Chronicles of the End Times
Occasionally, people say, are we really in the last days? How do we know? Does it matter one way or another? We will try to answer these questions and many others in this study. But the most important question may be, how can we reach others with hope in these changing times? One part of prophecy is often emphasized over another, causing us to lose perspective and miss the blessing and beauty of prophecy in scripture. I have taken the information in this study from many authors and teachers who have their lives studying God's word. I have added some insight that the Holy Spirit taught me. With God's help, I have endeavored to keep the whole counsel of the word of God in full view to give us an accurate picture of Christ and His great love for a lost world. I pray that this will challenge you and cause you to grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, as it has me preparing it. Let's begin!
Chronicles of the End Times
Awakening to the Spiritual Forces Around Us
Unlock the secrets of the spiritual world and learn how unseen forces impact our everyday lives. Discover the roles of angelic beings and the sinister allure of supernatural rebellions as we unravel how spiritual warfare shapes global events. With compelling insights from biblical texts, we explore the authority of Jesus and the life-changing power of His name in combating the darkness enveloping our world. Be prepared to see the world in a whole new light, as we challenge you to recognize the profound influence of spiritual principalities on our daily battles against evil.
Join me, Russ Scalzo, on a journey through the spiritual dimensions that govern our reality. With tragedies unfolding from New Orleans to China, understand how the conflict between good and evil forces can alter human actions, especially in trying times. Through biblical accounts and the teachings of Jesus, learn to wield the power of prayer as a tool to unveil hidden spiritual realms. We call on believers to lead with strength and prayer, aiming to shake the demonic world and free those ensnared by darkness. This episode promises not just revelation, but a compelling call to spiritual revival as we prepare for the coming of the King.
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00:00
Welcome everyone. This is Russ Scalzo. Chronicles of the End Times. Thank you for being with me today.
00:16
Today, I just want to address some of the things that have been going on in this crazy world of ours and the terrible tragedy in New Orleans, and also address the same type of terrorism in China and in Germany using vehicles to run people over, more shootings in New York City and the growing violence around the world. We've talked about this before, but it is vital to understand that we're not alone in this world. There are spiritual beings, both good and evil, that inhabit the same space we are inhabiting, and they have the power to influence those who open the door to it. In the case of this army veteran who drove a pickup truck into a crowd on New Year's Eve, an American citizen who lived in Texas served in the military. What makes someone crack and do that? The details coming from the news tell us that he was divorced several times, he was going through some financial troubles and I'm sure he was depressed, felt alone, isolated, and hopeless. Now, a lot of those things happen to many people. They're the kind of things that are natural, right. We have feelings, we have problems, maybe some medical issues Many different things can lead to it. I'm not qualified to get into any of that, but I am to say that what is the root cause? And when someone is in that condition and they don't have the right people around them, the enemy will send the wrong people and they will inspire the evil that we see.
01:54
In the secular world, that kind of thinking is scorned and considered foolish. We know that these principalities and powers that rule over this world are real. Jesus called Satan, the prince in the power of the air, and he has many angels that fell with him, that are working with him to destroy the human race. That's what they're after. They want to destroy the human race. They do not understand how God could love us. We are so frail, so broken and so prone to sin. So I want to take us into a little deep water for a minute and talk about what the Bible has to say about these principalities and powers Not just that they exist, but where do they come from, what was their responsibility before they fell and talk about the name above every other name, the name of Jesus, and I believe this will strengthen all of us, because using the name of Jesus and understanding that name is vital is so important to our link to the power of God our understanding. The Bible says that we perish God's people perish for lack of knowledge. We need to know; we need to have the knowledge. We just can't be on the outside. Well, the name of Jesus, the name is powerful, but do we know who Jesus really is? Do we understand the authority that he has? Let's take a look at it. We're going to start off by studying the name of Jesus and then move on to where these principalities and powers came from and what their assignment was before they fell, and then we're going to get back to more of the power in the name of Jesus, and I believe it can change your life.
03:39
Let's reference Exodus, chapter 23 first. In Exodus, chapter 23, verse 20, the Lord speaks to Moses. He says See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him. He will not forgive your rebellion, since my name is in him, if you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you. My angel will go ahead of you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites and the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, and I will wipe them out. Do not bow down before their gods or worship them or follow their practices. If you get into a conversation with somebody and say who led the Jews out of Egypt and brought them across into the Red Sea and out, and the common answer would be God, and you would be right. But he sent his angel. Now, this is not just any angel. This is so Moses could grasp what's going on. God the Father could have said it in many different ways, but I believe this is so we can grasp it. I'm sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way, to bring you into the place that I've prepared. So, the angel is going to be the one that's leading them. He will be the fire pillar of fire and smoke. He will be the one that will speak to them. He will be the one that will lead them and bring them to victory. Why? Because he said my name is in him.
05:21
There's more proof of that in Judges, chapter 2. It says the angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bochim and said I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I swore to give to your fathers. Now, if you remember, when Moses came upon the burning bush and he went up to see what was going on there, the Lord spoke out of the bush and he said Do not come any closer, take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. Then he said I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob. At this, Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God. Later on in the conversation, Moses said to God Suppose I go to the Israelites, and I say to them the God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask me what is his name? Then what shall I tell them? And God said to Moses I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites I am has sent you.
06:21
In the Gospel of John, Jesus said I am the way, I am the light of the world. I am the door; I am the good shepherd. And then, when he was challenged by the Pharisees and the Sadducees, he said I tell you the truth before Abraham was born, I am Once again. When challenged by the Sadducees and the scribes and the Pharisees, he pulls a scripture out of Psalm 82. Let's check it out.
06:47
The Jews picked up stones to stone him and Jesus said to them I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of them are you going to stone me? And the Jews answered him it is not for the good work that you are doing that we stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God. Then Jesus throws him a curveball. He says it is not written in your law. I said you are gods If he called them gods to whom the word of God came and scripture cannot be broken, do you say of him who the Father consecrated and sent into the world? You are blaspheming Because I said I am the Son of God. If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me, but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father. What is Jesus saying here? He's not trying to appease them by saying don't worry, fellas, you know, we're all sons of God, you know. So why are you upset when I say I'm the Son of God? But that would relegate him to being like them. He's not like them, he's not like us, he's divine. So, then what is Jesus saying? God has other sons, not just human sons. He has angels that he created.
08:10
We see that in Job. In Job, chapter 1, verse 6, it says Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan when have you come from? And Satan answered the Lord and said From going to and fro on the earth and from walking up and down on it. Remember, Jesus is talking to the scribes and Pharisees. They copied the scriptures over and over again. That's what they did. They knew it. When they refer to every jot and tittle, that means every tiny mark, every punctuation, everything. They made sure it was as written without one mistake. So, they knew the word inside and out. They were also familiar with Genesis 6, just before the flood and why God caused the flood to come upon the earth.
09:05
In Genesis 6, it says when man began to multiply in the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were attractive, and they took as their wives any they chose. So, these were learned men. They also knew about this. They also knew about the book of Enoch and all of the verbal history that was passed down through the centuries about the Nephilim and the giants that were created when angels came into women and the Nephilim were born. That's a whole other podcast on its own.
09:43
There is debate there as well, as some believe that the line of Cain was evil and the line of Seth was righteous, that the line of Seth were the good people, and the line of Cain were all the bad people. And Cain saw that the daughters of Seth's line were attractive, which absolutely makes no sense when you think about it. Because then why would God destroy the line of Seth along with the line of Cain, and only save eight people Noah's family if they were righteous? Because the scripture clearly says that he looked down on the earth and found there was only one man that was really righteous and he and his family were saved, and that was Noah. So, it's kind of a long way around to say that the scribes, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, all of them were well read and understood everything that had been passed down verbally through the years, and also every word that was written in the Word of God. So, Jesus was making sure they understood that not only was he a son of God, a spiritual being, but he was in fact God in the flesh and that the Father and him were one inseparable, and that's why they wanted to kill Him. The spiritual world around us is real.
11:06
We're going to take a look at Psalm 82. It gives us some insight. What might be going on in the heavenlies, behind the scenes. Dr Michael Heiser has a great study on this, on Psalm 82. We're just going to touch lightly on it because we want to talk about the principalities and powers and the influence they're having on our world, with these devastating attacks that are killing people, changing lives forever. How can we stop it? How can we be a part of that army that stops it?
11:37
Let's take a look at Psalm 82. God has taken his place in the divine council, in the midst of the gods. He holds judgment Right away. We're seeing these angels, these other powers, these principalities and powers that Paul talks about in Ephesians. Where did he get that? Did he just pull that out of the air? No, Paul understood the Old Testament. He understood. He was a professor of the Word, he knew the Word inside and out and he knew that these angels who had fallen away, had disobeyed God, had rebelled and decided you know what we like to be worshipped, we want to be in control, and we look into this.
12:17
It seems like God is reprimanding them. How long will you judge? It seems like God is reprimanding them. How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Give justice to the weak and the needy, maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy, deliver them from the hand of the wicked. They have neither knowledge nor understanding. They walk about in darkness. All the foundations of the earth are shaken. I said you are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you. Nevertheless, like men, you shall die and fall like any prince. Arise, o God, and judge the earth, for you shall inherit all the nations.
12:58
There's a great debate on whether God is talking to the leaders of Israel for their neglect. Or is he talking to the principalities and powers that he set up? Satan didn't set them up. God set them up. God was sharing his kingdom because that's who he is. We know that from the New Testament and the promises given to us as children of God that God is a sharer. He has no problem with that. He doesn't need anyone to do anything. He is complete in himself the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Yet because of his heart and his great love, he just shares. It's an integral part of who he is.
13:34
So, in this scripture we see that he's reprimanding those in the divine council. He goes on to tell them that I said you are God's son to the most high, all of you. Nevertheless, like men, you shall die and fall, like any prince. Well, surely, he wasn't talking about men here. He was talking about the angelic hierarchy that he created. They left their position, what they were assigned to do, because they wanted to rule over the human race.
14:01
Some people have a hard time with this because we see that in the very first verse, he says he gives judgment among the gods, and in the Hebrew that's the word Elohim, but it's in the plural, and every time it's in the plural it's lesser gods. It's not the God, the Almighty God. For, like the Lord said to Israel, the Lord, your God, is one. There is no other. But these are supernatural beings that God created to do a job. They decided to rebel.
14:30
What actually are the angels supposed to do? What are their duties, their responsibilities? In Hebrews 1, verse 14, the writer says Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? The Greek word for ministering there means to be in service to others, looking after the needs of a particular person or group. Angels are messengers of God to those God has chosen. They are protectors. Not only do they protect people and groups of people, but angels have territories, and that's where the battle gets real.
15:09
God desired to set up a government in heaven. That's what principalities and powers in heavenly places mean. And then they turned on him. But they still exist. Jesus dismantled them and made an open show of them, according to Scripture, when he was on the cross and through his resurrection. And the final judgment will come when Jesus returns.
15:29
In Isaiah, chapter 24, verse 21, He says In Isaiah, chapter 24, verse 21, He says On that day the Lord will punish the host of heaven in heaven and the kings of the earth on the earth, and when that happens, god's going to turn the kingdom over to those who love him. That promise is given to us in Revelation, in chapter 2, when he's talking to the church at Thyatira he says when he's talking to the church at Thyatira he says but to the rest of you in Thyatira who do not hold his teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say I do not lay on you any other burden, Only hold fast what you have until I come the one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end. To him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, even as when earth and pots are broken in pieces, even as I have myself received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. That's an amazing promise that God has given us. After he destroys the principalities and powers, he's going to turn the kingdom over and we're going to rule and reign with him. God's promises are sure, but until that day comes, they roam the earth, and, in many cases, they rule over territories.
16:52
Some of those secrets are revealed in Daniel. When the angel tells Daniel that soon as you started praying, I was told to come, but yet I was in a battle, he was in a battle with the princes the princes of darkness. It's a real world. It's a real thing. When Jesus looked out over the great multitude and said they are sheep without a shepherd, he was saddened by it, and they needed someone to lead them. Scripture goes on to say that we are all like sheep and we have gone astray. That's why getting saved and giving your heart to Jesus is not an option.
17:25
When we feel that we have failed or we haven't reached the goals we want to reach, or maybe that our lives aren't turning out goals we want to reach, or maybe that our lives aren't turning out like we want them to. It makes us angry and that anger, if not tempered by the Lord Jesus Christ and by his word, is going to turn into rage. With the school shootings we see the lawlessness is out of control. It's supernatural hate. It's just not regular dislike. It's not like you're having an argument with somebody, and you don't get along. It's supernatural hate to absolutely destroy other people, and that is inspired by the principalities and powers that Paul talks about, the kingdom of darkness. The world is no match for that kingdom. So, what do we do? We start throwing drugs at everything. The greater percentage of the population of the world is on some kind of medication to help them cope.
18:21
Thank God that the Lord has allowed us to have certain discoveries in a medical field. Thank God for it. But it's not the only answer. We can't disregard the spiritual. Those of us who love the Lord, we are praying and looking to God for revival, for a move of the Holy Spirit that will bring people salvation, that will bring healing, that will bring peace to their minds and their souls, and I believe that's going to happen. But we have to understand how is it going to happen? In every revival that has taken place, there's always been a man or a group of people that have prayed and led the way. God just didn't show up all on his own. He could do that if he wanted to, but he uses us. That's why it's important for us to stand up. It's important for us to realize what's at stake, to feel the burden of the lost, to feel a little heartbroken and not just criticize people for how they live but be heartbroken about how they live and how they could live if they knew Jesus Christ.
19:23
In order to break in and take the strong man's treasure, we have to disable the strong man, and that's what Jesus was talking about to his disciples. Jesus talks about capturing the treasures of the strong man, and the treasures of the strong man are people. I've said this before, but it's important that we understand a strong leader, a general, a president is nothing if he has no followers. His strength is in his followers. A general can attack. If he's riding in by himself, he has no chance. He needs an army.
19:57
The demons and the demonic powers are the same way. They need an army. The army they use are the people they have captured. So how do we defeat that? Let's pick it up in Matthew 12, verse 28.
20:10
The Pharisees are accusing him of casting out demons by Beelzebub, by the devil himself. If I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you? Or how can anyone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man? Then, indeed, he may plunder his house. Whoever is not with me is against me. Whoever does not gather with me scatters. That's a powerful lesson. So how do we take down the world? We don't need to be looking around every corner for a demon, but what we do need to do is to take his treasures, and we can do that praying. And as we pray, in the powerful name of the, I Am Jesus Christ, the Lord, god Almighty, the world of the demons shakes and the dark princes who are holding people captive behind their walls. We must break those walls down, then we can set the captives free. Then we can diminish the power of the enemy by taking those that he has captured and reducing his influence.
21:24
In John, chapter 17, Jesus is talking to his father in prayer Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him, and this is eternal life that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on the earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, father, glorify me in your own presence. I glorified you on the earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do, and now, father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Wow, I have manifested your name that you gave me.
22:13
And that brings us back to Exodus, where we started. The Lord, god, said I'm going to send an angel ahead of you. You better obey him because he has my name. I pray this has been a blessing to you. I know some of it's kind of deep water, but we need to understand the spiritual realm if we want to know the secrets that are hidden there. This is Russ Scalzo for Chronicles of the End Times. Keep looking up. The King is coming.
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