Israel’s prophets conspire to devour souls and have made many widows. 

Ezekiel 22:25

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

“The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst.” Ezekiel 22:25 

The Jewish culture of today is the result of the actions of the Jewish people 2000 years ago. The Jewish leaders of the day when our Lord Jesus Christ walked on this earth considered the Gospel of Jesus to be a conspiracy against their way of life, against the Jewish culture. They were like a roaring lion devouring the soul of the Jewish people by tearing them from the will of God for them to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior. They stole the great treasure and precious things of Jesus Christ from the heart of the people and instead of causing marriage to Him, they made widows.

The verses in the next paragraph is a prophecy warning those faithful to God not to think that Jesus Christ is a conspiracy against them. The Pharisees during the day of our Lord Jesus were threatening the Jewish people against believing in Jesus Christ, causing them to be troubled in spirit and soul. The people were advised in this way, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28 The Jewish people were advised that Jesus Christ is a sanctuary for believers but an offense and stumbling block for unbelievers. The Jewish people who rejected Jesus Christ are fallen, broken, in a snare, and are taken by this world. As faithful followers of Jesus Christ, we are to embrace and hold to His testimony and the Holy Spirit.

“For the Lord spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying: “Do not say, ‘A conspiracy,’ Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy, nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread. He will be as a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, as a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble; They shall fall and be broken, be snared and taken.” Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.” Isaiah 8:11-16

We live in times when the churches and the majority of the world are like a roaring lion tearing the prey, the prey being the followers of Jesus Christ. The roaring lion is the entity that has power over physiology to give people what to think, feel, say, and do. This entity tears apart the human spirit and conscience to tear people away from the Spirit of Christ. That is done to enable the image of the beast to speak and live through people as the soul is devoured. This entity robs the spirit and soul of the treasure and precious things of our Lord Jesus Christ. Widows are made of many people as they suffer death to Jesus Christ. The masses of today’s culture are groomed to the mark of the beast by what they say and do.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:8-11

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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