"And I saw a beast coming out of the sea" (Rev.13:1, NIV)." (Rev.13:1, NIV).

Shabbat shalom kol beit Yisra'el and welcome to the fourth and last sabbath assembly of this 9th month.

I ought to perhaps begin by pointing out to the superstitious amongst my readers that although today is the 12th day of the 12th month of the 12th year of the 21st century (12-12-12) that it has absolutely no significance as this is the 29th day of the 9th month in Yahweh's calendar. It is interesting how number combinations stick in your head - I can still remember to this day the 6 June 1966 (666) and I know some of you have had experiences with the number 333. And there are still those who are filled with fear whenever a Friday 13th appears on the calendar, or indeed whenever a 13 turns up, not realising that all of this is based in pagan superstition (13 is actually a positive number scripturally). Today, however, is of no significance except to those of use observing the Sabbath, the fourth sabbath of each month always falling on the 29th day of each month, and those who persist in following the violent, nationalistic pagan custom of Hanukkah. However, that is not what my message is about today.

About midnight last night as I was quietly meditating on my bed in that state between wakefullness and sleep, I was jolted into wakefulness by a dramatic vision. I was looking at the sea and it was dark when suddenly out of the depths a huge serpent with a dragon-like head burst to the surface amidst the foam and turbulence. Its long, thick snake-like body rose high into the air until I could no longer see its head. More and more of its body arose out of the water until the vision closed.

Now as you can imagine I have wondered much about this. Today's passage describes a time in the not-too-distant-future when the end-time Beast will arise in a similar manner. What I was shown cannot be that end-time Beast because the Dragon was waiting to greet him on the shore and did not come out of the sea, though I know there are many out there who think the Anti-Messiah (Antichrist) is about to manifest. The Dragon is Satan and the Beast his human agent.

A couple of days ago I was listening to ex-Catholic Pentecostal evangelist Ken Peters (at the recommendation of a friend) who has had quite an impressive record on prophecies fulfilled that he has received which are mostly about end-time events. However, as most of you know, I do not believe that we have either entered, or are about to enter, the Great Tribulation, even though I know the events in our world seem to be yelling at us telling us that we are. I have given my reasons elsewhere as to why I do not believe that my generation is going to witness either the Great Tribulation or the Second Coming so I will not get into that today. I do believe, though, that my children's generation will. None of this means that I do not believe events depicted in the Book of Revelation are not unfolding before our eyes because I absolutely believe that they are.

So what was this that I saw last night? The Book of Daniel depicts four beasts (a lion, bear, leopard and a beast with ten horns) emerging from the sea. John's beast had the appearance of a leopard, the mouth of a lion and feet were like bear paws. John's beast had seven heads with blasphemous names written on them and ten horns, each having a crown. Clearly there is a link between Daniel's and John's beasts. The Book of Revelation depicts a second beast, known as the False Prophet, who arises not out of the sea but out of the earth. Worship of an image of the first beast that emerged from the sea is commanded by the second beast that emerged from the earth.

So what does the sea represent? Let's begin by looking at Book of Revelation symbolism to which the vision is obviously tied. Here the sea is clearly identified for us:

"The waters you saw, where the prostitute (whore) sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages" (Rev.17:15, NIV).

Here in my vision Satan is seen to manifest out of the "peoples, multitudes, nations and languages" of the earth on which the "prostitute", who represents false religion and philosophy, sits. Because the wickedness of peoples, who have forsaken or rejected the true Creator, Yahweh-Elohim, Satan is being permitted to manifest. These people, who prefer the lie to the emet (truth), have acquired Satan's nature or character and are hostile to the people of Elohim (God).

So what this vision represents is a new level of evil arising amongst the unsaved, satanically-inclined peoples of the earth. It is about to burst forth and become visible, having been largely hidden until now. Sin is fully ripening in iniquity in many. I believe this vision may depict a fresh wave of persecution against believers that is about to begin.

My message today, then, is to be prepared. I know some of you are living in countries where there is already mass persecution of Christians. We've seen Copts crucified live in the streets of Cairo since the Muslim Botherhood took over in Egypt. Obviously this persecution is being orchestrated by the demonic, on the one hand, and those demonically-controlled human powers that run things behind the scenes. This is all deliberate.

But this is also a time for an equipping of the qodeshim (set-apart ones, saints). Like I said, this is not the Great Tribulation - it is simply one of many eruptions of evil that will preceed the systematic pogrom against believers that will occur in the latter half of the seven year rule of the Anti-Messiah - in the Great Tribulation.

By way of an illustration, Christians in Great Britain have now been banned from adopting children because, the authorities claim, Christian parents will not teach these children about homosexuality. This comes from a supposedly 'conservative' administration that has traditionally been pro-family and pro-Christian. Not any more. Similar anti-Christian measures are being enacted by the communist Obama régime in the USA and by the European Union.

I believe that what Yahweh showed me last night is a new wave of spontaneous, unrestrained satanic activity bursting forth from among the demonised 'ordinary' people of the earth, not just those involved in satanic cults. I believe the systematic mass persecution and murder of believers will not begin until the emergence of the two beasts out of the sea of peoples and out of the earth. What we are about to see is a precursor - a foretaste, if you like.

I do not want anyone listening to me to believe, though, that they should simply react passively to this. Neither should they resort to violence save as a last resort in the defence of their, and their families', lives. This is a time of opportunity for Yahweh's people, to become equipped as never before. And I don't just mean operating on the invisible, working on souls' levim (hearts) through prayer, but a parallel manifestation of power and miracles manifesting outwardly from Yahweh through Yah'shua's (Jesus') talmidim (disciples).

We ourselves have seen over the years how such manifestations of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) through dedicated talmidim (disciples) have led to many supernatural occurances - we have seen the enemy struck down in all kinds of ways, even to the forfeiting of life. I believe we will see the scale of this increase in proportion to the viciousness of the dragon now emerging through those who have entirely lost their moral compass and all self-restraint. Indeed, I have been shown this in vision already. There are rings of protective and offensive fire around those who love Yah'shua (Jesus) and obey His mitzvot (commandments) and out of them comes a slaying of the adversaries.

Therefore it is important that all true believers, those who "obey Elohim's (God's) mitzvot (commandments) and hold to the testimony of Yah'shua (Jesus)" (Rev.12:17, NIV) declare with emunah (faith) that they truly accept these things. Such will not need to bear arms for Yahweh will be their defence. The enemy will seek to test this, as he has done before, using his rebellious vassels who themselves will not believe what Yahweh can do until they see with their own eyes their own fatalities. Then they will fear and hold back as they have done before. Such initial arrogance always leads to cravenness in defeat. As for the believer, he must remain humble yet firm so as not to fall into the same pitfalls as the enemy's human vassels.

I wish to conclude today by leaving a blessing on all those who will believe these devarim (words) and resolve to hold tightly to Yah'shua (Jesus) in emunah (faith) and recovenant to obey all His mitzvot (commandments). This is not a time to be antinomian (lawless)! Disobedience gives the enemy footholds in your life so that the dragon can also arise in you, something you absolutely do not want at this time!

"The dragon was enraged at the woman (Messianic Israel) and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring - those who obey Elohim's (God's) mitzvot (commandments) and hold to the testimony of Yah'shua (Jesus)" (Rev.12:17, NIV).

This is a call to get on your spiritual armour and to get ready for spiritual warfare. And if you are trusting and obedient you have every reason to be confident! Amen.