process, they are fulfilling every word of Bible prophecy concerning the global government of the beast, and the image and mark of the beast. They are being conformed to the global “democratic” and anti-Christian culture as they are groomed to the mark of the beast.

Today’s society does not want the goodness of Holy Spirit filled people among them. “Then Achish called David and said to him, “Surely, as the Lord lives, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army is good in my sight. For to this day I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me. Nevertheless the lords do not favor you.” 1 Samuel 29:6

Progressing towards global tribulation and the Battle of Armageddon occurs because Jesus Christ and his followers are not favored. God’s goodness is not wanted in this world as Christianity is detested. We are living in the days when the Holy Spirit is not favored and as He is taken away lawlessness is loosed,  “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.” 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8

The description of David, given by the Israelite-hating king of the Philistines, is given as being “upright”, “good in my sight,” and “I have not found evil in you.” Even with Saul, David extended the mercy and grace of God with honor and respect. It was David’s practice not to raise a finger of rebellion against those who were governing over him. That is exactly how God wants us to be towards governing authorities. Our battle is not with flesh blood but with spiritual wickedness, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” 1 Samuel 29:12 For that reason, we are given this word, “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.” Titus 3:1-2

The lord of Philistines, the governors over the land of the Philistines, did not want David anywhere near them. Like in today’s world, the “lords” desire to establish their rule over the Lordship of Jesus Christ. They want the kingdom of the global culture of the beast to prevail and that means putting Jesus Christ and all of Christianity in a place of being “out of sight and out of mind.” As followers of Christ, He gives us the Holy Spirit so that we live by the Gospel of peace, to live uprightly with those in authority, to be good in the eyes of God through the Lord Jesus, and to walk in Holiness not evilness.

The “democratic” society of the beast dominates every city around the world, and they do not want the goodness of the Holy Spirit to live among them. Instead, they insist on obedience to the thing which forms what people think, feel, do, and say. It enables the image of the beast to live and speak through people and by what they say and do they blaspheme goodness. They blaspheme the Holy Spirit, discard what Christ did for us on the Cross, and they deny God. They push Christianity into obscurity as they are conformed to their place in life. They are conformed to their mark in life as they are groomed to the mark of the beast.

Jesus Christ and His followers are dismissed from the today’s “democratic” society. “Therefore return now, and go in peace, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines.” 1 Samue; 29:7

David and his men were asked to leave from among the armies of the Philistines, if they didn’t leave, they would suffer the consequences. Today, Jesus Christ, His followers, and all of Christianity are asked to leave the social network of today’s society. We are expected to remain voiceless and “out of sight and out of mind.”

Jesus Christ and His followers have been given their “pink slip” dismissing them from the “democratic” society of today. We are pushed into obscurity without meaningful involvement within the social network. With humanitarian and churchy sounding words they say, “go in peace.” If we continue to make our presence known by sharing the Gospel of Christ, they guarantee things will not go well for us. The “lords” of today, who detests Christianity, are the masses in every city around the world who live by the anti-Christian thing which forms what they say, think, feel, and do.

“So David said to Achish, “But what have I done? And to this day what have you found in your servant as long as I have been with you, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” 1 Samuel 29:8

Like David’s response to Achish (the king of the Israelite-hating Philisitines), Jesus Christ responds to this world by asking what has He and His followers done to be denied a place within society? Jesus Christ has conquered sin and death to give us eternal life and He offers that to all the world, “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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17

As followers of the Lord Jesus, we want to share His Good News with this wayward world. We want to join the fight against sin and death in the name of God’s Son, Jesus. We want the masses of this world to win the victory over the image of the beast which is given life to live and speak through them by the thing which forms their thoughts, feelings, words, and behaviors. We want people to be free from conformity to the anti-Christian society as they are groomed to the mark of the beast.

“Then Achish answered and said to David, “I know that you are as good in my sight as an angel of God; nevertheless the princes of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’” 1 Samuel 29:9

The reason the lords/princes of this world does not want us Christians as members of their “democratic” society is because we possess the goodness of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is given to us by living for Jesus Christ by accepting what He did for us on the Cross and believing in Him as God’s Son. Those of this world love the darkness more than the light, “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19 The Holy Spiri opposes the thing which forms what people say, do, think, and feel because it is of Satan and is spiritual darkness. Its only purpose is to enable the image of the beast to live and speak through people in every city around the world.

“Now therefore, rise early in the morning with your master’s servants who have come with you. And as soon as you are up early in the morning and have light, depart.” 1 Samuel 29:10

When the morning light reaches our soul, that is the day that we choose to live for Jesus Christ and accept what He has done for us on the Cross to atone for sin. It is then we know we are not wanted in this world. The morning light of the Lord Jesus separates us from the darkness of the world because light cannot mix with darkness. As Jesus Christ says, “I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” Revelation 22:16 With Jesus Christ, our Master, we depart from the ways of this world to be set apart from an anti-Christian world. The global tribulation is the result of a world living in darkness without the light, and the Battle of Armageddon follows.

Jesus Christ is coming back during the darkness of this world, and He shines like the bright and morning star after the hours of night has passed. He destroys this dark and lawless world with the brightness of His coming, “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.” 2 Thessalonians 2:8

“So David and his men rose early to depart in the morning, to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.” 1 Samuel 29:11

Jesus Christ and this world parts way. As the followers of Jesus (the Bright and Morning Star) we go with Him, but this world heads towards the tumult of global tribulation.

And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:19-21

The word “man” in the above verse refers to “mankind,” or humanity as a whole.

The light of Jesus Christ and His followers are not contributors to the darkness of the “democratic” society of today. The light of the Gospel of Christ and Christianity as a whole are being kept “out of sight and out of mind.” What does contribute to every city around the world are the global goals of the United Nations, which is the global government of the beast. It has made itself the light of the world,

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 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 11:13-15

They go their own way and have decided to do battle on their own, without God, without Jesus, and without the Holy Spirit. Their fight is not a spiritual one at all, but they use internal coercion of physiology and thoughts and feelings along with external might to solidify their authority and power. That is a mixture which moves the global tribulation forward and towards the Battle of Armageddon.

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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