Patient Endurance: Living the Dream Without Fear

 The last two weeks leading up to the launch of our newest brand have been some of the most stressful of my professional life.

Restful sleep has been elusive. My mind has raced at night, and my heart has carried a quiet but persistent fear—Can I really carry the operational and financial weight of what’s ahead? There have been moments of doubt, and even flashes of regret, where I’ve questioned whether this leap of faith was wise.

It’s strange how faithfully pursuing the voice of YHWH can sometimes feel so heavy.

At times I’ve wondered if I was being foolish—taking on too much risk in the name of calling. The truth is, I’ve never chosen a simple life. I carry a vision for what I believe the Lord has asked me to steward, and that vision has required risk, stretching, and repeated steps beyond the edges of my expertise.

And yet—here is the paradox—I am living my dreams.

At 47 years old, I am content with what YHWH has given me. Life now feels less about accumulation and more about preservation—protecting what has been built, and prayerfully preparing to pass it on to the next generation of Kingdom builders.

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Living the Dream Doesn’t Remove the Weight

As I sit with the anguish that sometimes accompanies the pursuit of purpose, I’m reminded of a sobering truth:

Many people never live their dreams.

They imagine them. They talk about them. Then life, fear, or responsibility quietly places those dreams on a shelf. That will not be the story of the Briggs household.

Still, I’ve realized something important: I’ve been taking this privilege for granted. The ability to try, to risk, to walk out faith in real time is itself a gift. I don’t need to wait for outcomes or prosperity to enjoy obedience. Faith is not validated by success—it is validated by listening.

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Patient Endurance

Lately, I’ve found myself deeply connected to John’s words, written after he had likely lost nearly all of the other disciples to martyrdom:

“I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.”
(Revelation 1:9, ESV)

That phrase—patient endurance—sets the tone for the entire book of Revelation. Five of the seven churches (Revelation 2 - 3) are explicitly commanded to endure, and the remaining two are implicitly called to do the same.

Endurance is not optional in the Kingdom.

Whether through suffering or through long obedience, the people of God are called to remain faithful over time.

Patient endurance is not merely surviving adversity.
It is sustaining faith while resisting fear, complacency, and despair as time stretches on.

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How We Endure

Endurance begins with hearing.

John tells us plainly that it was because of the word of God that he found himself on Patmos. Revelation reinforces this again:

“Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”
(Revelation 14:12, ESV)

To keep the commands of YHWH, we must listen—to His Spirit and His Word. Once we recognize His voice, obedience will often require risk. It may require giving without knowing if anything will be returned. It may require walking forward while discomfort or suffering remains unresolved.

That is the space Scripture calls endurance.

But the call is not simply to endure—it is to endure patiently.

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The Battle With Fear

Patient endurance means remaining faithful while maintaining joy.

This is where the Lord has been gently confronting my heart. I have not struggled to stay on the path. My struggle has been staying free from fear while walking it.

Scripture speaks directly to this:

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.”
(1 John 4:18, ESV)

Fear interprets hardship as punishment. Love understands hardship as formation.

Patient endurance is not a trait we receive—it is a discipline we learn while pursuing the will of YHWH. Revelation makes this unmistakably clear: growth in intimacy with the Father and victory over the enemy are inseparable from long-suffering and faithful endurance.

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Choosing Joy, Rejecting the Lie

So I choose to take up this cross with honor.

I reject the lie that hardship means I am cursed, punished, or foolish. I am not. The Lord is using my professional life to draw me closer to Him and to deepen my love for Him.

My prayer is simple:

YHWH, teach me what You desire to teach me here.
Let me live in patience, obedience, and joy—free from fear.

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The Gift of Shabbat

I am deeply grateful for the gift of Shabbat, which gave me the space to pause and write this reflection as a step toward healing.

From Friday evening to Saturday evening, we are commanded to release our striving and allow the Lord to restore what the week has worn down. This Shabbat, I needed that restoration. I needed to hear His voice and allow Him to heal places of emotional fatigue I hadn’t fully named.

Shabbat reminds me that faithfulness is not proven by effort alone—but by rest.

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Faithful Unto Death

Scripture is unambiguous about the finish line:

“Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
(Revelation 2:10, ESV)

Not until conditions improve.
Not until pressure lifts.
Unto death.

Joy is not found when endurance ends.
Joy is found when faithfulness is embraced without condition.

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A Dedication

As we step into 2026 and launch this new brand, I dedicate this season to the apostles—men who pursued the call of God at great personal cost:

“Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.”
(Acts 5:41, ESV)

May I rejoice the same way—not after suffering passes, but within it.
May I endure patiently.
May I walk without fear.
May I remain faithful—with joy—until the end.

Why the Pass Through Works (Part 1 of 2)

 A testimony of blood, time, and restoration

In hindsight, it’s a little ironic that I’m writing this article after publishing Pass Through: A 90-Day Transformative Weight Loss and Vitality Plan.

This is the article that probably should have come first.

But maybe it couldn’t have been written then.
Maybe it could only be written now—after more than a decade of actually living it.

What follows isn’t a pitch. It’s a testimony.
Not of perfection, but of consistency.

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Where the Pass Through Began

Long before the framework was fully articulated, the dietary foundation of what we had already named the Pass Through began with Kayla and me around 2007, and it produced meaningful success from the very beginning.

Through intentional changes to food—simplifying ingredients, removing what inflamed, and eating with greater restraint—Kayla experienced a significant transformation, losing more than 35 pounds. What started as a practical pursuit of health became an early lesson for both of us in how powerfully the body responds when it is given the right environment.

Years later, that foundation was deepened when we read Four Cups: God’s Timeless Promises for a Life of Fulfillment by Chris Hodges, then pastor of Church of the Highlands.

That book sparked deeper conversations around Passover, deliverance, and the role of blood in God’s redemptive story—bringing language and structure to something we had already been practicing intuitively.

One verse in particular stayed with us:

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood.” — Leviticus 17:11

That statement stopped us cold.

If life is carried in the blood, then a simple question follows:

How much of our health—or sickness—is also carried there?

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From Body → Organs → Cells → Blood

Over time, a pattern became clear:

• If you want a healthy body, you need healthy organs

• If you want healthy organs, you need healthy cells

• And if you want to influence nearly every cell in the body, there is only one system that reaches them all

Blood.

Blood delivers oxygen, nutrients, hormones, immune signals, and healing instructions to every cell.
It also carries away waste, inflammation, and toxins.

Change the environment, and the cells respond.

Blood is the environment.

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Blood Is Not Static — It Renews in Cycles

As I studied further, I learned something critical:

Blood is constantly being renewed—but not all at once.

Here’s what science shows:

• Plasma refreshes within days

• Platelets renew in about 7–10 days

• White blood cells turn over in days to weeks

• Red blood cells (the slowest) live about 120 days

This mattered more than I realized at first.

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Why 90 Days Works

By 90 days, the blood is substantially renewed:

• Plasma reflects a new nutritional environment

• Platelets and immune behavior have reset

• A majority of red blood cells were formed under new conditions

This is why people experience real, durable change after a full quarter—not just “detox feelings,” but measurable improvement.

Ninety days is long enough for systemic change to begin.

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When 120 Days Matters

However, 120 days represents something more complete.

At that point:

• Every red blood cell in circulation was formed under healthier conditions

• The blood has reached its full healing potential

This is why I encourage:

• An annual 90-day Pass Through reset for most people

• A 120-day commitment for those who:

  • have never done a full reset

  • are dealing with chronic or nagging injury

  • face ongoing sickness or metabolic dysfunction

  • have received a concerning diagnosis or prognosis

Always in coordination with a licensed healthcare provider.

Not because healing suddenly happens on day 120—but because the blood is finally fully renewed.

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Blood First — Then Organs (With Real Timelines)

Here’s an important distinction many health plans miss:

Blood renews first. Organs respond next.
And they do so on different timelines.

Not everything heals at the same speed.

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Tissues That Respond in Weeks (≈2–6 weeks)

These tissues are highly vascular and metabolically active, meaning they respond relatively quickly once blood quality improves:

• Muscle tissue – improved oxygen delivery, endurance, and recovery

• Vascular lining (endothelium) – better blood pressure regulation and flexibility

• Immune signaling – reduced inflammation and improved response

• Gut lining – improved absorption, reduced irritation and bloating

• Skin and hair support tissues – improved circulation and structural integrity

This is why people often notice:

• better workouts

• clearer thinking

• reduced swelling

• improved energy

within the first 30–45 days.

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Tissues That Respond in Months (≈2–6 months)

These tissues require sustained exposure to healthier blood over time:

• Liver tissue – fat metabolism, detox pathways, enzyme balance

• Connective tissue (tendons, ligaments, fascia) – injury resilience, joint comfort

• Metabolic organs (pancreas, adipose tissue signaling) – insulin sensitivity, fat regulation

• Nervous system regulation – stress response, sleep quality, autonomic balance

These systems don’t just need clean blood — they need consistent clean blood.

This is why deeper healing often shows up after 90 days, and continues improving well beyond it.

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Tissues That Benefit Most After Full Blood Renewal (≈4–6+ months)

Once the blood is fully renewed (around 120 days), longer-term restoration becomes possible in:

• Chronic injury sites

• Long-standing inflammatory tissues

• Organ systems stressed for years, not weeks

• Hormonal signaling pathways

This is where people often report:

• nagging issues finally resolving

• stable blood pressure trends

• durable metabolic improvement

• a sense that the body has “turned a corner”

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Why Staying the Course Matters

Think of it this way:

Blood changes the environment.
Time allows the structure to rebuild.

Stopping right as the blood becomes fully renewed is like planting seed but leaving before harvest.

That’s why I encourage those who reach 120 days—especially for the first time—to remain on the plan as long as reasonably possible, giving refreshed blood time to restore deeper systems.

Blood renews first, performance improves next, and organs restore last—on timelines measured in weeks, months, and sustained consistency.

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What I Have Personally Witnessed

I share this testimony with some reluctance, as I generally prefer the path of humility and thanksgiving over drawing attention to personal blessings. However, for the sake of those who are searching for meaningful healing—and not just another plan—I offer my experience thus far as a witness to what God has done in my life.

I am not claiming perfect health, nor any form of superiority. In fact, my own journey has included real struggle. Over the years, I wrestled with keeping my blood pressure within a healthy range, experienced intermittent chest discomfort, and dealt with a constant, nagging cough that never seemed to fully resolve. These were not abstract concerns—they were signals that my body was under strain. Through consistent application of the Pass Through plan, alongside targeted supplements and lifestyle changes, those issues gradually resolved. What this convinced me of is not that I am immune to decline, but that what we eat—and how we steward our daily habits—has the power to reverse health adversity and significantly reduce the likelihood of future challenges when practiced faithfully over time.

Over more than a decade of repeatedly returning to this framework, I have personally witnessed:

• improved fitness and faster recovery

• healthier body composition over time

• steadily improving blood pressure trends

• restored energy, mental clarity, and focus

• growing resilience against burnout and injury

At the time of this writing, at 47 years of age, I can also say with gratitude that:

• I have never had a single cavity

• my eyesight remains 20/20

• have been given the grace to avoid hospitalization, major surgery, and long-term dependence on prescription medications

• and my overall health markers—fitness capacity, metabolic labs, recovery, and cardiovascular performance—more closely resemble that of someone a decade or more younger than my chronological age

I do not share these things to boast, but to testify out of my love for you. Not to elevate a method, but to point toward faithfulness—both in how the body was designed and in how God honors consistent stewardship over time.

These outcomes did not come from extremes or shortcuts, but from aligning daily choices with the way the body was created to heal.

Not because the plan is severe—
but because it respects design.

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A Final Word

The Pass Through is not a diet.
It is not a cleanse.
It is not a guarantee.

It is a rhythm—one that honors both Scripture and biology.

It works with the body instead of against it.
It teaches restraint, trust, and patience.
And it reminds us that restoration is rarely instant—but it is always possible.

I share this not as a medical expert, but as a witness to what consistent obedience can produce over time.

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Written by: Martin A. Briggs
With gratitude to my wife, Dr. Kayla L. Briggs, and to the many counselors and teachers who have sharpened my understanding.

Disclaimer:
I am not a medical professional. This reflects my personal witness and experience. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider before making significant changes to diet, exercise, or fasting practices.

I Didn’t Know My Faith Was Heavy Until the Weight Was Gone

I served Jesus most of my life—and if I’m honest, I was exhausted. But what’s surprising is this: I didn’t know I was weighed down at the time. I thought what I was carrying was normal. I assumed faith was supposed to feel demanding, heavy, and costly in ways that quietly drained you.

It wasn’t until later—after I encountered Jesus in His true covenantal and historical reality—that I realized how much weight I had been carrying. Only then could I see the difference between serving God and serving a version of faith that had slowly become a burden to bear.

Nothing about my devotion changed. My sincerity didn’t change. What changed was clarity. And with clarity came freedom.

Looking back, I can now see that much of what shaped my understanding of faith wasn’t rooted as deeply in Scripture as I had assumed. Layers of tradition, history, and inherited assumptions had subtly framed how I viewed God, worship, and even obedience. At the time, I didn’t question it—because it’s all I had ever known.

The shift didn’t come from walking away from faith, but from seeing it more clearly. When the framework changed, the weight lifted. Scripture began to make sense in ways it never had before. God felt consistent, not contradictory. Faith stopped feeling like something I had to constantly manage and started feeling like something I could finally live.

I’ve linked three YouTube videos below that helped explain why my faith had felt so heavy for so long. They don’t tell you what to believe—but they do help uncover how history shaped what many of us inherited. If you’re quietly asking similar questions, they may help you see things more clearly too.

• The Controversy of Constantine’s Conversion to Christianity
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qYiwPBQ8Qg

• Sol Invictus Day: The Roman Roots of Christmas
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-D0Fr9oTHW4

• A Very Pagan Christmas
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh27RDRevgI

Sometimes you don’t realize how heavy something is until you finally set it down. That was true for me—and it may be true for you too.

Satan’s Little Season: Before the End Comes Exposure

There are many faithful ways people understand biblical prophecy and the order of end-time events. What follows is my personal perspective, offered as one voice among many. Eschatology is not a matter of salvation, nor does it determine one’s closeness to the Father. I engage this topic because it is fascinating, meaningful, and because I believe God invites some of us to explore these things thoughtfully and humbly.

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The Big Picture

Within the way I currently understand the biblical timeline, Satan’s Little Season appears toward the very end of history, following what Scripture describes as the Millennial Reign.  I share this as a reflection of how these themes have come together for me through study, prayer, and ongoing reflection.

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Where We Are Now

🖤 The Black Horse — The Present Age

I believe we are currently living in what the book of Revelation symbolically describes as the time of the Black Horse.

The Black Horse in Scripture

Revelation 6:5–6 (ESV)
“When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, ‘Come!’ And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, ‘A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!’”

This imagery suggests a world marked by economic imbalance rather than total collapse:

• Trade and markets still function

• Wealth exists, but is unevenly distributed

• Scarcity and abundance coexist

In my view, this aligns closely with our current moment.

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Characteristics of the Black Horse Age

This season is marked by:

• Great economic prosperity

• Extraordinary innovation

• Historically high levels of peace

• Rising inflation alongside expanding wealth

Spiritually, this is a time of shared dominion:

• The Kingdom of Light is advancing

• The kingdom of darkness is still operating

• There exists an uneasy and temporary harmony

I often compare this to Israel living in Egypt during the time of Joseph:

• God’s people lived within a foreign system

• Egypt did not worship the God of Israel

• Yet there was real peace, provision, and stability

This is not perfect peace — but it is a prolonged season of relative stability, one that may extend a little beyond two centuries.

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What Comes Next

🩶 The Pale Horse

(Revelation 7–11 | Approximately 2,000–3,000 Years)

I understand the Pale Horse to represent a long and devastating season that spans roughly 2,000 to 3,000 years, unfolding across Revelation chapters 7 through 11.

Revelation 6:7–8 (ESV)
“When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, ‘Come!’ And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.”

This season is marked by:

• Extreme scarcity

• Widespread violence and death

• Global poverty affecting most of humanity

• Only small pockets of prosperity

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The Return of Yeshua & the Time of Immortality

At the beginning of this Pale Horse season, I believe Yeshua returns — often called the Second Coming.

In this understanding:

• Yeshua reigns from the clouds

• The saints join Him and return to the earth

• The order of life and death changes

During this time:

• The saints become immortal

• Those accepted by God who die are sent back to the earth

• The saints act as lights, protectors, and agents of relief

People endure this age by either:

• Aligning with the kingdom of darkness

• Or clinging to Yeshua and seeking refuge among the saints

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The 666 Years (The Trumpets)

Following the Pale Horse comes what I understand as the 666-year period associated with the Trumpets.

This period represents:

• The highest expression of Satan’s sovereign rule on the earth

• The climax of pure evil

• Near-total devastation

• The extermination of God’s people

• The death of all immortals

By the end of this season:

• Darkness has reached its fullest expression

• Evil dominates without restraint

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🌿 The Millennial Reign (A Literal 1,000 Years)

I believe the Millennial Reign is a literal 1,000-year period.

During this time:

• Satan is fully locked away

• Yeshua is the undisputed King of the earth

• Truth is universally known and celebrated

• Peace exists unlike anything previously experienced

Importantly:

• Immortality continues for the saints

• The saints of God serve as the highest governmental rulers on the earth

• They govern under Yeshua, administering truth, justice, and light

I see this era as:

• A restored world

• A healed earth

• A preparation for New Jerusalem

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🔓 Satan’s Little Season

Only after the Millennium does Satan’s Little Season occur:

Revelation 20:3 (ESV)
“…after that he must be released for a little while.”

During this brief season:

• Satan is released

• He gathers the remaining remnant of evil

• A final rebellion takes place

• The hearts of those remaining are tested

This rebellion:

• Fails quickly

• Ends decisively

Satan is then judged permanently.

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The Final Events

With the conclusion of the Millennial Reign and the brief release of Satan, Scripture points toward a final resolution of history. What follows is not another age to be worked through, but the closing movement of God’s redemptive plan, where justice is fully rendered, evil is finally judged and stripped of its power, and creation is made new.

1. Great White Throne Judgment

2. The end of the present world order

3. New Heavens

4. New Earth

5. New Jerusalem — the eternal dwelling of God with His people

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A Summary of What Must Happen Before Satan’s Little Season

In short, I’ll leave you with the following criteria that I believe must occur before Satan’s Little Season. What follows is a concise snapshot of how I currently understand the sequence of events leading up to it.

• A global shift from imbalance to extreme scarcity
  The world moves from uneven prosperity into widespread famine, disease, violence, and death. Most of humanity lives in extreme poverty, with only isolated pockets of prosperity remaining.

• The visible reign of Yeshua from the clouds
  Yeshua reigns openly from the heavens in a way that can be seen, no longer hidden or symbolic, during a deeply darkened world.

• Immortal apostles living among humanity
  Immortal saints walk the earth as representatives of Yeshua’s Kingdom, bringing hope, protection, and order in the midst of collapse.

• Miracles resembling Yeshua’s first coming
  These immortal saints heal the sick, restore sight to the blind, protect the vulnerable, and provide supernatural provision—mirroring the works of Yeshua when He first walked the earth.

• A final test of faithfulness for the immortal saints
  They refuse allegiance to the kingdom of darkness and reject a literal, physical mark worn on the hand or forehead. Because of this refusal, they are beheaded (Rev 20:4) —the only means by which they can be killed.

• The rise and fall of Satan’s greatest earthly authority
  This season culminates in the highest expression of Satan’s sovereign rule on earth, followed by his defeat, binding, and the beginning of the Millennial Reign.

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Final Note

This is one perspective among many sincere attempts to understand Scripture. Eschatology is not about timelines alone — it is about hope, justice, restoration, and the faithfulness of God. I share this view not as a conclusion, but as an invitation to thoughtful conversation and continued searching.

666 Isn’t What You Think: A Revelation 11–20 Timeline

Most people hear 666 and think of symbols, speculation, or scary imagery. But when you read Revelation straight through—especially chapters 11 through 20—a clear storyline appears.

In this framework, 666 is not just a symbol.
It represents the final period of Satan’s rule on Earth, clearly bracketed within the Book of Revelation.

Let’s walk through it step by step.

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1. Everything Changes in Revelation 11

The turning point of Revelation happens in chapter 11, with the two witnesses.

“And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them.”
(Revelation 11:7)

After they are killed, their bodies lie in the street for three and a half days, and the world celebrates.

“For three and a half days… those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them.”
(Revelation 11:9–10)

This moment matters because restraint is removed. The beast now moves openly.

Immediately after this, the seventh trumpet sounds:

“The seventh angel blew his trumpet…”
(Revelation 11:15)

This trumpet does not end history.
It starts the final phase.

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2. The Seventh Trumpet Releases the Seven Bowls

Later in Revelation, we are told what flows out of this trumpet:

“Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”
(Revelation 16:1)

The seven bowls of wrath are poured out during the reign of the beast, not after it. These bowls are acts of judgment that strike the Earth while Satan is ruling.

This is the period understood here as the 666-year reign.

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3. Who Is Ruling During This Time?

Revelation names the power behind the system:

“They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name… is Apollyon.”
(Revelation 9:11)

By Revelation 13, this authority is total:

“And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.”
(Revelation 13:2)

This rule is global:

“Authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation.”
(Revelation 13:7)

There is no rival power on Earth during this period.

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4. The Mark of the Beast Is Literal

During this reign, everyone is forced to choose.

“It causes all… to be marked on the right hand or the forehead.”
(Revelation 13:16)

This mark is required to live normally:

“So that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark.”
(Revelation 13:17)

Refusal brings consequences:

“If anyone worships the beast… and receives a mark… he will drink the wine of God’s wrath.”
(Revelation 14:9–10)

In this framework, the mark is literal, enforced, and unavoidable.
Without it:

• You cannot participate in the economy

• You are hunted

• The penalty is death

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5. What Happens to True Believers?

Revelation is clear: believers are not spared during the reign of the beast.

“It was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them.”
(Revelation 13:7)

This is not random persecution—it is systematic execution.

Those who refuse the mark are killed, and Revelation tells us where they are kept while the reign of the beast continues.

“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.”
(Revelation 6:9)

The altar is the resting place of the martyrs during this period.
They are not yet raised.
They are not yet reigning.

They cry out:

“How long… until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”
(Revelation 6:10)

Their question confirms that judgment has not yet arrived. The beast is still ruling. The killings are still ongoing.

Each is given a white robe, but they are told to remain there:

“…until the full number of their fellow servants… were killed just as they had been.”
(Revelation 6:11)

From the death of the two witnesses until the bowls of wrath are finished, every true believer is murdered or dies because they refuse the mark, and their souls are kept under the altar.

Only after this period ends does Revelation show what happens next:

“I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded… who had not worshiped the beast or received its mark… They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”
(Revelation 20:4)

The same souls once seen under the altar are later seen reigning.

Faithfulness equals martyrdom.
Martyrdom ends at the Millennial Reign.

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6. The Collapse of the Beast System (Revelation 17–19)

As the bowls conclude, the system begins to fall.

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!”
(Revelation 18:2)

Everything Satan built collapses—political power, economy, religion.

Finally:

“The beast was captured, and with it the false prophet…”
(Revelation 19:20)

This marks the end of the 666 period.

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7. Revelation 20: The Transition

Revelation 20 completes the story.

“He seized the dragon… and bound him for a thousand years.”
(Revelation 20:2)

Satan’s rule is over.

“They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”
(Revelation 20:4)

The Millennial Reign begins.

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Final Summary

In this framework:

• 666 is a time period, not a metaphor

• It begins after the death of the two witnesses (Rev 11)

• It includes the reign of Apollyon, the mark of the beast, and the seven bowls (Rev 13–16)

• It ends with the destruction of the beast (Rev 19)

• It transitions into the Millennial Kingdom (Rev 20)

Revelation does not call believers to escape this period—but to endure it.

“Here is the endurance of the saints.”
(Revelation 14:12)

Honoring Shabbat: A Scriptural Guide to the Sabbath

Honoring Shabbat is one of the most far-reaching themes in all of Scripture. Before even exploring its meaning or intention, simply looking at the quantity of biblical material devoted to Sabbath reveals just how massive this subject truly is. To fully study Shabbat biblically requires reading more than 100 verses, spread across 40+ passages, touching 25+ chapters, covering half of the Torah, large portions of the Prophets, multiple encounters with Yeshua in the Gospels, and key theological arguments in the New Testament. And beyond the sheer volume, the timeline is staggering: the full revelation of Shabbat spans from Genesis 1 to the days of Yeshua — more than 1,400 years of progressive instruction, clarification, and fulfillment before the complete picture of Sabbath was finally established.

In terms of study volume alone, Shabbat demands time, attention, and sincere devotion. At a normal reading pace, it takes about 1–1.5 hours just to read the verses themselves. It takes 3–4 hours to read the full chapters that surround those verses. And for someone who wants a truly comprehensive understanding — reading context, commentary, and prophetic connections — it can take 6–8 hours to absorb the full biblical breadth of Shabbat.

Before we even ask how to honor Shabbat according to God’s intentions, we have to first recognize the magnitude of what He has spoken. Shabbat is not a side topic, an isolated command, or a historical footnote. It is a thread woven through the entire Bible — from the creation of the world to the vision of the world to come.

My intention in this post is simple: to encourage you to take the time to read all of the raw Scripture for yourself. I’ve listed every passage, and I truly believe that anyone who walks through them slowly will feel the weight, beauty, and continuity of Shabbat across the Word of God.

📜 Full Scripture String (All Sabbath References)

Genesis 2:1–3, Exodus 16:23–30, Exodus 20:8–11, Exodus 23:12, Exodus 31:12–18, Exodus 34:21, Exodus 35:1–3, Leviticus 16:31, Leviticus 19:3, Leviticus 19:30, Leviticus 23:1–3, Leviticus 24:8, Leviticus 25:1–7, Numbers 15:32–36, Numbers 28:9–10, Deuteronomy 5:12–15, Deuteronomy 15:1–11, 2 Kings 4:23, 2 Kings 11:5–9, 2 Chronicles 2:4, 2 Chronicles 8:12–13, 2 Chronicles 23:4–8, 2 Chronicles 31:3, Nehemiah 9:14, Nehemiah 10:31–33

Nehemiah 13:15–22, Isaiah 1:13, Isaiah 56:1–8, Isaiah 58:13–14, Isaiah 66:22–23, Jeremiah 17:19–27, Ezekiel 20:10–24, Ezekiel 22:8, Ezekiel 22:26, Ezekiel 23:38, Ezekiel 44:24, Hosea 2:11, Amos 8:4–6, Matthew 12:1–14, Matthew 24:20, Mark 1:21, Mark 2:23–28, Mark 3:1–6, Luke 4:16, Luke 4:31, Luke 6:1–11, Luke 13:10–17, Luke 14:1–6, John 5:1–18, John 7:22–23, 

John 9:14–16, Acts 1:12, Acts 13:14, Acts 13:27, Acts 13:42–44, Acts 15:21, Acts 16:13, Acts 17:2, Acts 18:4, Colossians 2:16–17, Hebrews 4:1–11, Revelation 1:10

What follows after this introduction is my interpretation — my understanding of how to honor Shabbat in alignment with the Father’s will after personally reading through the full master list of Sabbath passages. I’m inviting you into that journey with me, but I’m also inviting you to do your own reading so that the Spirit can speak to you directly through the Scriptures themselves.

The Central Theme of Shabbat: Rest That Declares Who Is God

At its core, Shabbat calls us to stop working. This simple act becomes a powerful declaration that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is Lord over our lives. Resting on Shabbat is an act of humility — an acknowledgment that we are not self-sustaining. We are dependent on Him, and we trust Him enough to lay down our own labor.

When we refuse to rest, we slip into the same posture Eve took in the garden — reaching for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, believing the lie that we can be like God. Working on Shabbat is the modern expression of that same temptation, the belief that our effort is what sustains us.

But John 5:1–18 makes something unmistakably clear:
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit continue Their divine work even on Shabbat — and They alone should. Their work sustains creation. Ours does not. Our role is not to imitate God’s workload, but to rest under His care.

Shabbat is the day He counts His flock — not by what we produce, but by our willingness to trust, rest, and place our lives back into His hands.

The Heart Behind Sabbath

 — A day begins in the evening. (Genesis 1:1–31)   

Every day of Creation is defined the same way:

“And there was evening, and there was morning…”
—the first day
—the second day
—and so on.

This repeated phrase establishes the rhythm of all biblical timekeeping:

A biblical day begins at evening (sunset) and ends the following evening.

In modern terms, this means what we call the “first day of the week” actually begins on what we now call Friday evening. Our modern calendar names the days differently, but biblically the day always begins when the sun sets — not when the clock strikes midnight.

This is the foundation for understanding the timing of Shabbat and every appointed time in Scripture.

 - A day to rest with God (Genesis 2:1–3).    We rest with God on the seventh day, and it is the first and oldest command ever given to mankind. It is a holy day — a day God Himself defines as rest, which is the highest form of reverence. And what is rest? It is a day separated from work. And what is work? It is the mental or physical effort we use toward production — but it is also the ordinary activity we engage in throughout the other six days.

Shabbat calls us to stop both: to cease producing and to step away from what we normally do outside of Sabbath. It is a deliberate interruption of our regular rhythm so that our attention can return fully to God.

Therefore, Sabbath is God’s request that we lay down our labor and rest in reverence for what He has already accomplished. It is a day to acknowledge His finished work and to be thankful for it.

 - A day to rest, even when it feels inefficient (Exodus 34:21).  

“In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest.” Meaning that even when the season demands production — when every natural instinct says to work harder — we still rest. We rest even against the wisdom of production, showing that our trust is in God and not in the timing of our labor.

 - Approach the day reverently (Exodus 35:1–3).

The Sabbath is called a solemn day. Solemn means serious, deeply respectful, marked by sincerity or gravity. Shabbat should be approached reverently — out of a fearful respect for who God is and for what He has accomplished.

 - A day to honor our freedom and remember our release from Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:12–15). 

Sabbath is also a remembrance of our forefathers’ time in Egypt — a time of bondage, slavery, and endless work. God reached out, freed us, redeemed us, and claimed us as His own. Shabbat reminds us weekly that we are no longer slaves to production, pressure, or the demands of this world. We rest because He redeemed us.

 — A Covenant Law With Life-and-Death Weight (Exodus 31:14–15 & Numbers 15:32–36). 

Shabbat is not only honored by God — it is protected by Him with the highest level of holiness. Scripture says:

“Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death… that soul shall be cut off from among his people.”
— Exodus 31:14–15

And the narrative of the man gathering sticks in Numbers 15:32–36 proves that this was not symbolic language. God Himself instructed that the penalty be carried out. This was not cruelty — it was covenant protection.

Shabbat is so sacred in God’s eyes that He elevates it to the level of a moral law.
To profane it is not just to break a command — it is to violate the relationship.

To break Shabbat is portrayed as worthy of death and separation from the people, which reveals its spiritual weight:

• separation from the community

• separation from covenant

• and ultimately, if unrepented, separation from the Kingdom itself

Shabbat is a sign of belonging (Ex. 31:13).
To reject the sign is to reject the relationship it represents.

In this way, the seriousness of the penalty teaches us the seriousness of the gift.
Shabbat is not a small command — it is a covenant marker that shapes our identity as the people of God and prepares us for our place in the New Jerusalem as the Bride of Yeshua.

Mosaic Boundaries

In the Old Testament, the practical guidance for keeping Shabbat was heavily oriented around the boundaries God gave to teach Israel how to stop, rest, and remember Him. These safeguards are still enforced today, not as burdens, but as clear instructions for holy rest.

 - Prepare before the day arrives (Exodus 16:23–30). 

We are to prepare for Sabbath before Sabbath. Preparation is part of obedience. The day is set apart, so the work must be completed beforehand.

 - Do no work, and let none under you work (Exodus 20:8–11). 

“No one is to work on the Sabbath.”
On this day you shall not do any work — not you, your son or daughter, your male servant or female servant, your livestock, or the sojourner within your gates. In other words, everyone rests, and there is a stillness throughout the entire community. The Lord gives us six days for all our work, and He asks that one day be held exclusively for Him.

 - Honor God together (Leviticus 23:1–3).

We are commanded to have a holy convocation in our dwelling places. Shabbat is not only personal rest — it is gathering together before the Lord in a holy manner, honoring His presence in community.

 - Let your commerce serve rest (Nehemiah 10:31–33).

The Lord never explicitly says we cannot buy or sell on the Sabbath. Therefore, buying and selling is only recommended when it is honorable before the Lord and leads to greater rest. If at all possible, avoid trading, but Scripture does not define it as a violation of the Law.

 — Carry No Burdens (Jeremiah 17:19–27). 
We are warned to be careful not to carry a load on the Sabbath or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem. “Do not bring a load out of your houses or do any work, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your ancestors.” This is God’s reminder that Shabbat is not a day for labor, transport, production, or business.

But there is also a spiritual law at work here. Not only are we commanded to lay down the physical weight of our labor, but we are to lay down the spiritual weight of it as well. One day out of seven, regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in, we are called to release the cares, pressures, and anxieties connected to our work.

Shabbat is the day we stop carrying the burdens of how things will turn out and return to the reality that we are under the perfect care of our Father. In His house there is no death, no loss, and no fear of anything being taken from us. He is the sovereign Protector whose Kingdom cannot be broken into — therefore Shabbat is the weekly reminder that we are safe, provided for, and upheld by Him.

And flowing from this same principle, we also refrain from any form of labor that causes exertion. Not all “non-work” activities produce rest. Some things that are leisure on other days can become labor on Shabbat because they demand physical or mental strain. Examples include strenuous yard work, physically intense sports, heavy cleaning, and any activity that pulls our bodies or minds back into a posture of effort instead of restoration.

Shabbat is not merely about avoiding employment — it is about avoiding exertion and honoring rest. It is the intentional choice to do what restores, not what drains; what brings stillness, not what triggers striving.

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Seventy generations later — approximately 1,400 years after Moses — Yeshua provides even more insight into how to practice Shabbat. The very same Spirit who guided Moses is the Spirit who guides Yeshua. Some people believe Moses had one law and Yeshua introduced another, but that is not true. It is one Spirit, one law, expressed through two different servants.

God, speaking through Moses, emphasized the boundaries that teach us how to rest.
Yeshua, when He comes, emphasizes the allowances that teach us how to show mercy and do good.

It is the same God giving the same commandments — and as Yeshua said, He came to fulfill the Law, not abolish it. Through Moses the Sabbath was complete in its boundaries; through Yeshua it is completed with His allowances.        

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Allowances From Yeshua

Yeshua picked up exactly where He left off with Moses. As He said, He came to fulfill the Law, not to abolish it. Through Moses, God gave the boundaries that teach us how to rest. Through Yeshua, God revealed the allowances that teach us how to show mercy, preserve life, and do good on Shabbat.

These allowances do not replace the Law — they complete it.

 - Do good on Shabbat (Matthew 12:1–14).

From this passage we learn:

• we can walk on Shabbat

• we can pick food on Shabbat to eat

• we can heal on Shabbat

• we can help people who are in need

• it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath

 - Meet and teach on Shabbat (Mark 1:21). 

From this passage we learn:

• we can meet on Shabbat

• we can teach on Shabbat

 - Eat freely on Shabbat (Luke 6:1–11).

From this passage we learn:

• we are allowed to eat and gather food

 - Preserve life on Shabbat (Luke 13:10–17).

From this passage we learn:

• we are allowed to preserve life and well-being on Shabbat

From the Gospels as a whole we also see that:

• we are allowed to travel to another person’s home

• we are allowed to travel in general

• we are allowed to eat as a guest in another person’s house

All of these are expressions of mercy, community, relationship, and goodness — the very things Yeshua highlighted when He fulfilled the Law of Shabbat.

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Conclusion: The Purpose and the Culture of Shabbat

When you step back and look at the full sweep of Scripture, something becomes beautifully clear: Shabbat isn’t complicated — it’s just important.

Across 1,400 years of written revelation, God gave us fewer than twenty simple instructions that all point to one thing:

learning how to rest before Him.

Shabbat is His covenant sign — His weekly reminder that He is God and we are not.
It breaks our dependence on work, resets our hearts, and draws us back under His perfect care.

Through Moses, God taught us how to rest.
Through Yeshua, God taught us how to do good while we rest.
One Spirit. One law. One continuous invitation.

Shabbat is not a burden.
It is the way home.

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The Culture of Shabbat

If you want to understand what the culture of Shabbat should feel like, the closest modern comparison is Thanksgiving—only deeper, holier, and filled with covenant purpose.

Shabbat is meant to carry:

• anticipation

• joyful gathering

• family-centered relationship

• shared food and shared gratitude

• the entire community stopping together in solidarity before God

It is a festive atmosphere — not loud or chaotic — but warm, expectant, and full of peace.
It’s a day where the air feels different, like the world slows down so you can breathe again.

On Shabbat:

• Families walk together.

• People linger at the table.

• Laughter comes easier.

• Naps are holy.

• The Scriptures are read with no rush and no pressure.

• Every part of the day whispers, “You are free. God is enough. Rest.”

Shabbat is designed to be the most restful, ease-filled day of the entire week — a day where nothing competes for your heart, your attention, or your joy.

It is a culture of peace.
A culture of gratitude.
A culture of relationship — with God and with one another.

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Final Word

Honor Shabbat — not out of fear, but because it is the gift that keeps you grounded in Him.

A weekly return to trust.
A weekly declaration of belonging.
A weekly rhythm of joy, family, gratitude, and rest.
A weekly step deeper into the covenant that prepares us for the Kingdom.

Shabbat is not burdensome.

It is the way home.