Mark 14:1 "After two days was the feast of the Passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by craft, and put Him to death."

This would have been two days prior to the Passover, for the Passover would fall at sundown on Wednesday of the year that Jesus was crucified. The Jewish day starts at sundown on the prior day. These religious leaders just won't quit until they have crucified Jesus. The word "craft" as used here, in the Greek text it is # 1388; "dolos, dol'ee-os; from the prime Delo, meaning to decoy; a trick (to bait) deceit, guile." These Kenites are nothing but a pack of murderers, all dressed up in the robes of the religious leaders, plotting to take the life of an innocent man.

In that the "feast of the unleavened bread" also comes up at this time, we must remember the teaching of Christ taught His disciples in Chapter eight. After they had taken up the twelve extra baskets of bread fragments at the completion of feeding the multitude, Jesus warned them of those fragments. Beware of the leaven that you take in while mixing with the multitude out there in the world. The point of that lesson was to beware the "doctrine of the Pharisees, scribes and Sadducees" that mixes in with the Word of God when others have had their hands on it.

Jesus is the Word, the Living Word of God, and these priests and scribes are seeking to take Jesus and destroy Him. Jesus' teachings show up the false teachings of these Kenites and their traditions, and these religious leaders wanted Jesus put out of the way for good. Even today the religious leaders plot against anyone that would expose the light of the Scriptures, chapter by chapter, and verse by verse, and plotted against Christ for such teaching.

Mark 14:2 "But they said, "Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the People."

This had to be something very devious and underhanded, for the people loved Jesus and His teachings. Jesus had healed many of them, and their family members, so whatever they did would have to be by craft, by deceit and trickery. Religion under these Kenites had become nothing more than entering the temple, cast your money in pot, let the dove lose, and turn walk out. Jesus was exciting to them, but remember that every thing must conform to God's time plan. When the hour of the crucifixion comes in God's book, it takes place right on time.

It was God's intention that these Kenites took Jesus and crucify Him, and that on this particular Passover, Jesus would become the Passover Lamb, sacrificed for the sins of those that would receive Christ's sacrifice for their sins.

Mark 14:3 "And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on His head."

This passage runs parallel with Matthew 26:6-13, and as Jesus sat eating at the table of Simon the leper, a woman came in with a box of Spikenard ointment. "Spikenard" means that it was "pure nard", meaning a very expensive ointment. She opened the container and poured the expensive ointment on the head of Jesus. The value of this ointment was worth about what a working man would make for a years salary.

Mark 14:4 "And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, "Why was this waste of the ointment made."

Judas was not the only one that would grumble over this act of pouring the "Spikenard ointment" of Jesus head, but the other disciples as well. When the ointment hit the floor and on Jesus head, the value of the ointment became worthless for sale.

Mark 14:5 "For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor." And they murmured against her."

Three hundred pence was valuable in those days. Now listen to the words of Jesus Christ.

Mark 14:6 "And Jesus said, "Let her alone; why trouble ye her? She hath wrought a good work on Me."

Mark 14:7 "For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but Me ye have not always."

Jesus will become the Passover Lamb very soon, He will be with the disciples in the flesh just three days following His death.

Mark 14:8 "She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint My body to the burying."

This would be Jesus only anointing before His crucifixion.

Mark 14:9 "Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her."

There were very few real kind things that were done towards Christ before His crucifixion. Though many followed Jesus, most of them were out to get something from Him. As far as the so-called religious community and their leaders, they all continually were plotting to kill Jesus and take His life. There were nothing but wolves and vultures in the robes in God's house, and they were out to silence Jesus, for He was a threat to their income, doctrines and their traditions. When Jesus went amongst these scribes and Pharisees, have you ever wondered why they cursed Him and constantly sought to kill Jesus. He was the greatest person to walk the face of the earth, and we can understand the Kenite mind better when we take a close look at what they did and said to Jesus.

However this precious woman loved Jesus so much that she took her wealth and bought this spikenard ointment for the sake of anointing Jesus. Notice that it was not on the minds of the disciples to anoint Jesus before His death. We do have the poor with us always, but within this act even the poor become rich in this act. Jesus is going to become this Passover lamb, and His blood will be shed for the remission of sin, then even the poor upon repentance have the forgiveness for that sin. Then if they follow Jesus they will receive the blessings of God, and become rich.

Many make their commitments to Christ and His work, but when the trouble comes they head out the gate as fast as their legs will take them. We see that this lady put all that she had on the line for our Lord. Those that are suppose to be by Jesus side, sat by and grumbled as this special time of the anointing of the Lord took place. True value is having the blessings of God, no matter how great the worldly value.

Mark 14:10 "And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray Him unto them."

No doubt, that because of the events of the past few days Judas had become upset. However first lets take a closer look at Judas. Judas had no doubts in His mind that Jesus Christ was the Messiah. Judas had been with Jesus and the other when Jesus taught in parable and explained those parables to His disciples. He saw Jesus do Miracles that no other human being could possible do, and even when Jesus expelled unclean spirits from many. He knew that Jesus had control over the sea and the wind and other forces, so there was no doubt in the world that Jesus was the Christ.

So what Judas was trying to do here was to move the events of the kingdom along a little quicker. He knew Jesus would be put in a position to where He would have to expose His supernatural authority, and set up His Kingdom here on earth immediately. Sure, Judas knew that Jesus was going to be crucified, just as Daniel foretold, but Judas didn't know that there was going to be a gap of several thousand years between His death, and his return at the second coming. Judas is the keeper of the money bag for the disciples, and he wanted to be the world banker much faster than at God's appointed time. So Judas is going to try to help things along quicker.

God has His appointed times and it is for us to watch for those times so that we would not be part of the the problem when those times are taking place. When we are, then God has his way of removing us from the scene. We are to be watchmen, and witnesses to the prophecies as they take place in God's plan, and to work as a servant of our Lord.

Mark 14:11 "And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray Him."

When these chief priests and scribes heard what Judas was telling them, you know they were glad. We see that Christ is sold for far less money than the "spikenard ointment" was worth.

Matthew 26:15; " "What will you give me, and I will deliver Him unto you?" and they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver." These thirty pieces of silver are about one third the value of the ointment that the woman anointed Christ with. Judas wanted to avoid publicity on what he was going to do, because he still wanted to be the banker for Christ's kingdom.

Mark 14:12 "And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the Passover, His disciples said unto Him, "Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the Passover?"

This meal is not the Passover meal, but it is the last meal [supper] before the start of the Passover. This meal would be on a Tuesday evening, for on Wednesday at sundown the Passover celebration would began. However, it would be the last supper that Jesus would be with all of his disciples before His crucifixion. This is the day before the "high sabbath", which would fall on the fourteenth of Nisan. The first day of the feast started on the 15th of Nisan at sundown, which is called "the great Sabbath" day.

Mark 14:13 "And He sendeth forth two of His disciples, and saith unto them, "Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him."

Do you see that this was all planned ahead of time. All of God's work is planned well ahead, and written through His prophets. This word "pitcher" in the Greek, as used here, is an earthen vessel, a clay pot. A woman would carry this type of container in public on the street, however men carry skin bottles. So when the disciples saw this unusual thing happening, they would know that he would be the one that they were to follow. To relate this to today, it would be like a man walking down the street carrying a pink woman's purse. Inside the pitcher is water, the water that would be used at the last supper.

Mark 14:14 "And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, `The Master saith, `Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the Passover with My disciples?' "

Wherever this man with the pitcher leads you, follow, when you arrive at the house go right in and say this to the owner of the house; " Master saith, " So whoever the one that owns this house is, he already knows who the Master is. Of course this supper that Jesus and His disciple will take will be what we call, the "last supper". The place was predetermined, even to the directions to get there. God always plans well ahead.

It is no different today as it was then as far as God's instructions, for God has let us know through His Word exactly what will take place in these final days, especially in that we are in the final count down of the trumpets and seals in this generation of the fig tree. Remember that Christ has warned us in the prior chapter to beware, for I have foretold you all things, however its a matter of whether you have the ability to understand those things that are written, and are able to read His Word with understanding.

Mark 14:15 "And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us."

Everything with our Lord Jesus Christ is prearranged. Just as this upper room was furnished and prepared for this final supper. Jesus has already prearranged this earth age of the flesh with the wisdom and knowledge from His Word. God's children can deal with this earth age and to be successful within it. When you know His Word and Plan then you are prepared to face what ever comes your way. All the promises of His Word are there for you to claim, so claim them.

Mark 14:16 "And His disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as He had said unto them: and they make ready the Passover,"

Naturally the man was there with his pitcher, and the disciples followed Him to the place where the Passover supper was to be. Everything was ready exactly as the Lord said it would be.

Mark 14:17 "And in the evening He cometh with the twelve."

"In the evening" was when the new day started, and it was time for the Passover supper. This was the evening that Jesus would go through His suffering and be nail to the cross, before the sun rise came. This Tuesday night and through the next day until sundown of Wednesday [Jewish 14th of Nissan] will mark the preparation day for the Passover. When the lamb is prepared and made ready for the slaughter.

Mark 14:18 "And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, "Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with Me shall betray Me."

Judas was sitting there thinking that he was going to get away with something, going to the chief priest and selling Jesus out for thirty pieces of silver. Jesus knew exactly what Judas was going to do, for it was recorded and prophesied by David. It was written in God's Word centuries of years prior to this supper.

Psalms 41:1 "Blessed is he that considereth the poor: The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble."

This was the subject, Jesus said "you will have the poor with you always, and you can take care of them later.

Psalms 41:2 "The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and Thou will not deliver him unto the will of his enemies."

God is promising that when you follow His ways, you will always come out on top.

Psalms 41:3 "The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: Thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness."

Psalms 41:4 "I said, "Lord, be merciful unto me: Heal my soul; for I have sinned against Thee."

Psalms 41:5 "Mine enemies speak evil of me, "When shall he die, and his name perish?"

Psalms 41:6 "And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: His heart gathereth iniquity to itself; When he goeth abroad, he telleth it."

Psalms 41:7 "All that hate me whisper together against me: Against me do they devise my hurt."

This is the Old Testament telling us what is going to happen in the New Testament, and that is why we must become skilled in it. God is telling us a thousand years before Judas went to the high priests to plot with them to take Jesus life what would happen through His prophet David. The religious community, the very ones that are suppose to love God are the same ones that are planning to murder Jesus.

Psalm 41:8 ""An evil disease," say they, "cleaveth fast unto him: And now that he lieth he shall rise up no more."

Judas was there in the midst of them and even took part in that plot to kill Jesus. These religious leaders are saying within their plotting minds that when we get Jesus down, we will make sure he will rise up no more. Remember the great stone in front of the grave, and the seal that was placed on it, with the soldiers standing guard? It had become a disease to these priests that Jesus would be out of the way, once and for all. However, the trouble here was that these priests and scribes thought Jesus was interrupting their money changing activity by freeing those mite infested birds, and messing around with their traditions.

Psalms 41:9 "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, Hath lifted up his heel against me."

Judas was Jesus own trusted friend, trusted to the point of being the keeper of the funds that Jesus and his disciples would uses in their ministry. Here Judas is even dipping in the same bowl as Jesus, while at the same time he has plotted with the priests and scribes to take the life of Jesus. When Jesus called His attention to who the traitor would be, Judas "lifted up his heel", got up and left to do his sinful act against Christ. The betrayal would come a few hours later in the night.

Psalms 41:10 "But Thou, O Lord, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, That I may requite them."

Jesus Christ was raised up from the dead on the third day, and on that day Jesus did "requite them", which is to say "put them under His feet." Every detail that happened that night is well recorded in the Old Testament. There are no accidents nor unsolved mysteries with our heavenly Father. It was determined long beforehand that Judas would betray Jesus. This is why it is important for you to know that God's entire Word is meshed together to form the complete instructions for this earth age of the flesh that you and I are living in. There is nothing new under the sun.

All souls must pass through this earth age, and many of them have been elected to help others pass through this time of the flesh, and assist them to salvation. God gave us His Word to instruct us just how we are to do those services for Him, once we have been saved, and He expects us to do the works for Him. When He gave you the task to do, He also gave you the gifts to make it possible to do your part. However, many are to lazy to study His Word and know what they are to do, and they many times get in the way of the work of Christ by their own ignorance. When you support a teaching ministry, or use those gifts that God has given you, then you become an active part in God's Word.

When the false messiah arrives here on earth and you know the truths and seals of God's Word, and have become an active part of God's ministry, there is no way that you will be deceived by Satan, the Antichrist, upon his arrival.

Mark 14:19 "And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto Him one by one, "Is it I?" and another said, "Is it I?" "

Mark 14:20 "And He answered and said unto them, "It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with Me in the dish."

Judas was a well trusted disciple of Christ, and Jesus identifies him this way, the same as we read back in Psalms 41:9; "..whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me."

Mark 14:21 "The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of Him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born." 

I don't know what Judas did in that first earth age, or why God allowed him to be selected for this duty of betrayal. It is hard to understand why Judas would be so greedy that he would betray Jesus, his close friend; but he did. We must remember also that after this evil act, Judas repented to the Father for his part in this act of betrayal.

Mark 14:22 "And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, "Take, eat: this is My body."

As we take our daily bread also, it is important that we ask God's blessings on the food we eat. Jesus is setting up the "holy sacrament" here. There can't be any confusion here, for Jesus is telling us that the [unleavened] bread that they are eating is the symbol of His Body that will soon be sacrificed on the cross.

Mark 14:23 "And He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them: and they all drank of it."

All of the disciples drank of the cup that evening. Did Jesus tell you to stop and examine yourselves before you take of the cup, to see if you are worthy to take of the cup and eat of the unleavened bread? Of course not. Did Jesus tell Judas that you cannot partake of the cup, because you are going to betray me? Of course not. "...And they all drank of it."

Jesus gave His cup to all of the disciples, even Judas, and He expects all that believe on His name to take of the cup, and it has nothing to do with whether you are worthy or not, for you are not worthy. You take the cup because Jesus Christ is Worthy, Jesus Christ is the one that paid the price on the cross and He is the One that is worthy of honor and praise for you to take the cup. The Lord created you, and when you fell in the first earth age, He made a way in the second earth age to draw you back to Him. In that plan he had to come in the flesh just like you and I, and all humans, then after living the perfect life, and going through what we go through, He became the perfect sacrifice for your and my soul. He did what we could not do for our selves, and that is why Jesus Christ is WORTHY.

Revelation 4:11 "Thou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all thing, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created."

You and I will never be worthy to take the cup of the wrath that Jesus took, for He is the only perfect sacrifice that could shed His blood of the sins of others. If you think that Christ is worthy, than you reach out and take the cup of the fruit of the vine that represents the blood of Christ. If you think that Jesus Christ lived that perfect life in the flesh, and that He was the Son of God, and gave His body on the cross for you, than you reach out and take that broken piece of unleavened bread that represents His body. Yes my friend, the only thing that matters whether you take the holy sacrament is whether you believe that Christ was worthy.

After the way that Christ was treated when He walked this earth, and He loved you so much that He gladly went to the cross, can there be any question at all that Christ is worthy? I don't think so. Friend, if you are waiting until you are perfect before you take communion, you will never take it, for you will never be perfect. If someone casts you aside and prevents you from taking the communion, they are far worse off than you for not taking it, for the sin that they commit is refusing you the body of Christ. He is refusing you the living Word of God, and no man has the right to refuse another man to take the cup of communion. We all fall short, and it is a disgrace that the religious community will set their traditional standards, all in the name of God, to control who will take communion. God will judge them harshly for their actions.

Mark 14:24 "And He said unto them, This is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many."

Jesus was standing before his disciples and holding the cup before him, then He said of the cup, "This is My blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many." Christ's blood is shed for every person that believes on Him and will partake of the cup. It is shed for all that will have faith to repent in Jesus name, and believe on Jesus Christ. His blood had not been shed yet, so what had taken place here was symbolic, representing something that we as Christians are to do and keep on doing until His return. Every time we take it we drink the cup, and eat the bread it is in remembrance of Him. The blood was only shed once and for all time, but the symbolic act is to be done every time the occasion presents itself. In many churches it is monthly, however other do it every time they meet. Others take the cup twice a year, but what is important, is that this symbolic act of Christ death on the cross is taken.

Mark 14:25 "Verily I say unto you, `I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.'  "

There is a time coming very shortly when people will stop taking this cup of communion, because in their ignorance they will believe that Satan to be the true Christ. We discussed this in the last chapter, in Mark 13:14; "But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:" Jesus was quoting from Daniel 9:27 and making it part of the New Testament.

Daniel 9:27 "And He [Satan] shall confirm the covenant with many of one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."

Jesus was not speaking of a condition [desolation] here, but a person [the desolator]. That person, the desolator who is Satan in his role as the Antichrist [instead of Christ] will make the entire earth desolate from hearing the Word of God. The "sacrifices and oblation" in the New Testament is what we call the "communion", it is taken by us in remembrance of what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross. The reason that this "sacrifice and oblation" stops being taken is that many Christians will believe that Satan is Christ and that He will be with them then.

The reason that the cup will be cut off in the middle of the week, which is the midst of that tribulation period, is that Christians will be taking their communion to the false messiah, and not to Jesus Christ. Only God's elect and those sealed in their minds with the truth will be taking communion to the true Christ, for we know that we will not see Christ in our flesh bodies. We will not see Christ until after the seventh trump, and the time when all flesh is change into their incorruptible spiritual bodies. We will take it again with Him when we are with Him in His Millennium kingdom.

Mark 14:26 "And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives."

When the last supper had been finished, Jesus with the eleven disciples left the room for the mount of Olives. From the mount of Olives, you look upon the east gate of the city of Jerusalem. A map of these locations is on page 189.

Mark 14:27 "And Jesus saith unto them, "All ye shall be offended because of Me this night: for it is written, `I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.' "

This is the night before Jesus crucifixion, and before the night ends, every one of His disciples will scatter from Him, and even be ashamed to be identified with Jesus. We read of this in Zechariah 13:7; "Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, and against the Man That is My Fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn Mine hand upon the little ones."

This seventh verse is difficult to understand for many Christians because it has a two-fold meaning. There are two shepherds coming, one is the false christ, Satan, and the other is the True Christ, Jesus Christ. It is God that raises both of these Shepherds up. The subject is set in this verse as being the wounded hands of the Lord Jesus Christ. God will "turn His hands on the little ones", for "to turn" means "to save", while "the little ones" being saved are His elect. They are saved because they know the warning God gave them in His Word, and they refuse to worship the first Christ coming to earth.

"The man That is My Fellow" is Jesus Christ. God the Father is referring to the only One that is on equal status [fellow] with Himself." When the Shepherd was smitten the disciples and all others left Him, however, when Jesus came out of the tomb resurrected, His wounded hands were open and outstretched to all that would by faith believe on Him, and in repentance come to Him in Jesus name. When Jesus came out of the tomb, His name became our authority at the throne of God. Again the Old Testament is a witness to the New Testament.

Mark 14:28 "But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee."

Just as the arrangement had been made with the man with the pitcher of water, so also God is making arrangement with His disciples to meet them in Galilee. Jesus is letting them know that He is coming out of the tomb, just like he had been teaching them over and over. To some of the disciples this time with Jesus is all over with. They would go back to fishing or what ever their work status was. However, we will see that they will all come back together again after the resurrection to be with Christ before His ascension into heaven. Jesus is telling them before the fact what they are to do, and that He will meet with them in Galilee. This is prophecy.

Mark 14:29 "But Peter said unto Him, "Although all shall be offended, yet will not I."

It is easy for a person to make a statement before the time of trial comes, but when it does happen, it becomes a different matter. Peter was willing but his flesh nature wasn't able.

Mark 14:30 "And Jesus saith unto him, "Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny Me thrice."

Jesus is telling Peter that even in this night, he will deny that he knew Him three times.

Mark 14:31 "But he spake the more vehemently, "If I should die with Thee, I will not deny Thee in any wise." Likewise also said they all."

As Peter was shooting his mouth off and committing himself to Jesus, the other are committing themselves also. They are reminding Jesus that they have been with Him through the hard times to this point, and they will be there to the end.

Mark 14:32 "And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and He said to His disciples, "Sit ye here, while I shall pray."

Mark 14:33 "And He taketh with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;"

These are the same three that went with Jesus to the mount of transfiguration. This is called the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed to the Father.

Mark 14:34 "And saith unto them, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch."

Jesus asked these three disciples to do a very simple thing; to wait for His return and watch out for people that would come. Jesus asked them to watch for one hour with Him. Do you know what they are going did because the flesh is weak? Make a note of this, for this is the same thing that He has asked us to do during that hour of tribulation, when Satan will be here on earth presenting himself as the Christ. The disciples listened to their flesh nature, and they went to sleep on their watch.

Jesus had indicated to them the seriousness of the moment, and told them to stay awake, watch, listen, pay attention to what is going around you.

Mark 14:35 "And He went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him."

Not only does Jesus mention the cup passing from Him, but here Jesus mentions "the hour might pass from Him" also. For a Christian with eyes to see, That hour that Jesus is speaking of is the "hour of temptation", the hour that Satan will rule on the earth and deceive all mankind that has not been sealed in their minds with the truths from the Word of God. Jesus let us know exactly what would take place in that hour.

Revelation 17:9 "And Here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sitteth."

If you understand God's prophecy, then you have wisdom. The mountains are seven nations or dominions. They are areas of land, and all these seven dominions comprise the entire surface of the earth. These seven continents of land mass will make up Satan's earthly kingdom. A "kingdom" is make up of a king and his domain. The woman, or this false religion will sit and rule over all seven of these dominions. "She" is the religion of Satan's domain, and the eighth verse told us that it is Satan [the beast] that will sit over the woman.

Revelation 17:10 "And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space."

Five of those roles that Satan filled are over and finished. The role of the serpent from the garden of Eden, the dragon from the first earth age, the tempter of Christ, and so on. One of the roles he is doing now as your and my accuser before the throne of God. That role will end very shortly when Michael and his angels cast Satan and his angels out onto the earth [Revelation 12:7-9]. This seventh and final role will be for only five months and will end with the close of this earth age of flesh man. Then comes the eighth position when Satan fills the role of "son of perdition", and goes into perditions. This will be following the Millennium age.

Revelation 17:11 "And the beast that was, and is not, even he [Satan] is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition."

No one but Satan has been judged and sentenced already to perdition, as recorded in Ezekiel 28. This beast [Satan] is the son of perdition, and "perdition" mean destroyer.

Revelation 17:12 "And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast."

These ten horns are ten kings, or agencies of power and all of these powers exists at the same time. They are not like the seven kings of the roles that Satan fulfills, however, they do not rule until a specific time, and then they rule for the one hour. That hour is the "hour of temptation".

The beast [Satan in the role of Antichrist] must appear first, then these ten horn's of power will be given their authority by the Antichrist. This is after the deadly wound has been healed, of the one world political system. This is the "hour of temptation" Jesus speaks of and has warned us of seven times. Jesus warned us so we would not be deceived by this beast, and follow him during this final hour of this earth age. Remember that the hour is not what we think of as a hour, but a five month period of time, spoken of in Revelation 9:5.

Revelation 9:5 "And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man."

So as Jesus is praying here in the garden of Gethsemane, and He is looking forward to that time. Jesus knew that many will be deceived and unprepared for the deception that Satan will bring upon the earth. The "cup of wrath" will fall on those that are deceived during this five month period, and many will love the Lord, but in their ignorance and through their traditions, go right into Satan's system willfully.

Mark 14:36 "And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible unto Thee; take away this cup from Me: nevertheless not what I will, but what Thou wilt."

Jesus is reminding the Father that all things are possible with the Father. That cup that Jesus is speaking of here, is that "cup of wrath" that will be poured out upon the earth on those that were unfaithful to him, and allowed themselves to be deceived. This cup was prophesied in Isaiah 51:17; "Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of His fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out."

When God's wrath spills over, it is at the second advent of the Lord. Then Jesus will return with His rod of iron to judge and rule the nations.

Revelation 19:14 "And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean."

The armies that return with Christ are the saints that have died and fitted with their clothed in the white fine linen of their righteous acts.

Revelation 19:15 "And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."

Revelation 19:16 "And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."

Jesus is saying here, is there another way? and of course there is no other way, for many will fall in that hour.

Mark 14:37 "And He cometh and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, "Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?"

I think that Jesus expected more out of Peter than the others. Here is that hour spoken of again.

Mark 14:38 "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak."

This is Jesus instructions even to us in these final days. "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." At the time of this writing, Judas had left the supper for the temple, and he and the temple guards were on their way to get Jesus. Yet at this critical time, Peter and the other lay asleep on the ground. Everything that is happening here is a lesson to us living today, for the final hour of this age is drawing to a close.

Jesus spoke of this "hour of temptation" in Revelation 3:7-11 as He was addressing the church of Philadelphia through the pen of John. It was written on the day of the Lord. John was taken to the very last day of this earth age of the flesh. It is the day of the sounding of the seventh trump, and John is looking back from that point on these seven churches that existed in these final days. These are not seven specific churches, but types of churches separated by what they believed, taught, and guarded against.

Revelation 3:7 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; `These things saith He That is Holy, He That is True, He That hath the key of David, He That openeth, and no man shutteth, and shutteth, and no man openeth;"

Jesus Christ has only good words to say about the Philadelphia church. It is important for us to understand this verse because this church held the "key of David". They knew who the Kenites were, and they were able to understand all truths from the Word of God. They knew that the truths and mysteries of the Scriptures opens and unlocks all of the doors of deception that Satan and his children, the Kenites will bring on the people of this earth. Philadelphia was and is a church of love and charity, and full of understanding of all wisdom and truth in God's Word.

Revelation 3:8 "I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My word, and hast not denied My name."

Those of the "synagogue of Satan" are the "Kenites", and they have no hold over the church of Philadelphia. If the Kenites enter that church, they are converted and cease to be Kenites, but children of God. The Philadelphia church will not allow deception and confusion to take hold in their church, for they know and understand the parable of the fig tree that Christ instructed them to learn. The Kenites say they are Jews and are of brother Judah, however this church knows that they are liars and not of Judah, or of Abraham, but they are the sons of Cain the first murderer, and have the mind of their father Satan. When confusion and traditions enter their church, they have the wisdom to know where it came from, and how to identify false teaching.

Revelation 3:9: "Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews [Kenites], and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee."

It will be on the first day of the Millennium age when these Kenites will come and worship at the feet of these dear Christians of the Philadelphia and Smyrna churches.

Revelation 3:10 "Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."

The people of the Philadelphia church knew the order of the two "morning stars". They knew that there would be two messiahs and that the first messiah to come was a fake. The knew the order of events, and those seals and trumpets were sealed in their minds that we studied in Mark 13. They were not deceived by the flood of lies and deceiving wonders that will take place shortly, that will draw the people of this earth to Satan in ignorance. It is important that we today learn the doctrine that this Philadelphia church had, and know those that claim to be Jews but are not of Judah, but of Cain, the offspring of Satan. The Philadelphians will hold fast to their faith during the "hour of temptation", and not be deceived.

Revelation 3:11 "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."

God is saying that there is a special crown that is given to those that hold fast to their faith, and no man can take that crown from them. They will not bow to the Antichrist, nor will the receive any part of his name or number. This gives us a built in yardstick to measure the place that we worship in. You escape the hour of temptation by knowing who, when, where and how this hour of temptation will begin. We escape by knowing those seven signs from the last chapter, and the events that mark the end of this earth age.

Don't be so stupid that you would believe fairy-tales such as the rapture doctrine and other traditions that change and pervert God's Word, but when you know those signs of the end times you will not find Satan even tempting.

Mark 14:39 "And again He went away, and prayed, and spake the same words."

Mark 14:40 "And when He returned, He found them asleep again, (for there eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer Him."

The flesh is so weak, and you can hear the disciples saying, I'm so tired, I've been awake for many hours, and here it is late at night. When Jesus saw them sleeping, He didn't bother to wake them. These disciples were stronger men that this shows them to be, yet these events happened to show us what will happen if you fall asleep on your watch during the "hour of temptation". If you close your spiritual eyes, and start being influenced by the things of the flesh, you also will be found sleeping during your hour on your watch.

Mark 14:41 "And He cometh the third time, and saith unto them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners."

This than happened the third time for emphasis, to make sure that you get the point that is being brought out here. Jesus is being turned over to the hands of sinners. So now we will find out just who these sinners are. We will see that they don't call themselves sinners, but that is how God looks upon them.

Mark 14:42 "Rise up, let us go; lo he that betrayeth Me is at hand."

Judas and the temple mob was just around the corner, and coming up the path into the garden of Gethsemane. It was late at night, several hours after the suppertime.

Mark 14:43 "And immediately, while He yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from that chief priests and the scribes and the elders."

Here came Judas leading the pack of religious guards sent by the religious leaders, the chief priests and the scribes and elders. This was not the Roman army that came to get Jesus but the rag-tag mob and bunch of farmers sent out by their pastors and teachers. They came with their swords and sticks, and at the word "boo" would have fallen over each other. This bunch of misfits and rebels are doing the work of the greatest sinners of them all, the religious leaders. The religious leaders are nothing but a bunch of murdering renegades dressed up in priests and elder robes. These Kenite religious leaders were plotting the death of the very Son of God from the start of Jesus ministry.

This was such a poorly equipped bunch of men, that the eleven could have defeated these men, Yet we know that Christ went with them without a fight.

Mark 14:44 "And he that betrayed Him had given them a token, saying, "Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is He; take Him, and lead Him away safely." "

That sign that Judas gave these men identifying Christ, was the Judas kiss. When Judas said, take him away, and lead Him safely, he meant securely, don't let anyone hurt Him. Judas expected the kingdom to come in immediately, and he did not want Jesus harmed. He was like the rapture people, they also are expecting the kingdom to come in any moment also, and they have closed their minds to everything that God had told them through His prophets. Old Judas allowed Himself to be used by the religious community, and we will see that when they were done with him, they killed Judas also after Judas had repented and returned the thirty pieces of silver.

Mark 14:45 "And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to Him, and saith, "Master, Master;" and kissed Him."

Judas gave our Lord the kiss of death.

Mark 14:46 "And they laid their hands on Him, and took Him."

Jesus could have called a band of angels at any time, and just a boo would have sent these men running, but Jesus allowed them to take Him.

Mark 14:47 "And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear."

This is written also in other of the gospels, in John 18:10. There this servant is even named. "Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus." What Peter did was a warning, for if he would have swung wildly, he would have killed the man. Even more strange is the name of this man named "Malchus", which in the Hebrew means "kingdom". Here they took the kingdom in Christ Himself, and here stood this poor man named "kingdom" with his ear cut off and held in his hand.

This act is like a Christian standing in his bedroom during the hour of temptation, with a .357 in his hand ready to blow away the church elder coming to take him to church. He knew what they were doing at the church house during that time, they were deceiving the others to accept the false christ. Remember what Jesus said in Mark 13:11? They will come and take you and deliver you up to their synagogues, and when they come, go with them. God is going to use you during that time, and you had better be ready to be used in that hour.

Mark 13:11 "But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought before hand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost (Spirit)."

The disciples were quite capable of protecting their families, but that was not necessary at this time. Jesus and His disciples did not walk from town to town without the ability to defend themselves. They were able to take care of their own, as all Christians are suppose to be able to today. If the Holy Spirit allows you to be delivered up, than He will put the Words in your mouth that you are to speak.

Mark 14:48 "And Jesus answered and said unto them, "Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take Me?"

Mark 14:49 "I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took Me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled."

Of course what Jesus said here was prophesied in Psalms 22:6. As Christ does this, He takes the ear of Malchus [kingdom] that Peter cut off, and heals the man. So why was it important that this man's ear be healed? He did it to teach us that those that will do what they do with you, will be ignorant of the wicked deeds that they do. They have no ear to hear with understanding, and they will do exactly what their religious leaders and elders tell them to do. The time was not far away when even Malchus would have the opportunity to hear with that ear and repent and enter the kingdom of God.

Mark 14:50 "And they all forsook Him, and flesh."

When Jesus put that ear back on Malchus head, all eleven disciples gave up, turned and headed over the hill and scattered. This happened just following "the hour of temptation", the hour that Jesus told them to stay awake and watch.

Mark 14:51 "And there followed Him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:"

Mark 14:52 "And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked."

There are many that believed that this was Lazarus, because this all took place near where Lazarus lived. The chief priest knew that Jesus brought Lazarus back to life, and they wanted to kill him also. Notice that this young person is not a street person, for his robe was linen cloth. Indicating that he was from a very wealth family.

I do not believe that this was Lazarus for one moment, but I believe that this was Mark, the author of this gospel. Mark was that teenager that follow the disciples, and at this period of time, the other disciples had all fled and had departed for their homes, and Mark stayed on following this mob from the temple. Mark was not an disciple but he has added this to let us know that he had seen this with his own eyes. By this report Mark stayed longer than the other apostles. Mark's mother was very wealthy, and Jesus and the disciples had met in her house in Jerusalem. Everything about this book indicates that Mark had a young exciting mind, and everything is explained in terms that move right along.

Mark 14:53 "And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes."

Jesus is now standing before all the sinners of the Temple, and they especially include these chief priests and elders and the scribes. They were murderers, for they had plotted Jesus murder right from the start, and now they are carrying out their murderous act. The ministers should know better for what they are doing, and they should be teaching God's Word and not the traditions of men, and the doctrines of devils. God is going to hold the ministers of our generation just a accountable as these murdering Kenites of Jesus day will be held. Though there are many good ministers, however there are a lot more that are no better than these murderers, for they will mislead their flocks to Satan. God didn't appoint this high priest, but this was a political position that was approved by a Roman governor.

Mark 14:54 "And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire."

Peter ran, but he didn't run to far off.

Mark 14:55 "And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put Him to death; and found none."

Jesus had lived a life to where they could not find one man to bare witness against Him. The church could not sentence any one to death, but they had to bring their charges to the Roman governor, who was Pilate, and then only after a trial could that person be put to death. These priests were looking for a charge that they could pin on Jesus, so they could take Jesus before Pilate.

Mark 14:56 "For many bare false witness against Him, but their witness agreed not together."

They had paid many false witnesses to bare witness against Jesus, but none of the witnesses' charges were strong enough to deserve death. The other problem that these religious leaders had, was that the false witnesses told conflicting stories. They could not find a divine Spiritual reason to put Him to death.

Mark 14:57 "And there arose certain, and bare false witness against Him, saying,"

Mark 14:58 "We heard Him say, `I will destroy this Temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.' "

There were certain people that did hear Jesus say that He was going to destroy this Temple, and those were fighting words. Treason, if you would. Of course these witnesses could not have understood what Jesus was saying, for Jesus was talking about His death, and the ordinances of the Temple will be fulfilled by Jesus death and resurrection. Those in charge of the Temple at this time were controlled by the Roman government, and they did not understand that Jesus was talking about His death, and not the destruction of the Temple buildings itself. The Buildings were where the sacrifices were taking place, and it is those blood sacrifices and ordinances that would be destroyed and done away with, and not any building.

When Jesus came out of the tomb alive, conquering death, then these sacrifices and ordinances would be fulfilled. The blood of Christ would fulfill the need for those sacrifices never again. Christ body is that temple that He was speaking of, and these witness had no idea in the world what Jesus was talking about. When you by faith believe on Jesus Christ, and repent of your sins in Jesus name, you become part of that temple of the many membered body of Christ. So to this day, the real temple is where ever the body of Christ is. All that these religious leaders could see was their big buildings where they wear their religious robes, and would go through their outward process of worship. To them the important thing was to look good in the community, and to be spoken highly of by those in authority.

Mark 14:59 "But neither so did their witness agree together."

These religious leaders just couldn't get these witness to agree together on anything. Do you think for one moment that Pilate would listen to them for one moment, when their witness couldn't agree on anything? Though spiritually these leaders were offended at what Jesus was saying, however to the Romans it meant nothing. When you mess around with these Jews' Temple, you are messing around with their church, their money bag, and most of all their traditions.

Mark 14:60 "And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, "Answerest Thou nothing? what is it which these witness against Thee?"

This high priest has nothing against Christ, and the high priest know it. He wants Jesus to say something that they can use against Him, for they have nothing to commit their murderous act. Jesus is fulfilling Scripture in this.

Isaiah 53:7 "He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth."

Mark 14:61 "But He held His peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, and said, "Art Thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?"

The high priest is asking Jesus, "Are you Jesus the anointed one?".

Mark 14:62 "And Jesus said, "I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."

Jesus is telling these religious leaders absolutely that He is the Son of the living God, the Messiah. Then He told them that He is the one that would be sitting on the right hand of the Father, and He would be the one to come at the second advent.

Mark 14:63 "Then the high priest rent his cloths, and saith, "What need we any further witnesses?"

The high priest went bananas when Jesus made this statement, and thought Jesus went absolutely crazy, claiming to be the Son of God. This high priest was not a man of God, but he had the mind of his father Satan. All he could think of was murder and killing Jesus. These religious leaders were bad fruit, bad seed, and now Jesus gave them the grounds that they would petition Pilate for the death of Jesus. So now the Jews must convince the Romans that Jesus deserved death.

Mark 14:64 "Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye?" And they all condemned Him to be guilty of death."

As the chief priest turned to the rest of this religious mob, they had all heard Jesus confess that He was the Messiah, the very Son of God, that would sit on the right had of the Father and return back at the seventh trumpet. The entire group shouted out condemning Jesus for what He had just said. Now they had what they were looking for, words out of Jesus mouth that they could use. For religious reason, they felt that Jesus was worthy of death.

That is exactly what the religious leaders are going to look for in your testimony when you are delivered up. They will look for words to convict you right out of your mouth, and that is why we are not to premeditate what we shall say, but allow the Holy Spirit to speak through us in that hour.

Mark 14:65 "And some began to spit on Him, and to cover His face, and to buffet Him, and to say unto Him, "Prophecy:" and the servants did strike Him with the palms of their hands."

There is more to this than what is said here, for what they did was to cover Jesus eyes, and then they spit on Him and struck Jesus. Then they asked Jesus, if you are a prophet, tell me which one of us is striking you. Then "bam", they would let Jesus have it in the back of the head. A great bunch of religious leaders. It is what you would call the right reverend today. I would hate to be in their shoes on judgment day. Those men that have done this to Christ have long gone to be with the Father, and now understand the wickedness that they have done. They now can see that what they did and the events that took place were all prophesied far in advance. As they were doing their wicked deeds, our Heavenly Father was recording all of their events and words.

Mark 14:66 "And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:"

This maid was one of the little temple girls, doing the work of the temple.

Mark 14:67 "And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, "And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth."

Remember what Christ told Peter back in verse thirty; "Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny Me thrice." This is the first time that Peter would deny Christ.

Mark 14:68 "But he denied, saying, "I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest."

This is the first time that Peter denied the Lord, and though he tried to sidestep the issue, he still denied Jesus.

Mark 14:69 "And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, "This is one of them."

Here another maid from the temple saw Jesus and Peter together while He was teaching in the Temple. She upon seeing Peter pointed Peter out to the others.

Mark 14:70 "And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilean, and thy speech agreeth thereto."

These men are in a killing mood, and Peter knew it. He denied this second maid's accusation of Him. The fact that Peter spoke as a Galilean, the others standing by repeated what these two maids were saying, and Peter was getting mad. To compare this to our land, if someone from the south was up in Boston, and when the southerner spoke the people in Boston would know immediately that the person was not one of them. Peter's dialect gave him away, for they knew that Peter was a Galilean.

Mark 14:71 "But he began to curse and to swear, saying, "I know not this Man of Whom ye speak."

This is Peter cursing and swearing that He did not know Jesus Christ, and denying Christ to the entire world. Peter would later repent in great remorse, and in a short time become the foundation leader in establishing the body of Christ.

Mark 14:72 "And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, "Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny Me thrice," And when he thought thereon, he wept."

Peter wept bitterly, for at the very time that Jesus needed him, he ran and hid, and denied that he ever knew Christ. Peter was a brave man, and in that Peter did deny Christ was for our own good. We know later that Peter was very bold in establishing the church. Peter was no coward, but it gives us several lessons. Jesus told Peter exactly what he would do. We can always believe on what Christ said, and count it coming to pass. Jesus gave it in detail, right down to the cock crowing, and the timing that these events would take place. It was no accident that any of these things happened. It lets us know that all of Christ's teaching, even in the book of Revelation are something that we can also count on.

We should prepare ourselves for all of the events that Christ has told us will come to pass in our generation. Judas showed us that there is no shortcuts to what God has spoken, and when he got in the way, even thought he repent of his part, it still claimed his life. Spiritually you should prepare yourself for those events God told us will come to pass. We can watch the news nightly and see these events as they are forming before our eyes. This is why we must wake up and learn these lessons before it is to late, and we wake up at a later day to find ourselves weeping our eyes out in shame because of our actions. There is no need to be frightened of those days, for Father has promised that He would take care of us in that day. The times ahead are times that we should look forward to, for God is going to give us the opportunity to let the Holy Spirit speak directly through us. This goes back to Mark 13:11.

Fifty days after this night of Peter's denial of Jesus, he will stand on Pentecost and address the people of Jerusalem, and they all witnessed the working of the Holy Spirit as He worked through the followers on that day. This is exactly what we have to look forward to in our generation, for Peter reminded them in Acts 2:16-21 that what they were seeing, and witnessing on Pentacost day was exactly as Joel prophesied in Joel 2:28-32.