2nd Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there comes a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now lets will let, until he be taken out of the way.
Sitting in the seat of God is something that no man, or any created being should ever dare to do, yet it is evident from our first passage that efforts would be made, under the auspices of the prince of darkness to try to bring this about. It will be permitted for a while, until God sees fit to reign in the powers that be, but until such time we’ll have to encounter great spiritual darkness, which is scheduled to cover the earth as a thick cloud.
But, God in His mercy will cause bright rays of light to shine amidst the darkness, so that no sincere person will be left in doubt. The first war which began up in heaven is still being waged down here on this earth, and the very same efforts to usurp God’s throne and His authority are still being made, though of late, it is not so subtle anymore.
Up in heaven, Lucifer sought to procure the throne of God, not merely to sit in it but to take to himself the authority and prerogatives which belong to God. In other words, he sought to wield the power which belongs to God, and this effort would inevitably be turned against God’s law, which forms the basis of God’s government. Let’s read:
Isaiah 14: 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most-High.
Thus, the effort to sit in God’s seat that we read of in our first passage is nothing new, for it originated with the prince of darkness, and throughout history various human agencies, moved by the rebel leader have sought to bring this about.
That is why we will always have wars on our planet, because until the issues of God’s jurisdiction domain and rightful authority are settled in every heart, war is bound to continue. It matters not if many truces are made, it matters not if many peace agreements are signed, and it matters not if you’re a republican, a Democrat, or somewhere in between.
Wars have sprung up under Democratic rule, as well as under Republican rule, and if an independent, or a woman, were to win the presidency, wars on our planet will continue as normal. The United Nations was founded to prevent wars, but since then, there have been more conflicts on our planet than before.
If the issue of God’s seat is not settled, we will all be living in an unsettled world until Jesus comes. That’s the plain unadulterated truth that the inhabitants of earth are now called to confront, as the final conflict of the ages looms large on the horizon.
Wherever there’s a devil you’ll inevitably have wars for he is the author of war and he often moves upon human agencies to carry out his dictates. Thus, if we search for peace, outside of God’s seat, we will be headed for never land. Furthermore, because wars started up in heaven, it will take Someone from heaven to stop all wars. Let’s read:
Revelation 12: 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
In trying to sit in God’s seat, he promised the angels a better form of existence, and he spread the fatal lie, that God was hiding good from the angels, with the sole purpose of restricting their freedoms. Some of the heavenly host drank his cool aid and a third of them were consequently expelled from the abodes of bliss.
They then brought their diabolical sophistries down to earth, and our first parents also bought into their fallacies, and here we are today, fighting the same old wars on the battlefield of our minds, as persons decide whether or not God should have jurisdiction over the beings He has created.
Sitting in God’s seat occurs when attempts are made by mortal, created beings to usurp the prerogatives which belong to God alone. These prerogatives will now be laid bare, so that individuals might be aware of what is at stake in the final conflict of the ages, as it is already knocking on our doors.
[1] The prerogative to determine what is right from wrong.
[2] The prerogative to define, and stipulate what the results of right, or wrong doing will be.
[3] The prerogative to determine and stipulate the conditions upon which pardons are to be granted.
[4] The prerogative to receive worship.
Let’s begin with the very first one, the prerogative to determine what is right from wrong. Some folks believe that doing wrong has to include something that is bad, and therefore, God is bound by what we deem to be right or wrong, in His determinations.
But wrong is defined as things which go contrary to God’s revealed will, and believe it or not, these can include good things that are wrong. There is nothing wrong with eating fruit and it is recommended by all or most dieticians.
But if God says that in this instance, eating fruit is a sin then it becomes wrong, even if it might be good. It’s worthy of note that in Eden, Adam and Eve were not guilty of smoking the herb, or cannabis, as it is currently called. They were guilty of eating fruit.
Now, think about that for a moment! Adam and Eve are found guilty of eating fruit, not because it might be bad or rotten, or was laced with Cyclospora, but because God said it was wrong. It is one of the main points of contention that was raised by the prince of darkness, under the guise of a serpent.
Be very wary of the reasoning of the serpent, for if it is not studied closely, and thoroughly understood, it will be mistaken for something that is upright. He is stating that the fruit is good for you, and that might not be controverted.
Lettuce is also good for you, but if you were to steal Lettuce from Publix and eat it you can also be found guilty of eating something good. He then went on to demonstrate in real time that it could not be wrong, because it was apparently good for Adam and Eve.
And thus, what God determined as being wrong was artfully misconstrued into being arbitrary restriction designed by God to keep the man, and his female wife from entering a higher, and nobler sphere of existence. Thus, if Adam bites the bait, it would put him at odds with God, and you would have conflict. Let’s read:
Genesis 3: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 54] By partaking of this tree, he declared, they would attain to a more exalted sphere of existence and enter a broader field of knowledge.
He himself had eaten of the forbidden fruit, and as a result had acquired the power of speech. It was because of its wonderful properties, imparting wisdom and power, that He had prohibited them from tasting or even touching it.
So, let’s break it down into precis form. God says do not eat or touch this, for the consequences would be dire and fatal. The serpent comes along and says no, it is actually good for you, therefore, God is just trying to keep you back from progress, and being a much better person.
Thus, the choice comes starkly into view, and if you choose what God says, you will be in harmony with Him, but if you choose the serpent’s rendition, then that will put you at odds with God, and there will be conflict, not because of God but because of our own choices.
Again, when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, it wasn’t on the issue of marijuana, it was bread which he asked Jesus to make. Bread, in and of itself is not a bad thing, for even Christ later prayed: Give us our daily bread. But to eat bread, contrary to God’s will is wrong, even if it is made of whole wheat or whole grains.
Thus, sitting in God’s seat refers to efforts of mortal man, to determine what is right or wrong, and thus, if man determines that something is good for you, it cannot be wrong. In following that mode of thought in your decision- making you will be shocked to find out some of the things that are deemed as good for you, and therefore, cannot be wrong.
Let’s ask Google’s Gemini a very simple question: Is Shrimp good for you?
Gemini responds: Shrimp is an excellent, low-calorie protein source. A 3-ounce serving provides roughly about 20 grams of protein and less than 1 gram of fat, while containing nearly 100% of your daily selenium and significant amounts of vitamin B12 and iodine.
It also contains astaxanthin, an antioxidant which helps reduce inflammation. On weight management it is highly satiating, and it is low in calories, making it a great option for muscle growth and fat loss.
Despite being high in dietary cholesterol, shrimp is very low in saturated fat, which has a much larger impact on blood cholesterol. Some research indicates it can actually improve cholesterol ratios.
Brain and Thyroid Function: High levels of iodine and vitamin B12 support proper metabolism, thyroid function, and neurological health. It has near-zero mercury contamination, making it a safe seafood choice.
It sounds like something that is good for you, but a person might say that Gemini cannot be trusted to always give correct answers, and that is true, so let’s head over to what is recognized as one of the most prestigious institutions across the land, with persons who know what they are speaking about.
Question: Is Shrimp good for you?
The Cleveland Clinic:
Shrimp is surprisingly nutritious and healthy when consumed in moderation as part of a well-balanced diet.
Registered dietitian Natalie Lowther recommends aiming for a portion of 3 to 4 ounces at a time.
A 100-gram (3.5-ounce) serving of cooked shrimp has: 99 calories, 24 grams of protein, 056 saturated fat, 111 milligrams of sodium, 189 milligrams of cholesterol.
It’s also a good source of these nutrients with: .51milligrams of iron, .0379 milligrams of copper, 1.64 milligrams zinc, 237 milligrams of phosphorus, 259 milligrams of potassium.
But God sits in His seat and He says not so much, it is bad for you and should never be eaten, even with all of the good nutrients it may possess. So, who do we crown as king on this point? God, or Cleveland Clinic? This is just a microcosm of the issue of who has the prerogative to determine good or evil, right from wrong. Let’s read:
Leviticus 11:10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you.
11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcasses in abomination.
12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.
Therefore, you will have a conflict emerging, about who determines what is right or wrong, and if you decide that Cleveland Clinic knows best, it means that the institution would be placed in God’s seat by giving it the prerogative to determine what is right or wrong on this issue.
The same goes for every other issue, from marriage to abortion, from waging wars of conquest to diets and foods, from deciding the right day of worship to the issue of raising children. It all boils down to who retains the prerogative to determine what is right or wrong.
This leads us to the second prerogative of God: The prerogative to define, and stipulate what the results of right, or wrong doing will be. Sin, which is the transgression of God’s law, carries with it negative consequences, and wherever sin is found, it must not be made to seem as if it is beneficial to persons.
When transgression is glossed over, when persons are rewarded for doing evil, the laws of sowing and reaping are disturbed, and persons come to think that doing evil is beneficial, and that righteousness puts a spoke in your wheel.
But God sits in His seat and He declares that the law of sowing and reaping remains intact, and that even though, some persons in our day might seem to get away with murder, the time is coming when such persons will pay a heavy price, if they do not avail themselves of salvation in Christ and a turning away from evil. Let’s read:
Romans 3: 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely, I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him.
13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he fears not before God.
This leads us to the third prerogative of God:
[3] The prerogative to determine and stipulate the conditions upon which pardons are to be granted.
This one has major implications in our day, because the issue of pardoning surfaces quite frequently and yet, individuals have been sitting in God’s seat by changing the rules of engagement as it pertains to the conditions upon which pardons are granted.
There should never be any financial or any personal benefits involved when a pardon is granted, neither should favoritism play a role in who gets pardoned, according to the Bible. In addition, if a person does not manifest sorrow for evils done, forgiveness must be taken off the table.
The Bible is very clear as to the prerequisites for any pardon to be granted. The offender must confess his or her sins, there must be remorse for sin, and there must be a purpose to turn away from the evils that were committed. Then and only then does The Lord grant pardon, or remission of sin. Let’s read:
1st John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Luke 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespasses against thee, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
1st John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not. And if any man sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.
2nd Chronicles 7: 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
But throughout the history of our world, pardoning of criminals and sinners has been abused, and there were, and have been many instances where pardons devolved into a pay to play format. This is nothing new, for it took place in the days of Christ, it took place during the dark ages, and it has again raised its head in our day.
Whenever pardons are granted to anyone, contrary to guidelines given in the Scriptures, that’s a form of sitting in God’s seat, since the rules of engagement God has set forth plainly have been altered without His consent or approval. And according to history, a falling away on this issue carries pernicious results. Let’s read:
Matthew 27:15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.
16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.
17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
This was essentially a pardon that was granted to a notorious criminal, on no other grounds than Jesus was the object of their ire. Thus, to secure Christ’s death, Pilate pardoned a robber who had shown no remorse, nor repentance, and yet he let him go free, while at the same time he condemned an innocent Man to death.
This is the sort of abuse The Lord is speaking to us about, for whenever, mortal man sits in God’s seat, by determining the conditions upon which pardon is to be granted, you will inevitably have corruption. It didn’t happen in a vacuum either, because political pressure was brought into the mix, as an accessory to the illegal pardon. Let’s read:
John 19: 12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaks against Caesar.
13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.
16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.
History also bears witness of how pardon devolves in a pay to play system, when persons sit in God’s seat and alter or reverse the conditions for pardon. There’s a song that goes like this: If salvation was a thing that money could buy, praise ye The Lord. The rich would live, and the poor would die, praise ye the Lord.
This is how that song played out during the darkest ages of earth’s history. And according to the prophet Isaiah, even darker days are ahead for the people of the world. Let’s read:
Isaiah 60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
[G.C. pp 127] The infamous traffic was set up in the church, and Tetzel, ascending the pulpit, extolled indulgences as the most precious gift of God. He declared that by virtue of his certificates of pardon, all the sins which the purchaser should afterward desire to commit would be forgiven him, and that “even repentance was not indispensable.”
More than this, he assured his hearers that the indulgences had power to save not only the living but the dead; that the very moment the money should clink against the bottom of his chest, the soul in whose behalf it had been paid would escape from purgatory and make its way to Heaven.
This leads us to the last and most important prerogative of God, one that will permanently, and irreversibly close off the probation of the human family: [4] The prerogative to receive worship.
God alone is worthy of worship and praise because He has created us and all things, so that whatsoever we accomplish that is good, the glory and credit for it must go to him alone.
When the 426 Hemi engine burst upon the scene in the 60’s and 70’s and won several Drag racing titles, it was the Chrysler/Dodge manufacturer that got the credit, for they made the Hemi. Similarly, praise and worship must be given to God alone for He is the One who created us.
Therefore, when mortals begin to crave praise and worship, they are attempting to sit in God’s seat and that ultimately and inevitably leads to that form of worship which will seek to eliminate God from His seat.
That is what first caused the war up in heaven, and it has continued on this earth, even to this day, for when in the following passage lucifer says “I will sit” he is directly referring to his purpose and efforts to try and uproot God from the throne of the universe and from the throne of our hearts, by offering his own substitutes for everything God has said. Let’s read:
Isaiah 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.
Psalms 48:1 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.
2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
3 God is known in her palaces for a refuge.
That is the issue to which the world is now hurtling, and it will culminate the long running feud about who is, or isn’t authorized to sit in God’s seat. God in His wisdom, and in His capacity as Sovereign of the universe has given humanity the 7th day Sabbath as the only official day of rest.
But the prince of darkness comes along and says not so much. He has gone to work just like he did in the garden of Eden with our first parents, trying to show that Sunday is better and much more preferrable as the official day of rest.
And he endeavors to accomplish his diabolical work through the legislative branches, by seeking to force the inhabitants of earth to ditch the true day of rest in favor of Sunday.
That is the issue that John the revelator is bringing to our attention, and everyone who will be alive at that time, and everyone who is alive now, would be called upon to decide who will sit in God’s seat. If, after clarity on this matter is given, persons decide that God has the right to decide which day is holy, then they will cast in their lot with The Lord.
But if, after the Holy Spirit has enlightened minds on this pivotal issue, persons decide that they would go for the substitute day of worship, then they would have cast in their lot with the prince of darkness, by agreeing that there’s a better day of rest.
When these choices, either for or against God’s seat are made, earth’s probation will finally close, and all hell will break loose in the most literal sense. These are not figments of our imagination, they’re written in the Scriptures, so that all may be made aware of what is coming down the pike. Let’s read:
Revelation 13: 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads.
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
The Sabbath of the fourth commandment is the sign of God’s authority, for it contains His seal, His name, and the territories He has jurisdiction over. Hence the reason why the prince of darkness has always been unwearied in his efforts to overthrow the 4th commandment. Let’s read:
Exodus 20: 8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work.
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates.
11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Conversely, Sunday is the mark of Rome’s authority, for it has no foundation whatsoever in Scripture and as such, legislators who advocate for it are sitting in God’s seat, usurping His prerogative to direct in the matter of worship.
God has made us with the freedom of choice and to us He speaks from His seat of authority, that no man made system should force persons to worship on a day which He has not ordained. Millions of people, and most Christians may not be aware of this issue, but it is scheduled to bring earth’s history to a final conflict, which is to decide each person’s destiny.
The Lord is now causing great light to be shed upon this matter, so that all sincere-hearted persons will do their due diligence like the Bereans, and find out whether those things are so.
It is of critical importance for persons to understand the issues that are at stake because the bad habit of trying to sit in God’s seat affects everything we may do, and every choice we make.
Let us therefore rise to the occasion, and let us cast in our lot with The Lord God, for those persons who respect and honor the seat of His authority are the ones who will be taken to heaven, because He will not and cannot save in His eternal kingdom, those who choose to be at odds with His Sovereignty.
We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that will make the issue at hand plain, and we encourage everyone to take a stand for right, by acknowledging Christ as The Sovereign of our lives, in all matters of conscience, and especially on the issue of worship. Let’s read:
Isaiah 58:12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words;
14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
God Bless!